Engadget Feed

Microsoft reportedly plans to begin using Anthropic's latest Claude models to power some of the Copilot features in its Office 365 apps. In a report published Tuesday, The Information said the tech giant would announce the change "in the coming weeks." Microsoft currently relies on OpenAI's tech to power the majority of AI features found inside of Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint.

As an outsider looking in, Microsoft's embrace of Anthropic's models would appear to signal a deepening split between the company and OpenAI. Microsoft is the AI lab's largest investor, and was integral to Sam Altman's rehiring as CEO following his brief ouster in 2023. However, in recent months reports of a growing impasse between the two in negotiations over OpenAI's plan to restructure its for-profit division as a public benefit corporation have bubbled up. 

For its part, Microsoft denied the move is motivated by animosity. "As we’ve said, OpenAI will continue to be our partner on frontier models and we remain committed to our long-term partnership," a company spokesperson told The Information.

Still, the decision likely comes as unwelcome news for OpenAI. The Information reports Microsoft is at least partly motivated by the fact it believes Claude 4 Sonnet "performs better in subtle but important ways" than GPT-5. For example, The Information's source said Anthropic's model tends to generate "more aesthetically pleasing" PowerPoint presentations. Notably, that's coming from an older model, and one that isn't even Anthropic's flagship offering. 

Anthropic did not immediately respond to Engadget's comment request. According to The Information, Microsoft does not plan to charge more for access to Anthropic models in Office 365, with Copilot pricing set to remain at $30 per user per month. That's notable because the company will pay Amazon to access Claude Sonnet 4 through AWS, Anthropic's primary cloud provider. As part of its investment in OpenAI, Microsoft can access the company's models at no additional cost.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/microsoft-reportedly-plans-to-start-using-anthropic-models-to-power-some-of-office-365s-copilot-features-202017205.html?src=rss

The announcement of the iPhone Air surprised exactly nobody during today's Apple "Awe dropping" event. As we finally get officiall details about this lightweight smartphone model, one of the biggest questions is about the battery. Thin devices mean thinner batteries, so we've been curious to see how the iPhone Air will stack up. One thing we now know is that it's less beefy than standard smartphones when it comes to wireless charging.

According to the tech specs provided by Apple on its website, the iPhone Air charges at 20W on both MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging, whereas the other iPhones announced today charge a little faster at 25W. Apple also shared fast-charging capabilities for the iPhone Air: "Up to 50 percent charge in 30 minutes with 20W adapter or higher (available separately) paired with USB‑C charging cable, or 30W adapter or higher paired with MagSafe Charger (both available separately)."

The spec sheet also says that the iPhone Air on its own offers up to 27 hours of video playback or up to 22 hours of streaming video. When coupled with a dedicated iPhone Air MagSafe battery pack, those figures jump to up to 40 hours and up to 35 hours, respectively.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-iphone-airs-top-wireless-charging-speed-is-20w-201804255.html?src=rss

There’s a marketing practice called Anchoring, where a mediocre product is offered at a similar price to the one the manufacturer actually wants to sell. Sure, you can buy the base model but the next model up, for just $50 more, offers so much more that buying the cheaper one feels like a bad deal. Apple is no stranger to this practice, but I do think that the iPhone Air is a fairly extreme example of it.

Apple’s iPhone strategy has, in recent years, centered on four models: That year’s model, its Pro sibling, and then larger-screened variants of both. This year, the Plus size version of the base model was ditched in favor of the iPhone Air. It’s a dramatically thinner phone, coming in at 5.64mm deep compared to the regular iPhone 17’s 7.95mm. It has a more powerful chip, packing Apple’s flagship A19 Pro compared to the regular iPhone 17’s A19. Oh, and it has a 6.5-inch display, slightly bigger than the 17’s 6.3-inch panel. But those are its only advantages.

Phones have been getting larger and larger for well over a decade and every time, consumers have bought them. The demise of the iPhone SE killed the idea a large number of people were clamoring for a handset smaller than five inches. But I’ve never heard anyone grouse about the thickness of their handset, given these objects also need to be held comfortably in the hand. Consequently, the Air’s main reason for existing is, fundamentally, one that offers a bunch of compromises to reach a target no-one asked it to.

In fact, it becomes embarrassing when you put the Air in a side-by-side comparison with the base model iPhone 17. The handset has a slightly smaller screen and is “only” using the regular A19 chip but, in every other metric, it’s a far better phone. It has a bigger battery and a longer promised runtime, dual 48-megapixel cameras over the Air’s single lens. But while the Air retails from $999, you can pick up an iPhone 17 for $799 with 256GB storage, which I think is a steal. In any logical world, the iPhone Air wouldn’t even get a second glance with 99 percent of buyers.

Of course, much like the MacBook Air this is going to be the shape of iPhones to come. You can already see Apple’s desire to slim down the form factor and ditch legacy technologies like physical SIM cards. It won’t be long before these changes come across to the rest of the iPhone line as users acquiesce to Apple’s desire to trim things down. It’s doubly obvious the Air is laying the groundwork for any planned Apple foldable, too, given that Samsung and Honor are releasing foldables that measure 9mm thick when closed.

But I’d urge everyone else to restrain the desire to spend $999 of their hard-earned to be a beta tester for Apple’s hardware roadmap. Sure, I’ll probably buy the iPhone Air 5 (or 22) but probably only because I don’t have any other choice.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-iphone-air-is-a-great-advertisement-for-the-iphone-17-201318112.html?src=rss

If you're trying to decide whether to buy a new iPhone 17 model and looking at the camera updates, there's mostly good news and a little bad following today's big event. Apple did upgrade the telephoto camera on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models and introduced some new pro video features. It also boosted resolution on the base iPhone 17's ultra wide camera — but that model still lacks a dedicated telephoto camera now available on rivals like the Pixel 10. 

However, the most welcome change across the lineup is the new front facing camera. It not only has a higher resolution square sensor, but a nice Center Stage feature that makes it far easier to switch between portrait and group photos. Video is also much improved on that camera. Here are all the details on camera changes across the lineup. 

iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max Apple

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max cameras received a major upgrade with a new telephoto sensor that's 56 percent larger and boosts resolution from 12MP to 48MP — meaning all three Fusion Cameras now share that higher resolution. Zoom has also been expanded on the telephoto camera from 5x to 8x thanks to a new tetraprism lens. However, true optical zoom is 4x and the 8x is an "optical quality," (ie partially digital) 12MP zoom. The larger hump that runs across the back of the phone (a camera "plateau") is there to accommodate camera and other components to free up room for the battery.

