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Best portable monitors for the Mac in 2024

Your work station doesn't have to be stationary.

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Apple's MacBook Air and MacBook Pro are some of the best laptops money can buy, especially since the introduction of Apple Silicon. The MacBook Pro is the best Mac for professionals who need monster power, while the MacBook Air is much better for those who are always on the move. These laptops have fantastic built-in screens, but one display often isn't enough for multitaskers who are taking full advantage of macOS Sonoma. Fortunately, you can invest in a portable monitor, which accompanies you and your Mac wherever you go, and to help you out, we've rounded up some of the best you can buy right now.

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16-inch MacBook Pro on the left, 15-inch MacBook Air on the right
What's the difference between the MacBook Pro and MacBook Air?

Which Apple laptop is right for you?

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Apple's MacBooks are the most popular laptops out there, and for good reason. Since 2020, the company has been making some of the absolute best laptops on the market, thanks in big part to Apple Silicon processors giving them performance and efficiency you just can't find anywhere else.

Terminal app window on a MacBook Air M2
How to run ipconfig on a Mac

You can run ipconfig to find out your Mac's IP address

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The Terminal app on macOS Sonoma is one of the advanced tools, allowing power users to execute complex command lines. One of the commonly executed ones is ipconfig, which enables users of the latest Macs to view their IP address. So, what's an IP address, and how does ipconfig work? Let's find out.

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macOS 15: What we know so far and 7 things we want to see

The next version of macOS is only months away from being revealed, so here's what we expect (and what we hope) the 2024 Mac update will bring.

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macOS Sonoma has been out for many months now, and that's why we're starting to turn our focus to the next version of macOS. Apple typically reveals its upcoming operating systems at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference, which is historically held in June of each year. That means our first look at macOS 15, which is known internally by the codename "Glow," is just a few months away. We already know a few things about Apple's plans for macOS 15, like how the operating system is expected to debut with some new artificial intelligence features. Here's everything we know so far, and what we'd like to see Apple bring to the best Macs with the next version of macOS.

Two Mac desktop screens on a MacBook Air and Apple TV.
How to install macOS in VirtualBox

You can run macOS in a dedicated sandbox

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When you buy a Mac, you're paying for the hardware and software. This means you can access and use the latest macOS Sonoma for free. But what if you want to use macOS on non-Apple hardware, such as a Windows laptop? That's possible, and virtualization is one of the most straightforward methods to do so. You can also rely on virtualization to install a separate copy of macOS in an isolated sandbox on your Mac for testing or other purposes. Here's how to install macOS in VirtualBox.

A comparison between the M2 MacBook Air sizes.
Best MacBook Air cases in 2024

A case can liven up your MacBook's dull finish

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Apple's M3 MacBook Air is an impressive machine, and the M2 MacBook Air is still an exceptional computer in its own right. These are sleek, well-designed Macs that come in different sizes and sport powerful chips. However, they aren't always cheap, so you'll want a solid case to keep yours safe and sound from drops and scratches.

The side of a MacBook Pro M2 Max
How to install Android apps on macOS

Apple's macOS can actually run Android apps, but not by default.

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Apple's latest Macs, including the MacBook Pro (2023), are some of the most powerful consumer computers on the market. macOS Sonoma users can take advantage of some advanced features, such as better widgets, video conferencing tools, gaming mode and more. However, what many aren't aware of is the ability to run Android apps on a Mac. While you can't install an Android application on macOS by default, there are some steps you can follow to unlock this capability.

The MacBook Air (15-inch) with the display on.
Best places to buy a refurbished MacBook Air in 2024

If you're looking to save some money, going with a refurbished MacBook Air might just be the ticket. These are some of the best places to buy and save

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Apple's MacBooks are some of the best laptops you can buy. And while they are great, you're going to be spending quite a bit on one, even if you opt for the more affordable MacBook Air models. With that said, if you're dead set on getting a MacBook Air but don't want to pay top dollar for one, then going with a refurbished model is going to be a fantastic option. Although there are plenty of different places to purchase one, we recommend sticking with a retailer you know like Best Buy, or even Apple.

game running on a MacBook Pro m3 max
Best Mac games in 2024

Mac computers don't have the best reputation for gaming, but they've come a long way with Apple Silicon. Here are our favorite titles on macOS.

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Macs aren't the best gaming computers out there, mainly because only a small number of games support macOS. Nonetheless, many depend on the latest Macs for their work or studies, and users will be happy to learn that macOS Sonoma is the best macOS version for gaming in years. Aside from Apple's big bet on Apple Arcade, macOS Sonoma also includes an optimization feature called Game Mode just for gaming. While you will likely enjoy a superior gaming experience and a larger library on other platforms, there are still plenty of excellent games on macOS. To help you with your hunt, we've compiled a list of the best Mac games currently available.

Screenshots of image resizing tools in Windows and macOS with text reading
How to resize an image on your Windows PC or Mac

Having trouble uploading an image because it's too big? Here are the easiest ways to resize an image on Windows and macOS.

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We've all been there. You're trying to upload an image to the web, and the website where you need to upload it has an annoying file size limit. That means you now have to resize the image yourself, and we're here to show you how you can do it on your Windows PC or Mac.

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Best Mac external hard drives and SSDs in 2024

Newer Macs lack user-accessible storage, and these external hard drives and SSDs are here to the rescue.

