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
Spotify Readies Premium Tier With Hi-Fi Audio and AI Features
Spotify users waiting to learn when the service's long-delayed high-quality premium audio service will materialize may finally have something to chew on. Bloomberg reports that the streaming service hopes to roll out a new "Music Pro" tier later this year.
The company is said to be developing the new premium subscription plan that will cost up to $5.99 per month on top of existing plans,...
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Apple's New iPhone SE Could Ship With Shockingly Low Base Storage
A leak out of China suggests Apple may make a controversial storage decision with its upcoming iPhone SE 4, equipping the $500 base model with just 64GB of storage, despite the fact that it's the year 2025.
A product listing گابایت-حافظه-دا/">discovere on a Chinese retail website suggests the iPhone SE 4 will be offered in three storage configurations: 64GB, 128GB, and 256GB. Based on...
iPhone 16E to Debut Wednesday? Apple's Budget iPhone May Get a New Name
Apple's upcoming budget iPhone might not be called the iPhone SE 4 after all, with Bloomberg's Mark Gurman lending credence to rumors of a potential name change for the device being unveiled this Wednesday.
In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman mentions Apple CEO Tim Cook's recent social media announcement about a new product unveiling on February 19, in which Cook teased the "newest...
MacBook Pro Now Expected to Get M5 Chip Before iPad Pro
Apple will bring its next-generation M5 chip to the MacBook Pro in the fall, followed by the iPad Pro in the first half of 2026, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Gurman's latest claim flips the previously expected order of devices to transition from M4 to M5 chips, which was based on last year's M4 product launch order. Apple first introduced its M4 chip in an updated iPad Pro in May...
Gurman: M4 MacBook Air Models to Launch by March 'At the Latest'
Apple will begin selling new MacBook Air models featuring its latest M4 chip by March "at the latest," mirroring the time frame of the M3 MacBook Air launch last year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple last updated the MacBook Air line in March 2024.
Gurman's comments appeared in his latest Power On newsletter, suggesting the reporter is no further forward on learning the exact...
Review: BenQ PD2730S 5K Designer Monitor – A Studio Display Alternative That Doesn't Break the Bank
Apple may have a fight on its hands in the 27-inch 5K display space. Recently we've seen a solid budget competitor to the $1,600+ Apple Studio Display arrive on the market with the $799 ASUS ProArt 5K Display, and now here we have the BenQ PD2730S, part of the company's Designer Series that promises "always accurate and consistent colors."
Price-wise, this monitor sits $400 either side of...
Netflix Content Begins Appearing in Apple TV App for Some Users [Updated]
Netflix appears to have softened its stance on Apple TV integration, with some users in the US now reporting seeing prompts to connect their Netflix accounts directly to Apple's TV app.
FlatpanelsHD was first to spot the reports. The change means users can add Netflix Originals to their TV app watchlist. After accepting the integration prompt, these shows appear in the "Continue Watching"...
Apple Intelligence Plan for China Detailed in New Report
Apple is working to bring its AI features to China as early as May, with Alibaba and Baidu acting as local partners to help the company meet strict state regulations, according to a new Bloomberg report.
Apple is said to have dedicated teams in both China and the US working to adapt its Apple Intelligence platform for the Chinese market, as it navigates the country's complex regulatory...
WhatsApp Rolls Out Customizable Chat Themes and Colorful Bubbles
WhatsApp has announced the introduction of chat themes, giving users the freedom to personalize their conversations using custom colors for both chat bubbles and backgrounds. The encrypted messaging platform is also adding 30 new wallpaper options to help users further customize their chat experience.
The new customization options let you either choose from preset themes that modify both...
iPhone 17 Air Could Look Like This in Real Life
There have been several alleged leaked details of the iPhone 17 Air, Apple's rumored new slim iPhone, but images have been limited to grainy shots taken in component factories. However, this hyper-realistic concept created by WEIS Studio gives us the best idea yet of what Apple's thin device might actually look like.
The concept design is inspired by recent leaks indicating that the device...