The other major upgrade is in the front-facing camera. All iPhone 17 models including the Pro models have a square-sensor "Center Stage" 18MP selfie camera, up from 12MP on the three previous generations. The lens has been updated as well with six elements instead of five as before. That will make for sharper selfie photos and more detailed video, a big plus for a camera that hasn't got much love in past versions. 

The square front camera sensor will also change the way you take selfies. Instead of turning the phone sideways for wide group shots, you simply tap a setting to expand the field of view and orientation. Apple says that's not only simpler but more likely to prevent mishaps since it's easier to grip the phone vertically. In video mode, meanwhile, the front camera now offers ultra-stabilized 4K HDR video. The one drawback is that it's harder to see details, as the image on the screen is much smaller when held vertically. 

Apple also made some key video changes to tempt filmmakers toward iPhones instead of dedicated cameras. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max have a new photonic engine to preserve detail and color fidelity. Apple also introduced ProRes RAW capture, Apple Log 2 and genlock. The first two features will allow for improved dynamic range and easier grading, while genlock will make it easier to sync footage shot with multiple iPhone 17 Pros. Another key feature is Dual Capture that lets you film with both the front and rear cameras at the same time, so you can capture footage and vlog your reaction to it simultaneously. As before, it can shoot 4K at up to 120 fps, but the rumored 8K video still isn't an option. 

iPhone 17

Apple

Compared to the Pro models, the base iPhone 17 received a milder camera boost. Primarily, the company has upgraded the Fusion Ultra Wide camera to 48MP, matching the 48MP Fusion Main Camera. That will deliver more detailed photos and video when shooting group and other wide shots. However, optical zoom is still limited to 2x due to the lack of a dedicated telephoto camera, compared to 5x on Samsung and Google's latest Pixel 10 and Galaxy S25 base models, something buyers are likely to notice. That said, the boosted resolution will allow for clearer pictures when zooming digitally. 

The base model now records 4K 60 fps Dolby Vision with creative features like Cinematic and Action modes, along with Spatial Audio. The Audio Mix function automatically boosts voices and reduces ambient noise, while providing a wind noise reduction feature.

The iPhone 17 gets the same front camera upgrade as the Pro models, including the square 18MP sensor and Center Stage tricks that let you shoot wide or portrait shots without turning the camera, along with ultra-stabilized 4K HDR video. 

iPhone 17 Air Apple

Apple kept the iPhone 17 Air thin in part by using a single 48MP Fusion Camera, but it did try to make it as versatile as possible. It has a large 2 micrometer quad-pixel sensor that excels in low light, along with an optical quality 2x telephoto. That gives users "the equivalent of four lenses in their pocket," Apple said, including wide and telephoto models, via digital and optical zoom. That's a nice way to describe cropping, but it's still the weakest iPhone 17 model for photography.  

Like the other models, you can capture 4K 60 fps Dolby Vision HDR video, and get support for Action mode, Spatial Audio capture and Audio Mix mode to boost voices and reduce ambient noise. The new Photonic Engine improves image detail and color accuracy and a new Bright style adds clarity to skin tones and increases vibrance. 

The iPhone 17 Air also has the 18MP Center Stage front camera as the other models, with all the benefits that entails. Those include switching from wide to portrait photos without rotating the camera, 4K HDR video capture with ultra stabilization and Dual Capture to take video from both the front and rear cameras at the same time. Center Stage can also be used during video calls to keep you stable and positioned in the frame. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-iphone-17s-new-selfie-camera-lets-you-take-group-shots-without-rotating-your-phone-195345475.html?src=rss

Apple introduced two new wireless chips in the iPhone Air, a preview of a world where all the key components of the company's products are custom-designed. The C1X and N1 chips enable wireless features like 5G connectivity and Wi-Fi 7, building on the original C1 modem the company introduced in the iPhone 16e.

At least one reason Apple was able to pull off the thin design of the iPhone Air was the power-efficiency these new chips offer. The C1X modem supports sub-6Ghz 5G and 4G LTE and is up to two times faster than the C1 modem, according to Apple. It's also faster than the Qualcomm-designed modem in the iPhone 16 Pro "for the same cellular technologies." Apple says the chip is able to achieve these performance improvements while "using 30 percent less energy overall," which seems key for a phone with a smaller battery than normal.

Whereas the C1 on the iPhone 16e also enabled Wi-Fi 6, Apple's offloaded Wi-Fi support to the new N1 chip on the iPhone Air. The N1 chip enables Bluetooth 6 for connecting to accessories, Wi-Fi 7 and Thread for controlling your smart home. Both these chips combine with the new A19 Pro, which has a 6-core CPU, 5-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine, to give the iPhone Air pro-level power in a thinner profile.

While Apple is using these new components to pull off a radical redesign this year, all-custom-everything is also where the company is headed overall, Bloomberg reported in 2024. That's both to avoid paying Qualcomm for components, and to enable new features and efficiencies in its products. Apple would even like to combine its modem and processor into a single chip at some point, though that's reportedly still a few years off.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apples-new-wireless-chips-give-it-even-more-control-of-the-iphone-194820274.html?src=rss

Apple might not admit it (at least not yet), but the iPhone Air is more than just a slimmed-down version of the company's latest handset or a more sophisticated take on its usual Plus model. It's a super sleek preview of its upcoming foldable.

Now this might seem like a stretch and there's something to be said about the difference between a traditional OLED display and one that's meant to be bent. However, the arrival of a foldable iPhone has become one of the tech world's worst-kept secrets. Still not convinced? Well, consider this. If you were in charge at Apple and were faced with the task of figuring out how to engineer and design the company's first phone with a flexible display, how would you do it? Would you try to re-invent the wheel? No, you'd check out your competitors to see if there was a formula that you could re-purpose for your needs. Enter Samsung, which is not only one of Apple's biggest rivals but also a foldable phone maker that's already seven generations deep.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Furthermore, if we look back to this spring when Samsung released the Galaxy S25 Edge, you might already be noticing some similarities. Just like the iPhone Air, the S25 Edge is a thinner and more elegant take on Samsung's middle-child flagship phone: the S25+. It has a lot of the same shortcomings like a smaller battery and fewer cameras than you'd otherwise expect on a premium device that costs around $1,000.

