Apple Mac Mini (2018) buying guide

After more than four years of neglect, Apple has finally refreshed the Mac Mini, giving it one of the biggest performance bumps the line has seen to date. This year’s Mac Mini tops out with a six-core Intel 8th-gen processor, enhanced security thanks to the Apple T2 chipset, and upgradeable memory. Despite coming only in the same space grey hue as the prosumer-targeted iMac Pro, the 2018 Mac Mini retains its consumer branding — there’s no “Pro” in the name, contrary to early rumors.

All this power, however, comes at a cost, and the 2018 costs a pretty penny more than the older model that it replaces. With a starting price of $800, the Mac Mini’s higher price this year is creeping into the iMac’s $1,100 territory, even though Apple’s compact desktop doesn’t ship with its own display. If you’re set on picking up a new Mac Mini, here’s what you need to know heading into the configuration process.

Processor

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Thankfully, after years of being saddled with an aging processor, the Mac Mini comes with Intel’s 8th-gen processor. The 2018 Mac Mini starts with a quad-core 3.6GHz Coffee Lake Core i3 processor, though you can configure the device with either an upgraded 3.0GHz six-core Core i5 or an even more powerful 3.2GHz six-core Core i7 processor at the time of purchase. The jump from quad-core to six-core processors will provide the most noticeable performance jump, so if you’re looking for the best value, the Core i5 is a good choice.

None of the upgrades will give you the option to add a discrete graphics card, which isn’t surprising given the Mac Mini’s compact 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4-inch frame. Instead, you’ll have to rely on Intel’s UHD Graphics 630, though if you demand more graphics performance, you can connect the Blackmagic eGPU to any one of the four Thunderbolt 3 over USB-C ports on the rear of the device.

Storage

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Apple did away with hard disk storage this year, and all Mac Mini models now standardize on PCIe-based solid-state drives. Storage starts with at 128GB for the base quad-core model or 256GB on the six-core configuration. On the six-core Core i5 model, upgrading from a 256GB drive to 2TB quickly bumps the $1,100 price to $2,500.

As a desktop, most users will want at least 256GB capacity. The SSD can only be configured at purchase, as it’s not an upgradeable component on this desktop. More frugal shoppers can choose a lower capacity SSD to save money and add an external SSD or hard drive later.

Memory

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The 2018 Mac Mini can be configured with up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM, making it a powerful desktop. Best of all, even if you opt to stick to the base 8GB of RAM at purchase, memory is easily upgradeable by removing a plastic cover on the bottom of the Mac Mini. Configuring the Mac Mini with 64GB of RAM adds $1,400 to the cost.

To justify the cost, Apple claims that 64GB of memory will deliver up to nearly eight times the performance of a similarly configured system with 16GB of RAM. But even at 16GB, you’ll need to add another $200 to your base memory configuration. Make sure whatever processor can actually put to use the amount of memory you add on. A Core i3 with 64GB of RAM won’t do you much good.

The rest

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

All configurations ship with Gigabit Ethernet support, along with Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 5.0 radios. Users demanding even faster connection speeds can upgrade to a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port for an added $100. The Mac Mini also comes with an HDMI 2.0 port, power port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, 3.5mm headphone jack, and four Thunderbolt 3 over USB-C ports, allowing prosumers the opportunity to connect up to a total of three displays.

Although significantly more powerful this year, the Mac Mini’s higher cost of entry — it starts at $800 — may put off the budget-conscious buyers who were previously drawn to this Mac line. The improved performance on this year’s model, along with its ability to pair with an eGPU, moves the Mac Mini into a more premium territory. Fully specified, the Mac Mini’s price quickly increases to $4,200 when configured with with a six-core Intel 8th-Generation Core i7 processor, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD, and 10Gb Ethernet port. However, keep in mind that you still need to add a $100 Magic Keyboard, $80 Magic Mouse, and display to the price.

In comparison, Apple’s iMac Pro comes with in at $5,000, but comes with a more powerful Xeon processor, ships with a keyboard and mouse, and has a built-in high resolution display in an all-in-one package. And when you have to add in the peripherals and a display, Apple’s standard $1,100 iMac may be the more affordable option for most consumers, if you don’t mind a 21.5-inch screen or a hard desk drive rather than SSD for storage.

Editors’ Recommendations

• The 2018 Mac mini: Here’s everything we know
• Apple Mac Mini (2018) hands-on review
• New Apple Mac Mini packs four- and six-core CPUs with up to 64GB memory for $800
• A MacBook Air with Retina display and Mac Mini “Pro” could arrive this fall
• Concept images dress up a new Mac Mini in a sleek space gray

iPad Pro (2018) hands on review

Computers and video game consoles. That’s what Apple compared its latest iPad Pro to at a launch event in New York City, pinning its tablet as the most versatile tool you can have in your arsenal. It’s tough to argue against that. The iPad Pro (2018) has spectacular performance with a stunning 120Hz screen, the most tablet-optimized apps, Face ID, and a downright attractive design we can’t stop staring at.

Gorgeous design, speedy Face ID

Shrinking down the bezels around a screen is something we’ve been seeing for quite some time across all products, from TVs and smartphones to tablets. The new iPad Pro does exactly that, cutting down the edges for a more modern look.

There are two iPad Pro sizes: an 11-inch model, which is the same size as 2017’s 10.5-inch iPad Pro thanks to the shaved bezels; and a 12.9-inch model, which is 15 percent thinner with 25 percent less volume than the largest iPad Pro of old, despite having the same screen size.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro still feels massive in the hand, but it’s lightweight enough to become at least kinda manageable. The 11-inch is easier to maneuver – but we’ve fallen in love again with the 12.9-inch screen size. It’s a fantastic canvas, whether you’re drawing or watching a movie.

