MacRumors

The iPhone 16 Pro succeeds 2023's iPhone 15 Pro, introducing over 45 new features and improvements to Apple's high-end smartphones. With many users adopting three-year upgrade cycles, plenty of iPhone 13 Pro owners will be looking to upgrade to the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌, so this guide outlines some of the major differences you should be aware of between the two generations.

iPhone 13 Pro vs 16 Pro Feature

The ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌ Pro debuted in 2021, introducing a brighter display with ProMotion technology for refresh rates up to 120Hz, the A15 Bionic chip, a telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, macro photography and photographic styles, Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field, ProRes video recording, a 1TB storage option, and up to five hours of additional battery life. Three years later, the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ offers a noticeable upgrade, with the accumulative improvements of three generations stacking up. To get a sense of the entirety of the changes, see our other three buyer's guides that set out every difference offered when making the jump from the ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro to the iPhone 14 Pro, the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro to the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, and the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro to the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌:

Overall, the ‌‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ is a significant upgrade over the ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌ Pro, introducing meaningful quality-of-life features like the always-on display, Dynamic Island, USB-C port, Action button, and Camera Control that change the methods of interaction with the device. The new lightweight titanium design with contoured edges, ‌Dynamic Island‌, and larger screens with slimmer borders result in a noticeably different aesthetic and feel in the hand.

The ‌iPhone 16‌ Pro also brings advancements to photography and videography, adding support for 24-megapixel high-resolution photos, Smart HDR 5, revamped Photographic Styles, Action Mode, and next-generation portraits – practical features that most users can take advantage of. There are substantial hardware improvements to all three rear cameras with the addition of a 48-megapixel Fusion main camera, 48-megapixel ultra wide camera, and a tetraprism telephoto camera, offering up to 5x optical zoom. Even the flash is upgraded with Apple's Adaptive True Tone technology. Features like 48-megapixel HEIF capture, external and log recording, Academy Color Encoding System, and fast data transfer via USB 3 are also major upgrades for professionals.

The ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro does not support Apple Intelligence, Apple's upcoming suite of AI tools. With the A18 Pro chip, the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ has full support for ‌Apple Intelligence‌, including Apple's new Visual Lookup feature, which is exclusive to the ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup. It is also worth noting that the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ offers considerably longer battery life, a brighter display, Roadside Assistance via satellite, faster charging, new color options, Wi-Fi 7 support, the second-generation ultra wideband chip, and more.

Due to the scale and breadth of these improvements, many ‌‌iPhone‌ 13‌ Pro users can justify upgrading to the ‌‌iPhone 16‌‌ Pro, especially if they value the new design, USB-C port, Action button, and camera improvements. Some users may still be able to stick with their current device for one more year to hold off for an even more substantial upgrade in the future, but it is probably time to start thinking about an upgrade.

Related Roundup: iPhone 16 Pro
Related Forum: iPhone

Update: Apple told MacRumors that Open Web Advocacy's allegation that Apple is misleading the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) is inaccurate. Apple says it told the CMA that the design of the identified browser setting was changed in a recent software update. The design was apparently never intended to discourage users from setting third-party browsers as the default.


Apple faces allegations of misleading the UK's Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) over a user interface issue in iOS related to changing the default browser, Open Web Advocacy reports.

apple ios app store safari changes
Earlier this year, reports surfaced accusing Apple of implementing a deceptive design practice in iOS that made it more difficult for users to switch their default browser if Safari was already set as the default. The issue was initially highlighted in March 2024 and was independently verified by multiple sources, including Ars Technica and the CMA. Specifically, the design hid the option to change the default browser when Safari was set as the default, while other browsers like Chrome and Firefox continued to display the option regardless of whether they were the default or not. This behavior was eventually addressed in an iOS update.

Now, in a formal response to the CMA, Apple has denied that this issue ever existed. The company responded to the regulator's inquiry on August 1, 2024, stating that the allegations regarding the hidden option to change the default browser were incorrect. The response read, "This is not correct. The default browser app setting in the Safari tab is clearly visible when the user has set Safari as the default." The statement effectively denies that the behavior reported by the CMA and others had ever been present in iOS, despite the availability of screenshots, videos, and other forms of evidence supporting the claims from media outlets and industry experts.

