MacRumors

With Apple's AirPower off the table for now, three-in-one charging solutions have become popular, and multiple companies are now introducing multi-device charging options.

Native Union recently released the Apple Watch Edition of its Drop XL Wireless Charger, which is a three-in-one charger able to charge an iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch all at once.

dropxlmain
At $150, the Drop XL Wireless Charger is one of the pricier options on the market, but it's also one of more attractive solutions when it comes to design, and it has a unique perk that most other charging stations don't offer.

The main wireless charging base is oval in shape like many other multi-device wireless charging options on the market, but the variation in the fabric design on top gives it an edge when it comes to design. I like the different directions of the gray textile top, which provides grip, and the dark aluminum base is complementary.

nativeuniondropondesk2
There are two wireless charging spots included in the base, one where the circle design is located and another to the other side of it with the striped fabric design. Because this is a small, flat charger, you do need to charge your ‌iPhone‌ in a portrait mode orientation, which requires a bit more desk space at the top and bottom than an upright charger might need.

I much prefer upright charging options to flat charging options for this reason, and it's something to keep in mind. You can kind of place the phone a bit diagonally to save some space, but it needs a good inch and half of clearance at the top at bottom to accommodate Apple's larger phones.

nativeuniondropondesk
The neat part about the Drop XL Wireless Charger is the detachable Apple Watch charging puck, which plugs into the USB-A port on the back. You can plug it in if it's needed, or pull it out if you want to travel with the dock or if you need both of the main wireless charging spots free. It's not an entirely unique feature, but it's one that few wireless chargers offer.

nativeuniondropdesignapart
With the watch add-on plugged in, the available space is only suitable for the AirPods and it doesn't quite fit a phone, but with the Apple Watch charging puck unplugged, there's space for multiple smartphones.

Each of the two wireless charging spots offers a maximum of 10W of charging, or 7.5W for the ‌iPhone‌, which is the fastest charging speed available. The Apple Watch charger is a 5W charger, while the USB-A port offers 12W of power. During testing, everything charged as it should.

nativeuniondropdevicestop
I will say that with most of the flat chargers on the market, you do need to sometimes make sure the charger is in the correct position to make sure the ‌iPhone‌ is actually charging, and that was a problem that I ran into on the Drop XL. If it's not positioned right, it's not going to charge, and that can lead to some nasty surprises if you position the phone in the wrong way.

nativeuniondropdevices
I also ran into some problems with the ‌iPhone‌ X and XS where the Drop XL said that it was charging but the phone received no power, but this only happened twice in weeks of testing and it was not an issue I saw with the newer ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro. I suspect this was a self-caused positioning problem, but it's something to keep an eye out for if you get this charger.

nativeuniondropdesign2
There's a single charging cable and power adapter for the Drop XL, and it comes with different detachable plugs for different countries, so this is an ideal charger to pick up if you do a lot of traveling. The charging cable is a nice, high-quality braided cable, and it's clear that no expense was spared when making the Drop XL.

Bottom Line

If you're more concerned about the look of a wireless charger than the price, the Drop XL Wireless Charger with Apple Watch charging puck is a charger option worth checking out.

It's elegant and has a design that looks great in an upscale office or home environment, but it is expensive at $150 and it's not going to be for everyone as there are other more affordable options on the market.

How to Buy

The Drop XL Wireless Charger Watch Edition can be purchased from the Native Union website for $150.

Apple today shared a new ad called "Float," which highlights the new 2020 iPad Pro and its Magic Keyboard. The video features a colorful hummingbird flying around an equally colorful ‌iPad Pro‌ display with Magic Keyboard attached.


The hovering and floating of the hummingbird alludes to the fit of the Magic Keyboard, which "hovers" above the keyboard and stand using a magnetic attachment for adjustable viewing angles.

Introducing the new iPad Pro. It's faster than most PC laptops and features the most advanced mobile display, ever. With Wide and Ultra Wide Pro cameras and the new LiDAR Scanner to take AR to the next level. Oh, and it floats on a new backlit Magic Keyboard with trackpad.

The video also highlights the new dual-lens camera system with LiDAR Scanner on the ‌iPad Pro‌, and it features the tagline "Your Next Computer."

Apple debuted the new 11 and 12.9-inch 2020 ‌iPad Pro‌ models in March, and at the same time, introduced the new Magic Keyboard. The keyboard was meant to launch in May, but Apple last week released it early, and the new accessory is arriving to customers as of this week.

Pricing on the ‌iPad Pro‌ starts at $799, while pricing on the Magic Keyboard starts at $299. Both can be ordered from Apple's website.