It’s a fantastic canvas to work on, whether you’re drawing or watching a movie.

Still, we’re a little concerned about the slimmed edges. It made holding the 12.9-inch iPad Pro a little tough without interrupting the screen, though the flat edges did help. We’ll need to spend more time with the tablets to see if it impacts overall usability. We mostly used the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in our brief hands-on time, so that’s what we’ll be referring to the most, but both iPad Pro devices share the same features.

Another big change is the home button, or lack of. It’s gone! That’s already happened in Apple’s iPhones, so it’s hardly a surprise. Instead, you’ll navigate iOS with gestures akin to what you’ll find on the iPhone XS and iPhone X. It’s intuitive, and it’s a navigational change that came to all iPads with iOS 12.

So, how do you unlock the tablet? You guessed it. Apple has brought over Face ID, and unlike the iPhone, the iPad Pro can unlock by detecting your face in any orientation it’s held. You won’t need to worry about keeping the iPad in portrait orientation or tilting your head sideways when the tablet is in landscape mode. We tried it, and the iPad unlocked as swiftly as Face ID on iPhones.

We’re baffled why Apple would axe the headphone port on the iPad Pro.

In portrait orientation, the volume rocker sits on the right edge with the power button up top. The same quad-speaker setup is still here, but there’s a crucial component missing — a headphone jack. While we’ve come to terms with the omission on the iPhone, we’re baffled as to why Apple would axe the headphone port on the iPad Pro. It supposedly targets musicians, and we can’t imagine they’ll take this well.

Apple has we moved around the smart connector, which is how accessories like the Smart Keyboard connects to the iPad. It’s now on the back. The Smart Keyboard also got a revamp — there are now two viewing angles, but we’re still not fans of the typing experience. It’s also too expensive at $200 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and $179 for the 11-inch. If you want to use the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement, that puts the total cost close to $1,000 for the smallest iPad Pro. That’s a lot!

A much-improved Apple Pencil

The original Apple Pencil worked well, but there wasn’t an easy way to keep track of it. It was easy to misplace because there’s no good way to store it on the iPad. Apple has fixed that with the second-generation, though it means the new Apple Pencil is only compatible with the new iPad Pro, according to Apple’s website.

The new Apple Pencil magnetically attaches to the right side of the iPad Pro (when held in portrait). The magnetic connection is strong, and it doesn’t feel as though the Pencil will easily break away. As soon as it connects, you’ll see a notification on the iPad indicating so, which also means the Pencil pairs with the iPad and will automatically start charging wirelessly. It’s much more elegant than charging the Pencil with the Lightning port on older iPads.

The Apple Pencil feels more like a pencil than ever before.

We love the feel of the new Pencil. It feels more like its namesake. Writing on the iPad is natural, and everything feels responsive. You can now double tap any part of the Pencil to swap to the eraser when drawing or writing (or the last used tool), and this action is customizable and open to third-party developers. Tap the screen of the iPad, and it will automatically launch the Notes app. That’s a nice touch.

These improvements come at a cost. The new Apple Pencil costs $30 more at $129. Yep. Another price hike, one that comes alongside a higher price for the iPad Pro itself.

120Hz display, unrivaled performance

The iPad Pro’s display is breathtaking, using Liquid Retina LCD technology similar to the iPhone XR. The 12.9-inch offers 2,732 x 2,048 resolution, while the 11-inch model packs 2,388 x 1,668. ProMotion technology delivers a screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz, meaning you see incredibly smooth scrolling and an overall more responsive experience. It’s excellent, and while we’ll be doing more testing in our review, we expect to be impressed and think you will be, too.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The iPhone XS and XR have unrivaled performance thanks to the A12 Bionic processor. Apple has taken that up a notch with the A12X Bionic powering the new iPad Pro devices. There’re eight cores, and the neural engine is present for speedy machine learning. You won’t have an issue with performance.

Apple says you should expect twice the graphics performance of last year’s iPad Pro, saying it performs better than the Xbox One S console. However, if Apple’s going to make comparisons to video game consoles, it should make sure it has console-quality games on iOS, like NBA 2K. It has the best mobile games — that’s undeniable — but we’d like to it run more AAA titles, like Civilization VI, which arrived on the iPad last year.

Apple iPad Pro (2018) Compared To

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition

ReMarkable tablet

Apple 10.5‑inch iPad Pro

Amazon Fire HD 8 (2017)

LeapFrog epic

LG G Pad 10.1

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

Dell Venue 8 Pro

Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1

Barnes & Noble Nook HD+

Dell Latitude 10

Acer Iconia Tab W700

Motorola Xyboard 8.2

Lenovo IdeaPad K1

BlackBerry PlayBook

The iPad Pro comes in a variety of storage sizes, from 64GB for the base model to 1TB. The price for the new iPad devices has jumped, and we think Apple should get rid of the 64GB option and make the 128GB the base size.

Battery, USB-C, and camera

Apple said the iPad Pro should last all day, and we’ll certainly be testing that, but the biggest improvement is the addition of a USB-C charging port instead of a Lightning connector. That means you can use the iPad Pro to charge your iPhone via a USB-C to Lightning cable, and you can connect the iPad to external displays. It’s a long-overdue feature, but we’re happy it’s finally here.