US Lawmakers Urge Intelligence Chief to Fight UK iCloud Backdoor Order
Members of key congressional oversight committees have called on the United States' new top intelligence director to pressure the United Kingdom to withdraw its controversial demand for Apple to create a backdoor into encrypted user data stored in iCloud, according to The Washington Post.
Last week The Post revealed that a secret UK order, issued under the Investigatory Powers Act last...
Apple Maps Cycling Directions Expanded in UK and Ireland
Apple Maps now has expanded coverage for cycling directions in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The expansion, first spotted by a Reddit user, means cyclists can plan a journey on the app from, say, Land's End to John o' Groats, if they're that way inclined.
Cycling directions have been available in the UK and Ireland for a few years, but until now, support didn't cover the whole of the...
OpenAI Reveals GPT-4.5 and GPT-5 Roadmap, Promises Simplified AI Experience
OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has announced plans to streamline the company's AI offerings and provided details on the upcoming releases of its GPT-4.5 and GPT-5 large language models.
GPT-4.5 will be OpenAI's final non-chain-of-thought model, said Altman in a post on X (Twitter). "After that, a top goal for us is to unify o-series models and GPT-series models by creating systems that can use all...
iPhone 17 Pro Max Will Feature Smaller Dynamic Island, Claims Leaker
Apple's largest high-end model in the upcoming iPhone 17 series this year will feature a smaller Dynamic Island, according to Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station.
The leaker claims that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will adopt a "metalens" for Face ID that integrates the transmitter and receiver components, which will reduce the size and thickness of structural elements, resulting in a smaller...
Apple Partners With Alibaba to Bring iPhone AI Features to China
Apple will partner with Alibaba to offer AI features in China, the Chinese company's chairman said on Thursday, resolving months of speculation around Apple's strategy in the region.
"They talked to a number of companies in China," said Joe Tsai at the World Government Summit in Dubai. "In the end they chose to do business with us. They want to use our AI to power their phones. We feel...
WhatsApp Will Soon Let Users Add Instagram Links to Profiles
WhatsApp is testing a new feature that will allow users to link their social media accounts to their WhatsApp profile, according to findings in the latest iOS beta version of the app (via WABetaInfo).
Based on the beta's current state, the upcoming feature adds a dedicated section within WhatsApp's Account settings where users can input links to their social media profiles. The beta...
Apple Taps Ultra-Thin Glass Suppliers for First Foldable Device
Apple's designs on its first foldable device appear to have ramped up a notch, with the company said to be tapping suppliers of ultra-thin glass (UTG).
Chinese manufacturer Lens Technology is set to become Apple's primary supplier of UTG for upcoming foldable devices, according to a new report from The Elec (via DigiTimes). The company is expected to secure approximately 70% of Apple's UTG...
Google's Next Budget Phone Virtually Eliminates the Camera Bump
Google appears to be tackling one of smartphones' most persistent design quirks – the camera bump. According to leaked renders published by Android Headlines, the upcoming Pixel 9A will feature an almost flush camera housing, which would be a significant departure from the bumper-sized camera bumps common in modern smartphones.
The mid-range device's camera module sits nearly level with the...
iPhone 16 Pro Max Beaten by Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in App Loading Speed Test
Apple's iPhone 16 Pro Max has been comprehensively beaten by the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in a real world app speed test conducted by PhoneBuff, with the Snapdragon 8 Elite chip and 12GB of RAM winning out over the A18 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM in Apple's smartphone.
The performance test measured how long it took each phone to open and process tasks across a series of apps. Each smartphone...
OpenAI Swiftly Rebuffs Musk's Surprise $97.4 Billion Buyout Attempt
Elon Musk on Monday led a consortium of investors in making a $97.4 billion unsolicited offer to acquire ChatGPT maker OpenAI's nonprofit arm – only to face immediate rejection from CEO Sam Altman.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the bid included backing from Musk's artificial intelligence company xAI and prominent investors like Valor Equity Partners and Baron Capital. Musk co-founded...