Apple has not provided an explanation for how its claim in the August response aligns with these findings, leaving open the question of whether the company's internal processes failed to verify the accuracy of its statements or whether it is actively attempting to minimize the situation. The matter could have legal implications. Under UK law, providing false or misleading information to a regulatory body such as the CMA can be considered a criminal offense. The CMA has the authority to request documentation, internal communications, and other records to verify claims made by companies under investigation. If it is determined that Apple provided false or incomplete information, the company could face penalties, including fines.

Samsung is getting ready to kick off a new Discover Samsung sale soon, and today the company has a few early access discounts available to customers. The popular Smart Monitor M80D is being discounted during this sale, but you'll also find sales on storage, audio, TVs, smartphones, and wearable tech.

samsung smart monitor m80d newNote: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

Samsung has its new 32-inch Smart Monitor M80D on sale today for $549.99, down from $699.99, which is a second-best price on the monitor. The display retains key features of the previous model, like USB-C charging connectivity, AirPlay 2 support, an integrated webcam, and several smart TV features that enable it to be used when not connected to a PC.

In terms of new features, the M80D includes a Multi Control feature that allows images and text to be moved between the display and a Galaxy Book, Tablet, or Phone. You can also pair Galaxy Buds to the monitor for a spatial audio experience with head tracking, as well as guided workouts when paired with a Galaxy Watch.

Monitors

TVs

Galaxy Products

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

Related Roundup: Apple Deals

Apple released the AirTag in April 2021, and the item tracking accessory has not received any hardware updates since then.

airtag purple
Below, we recap rumors about when the second-generation AirTag is expected to be released, as well as potential new features and changes.

Timing

In a report today outlining his expectations for Apple's upcoming iPhone 16 event, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman briefly mentioned that Apple is developing a new AirTag, but he does not expect the accessory to be released until 2025:

A fresh AirTag is also in development, though Apple isn't planning a release until next year either.

He did not provide any additional details about the next AirTag in the report.

In October 2023, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said mass production of the second-generation AirTag had been postponed from the fourth quarter of 2024 until some point in 2025, but he did not provide a reason for the apparent change in plans. Kuo and Gurman are thus in agreement that a new AirTag is not coming until next year.

Features

Gurman previously said the new AirTag would feature an upgraded chip with improved location tracking. If so, the AirTag could be updated with the second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that debuted in all iPhone 15 models last year.

Kuo believes the new AirTag will have some kind of integration with Apple's Vision Pro headset, but he has not shared any specific details.

No design changes have been rumored for the AirTag so far. Read our AirTag 2 guide for more.

The upcoming iPhone 16 Pro models will be able to record 4K video at up to 120 FPS, according to "reliable sources" cited in a 9to5Mac report today. For comparison, all four iPhone 15 models are capable of 4K video recording at up to 60 FPS.

iPhone 16 Cameras Feature 1
The report adds that Apple has allegedly tested 8K video recording on the iPhone 16 Pro models, but it is unclear if this capability will be enabled. Since an 8K image is around 33 megapixels, the rumored 48-megapixel Main and Ultra Wide cameras on the iPhone 16 Pro models would be capable of 8K video recording, but the 12-megapixel Telephoto camera would not be. With the iPhone 17 Pro Max rumored to gain a 48-megapixel Telephoto camera next year, the report said 8K video recording might debut on that device instead.

In addition, the report said the iPhone's built-in Camera app will finally allow you to pause and resume a singular video recording.

Many other details mentioned in the report have already been rumored by other sources, including support for a new JPEG-XL image format, the Capture/Camera button supporting third-party apps, and both iPhone 16 Pro models supporting the 5x optical zoom functionality that debuted on the iPhone 15 Pro Max last year.

Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 16 series during its special event on Monday.

Related Roundup: iPhone 16 Pro
Tag: 9to5Mac

Apple's next-generation iPhone 16 series is expected to launch on September 20 and will compete in a quickly evolving smartphone market, and with some notable upgrades rumored, the new models could see price changes compared to previous years.

iPhone 16 Pro Mock Article
Successive iPhone models always come with new features and hardware upgrades, but Apple typically does not increase the retail prices as a result. However, that could change this year due to an increasingly competitive smartphone market, potential supply chain disruptions, and other global economic challenges.

