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Almost three years after the launch of the first-generation AirPods Pro, Apple unveiled the second-generation model alongside the iPhone 14 lineup and several new Apple Watches. Although the second-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌ feature the same design as their predecessor, they improve on features like Active Noise Cancellation, in-ear detection, and battery life, while introducing new functionality like Adaptive Transparency, volume adjustment touch controls, and precision finding.

In late 2021, Apple introduced a major update for its standard AirPods, with the new earbuds adding Spatial Audio, Adaptive EQ, force sensor controls, sweat and water resistance, MagSafe charging, and more.

Should you consider purchasing the $179 third-generation AirPods, or do you need the higher-end ‌AirPods Pro‌, which sell for $249? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these sets of AirPods is best for you.

Comparing the AirPods and AirPods Pro

The AirPods and ‌AirPods Pro‌ share a large number of important features such as Spatial Audio with dynamic head tracking, sweat and water resistance, and skin-detect sensors. Even so, there are some meaningful differences between them that are worth highlighting, including design and Active Noise Cancellation.

Key Differences

AirPods (Third-Generation)	‌AirPods Pro‌ (Second-Generation)
Semi in-ear design	In-ear design with silicone ear tips (four sizes) and vent system for pressure equalization
Force sensor controls	Force sensor and touch controls for volume adjustment
H1 chips	H2 chips
Bluetooth 5.0	Bluetooth 5.3
–	Active Noise Cancellation
–	Transparency and Adaptive Transparency
–	Conversation Boost
Up to 5 hours listening time with Spatial Audio enabled	Up to 5.5 hours listening time with with Spatial Audio enabled
Up to 4 hours of talk time with a single charge	Up to 4.5 hours of talk time with a single charge
Up to 20 hours of talk time using ‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case	Up to 24 hours of talk time using ‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case
‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case with Find My	‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case with ‌Find My‌, built-in speaker, U1 chip for Precision Tracking, and lanyard loop
‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case compatible with ‌MagSafe‌ charger, Qi wireless charging mats, and Lightning	‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case compatible with Apple Watch charger, ‌MagSafe‌ charger, Qi wireless charging mats, and Lightning

Final Thoughts

The standard AirPods are now very similar to the ‌AirPods Pro‌, offering almost all of the same features at a lower price point. As a result, the third-generation AirPods should be the default choice for most prospective buyers. If you also have AirPods Max, which already offer ANC, and are looking for an additional pair of headphones to use while working out or on the go, the third-generation AirPods are also a good choice.

You should only buy the ‌AirPods Pro‌ if you specifically prefer the fit and improved sound that in-ear silicone tips can provide, or need Active Noise Cancellation. It is also worth buying ‌AirPods Pro‌ if you could make good use of Apple's Conversation Boost accessibility feature. Otherwise, the advancements of the H2 chip, minor battery life improvements, and Adaptive Transparency may not be a worthwhile set of improvements over the standard AirPods.

‌AirPods Pro‌ frequently see hefty discounts on Amazon and other third-party retailers, so stepping up to the Pro version may be more worth it if you can take advantage of one of those deals. The standard AirPods also often see solid discounts, so it is always worth seeking the best price using our Deals roundup.

Customers who personalize their second-generation AirPods Pro charging case with an engraving will now have that engraving reflected directly on iOS as they pair and connect their ‌AirPods Pro‌.

Apple allows customers to personalize their ‌AirPods Pro‌ charging case with a special engraving that can include select emojis and Memojis. Unlike before, starting with the second-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌, that engraving is now reflected on the digital case on iOS as a user pairs and connects their ‌AirPods Pro‌.

The second-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌ began arriving to customers today. The new ‌AirPods Pro‌ include better Active Noise Cancellation, the new H2 chip, and an updated charging case with deeper Find My integration and a lanyard loop.

With AirPods Pro 2, Apple has improved the Charging Case by adding a U1 chip for Precision Finding with Find My. This article explains how to use Precision Finding to locate your ‌AirPods Pro‌ if you've misplaced or lost them.

‌Find My‌‌ uses Bluetooth signals from lost AirPods to relay their location back to you. Apart from Bluetooth, however, the second-generation ‌AirPods Pro‌ Charging Case is also equipped with a U1 Ultra Wideband chip, and on iPhones that also have U1 chips, there's a Precision Finding feature that enables you to more accurately determine the distance and direction of your AirPods when they're in range, when compared to Bluetooth alone.

