Apple revealed its latest earbuds during the iPhone 16 launch event earlier this week: The AirPods 4. Rumors suggested we could get a new generation of AirPods Max, but a few new colors and a USB-C port were the extent of the changes there. Announcements around the AirPods Pro centered on the hearing updates the top-tier buds will receive via a software update this fall.
That makes the new AirPods 4 the only brand new addition to Apple’s personal audio lineup. They come in two varieties: With active noise cancellation for $179 and without that feature for $129. Engadget’s Billy Steele briefly tried the more expensive buds after the event in Cupertino and his initial impressions were positive. We’ll post a full review soon, but in the meantime, here’s how to pre-order yours now before the AirPods 4 release date on September 20.
Say hello to the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max. Apple’s latest high-end models may look familiar, but they have slightly larger displays than the iPhone 15 Pros: The screen on the iPhone 16 Pro is 6.3 inches and the Pro Max is 6.9 inches, an increase of 0.2 inches in both cases. This means the bezels on the 16 Pros are ultra slim.
Apple
Really, it’s all about the camera button this time around. Both of the new Pro models have a dedicated button just for snapping photos and filming video, professional style. It’s touch-sensitive, too: A light press opens up additional tools that are controlled by swiping along the button, such as setting the zoom, exposure and aperture. A long hold on the Camera Control button swaps between still photo and video modes. Apple plans to update the button with a two-state focus feature later this year, allowing a half press to activate the focus and a full press to actually snap a picture.
The Camera Control button feels like a natural evolution for Apple, as part of the company’s long-standingmission to position the iPhone as an all-inclusive filmmaking machine. The button is also built into the non-Pro iPhone 16 models.
Internally, the camera is getting a little boost. The telephoto lens is capable of 5x optical zoom — that’s an increase specifically for the smaller Pro, which previously maxed out at 3x zoom. The ultra-wide-angle camera has been upgraded from 12 megapixels to 48 megapixels in both Pro models. The new phones support customizable Photographic Styles, and users are able to change their chosen style after a photo is taken, which is a useful improvement.
The iPhone 16 Pro can shoot video in 4K at 120 fps, and after shooting, you're able to select frames to be played in slow motion if that's your jam. It also supports spatial audio capture in videos. With Audio Mix, you can isolate the voices of people on camera, make the shot sound like it was recorded inside a studio, or pull in environmental noise with speaking voices highlighted, resulting in a more cinematic feel.
Apple
The iPhone 16 Pros have a larger battery, delivering us another classic line during Apple's live event: This is the "best iPhone battery life ever," apparently. The new phones run on the A18 Pro chip, which is an upgraded version of the A18 found in the regular iPhone. It has a 16-core neutral engine, and Apple says its AI features will run up to 20 percent faster than on the iPhone 15 Pro.
The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max have built-in support for Apple Intelligence, as do the non-Pro models this time around. Apple Intelligence is an AI system that touches every aspect of the new phones, improving Siri, the Writing Tools feature, phone call summaries and other apps. This includes a new Visual Intelligence feature, which functions a lot like Google Lens — using the new camera button, users are able to take photos of signs and objects to instantly receive information about those places and things.
Apple
The newest Pros come in gold (Apple calls it "desert") titanium, or the standard white, black or natural titanium colorways that we’ve grown accustomed to. The gold titanium replaces last year’s blue titanium case for the iPhone 15 Pro.
The iPhone 16 Pro starts at $999 and the Pro Max starts at $1,199. They come in 128GB, 256GB, 512GB and 1TB sizes. This is a show of consistency from Apple — The iPhone 15 Pro was priced at $999 with 128GB of storage, while the 15 Pro Max was $1,199 with 256GB of storage.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/iphone-16-pro-has-a-dslr-like-camera-button-and-a-slightly-bigger-display-181605027.html?src=rss
Apple was very busy when it came to AirPods announcements this week. Alongside new fourth-generation AirPods (and an ANC option) and updated AirPods Max, it's also giving attention to the AirPods Pro, with a focus on hearing health. This leans heavily on hearing loss prevention, with noise levels limited by default, and an app to measure exactly how noisy your surroundings are. Apple notes that one in three people are regularly exposed to environments that can damage hearing, even with in-ear buds like AirPods Pro and noise cancellation.