But the biggest clue that Apple might be taking a page out of Samsung's playbook is the iPhone Air's thinness. The idea of simply making a slimmer iPhone with worse specs without lowering its price doesn't really make sense in 2025. Unless you're doing so in preparation for a future product. So if we consider the S25 Edge again (which measures just 5.88mm thick) and then compare that to the Galaxy Z Fold 7 (which came out just a couple months later and measures 4.2mm thick when unfolded), suddenly an unmistakable pattern begins to form. The iPhone 17 Air is one half of Apple's upcoming foldable and if the rumors are correct, next year Apple is essentially going to smash two of them together while adding a hinge and a flexible screen. Voila, there's your iPhone Fold (or whatever Apple ends up calling it).

When viewed side-by-side next to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, it's not hard to see how the iPhone Air's design might translate into a foldable iPhone.Sam Rutherford for Engadget

OK, enough speculation, what about the iPhone Air itself? In short, this thing is deliciously thin at just 5.6mm. It really is one of those things that you can't fully appreciate until you hold it in your hand. It has beautifully polished edges and while I don't love the term "camera plateau," there's a lot of engineering that went into creating the subtle slope that rises up to meet the phone's lone 48MP rear camera.

In front, the Air's 6.5-inch display looks as colorful and vibrant as you'd expect and I'm delighted to see it get ProMotion support as well. And for selfies, I really like Apple's new Center Stage system which uses a square 18MP sensor so you can smoothly transition between typical portrait style shots to landscape photos. Plus, if you don't want to control things manually, there's also an automatic setting which could seriously streamline future social media photo and video shoots.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

The shiny finish on the Air's titanium frame is a rather nice, though if Apple hadn't said so, I might have thought it was stainless steel. That said, at just 165 grams, titanium was one of the few ways to get the Air's weight down that low while increasing durability. I also want to add that the sky blue model is my favorite color for the Air because depending on the light, its hue shifts from bright robin's egg to a more understated gray. The only downside to its overall design is that the chassis is a bit of a fingerprint magnet.

However, I still have a few remaining questions that will need to be answered after further testing. The addition of a A19 Pro chip and a ProMotion screen should give the phone a big boost in power efficiency. But it remains to be seen how the Air's battery life will hold up in real life. Apple is claiming continuous video playback of up to 27 hours, but it's sort of telling that during the keynote, the company showed a new super sleek MagSafe battery pack, which may end up being a must-have accessory for people who push their phones hard.

Sam Rutherford for Engadget

Additionally, from the handful of camera samples I've seen, the iPhone Air's 48MP rear camera has excellent image quality, though I'm still not sure about the move to a single lens system, even if it does support up to a 4x zoom.

Regardless, with the iPhone Air filling in the gap where the standard Plus model would normally be, Apple has taken its traditionally under-appreciated middle child and turned it into the most sleek and stylish handset the company has ever made. Unfortunately, all that sophistication does come with a slightly higher price of $999, up from the $899 for last year's iPhone 16 Plus.

The iPhone Air will start at $999 with 256GB of storage. Pre-orders begin this Friday, September 12 at 8AM ET followed by official sales slated for September 19.

The new iPhone Air being admired by Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak.Sam Rutherford for Engadget

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/iphone-air-hands-on-the-super-sleek-precursor-to-apples-upcoming-foldable-185851102.html?src=rss

Alongside all of the new iPhones, Apple Watch models and other hardware, today's Apple event brought forth news of when you'll be able to install iOS 26, iPadOS 26, watchOS 26, macOS 26 and visionOS 26. You'll be able to install these operating systems on compatible devices on September 15 when they move out of beta.

There are two major changes this year. The first is Apple's shift to the Liquid Glass design language across its devices. It's a significant overhaul of the design of Apple's operating systems, with a focus on translucency and fluidity. The other big update is to the naming system of the operating systems. It might feel a little jarring to go from iOS 18 to iOS 26, but Apple is now aligning the version numbers with release years to keep everything more consistent.

The iPhone 17 lineup will come with iOS 26 pre-installed. You can also download it on iPhone 11, 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 devices, as well as second-gen and later iPhone SE units.

Compatibility for watchOS 26 is straightforward too. It'll be available on the latest devices, along with the second-gen Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 6 or later and all Apple Watch Ultra variants. As for visionOS 26, Apple Vision Pro users can install that next week. 

Things get a little more complicated when it comes to iPadOS and macOS. If you'd like to try macOS 26 (aka macOS Tahoe), you'll need one of the following Macs:

• MacBook Air with Apple silicon (2020 and later)

• MacBook Pro with Apple silicon (2020 and later)

• MacBook Pro (16‑inch, 2019)

• MacBook Pro (13‑inch, 2020, Four Thunderbolt 3 ports)

• iMac (2020 and later)

• Mac mini (2020 and later)

• Mac Studio (2022 and later)

• Mac Pro (2019 and later)

As for iPadOS 26, you'll be able to use that on the following iPad models:

• iPad Pro (M4)

• iPad Pro 12.9‑inch (3rd generation and later)

• iPad Pro 11‑inch (1st generation and later)

• iPad Air (M2 and M3)

• iPad Air (3rd generation and later)

• iPad (A16)

• iPad (8th generation and later)

• iPad mini (A17 Pro)

• iPad mini (5th generation and later)

Meanwhile, Apple has yet to announce a release date for tvOS 26. It's still listed as "coming this fall." Perhaps Apple is holding off on that until it reveals an updated Apple TV 4K. Rumors suggest that's coming soon (perhaps alongside an Apple smart home hub). We're well overdue for a new model, as the current Apple TV 4K arrived three years ago. When it does arrive, tvOS 26 will be available for second-gen and later Apple TV 4K units.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/ios-26-ipados-26-watchos-26-and-macos-26-will-be-released-on-september-15-182024821.html?src=rss

As expected, Apple's September 9 "awe-dropping" event brought a tsunami of new hardware, including the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air. But those long-awaited models weren't the only launches worth noting — the event also debuted three new Apple Watches: the Apple Watch Ultra 3, the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch SE 3.

Now that the livestream is over, these three new Apple wearables are all available for pre-order. All three will ship out on September 19.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/how-to-pre-order-the-apple-watch-ultra-3-apple-watch-series-11-and-apple-watch-se-3-175645177.html?src=rss

The iPhone Air may get most of the attention at today's Apple event, but the "regular" iPhone 17 is the one a lot of the iOS faithful will buy. This year's new model may not look like a massive overhaul since the design is mostly the same, but don't let that fool you. The company has massively upgraded the display to include ProMotion and a 120Hz refresh rate. There's more power under the hood, ready to harness all of the features that Apple Intelligence and iOS 26 provide. Plus, there's eight more hours of battery life and faster charging when you need it. And I haven't even mentioned the camera updates yet, which are highlighted by the Center Stage front camera. 

