Two Weeks With the iPhone 16 Pro Max
Now that it's been two weeks since the iPhone 16 models were released, we've been able to spend enough time with the new devices to share a more in-depth review on their performance, battery life, feature set, and more.
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We've been testing the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, but the gap between the Pro models and the standard iPhone 16 models is narrower than usual this year. The Action button, Camera Control button, Dynamic Island, and upcoming Apple Intelligence features are available across the lineup, which leaves fewer features to set the two iPhone tiers apart and justify the cost of the Pro upgrade.
You do get the 120Hz ProMotion display, the 5x Telephoto lens, upgraded 48-megapixel Ultra Wide lens, and slightly bigger displays with the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, but many people are going to be happy with the standard iPhone 16 models.
Camera Control is kind of a love it or hate it feature that takes some time to get familiar with. It makes opening the camera and snapping a photo much quicker, but getting used to adjusting settings with the button rather than the display takes a good amount of time to get used to. On the bigger iPhones, it's difficult to use the button one-handed, especially in portrait mode.
Macro mode images are better and Photographic Styles and the customization that comes with them are great, but there isn't a lot of additional improvement to be seen with the cameras for photo taking. For videos, there's a 4K 120fps mode that can be adjusted later, and a new Audio Mix feature for adjusting video sound.
The A18 Pro chip is fast, but so was the A17 Pro from last year, and you're not going to notice a difference in performance if you're coming from an iPhone released in the last couple of years. The benefit of the A18 Pro is support for both current and future Apple Intelligence features coming in the next few years. The first Apple Intelligence options will be released in October, and while those won't necessarily stress the chip, future image generation capabilities could take advantage of the additional power you get with the A18 Pro.
Battery life has increased for all iPhone 16 models, and there is a noticeable difference in battery life with the Pro Max that many users will notice day-to-day depending on workload compared to older iPhones.
Related Roundup: iPhone 16 Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 16 Pro (Buy Now)
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Two Weeks With the iPhone 16 Pro Max
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Apple's only retail store in Northern Ireland is moving, but rest assured that the new location will be in close proximity to the current one.
Apple has announced that its store at the Victoria Square shopping center in Belfast will be permanently closed starting Tuesday, October 15. The company is opening a new store in the nearby Corn Market area on Friday, October 18.
MacRumors reader Chris Ball shared a photo of Apple's new store in Belfast earlier this week, but the company's logo remained covered at the time. Ball said the store is located on High Street in the city's central shopping district.
Apple's website indicates that the new store will have an Apple Pickup station for in-store pickup of online orders, and a Genius Bar for technical support and repairs. The store will also host free Today at Apple creative sessions.
Tag: Apple Store
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Following the introduction of the Apple Watch Series 10 and watchOS 11's new sleep apnea detection feature last month, Apple executives Jeff Williams, Dr. Sumbul Desai, and Jay Blahnik sat down for an interview with The Independent's David Phelan. The discussion is focused on the Apple Watch's health features.
Williams, who leads the Apple Watch engineering teams, said that Apple was inspired to add more health features to the Apple Watch after CEO Tim Cook received emails from customers who said the Apple Watch potentially saved their lives:
"So, we realized, wow, we have this opportunity – and even more, a responsibility," said Williams. "So, we began to look for opportunities. That's when we started pulling on threads and adding additional sensors and features like irregular rhythm, atrial fibrillation alerts, and all the way through to something like sleep apnea."
Williams added that his own sleep apnea diagnosis and subsequent usage of a CPAP machine to treat the condition provided him with "a new lease of life."
"It was less about pushing any personal agendas – we don't really do that at Apple – but it certainly helps to have experience in terms of being able to reinforce and encourage the team that there's such an opportunity to help people," said Williams. "Everybody in the team is just really inspired by this mission of trying to help people with their health."
Dr. Desai suggested that watchOS 11's new Vitals app that analyzes important health metrics during sleep could eventually work during the daytime too:
"If we could push, over time, to get that type of information during the day, well, we always pull on the thread to see what else we can do," she said.
Blahnik, who leads the teams behind Apple Fitness+ and other fitness technologies at Apple, emphasized the Apple Watch's utility for health and fitness.
