Engadget is a web magazine with obsessive daily coverage of everything new in gadgets and consumer electronics

In a break from tradition, GoPro hasn't announced a new Hero Black camera this fall. Instead, this year's flagship is the much-rumored Max 2 360 camera ($500). The Max 2 lands at a time when spherical video is having a mini renaissance, taking on Insta360's X5 ($550) and DJI's Osmo 360 ($550). Perhaps surprisingly, GoPro's Max 2 is the most affordable of the three, suggesting that the company might be looking to gain ground on its rivals and, hopefully, make the creatively warped world of 360-degree video more accessible. With a mix of pro features like Timecode, GP-Log (with LUTs) alongside mobile-focused editing, GoPro clearly hopes the Max 2 will appeal to demanding and casual users alike. The company has also focused heavily on improving the user experience rather than going for pure technological advances and after a week or so of testing, that feels like a sensible move. Design and features The Max 2 brings a decent resolution bump from its 5.6K predecessor, offering full 8K with 10-bit color. This puts it on par with the DJI Osmo 360 and Insta360 X5, but GoPro claims that Max 2 is the only one of the three with true" 8K. That's to say it doesn't count unusable pixels on the sensor or those that are used in overlapping for stitching the footage from the two lenses together. GoPro goes as far to say that this results in somewhere between 16- and 23-percent higher resolution than its rivals. You can now shoot 360 video at 8K/30 fps, 5.6K/60 fps and good ol' 4K at 90 fps in 360 mode. When you shoot in single-lens mode (aka, non-360 mode), the max resolution available is 4K60, up from 1.4K/30 on the original Max. But pure resolution isn't the only quality gain this time around, the Max 2 now joins its Hero siblings with 10-bit color and a top bit rate of 120Mbps, which can be increased to 300Mbps via GoPro's experimental Labs firmware. Other hardware updates include a gentle redesign that matches the current Hero and Hero 13 cameras with heat-sink style grooves over the front face and centrally-placed lenses (rather than in a left-right configuration as before). The physical size and shape of the Max 2 otherwise matches the OG Max. There is one new, and much appreciated change, though. With the Max 2, the lenses twist off for easy replacement. As there's a lens on both sides, it's always going to land butter-side down" when dropped. The probability of scuffing or breaking one is therefore much higher, but with Max 2, replacing them is a trivial matter and a solid quality of life improvement. The Insta360 X5 has replaceable lenses too, but DJI's Osmo 360 requires sending the camera to the company for a refresh. As for audio, the six-mic array is directional, with sound focusing on where the action is taking place. As with the Hero 12 and 13 Black, you can also connect AirPods or a Bluetooth microphone (such as DJI's Mic 3) to the GoPro directly for narration or extra-clear shrieks of fear. There's no doubt this makes the Max 2 more appealing to vloggers and social creators. There's no onboard storage here, which is true for all GoPro cameras, but worth mentioning now as DJI's Osmo 360 ships with 105GB of storage. Given the amount of times I've headed out with my camera only to find I left the memory card in my PC, I'd really love to see GoPro make it a standard addition to its cameras too. Video and photo James Trew for Engadget After years of testing action cameras, I've learned that while some models excel in one area or terrain, they can struggle in others. I live near a huge park with a variety of colors, trees and pockets of water, which makes it a perfect testing ground. The Max 2 fares well across the board, with vibrant, natural colors and generally balanced exposure. You'll notice transitions in the exposure as you move from direct sunlight to shadow, but that's fairly typical. When you review and reframe your footage, you'll instantly be reminded you're working with a 360 camera. The minute you drag your finger over a video to rotate it or zoom out for that drone-like floating" footage, you'll also introduce some warping. Sometimes it's a bit frustrating trying to find the right balance of warp and pleasant framing, other times it actually makes for a good effect. If you zoom out fully, for example, you'll end up with one of those tiny planet" videos. It's also worth talking about stitch lines. Where the two lenses overlap, you'll sometimes notice where the video is being stitched together, often via some slight wobbling or a break in a street markings and so on. Again, it's a fact of life with current 360 photography, and you will notice it with the Max 2 from time to time. Conversely, 360 video allows for extremely good stabilization, especially in single lens mode. I tried recording myself with a long selfie stick, precariously perched on my bike's handlebars (not locked in with a mount) and despite the camera moving like a fish on land as I rode over uneven ground and potholes, the footage still came out impressively smooth. In friendlier conditions - such as walking with the camera - footage is even smoother and immediately ready for sharing. New additions this year include 8K timewarps and a new (for Max) HyperView" which is a 180-degree ultrawide FOV that just uses everything the sensor captures for extra immersive footage. As with HyperView on the Hero cameras, it's a little extreme with lots of warping but it feels like you're being sucked into the image, perfect for point of view footage. Which brings us to the aforementioned Selfie Mode and POV mode; both are more about removing friction than adding any new creative tools. As you don't need to have a 360 camera facing you while shooting a selfie, the video isn't always oriented with you in frame when you open it in Quik. With Selfie/POV mode, it will load up framed correctly, so you can go right into sharing your clip. Think of it as a hybrid between 360 and single-lens mode. You will still capture everything in 360, and can move the shot around to show different things, but if your POV or your face talking to camera are the main focus, you don't need to do any reframing to get there. The camera also applies the optimal stabilization, reducing the amount of editing needed to get from camera to export. The first Max would always open videos from the front camera point of view regardless, leaving you to dig around for what you actually wanted to focus on. Photography with a 360 camera is both simple and complicated at the same time. On the one hand, you don't need to worry whether you're in shot, as you're going to capture everything, but likewise you're going to want to make sure you catch the right moment or the best angle. A new Burst mode alleviates some of that concern by taking a bunch of photos for a set period of time (one to six seconds). giving you the ability to strike a few poses or make sure you catch the best shot if the subject is moving. You can then edit and reframe in Quik as with any other media. GoPro Quik editing James Trew for Engadget Unlike a regular camera, with 360 video you can't avoid at least some editing. At minimum, you'll need to confirm framing for exporting to a flat (dewarped) video. That said, editing is where all the fun is. Being able to shoot one video and make it dynamic with panning and zooming is one of the major benefits of this type of camera. Quik is where you'll be doing most of this, and unlike DJI, which is a relative newcomer to the category, GoPro has a few years' headstart on the app side of things. The result is an editing experience that's intuitive that strikes a good balance between creative possibility and ease of use. For a simple punch out video where you set the framing and zoom amount and then export, it's just a few button clicks before you have a video you can share. You can of course go back and re-edit and export in another aspect ratio if, say, you want an Instagram Reel in portrait alongside a regular 16:9/widescreen version for YouTube. Quik also includes some filters that may or may not be to your taste. Much more useful are the preset effects, including a variety of spins, rolls and pans that are clearly aimed at action footage, but can be used creatively for any type of video. You can also track an object automatically via AI. It's perfect for keeping your kid or pet in the shot while they run around with one click and an easy way to make your video dynamic. Overall, editing in Quik feels like a solid pipeline for posting to social media, but it is still a bit cumbersome for anything longer. Desktop editing options are Adobe Premier and After Effects via the GoPro Reframe plugin. The company also recently announced a beta plugin for Davinci Resolve. Battery life The Max 2 ships with a 1,960mAh Enduro" battery, which is designed to last longer even in extreme cold. GoPro claims that it should last all day" but that of course depends what you're doing with it. When I took the camera out for a day of filming, visiting different locations and pulling the camera out when I found something interesting, the battery lasted for the whole six-hour excursion. That's not actual recording time, obviously, and I maybe grabbed about 30 minutes of actual footage. But that's me walking around with the camera on, or in standby, and hitting record sporadically over that period. In fact, there was still about 15-percent battery left when I went to export my footage the next day. That's more of a real world test with me connecting the camera to the phone and transferring files, which will yield less recording time than if you just set the camera down and press record. This is about on par with what I've experienced with regular GoPros that can usually record for about an hour and a half in a set and record" scenario. Wrap-up James Trew for Engadget A reasonable amount of time has passed between the Max 1 and Max 2, so if you were hoping for a top-to-bottom spec overhaul, you might be a little disappointed. But with 360 video, source resolution is the main upgrade and Max 2 can output 4K/60 video, which is by far the most important thing. That improved resolution has filtered down into all the important timelapse and video modes, and that makes the camera feel current and mostly complete. I do think it's about time that GoPros have onboard storage, at least as an option, as that removes a really simple pain point. The fact that DJI is doing it might well give GoPro the nudge it needs. A lot of what sets the Max 2 apart from DJI will be in the editing experience. It's simple and well thought out, with some useful tools and effects that make getting footage into something you want to share pretty straightforward. Although DJI's onboard storage and higher maximum frame rate will be tempting for many. Insta360's app is generally considered easy to use, too, so with the X5, GoPro's advantage is the price (at least for now). What really sets these cameras apart, are the videos you end up sharing, and in that regard GoPro's bet on true 8K" and the app experience might just be enough.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/gopro-max-2-review-theres-a-new-360-camera-contender-in-town-130058942.html?src=rss

Google might have found a way Gemini could be useful while you're playing games on your phone. The company is introducing a new software overlay today it calls the Play Games Sidekick that gives you access to Gemini Live while you play, alongside a host of other gaming-focused updates to Google Play that could make the app platform a better home for gamers.Sidekick exists as a small, moveable tab in games downloaded from the Play Store that you can slide over to show relevant info and tools for whatever game you're playing. By default, that's things like easy access to a screenshot button, screen recording tools and a shortcut for going live on YouTube, but you'll see achievements and other game stats in there, too.GoogleGoogle is clearly most interested in how Sidekick could serve as a delivery system for Gemini, though, so AI plays a large role in how Sidekick actually helps you while you play. That includes offering a curated selection of game tips that you can swipe through, and a big button that you can press that starts Gemini Live. Based on a demo Google ran for press, Gemini Live does seem like it could be a competent guide for navigating games. It was able to offer strategies for how to best start a game of The Battle of Polytopia and told game-specific jokes that were only funny in how awkward they were. Since Gemini can accept screen sharing as an input, it was also able to offer its guidance without a lot of context from the Google project manager running the demo. Referring to in-game items as "this" or "that" was enough to get Gemini to understand.Gemini in Sidekick won't really replace a detailed game guide written by a human, but for a quick answer it's easier than Googling. It's also similar in many ways to Microsoft's Gaming Copilot, which also places a live AI in games with you. For now, Google is taking a restrained approach to rolling out Play Games Sidekick and its AI features. You don't have to interact with the overlay at all if you don't want to (you can even dismiss it to the notification shade) and Gemini-powered features will only be available "in select games over the coming months." That includes games from "hero partners EA and NetMarble," according to Google,like "Star Wars Galaxy of Heroes, FC Mobile and Solo Leveling Arise."GoogleBeyond the Sidekick, Google views its updates to Google Play Games as a way to unify what's a pretty siloed-off gaming experience on mobile. Each game has its own profile, achievements and in-game stats, and few of them connect to each other. In an attempt to fix that, Google is introducing a "platform-level gaming profile" that tracks stats and achievements across Android and PC, and even supports AI-generated profile pictures. Like other gaming platforms, you can follow your friends and see what games they're enjoying. Google will also host forums for games available in the Play Store where you can ask questions about a game and get answers from other players.All of these tweaks come with major caveats in that they require players to use them and developers to enable them, but they do suggest Google is trying to take games seriously after bungling more ambitious projects like Stadia. And not just on Android: As part of this rollout, the PC version of Google Play Games is coming out of beta, putting the company in even more direct competition with the Steams of the world.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/google-is-turning-gemini-into-a-gaming-sidekick-with-a-new-android-overlay-130052048.html?src=rss