Apple today informed developers that it has released updated Human Interface Guidelines for HealthKit, providing new guidance on using the Apple Health app icon, additional guidance on using Apple Health-related terms, and new privacy and data usage guidelines.

applehealthkit
HealthKit is the SDK that allows developers to create integrations with the Apple Health app for health and fitness-focused apps, allowing data collected by the app to show up in the Health app, where it can be aggregated with health data from other apps. Apps are also allowed to access relevant data from the Health app.

The new guidelines for developers who use HealthKit can be found on Apple's developer website. Developers who use HealthKit are required to provide a coherent privacy policy, request access to health data only when needed, and provide descriptive messages when asking for permission to access health data.

Developers are now able to use the Apple Health icon to promote their apps, and unsurprisingly, Apple has a list of specific guidelines for developers who want to use the icon.

Only the Apple-provided guideline can be used, no alterations are allowed, the name Apple Health must be close to the icon, and the icon can't be used as a button. HealthKit integrations should be referred to Apple Health with no outward mention of the HealthKit APIs.

Apple has also created a "Works with Apple Health" badge to allow developers to promote HealthKit-enabled apps on websites.

Apple's complete Human Interface Guidelines for HealthKit can be found on the developer website.

AirPods PRo isolatedApple is likely to defer the launch of new AirPods Pro to the second half of 2020 or some point in 2021, according to supply chain sources cited by Taiwanese publication DigiTimes.

A paywalled preview of the report:

Apple likely to defer new AirPods Pro launch
Apple is likely to defer the launch of its new AirPods Pro to the second half of 2020 or even 2021, according to sources at related suppliers.

Last month, DigiTimes had reported that Apple's suppliers would kick off production of a new entry-level version of AirPods Pro between the end of the first quarter and the beginning of the second quarter, but it would not be surprising if that timeframe has changed due to the impact of the global health crisis.

Earlier this month, leaker Jon Prosser claimed that Apple was planning to release so-called "AirPods X" around September or October with a BeatsX-like design for sports and running. Prosser said those "AirPods X" are likely the same product as the entry-level AirPods Pro that DigiTimes has been referring to.

"AirPods X" were first rumored by the seemingly prescient Twitter user "l0vetodream" in early March, but details remain slim.

Prosser more recently said that Apple has new AirPods ready to launch, possibly alongside a 13-inch MacBook Pro refresh next month, suggesting that a third generation of the standard AirPods could also be on the horizon.

Related Roundup: AirPods Pro
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Caution)
Related Forum: AirPods

Sony today announced pricing and availability for its new 2020 LED and OLED televisions, which it announced at CES in January to support AirPlay 2. Select Sony TVs will also be getting the Apple TV app at some point in 2020, but Sony has yet to confirm a date for that launch.

sony tv image
There are multiple new TVs available to order from Sony, all of which support Apple's HomeKit platform and ‌AirPlay‌ 2. With these integrations, streaming content from your iPhone or iPad to a Sony TV will be possible, and select integrations with Siri will be supported thanks to ‌HomeKit‌.

While most of the new Sony TVs are up for pre-order, some are available now. This includes the 86-inch X950H 4K HDR LED TV for $4,498.00 at Amazon and Best Buy. This set has HDR, Dolby Vision, and IMAX Enhanced modes, and there's also a 49-inch model priced at $998.00 at Amazon and Best Buy.

Additionally, there's the X800H 4K HDR LED TV, which supports 4K content, Dolby Vision, and MotionFlow XR for less blur in fast scenes. In terms of smart TV features, users can control the TV with their voice by connecting to ‌HomeKit‌ and ‌Siri‌, as well as Alexa and Google Assistant. There are numerous models of this TV that can be purchased today.

The rest of the Sony TV pre-orders include the A8H Bravia OLED 4K HDR TVs and the X900H 4K HDR LED TVs. Both of these have models that can be pre-ordered now at select retailers, and shoppers can expect a launch date sometime this summer. For more information on all of Sony's new TVs, be sure to check out the company's announcement post.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Last week, Apple began accepting orders for its new Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro, several weeks earlier than anticipated. Now, the media has shared several hands-on reviews and unboxing videos of the keyboard on YouTube.

ipadpromagickeyboardtrackpad
The Magic Keyboard attaches magnetically to the iPad Pro and has a floating cantilevered design that allows the viewing angle to be adjusted up to 130 degrees. In addition to the full-size keyboard with backlit scissor switch keys, there is also a built-in trackpad, taking advantage of trackpad and mouse support added in iPadOS 13.4.

The Verge's Dieter Bohn was mostly impressed with the Magic Keyboard, noting that the keys both sound and feel better than the Smart Keyboard. Two downsides he pointed out include the overall keyboard case being quite heavy and the keyboard lacking function keys for common tasks. Bohn added that the trackpad is small but works smoothly.