If you want to find lost ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 and you have an ‌iPhone 11‌ or later model, Precision Finding will direct you to the exact location of your AirPods using input from the camera, accelerometer, and gyroscope, with guidance provided through sound, haptics, and visual feedback. Here's how to use it.

1. If your AirPods are connected, open Settings and tap the AirPods tab just below your Apple ID, scroll down, then tap Show in Find My. If you've misplaced your AirPods earbuds along with the case, launch the Find My app and select your AirPods in the "Devices" list.
2. Tap Find. It should say "Nearby" underneath if the Precision Finding feature is available.
   
   

3. Now start moving around to locate your AirPods and follow the onscreen instructions. You should see an arrow pointing in the direction of the AirPods, an approximate distance telling you how far away they are, and a note if they're located on a different floor.

As you approach the AirPods, you'll feel haptic feedback from your phone and there will be audio cues to let you know that you're approaching an item. The AirPods graphic on the ‌‌iPhone‌‌ will also shift as you get nearer to it. Precision Finding exits when you've successfully located your AirPods and your ‌‌iPhone‌‌ is in very close proximity.

Note that Ultra Wideband isn't universally supported worldwide, therefore Precision Finding won't work in some countries. But bear in mind that the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 Charging Case comes with a built-in speaker, so you can also make it play a sound using ‌Find My‌ to more easily locate it.

Following last week's launch of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, this week's deals continued to focus on great discounts and promotions on the new Apple smartphones and their best accessories. You'll also find the first markdowns on the new Apple Watch SE and ongoing solid sales on iPad Pro and MacBook Pro.

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.

MagSafe Accessories

• What's the deal? Take 25% off MagSafe Chargers
• Where can I get it? Verizon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Verizon kicked off a big sale on MagSafe accessories and chargers to mark the launch of the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro, and these deals are still ongoing. You can get the MagSafe Charger for $29.99, down from $39.00. The MagSafe Duo Charger is down to $96.74, from $129.00; and the MagSafe Battery Pack is down to $74.24, from $99.00.

Verizon also has a few MagSafe Accessory Bundles on sale for 20 percent off, perfect for anyone looking to buy multiple MagSafe products at once.

iPhone 14

• What's the deal? Take up to $1,000 off iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro
• Where can I get it? AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

One week ago the new iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro launched, and launch day deals are still available at all the major carriers. This year's most popular promotion offers up to $1,000 off the iPhone 14 when you trade in your old smartphone and purchase the iPhone 14 on a qualifying installment plan offered from AT&T, Verizon, or T-Mobile.

Apple Watch SE (2022)

• What's the deal? Take $9 off new Apple Watch SE
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

This week, Amazon introduced the first discounts on the new Apple Watch SE, offering $9 off in select configurations. You can get the 44mm GPS model for $269.98, down from $279.00, and the 44mm Cellular model for $319.98, down from $329.00.

iPad Pro

• What's the deal? Take up to $199 off iPad Pro
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

In the face of the expected launch of new iPad Pro models next month, Amazon has begun clearing out 2021 models. One of the best deals is on the 256GB Wi-Fi model and it's on sale for $999.99, down from $1,199.00. You can find more tablets on sale in our article here.

MacBook Pro

• What's the deal? Take $399 off MacBook Pro
• Where can I get it? Amazon
• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

We've been tracking steep discounts on the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro for a few weeks, and things have stayed consistent as we entered fall this week. You can get a solid $399 off multiple configurations of the 2021 MacBook Pro on Amazon, with prices starting at $2,099.00 for the 1TB 14-inch model.

Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.

After a three-year wait, the second-generation AirPods Pro earbuds are finally here, arriving in the hands of customers as of today. We picked up a the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 and thought we'd check them out to give MacRumors readers an overview of all the new features.

Design wise, the ‌AirPods Pro‌ look almost identical to the original ‌AirPods Pro‌, but there are some changes with the charging case that you'll notice. It's got a little hole for a lanyard, but note that Apple isn't selling its own lanyard - you'll need a third party solution from a company like Incase.

The MagSafe Charging Case also has speakers at the bottom to play a sound when lost, and it integrates with the Find My app so you can find the case AND the AirPods individually. There's a U1 chip for Precision Finding too, in case it's lost close by and you need to track it down.

You can charge the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 with Lightning or with ‌MagSafe‌ chargers, and as a bonus, Apple even added support for the Apple Watch charger. So you can basically charge with whatever you've got lying around.

