David Averbach is the CEO and Publisher of iPhone Life. In the last 13 years, he has shared his Apple expertise on multiple industry panels, was awarded FOLIO magazine’s 2014 media industry’s innovators 20 in Their 20s, taught classes for our premium subscribers, and co-hosted over 200 episodes of the iPhone Life Podcast. A lifelong Apple fan, David would be lost without his MacBook Pro, iPhone, iPad Pro, Apple Watch HomePod, Apple TV, and AirPods. In his free time, David enjoys optimizing his smart home setup, savoring a good cup of coffee, and traveling.
By David Averbach
In 2020 Apple introduced MagSafe technology into its line of iPhones. MagSafe is a ring of magnets inside the iPhone that allows you to magnetically connect your iPhone to accessories. MagSafe also allows you to charge your iPhone wirelessly with compatible docks and chargers.
By David Averbach
iPhone Life is supported by readers like you. When you buy products through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. All products are independently tested, rated, and reviewed by our team of editors. Learn more.
If you are looking for good speakers that won't disappoint, our 2020 Buyer's Guide has something that will fit you and your needs. Our selections include speakers ranging from wired speakers to Wi-Fi speakers to the best Bluetooth speakers. Some are high-end and others are budget-friendly, and include everything from portable Bluetooth speakers to plug in speakers. So whether you're a casual listener or a serious audiophile, this guide is for you.
By David Averbach
iPhone Life is supported by readers like you. When you buy products through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. All products are independently tested, rated, and reviewed by our team of editors. Learn more.
In this buyer's guide, we've rounded up the best in essentials for your Apple devices, including our top-rated glass protector, charging cable, charging station, and more useful iPhone gadgets! Having the most dependable Apple iPhone accessories and iPhone attachments is crucial and we've got you covered.
By David Averbach
I’ve been covering the World Wide Developers Conference, Apple’s annual developer's conference, for a decade, and no year has felt as simultaneously surreal yet comfortingly familiar as when Tim Cook presented the Apple keynote address to an empty conference hall in June. Cook served up the usual healthy dose of dad jokes and self-congratulatory statements. Most importantly, WWDC was jam-packed with updates for all of Apple’s major operating systems., including iOS 14, iPadOS, WatchOS 7, and Big Sur, the latest MacOS. Here are my top four takeaways from WWDC.
By David Averbach
In 1982, researchers at Carnegie Mellon connected a Coca-Cola vending machine to the internet and created the world’s first smart appliance. The “smart vending machine” could report its inventory and whether or not the drinks were cold. It wasn’t until the rise of smartphones, however, that the so-called internet of things (IoT) became ubiquitous. By the end of last year, there were eight billion IoT devices and that number is projected to grow to 41 billion by 2027, according to Business Insider’s Internet of Things 2020 report.
By David Averbach
The Apple HomeKit framework and Home app are relatively new, but the possibilities for pairing smart home systems and products are already amazing. Our 2018 smart home roundup is great for those interested in purchasing their first Apple home device, as well as those who have already started dabbling in smart home technology. Whether you're interested in a smart thermostat or a smart lock, an app-controlled robot vacuum or even a smart mattress (yes, those exist) we've reviewed the best accessories you need to update and automate your home.
By David Averbach
When Apple released the original iPhone back in 2007, you had two models to choose from: 4 GB or 8 GB. Those were simpler times. There was only one color (black), and it was sold on one carrier (AT&T). While there was no App Store, no Siri, and no iCloud, there were also very few decisions you had to navigate. Fast forward to this September when Apple announced its new product lineup at the Steve Jobs theater, and the tech giant announced three new iPhones—the iPhone XS, the iPhone XS Max, and the iPhone XR. Each phone has a unique set of tradeoffs to analyze. Not to mention the fact that Apple still sells the iPhone 8 and the iPhone 7. If you count all the generations, sizes, storage options, and colors, you now have 69 different iPhones to choose from. Thankfully, we’re here to walk you through all the new devices and help you figure out which one is right for you.
By David Averbach
Apple didn’t invent the personal computer. Nor did it create the first smartphone or tablet. Throughout the tech company’s history, from its origins with Steve Jobs and Steve Wozniak tinkering in a garage all the way to the present, the key to its success has been in taking emerging technologies and making them user-friendly for the masses. One of Jobs’ catchphrases when introducing a new product was, “It just works.” He said it so frequently it might as well have been Apple’s motto. Apple’s ability to create user-friendly products has not only allowed it to sell products to the masses, but also to charge a premium in the process. Today there are countless Android phones and tablets on the market that cost a fraction of what Apple sells its products for. For example, you can buy a brand-new Kindle Fire for $80 whereas an iPad costs anywhere from $329 for an entry-level model to $1,279 for a fully loaded iPad Pro. It’s no exaggeration to say that Apple’s reputation for making easy-to-use products is its most valuable asset. In the past year, Apple has struggled to meet its own standard. With iOS 12, Apple is attempting to repair the damage incurred by iOS 11 and reclaim its mantra of “It just works.”
By David Averbach
iPhoneLife CEO and writer David Averbach reviews audio quality, "Hey Siri" performance, the HomePod's fit into Apple's ecosystem, five of his favorite HomePod features, and who should and shouldn't purchase a HomePod.
By David Averbach
To say I’m obsessed with speakers might be an understatement. In eighth grade, I was supposed to write an essay on my most valued possession. I chose my Sony boombox. As an adult, I now have a speaker in almost every room of my house. So when I watched Apple announce the new HomePod at this year’s Worldwide Developers Conference, I felt like a kid in a candy store. Then I heard the price ($349) and things got a little more complicated.