With the introduction of the iPhone Air, Apple nixed the iPhone 17 Plus. Now you're left to decide between the 6.3-inch iPhone 17, 6.5-inch iPhone Air or the 6.9-inch iPhone 17 Pro Max (and 6.3-inch Pro) — if you're primarily concerned with size. I was worried the company would leave us with a 6.1-inch base iPhone, a handset that feels incredibly small after I finally got used to the iPhone 16 Plus. I'm happy to report that the iPhone 17 bridges the gap nicely, and I don't think the smaller "regular" model will be a strain on my delicate sensibilities. 

Billy Steele for Engadget

On first glance, the real star of the show this year is the majorly upgraded display on the iPhone 17. Not only is it slightly larger, but it now has a 120Hz refresh rate and supports Apple's ProMotion tech. The difference between this new model and my iPhone 16 Plus was immediately apparent. Colors are more vivid, details are sharper and it's just more pleasant to look at. Of course, I wasn't able to dive into the finer points of what the upgrade provides in a quick demo, but I walked away impressed after my first glance at the phone. 

I was also able to briefly try the new Center Stage front camera in the lobby outside the Steve Jobs Theater. There are other camera updates on the iPhone 17, but this one will be what is most beneficial to most people. It automatically changes orientation as more people enter the frame for selfies, and most importantly, it does so quickly without any jitters or lag. It worked well on multiple attempts I observed, and it's one of the few new features I'm looking forward to testing further. 

Additionally, Dual Capture, the ability to record footage from both the rear and front-facing cameras at the same time, will be great for recording reaction videos. A busy demo area outside of an Apple keynote isn't the most exciting spot for this, but what I was able to see excited me for my upcoming afternoons of youth sports. 

We'll have to wait for our full review for a deep dive on the rest of the new features on the iPhone 17, but after my first introduction, I anticipate that this could be the most robust annual update in several years. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-iphone-17-hands-on-no-plus-no-problem-192747122.html?src=rss

In an absolute shocker, an early September Apple event included the official reveal of the iPhone 17. Who could have seen that coming? Arguably the biggest change this time around — in the most literal sense — concerns the display. At 6.3 inches, it's larger than the iPhone 16's 6.1-inch screen. Sorry to iPhone users with smaller hands and anyone else who is fed up of every phone becoming a phablet. The bezels are thinner too.

Not only is the iPhone 17 screen larger than the one on its predecessor, it boasts a Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion, meaning it has an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling (you can perhaps thank my colleague Igor Bonifacic for willing that into existence). It's an always-on screen. When you aren't using your iPhone 17, the refresh rate dips to 1Hz to help optimize battery life. 

The front of the device boasts Ceramic Shield 2, which improves scratch resistance by three times, Apple claims. There's also a seven-layer anti-glare coating that's designed to improve readability, and there's a peak outdoor brightness of 3,000 nits (1,000 nits more than the iPhone 16).

No prizes for guessing that there's an upgraded processor in the iPhone 17. An A19 processor with a 3nm design is powering this year's base model. Apple says it has more memory bandwidth to bolster on-device large language model processing (the 16-core neural engine will help with that). The A19 has a five-core GPU as well. That, plus the 120Hz display, should bolster gaming on the iPhone 17.

Unfortunately, Apple is sticking with a dual camera system on the rear. Apple is calling this a Dual Fusion camera system which merges the capabilities of both lenses. The main camera is a 48MP lens with integrated optical-quality 2x telephoto and a 26mm focal length. There's also a 48MP ultrawide sensor — Apple says this can capture up to four times the resolution of the previous-gen camera.

Apple

As for the front-facing camera, it has a much larger sensor than on previous models, according to Apple. It's also square instead of rectangular. One big benefit of that change is that you'll be able to snap landscape selfies in any orientation — no need to rotate your phone to do that. Your iPhone 17 will automatically switch between landscape and portrait orientations if, for instance, AI detects more people in the photo to make sure everyone is included. 

The selfie camera can take 18MP snaps, which is an upgrade on the 12MP resolution that the iPhone 16's front-facing lens topped out at. The Center Stage camera offers improved stabilization for videos (which you can capture in 4K HDR), FaceTime calls and video calls in third-party apps, Apple says. There's also support for a feature called Dual Capture. This allows you to record video using both the front and rear cameras at the same time.

On the battery front, Apple says the iPhone 17 will deliver up to 30 hours of continuous video playback on a single charge, which is eight hours more than on the iPhone 16. The Adaptive Power Mode in iOS 26 can learn your typical battery consumption levels and conserve power when needed. 

In addition, the company claims you can top the battery up to 50 percent in 20 minutes thanks to faster charging. You'll need a powerful enough USB-C charger for that, of course, and it just so happens Apple is starting to sell a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter with 60W Max, which will do the trick. That costs $39.

Apple's MagSafe compatible cases include the $49 clear case, $59 FineWoven wallet and $49 silicone case (available in black, neon yellow, light moss, anchor blue, and purple fog). The latter works with Apple's new crossbody strap, which is pretty self-explanatory. It could help keep your iPhone secure while freeing up space in your pocket. It's made with 100 percent recycled yarns and comes in 10 colors. The strap has an adjustable length. Oh, and it costs $59.

Elsewhere, Apple is promising improved performance and reliability for features such as Personal Hotspot and AirDrop thanks to the N1 networking chip it designed in house. As you might expect, this supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6 connectivity too.

The dimensions are slightly different from the iPhone 16. The iPhone 17 is 0.1mm narrower at 71.5mm (2.81 inches) and 2mm taller at 147.6mm (5.89 inches). It's a hair thicker too, adding 0.15mm. Moreover, the iPhone 17 is seven grams heavier than its predecessor at 177 grams (6.24 ounces).

The iPhone 17 runs iOS 26, which boasts Apple's new Liquid Glass design language. It features the expansion of Apple's Visual Intelligence — the company's answer to Google Lens — to screenshots, as well as overhauled Camera and Phone apps. Moreover, iOS 26 brings live translation to the Phone, FaceTime and Messages apps, along with polls to group chats, additional lock screen options and much more.

The iPhone 17 will be available in black, lavender, mist blue, sage and white. In a very welcome update, Apple is doubling the base storage to 256GB. 