Apple redesigned the internals of the ‌AirPods Pro‌ and there's a new H2 chip and all new audio components. Fit is about the same and still just as comfortable, but you now have XS tips to choose from in addition to S, M, and L.

With the H2 chip, Apple says the ‌AirPods Pro‌ can cancel up to twice as much noise. It's not super noticeable right off the bat, but get into some noisy environments with heavy traffic, construction, or the hum of an airplane, and you'll hear an improvement.

Adaptive Transparency builds on the original Transparency Mode and is also enabled by the H2 chip. It cuts down on loud noises like sirens or power tools while leaving everything else around audible, and it works well. Apple has always had the edge on Transparency Mode compared to other earbud manufacturers, and that's still true.

Apple added a new driver and amplifier to the ‌AirPods Pro‌ for richer bass and clear sound even at high volume levels. We didn't notice a huge difference between the original ‌AirPods Pro‌ and the new model, but the sound is warmer, and there's definitely improved range at the low-end with more bass.

You can still use all the same button presses you used with the prior ‌AirPods Pro‌ for swapping songs, but Apple also added a touch control for adjusting volume without having to access your device, which is a useful addition.

Battery life is also improved with up to six hours of listening time and 30 hours total with the case. We haven't had time to do a lot of testing with battery life, but that's what Apple's estimates put it at thanks to the H2 chip.

So are these worth the upgrade? The answer is yes if your 2019 model is starting to show signs of issues with battery life or if you want to get access to improved ANC. ‌AirPods Pro‌ continue to be some of the best earbuds on the market and are worth picking up.

With new Apple Watch Ultra and Series 8 models now in the hands of customers, Apple has brought a host of smart new features to many people's wrists. But there's more to come.

Apple has a handful of additional features in store for Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra owners before the year's end, and some of them are watchOS 9 functions, which means they will even work on older Apple Watch models, too. Here's what we can expect.

1. Track Detection

Apple will soon introduce a new Track running experience that automatically detects when you arrive at a running track, and combines Apple Maps data with GPS to provide a more accurate route map – including an option to choose your lane – and more accurate pace and distance metrics. Apple says Track Detection is coming later this year to the United States via a software update for Apple Watch Series 4 and later models.

2. Race Route

A new Workout feature especially for runners, Race Route enables you to race against your best or last result on any frequently completed routes. The feature will also offer in-session pacing guidance to keep your progress competitive. Apple says Race Route is coming later this year to Apple Watch Series 4 and later.

3. International Roaming

For cellular Apple Watch models, Apple will soon be introducing support for international roaming. Apple says it has agreements with 30 carrier partners to support the feature, including Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile in the U.S., Three and O2 in the U.K., and international carriers including China Mobile, Movistar, and Softbank. Apple says international roaming will be available by the end of this year for Apple Watch Series 5 and later cellular models.

4. Family Setup – Home App Support

Coming to Family Setup is support for the Home app, which will allow a child to be invited as a member to control HomePod speakers and smart home accessories. As a result of the additional support, kids will also be able to use home keys and hotel keys in Apple Wallet.

The feature depends on Apple's new Home architecture, a separate update in the Home app, and will be available in a software update later this year. Note that sharing control of your home and receiving Home notifications require a home hub, and only Apple TV and ‌HomePod‌ are supported as home hubs in iOS 16.

5. Oceanic+ App (Apple Watch Ultra)

Developed by Apple in conjunction with third-party outfit Huish Outdoors, Oceanic+ is a built-in Dive computer specifically designed for Apple Watch Ultra models. As a free app on the App Store, Oceanic+ will include depth tracking (including depth alarms), GPS tracking, logbook (up to 12 dives), snorkeling, and more.

For more advanced diving options such as No Decompression Limit, users will be required to purchase an Oceanic+ subscription plan ($4.99/day, $9.99/month, or $79/year). Oceanic+ will be available on the ‌App Store‌ later this fall.

6. Low Power Mode (Apple Watch Ultra)

Apple Watch Ultra has the best battery life of any Apple Watch, capable of reaching up to 36 hours during normal use. However, Apple has a new low-power setting in the works that can extend battery life to reach up to 60 hours on a single charge.

