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CNET Group sites are running Round 2 of their Apple guessing game until July 21. Participants can win an Apple Watch by predicting device specs.
Five technology publications owned by Ziff Davis have launched the second round of a sweepstakes asking readers to predict Apple’s 2026 hardware announcements for a chance to win an Apple Watch. The "CNET Group Big Guessing Game" runs from July 7 through July 21 across CNET, Mashable, PCMag, ZDNET, and Lifehacker [2].
| At a glance | |
|---|---|
| Sponsor | Ziff Davis, LLC |
| Prize | Latest Apple Watch |
| Round 2 Dates | July 7 – July 21 |
| Total Questions | 75 |
The promotion is divided into three distinct phases targeting different aspects of Apple's product roadmap. Round 1 focused on software updates such as iOS, iPadOS, and macOS and concluded on June 2 [1]. Round 2, currently active, shifts focus to hardware devices including iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, and AirPods [2]. The final round is scheduled for Aug. 18 through Sept. 1 and will center on Apple's fall event [1].
Participants can answer five questions per site during each round, resulting in 75 possible questions across the entire CNET Group network [1]. Each correct prediction earns the user one entry into a grand-prize drawing for the latest version of the Apple Watch, which is expected to be announced in September [4]. While entrants may submit answers on all five websites, each individual is eligible to win only one prize [1].
Ziff Davis, LLC acts as the official sponsor for the giveaway, and Apple is not affiliated with or endorsing the promotion [1]. The contest is open to legal residents of the 50 U.S. states and Washington, D.C., who are at least 18 years old [1]. The questions probe current industry rumors, such as potential foldable iPhones or touchscreen MacBooks, requiring readers to distinguish between likely releases and speculation [5].
The initiative leverages the annual speculation cycle to drive engagement across Ziff Davis's portfolio, though the ultimate value of the prize depends on the specific hardware Apple releases later this year.
Coverage is mostly measured — 105 of 108 reports stay neutral.
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AI-assisted synthesis by the TrendWatcher Editorial Desk · sourced from 5 outlets · Jul 7, 2026 · How we report
The grand prize is an Apple Watch, with additional entries earned for each correct answer.
No, the sources state that Apple is not a sponsor, affiliate, or endorser of the sweepstakes.
The updates will allow natural‑language video search, grouping footage from multiple cameras, and receiving motion‑alert summaries, processed on device or via Apple’s private Cloud Compute.
Users must subscribe to the 2 TB iCloud+ tier, which costs $9.99 per month.
The second round runs from July 7 to July 21, with the grand prize drawing scheduled for September.