Earlier today, we learned that the combined weight of a 12.9-inch iPad Pro and Magic Keyboard is slightly heavier than the MacBook Air.

Reviews

Video Reviews and Unboxings





The Magic Keyboard is available on Apple.com at price of $299 for the 11-inch iPad Pro and $349 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Caution)

Best Buy has introduced a new sale on the iPad mini 5 this week, offering up to $100 off select models of the tablet. All around, these discounts represent the lowest prices we've tracked on each model of the iPad mini 5, starting at $329.99 for the 64GB Wi-Fi model.

ipad mini 5 apple pencilNote: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

There are also markdowns on cellular devices, including the 64GB iPad mini 5 for $459.99, down from $529.99. Best Buy's sale covers all colors of the iPad mini 5, and the retailer offers the chance to pick up the tablet at a local store, or free next-day delivery in some instances.

Stock is low on some models, particularly on cellular devices, but Best Buy says that more are on the way soon. For even more iPad deals, head to our full Best Deals guide for iPad. In that guide we track the best discounts online for iPad, iPad mini, iPad Air, and iPad Pro.

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Apple hasn't specified the weight of its new Magic Keyboard, but a MacRumors reader who received their unit early has weighed the larger model for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro and found it to be 710 grams. That makes the Magic Keyboard heavier than the ‌iPad Pro‌, which weighs 641 grams.

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Image by OzMoon

It's not surprising that the keyboard has to have some heft to counterbalance a connected ‌iPad Pro‌ and provide a sturdy base for working on. But that makes their combined weight 1,351 grams, which is heavier than a 13-inch MacBook Air (1,290 grams) and closer to the weight of a 13-inch MacBook Pro (1,370 grams).

So if you were expecting a 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ and Magic Keyboard to be a lighter option than using a laptop when you're on the road, then it's worth being aware that that's not necessarily going to be the case. On the other hand, 9to5Mac claims the Magic Keyboard for the 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ weighs 601 grams, which would mean that their combined weight would be 1,072 grams. That's lighter than any MacBook that Apple currently sells.

In our upcoming review of the new Magic Keyboard, we'll look at weight considerations, portability, and more. Apple's Magic Keyboard includes a floating cantilevered design for viewing angles, a backlit keyboard with scissor-switch keys, and an integrated trackpad. You can order one for the 11-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ for $299, and for the 12.9-inch ‌iPad Pro‌ for $349 on Apple.com.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Caution)

LG has released a short teaser trailer for its new Velvet smartphone that shows off the company's new design language, which includes a vertically cascading rear triple-camera array.


The layout moves away from the large camera bumps that have become common on smartphones, including Apple's iPhones. The so-called "raindrop" camera positions smaller lenses below the larger main camera, reminiscent of dripping water.

LG has described the design as "a nod to the natural world with a visual form factor that differs from the industry trend." Presumably the unusual arrangement doesn't impact on the function of the camera.

The square bump on the iPhone 11 series divided observers when it was launched last year. The aesthetic still displeases some users, while others dislike the way it prevents the ‌iPhone‌ from lying flat on a table.

Apple's 2020 ‌iPhone‌ lineup, expected this fall, is likely to keep the bump, but it will house an additional fourth lens in the form of a 3D camera, similar to the LiDAR scanner in the 2020 iPad Pro.

LG hasn't announced a launch date for its Velvet smartphone, but its recent steady stream of teasers would suggest a launch can't be far off. What do you think of LG's new design? Let us know in the comments.

Tag: LG

Twitter leaker Jon Prosser has shared a pair of images that appear to be schematics of Apple's unreleased "iPhone 12," showing a smaller notch than the one currently found on iPhones with Face ID.

The first image looks like a photo of a CAD illustration, which are sometimes leaked from Apple's supply partners. The second image appears to be based on the first schematic, and draws out the details of the hardware housed within the notch.

iphone 12 notch CAD prosser
To achieve a more compact package, the redesigned hardware layout has the TrueDepth camera's ambient light and proximity sensors in a more central position within the array, with the ‌iPhone‌ speaker sitting above them in the bezel of the handset instead of between them.

Unlike Apple's marketing images of the hardware in the notch, the microphone is not pictured in either image. Prosser says it hasn't been labelled in order to emphasize the other hardware, and that it's actually housed next to the speaker.