Apple says this projected battery life is based on the following usage while in Low Power Mode and with workout settings enabled for fewer heart rate and GPS readings: 15 hours of workout, over 600 time checks, 35 minutes of app use, 3 minutes of talk, and 15 hours of sleep tracking, over the course of 60 hours. Apple says the low-power setting with reduced frequency of GPS and heart rate readings will be available later this fall.

With AirPods Pro 2, Apple has improved the Charging Case by adding a U1 chip for Precision Finding with Find My. This means there is a speaker built into the case that can emit a sound to help you locate it.

However, the speaker also plays an audible chime whenever you start charging the Charging Case. The sound plays whether you connect the case to power via Lightning or place it down on a charging pad. If you find this distracting, here's an easy way to turn it off.

1. Connect your ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 to your iPhone.
2. Launch the Settings app.
3. Tap the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 tab just under your Apple ID.
4. Scroll down and toggle off the switch next to Enable Charging Case Sounds.

That's all you need to do. Note that the setting will remain grayed out if the Charging Case is currently connected to power.

Apple plans to release new MacBook Pro models in the fourth quarter of 2022, according to supply chain publication DigiTimes. The report does not mention specific models, but it very likely refers to the next-generation 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pros given that the 13-inch model was already updated earlier this year.

There has been uncertainty surrounding the timing of new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models and whether they would be equipped with 5nm or 3nm chips, but it is looking increasingly likely that the notebooks will be released later this year with 5nm chips. Apple is expected to hold an October event focused on the Mac and iPad, so it would be fitting for the new MacBook Pro models to be announced then.

In August, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that MacBook Pro models with M2 Pro and M2 Max chips were "well into development and testing" at Apple. The notebooks will have very few new features beyond the faster chips, according to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, after receiving a major redesign in October 2021.

The latest design of the high-end MacBook Pro includes a flatter-edged chassis, a notch at the top of the display, revived ports like MagSafe and HDMI, and more. MacBooks typically go multiple generations between major hardware changes.

While they might remain 5nm, the M2 Pro and M2 Max chips are expected to be manufactured based on TSMC's newer 5nm process known as "N5P," so the new MacBook Pro models would still have performance and power efficiency improvements. However, a bigger bump in performance would come from the switch to 3nm chips in 2023 or later.

MacBook shipments have "remained relatively stable" compared to Intel-based Windows laptops, according to DigiTimes. The launch of the new MacBook Air with the M2 chip in July combined with the upcoming launch of new MacBook Pro models could result in Apple's notebook market share hitting a nearly five-year high in 2022, the report added.

The Apple Watch Series 8 and Apple Watch Ultra are now available to purchase, but if you aren't interested in these updates you can save a lot of money on Series 7 models right now on Amazon.

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

The best deals are on cellular models of the Apple Watch Series 7, starting with the 41mm cellular model for $379.00, down from $499.00. This is an all-time low price on the cellular Apple Watch Series 7, and it's only available in (PRODUCT)RED.

You can also get the 45mm cellular Apple Watch Series 7 at a discounted price of $400.00 in several colors, down from $529.00. This is another record low price on the Series 7, and Amazon has an estimated delivery date of September 25-28.

Comparatively, not many GPS models of the Series 7 are seeing notable discounts on Amazon this week. The best deal can be found on the 45mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7 for $369.99, down from $429.00. This is a second-best price on the wearable.

Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.

Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro are now in the hands of customers, and one notable new tidbit that has come to light is that the MagSafe Charging Case can broadcast its charging status to the iOS Battery widget even when the AirPods are in your ears.

With other AirPods models, including the first-generation AirPods Pro, users have to place the earbuds in the Charging Case to get a reading of the battery status of the case itself. With AirPods Pro 2, the Battery widget will now show you the status of both the Charging Case and the AirPods, regardless of whether the earbuds are in the case.

The AirPods Pro 2 case includes a built-in U1 chip that enables Find My with Precision Finding so that it can be exactly located. It seems likely therefore that the U1 chip is enabling the Charging Case to broadcast its battery status over high-frequency Ultra Wideband, rather than having to rely on a Bluetooth connection via the AirPods.

Priced at $249, AirPods Pro 2 are available to order from Apple's website and to pick up at Apple Stores. Are you a new owner of AirPods Pro 2? Let us know what your initial impressions are in the comments.

Apple Watch Ultra orders are beginning to arrive to customers around the world. For customers who forgot to pre-order an Apple Watch Ultra or simply decided to wait, many configurations are now estimated for delivery in 3-4 weeks, but the good news is that same-day or next-day pickup is now available at select Apple Store locations.

