APC

For people who love technology, APC is unique: it's the world's longest-published monthly tech magazine. Launched in May 1980, we were there when Apple's Macintosh and IBM's PC were born, and have been at the forefront of tech ever since. With a combination of insights, testing and tutorials APC lets you stay up-to-date with tech as it changes the world.

APC

Is our future a box in the cloud? • Did everything just suddenly change?

Exclusive downloads • Your free full-version apps as a thanks for reading APC. These exclusive downloads will only be available for a limited time, from 12/01/26 to 01/03/26. Download these APC exclusives free from: www.apcmag.com/exclusives

TECHNOTES • Everything you need to know from the month in tech

Social media gave us brain rot and AI is making it worse • Put down the phone, switch off ChatGPT and go and do something more interesting instead – you brain will thank you.

The memory mayhem continues to worsen • Consumers are no longer Crucial to Micron. Mark Williams continues to watch in horror at the memory shortage carnage.

GADGETS • Unnecessary but desirable things

Who’s winning the smartglasses race? And does anyone care? • Meta has unveiled smartglasses with a display. Is XR and AR on our faces the future of personal devices, or will it be a repeat of the Google Glass debacle, wonders Nicole Kobie.

REVIEWS • Expert reviews and recommendations to help you buy with confidence

Apple MacBook Pro M5 (14in) • An incremental upgrade, but it’s still an incredible machine.

Apple Vision Pro M5 • Apple’s race to the future appears to be slowing.

Amazon Echo Show 8 (4th Gen) • The best way to enjoy Alexa in your home, and will be even better when Alexa+ arrives.

Amazon Echo Studio (2025) • Takes the lead as the smart speaker with extra tricks.

Amazon Echo Dot Max • An affordable entry into the world of Alexa+.

OnePlus 15 • The new standard in high-tech plus-size phones.

Samsung Galaxy XR • It looks a lot like the Apple Vision Pro – but it’s cheaper, lighter and smarter too, thanks to Gemini Live integration.

Samsung 9100 Pro 8TB SSD • At last there’s a high capacity premium PCIe 5 SSD.

Edifier NeoBuds Planar • Using drivers usually reserved for over-ear audiophile cans, these buds are a revelation.

Sennheiser HDB 630 • High-res audio for the daily grind.

MiniTool Video Converter 4.5 • Download and keep any video online.

Parallels Desktop 26 • Run Windows and more on your Mac with ease.

BEST NEW SOFTWARE for 2026 • Don’t limit yourself and your PC to the same old programs for the next 12 months. Robert Irvine recommends 10 brilliant free tools to download over the coming year.

FREE AT LAST • Prices seem to be rising everywhere and the golden age of online freebies has passed, but if you look carefully you can still find goodies you previously had to pay for. Daniel Booth reveals what’s become free this year…

BIOMETRICS FACE THE FACTS • Today’s devices can log you in instantly with a fingerprint or a smile. But how do biometric technologies work, and can they really be relied upon? Darien Graham-Smith finds out.

WHAT’S NEW IN MICROSOFT EXCEL • It’s 40 years old, but the venerable spreadsheet software just keeps getting smarter. Nik Rawlinson explores all the latest features.

BEST PRO & CREATIVE TABLETS • While the iPad Pro remains the king of the tablet castle, if you can’t pay the enormous price that Apple demands then one of its rivals here may well tempt you.

Six steps to selecting the best tablet • When looking to find your ideal device, it helps to first prioritise what matters to you most –...