Earlier this month, another leaker shared images said to depict the ‌iPhone‌ 12 with a notch that is approximately 1/3 smaller than the current notch, but the images didn't reveal details of the hardware arrangement inside.

iphone 12 notch CAD prosser 1
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was first to suggest that at least one new ‌iPhone‌ in 2020 will feature a smaller front camera lens for an improved screen to bezel ratio, ultimately resulting in a smaller notch at the front. More recently, sources close to well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman have corroborated rumors of a slimmer notch.

We've heard rumors suggesting Apple eventually plans to debut an ‌iPhone‌ design that eliminates the notch entirely, but it's not entirely clear just how that would work as the front-facing camera still needs to be able to function even with some sensors under the display.

Apple supplier AMS last year announced new camera sensor technology that allows the RBG light and the IR proximity sensor used for the front-facing TrueDepth camera system to be embedded under an OLED display. It was thought that Apple could potentially introduce the new sensor tech in its 2020 iPhones to achieve the smaller notch, but that's not what today's alleged leaked schematics suggest.


Last June, one analyst with investment firm Credit Suisse in Asia said that Apple plans to offer notch-less iPhones with full-screen fingerprint authentication in 2021. However, the same analyst said Apple will launch one notch-less ‌iPhone‌ this year, and the rumor mill hasn't swung in that direction and it's unlikely to do so at this late stage in the yearly cycle. Regardless, Apple removing the notch on the ‌iPhone‌ is almost certainly its end goal.

Apple is expected to offer four iPhones in three different sizes this year: A 5.4-inch ‌‌iPhone‌‌, a 6.7-inch ‌‌iPhone‌‌, and two 6.1-inch iPhones. One 6.1-inch model and the 6.7-inch model will be higher-end iPhones, while the other 6.1-inch ‌‌iPhone‌‌ and the 5.4-inch ‌‌iPhone‌‌ will be lower-end models and successors to the ‌‌iPhone‌ 11‌. Apple is expected to launch the new models in the fall.

Related Forum: iPhone

An anonymous Twitter account with a fairly accurate track record has shared details about several Apple products that are supposedly under development.

Display TouchID iPad Air Apple Controller Refined
Some of the products mentioned by the account have not been extensively rumored until now, including a new iPad Air with under-the-screen Touch ID, an ARM-based 12-inch MacBook, and an Apple game controller by 2021.

On March 12, the account claimed that Apple is developing so-called "AirPods X" headphones, as leaker Jon Prosser later mentioned on April 7.


Corroborating existing rumors, the account also claims that Apple plans to release third-generation AirPods, refreshed 13-inch MacBook Pro and iMac models, a low-cost iPad with an A12 Bionic chip, a smaller HomePod, a new Apple TV, a small wireless charging pad for a single device, and four iPhone 12 models with an A14 chip, 5G support, smaller notch, a ProMotion refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and a new Navy Blue color option.


In recent weeks, the account has noted that some products and components have been delayed, including the new iMac models and the A14 chip.


The same Twitter account accurately revealed several details about the new iPhone SE before any other leakers that we know of, including that the device would launch in the second week of April and come in three storage capacities. Likewise, the account accurately claimed that new iPad Pro models would launch in the third week of March.


The account has had a few small misses, including that iOS 13.4 would be released on March 25. The software update arrived one day earlier.

Given the account's accuracy so far, several of these rumored Apple products could be legitimate.

Related Roundups: AirPods 4, iPad Air
Related Forums: MacBook, AirPods, iPad

Several apps were either released or updated recently. We've compiled a list of some of these apps that are worth checking out.

app store ios 13

iOS Apps

  • Content Creator (Free) - Content Creator is an app that allows you to create collages, images with text, and squared images perfect for content creation. The app also lets you produce and export videos straight to several social media platforms.
  • Lugo - See Who's Listening (Free) - Lugo is a new that visualizes simultaneous music listening worldwide. It is pretty interesting to see where around the world people are listening to certain songs. Although the app currently is limited to work with Apple Music, Lugo says both Spotify support and a chat feature is in the works.
  • Gentle (Free) - Gentle is a new social media app that is currently in its beta testing phase. The app allows users to write anonymous requests they may be worried about, and others can reply to requests with kindness and compassion. The developers have spam filters and report features to help establish a safe sense of community on the platform. Those who are interested in joining can enroll in its beta program here.
  • Climb - English Vocabulary (Free) - Climb is a language-learning application that boosts your vocabulary by helping you to discover and memorize new words. It is worth noting that while most of the Climb's functionality is free (adding words, GIFs in the dictionary, GIF of the day), users will be subscribe to the service to continue practicing. After a seven day free trial, Climb offers monthly, quarterly, and yearly subscriptions priced at $9.99, $19.99, and $59.99 respectively.
  • Discard - A Memory Card Game (Free) - Discard is a new app that features a memory game with a twist. Users are given three seconds to memorize a set of playing cards, and then they must tap the correct cards to advance to the next level. Haptic feedback is also available to enhance the overall quality of the game.
  • Colorful Memories (Free) - Colorful Memories is a photo app that can transform old black and white photos into their natural colors in a matter of seconds. The app uses AI to recolor all sceneries and images into their original and natural color and even enhances colored images to give them a striking effect.