"It's easy to forget, but 10 years ago, you didn't really know how far you were running unless you happened to have measured the distance in your car, say," he said. "GPS on the wrist was not a common thing. How measuring your activity adds up to something over your life and your longevity is a big deal."
read at The Independent.
Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)
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Taiwanese company Novatek has announced plans to begin mass production of OLED displays with TDDI (touch and display driver integration) technology as early as the second quarter of 2025, supply chain publication DigiTimes reported today.
The report states that Apple is "expected" to be one of Novatek's first customers, although this claim appears to be speculative.
"While industry insiders remain tight-lipped about potential end customers, speculation suggests that Novatek's proposed shipping schedule could align with the next-generation iPhone displays in 2025," the report says. If this speculation proves to be accurate, at least some iPhone 17 models could adopt the technology next year.
rumored ultra-thin "iPhone 17 Air."
Related Roundup: iPhone 17
Tag: DigiTimes
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Apple's chip manufacturer TSMC and chip packaging company Amkor on Thursday announced that the two companies have signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on chip production, packaging, and testing in Arizona.
In a press release, the two companies said that the close proximity of their facilities in Arizona will speed up the overall chip manufacturing process:
Under the agreement, TSMC will contract turnkey advanced packaging and test services from Amkor in their planned facility in Peoria, Arizona. TSMC will leverage these services to support its customers, particularly those using TSMC's advanced wafer fabrication facilities in Phoenix. The close collaboration and proximity of TSMC's front-end fab and Amkor's back-end facility will accelerate overall product cycle times.
Amkor would package Apple silicon chips produced at a nearby TSMC facility, as part of a shared desire to expand U.S. manufacturing. Tech journalist Tim Culpan recently reported that the TSMC facility had started small-scale production of the A16 chip, which debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro models two years ago. The lower-end iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus models also use the A16 chip.
Apple said Amkor would invest approximately $2 billion in the project, and said it would employ more than 2,000 people upon completion.
"Apple is deeply committed to the future of American manufacturing, and we'll continue to expand our investment here in the United States," said Apple's operations chief Jeff Williams, in a press release last November. "Apple silicon has unlocked new levels of performance for our users, enabling them to do things they could never do before, and we are thrilled that Apple silicon will soon be produced and packaged in Arizona."
Tags: Apple Silicon, TSMC
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WhatsApp is rolling out a new feature that allows users to tag other people in their Status updates, further enhancing the platform's Instagram Stories-like functionality. The addition aims to make it easier for users to connect with friends and family on the popular messaging app.
The new tagging feature enables users to mention up to five other WhatsApp accounts in their Status updates. When tagged, these users will receive a private notification and have the option to reshare the Status on their own account. WhatsApp says it has built in privacy controls, allowing users to tag someone without explicitly displaying their name in the Status.
In addition to tagging, WhatsApp is also introducing a "like" feature for Status updates. Similar to Instagram Stories, users can now react to their friends' Status posts with a single tap, providing a quick way to acknowledge the content without sending a full message.
"WhatsApp Status is the best way to stay connected with friends and family and now we're making it even better," the Meta-owned company said in a blog post. "With status likes, private mentions and the ability to reshare a status you're mentioned in, we're making it easier to reach the people who matter most."
The Status updates come on the heels of new video call effects, including filters and custom backgrounds, that were announced by WhatsApp earlier this week.
Tag: WhatsApp
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Spotify has announced a new feature called Offline Backup, designed to give Premium subscribers an additional way to listen to music offline without manually downloading playlists. Rolling out globally this week, the feature aims to address situations where users find themselves without an internet connection and haven't prepared their offline music library in advance.
Offline Backup works by automatically creating a personalized playlist using tracks that have been recently streamed or queued, leveraging the cached content already stored on the user's device. Spotify says this approach allows listeners to access a selection of their favorite music without consuming extra data or storage space.
The new feature promises flexibility by allowing users to filter and sort songs within the Offline Backup playlist by artist, mood, and genre. Spotify says the playlist will evolve over time based on listening habits, ensuring fresh content is always available.
The development of Offline Backup followed successful user testing conducted last year, and the feature is now being made available to Premium subscribers on both Android and iOS platforms, including compatibility with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
To access Offline Backup, users need to ensure they have listened to more than five songs recently and have enabled offline listening in their Spotify app settings. The playlist will appear automatically in the Home feed when the device is offline.
