Ted Lasso, Roy Kent, and the AFC Richmond team will be available in FIFA 23 when it launches on September 30, EA Games announced today. The characters are from hit Apple TV+ show "Ted Lasso," and will be fully playable.
Along with Ted Lasso and Roy Kent, popular characters that include Coach Beard, Jamie Tartt, Dani Rojas, Sam Obisanya, and Isaac McAdoo will be integrated into the game, as will the Nelson Road Stadium, the home ground for AFC Richmond.
Coach Beard and Ted Lasso himself will be available as a playable manager in Career Mode, or AFC Richmond can be swapped into the Premier League or any other playable Career Mode league. The team will also be available in Kick-Off, Online Friendlies, and Online Seasons.
EA says that players can show their love for AFC Richmond with customization items that include authentic kits and TIFOS. FIFA 23 is set to launch worldwide on September 30, and it will be available on PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One, PC, and Stadia.
Apple on Friday released the new iPhone 14 models, and MacRumors videographer Dan picked one up on launch day. He's been using the iPhone 14 Pro Max non-stop since it came out, and over on the MacRumors YouTube channel, has shared his initial thoughts on the day-to-day experience with the latest iPhone.
Dan's mini review highlights his issues with setting up the eSIM, the usefulness of the always-on display, the functionality of the Dynamic Island, how the new 48-megapixel camera fares, and more. Make sure to watch the video, and stay tuned to the MacRumors website and the MacRumors YouTube channel because we have more in-depth iPhone 14 video content coming, plus Apple Watch Ultra and AirPods 2 coverage.
At its "Far out" event in 2022, alongside the Apple Watch Series 8, Apple announced the Apple Watch Ultra. The Apple Watch Ultra is a whole new kind of smartwatch from Apple with a focus on withstanding extreme environments, a high level of durability, extended battery life, and additional features to aid activities like diving and exploration.
Both the Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra feature the S8 chip, an Always-On Retina display, Crash Detection, temperature sensing, IP6X dust resistance, and more, but there are significant differences between the two devices.
With as little as $50 between the 45mm stainless steel Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra, some prospective customers will be weighing up whether it is worth spending a little extra to get the all-new 49mm model. While there is a $400 difference between the 41mm aluminum Apple Watch Series 8 and the Apple Watch Ultra, the new high-end model offers a whole new set of features to address specific challenges, so it may even be worth it for some of these buyers.
Key Differences
Apple Watch Series 8
Apple Watch Ultra
Aluminum casing
Aerospace-grade titanium casing
Curved design
Lighter, corrosion resistant case with raised edges to protect the flat sapphire front crystal
Digital Crown with haptic feedback and side button
Digital Crown with haptic feedback, side button, and customizable Action button
45mm or 41 mm case size (vertical)
49mm casing size (vertical)
Retina display
Always-On Retina display
10.7mm thickness
14.4mm thickness
Weighs 32.0 grams to 51.5 grams
Weighs 61.3 grams
Ion-X front glass (aluminum) or sapphire crystal (stainless steel)
Sapphire crystal front glass
Curved display with refractive edge
Flat display
904 sq mm (41mm) or 1,143 sq mm (45mm) display area
1164 sq mm display area
352 by 430 pixels (41mm) or 396 by 484 pixels (45mm)
410 by 502 pixels
Up to 1,000 nits brightness
Up to 2,000 nits brightness
-
Exclusive Wayfinder face with live compass and Night Mode for low-visibility conditions
Single speaker and microphone
Dual speakers, three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise migitation
GPS
Precision dual-frequency GPS (L1 and L5)
-
86-decibel Siren to attract attention
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3
Water resistant to 50m
Water resistant to 100m
Swimproof
Swimproof and recreational dive to 40m
-
Tested to MIL-STD 810H
-
EN13319 certification
-
Water temperature sensor, depth gauge, and dive computer app
Up to 18-hour battery life
Up to 36-hour battery life
Available in Midnight, Starlight, Silver, and PRODUCT(RED) (aluminum) or Silver, Graphite, or Gold (stainless steel)
Natural titanium finish only
Starts at $399 (aluminum) and $699 (stainless steel)
Priced at $799
The Apple Watch Ultra offers new capabilities to address the specific requirements of those who need their Apple Watch to provide assistance in challenging environments. If you need a more durable Apple Watch with features like a brighter display, louder speakers, a more reliable GPS, better water resistance, and more, the Apple Watch Ultra is undoubtedly the best choice.