iPadOS Apps

  • LiDAR Scanner 3D (Free) - Those with the new 2020 iPad Pro can make 3D models of objects and export them into several filetypes (USDZ, OBJ, STL, PLY). The app even allows users to take 3D scans of their own homes - a neat demo showcasing the app's capabilities can be found here.

Mac Apps

  • Wallpaperer for Reddit (Free) - Wallpaperer is a neat app that can automatically set your Mac wallpaper to the top rated images from your favorite Reddit communities. The app also allows users to set how often they would like the wallpaper to change and from which subreddits to get wallpapers from.
  • FitaDo - Calisthenics Workouts (Free) - FitaDo is a fitness app available for Mac, iPhone, and iPad that allows users to create and customize any type of workout. The app also allows users to track progress over time. There is a premium version of FitaDo available as monthly or yearly priced at $3.99 and $29.99 respectively.
  • theBin (Free) - theBin is an app that integrates directly with your Mac's trash to create a new user experience. There are several features of the app worth checking out including auto-cleanup, a feature where the trash will empty every so often, and the auto-compression feature to automatically compress trash files to save disk space.

In addition to the many apps above worth checking out, it was also announced this week that Facebook would be launching a dedicated gaming app to take on Twitch and Youtube in a new report by The Verge. The report mentions that most of the app's content will focus on the streaming community, but a small mix of some casual games will be included as well. The app is set to debut on Android devices on April 20 and iOS support will be coming as soon as "Apple approves" the app.

Next generation AirPods that were allegedly supposed to be announced at Apple's rumored March event are ready to launch, according to Jon Prosser of the YouTube channel Front Page Tech. Prosser believes the new AirPods could launch sometime next month, although he is not firm on timing yet.

airpods family
It is unclear at this time as to what new features Apple's next-generation AirPods will sport. One possibility is that the earphones will feature the same in-ear design as the AirPods Pro without Active Noise Cancellation.

In February, Taiwanese industry publication DigiTimes made a passing reference to upcoming "AirPod Pro Lite" earphones without offering any details on the product, leading to confusion about whether this would be a third-generation version of the regular AirPods or a new member of the ‌AirPods Pro‌ family.

Prosser believes the new AirPods could launch alongside the rumored 13-inch MacBook Pro refresh next month. He also recently claimed that Apple is targeting WWDC to launch new high-end over-ear headphones and September-October to launch BeatsX-like “AirPods X.”

Related Roundups: AirPods 4, AirPods Pro
Related Forum: AirPods

In early 2020, Apple introduced the second-generation iPhone SE. The device shared the same design as the iPhone 8, including a 4.7-inch display and a Touch ID home button, but it has a faster A13 Bionic chip and an extra GB of RAM. Most importantly, the second-generation iPhone SE started at just $399 in the United States, and while it has now been replaced by the third-generation iPhone SE, it may still be found for heavily discounted prices.

2020 iphone se vs iphone xr
With the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus now discontinued, the lower end of Apple's smartphone lineup now includes the new iPhone SE and the iPhone 11, but it is still possible to get the older iPhone XR from some third party retailers, released in October 2018. Thinking about upgrading? Read our comparison of the devices below.

Differences

Smaller vs. Larger Display

The new iPhone SE has a 4.7-inch display, while the iPhone XR has a 6.1-inch display.

Both displays are LCDs with 326 pixels per inch, True Tone, 625 nits max brightness, a 1400:1 contrast ratio, and support for the P3 wide color gamut.

A13 Bionic vs. A12 Bionic

The iPhone SE is powered by the A13 Bionic, which is the same chip inside the iPhone 11 and iPhone 11 Pro. By comparison, the iPhone XR is equipped with the previous-generation A12 Bionic chip.

a13 vs a12 icons
Apple advertises the A13 chip as up to 20 percent faster and up to 30 percent more power efficient than the A12 chip.

Bezels vs. Notch

The new iPhone SE has the same design as the iPhone 8, with thicker bezels above and below the display for the front camera and Touch ID home button. By comparison, the iPhone XR drops the home button and instead has a nearly edge to edge display with a notch at the top for the front camera and Face ID sensors.

Touch ID vs. Face ID

The iPhone SE has a Touch ID home button for fingerprint authentication, while the iPhone XR uses Apple's more advanced Face ID system for facial authentication.