Along with its new 360 Pro 2 Max camera, GoPro has introduced the Lit Hero - a new compact action cam that looks like its entry-level Hero with a built-in LED light. That, along with improved image quality and a price that falls between the Hero and high-end Hero 13 models, could make it a popular option for creators and vloggers. The GoPro Lit has a similar form factor to the Hero but differs in a few key ways. The built-in light opens up creative options particularly for vloggers, as it can help illuminate your face in somber lighting or shadows. That could make it useful not only for regular vlogging, but as a "B" cam for action creators who want better lighting on their faces. In a further nod to those creators, it now has the record button up front, though the lack of a front display may make it a tough sell for some. GoPro Another key improvement over the Hero is with video quality. The Hero Lit can capture 4K video at up to 60 fps instead of 30 fps before, opening up a 2x slow-mo option at the highest resolution. And like the Hero (following an update) the Hero Lit can capture 4:3 video that makes it easier to create vertical video for social media while offering cropping options for regular 16:9 shots. You can also shoot social-ready 12MP 4:3 photos. Otherwise, the Lit's feature list lines up closely with the Hero. It's waterproof down to 16 feet (5m) for underwater action and rugged enough for extreme sports. It uses the same Enduro battery that promises over 100 minutes of 4K 60p video on a charge, though not with the LED lights turned on I imagine. It's now on pre-order for $270 on GoPro.com, with shipping set to start on October 21. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/gopros-lit-hero-is-an-entry-level-action-cam-with-a-built-in-light-130035003.html?src=rss

Google is announcing several updates to Google Play in an attempt to shift the app store from "a place to download apps" to "an experience." Many of the changes are powered by AI, and most seem like a preemptive attempt to keep the Play Store attractive for users now that it seems increasingly possible Google will be forced to open up Android to third-party app stores.The most visible update Google is introducing to Google Play is a new tab. It's called the "You Tab" and it acts like a combination of a profile page and a For You tab, specifically for app store content. You can access Google's universal game profiles from the tab - part of larger gaming-focused updates Google is bringing to Google Play - along with app recommendations and content recommendations from streaming apps available through the Play Store. The tab seems relatively easy to ignore if you just want to download apps, but Google thinks users could turn to it as a curation tool and a way to take advantage of deals.Google.The company is also expanding the ways you can find apps. New regional sections will collect apps and content based on specific interests or seasonal topics. Google has tried a "Cricket Hub" in India and a Comics section in Japan, and now it's bringing an Entertainment section to Korea that will collect short-form video apps, webcomics and streaming services into a single home. Interestingly, Google is making content from these apps available to sample directly in Google Play, and not just in Korea. You'll be able to read webcomics and watch short-form K-dramas directly in Google Play, without having to download an additional app in the US, too.When you're looking for something in particular, a new "Guided Search" feature will let you search for a goal (for example, "buy a house") and receive results that are organized into specific categories by Gemini. Those Gemini-based improvements will also extend to individual app pages, where Google continues to expand the availability of its "Ask Play" feature. Ask Play lets you ask questions about an app and receive AI-generated responses, a bit like the Rufus AI chatbot Amazon includes in its store pages.Google's Play Store updates start rolling out this week in countries where the company's Play Points program is available, like the US, the UK, Japan and Korea. They'll come to "additional countries" on October 1, according to Google.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/google-play-is-getting-ai-sorted-search-results-a-you-tab-and-short-form-k-dramas-130005402.html?src=rss

Palworld is getting as spinoff that looks both cozy and terrifying - oh, and filled with characters that look exactly like Pokemon. In Palworld: Palfarm, you move to the Palpagos Islands and create a farm alongside Pals. These creatures help with farm work, cook and can even become friends.According to an announcement on Steam, "Through daily conversations, working together, or giving gifts from time to time, you can gradually deepen your relationships with both the Pals and the people of the island." Pocketpair, the developer behind both games, adds that they might even play matchmaker - a brand new trailer shows Pals officiating at a human wedding. Notably, the game also supports multiplayer.However, the game certainly seems to have an air of darkness. For starters, there's this note in the description: "...Is one of your Pals slacking off? Time to teach them the joy of working." Ominous, to say the least. Then there's "nasty Pals," who will try to raid your farm and must be beaten in combat.Darkest of all is a black market that sells guns, among other suspicious items. What you would need a gun for in this game is something you can choose to find out, but it certainly seems like the Palpagos Islands are a mixed bag of a place.Palworld: Palfarm doesn't have a set release date yet, but you can watch the full trailer now.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/palworld-palfarm-might-be-the-creepiest-farming-game-ever-123049220.html?src=rss

8Bitdo may have already launched its Pro 3 controller, but that doesn't mean you should dismiss older models. The Pro 2 has been one of our favorites for a long time, and right now Prime members can get the Bluetooth controller bundled with a travel case for only $40. That's $20 off and a 34-percent discount. This controller does, indeed, work with the Nintendo Switch 2, and the only caveat is that the sale price is only available to Prime members. Despite launching in 2021, the Pro 2 was still our choice for best PlayStation-style mobile gaming controller this year. It works well with Android and iOS systems and has extensive customization options when you use your phone. Plus, the design is comfortable to hold and available in multiple colors. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/prime-members-can-get-8bitdos-pro-2-controller-with-travel-case-for-only-40-115247955.html?src=rss