The Apple Watch Ultra is also the largest and most feature-rich Apple Watch option available, not to mention that it offers the first true redesign of the device since its introduction in 2015. For technology enthusiasts, Apple Watch Ultra represents a way to get a whole new Apple Watch experience with the top specifications. Features like longer battery life and a larger, brighter display are also highly accessible, and will be beneficial to all users. As such, some customers may still be inclined to choose the Apple Watch Ultra over the Apple Watch Series 8, even if they do not need it for use in challenging environments.
As the largest Apple Watch model to date, the size of the Apple Watch Ultra will not be for everyone. If you already prefer the 41mm Apple Watch casing size, the Apple Watch Ultra may be far too large for you. If in doubt, it may be worth heading to an Apple Store and trying on the Apple Watch Ultra in person to get to grips with the size and determine if it is too big and bulky for you.
Similarly, the Apple Watch Ultra's look may not appeal to some buyers. If you prefer the stainless steel Apple Watch and are looking for a more fasion-focused smartwatch that pairs well with metal and leather bands, the more aggressive, rugged design of the Apple Watch Ultra may not be for you.
If the Apple Watch Ultra is out of your price range but you still want to use your Apple Watch in challenging environments, it is worth bearing in mind that the Series 8 still offers a durable design with a strong front crystal, water resistance, and many of the Apple Watch Ultra's software features like waypoint marking.
The Apple Watch Ultra has a lot to offer, especially for the subset of users who can take advantage of all of its capabilities, so it is certainly worth considering when purchasing a new model – but the Apple Watch Series 8 is still a compelling all-around option that comes in at a lower price point with a subtler design.
New deals have emerged on both regular and custom configurations of the M2 MacBook Air today, as well as on the new 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro. These sales can be found on Amazon, B&H Photo, and Expercom.
MacBook Air
Starting with the M2 MacBook Air, Expercom has a few custom configurations of this notebook on sale. You can get the M2 MacBook Air (16GB RAM/256GB SSD) for $1,299.00, down from $1,399.00. There's also the M2 MacBook Air (16GB RAM/512GB SSD) for $1,499.00, down from $1,599.00.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
If you're on the hunt for a regular configuration of the M2 MacBook Air, Amazon does have the 8GB RAM/256GB model for $1,099.00, down from $1,199.00. All of these prices represent lowest-ever prices on the new 2022 MacBook Air, and are in stock today.
MacBook Pro
For the new 13-inch M2 MacBook Pro, Amazon, Expercom, and B&H Photo all have the 256GB notebook at $1,199.00, down from $1,299.00. B&H Photo is the only retailer offering both Silver and Space Gray at this discounted price.
Overall, this is a second-best price on the new 13-inch MacBook Pro. Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Apple Watch Ultra will start arriving to customers and launch in stores on Friday, September 23. Ahead of time, the first reviews of the high-end watch have now been shared by select media publications and YouTube channels.
Inspired by the "most extreme activities" like hiking and scuba diving, the Apple Watch Ultra features a rugged design with a 49mm titanium case, a larger display with a flat sapphire crystal cover, new bands designed for the outdoors, water resistance up to a depth of 100 meters, a customizable bright orange "Action" button, up to 60 hours of battery life with an upcoming low power setting, and more.
We have rounded up both written and video reviews of the Apple Watch Ultra below.
The Apple Watch Ultra is big, a lil' chunky, and goes hard on features that the average joe won't need in their everyday life. And at $799, it's the most expensive watch in the current Apple Watch lineup (Hermès edition excluded). After a week of testing, I don’t think it's going to bump Garmin, Polar, or Coros watches for the Ironman, thru-hiker, or deep-sea diving crowds, at least not yet. But it's legitimately good for weekend warriors and intermediate athletes — and very tempting for folks who aspire to that status and a whole lot of people who just want the biggest, baddest Apple Watch they can get.
Song said in a week of testing the Apple Watch Ultra, she was "regularly blowing past" the device's advertised 36-hour battery life in standard mode:
- This past weekend, I charged the Ultra to 100 percent. I then hiked for two hours and 15 minutes, used the compass and GPS extensively, and tracked my sleep that night. I woke up the next morning with 50 percent battery left.