Face ID debuted on the ‌iPhone‌ X in 2017. At the time, Apple said the probability that a random person could unlock someone else's ‌iPhone‌ X was approximately one in 1,000,000, versus one in 50,000 for ‌Touch ID‌. However, both forms of authentication are quite safe, so it really comes down to personal preference.

face id vs touch id icons
Face ID does not work well with masks, while Touch ID does not work well with wet or sweaty fingers, so neither system is perfect.

Since the new iPhone SE lacks Face ID, it does not support Animoji or Memoji.

Rear Camera

While both the new iPhone SE and the iPhone XR are equipped with a single 12-megapixel wide-angle rear camera with an f/1.8 aperture, the iPhone XR has a newer sensor with 1.4µm pixels and larger Focus Pixels, whereas the iPhone SE has the same sensor as the iPhone 8. However, the new iPhone SE benefits from the A13 chip's improved image signal processor, so the gap between the cameras is likely minimal.

Battery Life

As a physically larger device, the iPhone XR has longer battery life than the new iPhone SE.

Apple says the new iPhone SE can last up to 13 hours for non-streaming video playback and up to 40 hours for audio playback, which is about the same as the iPhone 8. By comparison, Apple says the iPhone XR lasts up to 16 hours for non-streamed video playback and up to 65 hours for audio playback.

Wi-Fi

The new iPhone SE supports Wi-Fi 6, aka 802.11ax, while the iPhone XR supports Wi-Fi 5 or 802.11ac.

Wi-Fi 6 delivers faster speeds, greater network capacity, improved power efficiency, lower latency, and connectivity improvements in areas with several Wi-Fi devices. Wi-Fi 6 devices are also required to support WPA3, the latest Wi-Fi security protocol with improved cryptographic strength.

LTE

The new iPhone SE supports Gigabit-class LTE, potentially allowing for slightly faster LTE speeds compared to the iPhone XR.

Thickness and Weight

The new iPhone SE is 7.3mm thick and weighs 0.3 pounds, while the iPhone XR is slightly thicker and heavier at 8.3mm and 0.4 pounds.

Pricing

The new iPhone SE starts at $399, while the iPhone XR starts at $599, both with 64GB of storage. Both devices are also available with 128GB of storage, but only the iPhone SE has a 256GB option.

For perspective, the iPhone SE with 256GB of storage for $549 is still cheaper than the iPhone XR with 64GB of storage for $599.

Colors

Both the new iPhone SE and iPhone XR come in Black, White, and (RED), and the iPhone XR is also available in Blue, Coral, and Yellow.

Similarities

  • Glass and aluminum design
  • Wireless charging
  • Fast charging with USB-C: up to 50% battery life in 30 minutes
  • IP67-rated water resistance to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
  • 4K video recording at up to 60 FPS
  • Lightning connector
  • No headphone jack
  • Dual SIM (nano-SIM and eSIM)
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • VoLTE
  • Dolby Vision and HDR10 support
  • EarPods with Lightning connector in box

Tech Specs Compared

iPhone SE

  • 4.7-inch LCD display
  • 1334×750 resolution and 326 PPI
  • True Tone display
  • Single 12-megapixel rear camera (wide lens)
  • Single 7-megapixel front camera
  • Portrait Mode with Depth Control: humans only
  • Six Portrait Lighting effects
  • Next-gen Smart HDR
  • A13 Bionic chip with third-gen Neural Engine
  • Touch ID
  • Haptic Touch
  • Lightning connector
  • Fast charging capable: up to 50% charge in 30 minutes
  • Qi-based wireless charging
  • IP67-rated water resistance to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
  • 64/128/256GB
  • Dual SIM (Nano-SIM and eSIM)
  • Gigabit-class LTE
  • VoLTE
  • 802.11ax Wi‑Fi 6
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • 3GB RAM
  • Similar battery life as iPhone 8

iPhone XR

  • 6.1-inch LCD display
  • 1792×828 resolution and 326 PPI
  • True Tone display
  • Single 12-megapixel rear camera (wide lens)
  • Single 7-megapixel front camera
  • Portrait Mode with Depth Control: humans only
  • Three Portrait Lighting effects
  • Smart HDR
  • A12 Bionic chip with second-gen Neural Engine
  • Face ID
  • Haptic Touch
  • Lightning connector
  • Fast charging capable: up to 50% charge in 30 minutes
  • Qi-based wireless charging
  • IP67-rated water resistance to a depth of 1 meter for up to 30 minutes
  • 64/128GB (256GB discontinued)
  • Dual SIM (Nano-SIM and eSIM)
  • LTE Advanced
  • VoLTE
  • 802.11ac Wi‑Fi 5
  • Bluetooth 5.0
  • 3GB RAM
  • 1.5 hours longer battery life than iPhone 8 Plus

Bottom Line

If price is the key factor in your upgrade decision, then the third-generation iPhone SE is a very compelling device considering that it has the same A13 Bionic chip as the iPhone 11 Pro.

