Today is Disney+ Day, and to mark the occasion Disney has introduced a new discount on its popular streaming service. New and eligible returning Disney+ subscribers can get Disney+ for $1.99 for one month, after which the service will return to $7.99 per month.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Disney+. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
To be an "eligible" returning Disney+ customer, you need to have no current active subscription with the streaming service and be 18 years or older. Once your first month ends, Disney+ will auto-renew at $7.99 per month unless you cancel beforehand.
To get the deal, create a Disney+ account or sign into your old one and accept the Disney+ Subscriber Agreement, then accept the monthly offer. This promotion will last until 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on September 19.
It's also worth noting that this $7.99 per month ad-free Disney+ plan will be increasing in price to $10.99 per month on December 8, 2022. This is because the company will introduce a new ad-supported tier available for the $7.99 per month price point in December.
So, if you sign up for the Disney+ Day deal and afterwards decide to keep the service, remember that in a few months the $7.99 per month price will be increasing by $3 before the end of the year. You can also lock in an annual plan at the current price before the price increase in December.
Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
Elevation Lab, known for its range of accessories for Apple devices, today announced the launch of the TagVault Strap, a new case that's designed for the AirTag.
The TagVault Strap is designed to mount to a backpack or camera strap, and it has been created to prevent the AirTag from being removed. The TagVault Strap is made from a glass-filled composite body, and it uses Swiss machined self-driving screws that go through the strap.
It comes with all the hardware needed, and it features an all-black design that keeps it from grabbing attention. The TagVault Strap is also waterproof, so it keeps the AirTag protected even in less than ideal conditions.
Since iOS 14, iPhones have displayed a green dot on the right side of the notch when the camera is actively being used by an app. On the iPhone 14 Pro models, this privacy indicator is now shown within the new pill-shaped Dynamic Island cutout.
The relocated camera indicator can be seen in Apple's video introducing the iPhone 14 Pro, when the built-in Camera app is opened, and there is also an image of it in Apple's press release for the device. The green dot means either the camera or both the camera and the microphone are being used by an app on the iPhone, according to Apple.
The green dot appearing directly beside the front camera on the iPhone 14 Pro models is similar to the green light that appears next to a MacBook's webcam when active, providing a more consistent experience across the devices.
Similarly, an orange dot will appear within the Dynamic Island when an app is actively using the iPhone's microphone only.
It's worth noting that footage shown during Apple's event suggests that the green and orange dots will appear to the right of the battery icon in the status bar, at least when the Dynamic Island is already in use by other apps, such as for Live Activities.
Exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro models, the Dynamic Island replaces the traditional notch found on all iPhone 13 models. Aided by software, the cutout morphs into different shapes and sizes for things such as incoming phone calls, alerts, notifications, Face ID authentication, timers, turn-by-turn navigation, Live Activities, and more.
All four iPhone 14 models will be available to pre-order this Friday, September 9 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time, and the devices will begin arriving to customers and launch in stores on Friday, September 16, except for the slightly delayed 14 Plus model.
Apple on Wednesday unveiled the new Apple Watch Ultra, a larger, more advanced smartwatch aimed at athletes, explorers, and swimmers. The Apple Watch Ultra shares the same features as the new Apple Watch Series 8, but there is a whole lot more to the watch than meets the eye. Here are just some of the more notable differences that are worth highlighting.
Operating Temperatures Are Extreme
iPhones can get so hot or so cold that they can become non-functional, but the Apple Watch Ultra is very unlikely to, even in the harshest of climes. Apple says the watch has been designed to accommodate the most extreme environments in outdoor exploration, with an on-wrist operating temperature from –4° to 131° F (–20° to 55° C).
Larger Display, More Complications
Apple has created a new Wayfinder watch face that's been designed especially for the larger Apple Watch Ultra display. It includes a compass built into the dial, and has space for up to eight complications on screen at the same time. The Wayfinder watch face can also be customized for mountain, ocean, or trail expeditions.