There's no price increase this year, as the iPhone 17 starts at $799. Pre-orders for the iPhone 17 (and the other models) start this Friday, September 12 at 8AM ET. The iPhone 17 will hit shelves on September 19 in more than 63 countries, including the US. It will become available in 22 more countries and regions a week later.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-iphone-17-boasts-a-larger-display-with-promotion-support-and-a-120hz-refresh-rate-173429663.html?src=rss

Apple has taken the wraps off its latest crop of iPhones, introducing four devices in total: the standard iPhone 17, the high-end iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max and an all-new ultra-thin model called the iPhone Air. We have hands-on previews for each new device already, but as always, most people should hold off on making a purchase until we can fully review the phones in the coming days. If you’re already sure you want to upgrade, however, we’ve broken down what you should know about each new iPhone before you pre-order.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/how-to-pre-order-the-iphone-air-iphone-17-and-iphone-17-pro-ahead-of-their-september-19-release-date-185943747.html?src=rss

Apple announced three new smartwatches at its “Awe Dropping” event today. Along with new iPhone 17 models, we now have the Apple Watch Series 11, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and (finally) a new Apple Watch SE — much as the rumors predicted. The Apple Watch Series 11 is available for pre-order today with a starting price of $399 and will ship out September 19. 

Engadget’s Cherlynn Low, Sam Rutherford and Billy Steele are on the ground at the event, so we’ll have hands-on coverage soon, followed by full reviews in a week or so. In the meantime, here’s everything we know about the newest flagship series Apple Watch. 

The Apple Watch Series 11 can deliver hypertension alerts 

The keynote speech started off with dramatic testimonials of how the Apple Watch has helped people with their health and well being, alerting them to health issues and calling for help that saved their lives. The new model will now help identify another health woe: hypertension. 

Apple's VP of health, Dr. Sumbul Ahmad Desai, introduced a feature that can help detect hypertension (high blood pressure), a condition which affects over a billion people worldwide and often has no obvious symptoms. The feature relies on the same optical heart sensor the Apple Watch has had for years, but now a new algorithm informed by both machine learning and a study involving more than 100,000 participants looks for high blood pressure. It works in the background over the course of a month to identify patterns associated with hypertension. 

Desai made sure to state that it can't detect all cases of hypertension, but that Apple expects to notify more than one million people that they may have undiagnosed hypertension in the first year of the feature's availability — though, that's dependent on FDA clearance. (Apple expects to gain that soon.) 

Apple A screen that's twice as scratch resistant

As for what else is new this year, we heard from Stan Ng, VP of Apple Watch and health product marketing, who called the Series 11 the thinnest and most comfortable ever. The Ion-X glass now has a ceramic coating bonded at an atomic level making it two times more scratch-resistant than before. 

There's a new color (Space Grey to go along with the Rose Gold, Jet Black and Silver from prior models) and the case is now made from 100 percent recycled aluminum, up from 95 percent on the Series 10. There's also a slate of colors in polished, 100 percent recycled titanium. Battery life is now up to 24 hours, thanks to a battery redesign, meaning you can wear it all day and night. 

The Apple Watch will now award you a sleep score

If you wear your watch all night, you'll be rewarded with a new sleep score (much like you already get from a Galaxy watch or a Pixel Watch/Fitbit). The sleep score analyzes the quality of your sleep based on duration, consistency, time awake and other metrics. You'll also get details on what affected your score and what you can do to get better sleep next time. The Apple Heart and Movement study provided sleep data to help inform how the sleep score works. 

Cellular models now get 5G connectivity 

If you opt for the cellular model, you’ll get access to 5G networks, instead of just LTE. That’ll allow for speedier data connections on your wrist even if you leave your phone at home. The modem and antenna architecture should provide wider coverage as well, while being more power efficient. 5G cellular connection will be available from most carriers at launch.  

The wearable will ship with watchOS 26, which showcases the new Liquid Glass design — and the Apple Watch is getting a new watch face to showcase a translucent look called Flow. There's also a new Exactograph watch face, which Ng described as a "modern reinterpretation of a traditional regulator clock."

Apple What's stayed the same on the Apple Watch Series 11

Apple Watch announcements usually lavish much praise on the new processor chip ("system in a package" or SiP). There was no mention on that front for the Series 11 — because it's using the same S10 chip as last year. We found the performance was plenty capable last time around, so that's not necessarily a bad thing.  

Last year, Apple gave its flagship wearable the biggest hardware update since the Series 4, so it’s not surprising the new model retains that general design. Like the Series 10, the Apple Watch Series 11 comes in a 42mm or 46mm case size. Strangely, the company is touting it as the thinnest ever — though the tech specs list it at the same 9.7mm as the Series 10. We did indeed find the Series 10 to be comfortably thin, so again, not a complaint.   

The best thing that hasn't changed is the price. Last year, the Series 10 started at $399 — exactly how much the base model Series 11 costs. There was plenty of speculation as to whether tariffs would up the prices of the new Apple hardware, but at least for the company's flagship wearable, any increased costs didn't get passed on to the customer. 

Apple Watch Series 11 pricing and availability

The Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $399 for the 42mm aluminum case and GPS-only connectivity. The larger 46mm case starts at $429. Adding 5G cellular connectivity tacks on $100 to both models. The titanium case bumps the starting price to $699, but cellular is included. Of course, there are also a slew of new bands you can pick that'll add more dollars to your Apple Watch purchase — and the Hermès variant goes for as much as $1,950 (but comes with a custom watch face). 

All Apple Watches are available for pre-order today and will be available September 19.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-series-11-includes-5g-and-a-hypertension-tracking-feature-172451506.html?src=rss

Apple hosted its "Awe dropping" iPhone event today, but wearables also got their moment in the sun, including the announcement of the Apple Watch Series 11. In recent years, the company has made some big environmental claims around its smartwatches, but after facing some legal scrutiny overseas, the language for this new Apple Watch generation's green cred is notably more muted.

Starting with the Apple Watch Series 9, the company claimed that select models of the watch could be carbon-neutral, and those calls were echoed in some branding for the Apple Watch 10. However, a regional court in Frankfurt, Germany, ruled last month that Apple could not call its smartwatch carbon-neutral because the carbon-offset program it was using was on land that it had only leased through 2029. Apple's environmental plan didn't account for how it would handle the carbon offsets after that date, meaning the 'carbon-neutral' claim was unfounded and violated competition laws, according to the ruling.