Tag: Spotify
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Apple today announced that its next quarterly earnings conference call will be held on Thursday, October 31 at 2 p.m. Pacific Time/5 p.m. Eastern Time.
On the call, Apple's CEO Tim Cook and CFO Luca Maestri will discuss the company's earnings results for the fourth quarter of the 2024 fiscal year. It will likely be Maestri's final earnings call at Apple, as he will be succeeded by Kevan Parekh on January 1, 2025. Maestri will continue to lead the Corporate Services teams at Apple.
streamed live on Apple's website, and it should run approximately 60 minutes.
Apple released these products in the quarter, which ran from June 30 through September 28:
HomePod mini (Midnight)
iPhone 16
iPhone 16 Plus
iPhone 16 Pro
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Apple Watch Series 10
Apple Watch Ultra 2 (Black)
AirPods 4
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
AirPods Max (USB-C)
Various accessories, including a 25W MagSafe Charger
reported $89.5 billion revenue in the year-ago quarter, so a 5% increase to that would equal around $94 billion, which would be a fourth-quarter record for Apple.
Tags: AAPL, Earnings
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Apple is planning to refresh the iPad Air in early 2025, about a year after the 2024 refresh. We don't have a full picture of what to expect just yet, but rumors point toward an updated chip and new accessories.
Design
Apple refreshed the design of the iPad Air in 2024, introducing two size options to match the iPad Pro models. In 2025, we are again expecting 11-inch and 13-inch sizes, but so far, we haven't heard word of any design changes.
The 2025 iPad Air models are expected to continue to feature the same design as the 2024 iPad Air models, with an aluminum chassis that has flat sides and rounded edges that wrap around the LCD display. Apple is expected to continue to include a Touch ID power button for biometric authentication, and a USB-C port.
There could be additional color options even if we don't get design changes. The current iPad Air comes in Space Gray, Purple, Blue, and Starlight, a soft gold shade.
A-Series Chip
Even though Apple added the M4 to the iPad Pro and will bring the chip to the newest Mac models this year, the iPad Air is expected to get the M3, an upgrade to the current M2 chip.
The M3 chip is built on Apple's newer 3-nanometer process, and while it's not as fast as the M4, it's a notable upgrade over the M2. The M3's CPU performance is up to 30 percent faster than the M2 CPU performance, and GPU performance is 15 percent faster. The M3 is more efficient than the M2 for better battery life, and there is an all-new GPU architecture that uses Dynamic Caching to boost graphics performance for GPU intensive apps and games. There is support for hardware-based ray tracing for an improvement in gaming on the iPad.
Rumors suggest the iPad Air will get the M3 instead of the newer M4 that's in the iPad Pro models to differentiate between the two tablets. Apple plans to keep the iPad Air a step behind the iPad Pro.
Apple Intelligence
Current iPad Air models with an M2 chip support Apple Intelligence in iPadOS 18, and the M3 chips will also work with Apple Intelligence.
Display
A major differentiator between the iPad Pro and iPad Air is OLED display technology and support for 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates. We don't expect notable updates to the display in 2025, and so far, it doesn't sound like Apple plans to bring ProMotion to the iPad Air.
Other Features
Apple brought Wi-Fi 7 support to its latest iPhone models, so we could start to see more products updated to the latest Wi-Fi protocol. Wi-Fi 7 brings faster speeds and lower latency, and if Wi-Fi 7 doesn't come to the new iPad Air, it'll continue to use Wi-Fi 6E.
Magic Keyboard
Apple is working on a new version of the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Air, and it's supposed to come out in the same time frame as the next-generation iPad Air. It won't have an aluminum top case like the Magic Keyboard for the iPad Pro, but it could get the same function row of keys.
Release Date
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the next-generation iPad Air is set to come out sometime "early next year."
This article, "2025 iPad Air: All the Rumors So Far" first appeared on MacRumors.com
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Two Maryland residents who defrauded Apple out of 6,000 iPhones worth over $2.5 million were sentenced to prison today, according to the United States Department of Justice. The duo devised a repair scheme where they sent in counterfeit iPhones in order to get genuine iPhones in exchange.