- Another day, I went for a 30-minute GPS run and did another 20-minute rowing workout. I also took a short call on the watch and ended the day with 84 percent battery.
- Nilay, our editor-in-chief, managed to get 56 hours on a single charge and still had 14 percent left. He was mostly staying at home, so he wasn't using cellular data or GPS. Still, that should give you an idea of what you'd get if you need a few rest days or aren't interested in the Ultra's fitness features.
Considering the $749 45mm Apple Watch Series 8 in stainless steel costs almost as much, I think the Ultra is a better overall value, given that you get additional hardware features like the Action button (which I've come to love), an emergency siren and extra microphones to boost call quality.
It's also priced competitively with other sports watches that have a similar titanium construction and OLED screens, like the $999 Garmin Epix 2. The Apple Watch Ultra's battery doesn't last as long, and it doesn't have anywhere near as many navigation features as the Epix 2. But it's easier to use, has heart features like an electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG) app, cellular connectivity and seamless integration with the iPhone.
If you're someone who wants a true hybrid smartwatch and sports watch, the Ultra is the one to beat.
Savvides pointed out the Apple Watch Ultra's inability to download offline maps:
That's something I also miss on the Ultra compared to other sports and outdoor watches -- being able to download offline maps on the watch for when I'm away from cellular signal, or have topographic map options without downloading a third-party app.
So, should you get an Ultra? It's an exciting update for current Apple Watch wearers who need more—especially battery life. But it's no Garmin killer. Besides navigation, Garmin watches support other features important to serious athletes that are missing in the Apple Watch, such as recovery metrics and the ability to broadcast heart rate to workout equipment via Bluetooth.
CNBC's Sofia Pitt said the Apple Watch Ultra's larger speaker is noticeable:
Aside from the larger battery, I really appreciate the larger speaker on the Ultra. The watch has two speakers that work together, which makes the Ultra 40% louder than the Series 8, according to Apple.
I often use my watch to pick up phone calls, especially while I'm cooking. I could hear the difference when using the Ultra compared with my Series 7. While this feature is really meant to be louder in extreme conditions for the outdoorsy type, I appreciated it for regular use, too.
TechRadar's Gareth Beavis appreciates the new "Action" button on the Apple Watch Ultra, but wishes it was even more customizable:
One of the things we really like is the Action Button makes pausing a workout so much easier - before you either swiped the screen (hard with sweaty or wet hands) or pressed the Side Button and Digital Crown together... which could be a bit of a contortion.
Now, you can code it so the Action Button begins a workout (yes, finally - something that seems so obvious yet took this long...) and then pressing it with the Side button on the opposite edge of the Watch Ultra will pause. It's simple, effective and a lovely natural movement.
We would prefer it if the Action Button was a bit more customizable though: you can only set it to open workouts, start a dive, open the [flashlight], start a stopwatch or use the compass features - you can use it to start a Shortcut (a set of pre-defined actions using apps on your iPhone or Watch) but they're very limited too, when they could be so much richer.
Men's Journal's Michael Frank said the Apple Watch Ultra's brighter display with up to 2000 nits of brightness makes info easier to read:
That larger, powerfully lit screen can show six lines of data versus five lines while using Apple's Workout app. But the real key here is legibility. Regardless of the app you're using or the watch face you've chosen, the intense display is just far easier to read on the fly, whether you're eyeballing an incoming text or trying to parse your mile split time for a 5K.
There are times when I wear the standard Apple Watch and wish there was more oomph to it. I actually prefer that feeling—it takes me back to slipping on a classy analog watch made of premium materials, designed to do just a few tasks (at most) and do them well. At the same time, the Ultra doesn't feel too heavy; when I was lifting weights or running with it on, I didn't feel like I was fighting against extra resistance. That said, I can see how the Ultra might be a tough wear for those with smaller wrists.
It's been nine days since Apple released iOS 16 to the public, bringing major changes to the Lock Screen, Messages, Maps, and more. In the days following the release, some users have encountered several issues on their iPhones, ranging from slow system performance to battery drain.