DJI might be an innovative company, but it has been playing catch-up to rival Insta360 in the action cam world. A perfect example of that is its latest product, the Osmo Nano ($299). It follows a path Insta360 paved with its tiny Go Ultra and Go 3S, which let you separate the cam from the display to shoot with the least weight possible. Like those, the Nano's tiny camera can be detached from the screen and easily worn to record activities ranging from extreme watersports to cat cam videos. The Osmo Nano isn't quite a copy-paste of its rival, though. Rather than inserting the camera into the flip up screen housing like the Go Ultra, the Nano's screen magnetically clips to the bottom of the camera so you can point it forward to capture action or backward for vlogging. While it still lags behind its rival in some areas, DJI's Osmo Nano is a solid first attempt at a mini-sized camera thanks to its excellent video quality. A small size designed for daily activities With its lightweight detachable camera that can be clipped to your head or worn on your body like a pendant, the Nano can be used in everyday activities like hiking or swimming - with the latter possible thanks to its 33 foot (10 meter) underwater rating. It's also small enough to be attached to kids and pets to create a visual journal of their activities. At the same time, when attached to the Vision Dock that houses the screen, the Nano functions like a normal action camera. With that in mind, size is key. The Osmo Nano camera is built from lightweight translucent plastic and weighs just 1.83 ounces (52 grams) by itself. That's about the same as the Insta360 Go Ultra but a touch heavier than the Go 3S. Its capsule-like shape is similar to the Go 3S (but a bit bigger), while the Go Ultra is more rounded. All of that is to say that the Nano is incredibly small and light compared to a GoPro Hero 13 or DJI's Action 5 Pro - I barely felt it when using the new headband accessory They attach together in two ways, with the screen facing either forward or backward, using DJI's magnetic mount that it's used for a few years now. Together they weigh 4.37 ounces, still less than a regular action camera. The Vision Dock can wirelessly control the camera without being connected, to a distance of 33 feet. The mount also allows the Nano to connect to DJI's family of accessories, including a new hat clip and lanyard. Steve Dent for Engadget During my testing, the camera and module were easy to connect in either direction thanks to the magnets and latches. To switch from vlogging to the front view, though, you need to detach and reconnect the Vision Dock. Insta360's system is better, as it just takes a flip of the X5's screen to change modes. The difference in camera module sizes can be explained by the sensors. Where the Go 3S has a small 1/2.3-inch sensor, both the Nano and Go Ultra have larger 1/1.3-inch sensors that take up more space but work better in low light. As for optics, the Nano uses an ultra wide angle lens with a 143-degree field of view, giving you the ability to switch between ultra wide and dewarped (square) video. The Go Ultra is slightly wider at 156 degrees, while the Go 3S's FOV is 125 degrees. I found the Nano's field of view to be an ideal compromise between the two. Controls and features The only physical control on the Nano is the record/power button, with the Vision Dock holding everything else. DJI's typical screen swiping and tapping actions are used to select things like voice control and screen brightness, along with video resolution, frame rate, RockSteady stabilization and D-LogM capture. Once you get used to swiping and tapping on such a small display, these menus are responsive and let you change settings quickly. However, the navigation isn't particularly intuitive so settings require some time to learn. As with other recent DJI products, the Osmo Nano has generous built-in memory, with 64GB (transfers at 400 MB/s) and 128GB (at 600 MB/s) options. Note that those speeds don't affect video quality; they're only the rates at which you can transfer footage to your PC. This internal memory is convenient as it means you don't need to dig around for a microSD card and it makes offloading faster. That said, it's nice to have a microsSD slot as well - the Go Ultra only has a microSD storage option, and the Go 3S only has internal memory. Each module has its own non-removable battery with 530mAh and 1,300mAh capacities for the camera and Vision Dock respectively. Those allow operating times of up to 90 minutes for the camera alone, or 200 minutes when paired with the screen module, according to DJI. In comparison, Insta360's Go Ultra camera can run for 70 minutes or a maximum of 200 minutes when docked to the display. Steve Dent for Engadget Note that those specs only apply when recording in 1080p at 24p. When shooting with the Nano at a more typical setting of 4K 60p, I found that battery life was less than half that, around 35 minutes for the camera alone. However, that rose to 49 minutes when using DJI's endurance mode, with RockSteady stabilization enabled but Wi-Fi turned off. I also noticed that when I shot in 4K at 50p or higher with the camera alone, it shut down after 20 minutes of continuous recording due to overheating. The Nano's camera has no USB-C input so it must be connected to the docking station for charging. However, the docking station alone can fast charge the Nano camera to an 80 percent battery in 20 minutes. It takes about 20 minutes to charge both devices together to 80 percent, and 60 minutes for a full charge - 20 minutes more than the Go Ultra. Other key features include voice and gesture control (tapping or nodding) to start recording, timelapse and Pre-Rec to save footage taken just before the record button is pressed. Insta360's Go 3S does have a couple of features not found on the Nano, namely Find Me for iPhone if it's lost and Dolby Vision HDR support. The Nano can also be controlled using the DJI Mimo smartphone app, though the Vision Dock's remote control makes that unnecessary most of the time. That app also lets you edit video, but Insta360's Studio app is superior for that thanks to its more complete editing toolkit and Shot Lab AI module that lets you do some neat effects with little-to-no work required. DJI is definitely well behind its rival in this area. Video and image quality A big selling point of the DJI Nano is that it produces high-quality video with faster frame rates than rival cameras. You can capture 4K at up to 60 fps, or 120 fps in slow motion mode, compared to just 4K 30 fps for the Go 3s. It also supports full sensor 4:3 4K video at up to 50 fps. The Go Ultra maxes out at 60 fps at 16:9 4K and 30 fps at 4:3 4K. Thanks to the big 1/1.3-inch sensor, video is bright and sharp straight out of the camera when shooting in daylight. DJI has improved the color performance compared to its older products, with hues that are more natural. Where sharpening was overly aggressive on models like the Action 5 (which makes video look artificial) DJI has toned that down on the Osmo Nano. And if you don't like the default application, you can change it in the settings. Like the Action 5 Pro, the Nano can shoot video with 10-bits of color in both D-LogM and regular modes. The latter gives users extra dynamic range without having to mess with tricky log settings. My preference is still to shoot D-LogM then apply DJI's LUT in post. That yields more natural colors and gives you up to 13.5 stops of dynamic range in challenging lighting conditions, like tree-lined trails on a sunny day. The larger sensor also makes the Osmo Nano superior to the Go 3S and about equal to the Insta360's Go Ultra in low light. When I shot nighttime cityscapes and in indoor bars, it delivered clean video with relatively low noise. For even lower light situations, both the Nano and Go Ultra have night shooting modes called SuperNight and PureVideo, respectively. Both work well if you don't move the camera too fast, due to the fact that they combine multiple frames into one. If I moved the camera too rapidly, it caused motion blur and other issues. The Insta360 Go Ultra is slightly better in this regard. DJI's RockSteady 3.0 reduces camera shake in normal daylight shooting conditions, though it's not quite up to GoPro's canny smoothing algorithms. When I tested it while walking, stabilization fell apart a bit in night shooting due to the lower shutter speeds, with noticeable blur and pixelization over sharp jolts and bumps. To avoid that, it's best to boost the ISO level and shutter speed manually. The company's HorizonBalancing, meanwhile, reliably corrects tilting up to 30 degrees to keep video level. As with DJI's other recent action cams, the Osmo Nano connects to the company's Mic 2, Mic 3 and Mic Mini via its proprietary OsmoAudio direct connection. That offers higher quality and a more reliable connection than Bluetooth, while allowing you to use two mics at the same time for interviews or multiperson action scenarios. The Nano also has dual built-in microphones for stereo recording, but in my testing, the tinny audio was only good enough for ambient sounds and not voices. Wrap-up Steve Dent for Engadget It's interesting to watch DJI try to catch up to another company for a change. With the Nano, it leaned on its camera experience and mostly matches or beats its main rival in terms of video quality. However, the company is still lagging behind in a few areas, particularly its editing app - something that's important for many creators. DJI seems to be aware of that and priced the Nano much cheaper than rivals. The Nano costs $299 (279 and 239 in Europe) for the 64GB combo and $329 for the 128GB combo (309/259), both of which include the Vision Dock, magnetic hat clip, magnetic lanyard, protective case, high-speed charging cable and dual-direction magnetic ball-joint adapter mount. That compares to 429 for the Insta360 Go Ultra, which has no built-in memory and includes fewer accessories, and 400 for the Go 3S with 128GB of internal storage. Update September 23, 2025 at 8:50AM ET: The review has been updated to reflect US availability.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cameras/dji-osmo-nano-review-high-quality-video-in-a-truly-tiny-action-cam-120040319.html?src=rss

After the proclamation of a TikTok ban, which fizzled out, during President Trump's first term, the idea of a TikTok lockout across the US was back on the table when he returned for a second presidency.Now, after too much will-they-won't-they, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said a TikTok deal is expected to be signed in the coming days." This follows President Donald Trump posting an update on Friday that did little to clarify what the deal actually is.Trump said both that the two had made progress" on approval of the TikTok Deal" and that he appreciate[s] the TikTok approval." Trump also told reporters in the Oval Office he approved the TikTok deal," according to Reuters.During an appearance on Fox News' Saturday in America" the following day, Leavitt added the deal would mean that TikTok will be majority owned by Americans in the United States." She added: Now that deal just needs to be signed, and the president's team is working with their Chinese counterparts to do just that."The proposed terms reportedly include a brand new app for TikTok's US users, which will continue to use ByteDance's technology for its algorithm, US investor control and a multibillion-dollar payday for the Trump administration. But several days later, nothing is yet official.- Mat SmithGet Engadget's newsletter delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The news you might have missed

Bang & Olufsen has launched a new pair of earbuds that could cost more than your phone or your laptop. The Beo Grace, as the model is called, will set you back $1,500, 1000 or 1200, depending on where you are. It has a silver aluminum casing with a pearl finish, which you can protect with a bespoke leather pouch, though the accessory will cost you an additional $400. The company says Beo Grace was "inspired by the elegance of fine jewelry," with aluminum stems reimagined from its iconic A8 earphones. Bang & Olufsen's A8 had stems made of metal, as well, but they transition into ear hooks that enable a more and secure and snug fit.The earphones, the audio manufacturer explains, were "inspired by the acoustic principles" of the $2,200 Beoplay H100 headphones. Beo Grace has Spatial Audio and is optimized for Dolby Atmos, with an Adaptive Active Noise Cancellation technology that's "four times more effective" than the manufacturer's previous best earbuds. Specifically, its ANC tech is powered by six studio-grade microphones and can adjust itself in real time, based on the ambient noise. The model comes with tactile controls, so that every press to pause, play or skip is "crisp, deliberate and satisfying," but you will be able to adjust the volume by simple tapping. When it comes to battery life, the Beo Grace can last up to 4.5 hours of listening with ANC, and up to 17 hours with the charging case.Beo Grace is now available for pre-order from the Bang & Olufsen website and will be widely available on November 17. The model comes with a three-year warranty, so you at least know that the company will fix your $1,500 earbuds if they break in the near future.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/bang--olufsens-beo-grace-earbuds-will-cost-you-1500-103012904.html?src=rss

Whether you're shopping for a budget-friendly laptop for school or a sleek machine for everyday productivity, the best Chromebooks can offer surprising functionality for the price. Chromebooks have come a long way from their early days as web-only devices. Now, many Chromebook models feature powerful processors, premium displays and even touchscreen support, making them a compelling alternative to a regular laptop for plenty of users.

Facebook Dating has added two new AI tools, because clearly a large language model is what the search for love and companionship has been missing all this time. The social media platform introduced a chatbot called dating assistant that can help find prospective dates based on a user's interests. In the blog post announcing the features, the example Meta provided was "Find me a Brooklyn girl in tech." The chatbot can also "provide dating ideas or help you level up your profile." Dating assistant will start a gradual rollout to the Matches tab for users in the US and Canada. And surely everyone will use it in a mature, responsible, not-at-all-creepy fashion.The other AI addition is Meet Cute, which uses a "personalized matching algorithm" to deliver a surprise candidate that it determines you might like. There's no explanation in the blog post about how Meta's algorithm will be assessing potential dates. If you don't want to see who Meta's AI thinks would be a compatible match each week, you can opt out of Meet Cute at any time. Both these features are aimed at combatting "swipe fatigue," so if you're 1) using Facebook, 2) using Facebook Dating, and 3) are really that tired of swiping, maybe this is the solution you need.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/facebook-adds-an-ai-assistant-to-its-dating-app-225754544.html?src=rss

Steam's seasonal sales are usually the peak moments to add new software to your library, but right now, Valve is offering a notable hardware discount. The Steam Deck starter model is currently on sale for 20 percent off its usual $399 price tag. That means you can snag yourself the gaming handheld with an LCD screen and 256GB of storage for $319. Steam hasn't set an end date for this offer, so it might be worth acting quickly if you want to get in on this particular sale. The Steam Deck is still the go-to for most PC gamers who want a handheld. Its balance of power, portability and price have kept it one of our top recommendations, even three years after the product's debut. But keep in mind before you add this to your cart that this iteration does have a few limitations compared to the higher end Steam Decks. The LCD screen doesn't have the true blacks of the OLED option, and serious players may run up against the storage limits of this model pretty quickly. But if you've been curious about a Steam Deck and aren't looking to have a full library of big AAA downloads available all at once, this is a good time to pick up one of your own. Besides, with the $80 you'll save, you can also grab a copy of current indie darlings Hollow Knight: Silksong and Hades II and still have money leftover. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-lcd-steam-deck-is-20-percent-off-right-now-215238765.html?src=rss