A quick spot check of Apple's online store reveals that many Apple Watch Ultra models with the Alpine Loop or Ocean Band are available for in-store pickup today in countries such as the U.S., Canada, and the U.K., but Trail Loop models are much harder to find. In-store availability will likely deplete quickly as the day goes on.

To order a product with Apple Store pickup, add the product to your bag on Apple.com or in the Apple Store app, proceed to checkout, select the "I'll pick it up" option, enter your ZIP or postal code, choose an available Apple Store location, select a pickup date, and select a 15-minute check-in window. Payment is completed online, and a valid government-issued photo ID and the order number may be required upon pickup.

A few Apple Watch Ultra models may also be available for walk-in customers at Apple Store locations with enough inventory, but your mileage may vary. Walk-in customers may be placed into a separate queue with lower priority upon arrival to the store.

The second-generation AirPods Pro are also available for Apple Store pickup starting today.

Popular climbing app Redpoint has been updated for Apple Watch Ultra, bringing Action Button support into the mix for all climbing disciplines.

As a fitness tracker for bouldering and climbing, Redpoint tracks climbing routes and altitudes using the barometric sensor in your Apple Watch or iPhone, generating an automatic logbook of your ascents.

The app comes with full Apple HealthKit integration so all climbing activity contributes to closing your rings, and the app supports a variety of grading scales for bouldering, top rope, sport climbing, trad climbing, via ferrata, deep water soloing (psicobloc), and aid climbing.

For Apple Watch Ultra, the Redpoint functionalities automatically assigned to the Action Button include starting a new climbing workout, logging the difficulty of a route, and logging the tick type of a route, allowing climbers to interact with the watch without getting climbing chalk on the screen.

Redpoint is a free app to download on the App Store and offers monthly ($4.99), three-month ($10.99), and one-year ($29.99) Redpoint Pro subscription plans via in-app purchases. Users can also purchase a Lifetime Unlock IAP for $139.99.

Apple on Friday launched the new Apple Watch Ultra, a larger, more advanced smartwatch aimed at athletes, explorers, swimmers, and extreme sports enthusiasts. The ‌Apple Watch Ultra‌ costs $799 and comes in a silver titanium casing and is available with three different bands including Trail, Alpine, and Ocean.

Strong sales of iPhone 14 Pro models could see Apple stabilize its market share for high-end handsets at 60%, if the enthusiastic consumer response continues through the year.

According to DigiTimes, so far this year Apple's market share for high-end handsets with unit prices of over $500 has reached 55% in off season and 60% in peak season, but ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro sales could see its peak season share become the norm if they maintain their current momentum.

Apple has reportedly asked its primary ‌iPhone‌ assembler Foxconn to shift some ‌iPhone‌ 14 production capacity to the Pro models to meet strong demand, while DigiTimes reports that component makers in Apple's supply chain have not received order cuts for any model, although they may have been told to slightly adjust the shipment ratios for different devices.

On Apple's website, the ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro and ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max in several configurations remain estimated to be shipped out in weeks. By contrast, ‌iPhone‌ 14 models have seen lukewarm sales, with the devices remaining available to order from Apple's website with no delay and readily available at stores.

The real indicator of demand for ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro will be the sales performance in the first month following the initial wave of pre-ordered models, according to ‌DigiTimes‌. Last year's ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro models were said to have registered "outstanding" long-tail sales after the first wave of pre-orders, signaling that Pro models have become mainstream upgrades for ‌iPhone‌ users thanks to their strong spec upgrades.

By contrast, the ‌iPhone‌ 14 features the same design and display as the ‌iPhone‌ 13, and is powered by the same chip as the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro, plus has newer camera features. Meanwhile the 6.7-inch ‌‌iPhone‌ 14‌ Plus is a larger version with a bigger battery, replacing the not-so-popular "mini" sizes from the ‌iPhone‌ 12 and 13 lineups.

Apple Watch Ultra comes with a built-in Night Mode that puts a red filter on the display. Keep reading to learn how to use it.

To optimize for evening conditions, Apple Watch Ultra features a ‌Night Mode‌ that turns the interface red and removes retina-altering blue light from the display to ease strain on your eyes in the dark.

On other Apple Watch models, if you look at your watch or accidentally tilt your wrist in the dark, it can impact your night vision. ‌Night Mode‌ on Apple Watch Ultra protects night vision, which can be crucial for explorers and astronomers.