In the past few days, iPhone 14 Pro users have shared specific bugs related to Apple's latest high-end iPhones, including camera shaking, iMessage and FaceTime activation issues, and more. There are other issues, though, impacting the broader group of iOS 16 users, and we've aggregated two issues based on user reports below.
Abnormal Battery Drain
After a major iOS update, it's normal for your iPhone to deplete battery life faster as it conducts indexing and background tasks; however, some users across Twitter, the MacRumors Forums (1, 2), and Reddit (1,2) are reporting excessive battery drain days after the update.
Wow, iOS 16 is buggy. Completely wrecked my battery life on my 13 Pro. Now I have a 14 Pro and all seemed well, was getting great battery life, and now have had horrible battery life today. Like estimated 4.5-5 hours of SOT. And now, out of nowhere, my phone started getting really hot. What is going on??? Apple please fix this mess.
this ios 16 update was hurting my battery and im not the only one of course. Is this something you will solve?@AppleSupport@Apple
— Eden (@Waveaxe10) September 20, 2022
@AppleSupport Battery performance when upgrading to iOS 16 is significantly worse. More people have reported such a problem.
— Ibai Larrinaga (@ibaibizkaia) September 20, 2022
Other users are reporting an improvement in battery life compared to iOS 15, so the overall experience is rather mixed. Apple has recently acknowledged that enabling haptic feedback for the keyboard in iOS 16 may deplete battery life, so users experiencing battery drain could try turning that off if they have it enabled. If you're still experiencing battery issues, see our explainer.
Slow Spotlight Search
A more prominent issue facing iOS 16 users is slow performance in Spotlight search. Users are reporting that Spotlight sometimes takes up to 10 seconds to load results on iOS 16 and sometimes doesn't load at all. Users on multiple Reddit (1,2) and MacRumors forum threads (1,2) are sharing their experiences:
I have the same issue. Before iOS 15.6 search was instant, but when I updated to iOS 15.6 it became very slow, taking more than 5 seconds for anything to show up while searching. I was hoping that iOS 16 would fix the issue, but it is just as slow. I even erased the phone and restored it from an iCloud backup, hoping it will fix it. It didn't. So Apple, please fix this problem in the next update. It's super annoying and I don't want to lose all the network settings because of this.
I use search on the phone to quickly pull up apps I have hidden or are several screens away. When I pull down and type to search, it takes sometimes 10+ seconds for apps to begin to appear in the search. They used to be almost instantaneous. Example, if I start typing M-A-P, Apple Maps, Google Maps, etc. come up as a result. Is anyone else noticing this massive slowdown?
For this specific bug, multiple users have said that resetting all settings significantly improved the performance of Spotlight search, but an official solution and/or bug fix has not been issued by Apple.
New iOS 16 Update Coming Next Week
Apple has confirmed that it's aware of some of the issues being experienced by users, including camera shaking on the latest iPhone 14 Pro, and has promised an iOS 16 update next week. The update, most likely to be iOS 16.0.2, will include a fix for camera issues, an annoying copy and paste prompt, and iMessage and FaceTime activation. The update could also address other issues being felt by users, such as including battery drain and slow Spotlight search.
Apple has listed two new apps on the App Store that are made exclusively for the Apple Watch Ultra: "Siren" and "Depth."
Siren is designed for emergency situations if users become lost or injured to draw attention to their location. When the Action button on Apple Watch Ultra is long-pressed, Siren emits a unique 86-decibel sound pattern which can be heard up to 600 feet (180 meters) away.
The Depth app is for use during recreational underwater activities to 130 feet (40 meters), from snorkeling, and free diving, to simply playing in a swimming pool.
Users can see their current depth, water temperature, duration under water as well as the maximum depth they've reached to 130 feet (40 meters). It can automatically activate as soon as Apple Watch Ultra is submerged, or manually launched like any other app.
The two apps are exclusively for Apple Watch Ultra models, which launch on Friday, September 23, so they can't actually be used by the general public yet.
Apple Watch Ultra models will come with the two apps pre-installed, and if users opt to delete the stock apps and then change their minds, they'll be able to re-download both from the App Store.
Priced at $799, the Apple Watch Ultra is available in a single 49mm size, with Trail, Ocean, and Alpine band options available. The new smartwatch can be pre-ordered now and launches alongside the second-generation AirPods Pro this coming Friday. For more on the Apple Watch Ultra's design and features, be sure to check out our dedicated roundup.