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Most of the latest Macs, including the MacBook Pro and Mac Studio, don't offer user-accessible storage. So, once you make the purchase, you're stuck with the configuration you've got. While many users aren't affected by this, it certainly gets problematic if your storage needs increase down the road. You would either have to buy a new Mac, rely on cloud solutions, or buy one of the excellent Mac external hard drives and SSDs we've listed below. They can also come in handy for data redundancy, so you can have a safe copy of your files in case something happens to your computer.

Apple Vision Pro on a desk.
5 disappointments after a week of using Apple Vision Pro

Vision Pro is a first-generation game changer. That means there are just as many disappointments as there are revolutionary features.

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After many months of waiting, Apple finally released Vision Pro earlier this month. The company's first VR headset comes with impressive specifications and a massive $3,500 price tag, leaving many — including myself — to be skeptical. I've been using one for over a week, and it's been a mix of revolutionary and disappointing. That's often the case with first-generation products, and I knew what I was getting into when I purchased Vision Pro despite my better judgment.

Apple Studio Display on blurred background
Unprecedented deal knocks $300 off Apple Studio Display, dropping to its lowest price yet

A fantastic discount that drops the Apple Studio Display down to its lowest price ever for a limited time.

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There are a lot of great monitor options out there, but if you've been looking for something that's going to pair well with Macs, then you're going to want to go with the Apple Studio Display. The Apple Studio Display offers a lot of screen real estate, coming in at 27 inches, features an impressive 5K resolution and offers beautiful colors which is great for those that are editing photos and videos.

Font book on macos
How to install and use fonts on an Apple Mac

macOS allows users to install third-party fonts to utilize in certain applications. Here's how to use them on your Apple Mac.

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Apple Macs are excellent devices for productivity. The company's MacBook Pro lineup strikes the perfect balance between power and portability and doesn't compromise battery life. Whether you are a writer, programmer or creator and type text a lot, you may have run into several built-in fonts to switch between.

Best MacBook Pro cases in 2024

A case can shield your expensive MacBook Pro from scratches and other damage.

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Investing in a great case for your MacBook Pro just makes sense. These laptops, which have gone through a number of size and configuration changes over the years, have remained high-end hardware available at an elevated price. The unibody aluminum design deserves to remain pristine, and besides, you don't want an accidental drop to cause a crack in the screen or other internal damage to performance parts.

The Windows 11 desktop running on an M2 MacBook Air.
How to install Windows on a Mac

Apple is phasing out Boot Camp, but you can still get Windows on a Mac with a VM

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Many people use Mac computers due to macOS, which is Apple's proprietary operating system. It looks great and is optimized specifically for Apple's hardware, which means it'll run quickly and smoothly on your Mac. However, there might be times when you need to use Windows. Instead of going out and buying a new computer, you can run Windows on your great Mac by using a virtual machine (VM). We've tried Parallels Desktop 19 for Mac, and we've found it to be our favorite way to virtualize Windows 11 within macOS. You can follow this guide to install Windows on your Mac.

An image showing the text that reads Apple Vision Pro along with an XDA logo over an image of a person wearing the Vision Pro headset.
Apple Vision Pro headset: Price, specifications, and everything you need to know

Apple's mixed-reality headset is shipping to customers in the U.S.

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Apple Vision Pro, the company's first and highly anticipated augmented reality headset which it showcased at WWDC23 keynote last year, is finally available to purchase. That's right, Apple's new spatial computing hardware has finally hit the stores, and you can grab one right now if you can stomach its $3,500 starting price. The Vision Pro is a mixed-reality headset that can switch between augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) with the help of a physical dial, but there's more to it than that.

An iPhone mounted with Belkin's Continuity Camera mount in front of two Macs.
Belkin iPhone mount for Mac desktops review: Use Continuity Camera for unlimited webcam angles in macOS

Belkin has a Continuity Camera mount for Mac desktops and displays, but its killer feature is the built-in tripod screw.

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Continuity Camera is one of the most useful features to debut on macOS in recent years. It uses your iPhone's rear camera system as your Mac's webcam, which improves video quality and adds features. However, the tricky part can be finding a way to mount the best iPhones in a way that'll work with a Mac. For reference, Continuity Camera only activates when your iPhone is locked, mounted horizontally, and near your Mac.

Android smartphone with Nearby Share running transferring file to Windows laptop
How to use Quick Share on a Mac

Use Quick Share to send files from an Android phone to a macOS computer.

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Sharing files across devices should be easy, but in 2024, it isn't. It's slightly easier this year, because Google and Samsung have consolidated Nearby Share and Quick Share into one, unified service. Quick Share is the surviving name, and it's Google's equivalent to Apple's AirDrop, allowing users to transfer files and other content seamlessly between Android devices and even Windows laptops and desktops. However, unlike AirDrop, Quick Share is not available on Macs. This means that transferring files from your Android phone to your Mac can be a tedious experience. But this is where NearDrop comes in.

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4 most surprising things from the Apple Vision Pro teardown

iFixit has published a teardown of Apple Vision Pro, and there's so much to unpack. Here's what surprised us the most.

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Whether you love or hate the Apple Vision Pro — and its staggering $3,500 price point — there's no doubt that the VR headset is a technological marvel. We suspected this when Vision Pro was first announced, and our own editor, Ben Sin, tried it himself. Now that iFixit has made a video chronicling an in-depth teardown of Vision Pro, it's only become more evident that the headset is a triumph of engineering. But the teardown also revealed some shocking things about Apple's VR headset, including why the EyeSight feature is so weird. Here's a list of four of the biggest stunners from iFixit's teardown of Apple Vision Pro.

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