Chinese nationals Haotian Sun and Pengfei Xue will each spend more than four years in prison. Sun was sentenced to 57 months in prison, while Xue was given 54 months. Both will serve three years of supervised release after their prison terms, and will need to pay restitution to Apple. Sun has been ordered to pay $1,072,000, while Xue has been ordered to pay $397,800.
Between May 2017 and September 2019, Sun and Xue received shipments of inauthentic iPhones from Hong Kong, and used spoofed serial numbers and/or IMEI numbers to return them to Apple retail stores and Apple Authorized Service Providers. Over 6,000 iPhones were submitted to Apple during that two-year period, according to trial evidence. The intended loss was approximately $3.8 million, and actual loss exceeded $2.5 million.
were found guilty of mail fraud and conspiracy to commit mail fraud, charges that carried a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison.
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Apple today released macOS Sequoia 15.0.1, the first update for the macOS Sequoia operating system. The 15.0.1 update comes a week after Apple first released macOS Sequoia 15.
Mac users can download the macOS Sequoia update by using the Software Update section of System Settings.
According to Apple's release notes, macOS Sequoia 15.0.1 fixes a bug that could cause the Messages app to crash when a message with a shared Apple Watch face was sent, and it improves third-party software compatibility. Apple's release notes for the update are below.
macOS 15.0.1 release (24A348) This update provides important bug fixes for your Mac including:
- Messages may unexpectedly quit when replying to a message with a shared Apple Watch face
- Improves compatibility with third-party security software
Details on the features that are included in macOS Sequoia can be found in our roundup.
Related Roundup: macOS Sequoia
Related Forum: macOS Sequoia
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The iPhone SE 4 that's set to come out next year could include a "quite ambitious" Apple-designed 5G modem that will incorporate Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, and GPS, according to a report from 9to5Mac. The next-generation iPhone SE is also expected to get the same A18 chip as the current iPhone 16 models, which would allow it to support Apple Intelligence.
Apple has been working on its own 5G modem technology for quite some time, and multiple prior rumors have suggested that the new hardware will first come to the iPhone SE, giving Apple a chance to test it out with a lower volume product.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said earlier this year that while Apple was working on a modem that was part of a new wireless chip that also included Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, such a product would not be coming until a later date, so it is not clear which report is accurate.
iPhone's chipset.
will get Apple Intelligence, a claim echoed in 9to5Mac's report. The next-generation iPhone SE will reportedly include an A18 chip, which is the chip used in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. It is also expected to get 8GB RAM, the minimum for Apple Intelligence.
iPhone 14, with a 6.1-inch OLED all-display design and support for Face ID. When Apple introduces the iPhone SE 4, it will officially be the end for the Touch ID fingerprint sensor in the iPhone lineup.
iPhone 15.
Dynamic Island), an Action Button, and a USB-C port.
Related Roundup: iPhone SE
Buyer's Guide: iPhone SE (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPhone
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Google today shared several updates to the Google Lens search feature that's available in the Google app for iOS. Google is adding support for asking questions about videos, so that users can get information about moving objects.
For example, if you're at an aquarium and want to learn more, you can use Google Lens to capture a short video of a fish and get details about it. According to Google, Lens can interpret the video and the question, using the information to provide an AI Overview with additional web links to learn more.
The video feature can be used by opening Lens in the Google app and holding down the shutter button to record a video while also asking a question out loud.
Google has also added support for asking a voice-based question when taking an image with Lens. Users can point the camera, hold the shutter button, and ask a question.
For those who use Google Lens to find visually similar images for shopping purposes, Google says results will be "dramatically more helpful" with information about the product you want to buy, including price info across retailers and where to get it.
In addition to these Google Lens changes, Google is rolling out search results pages organized by AI in the United States. AI results will show first for recipes and meal inspiration on mobile devices, with research results showing relevant results organized by different recipe options, ingredients, and more.
A new look for AI Overviews is rolling out, with the updated design showing prominent links to supporting webpages within the text of an AI Overview. Google says that this layout better drives traffic to supporting websites. Google is also adding ads to AI Overviews, and the company says that people find ads in AI Overviews helpful because "they can quickly connect with relevant businesses, products and services."