EventVPN, a new freemium VPN built by the same team and on the same infrastructure as ExpressVPN, launched on September 18 for iOS and macOS. It comes with unlimited free bandwidth, a relative rarity among free VPNs, and carries over ExpressVPN's kill switch and post-quantum WireGuard protocol. Free users get 35 server locations and one device connection, while paid users get 125 locations and eight simultaneous connections. EventVPN isn't the first free VPN that actually aims to ensure user privacy - the free version of Proton VPN is also safe, as are a few others on our best VPN list, like hide.me and Windscribe. However, ExpressVPN isn't wrong that free VPNs often don't have their users' interests at heart. The EventVPN announcement left me with one big question: what's it doing to be safer, more private and/or better than other free options? The most interesting feature of EventVPN - and one I can't currently find duplicated on any other free VPN - is that it has no user data backend whatsoever. It uses Apple ID validation to manage accounts and connection tokens without storing any information itself. This doesn't move the security needle much (Apple isn't immune to data leaks either), but it does make it theoretically impossible for EventVPN to sell user information. Of course, a clear privacy policy that EventVPN sticks to would accomplish the same thing. But just like with RAM-only servers automatically deleting user activity logs, it's always nice to have an option other than trusting the VPN provider to keep its word. And to be fair, ExpressVPN has a clear privacy policy that it sticks to, so there's good reason to believe EventVPN will do the same for its own policy. There is one unfortunate cost to that relative privacy, though: EventVPN's free plan requires you to watch ads. When I briefly tested it, I was shown one 30-second ad whenever I connected and another when I disconnected. It's galling to be asked to watch ads for a service that also has a paid tier ($9.99 per month, or $69.99 for a year), since I've already named three other equally good freemium VPNs that don't show ads at all. At least EventVPN anonymizes the ads, showing advertisers a masked identifier instead of any real info on you. To sum up, EventVPN is a lot better than free VPNs that turn you into the product, but its ads put it a step behind ProtonVPN, hide.me, Windscribe and even TunnelBear. If ExpressVPN has always worked far better for you than any other provider, it might be worth using EventVPN as a backup free service. Otherwise, there are better options. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/heres-how-eventvpn-is-different-from-other-free-vpns-213014671.html?src=rss

Perplexity has introduced a new feature dubbed Email Assistant. With this resource, users can direct an AI chatbot to execute basic email tasks such as scheduling meetings, organizing and prioritizing emails, and drafting replies. At launch, Gmail and Outlook are the only supported email clients.Email assistant is only available to members of the company's pricey Max plan, which costs $200 a month. Perplexity added this upscale subscription option in July. Once an Max user has signed up for the feature, they can write to Perplexity's assistant email address to access its capabilities. Although the company emphasized that the AI assistant does not train on a user's emails, it does adopt their writing style when drafting replies. The feature is available starting today.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/perplexity-launches-an-ai-email-assistant-for-max-subscribers-195212382.html?src=rss

Stellantis - the parent of several auto brands including Dodge, Ram and Chrysler - said customers' personal information was included in a data breach. The automaker said in a statement that "contact information" was procured, but not "financial or sensitive personal" data, as that is not stored on the third-party platform that was breached."We recently detected unauthorized access to a third-party service provider's platform that supports our North American customer service operations," Stellantis said. "Upon discovery, we immediately activated our incident response protocols, initiated a comprehensive investigation and took prompt action to contain and mitigate the situation. We are also notifying the appropriate authorities and directly informing affected customers." The company encouraged customers to be on guard against phishing and social engineering attacks, and to be careful about sharing personal information with anyone who contacts them unexpectedly.Stellantis has not disclosed what types of contact information were involved in the breach, how many customers were affected or whether it's offering them privacy or credit protection services. A spokesperson told Engadget the automaker is "not providing any additional information beyond our statement."Bleeping Computer says a group called ShinyHunters claimed credit for the breach. The group told the publication it obtained more than 18 million records, containing contact details and names, from Stellantis' Salesforce instance. ShinyHunters has reportedly stolen data from other Salesforce clients over the last several months, including Google, Qantas, Adidas and LVMH.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/stellantis-confirms-data-breach-involving-customers-contact-information-194136744.html?src=rss

Which iPhone should I buy?" It's a question you may have heard many times over the years. Much of the time, the answer is simple: Get the best one you can afford. And if you're happy with your current iPhone, there's no need to make a change at all. But if you're ready to upgrade, allow us to help. We've reviewed just about every iPhone ever made, including all five models Apple has released in 2025. Below, we've broken down which ones may best suit your needs.

TikTok has been tagging videos from war-ravaged Gaza with product recommendations, as reported by The Verge. The publication detailed a scenario in which footage of a Palestinian woman walking amidst rubble presented TikTok shop recommendations that matched what she wore in the video.The algorithm suggested products with names like "Dubai Middle East Turkish Elegant Lace-Up Dress" and "Women's Solid Color Knot Front Long Sleeve Dress." The original footage showed the woman searching for lost family members.TikTok/The VergeThis is thanks to a new addition to the TikTok app that uses AI to identify objects in posts. When a user pauses a video, the shop will automatically recommend products that resemble those objects. Today's reporting indicates that the company didn't give much forethought as to which types of videos this technology should be applied to.The new tool isn't available to everyone just yet, as it's rolling out on a limited basis. To check if your app has been updated, simply pause a video and look for the "Find Similar" pop-up. We reached out to TikTok to ask about how this technology is being used and will update this post when we hear back.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/tiktok-is-tagging-videos-from-gaza-with-product-recommendations-184206127.html?src=rss

SpaceX's lunar lander has run into a snag and may not be ready for a mission to the moon that was scheduled for 2027, according to a report by Space News. The company's Starship Human Landing System (HLS) is a variant of the typical Starship spacecraft that has been designed to transport astronauts between lunar orbit and the surface of the moon.The HLS schedule is significantly challenged and, in our estimation, could be years late for a 2027 Artemis 3 moon landing," said NASA safety analyst Paul Hill following a visit to SpaceX's Starbase facility.The underlying issue seems to be regarding cryogenic propellant transfer, as the SpaceX team has yet to figure out a way to refuel Starship in low Earth orbit before it heads to the moon. This will be the first version of the vehicle capable of such transfers and the work has been slowed down by ongoing engine redesigns.There's no timetable as to when the team will get this sorted. SpaceX president Gwynne Shotwell recently expressed hope that the project won't be "as hard as some of my engineers think it could be."This delay has caused some to speculate that it could give China the upper-hand when it comes to manned lunar missions. The country has developed its own lunar vehicle called Lanyue that could land on the surface by 2030.Also, this isn't the first time the Elon Musk-owned SpaceX has missed deadlines regarding a return to the moon. The company said in 2023 that it would attempt in-orbit refueling by early 2025. That didn't happen. Musk said earlier this month that SpaceX will "demonstrate fuel reusability next year" which also isn't happening.The Artemis 2 launch, however, is still on track for early 2026. This mission will send four astronauts around the moon, but not onto the surface. It has been over 50 years since the US put boots on the lunar surface. The last manned mission to the moon was in 1972.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/spacexs-lunar-lander-could-be-years-late-for-a-planned-2027-mission-to-the-moon-180001024.html?src=rss

NVIDIA will invest up to $100 billion in OpenAI as the ChatGPT maker sets out to build at least 10 gigawatts of AI data centers using NVIDIA chips and systems. The strategic partnership announced today is gargantuan in scale. The 10-gigawatt buildout will require millions of NVIDIA GPUs to run OpenAI's next-generation models. NVIDIA's investment will be doled out progressively as each gigawatt comes online.The first phase of this plan is expected to come online in the second half of 2026, and will be built on NVIDIA's Vera Rubin platform, which NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang promised will be a "big, big, huge step up," over the current-gen Blackwell chips.NVIDIA and OpenAI have pushed each other for a decade, from the first DGX supercomputer to the breakthrough of ChatGPT," said Jensen Huang in a press release announcing the letter of the intent for the partnership. Compute infrastructure will be the basis for the economy of the future, and we will utilize what we're building with NVIDIA to both create new AI breakthroughs and empower people and businesses with them at scale," said Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI.

Gemini is officially available on Google TVs, now that the TCL QM9K series TVs are out in stores. At the moment, they're the only television models that feature Google's AI assistant, but Gemini will be available on more devices later this year. Google says it will make its way to the Google TV Streamer, Walmart's onn 4K Pro streaming device, certain Hisense TV models and more TCL TVs. The company also intends to add more Gemini capabilities for televisions in the future.Google introduced Gemini integration for TVs when it presented an early look at new software and hardware upgrades coming to the product category at CES in January. If you've ever used a Google-powered streaming device or television, you'd know that they already have Google Assistant that you can use for search. But Gemini on TV, like its counterpart everywhere else, enables free-flowing conversations using natural language. You can activate it with a "Hey, Google" or by pressing the mic button on the remote.The company says you can ask Gemini to find you something to watch based on your preferences. For example, you can say: "Find me something to watch with my wife. I like dramas, but she likes lighthearted comedies." You can also ask it to summarize the events in the previous season of a show you're watching if you need a refresher before you start the next one. You can also ask Gemini to show you reviews for a particular show, or even ask it vague questions, such as "What's the new hospital drama everyone's talking about?"You're not just limited to asking questions about TV shows and movies, either. When Google demonstrated the AI assistant at CES, a company rep asked Gemini on TV to "explain the solar system to a third grader." The AI assistant did, and it also suggested relevant YouTube videos. You can ask it questions if you're learning a new skill, as well as recipes, to get answers with video suggestions you can follow. And after it's done answering your first query, you can make follow-up questions for clarity and more information.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/gemini-arrives-on-google-tv-160003839.html?src=rss

Disney, a company that definitely isn't dealing with a major crisis right now, has released a trailer for The Mandalorian and Grogu. The movie follows on from the events of Disney+ series The Mandalorian - a show that director Jon Favreau created - and the fall of the Empire in Return of the Jedi. It's set to hit theaters on May 22, 2026.The 94-second clip doesn't offer much in the way of plot details, though it does show Sigourney Weaver as a fighter pilot and Jabba the Hutt's son Rotta (Jeremy Allen White). Mando (Pedro Pascal) and Grogu battle against bots and beasts, and the pair blows up an AT-AT. I'm sure there's nothing to be read into seeing a lumbering giant attempting to traverse a precarious path only to fail spectacularly at this specific moment in Disney's history.The trailer does make it seem like the movie will retain the adventurous spirit and humor of The Mandalorian, with Grogu getting to be as cute as ever. In a fun beat, the diminutive creature uses the Force to try to steal a snack from Weaver's character, only to be denied.The Mandalorian and Grogu will be the first Star Wars movie to hit theaters in over six years. Star Wars: Starfighter is slated to arrive a year later.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/disneys-mandalorian-and-grogu-trailer-shows-the-fall-of-a-lumbering-giant-141515618.html?src=rss