It seems like the sort of case Apple is likely to appeal, although we haven't heard them make any announcement yet about possible next steps. But the action does seem to have influenced how the company is talking about its new Apple Watch Series 11. In the official press release about the Watch 11, the environmental impact section still notes some stats, but there's no mention about carbon-neutrality for this particular wearable. Here's what the company says instead:

"Apple Watch Series 11 is now made with 40 percent recycled content, which includes 100 percent recycled cobalt in the battery, and 100 percent recycled titanium or aluminum in the case, and titanium cases are made using an innovative 3D printing process that uses just half the raw material as previous generations. It is manufactured with 100 percent renewable electricity, like wind and solar, across the supply chain."

There could still be some skepticism about how accurate these claims are; Apple wouldn't be the first or the only one to cherry-pick stats for marketing. And while it is no longer making the statement about the smartwatch, Apple does claim in the release that it "is carbon neutral for its global corporate operations."

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-isnt-making-any-carbon-neutral-claims-with-its-series-11-smartwatch-190216278.html?src=rss

Apple revealed a language translation feature for the upcoming AirPods 3 Pro earbuds at today's iPhone event. Here's some good news for those who don't want to shell out $249 for some new and shiny in-ear headphones. The tool is also coming to the AirPods 4 with ANC and AirPods Pro 2 models. This requires the latest firmware and an Apple Intelligence-enabled iPhone running iOS 26 and later.

For the uninitiated, Live Translation is exactly what it sounds like. The software translates languages in real-time while wearing the earbuds. This allows for something resembling natural conversation when interacting with a person who speaks another language.

This feature will be available in English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish at launch, with more languages coming by the end of the year. These include Italian, Japanese, Korean and simplified Chinese.

As for the AirPods Pro 3 earbuds, they cost $249 and are available to preorder right now. These new earbuds include a heart rate monitor, improved ANC, better battery life and the ability to play spatial audio.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apples-airpods-4-with-anc-and-airpods-pro-2-will-also-support-live-translation-184235997.html?src=rss

With the start of September comes the promise of crisp, fall-like weather and, like clockwork, new iPhones. Apple's "awe dropping" iPhone event this year had execs showing off the latest iPhones from Cupertino and reminding folks of the changes Liquid Glass and iOS 26 will bring to their handsets in the coming week. The biggest hardware news comes with the iPhone Air, a new addition to this year’s iPhone lineup. iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro families were revealed, along with updated Apple Watches and new AirPods Pro earbuds. If you missed the live event, here’s everything Apple announced during the iPhone 17 launch event.

iPhone 17

The handsets in the standard iPhone 17 lineup have 6.3-inch, 120Hz displays with ProMotion and thinner borders. Apple's touting improved durability thanks in part to Ceramic Shield 2, which has three times the scratch resistance as previous Ceramic Shield tech.

The iPhone 17 is powered by the new A19 chipset, which is faster and more efficient than the previous processor thanks in part to an improved neural engine, a six-core CPU and a five-core GPU. Improvements in power efficiency will also get you eight additional hours of battery life on the iPhone 17.

As for the rear camera array, iPhone 17 has a 48MP main Fusion ultra wide camera and a 12MP telephoto lens. The selfie camera has been improved to be a "center stage" front camera, with better stabilization, a wider field of view and a new larger, square sensor that lets you take higher quality images and videos more easily. You also won't have to rotate your iPhone when you want to take a photo or video in landscape mode.

The iPhone 17 series starts at $799 for a 256GB model and will be available for pre-order starting Friday, September 12. They'll be widely available on September 19.

Read more: Apple iPhone 17 hands-on: No Plus, no problem

iPhone Air Apple

As expected, Apple announced a new member of the iPhone family during the event. The iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone yet, measuring just 5.6mm thick, and made of spacecraft-grade titanium. Ceramic Shield 2 surrounds the iPhone Air on both sides, which helps make it more durable than any previous iPhone. The Air's always-on screen measures 6.5-inches, and it supports ProMotion and up to 3,000 nits of brightness.

Powering the iPhone Air is the A19 Pro chipset, which features a six-core CPU and a five-core GPU that features new neural accelerators built in. The new N1 chip enables the latest wireless technologies including Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6, and the updated C1X modem is twice as fast as the previous C1 chipset.

The rear camera setup appears to just have one shooter, but actually includes a 48MP Fusion lens and a 12MP telephoto lens built in. The front-facing camera is the new center stage camera that features improved stabilization and software that makes it so you don't have to rotate your phone to take landscape photos and videos anymore.

As far as battery life goes, Apple claims the iPhone Air will get "all-day" battery life thanks in part to hardware features and software perks like Adaptive Power Mode, which learns your habits to intelligently manage power. The iPhone Air is compatible with MagSafe battery packs like the new, super slim one Apple designed specifically to work with the Air.

The iPhone Air starts at $999 for a 256GB model and will be available for pre-order starting Friday, September 12. It will be widely available on September 19.

Read more: iPhone Air hands-on: The super sleek precursor to Apple’s upcoming foldable

iPhone 17 Pro Apple

Apple redesigned the iPhone 17 Pro lineup from the ground up to include the first anodized aluminum unibody design in an iPhone. It was made to include the biggest battery ever in an Apple smartphone, an upgraded rear camera array, a new thermal system and more.

Starting with the new thermal management system, it's designed to manage power and surface temperature. A new vapor chamber directs heat throughout the device so it dissipates more efficiently. This is necessary to manage performance for Apple's most powerful iPhone, which is powered by the A19 Pro chipset.

Screen sizes sit at 6.9-inches on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and 6.3-inches on the iPhone 17 Pro. Glass is no longer affixed to the back of the handset and has been replaced with Ceramic Shield 2, which makes the iPhone 17 Pro more durable than ever.

The new rear camera setup sits on a "plateau" of sorts on the top half of the back of the device. The array features a new 48MP telephoto lens, which can shoot up to 8x “optical quality” zoom at 12MP and 4x at its full 48MP. That's accompanied by two 48MP wide and ultra wide sensors, plus the 18MP center stage lens on the front of the phone.

Things like the thermal management system and the camera plateau have allowed Apple to put the biggest battery yet into the iPhone 17 Pro Series. The company claims the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have the longest battery life of any iPhone up until this point, with up to 39 hours of video playback.

The iPhone 17 Pro series starts at $1,099 for a 256GB model and will be available for pre-order starting Friday, September 12. They'll be widely available on September 19.

Read more: iPhone 17 Pro hands-on: The unibody and camera plateau feel more significant in person

AirPods Pro 3 Apple

After three years, we now have a new version of the AirPods Pro. Apple’s latest premium earbuds, the AirPods Pro 3, look much the same as the Pro 2, but now they have heart rate monitoring thanks to built-in biometric sensors. The Fitness app has new experiences to accompany this, including workouts you can track while wearing just AirPods Pro 3 and carrying your iPhone.