Customizable Action Button
Where previous Apple Watch models have had just two physical controls, Apple Watch Ultra has a third on the left side of the screen called the Action button, which is colored in "international orange" and can serve a range of functions.
As it's customizable, what the Action button does is up to the user, so one push can let you track race segments during a workout, find a way out when using Backtrack, drop a Compass Waypoint, or start up a dive computer, depending on your needs.
Brighter Screen
Under the flat sapphire front crystal is a Retina display that is not only the biggest yet on an Apple Watch, but it can also output contents at up to 2,000 nits, which is two times brighter than any other Apple Watch display.
Night Mode
To optimize for evening conditions when using the Wayfinder watch face, a turn of the Digital Crown engages Night Mode, which turns the interface red and removes retina-altering blue light from the display to ease strain on your eyes in the dark.
Emergency Siren
If you ever become lost, injured, or have some other emergency situation and want to draw attention to your location, Apple Watch Ultra includes an 86-decibel siren that can be enabled by holding the Action button.
Apple says the siren uses a unique sound signature that incorporates two distinct alternating patterns, which can repeat for several hours. The first pattern suggests distress, while the second mimics the universally recognized SOS pattern, and the siren can be heard up to 600 feet or 180 meters away.
Best-in-Class GPS Positioning
Apple Watch Ultra uses a precision dual-frequency GPS that integrates both L1 and the latest frequency, L5. Apple says that in combination with new custom positioning algorithms, this provides users with the most accurate GPS of any smartwatch on the market, and should help trail runners and other athletes who often find themselves in amongst dense trees or high buildings.
Redesigned Compass App
In watchOS 9, the Compass has been redesigned for Apple Watch Ultra and now has three different views. The app displays a new hybrid view that simultaneously shows both an analog compass dial and a digital view, while turning the Digital Crown reveals an additional view that includes latitude, longitude, elevation, and incline, as well as an orienteering view showing Compass Waypoints and Backtrack.
Waypoint Marking and Backtrack
In the Compass app, you can press the Action button or tap the Compass Waypoint icon to drop a waypoint and mark the location you are in. Waypoints can be edited by tapping the icon, and the Compass Waypoint complication updates automatically in real time showing both the direction of the waypoint as well as its approximate distance.
Meanwhile, with the help of GPS, a new Backtrack function creates a path showing you where you've been, like a breadcrumb trail, which you can use if you get lost or disoriented and want to retrace your steps.
Water Temperature Sensor and Depth Gauge
Apple Watch Ultra is certified to EN 13319, which is an internationally recognized standard for dive accessories, including depth gauges. The Apple Watch Ultra even incorporates a depth gauge into a new Depth app, which can display time, current depth down to 40 meters, water temperature, duration under water, and max depth reached.
When underwater, the Apple Watch Ultra automatically opens the Depth app, making it quick and easy to get critical information without needing to open it manually. Alternatively, you can assign the Depth app to the Action button to launch it when needed.
Availability
The Apple Watch Ultra costs $799 and was made available for pre-order after Wednesday's "Far out" event. It comes in a silver titanium casing and is available with three different bands: Trail, Alpine, and Ocean. The Apple Watch Ultra will begin shipping to customers on Friday, September 23.
In the wake of Apple's announcement of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro yesterday, carrier discounts and offers have quickly emerged for the latest generation of iPhone. In this article we're highlighting all of the best carrier deals you can expect ahead of pre-order day tomorrow.
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.
Remember that for all of the links and deals below, you won't be able to add the iPhone 14 to your cart and get the discounts until pre-orders go live at 5 a.m. Pacific Time on September 9.
AT&T
Starting with AT&T, new and existing customers can get up to $1,000 off the iPhone 14 family of devices with an eligible trade-in and when purchased on an installment plan. You'll also need an eligible AT&T unlimited plan to get this deal.