The company is now introducing a clinically-validated hearing test on your iPhone. The test taps into large-scale data studies that Apple used to develop its hearing loss features, and it only takes five minutes. It'll ask you to tap the screen when you hear a series of tones at different frequencies. Your hearing profile will also be automatically applied to audio content across music, movies and phone calls.
But Apple took it even further and has developed an over-the-counter, professional-grade hearing aid feature. It'll boost the specific kinds of sounds you need help with. It's a big move from Apple, as existing OTC hearing aids can cost between $1,000 and $1,500. The second-gen AirPods Pro are just $250 by comparison.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apples-airpods-pro-update-turns-them-into-a-clinical-grade-hearing-aid-174919818.html?src=rss
Apple is giving every iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro model brand new chips, instead of just using last year's hardware in its cheaper phones. The company unveiled the A18 and A18 Pro chips at the iPhone 16 launch event today, and as you'd expect, they're built with Apple Intelligence in mind. The chips offers more memory and a new 16-core Neural Engine, in addition to some incremental performance boosts over older models. More so than the past few years — where you could point to new camera lenses or hardware tweaks as a reason to get the new iPhone — the chip is the key selling point for the iPhone 16 lineup.
Other than last year's iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, older iPhones can't run Apple Intelligence features like the revamped Siri, Genmoji and integrated ChatGPT search. (Anyone who splurged for those higher end iPhones chose wisely, as there's little reason to upgrade.) AI workloads require plenty of RAM to juggle large language models, so that alone disqualifies the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus, which only had 6GB of RAM on the A16 chip (a holdover from the iPhone 14 Pro). The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, on the other hand, featured 8GB of RAM with the A17 Pro chip.
The A18 chip, along with thermal design optimizations, helps the iPhone 16 achieve 30 percent faster sustained gaming performance, according to Apple. And just like the A17 Pro last year, the new chip supports hardware accelerated ray tracing, which helps it deliver more realistic lighting in some titles. Apple also revealed that Honor of Kings: World will be coming to iPhones next year.
Apple's A18 Pro goes a step further than the A18, delivering up to 15 percent faster speeds than the A17 Pro, as well as 2x faster hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Notably, the A18 Pro also uses 20 percent less power than the A17 Pro. All of that hardware isn't just meant for Apple Intelligence, it also powers the complex new photography features in the iPhone 16 Pro's cameras.
Apple
Apple's older strategy of using the previous year's chips on the iPhone and iPhone Plus made sense. Those devices didn't require the demanding camera processing of the Pro models, which were entirely geared towards power users. Apple could cut manufacturing costs and still deliver a solid user experience for iPhone owners with older chips. (Even though it debuted in 2022, the A16 chip in the iPhone 15 is still very capable today.)
But now that Apple is centering the iPhone experience around Apple Intelligence, a family-wide spec bump isn't too surprising. And even if you're not excited about Apple's AI offerings (which they'll never actually call AI), it's nice to have some more RAM in the base iPhone line.
There are arguably only three sure things in life: death, taxes and a new bunch of iPhones every September. Like clockwork, Apple has revealed this year's iPhone lineup, which is anchored by the iPhone 16 and its larger sibling, the iPhone 16 Plus. Apple has made some alterations to the external design, but the company’s main focus this year is on Apple Intelligence, with the new phones designed from the ground up to support that.
There are a few notable changes to the exteriors of both devices this year. First, the rear camera array is arranged vertically on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus with a pill-shaped bump. These lenses will now support spatial video recording — in other words, the 3D footage that you can view using a Vision Pro headset. You'll be able to take spatial photos too. There's also support for 4K video capture at 60 frames per second with Dolby Vision.
Apple
Apple is doing something else interesting with the camera array in the iPhone 16. One camera seems to combine a 48MP main lens with a 2x telephoto lens in what's called a "Fusion camera." The other is a 12MP Ultra Wide camera. This now has an f/2.2 aperture, which is an improvement on the previous f/2.4 aperture. As such, that means that Apple will offer a macro mode for the base iPhone models for the first time, so folks who don't opt for an iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max should be able to take better close-up photos.
Second, the Action button that debuted on last year's Pro models has arrived on the lower-end models. This button, which replaces the mute switch, is customizable. You might set it up to activate the flashlight or a Voice Memos recording. It can trigger Shortcuts and, starting in iOS 18, you can use it to adjust a Control Center setting. You can set up the Action button to have different functions at different times of day.