Last year saw a record high for the total cost of an ‌iPhone‌'s components, and could be a harbinger of things to come. According to one report, last year's iPhone 15 models cost more to produce than the previous iPhone 14. For example, ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max is believed to cost Apple $558 to produce, a 12% increase over the ‌‌iPhone 14‌‌ Pro Max model released in 2022.

The other models in the ‌‌iPhone 15‌‌ lineup were also subject to cost increases. The standard ‌‌iPhone 15‌‌'s components totaled $423, a 16% increase compared to the ‌‌iPhone 14‌‌. The ‌‌iPhone 15‌‌ Plus is calculated at $442, a 10% increase over its predecessor, while the ‌‌iPhone 15‌ Pro‌ grew by 8% to $523.

Despite the increased costs, Apple did not increase the retail prices of any of its ‌‌iPhone‌‌ 15 models last year. However, Tokyo-based research company Fomalhaut Techno Solutions believes that Apple's bottom line will be impacted if the company continues to absorb the impact of increased production costs. That could see Apple choose to hike the retail prices of this year's ‌iPhone 16‌ series.

Speculation about a price hike is also due to a bump in hardware components required to support Apple intelligence. Apple is expected to increase the RAM in the standard ‌iPhone 16‌ models to 8GB, up from 6GB in the previous versions.

On the other hand, Apple will be wary of hiking prices in the face of the increased cost of living, as well as recent market challenges in Asia that have seen falling sales. For example, ‌iPhone 15‌ resellers in China have become increasingly dependent on promotional discounts to move stock, indicating Apple's latest ‌iPhone‌ generation is struggling to achieve the same popularity as previous models in China. Additionally, the design of the ‌iPhone 16‌ is not expected to change significantly, making it even harder to justify a price increase.

Apple is also mass producing iPhone 16 Pro models in India for the first time as it looks to diversify production beyond China, which could potentially result in cost savings. According to a report by The Economic Times, the ‌iPhone‌ maker is anticipated to reduce production expenses by 10% through manufacturing Pro models in India. However, despite these savings, consumers may not see lower prices, as taxes and component costs could well keep retail prices steady.

iPhone 15 vs 16 Feature Yellow Pink 2
We don't know with complete certainty what prices Apple will set for its next-generation ‌iPhone‌ models. But it's worth noting that if the starting price of the standard ‌iPhone 16‌ model remains unchanged ($799), it will have the same starting price as the ‌iPhone‌ 12, which was released in 2020. That said, Apple could remove certain configuration options so that customers are essentially forced to pay more, as it did with the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max last year.

Prior to the ‌iPhone 15‌ release, speculation circulated that the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max might have a higher starting price of $1,199, up from the ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max's $1,099 base price. This prediction proved partially correct, but for a different reason than expected. Apple didn't raise the price outright – instead, it removed the lowest storage option of 128GB for the Pro Max model. As a result, the ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max now starts at 256GB of storage, priced at $1,199 – the same amount Apple previously charged for the 256GB ‌iPhone 14‌ Pro Max. So while the price-per-gigabyte remained consistent with the previous generation, the entry price increased.

Apple could adopt the same strategy for the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌. According to a new TrendForce report, this time Apple is expected to offer both the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max with a minimum of 256GB storage, doing away with the 128GB starting option on its smaller Pro model for the first time.

Apple will debut the new ‌iPhone‌ series on Monday, September 9 at a special event, dubbed "It's Glowtime." For all the details of what we can expect from the four new ‌iPhone 16‌ models, be sure to check out our dedicated iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro roundups.

Related Roundups: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro

New versions of the AirPods Max and Apple TV may not debut at Apple's upcoming "It's Glowtime" event, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today suggested.

Airpods Max Feature Blue
In a report detailing some final expectations for the September 9 Apple event, Gurman said that the company is still working on a new version of the ‌AirPods Max‌ with new color options and a USB-C port instead of Lightning. This product refresh has been rumored for some time, but with plenty of ‌AirPods Max‌ inventory still in stock, Gurman suggested that the new model may not arrive until later.

Likewise, Apple has apparently been working on an updated ‌Apple TV‌ that was originally supposed to launch earlier this year. With no sign of the new model and stable inventory of the current model, Gurman says that "a new version isn't on the immediate horizon."

The new ‌AirPods Max‌ are not expected to feature the H2 chip introduced in September 2022 or features like Adaptive Audio. Gurman previously said that the changes are expected to be so minor that the refreshed device will still be considered to be first-generation ‌AirPods Max‌.