If you trade in a smartphone with a value of $230 or higher, you'll get up to $1,000 in bill credits. If you trade in a smartphone with a value of $130-$229, you'll get up to $800 in bill credits. Lastly, if your trade in is valued between $35-$129, you'll get up to $350 in bill credits.
This is AT&T's typical annual iPhone offer, and it comes with the usual stipulations. In addition to purchasing a qualifying installment agreement, and paying taxes on the full retail price of the iPhone up front, you'll have to pay a $35 activation/upgrade fee.
Verizon has a unique option for its customers, offering a new "One Unlimited" plan for iPhone. This comes with unlimited 5G data, 25GB of high-speed mobile hotspot data, and Apple One, all for $90/month.
This is the only cellular carrier plan in the United States to come bundled with Apple One. When signing up for this option on one Verizon line, you'll get Apple One's individual tier (worth $14.95/month) with Apple Music, Apple Arcade, Apple TV+, and iCloud+ with 50GB of storage.
Verizon accounts with two lines will get an Apple One family tier subscription (worth $19.95/month). This one can be shared among six different family members.
Other than the One Unlimited plan, Verizon is offering up to $1,000 off iPhone 14 models, as well as a BOGO deal on Apple Watch. You can buy one Apple Watch Series 8, and get another one at no cost. There's also quite a few 20 percent off accessory deals going on during the iPhone launch on Verizon.
T-Mobile
T-Mobile customers can expect to get up to $1,000 off any iPhone 14 series smartphone when trading in an eligible device. This offer requires new or existing customers to be on the Magenta MAX, Business Unlimited Advanced, Ultimate, or Ultimate+ for iPhone plans.
There are a few other offers as well, including half off the iPhone 14 Pro (or up to $500 off any iPhone 14 device) when trading in an eligible device on most T-Mobile plans. This offer is for any customer not on the aforementioned four cellular plans.
If you need to buy two iPhone 14s, T-Mobile is also planning a BOGO deal where you can buy one iPhone 14 family device and get a second one for up to $700 off. This is also available on most T-Mobile plans and will require you to add a second line on an existing plan.
For Apple Watch users, if you buy an Apple Watch you'll get $200 off a second model when adding a new watch line on your plan.
Following the introduction of the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max with the all-new Dynamic Island feature, which intelligently integrates the new pill-shaped notch replacement into iOS for system alerts and functionality, internet users have reacted in an overwhelmingly positive way to Apple's new UX design.
In the US, "iPhone 14 Pro" and "Dynamic Island" were trending on Twitter after Apple's "Far out" event as users praised Apple's implementation of the pill shape directly into the user experience. "By a long mile, this is my favorite feature of the new iPhones 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max. Apple really made good use of that long pill hole cutout," is how one Twitter user reacted following the event.
"Dynamic Island may be the best design work from Apple in years," another user said. Dynamic Island includes smooth animations for how alerts and other information such as Now Playing intelligently morph around the camera cutouts to free up space in other parts of the display. Carl Pei, the CEO of Nothing, even chimed in, calling it "smart" and saying that Apple's always-on display on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max is the "best implementation" of the technology he has ever seen.
"The Dynamic Island is one of Apple’s best designs in recent history. Turning what should be a downside into a useful feature," said Ian Zelbo, a popular concept creator known for his realistic renders of Apple products based on leaks and rumors. Other users also shared their thoughts:
The Dynamic Island has to be one my favorite software-related surprises in a while.
In hindsight, it explains so much of Apple's recent design decisions on iOS: pill-shaped alerts, Live Activities, compact UI. They've been playing the long game. I love this. #AppleEventpic.twitter.com/IGErzZBKq1
— Federico Viticci (@viticci) September 7, 2022
Surprisingly, this is one of the parts that I love about the iPhone 14 Pro series.
Dynamic Island is not exactly the best solution to replace that notch, but it is one step ahead of older iPhones.
And the implementation is excellent.
Take a look at what it can do. 👇 pic.twitter.com/4UZgMSfD9b
— Alvin (@sondesix) September 7, 2022
iPhone 14 Pro's Dynamic Island in action.