While it was difficult to get your hands on a Nintendo Switch 2 back in June when it first became available, that's no longer the case. It just got even easier now that Amazon has the console listed for sale, with no invitation required. The handhelds have been selling at a blistering pace, with just under 6 million units sold in the first four weeks. Online inventories in those initial weeks sold out in a flash, and sparse restocks were gone just as quickly. Amazon was left out of the initial pre-order process and didn't list the console at all until over a month after its release. This conspicuous absence may have been due to Nintendo's frustration with third-party sellers undercutting the company's own pricing for games on the site. We really loved the Nintendo Switch 2 in our hands-on review, and thought it was a great follow-up to the 2017 console that launched a handheld renaissance. We gave the Switch 2 a score of 93 out of 100, and were particularly impressed with its larger 7-9-inch LCD screen, the magnetic Joy-Cons, better base storage and, of course, significantly improved performance over the original. The pricing is a bit steep, the battery life could be better and the dock could more USB-C ports, but aside from those details the Switch 2 is almost perfect. If you've been waiting to pick up a Nintendo Switch 2 without having to go on a scavenger hunt, then the Amazon listing should be a welcome option. The months since release have also seen a great selection of Switch 2 ports and exclusive games hit the market. Amazon's listing offers the standalone console for $449 or the Mario Kart World bundle for $499. Sales are limited to one unit per customer. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/nintendo/amazon-has-the-nintendo-switch-2-available-for-purchase-no-invite-required-132503036.html?src=rss

It's barely been two weeks since Apple announced the AirPods Pro 3, but you can already find them at a slight discount. The new earbuds are currently listed as $239 on Amazon, which is $10 cheaper than their normal price. The AirPods Pro 3 were introduced at Apple's "Awe Dropping" iPhone event, boasting Live Translation, heart-rate tracking and significant improvements to sound quality and active noise cancellation (ANC). But, if you're not looking to shell out that much, the AirPods Pro 2 are on sale right now too for $199. The AirPods Pro 3 are no small upgrade from the previous generation. ANC is twice as effective as that of the AirPods Pro 2, thanks to a combination of ultra-low noise microphones, computational audio and new foam-infused ear tips, which make for both a better fit and improved noise isolation, according to Engadget's Billy Steele, who spent some hands-on time with the earbuds. The Live Translation feature fared well when tested on Spanish-to-English and French-to-English translations, making the earbuds a potentially handy tool to have for travel. (You'll need an iPhone with Apple Intelligence in order to use Live Translation, though). The earbuds earned a score of 90 in Engadget's review, which notes noticeable improvements in sound quality and battery life. Apple says you'll get up to eight hours on a charge with ANC enabled. With the addition of heart-rate monitoring and support for 50 workouts using Apple's Fitness app, the AirPods Pro 3 allow you to get heart rate metrics during exercise without wearing an Apple Watch. There's a lot to like about the latest version of the AirPods Pro, so discount or not, you can't go wrong if you've been holding out for a meaningful upgrade. Per our review, "The AirPods Pro 3 is the biggest update to Apple's earbuds lineup in years." Check out our coverage of the best Apple deals for more discounts, and follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-new-airpods-pro-3-get-their-first-discount-220017779.html?src=rss

The right add-on can make a good iPhone experience even better. Whether you're looking to boost your battery life, level up your mobile photography or just keep your device safe from daily wear and tear, the best iPhone accessories are the ones that add real value without getting in your way. From MagSafe chargers and wireless earbuds to stands, mounts and portable power banks, there's no shortage of ways to customize how you use your phone.

NASA is apparently giving its ice-scouting moon rover mission another try. The space agency has announced that the Volatiles Investigating Polar Exploration Rover (VIPER) project - which was called off last year after a series of delays and mounting costs - could catch a ride to the moon with Blue Origin in 2027 under the Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Blue Origin must first plan and demonstrate how the delivery at the lunar surface would work, and if it's all to NASA's liking, VIPER will be ferried by the company's Blue Moon Mark 1 lander.Blue Origin hasn't yet attempted a moon landing, but the first opportunity for its Blue Moon Mark 1 lander is expected to launch later this year as part of another CLPS delivery. That mission will also help to inform NASA's decision about VIPER's rideshare, which would use a second Mark 1 lander that the agency says is already in production. If VIPER does eventually make it to the moon, it'll be deployed in the extreme environment of the lunar South Pole to search for water ice and other resources that could support future missions.This delivery could show us where ice is most likely to be found and easiest to access, as a future resource for humans," said Joel Kearns, Deputy Associate Administrator for Exploration with NASA's Science Mission Directorate, in a statement. And by studying these sources of lunar water, we also gain valuable insight into the distribution and origin of volatiles across the solar system, helping us better understand the processes that have shaped our space environment and how our inner solar system has evolved."

Early shoppers are taking to the web to warn about the potentially scratch-prone nature of specific iPhone 17 model and color combos. According to a Bloomberg report, those demoing the latest iPhone in-store noticed that the iPhone 17 Pro in Deep Blue and the iPhone Air in Space Black models already had very noticeable scratches and scuffs. The report is backed up by social media posts following the release, where users recorded display models with residual marks from being used with a MagSafe charger and showed off photos of the back camera housing with chipped edges.In a video by JerryRigEverything, the YouTuber puts the iPhone 17 models to the test with razor blades, coins and keys. The video highlights the edges of the iPhone 17 Pro's back camera housing as particularly prone to scuffing since the colored aluminum oxide layer from the anodization process tends not to stick to sharp corners. However, the YouTuber also purposely marked up the iPhone 17 Pro blue model's camera plateau itself and the phone's back, which showed clear scratches that were easily wiped off.The visibility of the scratches could be attributed to Apple's decision to switch back from the iPhone 16 Pro's titanium chassis to aluminum, which is known to be susceptible to marking. However, all of these scratches are cosmetic and won't affect how these latest iPhones function. Many iPhone buyers may not even run into this issue at all, considering a majority of owners use a case.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/some-iphone-17-models-are-reportedly-prone-to-very-visible-scratches-191147266.html?src=rss

A new hypercar has dethroned Bugatti's record for the fastest production car, and unsurprisingly, it's an electric vehicle. During a livestream at the Automotive Testing Papenburg testing site in Germany, the YangWang U9 Extreme hit a facemelting top speed of 496.22 kmph, or around 308.33 mph. That metric edges out the previous record from the Bugatti Chiron Super Sport 300+, which achieved 304.77 mph in 2019.Officially, the fastest production car record is factored from the average of runs in both directions, whereas the U9 Extreme only reached its 308 mph top speed one way. That's not to minimize this achievement, whose pivotal moment from the livestream was highlighted by CarNewsChina, since Bugatti's record was also a one-way run. Although it's not surprising that the U9 Extreme was able to push these limits since it's packed with four motors that produce just under 3,000 horsepower. The electric hypercar also runs on one of the world's first 1,200V platforms, which offers better performance and efficiency, along with some weight reduction.Like the Chiron Super Sport 300+, the U9 Extreme is going to be extremely limited with production capping at 30 units. There's no price yet, but looking at those specs, this EV will likely have a high cost to match. However, with this latest achievement, the YangWang U9 Extreme shouldn't have any trouble selling out quickly.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/transportation/evs/byds-all-electric-hypercar-the-yangwang-u9-extreme-hits-a-record-breaking-308mph-180727354.html?src=rss

Apple manages to hold onto its recent repairability record with the latest iPhone Air, which maintains a provisional 7 out of 10 in iFixit's teardown. As seen in the teardown, the iPhone Air can easily swap batteries, has a modular USB-C port and offers day-one repair guides. Even though the iPhone Air represents Apple's thinnest iPhone ever at 5.6mm, iFixit said the slim design makes repairs "more approachable, not less."Apple kept the same battery design that was introduced with the iPhone 16 lineup, which switched to an electrically released battery adhesive for more consistent replacements. Similarly, you don't have to ever risk damaging the OLED display when swapping an iPhone Air battery, since there's still that dual-entry access allowing you to access it from the back glass.Being a smartphone that emphasizes thinness, Apple had to sacrifice some battery life with the iPhone Air. However, in our review, we found that the iPhone Air was comparable to other models in the iPhone 17 lineup and lasted nearly an entire day in real-world testing. iFixit also discovered that the battery is the same exact one found in the accompanying MagSafe Battery accessory that goes for $99, which iFixit likened to a "spare tire." On top of that, the included battery is encased in metal, making it easier to replace and offering some protection against bending.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/ifixits-teardown-shows-the-iphone-air-doesnt-sacrifice-repairability-for-thinness-161641244.html?src=rss

President Donald Trump has signed a new executive order, which adds a $100,000 fee to H-1B visa applications. But according to White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt, it won't be an annual fee as the administration initially said it would be. During the signing at the Oval Office on Friday, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said multiple times that the fee would be applied per year. In a follow-up X post on Saturday, however, Leavitt wrote "to be clear," the fee is not annual but "one-time fee that applies only to the petition."The New York Times reported on Friday that the Secretary of Homeland Security will restrict approval for visa applications of people who are "currently outside the United States" unless accompanied by the fee, though the rule "allows case-by-case exemptions if [it's] in the national interest." This new requirement will only apply to new visa applicants, a White House official told The Times, and it will likely face legal challenges. If it does get implemented, though, it could deal a huge blow to the tech industry.In her post, though, Leavitt said, "Those who already hold H-1B visas and are currently outside of the country right now will NOT be charged $100,000 to re-enter. H-1B visa holders can leave and re-enter the country to the same extent as they normally would; whatever ability they have to do that is not impacted by yesterday's proclamation." She also wrote, "This applies only to new visas, not renewals, and not current visa holders. It will first apply in the next upcoming lottery cycle."