Tag: Google
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Rumors suggest that Apple plans to introduce a redesigned Mac mini this month, alongside updated MacBook Pro and iMac models. Most notably, the portable desktop computer is expected to receive its first major redesign since 2010.
A concept of a smaller Mac mini that is closer in size to an Apple TV
Below, we recap rumors about the next-generation Mac mini.
Rumored Features
Smaller Design: Bloomberg's Mark Gurman expects the next Mac mini to be nearly as small as an Apple TV.
M4 and M4 Pro Chips: The next Mac mini will be available with faster M4 and M4 Pro chip options, according to Gurman.
Front USB-C Ports: Both an Apple software leak and Gurman have pointed to the next Mac mini being equipped with five USB-C ports. Similar to the Mac Studio, Gurman said two of the ports will be located on the front of the new Mac mini. Technically speaking, at least some of these ports will likely be Thunderbolt 4 ports, which use the USB-C connector design. Note: It is possible that only M4 Pro configurations of the Mac mini will have all five USB-C ports.
Launch Timing
The new Mac mini is currently expected to be announced at an Apple event this October, alongside new MacBook Pro and iMac models with the M4 series of chips.
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In celebration of Diwali, Apple is offering free limited-edition Beats Solo Buds to customers who purchase a new iPhone 15 or iPhone 15 Plus in India.
The special Beats Solo Buds and their carrying case come in an orange color that has never been available before, and the earbuds come in custom packaging designed by Indian art director Aaquib Wani. The offer runs through October 4 at Apple Store locations in India, and on Apple's online store at apple.com/in, while supplies last.
launched in June, and the original color options include black, gray, purple, and a transparent red. The in-ear buds feature up to 18 hours of battery life, but they lack active noise cancellation, and the carrying case does not have a battery. As a result, the earbuds can only be charged when the case is connected to a power source.
The earbuds are priced at ₹6900 on Apple's online store in India.
on Apple's website.
Tags: Beats, Beats Solo Buds
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Ted Lasso will be returning for a fourth season, according to Sigmund Judge, a writer at MacStories and co-host of the Magic Rays of Light podcast.
In a social media post today, Judge said he has confirmed that pre-production of the smash-hit Apple TV+ comedy series will begin in January in London, England. Apple has yet to confirm the fourth season, and there is no set release date yet.
Ted Lasso ran from March through May of 2023.
Ted Lasso, played by Jason Sudeikis, is a small-time football coach from Kansas who is hired to coach a professional soccer team in England, despite having no experience coaching soccer. The series has won several major awards since it debuted in 2020, with its overall positive tone proving especially comforting during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Ted Lasso is, its long-rumored fourth season apparently being confirmed is a huge win for Apple TV+.
Exclusive: #TedLasso S4 is set to begin pre-production in January. According to my sources, the football drama is now confirmed to return next year with a fourth instalment, with London shoots beginning in early 2025! pic.twitter.com/3tZszHy7w1
— Sigmund Judge (@sigjudge) October 3, 2024
Tags: Apple TV Plus, Apple TV Shows
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Apple has started to source OLED displays for its next-generation iPhone SE, according to Taiwanese supply chain publication DigiTimes.
"Apple has begun to source OLED panels for its next-generation iPhone SE series from BOE and other Chinese manufacturers, according to industry sources," the publication said today, in the "Tomorrow's Headlines" section of its website. The full report has yet to be published, so there are no additional details at this time.
previous reports that indicated BOE would supply OLED displays for the next iPhone SE.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman earlier this week reported that the fourth-generation iPhone SE will be released "early next year." He expects the device to have a similar design as the iPhone 14, including an edge-to-edge screen with a notch, which suggests that it will support Face ID. He also expects the new iPhone SE to support Apple Intelligence, and this means the device would likely have an increased 8GB of RAM. Apple Intelligence is currently limited to the iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models.
If the new iPhone SE is based on the iPhone 14, it would have a 6.1-inch OLED display, whereas the current model has a 4.7-inch LCD. Other features previously rumored for the next iPhone SE include a USB-C port and the Action button.
Related Roundup: iPhone SE
Tag: DigiTimes
Buyer's Guide: iPhone SE (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPhone
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