Those animations though... They are really refined and very satisfying to watch. 😍 pic.twitter.com/OXvj5yFvfo
— Alvin (@sondesix) September 8, 2022
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, other than the new Dynamic Island, include an always-on display, a new Main 48MP camera, and more. They will be available for pre-order on Friday, September 9, and begin arriving to customers a week later on Friday, September 16.
Following its "Far out" event yesterday, Apple has discontinued the Apple Watch Magnetic Charging Dock.
The dock, which retailed for $79, included a circular base and allowed Apple Watch users to charge their Apple Watch in either a flat position or on its side to be used as an alarm clock. The dock was launched following the release of the first Apple Watch in 2015. For customers looking for a similar experience, Apple offers the MagSafe Duo Charger, which can charge both an Apple Watch and an iPhone with MagSafe at the same time.
Following the announcement of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, Samsung has released a new ad that seems to be aimed at convincing iPhone customers to try out its latest Galaxy Z Flip4, which, as the name suggests - flips.
The ad, titled "Join the flip side," starts with a Flip4 user showing off the device's design to what is presumed to be an iPhone user, highlighting features such as how it can stand up by itself to take group selfies. "I would never switch to Samsung. I love my phone," the iPhone user says, possibly playing on the idea of iPhone users being "stubborn" to try devices made by companies other than Apple.
The iPhone customer then becomes obsessed with everything that flips open and closed, such as a book, a toilet seat, and more. In multiple segments, the iPhone user is obsessed with folding things, such as a pizza, all while repeating to themselves phrases like "I've always loved my phone," "I would never switch," and "I will never switch to Samsung."
Towards the end, the iPhone user wakes up from the nightmare and attempts to fold their smartphone in half, and since it doesn't, they place an order for the Galaxy Z Flip4.
Before the iPhone 14 launch, Samsung released another ad mocking the "lack of innovation" expected for Apple's latest phones compared to the Galaxy S22 Ultra and Z Flip4.
Apple never advertises the amount of RAM in iPhones, but MacRumors can confirm that all four iPhone 14 models are equipped with 6GB of RAM.
The latest Xcode 14 beta contains files showing that the iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max are each equipped with 6GB of RAM. By comparison, the iPhone 13 mini and iPhone 13 have 4GB of RAM and the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max have 6GB, so there is 50% more RAM in the standard models this year.
Previous RAM amounts:
iPhone 13 mini: 4GB
iPhone 13: 4GB
iPhone 13 Pro: 6GB
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 6GB
New RAM amounts:
iPhone 14: 6GB
iPhone 14 Plus: 6GB
iPhone 14 Pro: 6GB
iPhone 14 Pro Max: 6GB
The same Xcode files accurately revealed the amount of RAM in iPhone 13 models last year and in several previous iPhone generations.
In March, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the iPhone 14 Pro models would feature a faster type of RAM known as LPDDR5, compared to LPDDR4X for the standard iPhone 14 models, but the Xcode files only confirm the amount of RAM in each model. The type of RAM in the iPhone 14 models should be confirmed once teardowns of the devices are published.
iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models sport the A15 Bionic chip with a 5-core GPU, while the Pro models feature a new A16 Bionic chip.
All four iPhone 14 models will be available to pre-order starting Friday, September 9 at 5 a.m. Pacific Time in the U.S. and over 40 other countries and regions. The devices are set to launch one week later on Friday, September 16, with the exception of the 14 Plus model, which will be available starting Friday, October 7.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature an always-on display for the first time on iPhone, which lets users glance at their phone to see key information, including the time, their wallpaper, and iOS 16 Lock Screen widgets and Live Activities.
Since the iPhone 14 Pro is the first iPhone to include an always-on display, there are several unknowns about how the feature will work, what it will look like, whether it will be customizable, and how it will impact battery life. We answer those questions and more below about the new feature of Apple's highest-end iPhone.
How Does it Work?