Third, there's another new Camera Control button that's dedicated to capturing photos and videos, so you won't have to tap your display, press one of the volume buttons or use a remote trigger to take a snap or a recording. Clicking the button opens the Camera app. The touch-sensitive button works in a similar fashion to the capture button on a DSLR camera — lightly press to focus on a subject, then fully press to take a photo. You can hold it down to start recording a video.
You'll be able to adjust camera settings (such as the zoom) by sliding your finger back and forth on the touch-sensitive button. This could well be a game-changer for iPhone-focused photographers.
The Camera Control button also works with a new Google Lens-style visual intelligence feature that's coming to the iPhone 16 later this year. For instance, you an point your phone at a new restaurant, click the Camera Control and find out details about the menu and opening hours.
Apple
The other key upgrades are on the interior. Apple says there's a new thermal system made from 100 percent recycled aluminum to replace the copper one from previous devices. That should help reduce overheating and improve temperature regulation – Apple says you’ll get 30 percent higher sustained performance while gaming. In addition, there’s support for hardware-accelerated ray-tracing, which is said to deliver five times higher frame rates than with software-accelerated ray-tracing.
Some games that were previously only supported on the iPhone 15 Pro (at least in terms of phones) will be available on iPhone 16. Those include Assassin's Creed Mirage and several Resident Eviltitles.
Apple Intelligence will be powered by the all-new A18 chipset. It has a CPU that's up to 30 percent faster than the one found in the iPhone 15, and a GPU that's up to 40 percent faster. There's an upgraded neural engine that is said to be up to two times faster for machine learning. As expected, Apple Intelligence features will start rolling out in the US in English in October, before expanding to some other countries in December and other languages in 2025.
As part of the Apple Intelligence shift, a new Siri experience is coming into play. This isn't a huge surprise as it was part of the iOS 18 preview when we got our first look at WWDC in June. Not only does Apple claim that Siri will have deeper understanding of language and users' personal context, the voice assistant will have a new glowing interface. That's what the iPhone event's "It's Glowtime" tagline is based on. However, it may be several more months before Apple fully rolls out all of Siri's upgrades.
The iPhone 16 is built with aerospace-grade aluminum and is available in some new colors, including ultramarine, teal and pink to go with white and black. It’s built for greater durability too. Apple says it’s water- and dust-resistant, and has a new glass-ceramic screen that’s said to be 50 percent tougher than the one of the iPhone 15 and twice as strong as "any other smartphone." Much like the Apple Watch lineup, the screen can be as dark as 1 nit or as bright as 2,000 nits. The screen sizes remain the same at 6.1 inches for the iPhone 16 and 6.7 inches for the iPhone 16 Plus.
Apple claims there's a bigger battery in the iPhone 16 as well, which is always welcome to hear. The company claims it will work in concert with the A18 and the power efficiency features of iOS 18 to deliver longer battery life. Apple says the iPhone 16 will deliver up to 22 hours of local video playback, 18 hours of streaming video and 80 hours of audio playback on a single charge.
Apple
On the safety front, you'll be able to share live videos if you need to use the Emergency SOS function. Messages via satellite and other messaging features are coming to the US and Canada, while Emergency SOS and Find My via satellite are available in 18 countries, including the US.
Elsewhere, Apple is bringing Wi-Fi 7 to the base models for the first time this year. That's a nice upgrade — as long as you have a compatible router, of course. That should help future-proof the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus to a degree as well.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus open on Friday, and they will be available on September 20. Pricing starts at $799 for the iPhone 16 and $899 for the iPhone 16 Plus, each of which have 128GB of storage at the base level. They'll also be available with 256GB or 512GB of storage.
Catch up on all the news from Apple’s iPhone 16 event right here!
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apples-iphone-16-gets-a-camera-button-action-button-and-the-a18-chip-174756253.html?src=rss
This is last year's iPhone 15 Pro. We don't expect a radical redesign for the new models.
Apple
It's almost time: In just two days, Apple will show off its new lineup of the iPhone 16 models at its iPhone event on Monday, Sept. 9. The livestream starts at 1PM ET. And if you plan to get your hands on one of the new devices after the event, we're here to save you time because the new iPhones won't be available to buy yet.
Apple is pretty consistent when it comes to releasing new products and we don't expect that to change this year. We'll tell you when we expect Apple to release the iPhone 16 after its event. We'll also let you know when you can expect to download iOS 18 – Apple's latest software – on your current iPhone.