More from Apple

The Apple AirPods 2 needed to come out today. Here are four reasons why

New Macs, a faster iPad Pro, and higher prices – Here’s what Apple announced

The new Mac mini gets six cores, four Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a huge price jump

Apple didn’t say much about the camera in the iPad. Your phone camera is likely better, so you shouldn’t use the tablet to take photos. Still, it’s used for augmented reality applications, so it’s worth mentioning. It’s a 12-megapixel camera on the rear with a f/1.8 aperture, and it supports the new Smart HDR feature Apple introduced on the iPhone XS. The 7-megapixel TrueDepth camera can be used to take Portrait Mode photos, so you can create and send Memojis and Animojis.

Price and availability

The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $999. That’s a big price jump considering the 2017 10.5-inch iPad Pro cost $650. That’s without accessories like the Apple Pencil or the Smart Keyboard.

The new iPads are expensive, yes. But in the announcement video, Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, said the 2018 iPad Pro is “like a computer, but unlike any computer.” This is tablet is calling itself a legitimate laptop replacement, and we’ll be testing it that way. There’s so much you can do with the iPad Pro that it really does feel unlike any other computer.

Apple iPad Pro (2018) hands on review

Computers and video game consoles. That’s what Apple compared its latest iPad Pro to at a launch event in New York City, pinning its tablet as the most versatile tool you can have in your arsenal. It’s tough to argue against that. The iPad Pro (2018) has spectacular performance with a stunning 120Hz screen, the most tablet-optimized apps, Face ID, and a downright attractive design we can’t stop staring at.

Gorgeous design, speedy Face ID

Shrinking down the bezels around a screen is something we’ve been seeing for quite some time across all products, from TVs and smartphones to tablets. The new iPad Pro does exactly that, cutting down the edges for a more modern look.

There are two iPad Pro sizes: an 11-inch model, which is the same size as 2017’s 10.5-inch iPad Pro thanks to the shaved bezels; and a 12.9-inch model, which is 15 percent thinner with 25 percent less volume than the largest iPad Pro of old, despite having the same screen size.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro still feels massive in the hand, but it’s lightweight enough to become at least kinda manageable. The 11-inch is easier to maneuver – but we’ve fallen in love again with the 12.9-inch screen size. It’s a fantastic canvas, whether you’re drawing or watching a movie.

It’s a fantastic canvas to work on, whether you’re drawing or watching a movie.

Still, we’re a little concerned about the slimmed edges. It made holding the 12.9-inch iPad Pro a little tough without interrupting the screen, though the flat edges did help. We’ll need to spend more time with the tablets to see if it impacts overall usability. We mostly used the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in our brief hands-on time, so that’s what we’ll be referring to the most, but both iPad Pro devices share the same features.

Another big change is the home button, or lack of. It’s gone! That’s already happened in Apple’s iPhones, so it’s hardly a surprise. Instead, you’ll navigate iOS with gestures akin to what you’ll find on the iPhone XS and iPhone X. It’s intuitive, and it’s a navigational change that came to all iPads with iOS 12.

So, how do you unlock the tablet? You guessed it. Apple has brought over Face ID, and unlike the iPhone, the iPad Pro can unlock by detecting your face in any orientation it’s held. You won’t need to worry about keeping the iPad in portrait orientation or tilting your head sideways when the tablet is in landscape mode. We tried it, and the iPad unlocked as swiftly as Face ID on iPhones.

We’re baffled why Apple would axe the headphone port on the iPad Pro.

In portrait orientation, the volume rocker sits on the right edge with the power button up top. The same quad-speaker setup is still here, but there’s a crucial component missing — a headphone jack. While we’ve come to terms with the omission on the iPhone, we’re baffled as to why Apple would axe the headphone port on the iPad Pro. It supposedly targets musicians, and we can’t imagine they’ll take this well.

Apple has we moved around the smart connector, which is how accessories like the Smart Keyboard connects to the iPad. It’s now on the back. The Smart Keyboard also got a revamp — there are now two viewing angles, but we’re still not fans of the typing experience. It’s also too expensive at $200 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and $179 for the 11-inch. If you want to use the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement, that puts the total cost close to $1,000 for the smallest iPad Pro. That’s a lot!

A much-improved Apple Pencil

The original Apple Pencil worked well, but there wasn’t an easy way to keep track of it. It was easy to misplace because there’s no good way to store it on the iPad. Apple has fixed that with the second-generation, though it means the new Apple Pencil is only compatible with the new iPad Pro, according to Apple’s website.

The new Apple Pencil magnetically attaches to the right side of the iPad Pro (when held in portrait). The magnetic connection is strong, and it doesn’t feel as though the Pencil will easily break away. As soon as it connects, you’ll see a notification on the iPad indicating so, which also means the Pencil pairs with the iPad and will automatically start charging wirelessly. It’s much more elegant than charging the Pencil with the Lightning port on older iPads.

The Apple Pencil feels more like a pencil than ever before.

We love the feel of the new Pencil. It feels more like its namesake. Writing on the iPad is natural, and everything feels responsive. You can now double tap any part of the Pencil to swap to the eraser when drawing or writing (or the last used tool), and this action is customizable and open to third-party developers. Tap the screen of the iPad, and it will automatically launch the Notes app. That’s a nice touch.

These improvements come at a cost. The new Apple Pencil costs $30 more at $129. Yep. Another price hike, one that comes alongside a higher price for the iPad Pro itself.