To enable the always-on display, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature a more advanced OLED panel with a more variable refresh rate. Whereas the previous-generation iPhone 13 Pro has a variable refresh rate of between 10Hz and 120Hz, the new OLED panel in the iPhone 14 Pro can go as low as 1Hz to enable a new Low Power mode, which preserves battery life with the always-on display.
What Does It Look Like?
The always-on display on the iPhone 14 Pro is heavily inspired by the iOS 16 Lock Screen. When the always-on display is activated, iOS intelligently darkens the wallpaper and shows the time, widgets, and, if any are active, Live Activities. Other visual elements of the Lock Screen, including information in the status bar and the flashlight and camera shortcuts, are not shown.
Can You Customize the Always-On Display?
Given that the new iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max have not shipped to customers yet, we don't know what customization features Apple will provide for the always-on display. It remains likely, however, that the always-on display will not be directly customizable but will instead adapt to your customized iOS 16 Lock Screen.
Will Older iPhones Get the Always-On Display?
No. The always-on display on the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max is enabled thanks to the more advanced display hardware. As a result, it won't be coming to older iPhones, including last year's iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. Last year's iPhone, however, will benefit from the redesigned iOS 16 Lock Screen from which the iPhone 14 Pro's always-on display design stems.
Will It Impact My Battery Life?
Apple says that thanks to the new display technology, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max are power efficient. The new display is paired with the A16 Bionic chip with a new Display Engine to run the always-on display, which will help control and manage power efficiency.
In terms of actual battery life promises, Apple says the iPhone 14 Pro Max lasts for up to 29 hours when watching videos (up from 28 hours on the previous iPhone 13 Pro Max), up to 25 hours for streaming video (no improvement), and up to 95 hours for audio playback (no improvement).
It's also possible that the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max feature physically larger batteries to compensate for the possible increased energy consumption caused by the always-on display, but we'll have to wait for a teardown to know for sure.
Apple has published a nine-minute video positioned as a tour of the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro, with the walkthrough pre-empting the availability of online pre-orders, which go live on Friday.
Beginning at Apple's Upper West Side store in New York City, the tour highlights the four available sizes, new camera features like Action mode, Lock Screen customizations, the iPhone 14 Pro's Always-on display and A16 Bionic chip, Crash Detection, and more.
Apple suggests the video will help users choose the iPhone that's the right fit for them.
Find a new iPhone 14 that’s right for you. We've headed to the Big Apple to tell you all the big news about iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max. We’ll explore the new models and go through all the amazing new features, sizes and colors available.
Pre-orders for the new iPhone 14 models open on Friday, September 9, and the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 will begin shipping on Friday, September 16. The larger 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus will begin shipping to customers on Friday, October 7. Both the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro and the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max will be available for pre-order this Friday, September 9, and will be available to customers starting Friday, September 16.
The new Apple Watch Ultra features the ability to measure the temperature of the water as you're diving, swimming, and doing a range of other water sports thanks to new functionality, added durability, and a new Depth app pre-installed on the watch.
The Apple Watch Ultra is the most rugged Apple Watch yet, with features and design elements explicitly designed for swimmers, divers, and athletes. The new Apple Watch Ultra is also the most water-friendly Apple Watch, featuring EN 13319 certification, the international standard for diving accessories such as depth gauges relied on by professional divers.
When diving, specifically, divers can use a new Depth app that shows several key metrics, including current depth, elapsed time, the current water temperature, the amount of time spent underwater, and more. When underwater, the Apple Watch Ultra automatically opens the Depth app, making it quick and easy to get critical information without needing to open it manually.
The Apple Watch Ultra costs $799 and was made available for pre-order after yesterday's "Far out" event. The Apple Watch Ultra will begin shipping to customers on Friday, September 23.
Apple yesterday unveiled its all-new Apple Watch Ultra, which the company says is "inspired by explorers and athletes" and "a versatile tool that empowers users to push their boundaries with adventure, endurance, and exploration."