We don't yet know how much the iPhone 16 lineup will cost. Currently, the iPhone 15 models start at $799 and range as high as $1,599 for the 15 Pro with 1TB of storage. It will be interesting to see if Apple holds the line on pricing, or plays around with different storage capacities and price points, as it sometimes does.
Want to follow along with us during Apple’s big event? Here's how to watch the iPhone 16 announcement. (We’ll post our liveblog link closer to the event start time.)
When can I buy the new iPhone 16?
While we won't have a set date for when the iPhone 16 will become available until the iPhone event on Monday, we can predict the date based on Apple's past consistency. Here’s what we expect:
Monday, Sept. 9: Apple’s official event (confirmed)
Friday, Sept. 13: Preorders open
Week of Sept. 16: iOS 18 available for download
Friday, Sept. 20: New iPhones and other devices in stores
Again, aside from the confirmed announcement event, these dates are only speculation based on Apple's previous iPhone release history. For instance, Apple generally opens preorders the Friday following the iPhone event. So if Apple follows its previous cadence, you'll be able to preorder an iPhone 16 on Friday, Sept. 13. Likewise, if Apple keeps the same schedule as the past, that would mean the iPhone 16 will officially be available to buy on Friday, Sept. 20.
How about new Apple Watch and AirPods products expected to be announced alongside the presumed new iPhone 16 series? Generally, they also follow the same dates, but there have been some delays in the past. It’s entirely possible that one or more of these expected products could hit stores in later weeks – possibly even as late as October.
When can I download the new iOS 18?
If you're not planning to buy the new iPhone 16, you'll still have the option to make your older iPhone similar with the newer models – assuming your iPhone is eligible for iOS 18. (Nearly all models introduced in the past six years are.)
While Apple won't announce when it'll release iOS 18 to the public until its event, we can again speculate based on the past. The newest software will be available the week after the event – at earliest, that would be Monday, Sept. 16, though it's possible it won't become available until mid-week.
We'll update with the official dates for new hardware and software after Apple announces them on Monday.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/when-does-apple-launch-the-new-iphone-16-heres-everything-you-need-to-know-144939155.html?src=rss
Building just one smartphone from scratch would be a huge undertaking, even if the world is full of them. Now imagine trying to build one that’s 100 times its normal size with nearly all the same forms and functions.
Perkins started his build with the screen, a massive undertaking that required converting a LG Signature 88-inch OLED TV into a responsive touchscreen. He commissioned a manufacturer to fabricate a piece of touch foil the size of the screen, which he fixed in place with an optically clear glue UV epoxy.
The next challenge was finding a way to fit oversized versions of the phone’s components in a frame: the speakers, three-lens camera array, the volume and power buttons and the special function button. He built a frame out of aluminum with a cross shaped support in the middle. The cameras especially weren't cheap, as Perkins opted to use both a Canon EOS R5 as well as a Sony RX10 Mark 4 to mimic the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s telephoto lens. The frame was also designed to be permanently mounted to a similarly-scaled up phone stand so it could be rotated without giving the user a massive hernia.
The only major component they couldn't recreate was the operating system, since Apple's iOS is closed-source. But using Android had two major perks: the Bliss OS recreated the feel of an iPhone home screen using a themed skin, and they could install Flappy Bird — something actual iPhone owners haven't been able to do in nearly a decade.
The phone may be big but it appears to be just as functional as a handheld iPhone. Maini and a group of friends took the phone into the real world to test it out, and apparently it can make tap-to-pay purchases, send emails and make video calls. Functional or not, it's brave to bring a $70,000 phone onto the streets of London without a case.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/youtubers-built-a-six-foot-tall-working-replica-of-apples-iphone-15-pro-max-201507959.html?src=rss
Building just one smartphone from scratch would be a huge undertaking, even if the world is full of them. Now imagine trying to build one that’s 100 times its normal size with nearly all the same forms and functions.
Perkins started his build with the screen, a massive undertaking that required converting a LG Signature 88-inch OLED TV into a responsive touchscreen. He commissioned a manufacturer to fabricate a piece of touch foil the size of the screen, which he fixed in place with an optically clear glue UV epoxy.