120Hz display, unrivaled performance

The iPad Pro’s display is breathtaking, using Liquid Retina LCD technology similar to the iPhone XR. The 12.9-inch offers 2,732 x 2,048 resolution, while the 11-inch model packs 2,388 x 1,668. ProMotion technology delivers a screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz, meaning you see incredibly smooth scrolling and an overall more responsive experience. It’s excellent, and while we’ll be doing more testing in our review, we expect to be impressed and think you will be, too.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The iPhone XS and XR have unrivaled performance thanks to the A12 Bionic processor. Apple has taken that up a notch with the A12X Bionic powering the new iPad Pro devices. There’re eight cores, and the neural engine is present for speedy machine learning. You won’t have an issue with performance.

Apple says you should expect twice the graphics performance of last year’s iPad Pro, saying it performs better than the Xbox One S console. However, if Apple’s going to make comparisons to video game consoles, it should make sure it has console-quality games on iOS, like NBA 2K. It has the best mobile games — that’s undeniable — but we’d like to it run more AAA titles, like Civilization VI, which arrived on the iPad last year.

Apple iPad Pro (2018) Compared To

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition

ReMarkable tablet

Apple 10.5‑inch iPad Pro

Amazon Fire HD 8 (2017)

LeapFrog epic

LG G Pad 10.1

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

Dell Venue 8 Pro

Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1

Barnes & Noble Nook HD+

Dell Latitude 10

Acer Iconia Tab W700

Motorola Xyboard 8.2

Lenovo IdeaPad K1

BlackBerry PlayBook

The iPad Pro comes in a variety of storage sizes, from 64GB for the base model to 1TB. The price for the new iPad devices has jumped, and we think Apple should get rid of the 64GB option and make the 128GB the base size.

Battery, USB-C, and camera

Apple said the iPad Pro should last all day, and we’ll certainly be testing that, but the biggest improvement is the addition of a USB-C charging port instead of a Lightning connector. That means you can use the iPad Pro to charge your iPhone via a USB-C to Lightning cable, and you can connect the iPad to external displays. It’s a long-overdue feature, but we’re happy it’s finally here.

More from Apple

The Apple AirPods 2 needed to come out today. Here are four reasons why

New Macs, a faster iPad Pro, and higher prices – Here’s what Apple announced

The new Mac mini gets six cores, four Thunderbolt 3 ports, and a huge price jump

Apple didn’t say much about the camera in the iPad. Your phone camera is likely better, so you shouldn’t use the tablet to take photos. Still, it’s used for augmented reality applications, so it’s worth mentioning. It’s a 12-megapixel camera on the rear with a f/1.8 aperture, and it supports the new Smart HDR feature Apple introduced on the iPhone XS. The 7-megapixel TrueDepth camera can be used to take Portrait Mode photos, so you can create and send Memojis and Animojis.

Price and availability

The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $999. That’s a big price jump considering the 2017 10.5-inch iPad Pro cost $650. That’s without accessories like the Apple Pencil or the Smart Keyboard.

The new iPads are expensive, yes. But in the announcement video, Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, said the 2018 iPad Pro is “like a computer, but unlike any computer.” This is tablet is calling itself a legitimate laptop replacement, and we’ll be testing it that way. There’s so much you can do with the iPad Pro that it really does feel unlike any other computer.

Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile Won’t Support eSIM Until Later This Year

Apple today released iOS 12.1 with support for the digital eSIM that will allow for dual-SIM functionality on the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR, but eSIM support isn’t going to be immediately available from U.S. carriers.

AT&T, for example, is telling customers that eSIM activations are being delayed until later in the year due to technical issues in part related to Visual Voicemail.

According to one AT&T store manager who spoke to MacRumors, retail outlets have been told that AT&T is not supporting dual-SIM or eSIM at the current time, with stores advised not to sell eSIM cards to customers.

Verizon and T-Mobile will also not be supporting the eSIM at the current time, according to company spokespeople who talked to PCMag. T-Mobile said that eSIM support is in the works and will be available “when its software is ready” with no timeline provided. Verizon, meanwhile, said that eSIMs will be available after some kinks are worked out.

It’s also worth noting that Verizon customers should not activate eSIMs from other companies at this time because of performance issues. As outlined by PCMag, when a physical Verizon SIM is relegated into a “secondary” position by an eSIM from another company, the Verizon connection gets downgraded to the 2G CDMA network.

Verizon says it is working with Apple to resolve this issue to allow its customers to use eSIM without a performance hit.

“Wireless customers will be able to activate Verizon service eSIMs as soon as we’re confident you’ll be able to have the great, high-quality service you expect from us on both your primary and secondary line. If you are a Verizon customer and you activate another carrier’s service on your iPhone’s eSIM, your Verizon service will be degraded due to the current software configuration.

“Based on our discussions with Apple, we believe these concerns will be resolved quickly and you should be able to add our great Verizon service on your secondary line before the end of the year. Until the secondary line can deliver Verizon’s full suite of voice and high-speed data services, we won’t activate Verizon service on any eSIM. This includes our own customers’ iPhones with dual SIM capabilities as well as iPhones on competitors’ networks.”

The fourth major carrier in the United States, Sprint, is not on Apple’s list of carriers that are going to be implementing eSIM support, but Sprint has said it will add support at some point.

The eSIM, or digital SIM, is a non-physical SIM card slot that pairs with the physical SIM card in the iPhone XS, XS Max, and XR to enable dual-SIM dual-standby, a feature that lets iPhone users have two phone numbers available at once.

With dual-SIM support, iPhone users are supposed to be able to swap between the two phone numbers readily, alleviating the need for a second phone or SIM swapping for work and travel.

While eSIM support will not be available from the major carriers in the United States at this time, it is available in other countries around the world. Apple has a list of all the carriers supporting eSIM functionality on its website.

On Apple’s site, eSIM support for AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile says “coming later this year,” suggesting the three carriers are aiming to launch the feature before the end of 2018.