Also it just looks cool in the dark. Here's how to turn it on.

1. Long press on your watch face to enter the watch face gallery.
2. If the Wayfinder or Modular Ultra watch face isn't already in your gallery, then add one of them to your collection by swiping all the way to the right and pressing the big + button. (These two faces are specially made for Apple Watch Ultra and feature the exclusive ‌Night Mode‌.)
3. In the watch face gallery, tap the Edit button on the Wayfinder or Modular Ultra face.
4. Swipe to the ‌Night Mode‌ option.
5. Turn the Digital Crown to choose from Auto, On, or Off. (If you set ‌Night Mode‌ to Auto, it will be activated in poor lighting conditions.)
6. Press the Digital Crown to return to the watch face.

Note that Night Mode only works when the Wayfinder or Modular Ultra watch face is being used – it's an exclusive feature for these two faces and cannot be enabled when any other watch face is displayed.

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 you can use.

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.

As such, it's pretty loud, so don't turn it on in enclosed environments or hold your watch close to your ears when the Siren is sounding.

How to Turn on Siren on Apple Watch Ultra

You can turn on the Siren using the Action button or the side button.

Using the Action Button:

1. Press and hold the Action button until the Siren slider appears.
2. Drag the Siren slider to start a countdown.
3. After the countdown, the Siren starts.

Alternatively, you can press and hold the Action button to start the countdown, then continue holding the Action button until Siren starts. If you don't want the Siren going off using this continual hold action, go to Settings -> Action Button, and switch off the toggle next to Hold to Turn On.

Using the Side Button

1. Press and hold the Side button until the Siren slider appears.
2. Drag the Siren slider to start a countdown.
3. After the countdown, the Siren starts.

How to Cancel the Siren on Apple Watch Ultra

You can cancel the Siren during the countdown. If you're holding the Action button, simply release it to cancel. If you initiated the countdown by dragging the Siren slider, cover the watch display with the palm of your hand for at least three seconds to cancel.

To cancel the Siren while it's sounding, simply tap the central Stop button in the Siren app.

How to Disable the Siren Action Button Function

If you're concerned about the possibility of accidentally activating the Siren via a long press of the Action button, you can disable the function. Here's how.

1. Launch the Settings app on your Apple Watch Ultra.
2. Tap Action Button.
3. Scroll down and under "Siren" toggle off the switch next to Hold to Turn On.

Once that's done, holding down the Action button won't activate the Siren. Note that you can still activate the Siren by way of the Action Button, but now you have to hold the button and then swipe across the Siren slider, making it much harder to unintentionally sound the alert.

All Apple Watch models running watchOS 7 or later include a Battery Health feature called Optimized Battery Charging that extends the total battery life of your Apple Watch by learning from your habits and waiting to finish charging all the way up until you need your ‌Apple Watch.

Apple Watch Ultra can last up to 36 hours on a single charge – the longest battery life of any Apple Watch – and to extend battery life even further, Apple Watch Ultra offers even more intelligent battery charge optimization with something called Optimized Charge Limit.

On by default when you set up your Apple Watch, Optimized Charge Limit use on-device machine learning to analyze your daily usage and determine when to charge to an optimized limit and when to allow a full charge. The feature changes dynamically depending on how you use your Apple Watch Ultra. For example, based on usage patterns, your watch might charge to 100% on some days, and less on others.

When Optimized Charge Limit is active, an open charge ring is displayed when you connect your Apple Watch Ultra to its charger. It's possible to charge your watch beyond the optimized limit by following the steps below.

How to Charge Apple Watch Ultra Beyond the Optimized Charge Limit

1. Make sure that your Apple Watch Ultra is connected to its charger.
2. Tap the watch display to wake the charging screen, then tap the circle with the green or yellow charging icon.
3. Tap Charge to Full Now.

How to Disable Optimized Charge Limit

If you want your Apple Watch Ultra to fully charge every time its placed on the charge, disable Optimized Battery Charging by following these simple steps.

1. Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch Ultra.
2. Scroll down and tap Battery.
3. Tap Battery Health.
4. Toggle off the switch next to Optimized Charge Limit.
5. Choose Turn Off Until Tomorrow or Turn Off.

Help Optimized Charging Identify Locations

Optimized charging is designed to activate only in locations where you spend the most time, such as your home and place of work. The feature doesn't turn on when your usage habits are more variable, such as when you travel.