In true Apple style, the company has designed the device's retail packaging in a way that reflects its vision. As shared by 3D artist Ian Zelbo, the box depicts a snowy and sublime mountain vista surrounded by foreboding atmospheric clouds, with the wider landscape overlapping into the inner packaging.
The all-new Apple Watch Ultra is available to pre-order starting now in the U.S., Canada, Australia, France, Germany, India, Japan, the U.K., and more than 40 other countries and regions around the world, with pricing set at $799. Apple Watch Ultra will launch in stores and begin arriving to customers on September 23.
Apple CEO Tim Cook has shot down the idea of iOS adopting RCS messaging, a format that would make it significantly easier for iPhone and Android users to send high-quality messages, videos, and photos to each other within the Messages app on iOS.
During a panel at Kara Swisher's final Code Conference yesterday, Cook was asked why iOS has not yet adopted support for the RCS standard and how Steve Jobs would feel about it (via The Verge), despite repeated calls from the industry for the company to do so. "I don't hear our users asking that we put a lot of energy in on that at this point," Cook said in response to the question.
The lack of RCS support on iOS makes it more difficult for iOS and Android users to communicate, forcing them to in some cases use third-party messaging platforms such as WhatsApp or Telegram. The reporter who asked the question pushed Cook on his response, saying he and his mother find it difficult to send photos and videos to each other because she uses an Android device while they use an iPhone. "Buy your mom an iPhone," Cook told the reporter who posed the situation.
Android has supported and led the industry in adopting RCS, while Apple has kept only iMessage and the SMS standard available on the iPhone. Google recently started a public campaign in an attempt to convince Apple to adopt RCS, but Cook's recent comments show Apple is not likely to budge anytime soon.
As noted by The Verge, emails from the Epic Games vs. Apple trial revealed that Apple's senior vice president of software engineering Craig Federighi said that bringing iMessage to Android and making it easier for the two platforms to communicate would "simply serve to remove [an] obstacle to iPhone families giving their kids Android phones."
Apple yesterday announced a slew of new products, ranging from four new iPhone 14 models, three new Apple Watches, and brand new AirPods Pro. With so many new products, you may be confused over when each product will be available for pre-order and in-store. To help, we've created a guide to make clear all the important dates related to Apple's latest products.
Already Available for Pre-Order
After Apple's "Far out" event yesterday, the following three products were made immediately available for pre-order:
Priced at $799, the new Apple Watch Ultra is explicitly designed for athletes, hikers, and marathon runners and features advanced health and fitness features. The Series 8, on the other hand, features the same design as the Apple Watch Series 7 but comes with a new body temperature sensor focusing on women's health. The Apple Watch Ultra is already facing 6-7 week delays for customers.
Friday, September 9
On Friday, September 9, the following products will become available for pre-order on Apple's website, the Apple Store app, and through Apple's retail partners worldwide. Ahead of Friday, Apple is already letting customers prepare to pre-order the new products.
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Plus
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
Second-Generation AirPods Pro
Friday, September 16
A week later, on Friday, September 16, the following products will be available in Apple's retail stores worldwide and will begin arriving to customers.
iPhone 14
iPhone 14 Pro
iPhone 14 Pro Max
Second-Generation Apple Watch SE
Apple Watch Series 8
Friday, September 23
Another week later, the following two products will become available through Apple, its retail partners, and begin arriving to customers worldwide.
Second-Generation AirPods Pro
Apple Watch Ultra
Friday, October 7
Finally, two weeks later, one final product will see its launch:
iPhone 14 Plus
Apple has not said why the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus will begin shipping to customers three weeks after the rest of the lineup, but earlier reports suggested Apple was facing supply chain issues with the new model, particularly with display production.