If you're like most people who are holding onto their devices for longer, it's almost inevitable that you'll need more storage at some point. Whether it's a smartphone, tablet, camera or handheld game console, using it daily will fill up that space faster than you think. That's why we're always on the hunt for good storage deals, and it's great when we can find one of our favorite microSD cards at a discount. Right now, you can buy the Samsung Evo Select MicroSD card for $20, down from $27. The 26 percent discount brings it to only $2 more than its all-time low price. This model is a new generation with 256GB and read and write speeds up to 160MB per second. Engadget named the Samsung EVO select our favorite decent cheap microSD card and it's a great option for expanding your space without breaking the bank. It works with smartphones, tablets and the Nintendo Switch - though not the second-generation model. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/this-samsung-evo-microsd-card-is-on-sale-for-only-20-132713889.html?src=rss

PDFs remain a common way to share documents because they preserve formatting across devices and platforms. Sometimes, however, you end up with several separate PDFs that would be easier to handle as a single file. Perhaps you're sending a client multiple contracts or keeping all your scanned bills in one place. Whatever the reason, combining PDFs is simple once you know which tools to use. Adobe Acrobat offers the most direct approach, but there are plenty of free alternatives to consider as well.How to combine PDFs with Adobe AcrobatAdobe Acrobat has long been the default solution for editing and managing PDFs. If you already use the desktop app, you can merge files without relying on any third-party tools. Start by opening Acrobat and selecting the Tools tab. From there, choose Combine Files. You'll see an option to add your documents. Usefully, this doesn't limit you to just PDFs either. Word files, Excel sheets and image formats are all supported, too.Once the files appear in the workspace, you can rearrange them by dragging them into the order you want. If there are pages you don't need, they can be removed before finalizing. Acrobat also gives you the option to turn off automatic bookmarks if you prefer a cleaner output. When everything looks correct, click Combine and the program will generate a single PDF that you can save anywhere on your device.If you don't have the desktop version, Adobe also provides a free online tool. The web-based version works in any modern browser. You simply go to Adobe's merge tool page and drag your PDFs into the upload window. The interface lets you change the order before confirming. Once you click Merge, the combined document is processed and offered as a download.The service supports up to 100 individual files or 1,500 total pages, which is more than enough for most everyday needs.Consider free alternatives onlineIf you prefer not to use Adobe or are working with smaller projects, several free services handle PDF merging in a browser. I Love PDF is one of the more popular choices. Using I Love PDF is nice and simple too: you upload your documents, arrange them as needed and download the finished file.However, there are limits to keep in mind: I Love PDF's free tier allows up to 25 files or 100 MB per merge, but it remains a quick option when you don't want to install extra software.Sejda is another widely recommended tool. It works similarly, but places an emphasis on security and deletes files after processing. You can upload multiple PDFs, make changes such as reordering or removing pages and then merge them into one file. The free version of Sejda comes with task limits, but for occasional use, it covers the basics well.Foxit also offers its own online merge service that requires little more than adding files, clicking merge and downloading the result. These web-based solutions are fast and convenient, though they are best suited to smaller, non-sensitive projects, given the need to upload documents to a server.Desktop programs beyond AdobeFor those who prefer keeping documents offline, open source and freeware options are available. PDFsam Basic is a long-standing desktop application that runs on Windows, macOS and Linux. Unlike online tools, everything happens locally, which is good if you have concerns about privacy.After installing the program, you open the Merge module, select your files and choose whether to include features such as bookmarks or a table of contents. Once you're satisfied with the settings, the program merges the documents into a single file stored directly on your computer.Windows users can also turn to PDF24 Creator. It adds a virtual printer and a toolbox with options for editing. Within the toolbox, you select Merge Files and then arrange them in the preview window. After confirming, the program saves the combined PDF to your system.Both PDFsam and PDF24 are free, lightweight and reliable, making them strong alternatives if you need an offline solution without subscribing to Adobe Acrobat.How to combine PDF files on macOS using PreviewIf you're on a Mac, be aware that you don't necessarily need third-party software. Apple's Preview app, which comes pre-installed on macOS, has a built-in way to combine PDFs.Open one of your files in Preview, then enable the thumbnail sidebar from the View menu. With the sidebar visible, you can drag another PDF directly into it, dropping the new document either before or after the existing pages. Once the arrangement looks correct, choose Export as PDF from the File menu to create the combined version. It's a simple solution that requires no downloads and works well for basic needs.Choosing the right methodThe best option depends on how often you work with PDFs and whether privacy is a concern. Adobe Acrobat provides the most features and the smoothest workflow, but it requires a subscription for desktop use. The free online version is fine for occasional merging, especially if you want something quick and easy.Services like I Love PDF, Sejda and Foxit offer comparable convenience, though file size limits may restrict larger projects. Desktop tools such as PDFsam Basic and PDF24 Creator are better suited for anyone who wants to keep files local and avoid upload restrictions. Mac users benefit from the built-in Preview app, which covers the basics without requiring extra software.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/how-to-combine-pdf-files-120046452.html?src=rss

Last week's Apple event meant we were in for a barrage of reviews this week. We spent lots of time putting the iPhone 17 family, including the new iPhone Air, through its paces. We also tested the AirPods Pro 3 and Apple Watch Series 11 that were unveiled just over a week ago. In non-Apple reviews, there's in-depth analysis of a premium Chromebook and the latest Tamagotchi device. Read on to catch up on everything you might've missed over the last few weeks. Apple iPhone Air Apple replaced the iPhone 16 Plus with the ultra-thin iPhone Air, but the new phone is more than just a gimmick. As senior reviews writer Sam Rutherford observed, the company opted for sleekness with a purpose, and it did so without sacrificing too much battery life. "While Apple might not want to say so just yet, I'm willing to bet that this device will also be the template for an upcoming foldable iPhone," he concluded. Apple iPhone 17 We've become bored with Apple's tickle-down scheme for the regular iPhone over the years. The company has repeatedly opted to bring features from the Pro line down to these devices. This time, it finally gave the iPhone 17 a 120Hz display, and you won't have to wait for the best camera updates. "Even if you're coming from the iPhone 16, you'll reap the benefits of the overhauled display and improved cameras," I wrote. "I don't say any of that lightly as I'm not a person who recommends getting a new phone every year." Apple iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max The Pro and Pro Max versions of the iPhone have always held a camera advantage over the regular model, and that's still true. But the main differences now also include better thermal management, an aluminum unibody case and an optional 6.9-inch display. "This year's iPhone lineup is forcing me to re-think the idea of a Pro phone," managing editor Cherlynn Low said. "Is it one that looks and feels expensive or is it one that's slightly more durable and maybe doesn't appear as stylish?" Apple AirPods Pro 3 If Apple had only improved both the active noise cancellation (ANC) and sound performance of the AirPods Pro 3, it would've been a decent upgrade. However, the company went well beyond that with the additions of Live Translation and heart-rate tracking. But the best part about this model is the strong possibility that the company isn't done with it yet. "If recent history is any indication, the company will continue to add new features to this third-generation version," I said. "I highly doubt that Apple is finished exploiting the power of the H2 chip, so it's just getting started with what the AirPods Pro 3 can do." Apple Watch Series 11 The best smartwatch for iPhone owners keeps getting better. With upgrades to design, battery life, health monitoring and more, the Series 11 is a big refresh for the wearable device. However, it might not be the best option for most people. "With the Watch SE 3, you'll still be able to access a wide range of health and fitness features like wrist temperature monitoring, sleep score, emergency SOS, fall and crash detection and more," Cherlynn concluded. "It's a compelling option at an appealing price." Acer Chromebook Plus Spin 514 There's some wide variance in performance among Chromebooks, but Acer's Chromebook Plus Spin 514 offers power, longevity and utility. The main downside is you'll have to pay a premium for it. "At $700, we're pushing the top of what anyone should spend on a Chromebook," deputy editor Nathan Ingraham wrote. "While the more powerful chip and long battery life will be worth it for some people, Acer itself is providing some strong competition with its standard Chromebook Plus 514 which came out this summer." Tamagotchi Paradise If taking care of a virtual pet is more your speed these days, weekend editor Cheyenne McDonald spent some time tending to her digital flock. "All in all, Tamagotchi Paradise feels fuller than 2023's Uni, especially as the latter existed at its launch before all the downloadable content started coming in," she said. "There's a lot of fun to be had with this one, so long as you're open to a little (okay, a lot of) change."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/engadget-review-recap-iphone-17-lineup-airpods-pro-3-apple-watch-series-11-and-more-120014319.html?src=rss

White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said a TikTok deal is expected to be signed "in the coming days," after President Donald Trump posted an update on Friday that did little to clarify where the deal currently stands following a call with Chinese President Xi Jinping.In a post on Truth Social, Trump said both that the two had "made progress" on "approval of the TikTok Deal" and that he "appreciate[s] the TikTok approval." Trump also told reporters in the Oval Office that "he approved the TikTok deal," Reuters reported.But Chinese state-run media reported the call a bit differently, according to The New York Times, saying that Xi conveyed that the government "respects the wishes of the company in question and is glad to see business negotiations in line with market rules and a solution that conforms to Chinese laws and regulations and takes into account the interests of both sides."TikTok owner ByteDance did little to clear things up when it issued the following statement. "We thank President Xi Jinping and President Donald J. Trump for their efforts to preserve TikTok in the United States. ByteDance will work in accordance with applicable laws to ensure TikTok remains available to American users through TikTok U.S."During an appearance on Fox News' "Saturday in America" the following day, Leavitt added a bit more detail to the announcement, after first saying, "We are 100 percent confident that a deal is done. Now that deal just needs to be signed, and the president's team is working with their Chinese counterparts to do just that.""This deal means that TikTok will be majority owned by Americans in the United States," Leavitt said. "There will be seven seats on the board that controls the app in the United States and six of those seats will be Americans." According to Leavitt, data and privacy will be led by Oracle, "and the algorithm will also be controlled by America as well."She went on to say that "all of those details have already been agreed upon. Now we just need this deal to be signed, and that will be happening, I anticipate, in the coming days."This week, there have been multiple reports that the two sides were reaching the final stages of negotiations. The proposed terms reportedly include a brand new app for TikTok's US users that will continue to use ByteDance's technology for its algorithm, US investor control and a multibillion-dollar payday for the Trump Administration.It still has yet to be made official. Trump also granted TikTok an extension on a full-on ban for a fourth time, so the two sides now have until December to figure it out.Update, September 20, 2025, 4:40PM ET: This story has been updated to include new information from White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/us-and-china-agree-to-agree-on-a-tiktok-deal-231254041.html?src=rss

A few months after the release of Grok 4 and an extremely problematic antisemitic meltdown of its chatbot, xAI is already trying to move on with its latest AI model. Elon Musk's xAI announced the release of Grok 4 Fast, a faster, more efficient reasoning model compared to its recent predecessor. According to xAI, Grok 4 Fast offers similar performance to Grok 4 while using 40 percent fewer thinking tokens on average.Along with faster results, xAI said Grok 4 Fast "results in a 98% reduction in price to achieve the same performance on frontier benchmarks as Grok 4," whether it's handling tasks that involve writing code or just browsing the web for quick responses. Similar to OpenAI's GPT-5 that alternates between a smart, efficient model and a deeper reasoning model, xAI's latest update includes a unified architecture that can transition between handling complex requests with its "reasoning" model and quick responses through its "non-reasoning model."In tests on LMArena, a platform that pits AI models against each other and provides side-by-side comparisons, Grok 4 Fast ranks first in search-related tasks and eighth in text-related tasks. xAI made Grok 4 Fast available for all users, including the free ones, on web, iOS and Android. However, with how competitive the LLM race is getting, it's only a matter of time before Google releases the next-gen version of Gemini or Anthropic updates the Claude Opus model beyond the recently released 4.1 version.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/xai-debuts-a-faster-and-more-cost-effective-version-of-grok-4-192815570.html?src=rss