Whenever it comes out, the next ‌Apple TV‌ is rumored to feature a faster processor than the current A15 Bionic chip, and even lower pricing. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that the next ‌Apple TV‌ could have a sub-$100 starting price

Related Roundups: AirPods Max, Apple TV

Apple is "shaking up its color palette" for its iPhone 16 lineup this year, according to well-connected Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman.

sonny iphone 16 pro colorsEarly iPhone 16 Pro dummy models via Sonny Dickson

According to Gurman, the ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ models will come in a Gold Titanium to replace Blue Titanium, while the Black, White, and Natural Titanium options that debuted with the iPhone 15 Pro will remain unchanged.

Previous rumors and leaks were apparently accurate about the Pro model colorways, although the Gold Titanium version was previously described as "bronze-like" with a "Desert Titanium" naming convention. Gurman recently said the Gold color "looks impressive and not terrible like the early renders."

Meanwhile, the ‌iPhone 16‌ and ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus will reportedly come in these colors: White (replacing yellow) and new shades of green, pink, and blue. Gurman does not mention a black option, but it's possible it could be available in essentially the same shade as the ‌iPhone 15‌'s black.

Apple will debut the new ‌iPhone 16‌ lineup at its upcoming "It's Glowtime" event, which is scheduled to begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday, September 9.

Related Roundups: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro

The Apple Watch Series 10 will include a new sleep apnea detection feature, but it may not be available as soon as the new model launches, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

apple watch series 9 display
Sleep apnea detection, which builds on the watch's existing sleep tracking, will attempt to determine if a wearer has sleep apnea and then suggest further testing with a medical professional.

Gurman had expressed doubt about the feature's inclusion in the 2024 Apple Watch model, previously reporting that Apple's efforts hadn't gone smoothly and that it had "run into some serious snags."

The sleep apnea detection feature was said to be in trouble because it relies on blood oxygen saturation, which Apple Watches in the United States cannot currently measure due to an ongoing legal dispute with Masimo.

Gurman previously suggested that the dispute with Masimo could be resolved by September, or Apple could find a way around it by arguing that the blood oxygen sensor could be used for purposes that are not directly related to blood oxygen levels. Either way, the Apple Watch Series 10 model will eventually feature sleep apnea detection, perhaps via a later software update.

Meanwhile, the new hypertension detection (high blood pressure) feature Apple appears to have been working on has been insufficiently reliable during testing, suggesting the feature is being delayed and "no longer on the cards for an immediate release," according to Gurman.

The overall design of the Apple Watch Series 10 is said to be similar to the Apple Watch Series 9, but Apple has given them slightly larger screen-size options and the watch case itself is said to be noticeably thinner. Apple is expected to unveil the new models alongside the iPhone 16 at its September 9 event.

Related Roundup: Apple Watch 10
Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch (Buy Now)

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman today shared his final expectations for Apple's "It's Glowtime" event, providing some new tidbits and clarifications about the new devices set to be announced on Monday.

its glowtime event youtube

iPhone 16 Pro

  • Along with larger 6.3- and 6.9-inch display sizes, the iPhone 16 Pro and ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max will have bezels that are "now about a third slimmer" for a "sleeker overall look."
  • The new models will feature faster chips with an improved Neural Engine that Apple will say is optimized for artificial intelligence.
  • The new "Capture" button coming to both models will be the biggest selling point for the new devices beyond AI features. It will work like a DSLR camera's shutter button, with the ability to press it lightly to focus on a subject and press harder to capture a picture. Swiping across the button will switch between photo and video camera modes, as well as zoom in and out.

AirPods

  • Apple is preparing to announce the ability for AirPods to work as a hearing aid replacement, as well as a device for conducting hearing tests. The company has experienced delays with developing the new functionality and it may not be available until a later date.
  • Gurman added that Apple apparently discovered a bug on the upcoming, fourth-generation AirPods that resulted in draining battery life. The issue was software-related and fixed prior to factories shipping the new devices.