Other Imporant Dates to Keep In Mind
Besides launching new products, Apple will also make iOS 16 available to all customers with a compatible iPhone on Monday, September 12. iOS 16 features a redesigned and customizable lock screen, new features in messages, and so much more. Also, on Monday, September 12, Apple will make watchOS 9 available for the Apple Watch Series 4 and later.
iOS 16 will warn users who try to pair counterfeit AirPods with their iPhone or iPad, according to code found in the release candidate beta released to developers on Wednesday.
Apple can already tell users when a non-genuine part is detected in an iPhone or iPad, but it looks as if the company is ready to extend this warning to fake Apple accessories, too.
First spotted by 9to5Mac, the code indicates that when a user attempts to pair non-genuine AirPods with their Apple device, the upcoming version of iOS 16 and iPadOS 16 will throw up a message on the screen, which reads: "These headphones could not be verified as genuine AirPods and may not behave as expected."
A "Learn More" button will then redirect users to a support article on Apple's website explaining how to identify genuine AirPods. Notably, Apple doesn't appear to want to stop users from pairing the fake AirPods, but instead displays a "Don't Connect" option.
The surging popularity of AirPods has resulted in record numbers of counterfeit wireless headphones being seized at the U.S. border. According to a 2021 report, roughly 360,000 counterfeit wireless headphones with a retail value of $62.2 million were confiscated in the first nine months of the U.S. government's fiscal year, based on data from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
U.S. Customs said that 80% of all counterfeit products coming into the U.S. were from mainland China or Hong Kong. While it's unclear how many of the seized counterfeit headphones were AirPods, U.S. Customs said seizures have increased 50% in the previous five years as products such as Apple's earbuds have gained popularity.
Counterfeit AirPods can use genuine Apple serial numbers and usually look physically indistinguishable from legitimate AirPods Pro. Many will even have functional active noise cancellation and Transparency mode features.
A Geekbench score for the iPhone 14 Pro Max with the new A16 Bionic chip has revealed little performance improvement compared to the iPhone 13 Pro and Pro Max from last year.
A Geekbench test result for iPhone15,3, the identifier for the iPhone 14 Pro Max, shows the new iPhone with a single-core score of 1879 and a multi-core score of 4664. The iPhone 13 Pro scores 1707 in single-core and 4659 in multi-core, only being marginally slower than the latest high-end iPhone.
The most significant new feature of the A16 Bionic chip is that it's the first chip from Apple based on the smaller 4nm process. The A15 Bionic chip, like Apple's M1 and M2 Apple silicon chips for the Mac, is based on the 5nm process.
Despite the smaller jump in performance that some may have hoped, Apple says the A16 Bionic chip is "the fastest chip ever in a smartphone." The A16 Bionic has a more powerful GPU that can provide up to 50% more memory bandwidth for graphics-intensive games. The A16 Bionic also has a new 16-core Neural Engine to power advanced machine learning tasks. In the CPU, the A16 Bionic features the same 6-core count as the A15 Bionic, but Apple says it's a "new 6-core CPU."
Update: This article has been updated to note that the Geekbench result is for an iPhone 14 Pro Max, not an iPhone 14 Pro. Both devices use the same A16 chip, however, so their scores should be similar.
Apple's newly announced iPhone 14 models include a new Action mode when recording video, and here's our first real-world example of the feature in action.
The video below was taken by tech reporter Rich DeMuro during the hands-on time that followed Apple's "Far Out" media event on Wednesday, when it unveiled the new iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro, and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
According to Apple, the new Action mode aims to help capture smooth-looking video that adjusts to significant shakes, motion, and vibrations, even when video is being captured in the middle of the action.
Apple's Cinematic mode, first introduced in last year's iPhone 13 series, has also been improved for the iPhone 14 models, which can now record in 4K at 30fps and 4K at 24fps using the feature.
Pre-orders for the new iPhone 14 models open on Friday, September 9, and the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 will begin shipping on Friday, September 16. The larger 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus will begin shipping to customers on Friday, October 7. Both the 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro and the 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max will be available for pre-order this Friday, September 9, and will be available to customers starting Friday, September 16.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Disney+. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
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.