According to a report by The Washington Post, scientists with the Environmental Protection Agency's Office of Water were ordered by "political appointees" to stop work on studies that were headed for publication, as they'll now be "subject to a new review process." Staffers were reportedly given the instructions in a town hall meeting this week. The only papers exempt are those for which "scientific journals had already returned proofs - the final step in the academic publication process," reports The Washington Post, which spoke to two agency employees. Among other things, the role of the Office of Water is to ensure the safety of drinking water.It's the latest in a string of changes at the EPA under the Trump administration, and raises yet more concerns for public health. In May, the agency announced plans to roll back limitations for some perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), known as "forever chemicals," that had been set by the Biden administration, saying it would keep only the limits for the two most common, PFOA and PFOS. In July, the EPA laid off thousands of employees and announced it would shut down its scientific research office. The same month, the EPA proposed rescinding certain greenhouse gas emissions standards, and just last week announced a plan to do away with the Greenhouse Gas Reporting Program that requires some of the nation's biggest polluters to report their emissions.Following the latest orders, staffers with the Office of Water who spoke to The Washington Post said they were not given a reason to provide scientific journals as to why the papers have been halted, and no details on the new review process have been shared. One employee told the publication, "This represents millions of dollars of research, potentially, that's now being stopped."This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/epa-scientists-were-reportedly-ordered-to-halt-publication-of-research-papers-183751436.html?src=rss

Unlike the joy of exploring the underwater world in Subnautica, diving deeper into the Subnautica 2 lawsuit is the furthest thing from rewarding. The latest update in the convoluted lawsuit between Subnautica's developer, Unknown Worlds, and its parent company, Krafton, represents a complete 180 with one of the case's key claims. According to a PC Gamer report, Krafton said that "documents relating to the readiness of the game were irrelevant to the termination" of Unknown Worlds' leadership, which was one of the main disagreements that led to the legal action in the first place.As a quick recap, Subnautica 2's developers felt the game was ready for early access, while Krafton claimed otherwise and instead delayed it to 2026. The lawsuit hinged on this major dispute and included many crucial elements, like a $250 million performance bonus and the leadership team being fired and replaced. This change of heart from Krafton has left Fortis Advisors, who represent the founders of Unknown Worlds, confused and called this "a seismic shift in the case," according to PC Gamer.Krafton reps didn't offer clear reasoning as to why they're not pursuing this argument anymore, but instead want to focus on making the case that Unknown Worlds' leadership "abandoned their post" and "deceived" Krafton, according to the report. To further complicate things, Fortis claimed that Krafton isn't cooperating with providing evidence for the lawsuit. As the case moves through the discovery phase, where both sides try to obtain evidence from the other, it's obvious that thalassophiles will have to wait a little longer for the hotly anticipated sequel.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/the-complicated-subnautica-2-lawsuit-just-took-a-bizarre-twist-175829731.html?src=rss

From a disastrous AMA on Monday to disappointing Legion Go 2 preorder customers on Friday, the Lenovo team is having a hell of a week. To kick things off, the Lenovo Legion team hosted an AMA on Reddit revolving around its gaming handheld launch. The Legion Go 2 generated a ton of hype, being Lenovo's next-gen gaming handheld with more powerful specs and a higher price tag, but the team only answered 10 questions before abandoning the thread. On Wednesday, Lenovo apologized for not being prepared enough to answer all the questions, but followed it up with a bombshell in an edit posted on Friday, adding that "we will need to cancel some preorders placed directly on Lenovo.com" for the Legion Go 2.According to the Lenovo team, the demand "substantially exceeded our projections" and led to "unforeseen delivery range extensions." While the orders with Lenovo's retail partners, like Best Buy, aren't affected, anyone who preordered the Legion Go 2 directly on the Lenovo website may see some frustrating news in their inboxes. The cancellations might not be a total shocker, since some user reports are circulating that Lenovo already pushed initial ship dates from September to October with "zero communication about the delay."To try to save face, Lenovo explained that "as soon as our inventory is replenished, Lenovo.com will show updated availability and ordering will reopen." There's no indication yet if those with canceled orders will get priority with the next batch of available devices, but the Lenovo team said it would respond to the AMA thread's questions over the rest of the month. However, if Reddit comments are any indication, there's a good chance a lot of customers won't reorder following this catastrophic launch.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/lenovo-abruptly-cancels-some-legion-go-2-preorders-due-to-overwhelming-demand-161250775.html?src=rss

Some of the year's biggest blockbuster games have just dropped or are coming very soon. But among the likes of Borderlands 4, EA Sports FC 26 and Battlefield 6, there are a ton of neat indie games popping up. We're here to tell you about some of 'em and what else is going on in the space with our weekly indie games roundup.There were showcases this week from Critical Reflex (which was packed with neat oddities), Game Devs of Color, Six One Indie and Convergence. There's far too much cool stuff in these for us to highlight everything - during the Six One Indie preshow alone, I added three games to my Steam wishlist. So, if you're into indie games and have the time, I recommend checking these streams out.If all of that isn't enough for you, there's another indie showcase coming next Wednesday called Indie Fan Fest from The Mix and Digital Bandidos. That's not all: a Capcom stream is taking place on September 24 (not exactly indie, but Pragmata looks interesting) and rumors of a PlayStation event are ramping up ahead of Tokyo Game Show next week.Elsewhere, I've been keeping an eye on an Itch.io game jam that's been running this past week. It's all about falling block games. I'm really enjoying the updates that a developer named Wallaber is sharing on Bluesky for a project called Jelly Well.A quick note for any indie developers who are joining us before we check out some of this week's new releases: submissions for the December edition of Day of the Devs are open. Landing a spot in that showcase is one of the highest-profile spotlights an indie developer can get these days, so if you have a cool game to show off, shoot your shot.New releasesThe team behind Patapon is back with a spiritual successor to that classic rhythm game series. There are strategic and roguelike elements in Ratatan, which is from TVT Co. Ltd., Ratata Arts and publisher Game Source Entertainment. There's co-op for up to four players as well.You'll need to match the beat of the soundtrack to defeat enemies, and battles can feature more than 100 characters. It all looks quite charming, though I can't help but think of that song by Babymetal and Electric Callboy whenever I read the game's title (the immensely catchy "Ratatata" is rarely far away from my thoughts anyway). Ratatan is out in early access on Steam for $25, but there's a 10 percent launch discount until September 28.Lego Voyagersis a lovely-looking co-op adventure from Light Brick Studio (Lego Builder's Journey) and publisher Annapurna Interactive. It's out now on PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch, Switch 2, Steam and Epic Games Store.Here, you and a partner (there's local co-op and online support) will go on a journey to rescue an abandoned spaceship. Your lil' bricks can snap together and combine with other Lego pieces to solve puzzles as you make your way through this land. It's said to be a fairly short game, clocking in at between three and five hours, but that's not necessarily a bad thing given how much bloat there is in many games.I've had my eye on Henry Halfhead - from Lululu Entertainment and co-publisher Popagenda - for a while and I'm looking forward to checking out this sandbox adventure. You play as Henry, who is just the top half of a human head. You can transform into any nearby object and play around with things in the environment. A narrator will react to your escapades as you solve challenges and guide Henry through life. There's a co-op mode too.Henry Halfhead is available on Steam, Switch and PS5. It typically costs $13, but there's a 25 percent launch discount until September 30.11 Bit Studios' Frostpunk 2 has now landed on Xbox Series X/S and PS5 after debuting on PC this time last year. It's a city-building survival sim that starts 30 years after a blizzard ravaged the planet and caused an eternal winter.I dig the set up and aesthetic here. City builders in this vein aren't usually my kind of thing, but since Frostpunk 2 is on Game Pass, I might give it a try.Don't Die, Collect Loot hit early access on Steam this week. This is a vertically scrolling Vampire Survivors-esque roguelite from solo developer Dan Marchand (aka Dan Makes Video Games) and indie.io.If you've been looking for a new way to watch numbers go up and live out a power fantasy, this one might be of interest. For what it's worth, I love the chiptune music in the trailer. Don't Die, Collect Loot costs $10 and there's a 10 percent discount until October 3.A trailer for Troleu hooked me in during publisher Critical Reflex's showcase. At its essence, this is a trolleybus conductor simulator, but it looks like things will get very much out of hand. You'll get into fist fights with unruly passengers (who may include aliens) and punt them from the vehicle if necessary. There are multiple routes, leaderboards and even a T. rex. It all seems quite chaotic.Troleu, which was made by solo developer andrground, is out now on Steam. You can get it for 20 percent off the regular price of $10 until September 29.Speaking of aliens, here's a theme park (and zoo?) simulator with a difference: it's set in the universe of Mars Attacks. In Mars Attracts, you can abduct humans and experiment on the lowly primates for the entertainment of Martians, who come for the cruelty. The Convergence Games showcase featured a short look at the early stages of the game - experimenting on the loely specimens is your path to unlocking upgrades.Outlier's Mars Attracts is in early access on Steam. The $25 game has a 10 percent discount until September 22, and I might just pick it up.UpcomingRelooted was one of the more exciting games that caught our attention during Summer Game Fest. South African developer Nyamakop is creating a heist game that sees your crew setting out to reclaim plundered African artifacts from the hands of private collectors. It's a terrific setup, and you can now find out how the game actually plays thanks to a demo that dropped this week on Steam.You'll get to play through the tutorial and one mission while getting a sense of the game's story. Before you grab any of the valuable artifacts, you'll need to spend a little time planning your escape from a given area with the help of your crew. You can replay the mission to try different options and routes.I enjoyed the demo quite a bit. The movement is slick (it reminds me a bit of Aerial_Knight's Never Yield) and the light strategy and puzzle solving sits just right for me. There's no release date for Relooted as yet, but I'll absolutely be playing it. The game is coming to Steam, Epic Games Store and Xbox Series X/S.Dispatch is a game we've covered a few times, and now it has a release date. This is a superhero workplace comedy from AdHoc Studio, a team of former Telltale developers. It's about a sidelined hero who becomes a superhero dispatcher.The animation and art look sumptuous, and there's an outstanding cast that includes Aaron Paul, Laura Bailey, Matthew Mercer and Jeffrey Wright. Dispatch is coming your way on October 22 on Steam (where you can check out a demo) and PS5.Jupiter Junkworks had flown under my radar, but it's firmly on there after a gameplay trailer was featured in the Convergence showcase. It's a Tetris-style game in which you can slam parts of each tetromino into gaps further down the screen.This arcade puzzler from Pixel Drake has a narrative that involves a trio of ragtag travelers learning to work together and make something of a spaceship salvage yard. Jupiter Junkworks is coming to Steam and Switch, and there's a demo on the former.It wouldn't be an indie game roundup without a Metroidvania, and this week Critical Reflex showed off one that's also a dating sim. There's a new Steam demo available (but no release date as yet) for 2Awesome Studio's Altered Alma, the trailer for which is drenched in a lovely "cyberpink."Okay, how about another Metroidvania? Solo developer Eric Manahan (aka The Matte Black Studio) is billing Lucid as the first "Celestoidvania" - take a wild guess which platformer it's taking inspiration from.One other reason to get excited about Lucid is that it features music from bearbot and the legendary David Wise, who famously worked on the Donkey Kong Country series. Fingers crossed that the crystalpunk aesthetic of this game will lead Wise to create a piece that's on par with "Aquatic Ambiance." In any case, a demo for Lucidis available on Steam now. There's no release date as yet for this game, which Apogee Entertainment is publishing.A Heavy Morning was the most compelling game to me in the Game Devs of Color showcase. It's a narrative adventure focused on mental health. The aim is to help a young woman who is struggling to get out of bed to start her day. Among other things, you'll enter her mind to help remove mental blocks with the help of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy techniques.The latest trailer for this game from Saf Interactive and co-publisher Bright Gambit features an absolutely lovely art style. You'll be able to play it on Xbox and Steam this fall.I'll take any excuse I can to write about Skate Story. Every time a new trailer pops up (as was the case during the Game Devos of Color showcase), I think it's one of the coolest-looking games I've ever seen. Publisher Devolver Digital has now confirmed that along with the previously announced Steam and PS5 releases, Sam Eng's Skate Story is coming to Nintendo Switch 2.Alas, there's still no release date for Skate Story. But Devolver says it will arrive by the end of the year, so I'm glad it hasn't been pushed back to 2026.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/patapons-spiritual-successor-co-op-lego-and-other-new-indie-games-worth-checking-out-110022924.html?src=rss