Apple's also touting improved audio with spatial listening, better active noise cancellation (four times as effective as the ANC in the original AirPods Pro) and foam-infused eartips. Live translation is another new feature which is, unsurprisingly, powered by Apple Intelligence. A new gesture will activate live translation when you're wearing the buds, and it will translate words spoken to you in another language to your preferred language. To reply, all you have to do is speak naturally in your own native language, and a translation will show up on your iPhone screen. As far as battery life goes, they should get at least eight hours on a single charge.

AirPods Pro 3 are available to order today for $249, and will be widely available on September 19.

Read more: Apple AirPods Pro 3 hands-on: New design and improved ANC are impressive

Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3 and Apple Watch SE Apple

Apple announced the Apple Watch Series 11 as its thinnest and most durable smartwatch yet. It's twice as scratch resistant as previous watches, and it now supports 5G for the first time thanks to a new modem. It also has improved internal tech that make it more power efficient. The watch will be able to monitor for high blood pressure using improved algorithms and the built-in heart rate monitor. If the watch identifies patterns of hypertension, you'll get an alert in the Health app. Series 11 watches will also now get up to 24 hours of battery life on a single charge, an improvement from the previous model.

It’s been two years since we got an updated Apple Watch Ultra, and that’s been remedied now with the Ultra 3. The new watch has a bigger, better display thanks to LTPO 3 technology. Satellite connectivity now allows you to stay in touch wherever you may go, and Emergency SOS is included with all Ultra 3 watches.

On the entry-level side of the spectrum, the Apple Watch SE is getting an update with a new always-on display, optional 5G, the improved S10 chip and support for gestures like double tap and wrist-flick. The Apple Watch SE will also provide sleep apnea notifications and the new Sleep Score feature that's available on the Series 11 watches. However, it's battery life remains the same as before — up to 18 hours — although you will now get fast-charging support.

Apple Watch Series 11 starts at $399; the Ultra 3 starts at $799 and the SE starts at $249. You can pre-order them today and they'll be widely available on September 19.

Read more: Apple Watch Series 11 hands-on: Feels and looks the same, but real changes are deeper

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/everything-apple-revealed-at-the-iphone-17-launch-event-iphone-air-iphone-17-pro-airpods-pro-3-and-more-171028663.html?src=rss

Apple's "pro" AirPods were due for an update. Despite continuously upgrading the AirPods Pro 2 with new features since their introduction in 2022, Apple hadn't produced another robust overhaul of its priciest earbuds yet. At today's iPhone 17 event (or iPhone Air event, depending on who you ask), the company unveiled the latest model: the AirPods Pro 3. Apple has refined the design, added heart rate sensing, improved active noise cancellation (ANC), delivered live translation and more. And most importantly, it did so without increasing the price.

My brief demo with the AirPods Pro 3 focused entirely on the refined ANC. I wasn't able to try any sustained heart rate tracking or live translation just yet, but I hope to have other opportunities for that later this week. 

Billy Steele for Engadget

I was immediately impressed by the updated ANC system. The demo area at Apple Park is in a marble room outside of the Steve Jobs Theater. It's a nightmare for shooting video, but it's a great testing ground for ANC. That's because you can seemingly hear every voice echo off the floor and walls. After starting in transparency mode twice with a video and music, I switched to ANC and it completely nixed the roar of the room. I escaped the chaos for a few seconds. 

The AirPods Pro 3 even dulled voices around me, with the exception of one very loud talker, to the point the company representative had to tap me on the shoulder because I could no longer hear her questions. I'll need more time with the earbuds to know if they really are better at blocking human voices, but after a few minutes with the new model, I can confidently say they can cancel more regular environmental noise than before. 

This demo gave me a few minutes with the revamped design as well. The foam ear tips are obviously more comfortable, but the fit and feel will take some getting used to. I was actually surprised by how different they felt compared to the current silicone version, even though I've worn foam tips plenty of times in the past. They will ultimately be more comfy for longer listening sessions and I'm sure their passive noise isolation lends a hand with the ANC improvements. 

I'm hoping to get more time with the AirPods Pro 3 today and tomorrow, so stay tuned for more coverage of Apple's new earbuds from the iPhone 17 event. 

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/apple-airpods-pro-3-hands-on-new-design-and-improved-anc-are-impressive-183246429.html?src=rss

AirPods Pro 3, Apple's high-end earbuds, joined the iPhone Air and new Apple Watches in the spotlight at Apple's September 9 "awe-dropping" launch event. The first AirPods Pro 3 will ship on September 19, but pre-orders are live now. Here's how to get your hands on a pair of the new AirPods to go with your iPhone Air.

AirPods Pro 3

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/how-to-pre-order-the-new-airpods-pro-3-173916856.html?src=rss

While all eyes are likely on the iPhone Air this year, Apple is introducing several new features in the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max that should keep its more demanding users satisfied. The company says it went back to the drawing board to develop a new unibody aluminum case, a vapor chamber cooling system and the biggest batteries ever put into iPhones. There’s also a completely revamped rear design, featuring a new horizontal camera module and combination of aluminum and Apple’s Ceramic Shield 2 along the bottom half. The latter update should increase overall durability, while also allowing for MagSafe wireless charging.

While all of Apple’s new iPhones are getting massive camera upgrades this year, the Pro rightfully remains the most capable with a new 48 megapixel telephoto lens. That joins 48MP wide and ultra-wide sensors, as well as the new 18MP Center Stage front-facing camera. The telephoto camera can now shoot up to 8x “optical quality” zoom at 12MP (a fancy way to say it’s cropping) and 4x at its full 48MP. As usual, Apple shot its iPhone announcement event with its new Pro phone and it looked on par with a true professional camera. (Of course, it’s also assisted by lots of other gear to help with shot placement and stabilization.)

Under the hood is Apple’s new A19 Pro chip, a six-core CPU that offers “MacBook-level processing power,” according to the company. Strangely enough, the A19 Pro is also in the iPhone Air, but the iPhone 17 Pro’s vapor chamber cooling should allow for better sustained performance that’s up to 40 percent faster than the A18 Pro. (You can’t really push heat out quickly from a super-thin case, after all.) Also on the chip front, the iPhone 17 Pro features Apple’s new N1 networking chip, which delivers Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread support. The company claims it also help make the iPhone 17 Pro’s Hotspot and AirDrop features faster and more reliable.