Related Roundups: iPhone XS, iOS 12, iPhone XRBuyer’s Guide: iPhone XS (Buy Now), iPhone XR (Buy Now)
Discuss this article in our forums

Hexologic review: A hexagon-based logic game that will twist your brain

Most of the times we play a game on our Android device, so we can relax and take our mind off things. Simple games like Cooking Madness or Candy Crush are a great way to tune out the daily noise, but what if you’re looking for something more challenging? Something that truly puts your mind at work?

Well, today we’re taking a look at Hexologic, a game that will challenge you to think differently, imagine and solve ever-changing problems that won’t allow you to get used to them and fly on autopilot.

Overview

Hexologic is a game developed by MythicOwl and costs $0.99 to download from the Play Store.

The game doesn’t offer a tutorial, but the gameplay is simple enough, so you won’t have to do much guessing.

Impressions

First off let me tell you that Hexologic has a very calming overall feel. It features nice, soothing graphics in pastel colors that allow you to concentrate on the puzzles at hand. Although, they tend to be a little repetitive, boasting the same vibe throughout the entire game.

On top of that, you also get some nice ambient music thrown in, so for a moment, you might think you’re in a meditation app instead of a game.

The premise of this Sudoku-inspired game is pretty straightforward. It’s all about hexagons! You’ll need to combine the dots inside the hexes in three possible directions so that their sum matches the number at the edge.

As with any puzzle/logic game, the level starts easily enough, and you’ll find you can go through the first 10 stages quite fast. But by the time you hit level 30, things get a lot more complicated.

For example, more advanced levels feature linked blocks, so when you change the value of one of these hexes, others with the same colored outline will also automatically get the same value. Which means you’ll have to adapt your whole strategy based on that.

Alternatively, some tiles have numbers of them which you cannot change. Their value can larger than the three dots you’re normally allowed to add in the empty hexagons.

There are 60 levels in total, which are broken off in four worlds which have their own, unique gameplay mechanisms.

Unlike other puzzle games, Hexologic doesn’t have a timer. So you can take your sweet time completing the levels. Interestingly enough, there are no repercussions for incorrect moves, so you’ll never have to start from the beginning if you make a mistake.

So in that sense, the game poses no real challenge. But the satisfaction of knowing you’ve mastered the complete set of 60 levels is in itself a goal.

Additionally, the game has no real replay value. Once you’ve figured out the levels, there’s nothing else much to do. Yes, you can unlock certain bonus stages, but they are not so very different from the standard levels.

Honestly, Hexologic ends way to quickly – you could finish it in one day if you have a few hours to spare – and I think the game could have used a little bit more variation when it comes to gameplay. For example, it could have included a timer, as to prolong gaming sessions.

Conclusion

Hexologic is a fun and addictive puzzle game, set in a beautiful world. Yet, it feels a bit minimalistic when compared to other games in the category. You can complete it in a few hours, but again, that’s probably something that casual gamers will appreciate. After all, most of us don’t have the time to spend countless hours playing games.

Download Hexologic from the Play Store

watchOS 5.1 Update Bricking Some Apple Watches

It appears the watchOS 5.1 update that was released this morning is causing problems for some Apple Watch owners. Multiple MacRumors readers have had issues installing the new software and are reporting that the update has bricked their devices.

Customers who are affected are seeing their Apple Watches stuck at the Apple logo loading screen after initiating the watchOS 5.1 update.

Some customers who contacted Apple were initially told that the update could take a few hours, but multiple people have seen no progress after three or more hours. From MacRumors reader Bazooka-joe:

So my series 4 sssb has been stuck on installing 5.1 For an hour and a half now with nothing showing on the watch except the bright white Apple icon. Spoken to Apple Support who said that they are getting calls from other people experiencing the same issue and they have advised me to leave it for 2 to 3 hours. WTF Why would an update that supposed to take 10 minutes to install take 2 to 3 hours

It appears affected users have the Apple Watch Series 4, which is the newest Apple Watch that was released in September.

Some MacRumors readers have said that Apple is going to be shipping out replacement watches for those who have been affected.

Not all customers who have an Apple Watch Series 4 have had problems installing the watchOS 5.1 update, but as a cautionary measure, it’s worthwhile to hold off downloading and installing the software until Apple pushes a fix. Apple has not pulled the watchOS 5.1 update as of yet.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 5Buyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
Discuss this article in our forums

Apple’s New MacBook Air Uses MacBook-Class 5W Amber Lake Chips

Apple’s newly upgraded MacBook Air is equipped with a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5 Processor with Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz, a chip configuration that does not match any of the 8th-generation chips that Intel has announced to date.

Intel, in fact, lists only a single 1.3GHz dual-core processor in ARK, which does not line up with the chip Apple is using in the MacBook Air.

Instead, Apple appears to be using an unannounced Intel chip that, according to AnandTech, is part of the 5W Y-Series Amber Lake chips. Intel announced these Amber Lake chips, traditionally used in the MacBook, back in August.

And while the company never names the specific processor models they use, the specifications here – 3.6GHz turbo with Intel UHD Graphics 617 – do not match any known Intel chip, even when factoring in various cTDP options. We’ve heard rumors of Intel putting together a Core i5-8210Y, and we’ve reached out to Intel to try to confirm.

Historically, Apple has used 15W U-series chips in its MacBook Air upgrades, but power wise, this will put the new MacBook Air on par with any future MacBook upgrades that also use Intel’s Amber Lake chips.