To help your Apple Watch Ultra identify situations where Optimized Charge Limit shouldn't be used, turn on the following location settings in the Settings app on your Apple Watch Ultra:

• Privacy -> Location Services -> Location Services
• Privacy > Location Services > System Services > System Customization
• Privacy > Location Services > System Services > Significant Locations > Significant Locations

The location information for this feature remains on your watch and none of it is sent to Apple.

Apple Watch Ultra features a customizable Action button on the left side of the case that is capable of performing a variety of functions. This article explains what it can do, and how you can configure it.

Apart from activating the Siren, the Action Button on Apple Watch Ultra can be customized to perform a number of functions, offering quick access to them without you having to tap through various screens.

When you first set up your Apple Watch Ultra, you'll be invited to assign one of the following functions to it:

You can customize your selection further, depending on the app or function chosen. If you chose the Workout app, for example, pressing the Action button once will open the Workout app, but you can also assign the "First Press" function within the app to start a specific workout.

But that's not all. When you've started the activity, you can then press again to perform a secondary function, such as marking segments or laps in a track workout, or switching from cycling to running in a triathlon. Again though, what function this is will depend on the current activity.

How to Map Functions to the Action Button

Once your Apple Watch Ultra is set up, you can re-assign functions to the Action button via a new menu right on your wrist, like so.

1. On Apple Watch Ultra, launch the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Action Button.
3. Tap the menu under "Action" and select one of the following options: Workout, Stopwatch, Waypoint, Backtrack, Dive, Flashlight, and Shortcut.
   
   

4. Tap the arrow in the left-hand corner to go back to Action Button settings.
5. Tap the menu under "App" if it appears, then select an app to perform the action. Some actions, such as Flashlight, don't show the App option.
6. Tap the arrow to go back.
7. Tap the menu under "First Press" if it appears, then select an action. Some features allow different actions to happen on the first and second press of the button.

Tips appear on the screen under "Gestures" explaining how the Action button works with the settings that you've assigned to it. For example, tips for an outdoor walk show you that pressing the Action button once starts a workout, and pressing the Action button and the side button at the same time pauses the workout.

Configuring the Action Button via iPhone

You can also use the iOS Watch app to configure what the Action button on the Apple Watch Ultra does.

1. Launch the Watch app on your iPhone.
2. Tap the My Watch tab if it's not already selected.
3. Tap Action Button.
4. Under "Action," tap the currently selected action to change it.
5. Select from one of the following options: Workout, Stopwatch, Waypoint, Backtrack, Dive, Flashlight, and Shortcut.
6. Tap Action Button to go back to the previous menu.
7. Tap the menu under "App" if it appears, then select an app to perform the action. Some actions, such as Flashlight, don't show the App option.
8. Tap the arrow to go back.
9. Tap the menu under "First Press" if it appears, then select an action. Some features allow different actions to happen on the first and second press of the button.

Note that tips on the screen under "Gestures" explaining how the Action button works with the settings that you've assigned to it.

Note that if you want to pause the current action, you can press and hold both the Action and Side buttons at the same time. Try to avoid pressing the Side button or the Digital Crown accidentally when you press the Action button. Your Apple Watch will do whatever is assigned to the Action button if you happen to press another button at the same time, unless a button combination is configured.

The National Football League today announced a new partnership with Apple Music for the Super Bowl Halftime Show. The multi-year partnership will see ‌Apple Music‌ replacing Pepsi as the primary sponsor for the show, with ‌Apple Music‌ offering "exclusive details and sneak peeks" leading up to the shows.

"We are proud to welcome Apple Music to the NFL family as our new partner for the iconic Super Bowl Halftime Show," said Nana-Yaw Asamoah, SVP of Partner Strategy for the NFL.  "We couldn't think of a more appropriate partner for the world's most-watched musical performance than Apple Music, a service that entertains, inspires, and motivates millions of people around the world through the intersection of music and technology." [...]

"Music and sports hold a special place in our hearts, so we're very excited Apple Music will be part of music and football's biggest stage," said Oliver Schusser, Apple's vice president of Apple Music and Beats. "We're looking forward to even more epic performances next year and beyond with the Apple Music Super Bowl Halftime Show."

The NFL notes that over 120 million viewers watched the Super Bowl LVI Halftime Show in February, featuring Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, Mary J. Blige, and Kendrick Lamar.

Super Bowl LVII will be played on February 12, 2023, in Glendale, Arizona.