Rumors suggest Apple will announce new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models as soon as next month. The new iPads will be the first update to the iPad Pro series since April 2021 and will be an overall incremental upgrade that brings new capabilities and functionality to the highest-end iPad.
According to reports, Apple is planning an event for October to announce the new iPad Pro models, a new baseline iPad, and updates to the Mac. As we approach October, we've outlined the five biggest features and changes we might see for the upcoming iPad Pro.
Wireless Charging
The next iPad Pro is expected to include some form of wireless charging capability, according to a report from Bloomberg. Per reports, Apple has tested a glass back instead of an aluminum enclosure or using a larger glass Apple logo for the upcoming iPads, which would allow for wireless charging, although Apple has experienced some challenges implementing the technology. Apple is also reportedly considering adding MagSafe to the iPad, but how it would be implemented remains unknown.
New Connector
The upcoming iPad Pro will reportedly feature two new four-pin connectors of some sort, distinguished from the current three-pin Smart Connector in the iPad Pro. The current three-pin Smart Connector in the iPad Pro is used to connect accessories such as the Magic Keyboard. The inclusion of an updated four-pin connector could expand the type of accessories supported on the iPad.
M2 Chip
The current iPad Pro features the M1 Apple silicon chip announced in November 2020. The M1 chip was the Apple's first Mac-specific custom processor, and a few months later it also came to the iPad Pro. For the upcoming iPad Pro, Apple is expected to use the newer M2 chip, announced this past June. The M2 chip is up to 20% faster than the M1 chip, according to Apple.
In the iPad Pro, the M2 chip will power features such as Stage Manager, coming with iPadOS 16, which lets users link an iPad to an external display and have overlapping windows. iPadOS 16 will be released in October, according to Apple, most likely alongside the updated iPad Pro.
New Apple Pencil?
A video in April 2021 allegedly showcased the third-generation Apple Pencil with a glossy finish and a redesigned tip. Despite the alleged leak, Apple has not announced a new Apple Pencil since the second-generation model debuted in 2018, making it almost four years old.
It's been over a year since we've heard any significant rumors about a new Apple Pencil, so it's unclear where things stand at the moment. If there is indeed a new Apple Pencil coming, we aren't expecting major design changes but there could be some improvements to latency thanks to internal hardware upgrades and software optimizations.
Reverse Wireless Charging?
According to Bloomberg, Apple has tested reverse wireless charging for the iPad Pro, which would allow iPad users to charge their AirPods or iPhone by laying them on the back of the iPad. Rumors have suggested Apple eventually plans to bring bilateral charging to the iPhone for accessories such as AirPods, but that has not yet happened.
A YouTuber has quite literally crash-tested the iPhone 14's Crash Detection feature and found Apple's new emergency SOS function to reliably kick into action in the event of a controlled vehicle collision.
Serial gadget-smasher TechRax today published a video (embedded below) in which his team can be seen remotely controlling a driverless car containing an iPhone 14 Pro strapped to the headrest of the driver's seat as they attempt to plough it into a stationary vehicle.
After a series of near misses and the addition of several more decrepit road vehicles that form a wall to make for an easier target, the remotely controlled car successfully crashes at low speed in what could be described as a typical fender bender collision.
After what appears to be a short delay, the iPhone 14 Pro's Crash Detection feature is automatically activated, and the phone initiates an emergency SOS countdown, which is manually canceled by the team before it can call emergency services.
On the second successful attempt, the car hurtles into the wall of vehicles at a higher speed, its hood becoming concertinaed in the crash. Again, Apple's Crash Detection feature is reliably activated and then manually canceled by the team.
While the results of TechRax's tests don't necessarily prove that the feature works as reliably in real-world, non-controlled, severe collisions, the fact that it did activate as expected should give confidence to iPhone 14 owners who keep the feature enabled.
For Crash Detection to activate, the iPhone 14's motion sensor with a high dynamic range gyroscope and high-g accelerometer, GPS, barometer, microphone, and advanced motion algorithms must all work together to accurately detect a crash.
Enabled by default, Crash Detection is supported on all iPhone 14 models, Apple Watch SE (2nd Generation), Apple Watch Series 8, and Apple Watch Ultra.
