Laptops

Apple’s new MacBook update will shrink your battery life by default

Will target devices that are always plugged in

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Do you remember Apple’s battery-gate scandal a few years ago? Unbeknownst to their users at the time, Apple slowed down their older phones to allegedly preserve battery life. After a clamor of dissent, the company eventually apologized and instated some compromises. Since then, the scandal quietly dissipated into the night.

However, Apple still hasn’t lost its weird ways. Starting today, the company is rolling out a new feature for current MacBooks. Called “battery health management,” the feature will limit the amount of charge the battery takes. By reducing charge, the battery decreases chemical aging and extends its lifespan.

A good number of laptops already have a similar limiting feature. In these devices, the battery doesn’t charge all the way to 100 percent. It stops at either 80 percent or 90 percent. However, in Apple’s case, the feature is on by default, potentially obscuring the limit from undiscerning users. Further, affected devices will not show any limit. In their perspective, the battery is still at 100 percent, despite charging at a lesser clip.

The feature is also ambiguously applied. Not everyone will trigger the setting automatically. According to Apple, the update will discern whether the device needs a limit. If you always have your laptop plugged in, the feature will likely turn on.

If you don’t want the feature, you can turn it off in the device’s settings. Still, as we know by now, opt-out (rather than opt-in) features will always incite controversy.

The feature, packaged in the macOS Catalina 10.15.5 update, will roll out for MacBooks with Thunderbolt 3, including MacBook Pros made in 2016 or later and MacBook Airs made in 2018 or later.

SEE ALSO: MacBook Air 2020 Unboxing and Hands-On!

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Laptops

Alienware celebrates 30th anniversary with new Area-51 laptops

The series features Alienware 30, an all-new design language.

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March 17, 2026

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Despite the rise of more gaming brands, Alienware is still one of the most recognizable names for gamers who want dedicated hardware. This year, the brand is celebrating its 30th anniversary. To commemorate the milestone, Alienware has launched the new Area-51 and Aurora notebooks.

Alienware Area-51

Alienware’s Area-51 lineup is the brand’s flagship line of notebooks, packing in the best of the best from the industry. This time is no different.

First of all, the new series will rock Alienware 30, a new design philosophy made especially for the 30th anniversary. On the outside, the laptops have fluid contours, emphasizing curves opposed to the industry’s more angular contemporaries. It also has a Zero Hinge, which hides the laptop’s hinge from view. Finally, it has pillowed palm rests to make usage easy for long gaming sessions.

The 16-inch model can rock up to a WQXGA Anti-Glare OLED screen, featuring 240Hz refresh rate and 620 peak HDR nits. It will also have an LCD option. Alternatively, the 18-inch model has a WQXGA screen, featuring 300Hz refresh rate and 500 nits of brightness.

Inside, the Alienware Area-51 boasts up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 290HX processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 24GB GPU. For memory, gamers can enjoy up to 64GB Dual-Channel DDR5. Finally, for storage, the series can rock up to 2TB SSD natively but can support up to 3 slots, allowing for up to 12TB of internal storage.

The series will have a sizable 96Whr battery. This is complemented by a 280W adapter and the brand’s largest fans by volume to keep things cool.

Alienware 16X Aurora

For those who portability over raw power, the new Alienware 16X Aurora fits inside any day-to-day kit. For example, it ditches the thermal shelf typical of most gaming notebooks today to increase portability. It has rounded edges to make it easier to grasp and to create a slightly pillowed palm rest, similar to its flagship counterpart.

The 16-inch WQXGA OLED panel touts 240Hz refresh rate, 0.2ms response time, and 620 nits HDR peak brightness.

Inside, the notebook has up to an Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX processor and up to an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti GPU. These specs are paired with up to 64GB Dual-Channel DDR5 memory and up to 2TB SSD.

Finally, the Alienware 16X Aurora will have a 90Whr battery. This is supported by up to a 280W charger (for the RTX 5070 variant).

Price, availability

Both series are available starting today, March 17.

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Laptops

Apple MacBook Neo Review

The Mac You’ve Been Waiting For!

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March 12, 2026

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Apple disrupts the industry with their latest MacBook — an affordable to say the very least.

If you’re a student, a first-time Mac owner, someone who’s been priced out of this ecosystem their whole life, someone who just needs a laptop for basic tasks but one that looks great, without slowing them down, this is it!

Or maybe you’re torn choosing between the MacBook Neo and the more powerful M5 MacBook Air?

Well, that’s what we’re here for. Here’s our review with the all-new MacBook Neo.

Get the MacBook Neo here!

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Laptops

Hands-on: NEW iPhone 17e, iPad Air, MacBooks, Studio Displays

What Apple has announced other than the MacBook Neo

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March 9, 2026

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The MacBook Neo was the star of yesterday’s Apple event, and it has every right to be but it’s been a big week for Apple.

So as promised, we also went hands-on with every other device announced this week: iPhone 17e, M4 iPad Air, M5 MacBook Air, MacBook Pro with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, and the new Studio Displays.

 

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