If you’re an Apple fan, chances are you unwrapped at least one Apple Gift Card this holiday season. These gift cards can be used for App Store purchases, Apple Store purchases, and Apple services like Apple Music and Apple TV.

Did you just unwrap new AirPods Pro? If so, it’s key that you know there is a lot more to the experience than just listening to music and podcasts. Here are some of my recommendations for new AirPods Pro users.

Apple has announced a new limited-time Apple Pay promotion. The company says you can save 20% on online orders from Adidas when you check out with Apple Pay.

Benjamin and Chance reflect on another year in Apple news. We cover all the big headlines from across the months, including the fallout of the Siri delays, the early iOS 26 redesign leaks, and the launch of all the new 2025 hardware like the iPhone 17 series.

And in Happy Hour Plus, the pair check in on who won their annual prediction picks. Subscribe at 9to5mac.com/join.

• Sponsored by Copilot Money: The personal finance app to make your money yours. For a limited time, get 26% off your first year at try.copilot.money/9to5mac.
• Sponsored by Gusto: The online payroll and benefits software built for small businesses. Get three months free when you run your first payroll at gusto.com/happyhour.
• Sponsored by Shopify: In 2026, stop waiting and start selling with Shopify. Sign up for a $1 per month trial at shopify.com/happyhour.

Apple released the first iOS 26.3 beta recently for iPhone users. The update focuses a lot on interoperability between iPhone and Android devices, as well as support for third-party smartwatches. Here are all of the new iOS 26.3 features so far.

Optimizing and perfecting my Mac setup is one of my favorite things to do. I love my M4 MacBook Pro, and surrounding it with accessories that improve my productivity is key to my workflow. If you just unwrapped a new Mac, there are tons of ways to upgrade your experience even further.

In fact, almost all of these products are on my desk as I write this story.