Though the MacBook Air is now using a lower power Y-series chip, because the previous-generation MacBook Air was still equipped with a Broadwell chip, the new model is still going to see significant performance improvements. Unfortunately, the performance gain isn’t going to be as impressive as it would have been had Apple stuck with U-series chips.

Using a 5W chip has allowed Apple to significantly cut down on power consumption, which explains why the MacBook Air has the longest battery life out of any of Apple’s notebooks.

The new machine offers up to 12 hours of battery life when web browsing and 13 hours when watching iTunes movie playback, which is two hours more battery life for web browsing and one to three hours more when watching movies compared to the MacBook and MacBook Pro.

Apple is only offering a single processor for the MacBook Air, and there are no build-to-order options to upgrade it to a faster speed.

Using a MacBook-class chip in the MacBook Air makes some sense if Apple plans to keep the MacBook in its lineup. With the MacBook Air’s slimmer bezels and new Retina display, there’s not a lot separating it from the 12-inch MacBook. If it also used U-series chips, it would outperform future MacBook models, and it would make little sense to purchase a MacBook.

This way, the MacBook Air offers a Retina display, MacBook-class performance, and a slimmer body, while the MacBook retains its position as Apple’s thinnest, lightest machine, presumably with faster Y-series chips once an upgrade is released.

Apple’s revamped MacBook Air can be purchased from the online Apple Store for $1,199, $100 cheaper than the MacBook, but $200 more expensive than the previous-generation MacBook Air.

Related Roundup: MacBook AirTag: October 2018 eventBuyer’s Guide: MacBook Air (Buy Now)
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Apple Mac Mini (2018) hands-on review

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Apple Mac mini (2018)

The last time Apple introduced a Mac Mini was 2014, the year Apple debuted the iPhone 6. Yes, it’s really been that long.

We finally have a new model — the Mac Mini (2018) — which was announced at an event in New York City. Apple calls it a “massive increase in performance,” but anything would be after four years in the tech world. A new Mac Mini is well overdue, but we’re thankful it’s here because it looks like it could be a decent companion to your workstation. It’s just a shame Apple jacked up the price by $300.

Space Grey, more connectivity

The internals of the Mac Mini may be completely different from its predecessor, but Apple doesn’t think the design needed a refresh. All that’s new is a Space Grey finish, which certainly looks sleeker than the old silver color. It’s the exact same size and weight. We do wish Apple tried something different here with design, just for variety.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Some people won’t mind the static design, but there’s no such thing as standing still in tech. The world of compact PCs has evolved pretty drastically in the past four years. You can attach one to the back of your monitor — or even hang one from your keychain. That makes the “mini”-ness of the Mac mini less impressive than it used to be.

Over on the back is an impressive array of ports including four Thunderbolt 3 USB-C ports, which means you can connect it to 4K or 5K Thunderbolt displays, as well as an external GPU. That is a ton of Thunderbolt 3 ports. In fact, it might even be too many, if that’s even possible. It’s the same amount that grace the iMac Pro, and it most certainly has increased the already hefty price tag of this PC.

The Mac Mini’s Intel UHD Graphics 630 GPU won’t be pushing out high framerates in Fortnite anytime soon.

Along with USB-C, there are also two USB-A 3 ports, one HDMI 2.0 port, as well as a 3.5mm headphone jack. An Ethernet port is also available, and it’s configurable up to 10Gb Ethernet for super-fast connections. Overall, we’re happy Apple beefed up port selection rather than cut back.

The only other significant change to the new Mac Mini is in materials. Like the new Macbook Air, Apple said the Mac Mini enclosure is made of 100-percent recycled aluminum. There’s hardly no difference in texture or feel compared to the previous Mac Mini, and Apple said it maintains the same strength and durability. It’s nice to see a company maintain its commitment to make eco-friendly products.

Plenty of configurations

The configurations for the new Mac Mini can be confusing. First off, there are two main models with eighth-generation processors — one with a four-core processor, and the other with a six-core processor. The base four-core comes with a 3.6GHz Intel Core i3, whereas the base six-core packs a 3.0GHz Intel Core i5 with Turbo Boost up to 4.1GHz. You can find an even more powerful Intel Core i7 model with six cores.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Apple claims graphics capability has increase by 60 percent, which sounds good on the surface. But again, compared to 2014, anything will make for an impressive jump in performance. The truth is the integrated Intel UHD Graphics 630 won’t be pushing out high framerates in Fortnite anytime soon. We would have loved to see a configuration option that provides some more graphics capability, such as the Core i5-8305G, which comes with AMD Radeon RX Vega graphics onboard. This would have not only brought some entry-level gaming performance to the Mac mini, but also some raw power for demanding tasks like video editing.

We definitely aren’t happy about the Mac Mini’s pricing situation.

The Mac Mini has new thermal system that doubles the airflow that moves throughout the enclosure, but Apple said it will still remain silent. The space we were in was loud, so we’ll have to take Apple’s word for now. We’ll be particularly interested in how the tiny chassis handles the heat generated from the six-core model.

The Mac Mini starts with 8GB RAM, but that’s also configurable to 16GB, 32GB, or 64GB. There’s plenty of internal storage options as well — they’re all solid-state drives (SSDs), which should deliver even better performance — starting from 128GB and going all the way to 2TB.

One new addition is Apple’s T2 security chip, which debuted in 2017’s iMac Pro and later made its way to the MacBook Pro. With this chip, Apple said everything stored on the SSD is fully encrypted, and you get secure boot as well. What’s neat is HEVC video transcoding also takes place here, and it’s reportedly 30 times faster, which sounds like a boon for pro video editors. The T2 also brings “Hey Siri” functionality with it for quicker access to Apple’s voice assistant.