Following the launch of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max last week, some early adopters of the devices said they have experienced an issue that prevents them from being heard at a suitable volume during phone calls initiated via CarPlay in a vehicle.
Affected users have documented this problem across the MacRumors Forums, Reddit, Twitter, and the Apple Support Community over the past three to four days. Most of the users said that after calling someone via CarPlay with an iPhone 14 Pro or iPhone 14 Pro Max, their voice sounded quiet or far away on the receiving end of the call.
The majority of complaints are from users with an iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max running iOS 16.0.1, but at least one user said the issue also appears to affect the standard iPhone 14, and there are also comments claiming that downgrading to iOS 16.0 does not help.
MacRumors was able to reproduce the issue by making a phone call via wired CarPlay in a 2022 Honda Civic with an iPhone 14 Pro running iOS 16.0.1. The issue did not occur with a regular hands-free Bluetooth call with the same device in the vehicle.
We reached out to Apple to ask if it is aware of this issue, but the company did not immediately respond to our request for comment. We will share any additional information about this issue, including any response from Apple, as it becomes available.
Apple Fitness+ will be available to iPhone users without an Apple Watch starting with iOS 16.1 and tvOS 16.1, which are currently in beta testing.
In the second beta of iOS 16.1 seeded to developers earlier today, user Jadyn Daniel noticed that it is now possible to subscribe to Apple Fitness+ on the iPhone without having an Apple Watch. And in the second beta of tvOS 16.1 for the Apple TV, Screen Times editor-in-chief Sigmund Judge uncovered a new screen that allows users to connect an iPhone for Apple Fitness+ workouts, with no Apple Watch required.
Apple already announced that Fitness+ would be available to iPhone users who do not own an Apple Watch starting "later this fall" in all 21 countries where the service is currently offered, including the United States, Australia, Austria, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, France, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, Malaysia, Mexico, New Zealand, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Switzerland, the UAE, and the UK.
Launched in December 2020, Apple Fitness+ features a library of over 3,000 workout and meditation videos, with new content added weekly. The subscription-based service is available through the Fitness app on the iPhone, iPad, and Apple TV, with U.S. pricing set at $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year. Without an Apple Watch, iPhone users will not see real-time metrics like heart rate and calories burned during a workout.
The first smartphones that support Wi-Fi 7 could start coming out as soon as the second half of 2024, according to a new report from DigiTimes that cites IC backend houses and inspection labs.
Wi-Fi 7 is able to use 320MHz channels and it supports 4K quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) technology, ultimately providing up to 2.4x faster speeds than Wi-Fi 6 with the same number of antennas.
Positioned as the next major generational Wi-Fi technology evolution, Wi-Fi 7 is expected to provide speeds of "at least 30" gigabits per second and could even hit 40Gbps, according to the Wi-Fi Alliance. It will offer speeds fast enough for next-generation AR/VR, 8K video streaming, and gaming devices.
Wi-Fi 6 features speeds of up to 9.6Gb/s, and WiFi 5 maxed out at 3.5Gb/s, so WiFi 7 will be a notable improvement when it launches. There is no word as of yet on when Apple might implement Wi-Fi 7, but it is worth noting that Apple has not even adopted Wi-Fi 6E, which has been available since 2019.
Apple devices are still using Wi-Fi 6, and there is a possibility that Apple will stick with Wi-Fi 6 until the launch of Wi-Fi 7, skipping Wi-Fi 6E entirely. DigiTimes suggests that with the launch of Wi-Fi 7 on the horizon, Wi-Fi 6E is "just a transitional technology."
Wi-Fi 7 will come first to routers and notebooks before making its way to smartphones. In January, MediaTek demoed Wi-Fi 7, and Intel has said that it plans to adopt Wi-Fi 7 in PC laptops by 2024, with the technology appearing in major markets in 2025. Qualcomm is also working on Wi-Fi 7 chip options that are expected to appear in the same time frame.
When the Apple Watch Series 8 and second-generation Apple Watch SE were first announced, the Apple Watch comparison page said both models supported Bluetooth 5.0, but Apple now says they actually support the newer Bluetooth 5.3 standard.
Apple's website still lists the Series 8 and new SE with Bluetooth 5.0 support in some places, but we received confirmation today from Apple that both models do in fact support Bluetooth 5.3 in the United States at a minimum.