The next challenge was finding a way to fit oversized versions of the phone’s components in a frame: the speakers, three-lens camera array, the volume and power buttons and the special function button. He built a frame out of aluminum with a cross shaped support in the middle. The cameras especially weren't cheap, as Perkins opted to use both a Canon EOS R5 as well as a Sony RX10 Mark 4 to mimic the iPhone 15 Pro Max’s telephoto lens. The frame was also designed to be permanently mounted to a similarly-scaled up phone stand so it could be rotated without giving the user a massive hernia.
The only major component they couldn't recreate was the operating system, since Apple's iOS is closed-source. But using Android had two major perks: the Bliss OS recreated the feel of an iPhone home screen using a themed skin, and they could install Flappy Bird — something actual iPhone owners haven't been able to do in nearly a decade.
The phone may be big but it appears to be just as functional as a handheld iPhone. Maini and a group of friends took the phone into the real world to test it out, and apparently it can make tap-to-pay purchases, send emails and make video calls. Functional or not, it's brave to bring a $70,000 phone onto the streets of London without a case.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/youtubers-built-a-six-foot-tall-working-replica-of-apples-iphone-15-pro-max-201507959.html?src=rss
Modern life dictates that the longer you have a smartphone, the crappier the battery gets. That’s where power banks come in. One of Anker’s leading 5K models for iPhones has dropped to its lowest price ever. The power bank is just $18, down from $26.
This is a well-regarded product. As a matter of fact, a variant of this model made our list of the best power banks. It’s portable and doesn’t even beef up the iPhone too much when attached. It offers 12W fast charging and provides 20 hours of additional smartphone use. That’s a whole lot of doomscrolling, or even joyscrolling.
It folds up and can easily fit into a pocket or bag when not in use. The power bank also includes the company’s ActiveShield safety system that continuously monitors the temperature to avoid overheating.
While advertised as being for iPhones, the power bank is also great for iPads and even some retro iPods. That leads us to the main downside of this device. It uses a Lightning connector, so it won’t work with newer iPhones or iPads with USB-C ports. However, iPhones had a Lighting connector all the way up to the iPhone 14. Statistically, you’re probably reading this on one of those iPhones right now. If that’s true, this is a great power bank for the money.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-anker-5k-power-bank-for-iphones-is-cheaper-than-ever-145758805.html?src=rss
Beware: The most addictive game of 2024 is coming to a device that’s always within reach. Balatro, a clever combination of poker, deck-building and roguelikes, will arrive on iOS — as a standalone purchase and Apple Arcade — and Android later this month. (That’s plenty of time to shop for a power bank or battery pack.)
Created by Canadian solo developer LocalThunk and published by Playstack, Balatro (styled as Balatro+ on Apple Arcade) is one of Engadget’s picks for best PC games. It's one of the great indie gaming success stories of 2024.
Unlike poker, Balatro’s spin includes magical tarot cards and unique Jokers that can dramatically alter your hands. For example, one might increase the pool of cards to build your hand from, and another could raise your score if your hand hits a particular sequence. Depending on which Joker you draw, you may be forced to rethink your entire strategy. (But play them strategically because you’re limited to five per hand.)
Its presentation adds to the fun. It includes a synthwave soundtrack, trippy animations and a delightfully retro CRT filter.
If you don’t know much about poker, don’t sweat it. First, poker is only one element of the game — and, even then, it encourages you to break its rules. Balatro also includes tutorials and help pop-ups to make learning the unique deck game (and throwing away all your free time) as easy as possible.
Balatro launched in February on PC, PlayStation, Xbox and Switch (and on macOS in March). It arrives on Android and iOS on September 26. It will be a $10 standalone purchase on either mobile platform or free on Apple devices for Apple Arcade subscribers. Those in the Apple ecosystem can also play it on iPad, Mac, Apple TV and Vision Pro.
2K Sports / Apple
NBA 2K25 Arcade Edition, which continues the franchise’s mobile-friendly spinoffs for Apple devices, is also coming soon to Apple Arcade. This year’s version adds The Neighborhood, the open-world, skill-building environment first seen in the standard version of NBA 2K18. It also adds a revamped version of Greatest Mode, where you can relive iconic moments from NBA legends, past and present. 2K Sports promises new Great Mode players will be added throughout the season.
NBA 2K Arcade Edition arrives on Apple Arcade on October 3.
This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/balatro-is-coming-to-mobile-and-its-going-to-ruin-my-life-173039968.html?src=rss