If you are upgrading from an older device like an iPhone 6 or iPhone 7, you will already be familiar with the home button experience on the new iPhone SE, whereas Face ID and gestures on the iPhone X and newer take some time to get used to. And with a 4.7-inch display, the new iPhone SE is also the same size as the iPhone 6, iPhone 7, and iPhone 8.

The iPhone SE might also receive at least one additional year of iOS updates compared to the iPhone XR given its newer A13 Bionic chip.

Two reasons to choose the iPhone XR over the new iPhone SE would be its larger 6.1-inch display and its modern design with slim bezels, a notch, and Face ID. The new iPhone SE could quite possibly end up being the last iPhone that Apple sells with a home button, so those who choose the new iPhone SE will be settling for an older design.

Related Forum: iPhone

Apple has recently shared a new support document on how to make your own face shield. The support document does mention that the manufacturing of face shields should only be carried out by an expert.

apple face shield parts
In the support document, Apple specifies the materials and their respective thickness values needed for the fabrication of the shield, forehead band, and strap. Additionally, the support document highlights laser cutting, water jetting, and die cutting as potential fabrication methods that can be used in the production of the face shield.

Apple also provides several design files that are to be used in the fabrication process itself. The design files available include instructions for the overall process, 2D cut files, and specific manufacturing files for each component of the face shield. Apple has also set up the email address faceshieldmake@apple.com should anyone need further assistance with the fabrication process.

The first Magic Keyboard for iPad Pro orders have begun arriving to some customers ahead of schedule, and some have posted hands-on videos online.

Seven videos from two ‌iPad Pro‌ users have appeared online so far, offering the first close look at the new Magic Keyboard for ‌iPad Pro‌.

The first video appeared in Thai, featuring the unboxing experience of the Magic Keyboard. Other videos by the same user have given a look at the USB-C port on the hinge of the Magic Keyboard, which is used for passthrough charging, as well as the brightness of the backlit keys.

There have since been four videos in English by YouTube user MrExitStrategy, covering many of the new key features. The first of these shows the hinge system of the case, which provides a "floating" cantilevered design for smooth viewing angle adjustments of up to 130 degrees.

There is also a look at the preferences pane of the Magic Keyboard in the Settings app, revealing that the keyboard backlighting brightness may be changed manually or automatically adjusted based on ambient lighting conditions.

The most recent video offers a more detailed comparison of the Magic Keyboard with the Smart Folio Keyboard, and walks through some of the new trackpad gestures in iPadOS 13.4. This video suggests that the trackpad uses a mechanical click rather than haptic feedback. The cantilevered design is tested for stability, including for use with Apple Pencil.

Earlier this week, the Magic Keyboard became available for order online alongside the new iPhone SE, and most deliveries are expected to begin arriving next week.

Related Roundup: iPad Pro
Buyer's Guide: iPad Pro (Caution)

OnePlus this week launched its newest flagship smartphones, the OnePlus 8 and OnePlus 8 Pro, offering high-end specs and features at a cheaper price than many of its competitors.

We got our hands on one of the OnePlus 8 Pro devices and thought we'd see how it measures up to the iPhone 11 Pro Max in our latest YouTube video.


There are a few models at different price points, but for our video, we're comparing the $899 OnePlus 8 Pro with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage, plus a pretty nice looking exclusive "glacial green" color, to the mostly comparable $1249 ‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌ with 4GB RAM and 256GB storage, which is a $350 premium.

oneplus 8 pro iphone front
Both smartphones are attractive, well-designed, and have a premium look. The OnePlus 8 Pro features a frosted back much like the iPhone 11 Pro, and it looks attractive in the glacial green shade. OnePlus gets an edge over Apple when it comes to fun colors, as Apple is rather conservative with its Pro lineup.

oneplus 8 pro iphone rear 2
The 11 Pro and the OnePlus 8 both have large camera bumps at the back. Apple's is in a square shape housing triple-lens cameras, while OnePlus opted for a vertical camera bump that's right in the middle of the smartphone. It too has a triple-lens camera.