All four iPhone 14 models, the second-generation AirPods Pro, and the Apple Watch Ultra also support Bluetooth 5.3, according to Apple.
Bluetooth 5.3 is said to include "several feature enhancements with the potential to improve reliability, energy efficiency, and user experience in many types of Bluetooth enabled products," such as the LE Audio specification. However, there is no evidence to suggest that Apple has implemented LE Audio yet in its latest products.
Apple's Back to School promotion in the United States and Canada ends in just six days. With this year's promotion, Apple is offering a $150 gift card alongside the purchase of an eligible Mac or a $100 gift card with the purchase of an iPad Air or iPad Pro.
As a reminder for those who might still be looking to take advantage of the promotion as it wraps up, we've rounded up a quick summary of the eligible products for the promotion below.
M2 MacBook Air
The new MacBook Air with the M2 Apple silicon chip in a thin and light design starts at $1,099 with Apple's education discount. With the $150 bonus gift card, that means the M2 MacBook Air essentially costs $949, and the M1 version can be had for even less. Additionally, Apple is offering a 20% discount on the three-year AppleCare+ service for Mac at $183.
MacBook Pro and 24-inch iMac
For education customers who need more powerful Macs, Apple is offering its 13-inch, 14-inch, and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. With the $150 gift card after purchase, the 13-inch MacBook Pro will essentially cost customers $1,049, the 14-inch $1,699, and the 16-inch $2,149. The 13-inch comes with the new M2 Apple silicon chip, while the 14-inch and 16-inch models come with M1 Pro and M1 Max chip options. The 24-inch M1 iMac is also available starting at the equivalent of $1,099 once the $150 gift card is accounted for.
iPad Air and iPad Pro
The iPad Air and iPad Pro come with the M1 Apple silicon chip, offering more performance than older models. Both iPads come with a $50 discount for education customers in addition to the $100 promotional gift card. The iPad Pro, offered in 11-inch, and 12.9-inch sizes, comes with more advanced displays and the addition of the LiDAR scanner compared to the 10.9-inch iPad Air. Both iPad lines support the second-generation Apple Pencil and the Magic Keyboard.
Apple is expected to announce updated 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models with the M2 Apple silicon chip as soon as next month, and there is also a possibility of updated 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models. Even with new models on the horizon, the Back to School promotion offers customers a great opportunity to get the current-generation models with the added benefit of gift cards.
The all-new Apple Watch Ultra launches this Friday, but some customers who ordered the watch have seen their estimated delivery date pushed back by Apple. It's unclear how many customers are affected or what the reason for the delays is.
MacRumors has received emails from multiple readers with orders that have been delayed in the United States. In one case, an order estimated for delivery by September 29 is now expected to arrive by October 12, while another order with a September 29 to October 6 estimated delivery range was pushed back to October 4 to October 11.
Priced at $799, the Apple Watch Ultra has been available to pre-order since September 9. While not reflected on Apple's website yet, some orders have been marked as shipped via UPS's tracking tool, with U.S. shipments passing through Anchorage, Alaska and Louisville, Kentucky as usual on their way to their final destinations.
All configurations of the Apple Watch Ultra include a natural-colored titanium case and cellular connectivity. The only customizable aspect is the band, with options including the Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean Band in three colors each.
Inspired by the "most extreme activities" like hiking and scuba diving, the Apple Watch Ultra features a rugged design with a 49mm titanium case, a larger display with a flat sapphire crystal cover, new bands designed for the outdoors, water resistance up to a depth of 100 meters, a customizable bright orange "Action" button, up to 60 hours of battery life with an upcoming low power mode, dual-frequency GPS support, and more.
With the launch of new iPhones, YouTubers always delve into a series of unscientific durability tests with the hope of providing us with some insight into the durability of the latest iPhones. We highlighted iPhone 14 Pro drop tests earlier today, and we thought we'd also share a couple of scratch tests for those interested.
YouTuber JerryRigEverything does an annual scratch test on new iPhones using the Mohs mineral hardness scale, and with the iPhone 14, the results were as expected. Apple is still using the same Ceramic Shield used in the iPhone 12 and iPhone 13, and faint scratches were observed at a level 6 hardness.