Apple Watch

  • Apple's "It's Glowtime" event will be the first time that Apple updates all three Apple Watch lines simultaneously.
  • The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will only offer minor improvements that focus on internal upgrades rather than exterior changes.
  • The Apple Watch Series 10 will feature the first design update for the device since the Series 7, offering larger display size options and a "noticeably thinner" casing.
  • While the Apple Watch is not expected to get "major" Apple Intelligence capabilities, any AI technology debuting on the new devices will likely be tied specifically to a "future health coach service."
  • Despite plans to bring hypertension detection to the new Apple Watches this year, Gurman now believes that the feature has been delayed.

Gurman added that new Mac and iPad models are likely to appear at a follow-up event, no earlier than October, rather than at the September event. The next-generation iPhone SE and a new version of the AirTag are also scheduled for release next year. See the full report for more information.

Related Forums: AirPods, Apple Watch

Apple has approved an update to WeChat for the upcoming iPhone 16, signaling a potential thaw in relations between the tech giant and Tencent, the Chinese company behind the massively popular messaging app. The development, reported by Bloomberg, comes as Tencent and Apple continue negotiations over revenue-sharing agreements for WeChat's mini-games ecosystem.

wechat logo
The approval of the WeChat update for Apple's upcoming iPhone lineup is likely to quell speculation about a deteriorating relationship between the two companies, and suggests Apple is committed to maintaining WeChat's presence on its devices, given the app's critical importance in the Chinese market.

Tencent's chief strategy officer, James Mitchell, revealed during an earnings call that the company is in talks with Apple regarding a revenue-sharing deal. The negotiations center around allowing Tencent to accept payments in WeChat mini-games through Apple's payment system, potentially resolving a long-standing point of contention.

With nearly 1.4 billion users in China, WeChat serves as a ubiquitous platform for various services, including bill payments and ticket bookings. While many of these transactions are exempt from Apple's fees, in-app content and online entertainment, such as mini-games, remain subject to Apple's App Store policies.

The rise of mini-games within WeChat has led to developers seeking ways to monetize their creations by selling in-game items. Some have resorted to "steering" practices, guiding players to make payments outside of Apple's ecosystem to avoid fees and improve their profit margins. Apple has been pushing Tencent to close these loopholes, viewing them as violations of its ‌App Store‌ policies.

Apple has also warned ByteDance, the company behind TikTok, about in-app spending policies. However, these aggressive actions reportedly risk alienating content creators in a crucial market at a time when Apple's business practices are under increased global scrutiny.

Unlike in the US, Apple holds a smaller market share in China, failing to make the top five in smartphone sales last quarter. Meanwhile, Chinese companies like Tencent and ByteDance maintain significant control over online content, including games and video platforms. Apple's challenges in the Chinese market were underscored by a 6.5% decline in Greater China revenue for the June quarter.

Note: Due to the political or social nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Political News forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.

Tags: China, WeChat

Apple is expected to offer both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max with a minimum of 256GB storage, doing away with the 128GB starting option on its smaller Pro model for the first time, according to a new TrendForce report.

iPhone 16 Pro Right Side Feature
Currently, Apple's 6.1-inch iPhone 15 Pro starts at $999 and comes with the minimum 128GB of storage, while the 6.7-inch iPhone 15 Pro Max starts at $1,199 with a minimum 256GB of storage. Ahead of the launch of the iPhone 15 models, there were rumors that the ‌iPhone 15 Pro‌ Max could start at $1,199, instead of the $1,099 starting price it charged for the iPhone 14 Pro Max.

That did turn out to be accurate, but only because Apple eliminated the lower priced 128GB storage tier. The iPhone 15 Pro Max now starts at 256GB, and $1,199 is the same price Apple charged for the 256GB iPhone 14 Pro Max. Looking ahead to the upcoming iPhone 16 series, TrendForce believes Apple will follow the same strategy for the iPhone 16 Pro model.

TrendForce bases its prediction on the assumption that the iPhone 16 Pro will include a costly tetraprism periscope lens – a feature that was last year exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max model. In other words, upping the minimum capacity to 256GB will allow Apple to pass over the cost to the consumer while diluting the impression of rising prices.

TrendForce notes that even if the price remains at the same level, consumers' usage habits, such as shooting and storing a large number of high-definition photos and videos, and downloading music and large-scale games, will continue to push up the demand for the average storage capacity.

In 2018, Apple's iPhone X came with 64GB, an entry-level storage tier that persisted in successive premium device generations until the iPhone 12 Pro in 2020, when Apple adopted 128GB as the new baseline. The next year saw all iPhone 13 models offered with a minimum 128GB. If Apple makes 256GB the new minimum across its premium devices this year, we could well see it reach all models in 2025.