On the side, the OnePlus 8 Pro has an alert slider that can be toggled between silent, vibrate, and ringer on, one more option than the ‌iPhone‌ provides with its vibrate and ringer on options.

oneplus 8 pro iphone rear stack
The OnePlus 8 Pro features a 6.7-inch display, which is just a bit bigger than the ‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌'s 6.5-inch display. It's an OLED display with a 120Hz refresh date and a 3168 x 1440 resolution. Apple hasn't yet brought 120Hz refresh rates to the ‌iPhone‌, but there have been rumors of a 120Hz ‌iPhone‌ display ever since Apple added the feature to the iPad Pro.

Samsung's latest flagship smartphone, the S20 Ultra, also has a 120Hz display but limited it to only 1080p. The new OnePlus 8 Pro supports 120Hz at the full resolution of the display, though at the cost of some battery life.

The OnePlus 8 Pro doesn't have anything like the TrueDepth Camera System or Face ID, so there's just a single hole punch camera cutout at the front on the right side, and it's otherwise all display.

oneplus 8 pro iphone front cameras
With no ‌Face ID‌, the OnePlus 8 Pro uses an optical fingerprint sensor, which is built into the display and seems to work fine. There have been some rumors that Apple is working on optical fingerprint sensor technology, but if it's a feature in development, it isn't something we're expecting in the 2020 ‌iPhone‌ lineup.

New to the OnePlus 8 Pro this year is wireless charging, a feature that iPhones have had for years now. It supports 30W fast wireless charging with a $70 charger, which means it can be charged from 0 to 50 percent in about 30 minutes (any other Qi charger is 5W, though). A 30W power adapter is included for fast wired charging though. The ‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌ is limited to 7.5W wireless charging while wired fast charging requires a Lightning to USB-C cable and 18W+ power adapter.

Battery life between the two phones isn't too different. The ‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌ has a 3,969 mAh battery, and the OnePlus 8 Pro has a 4,500 mAh battery.

When it comes to camera quality, the OnePlus 8 Pro usually falls behind other smartphone manufacturers, and Apple is usually at the top of the pack, but OnePlus appears to have improved somewhat. This year, the OnePlus 8 Pro features a 48-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 48-megapixel ultra wide-angle camera, an 8-megapixel telephoto camera, and a 5-megapixel depth camera.

oneplus 8 pro iphone trees
We can only test around the house at the current time so we didn't do a deep dive into the camera, but the OnePlus 8 Pro is more on par with the ‌iPhone‌. Most of the time, the ‌iPhone‌ images still look more natural, but OnePlus does a better job at ultra wide-angle image quality, and some portrait mode photos look better.

oneplus 8 pro iphone portrait mode
The OnePlus 8 Pro still lags behind when it comes to low-light photography (such as indoor lighting), but the longer exposure night mode images are on par with Night Mode images from the ‌iPhone‌. There's also a macro photo mode, which works well and captures images with quite a lot of detail.

oneplus 8 pro iphone night mode
High-end smartphones are all so fast now that it's not useful to compare performance, and both the OnePlus 8 Pro and the ‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌ perform at a level expected of a premium smartphone.

Even though the OnePlus 8 Pro is able to offer a comparable feature set to the ‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌, operating system is such a huge factor when purchasing a smartphone. A person deep in the iOS ecosystem (like many of us here at MacRumors) isn't going to swap over to Android, and the same goes for Android users who are used to that operating system.

The OnePlus 8 Pro and the ‌iPhone 11 Pro Max‌ are both great smartphones, and if you are in the Android ecosystem, OnePlus' new device is worth checking out. If you're someone without a strong operating system preference, the OnePlus 8 Pro is a solid ‌iPhone‌ competitor that has a lot to offer at a lower price.

Tag: OnePlus

An investigation by Talal Haj Bakry and Tommy Mysk has revealed that backwards-compatible support for HTTP in iOS and Android is allowing data from popular apps such as TikTok to be intercepted and altered.

tiktok logo
While most apps have made the transition to HTTPS, the research discovered that TikTok on iOS and Android still uses unencrypted HTTP to download media content. Consequently, TikTok inherits all of the known and well-documented HTTP vulnerabilities.

Apple introduced App Transport Security in iOS 9, requiring all HTTP connections to use encrypted HTTPS. Google similarly changed the default network security configuration in Android Pie to block all plaintext HTTP traffic. HTTP vulnerabilities still exist, however, since Apple and Google continue provide a way for developers to opt-out of HTTPS for backwards-compatibility.


The investigation proved that it is possible to successfully intercept TikTok traffic and fool the app to show fake videos as if they were published by popular and verified accounts. Any router between the TikTok app and TikTok's servers can easily expose a user's watch history, and change profile photos and videos. While only users connected to the router will see the malicious content, the research suggests that if a popular DNS server was hacked to include a corrupt DNS record, media data could be changed on a large scale.