Much more noticeable scratches appeared with the level 7 tool, which is the exact same result that was observed with the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 12 before that, so there are no quiet improvements to the display durability this year.
The aluminum frame scratched easily, which is no surprise, and the sapphire crystal camera lens scratched at a level 6, which is notable because sapphire typically ranks at level 9 on the Mohs hardness scale.
Other YouTubers subjected the iPhone 14 devices to hammers, knives, screws, and other tools to attempt to demonstrate durability, but it's difficult to glean useful information from tests like these. It can be impressive how much damage the iPhone 14 models can endure before a scratch shows up, but real world conditions vary and the wrong angle or the wrong edge on a tool can cause a scratch in one situation where it might not in another.
Apple did not make notable durability specific claims about the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models, with the new iPhones using the same glass components as the prior-generation iPhone 13 models.
Apple today released the second beta of iOS 16.1, introducing some notable changes to charging indicators on the iPhone and also fixing a few bugs. We've rounded up all of the changes in the second beta below.
Battery Status Bar Visual Charge Indicator
Apple in iOS 16 added battery percentage to the battery icon in the status bar on Face ID iPhones, and in iOS 16.1 beta 2, improved the feature to show a visual indication of the charge level.
The battery icon shifts throughout the day as the battery depletes or is charged, making it easier to see charge level at a glance. Prior to the beta, the battery indicator in the status bar showed percent, but the battery level was static and always full, making it sometimes confusing to determine the iPhone's charge with a quick look.
Battery Font
Apple has updated the font that's used for the battery icon, slightly increasing the size.
Lock Screen Charging Indicator
When charging an iPhone, the battery percentage is now displayed above the time both when the iPhone first starts charging and each time that it is woken from sleep during the charging process.
This allows for a clear indication of the charge level when tapping on the iPhone's display without unlocking the device. The always-on display does not show charge level and waking the screen on an iPhone 14 Pro model is required to get the battery level to show up.
Copy and Paste Fix
The incessant copy and paste prompts that iOS 16 users are seeing have been addressed in iOS 16.1, and you no longer need to explicitly approve each and every copy and paste attempt. While this is fixed in iOS 16.1, we are expecting Apple to address it prior to the iOS 16.1 launch with an iOS 16 bug fix update that is planned for next week.
No Camera Shake Fix
Reports suggest that the bug causing the iPhone 14 Pro rear camera to shake and vibrate has not been addressed in iOS 16.1 beta 2. Apple has said that the issue will be fixed in an iOS 16 update coming next week, and we are expecting an iOS 16.0.2 release.
Other New Features
Know of a new feature in iOS 16.1 that we left out? Let us know in the comments below.
Apple today released the second beta of iOS 16.1, introducing further tweaks to the battery percentage indicator that is located in the status bar.
With today's beta, the battery level of the icon depletes as the battery depletes, providing a better visual indication of what battery level is at alongside the percentage.
If the percentage feature is enabled, you will now see the charge number as well as battery indicator that fills or depletes based on your current charge level. Prior to the latest beta, the battery indicator in the status bar showed percent, but the battery level was static, making it sometimes difficult to determine the iPhone's charge at a glance.
Battery percent was not present on iPhones that have Face ID in iOS 15 because of the lack of space on either side of the notch that houses the TrueDepth camera hardware, but Apple's updated iOS 16 design added the specific battery level to the battery icon, with iOS 16.1 adding further tweaks. The iOS 16.1 beta also brings the battery percentage to the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 12 mini, iPhone XR, and iPhone 11, devices that do not support it in iOS 16.
Apple with the second beta has additionally tweaked the charging indicator on the Lock Screen. When plugging an iPhone into a Lightning cable or Qi-based wireless charger, it will now show the battery percent briefly above the time. iPhone 14 Pro models have a battery status indicator in the Dynamic Island as well.
New in iOS 16.1 Beta 2: The Lock Screen can show the battery percentage again while charging. It works much the same as on iOS 15, where the date disappears and shows the battery percentage for a few seconds. pic.twitter.com/VPs1HoqIBs
— iSpeedtestOS (@iSpeedtestOS) September 20, 2022
There will be several more rounds of beta testing before iOS 16.1 sees a public release, but there is a public beta available for non-developers to test. The next public beta should be coming soon with the updated battery status bar icon.
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