This year's iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are rumored to be getting bigger display sizes, increasing to 6.27- and 6.86-inches, respectively. For comparison, the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max are equipped with 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch displays, respectively. The new display sizes will be the largest ever for the iPhone, and should also increase the physical space for internal components and parts.

Apple will unveil the new iPhone 16 lineup next week on Monday, September 9 at an event with the tagline "It's Glowtime," which is believed to be a reference the new Siri interface that comes with Apple Intelligence.

Related Roundup: iPhone 16 Pro

Ugreen today announced the launch of several new Apple-specific charging products that have a robot-style design with emoji faces. The Uno series includes a Qi2 charger, a wireless power bank, and a 100W USB-C charger.

ugreen uno series
According to Ugreen, the chargers were created with "Fast and Fun Charging" for Apple users in mind. Each one has a TFT screen that can display different emoji faces when charging.

The 10,000 mAh Ugreen Uno Magnetic Wireless Power Bank has a Qi2 wireless charger that can charge a compatible iPhone at up to 15W. There's also a 20W two-way USB-C port for charging, and a foldable metal stand.

ugreen uno power bank
The Ugreen Uno 2-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charger is also Qi2, and it is able to charge the ‌iPhone‌ at up to 15W and AirPods at up to 5W. It has an upright magnetic charging puck with an adjustable viewing angle. There's also a 5W USB-C charger that an Apple Watch charger can be plugged into for Apple Watch fast charging.

ugreen 2 in 1 charger
The Ugreen Uno Charger 100W can be used to charge a 16-inch MacBook Pro to 43 percent in 30 minutes. It has a total of three USB-C ports and a single USB-A port, with power distributed between the different ports when multiple devices are plugged in.

ugreen uno usb c charger
Ugreen is also working on a 30W 10,000 mAh power bank and a 6-in-1 USB-C hub for the Uno series. The products will be available later this year.

Google today said it has started rolling out early access to a new "Ask Photos" feature for its Google Photos app. Available to both iOS and Android users, the new Google ‌Photos‌ feature takes advantage of Google's Gemini AI to provide new ways to search.

google photos ask photos
With Ask ‌Photos‌, users can use natural language search terms to find specific memories or information in their images. Google says that Google ‌Photos‌ users can ask all sorts of questions to find content from their image libraries, with the feature able to search through all of a person's Google ‌Photos‌ images to bring up relevant results. Some examples:

  • What are the best photos from each national park I visited?
  • Where did I camp last year?
  • When do my tickets expire?
  • What were the best things we saw on our trip?
  • What did I eat at the hotel in [location]?
  • What did I eat at the market in Thailand?
  • What are the best photos from the birthday party?
  • What themes have we had for family birthday parties?

Ask ‌Photos‌ is able to understand the context and subject of photos to provide answers to questions. With the last question listed above, for example, Ask ‌Photos‌ can see what decorations are in the background of an image or on a birthday cake to answer the query.

The feature can be used to curate the best images taken on a trip, saving editing time. It can also provide trip highlights, and suggest top pictures complete with captions to share on social media.

Google says that personal data in Google ‌Photos‌ isn't used for ads, but some queries will be reviewed by humans to improve the feature. Data will not be linked to a Google Account for privacy protection purposes. Answers provided by Ask ‌Photos‌, including photos and videos, are not reviewed by humans unless feedback is provided or in rare cases to address abuse or harm.

Ask ‌Photos‌ was already previewed at Google I/O, but it has now started rolling out, with Google providing early access to select iOS and Android Google ‌Photos‌ users. Those who want to try the feature can sign up for the waitlist on Google's website.

Over two and a half years have passed since Apple released the current iPhone SE, so the device is due for an update. Below, we recap the latest rumors about the next-generation iPhone SE, including potential features and launch timing.

iPhone SE 4 Thumb 1

Timing

The latest word comes from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his Power On newsletter last month, he said he expects the next iPhone SE to launch in the spring of 2025. All three existing iPhone SE models were announced in March over the years, so it seems likely that the fourth-generation model will also be introduced in March next year.

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and the technology publication The Information also previously claimed that the next iPhone SE will launch in the first quarter of 2025, so that timeframe has been corroborated by multiple sources. The Information said that Apple suppliers would begin ramping up mass production of the device in October.