Not much has changed with the iPhone 17 Pro’s displays: There’s still the standard 6.3-inch screen, while the Max model has a 6.9-inch option. Both screens reach up to 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness, offer 120Hz variable refresh rate ProMotion screens and have always-on capabilities. They should be a bit tougher this time around thanks to Ceramic Shield 2, which has “3x better scratch resistance and improved anti-reflection,” according to Apple.

The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will be available for pre-order on September 12th, starting at $1,099 and $1,199, respectively. While the price has jumped up $100 since last year, Apple is also including 256GB of storage from the start. (The iPhone Air is taking over the $1,000 slot.)

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-iphone-17-pro-has-an-aluminum-case-and-vapor-chamber-cooling-180141734.html?src=rss

The worst kept secret of 2025 is official. At its Awe Dropping event on Tuesday, Apple announced the iPhone Air, its thinnest iPhone to date.

Just how thin is the iPhone Air? At its thinnest point, the new model is 5.6mm thick. To put those measurements in perspective, the iPhone 16 Pro is 8.25mm thick, making the Air over 2mm thinner than Apple's 2024 flagship. Prior to today, the 6.9mm thick iPhone 6 was the company's thinnest smartphone to date. Since then, newer iPhones have been thicker to accommodate larger batteries, Face ID, multi-camera arrays and other components. The iPhone Air reverses that trend.

At the same time, Apple claims the Air is its most durable phone yet, with a frame made from recycled titanium. Additionally, the Air is encased in the company's Ceramic Shield material, which on the front Apple says is now 3x more scratch resistant than previous iterations. As for the display, it's a 6.5-inch screen with ProMotion support up to 120Hz, always-on functionality and 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness. Additionally, Apple says the display has better outdoor contrast.  

Internally, the iPhone Air features the company's new A19 Pro chipset. Tim Millet, vice president of platform architecture at Apple, said the new chip, with its six-core CPU, is the fastest smartphone processor on the market. The A19 Pro also comes with an upgraded GPU and Apple's new N1 networking chip. In conjunction with the Air's C1X modem, the iPhone Air offers WiFi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread connectivity out of the box. What's more, the new 5G-capable C1X is more power efficient, using 30 percent less energy than the modem in the iPhone 16 Pro. Unsurprisingly, the iPhone Air will only support eSIMs. Apple did not include a physical SIM slot to make space for other components. The phone's "plateau" houses its cameras, speaker and Apple Silicon.  

For photos, the Air comes with a single 48-megapixel main camera that has an f/1.6 aperture lens and 2x telephoto zoom. Like the iPhone 17, the iPhone Air also comes with Apple's new Center Stage front-facing camera, which makes use of a 18MP square sensor to allow you to take both portrait and landscape shots without reorienting how you hold the phone in your hand. As for video, the camera can record 4K footage at 60 frames per second with Dolby Vision support included.    

Apple

Now, for the question on everyone's mind: battery life. Here, Apple is claiming you'll be able to get "all-day" usage out of the Air. Of course, all-day can mean different things to different people. Even Apple today said the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch SE 3 — which offer 24 and 18 hours of usage on a single charge, respectively — both feature "all-day" battery life. Apple will sell a new MagSafe battery alongside the iPhone Air that will extend its battery life, but at that point you might as well have bought the iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro. 

The iPhone Air will start $999, with 256GB of internal storage included with the base model. Apple will begin accepting pre-orders on 8AM ET on Friday, with general availability to follow on September 19. The Air will be available in four colors: space black, cloud white, light gold and sky blue.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/the-iphone-air-is-apples-thinnest-phone-yet-174342422.html?src=rss

It's been two years since Apple updated its rugged, ultra-premium Watch Ultra line, so it was long overdue for a replacement. Today, at its Awe Dropping event to launch the iPhone 17, the company has unveiled the Apple Watch Ultra 3. Apple was naturally delighted to show off a broad number of tweaks that, in aggregate, more than make up for that additional year delay. The most notable new feature is satellite communication, letting you stay in touch no matter where you are in the world.

Watch Ultra 3 is equipped with a 5G modem, matching the change to both the Watch Series 11 and SE Series 3. But those other timepieces do not get the built-in, two-way satellite communication offering Emergency SOS and Find My, letting you share your location if you're in trouble in a remote area. With the Watch's existing fall detection capabilities, it'll also raise the alarm on your behalf if you're not able to respond to it in time. Find My will share your location once every 15 minutes, and users can even send and receive texts and tapbacks with contacts via satellites. 

The Watch Ultra 3's new 3D printed case has had its display bezels shrunk to accommodate the "largest screen of any Apple Watch ever." More importantly, the display technology has been tweaked (LTPO3) with wide-angle OLEDs to improve off-angle viewing. So, if you want to check the time without making it obvious that you're checking the time, you won't be faced with an illegible screen any more. LTPO3 also is efficient enough that even in always-on mode, you'll be able to see a ticking seconds hand without activating the display. 

An even more welcome improvement (at least, for me) is in battery life, with Apple claiming Ultra 3 will survive for 42 hours on a single charge. Put the device into Low Power Mode and you will apparently be able to eke its life to 72 hours, which is unprecedented for an Apple Watch. The company says that the greater efficiency of its display, system-on-chip and new 5G modem has also helped improve the watch's longevity.

Naturally, you'll also get all of the software bells and whistles announced with the other Watch models today. That includes Hypertension alerts, so if the system detects a possible spike in your blood pressure you can get advice to get it checked out long before it becomes an issue. Similarly, the company is adding a Fitbit/Garmin/Oura/Insert-Other-Fitness-Provider-Of-Choice-esque Sleep Score feature to the Watch. Wear it to bed, and it will monitor your heart rate, temperature, blood oxygenation and respiratory rate (keeping an eye on possible sleep apnea) to score your sleep in the morning. 

Apple commonly updates its devices annually, but the Ultra 2 has been top of the list for two years. It’s likely that the bulk of the company’s design focus in the previous cycle was on the top down redesign of the regular Watch. After all, the Watch 10 got a thinner case and, in the 46mm version, a display slightly bigger than the Watch Ultra. Plus, those in the know say that the S10 system-on-chip found in the 2024 models was just a smaller version of the S9 found in the Ultra 2. Consequently, there was little reason to upgrade the Ultra to the newer package since it already had plenty of room inside its beefy, rugged case.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is available to pre-order today for $799, with shipments beginning on September 19. You can pick it up in "natural" or black titanium, with a new selection of bands to accompany the new hardware.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/apple-watch-ultra-3-has-satellite-connectivity-and-larger-display-173046366.html?src=rss