Apple Mac mini (2018) Compared To

Intel Hades Canyon NUC8i7HVK

Intel ‘Hades Canyon’ NUC

Intel NUC Core i7

Alienware X51

Falcon Northwest FragBox

Lenovo IdeaCentre Q150

Asus EeeBox EB1501

Acer AspireRevo

HP Firebird 802

Maingear Dash

HP Pavilion s3020n Slimline

Apple Mac mini Dual Core 1.66GHz

Enpower Media Center Xpress EN-MX1

FIC Condor

Gateway FMC-901X

Price and availability

The Mac Mini (2018) starts at $800 for the four-core model, and $1,100 for the six-core version. If you max out all the features with the highest performing model, you’re looking at a price tag of $4,200. We definitely aren’t happy about that pricing situation.

The previous Mac Mini sold for just $500 by comparison at its base price. As of now, the upgrade doesn’t feel quite worthy of the jump in price. The move to a four-core (or six-core) processor is fairly commonplace in 2018, as is super-fast SSD storage and Thunderbolt 3 ports. We’ll save our final opinion once we’ve fully tested the system, but the pricing alone has left us a little cold.

The new Mac mini is available for pre-order now, and official sales start November 7.

iPad Pro 2018: 5 features we love, 5 features we don’t

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Apple’s new iPad Pro is finally here. Following months of rumors and leaks, the company officially announced the new device at its hardware event in New York on October 30. The new iPad Pro comes in two different sizes — the 11-inch model and the 12.9-inch model –and brings along Face ID, a new A12X Bionic chip, support for USB-C, and more, all packed into its slimmest design yet.

While Apple’s new device offers plenty of additions to be excited about, there are also things we aren’t too keen on. Here are five features we love about the iPad Pro, and five that we don’t.

Features we love:

Face ID

Following the release of the iPhone X, Apple made it clear that it’s slowly phasing out its Touch ID technology on its devices and replacing it with Face ID. Thanks to the addition of a TrueDepth camera, facial-recognition technology is now on the iPad Pro, too. Rather than using your fingerprint, you’ll now be able to unlock your iPad Pro and use Apple Pay by simply looking at the display. The 7-megapixel 3D-face scanner is also redesigned to work in any direction — whether you’re holding it in portrait mode or landscape mode — so there’s no wrong way to unlock it.

The removal of Touch ID also means there is a new way to navigate the device. First introduced in iOS 12, you use the same gestures you would on the iPhone X. You have to swipe down to the left of the device to access the notification page and on the right side for the Control Center. You can access the dock by swiping up from the bottom, and continue to swipe up to access the App Switcher. To continue to use your most recently used apps, simply swipe along the bottom edge. There is also the ability to use split view by dragging and dropping apps, along with the slide over feature which allows you to quickly use an app and swipe it away once you’re done.

Large Liquid Retina display

While the new iPad Pros have even larger displays, Apple made sure that didn’t mean the dimensions of the devices were also bigger. This year, both models are 5.9mm thin — the thinnest the iPad has ever been — which should make it much easier to carry and travel with.

As mentioned before, the iPad Pro comes in two sizes: An 11-inch model and 12.9-inch model. Both feature an edge-to-edge Liquid Retina display with rounded corners, that’s also found in the iPhone XR, packed into a smaller frame with slimmer bezels. The 11-inch iPad Pro has the same footprint as the 10.5-inch model — but it boasts a bigger display and more pixels while still weighing only a pound. As for the 12.9-inch display, it has a 25 percent reduction in volume in comparison to last year’s iPad Pro model.

Equipped with a USB-C port

As with Apple’s latest lineup of MacBooks, the iPad Pro now has a USB-C port, replacing the Lightning connector found on its predecessors. In addition to using it to charge the device (the iPad Pro will ship with an 18-watt USB-C power adapter), you will be able to connect your iPad to external displays and docks along with instruments and cameras. Using a USB-C to Lightning cable, you also have the ability to use the iPad to charge your iPhone.

Brings the A12X Bionic chip

For the very first time, the iPad Pro packs Apple’s A12X Bionic chip. Apple says single-core performance is up by 35 percent, while multi-core workloads are 90 percent faster. There is also a seven-core GPU that delivers graphics that are up to 1,000 times faster, allowing for a richer and more immersive experience, especially when it comes to gaming. In terms of battery life, the company claims it can last up 10 hours but of course that’s all dependent on use.

Apple Pencil connects magnetically, charges wirelessly

Tired of misplacing your Apple Pencil? With the new iPad Pro, that most likely won’t be a problem anymore; the Apple Pencil now attaches magnetically to the device. But it doesn’t stop there, the Pencil will automatically pair and wirelessly charge as soon as you connect it to the iPad. Once connected, the display will indicate the Pencil is charging and will also showcase the battery percentage it’s currently at.

With the Apple Pencil, you can also now switch between different modes with a double tap and you can automatically launch the Notes app as soon as you tap on the display.

Features we don’t love:

High price tag

Pricing for the iPad Pro is still a bit high (and slightly more expensive than the 2017 iPad Pro models), starting at $800 and going all the way up to almost $2,000 — depending on the model and configuration you purchase. If you want Wi-Fi and cellular connectivity, an extra $150 will be added to the original cost of the device. While it does come with a few new capabilities along with a much sleeker and thinner design, you’ll have to be willing to put down more if you’re looking to get a device packed with plenty of storage and cellular connectivity.