Features

The current iPhone SE starts at $429 in the U.S. with 64GB of storage and 4GB of RAM. The device's key features include a 4.7-inch LCD display, A15 Bionic chip, Touch ID, 5G support with a Qualcomm chip, a single 12-megapixel rear camera, and a Lightning port.

The next iPhone SE is rumored to have an iPhone 14-like design with the following features:

  • 6.1-inch OLED display
  • A18 chip
  • Face ID
  • USB-C port
  • Action button
  • Apple-designed 5G chip
  • A single 48-megapixel rear camera
  • 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence

Gurman believes the next iPhone SE will likely be priced in the $400 to $500 range, so the device would remain a lower-cost option in Apple's smartphone lineup, despite gaining a larger display and a more modern set of features.

Update — September 2024:

Japanese publication Nikkei Asia has since also reported that the iPhone SE 4 with an OLED display will be released in 2025.

Related Roundup: iPhone SE
Buyer's Guide: iPhone SE (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPhone

Belkin today introduced a number of new charging accessories, joining companies that are moving forward with the new Qi2 standard.

belkin foldable magnetic charger
The $45 BoostCharge Magnetic Foldable Charger has a fold-down stand and supports 15W charging on MagSafe-compatible iPhones. The position is customizable, and an iPhone can be charged in portrait or landscape for StandBy functionality. A second model priced at $70 also includes a second charger for AirPods. The 2-in-1 version is available now, while the standalone model will be launching later this month.

The $99 BoostCharge 3-in-1 Magnetic Foldable Charger has a Qi2 charging pad for the ‌iPhone‌, an Apple Watch Charger, and an AirPods Charger. It can be used as a pad or folded into a stand, and it is available as of today.

Belkin's BoostCharge Pro Magnetic Wireless Travel Pad is priced at $119 for a 2-in-1 model that can charge the ‌iPhone‌ and Apple Watch, or $129 for a version that also includes an AirPods charger. The Qi2 charger for the ‌iPhone‌ can be used as a charging pad or folded into a stand. The Travel Pad is set to launch in autumn 2024.

belkin wireless travel pad
Belkin also debuted two new BoostCharge Power Banks, including a $40 10K mAh model with integrated USB-C cable and a $90 20K mAh version for laptops. The laptop power bank is available today, while the version with integrated cable is coming in autumn 2024.

belkin power bank
The new products that are available now can be purchased from the Belkin website.

Apple has announced that it will be opening a new retail store at the Mall of Scandinavia near Stockholm, Sweden on Friday, September 20, and that day may end up being the release date for the upcoming iPhone 16 series.

Apple Mall of Scandinavia
Apple is expected to announce four new iPhone 16 models during its special event on Monday, September 9. Given that new iPhones typically launch in stores and begin arriving to customers on the second Friday after they are announced by Apple, the iPhone 16 series is expected to be released on Friday, September 20. If so, the new Apple Store in Sweden would be holding its grand opening on the same day.

Apple permanently closed its store at the Väla Centrum shopping mall near Helsingborg, Sweden in July, but the new store at the Mall of Scandinavia means that Apple will still operate three stores in the country following its grand opening.

Apple has shared special iPhone, iPad, and Mac wallpapers for the store's opening on its website.

Related Roundups: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro

Well-known accessory maker Twelve South has introduced the first-ever USB-C wall chargers with built-in support for Apple's Find My app.

Twelve South PlugBug Find My Large
If you ever misplace these chargers, you can simply open the Find My app on your iPhone, iPad, or Mac and track the location of them. The chargers do not need to be plugged in to an outlet for Find My functionality to work, as they are powered by a replaceable button-cell battery, just like Apple's AirTag. Twelve South says the battery should last about a year, and the battery's charge level can be monitored in the Find My app.

The chargers are now available to pre-order in two-port 50W and four-port 120W variants, with U.S. pricing set at $69.99 and $119.99, respectively. Twelve South estimates that shipments to customers will begin in mid-September.


Both chargers use a material called gallium nitride (GaN) that allows for a slimmer design, allowing them to fit behind couches and in other tight spaces. The 50W version is ideal for charging small and medium devices like an iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch, while the 120W charger is ideal for a MacBook and other larger devices.