No 128GB storage option

The iPad Pro comes in a few different configurations — 64GB, 256Gb, and 512GB. For those who need even more space than 512GB, there’s also a 1TB option available. We wish Apple would have omitted the 64GB model completely, in exchange for a 128GB iPad Pro as the base model. Especially since the 64GB configuration isn’t cheap — the 11-inch model starts at $800 while the 12.9-inch model starts at $1,000, and that is without cellular connectivity on either one which costs extra. It’s tough to justify shelling out that much money on an iPad with such a small amount of storage that will fill up quickly.

Say goodbye to the headphone jack

Not only is Apple doing away with the Lightning connector, but the company has also removed the 3.5mm-headphone jack from the new iPad Pro. While it’s unclear whether or not it will ship with a USB-C to 3.5mm dongle, you’ll need one either way if you still want to use your headphones with the device. Otherwise, you will probably want to consider switching over to wireless headphones.

The camera bump

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

As with its latest lineup of iPhones, Apple still included the same camera bump on the back of its iPad Pro. While the front of the iPad Pro looks sleek and streamlined, the camera bump looks out of place and unnecessary. Unless you have a case on it, the bump also keeps the device from laying flat on the table causing it to rock back and forth instead.

Needs more console-like games

With its A12X Bionic chip and seven-core GPU, Apple says the new iPad Pro delivers up to twice the graphics performance that provides console-quality graphics — apparently making it as powerful as the Xbox One S. But while there are a number of games like Civilization VI and PUBG Mobile for the iPad Pro, we do wish there were more console-like games out there for us to play on the device in order to take full advantage of its ramped-up performance. At its event, Apple announced that NBA 2K will soon be available for the new iPad Pro so hopefully, this means there’s even more games to come in the near future.

Editors’ Recommendations

• Pixel 3 and Pixel 3 XL: 5 features we love, 5 features we don’t
• The new iPad Pro is here, and it adds the best of the iPhone to the tablet
• The 5 best features in MacOS Mojave
• WatchOS 5: All our favorite new features
• It’s hip to be square: New iPad Pro may take design cues from iPhone 5

The best and worst features of the new MacBook Air

Apple has launched a new MacBook Air, and we’re a little torn about it. There are some really great features that we’ve been waiting years for. On the other hand, there are a couple of big missed opportunities on a laptop like this.

Here’s our rundown of the features that made us happy, as well as the ones that left us disappointed.

The best features

Retina display

The headline feature is undoubtedly the display. People have been waiting years for it to come to the MacBook Air, which formerly only had a screen resolution of 1,440 x 900. In 2018, that’s just about the worst screen you can buy on a 13.3-inch laptop.

Apple has now brought the “Retina display” feature to the Air, upgrading it to 2,560 x 1,600. That’s a much more acceptable 227 pixels per inch in 2018. In fact, it’s the exact same panel found on the 13-inch MacBook Pro.

New keyboard and trackpad

Along with the display, Apple has ported over both the third-gen, butterfly switch keyboard and the larger Force Touch trackpad. The spacious new trackpad, in particular, is a big upgrade over the previous MacBook Air. The keyboard, on the other hand, is a bit more divisive. While some people don’t mind the low-travel key presses, there will undoubtedly be some who will miss the old Air’s more conventional keyboard.

In should be noted that this is the newer keyboard that appeared in the 2018 MacBook Pro update. These switches feature a new membrane under the keycap that prevent dust from tampering with the mechanism. While Apple hasn’t promised this will fix its reliability issues, it should at least mitigate the issue a bit.

Touch ID and port selection

If ever there was a laptop where removing ports was a good idea, it’d be this one. It’s a portable laptop that’s meant to be taken on the go, and the lack of a USB-A or HDMI port allow the chassis to be that much thinner. It has one more USB-C port than the 12-inch MacBook and one less than the base model MacBook Pro, but it’s a good balance.

The inclusion of Touch ID is also an important feature that’s been brought over from the MacBook Pro. Fortunately, it’s no longer been integrated into the Touch Bar, which is something we’re glad Apple left off on the Air. Touch ID, though, brings biometric login to the Air, as well as integration with Apple Pay.

The worst features

The price

Price isn’t exactly a feature, but it was always the most important thing about the old MacBook Air. At $1,000, the somewhat affordable price tag made it a lot of people’s first laptop and an easy introduction into the Mac ecosystem. Th new price of $1,200 puts it a bit too far out of that range, even for Apple.

The pricing also makes choosing a laptop from the current MacBook lineup that much more confusing. With three options all within a hundred bucks of each other, it’s hard to imagine someone could walk into an Apple Store and just pick one out off the shelf. Attempting to explain the difference between the 12-inch MacBook, the 13-inch MacBook Air, and the 13-inch MacBook Pro (without Touch Bar) won’t be easy.

The processor

We don’t know a lot about the processor Apple has chosen for the new MacBook Air. It’s never been used in a laptop we’ve seen, and it doesn’t even appear on Intel’s website. However, we do know it’s a 1.6GHz dual-core Intel Core i5, with a Turbo Boost up to 3.6GHz. That’s certainly an upgrade over the old MacBook Air with a fifth-generation Intel Core i5, especially in Turbo boost speed.

However, it’s certainly not the fastest processor on the market, even in thin-and-light notebooks. Laptops like the Dell XPS 13 or Huawei MateBook X Pro are just as thin as the new MacBook Air, but use a much faster quad-core processor. It makes the high price that much harder to justify.

Editors’ Recommendations

• MacBook Air (2018) hands-on review
• It’s finally here. Apple’s new MacBook Air has Touch ID and Retina for $1,199
• Apple MacBook Air (2018) vs. Apple MacBook
• The best MacBook deals for October 2018
• Apple MacBook Air buying guide