Starting on October 3, Microsoft says Xbox consoles will be getting yet another price bump, this time ranging anywhere from a $20 increase on the company's entry-level model to $70 for a special edition model with 2TB of storage. If all of this sounds familiar, there's a good reason, the last time xbox prices were raised was only a few months ago in May.The price increases breakdown as follows:

Neuralink plans to begin another US clinical trial in October, using the implant to translate thoughts into text. The study will be held through an FDA investigational device exemption. "If you're imagining saying something, we would be able to pick that up," Neuralink president DJ Seo said this week.The idea is to help people with speech impairments communicate through thought. Neuralink is among the companies testing implants that help patients control a computer with their minds. That can include using virtual keyboards. Translating thought directly from the patient's speech cortex could speed things up by cutting the middleman.The company already has five other clinical trials underway. The first was in the US. It has since added studies in Canada, the UK and the United Arab Emirates.Neuralink / Chey Institute for Advanced Studies / YouTubeNeuralink's plans for people with severe impairments sound like utopian sci-fi. Regardless of anything else, success in this field could be beyond life-changing for them. Still, this is a commercial company in which Elon Musk owns a majority share. Neuralink's long-term plans are where it's hard not to worry a little."We're currently envisioning a world where in about three to four years, there will be someone who's otherwise healthy who's going to get a Neuralink," Seo said. The company president hinted at what that might look like. "We think that it's actually possible to demonstrate abilities to speak to the latest AI model, or LLM models, at the speed of thought, even faster than how you're speaking, and being able to potentially get that information back through your AirPods, effectively closing the loop," he said.Our world today has revealed where things can go wrong when we turn too much of our humanity over to technology. You can start with smartphone addiction and social media algorithms and quickly move on to (alleged) AI-enabled suicide. Consumer brain implants can conjure the darkest images painted by our great sci-fi works. Think Neuromancer, Star Trek's Borg or Cyberpunk 2077's cyberware.Add what we know about Musk's ideas about politics, and it's hard not to be at least a little cynical. Is it too much to hope that the technology will advance enough to help those in need, but not so much that it devours humanity?This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/elon-musks-neuralink-plans-a-brain-speech-trial-in-october-194004627.html?src=rss

Right now, you can get one year of Starz streaming service for just $24 when you prepay for the entire year. That's $46 less than the usual annual cost. There's also a month-to-month option, which is offering the first three months for $4 per month instead of the usual $11; that's a 64 percent discount. Starz may not be one of the most prominent streamers, but it still makes our list of best streaming deals when it's offered at such a great value. The service offers a deep catalog of recognizable titles as well as original series like Outlander, Spartacus and Ash vs. Evil Dead. The TV shows are almost exclusively Starz originals, with some old western shows mixed in. A Starz subscription supports streaming on up to three devices simultaneously and offers a live stream of its cable channels for subscribers via the website. The Starz app and streaming service do not offer a 4K streaming option. There are a ton of great streaming services to choose from these days, though many of them have been repeatedly raising prices. For would-be cord-cutters, subscribing to enough streamers isn't that much cheaper, if at all, than a cable bill. That's where more value-minded offerings like Starz fit in. Follow @EngadgetDeals on X for the latest tech deals and buying advice.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/streaming/one-year-of-starz-is-on-sale-for-just-24-151553382.html?src=rss

The upcoming Football Manager 26 will include the officially licensed Barclays Women's Super League and National Women's Soccer League, among other women's competitions, marking the first time that women's soccer has featured in the long-running management sim. This means you'll be able to select a women's team to manage, complete with accurate player imagery, club logos and kits.The debut of women's soccer was actually announced way back in 2021, and was supposed to feature in Football Manager 2025. That game was eventually cancelled, with developer Sports Interactive shifting its attention to Football Manager 26, which arrives on November 4.When the developer first discussed the prospect of adding the women's game to its various game modes, it said it would only do so once it was able to offer the same level of depth and authenticity as it does for men's soccer. Since making that initial statement, the popularity of women's soccer has grown enormously, and Sports Interactive says in FM26 it has created a "single ecosystem" in which you're not limited to exclusively managing a men's or women's team on a single save. To ensure its virtual recreation of women's soccer is as realistic as it can be, the studio consulted real-life players, managers, clubs and organizations.At launch, the latest entry will feature 14 playable leagues that span 11 nations and three continents, with leagues in Germany, France, Japan, Australia and more represented alongside England and the US. The FM26 database currently consists of more than 36,000 players, and the studio now has a 40-strong team of researchers working exclusively on building it out further, with additional playable competitions planned.The off-the-field differences between the men's and women's game are also reflected, taking into account the typically shorter contracts in women's soccer, and fewer release clauses that can be activated in the transfer market. Sports Interactive also used real-world data to inform the average recovery rates for various injuries where they might differ between men and women.For a full rundown of all the new additions, click here. Football Manager 26 launches November 4 on Xbox and PS5, with a mobile version via Netflix arriving on the same day, and FM26 Touch for Nintendo Switch releasing digitally a month later.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/football-manager-26-will-feature-womens-soccer-for-the-first-time-145658807.html?src=rss

We're still in iPhone mode this week, as all of our reviews of Apple's new hardware are rolling out. In this episode, Senior Writer Sam Rutherford joins us to chat about his experience with the iPhone Air and our final thoughts on the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup. Also, we dive into all of the news from Meta Connect 2025, including the Ray-Ban Display smart glasses. Is Meta actually on to something with these smart glasses? Or is Zuck just desperate to get people away from phones?Subscribe!

If you're not already wearing a pair of AirPods all day, Apple's latest suite of features may convince you to do so. The company's latest model, the AirPods Pro 3 ($249), is Apple's most comprehensive update to its best set of earbuds. Flashy new features like Live Translation and heart-rate sensing will garner the bulk of the attention, but upgrades to active noise cancellation (ANC) and a significant boost in sound quality shouldn't be overlooked. And with a notable improvement in battery life, the company now provides enough power for you to use these AirPods for an entire work day. Importantly, Apple managed to do all this without raising the price. The AirPods Pro 3 also carry many of the same features that made the AirPods Pro 2 such a compelling option for iPhone users. Those include the robust hearing health tools, hands-free access to Siri, gesture-based notification interactions, audio sharing with another set of AirPods, simplified setup and more. Since I've gone over all of these at length before, and because there's a long list of updates on the AirPods Pro 3, I've chosen to focus primarily on the new tools in this review. But you shouldn't overlook the exhaustive set of features that the AirPods Pro have amassed over the years, especially when you consider how Apple continues to find new ways to deploy its H2 chip. Editor's note (on September 19 at 9:10AM ET): The AirPods Pro 3 are now officially available in retail outlets, and those who have pre-ordered their devices will be receiving them starting today. As you make your decisions on whether or which of these you should buy, make sure to check out our reviews of the iPhone Air, the iPhone 17, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, as well as the Apple Watch Series 11. We also published a closer look at the Apple Watch Ultra 3's satellite connectivity feature, which has some impressions of what it's like to use in real life. In addition, Billy Steele has published stories on what it was like to tour the audio lab at Apple Park and an article with insight on how Apple used ANC to build its best AirPods features'. Design changes on the AirPods Pro 3 With a cursory glance, you likely won't notice the design changes on the AirPods Pro 3. The company altered the shape of these smaller earbuds to align with the geometry of the ear canal for a more comfortable and secure fit. Of course, you'll also notice the newly installed heart-rate sensor upon closer inspection, covering a previously blank surface of the AirPods Pro 2. Once you remove the new foam-infused ear tips from the latest model though, you'll see the most obvious variation between the second- and third-generation versions. On the AirPods Pro 2, the grille protecting the driver sat flush with the surface of the main housing. Now, it's extended out from the rest of the earbud, with a nozzle-like component similar to what much of the competition uses. Apple also revised the angle of the drivers, so sound beams more directly into your ears rather than bouncing as much off of the sides. As such, a side-by-side comparison of the AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Pro 2 will show you that the ear tips are pointing in slightly different directions. There are also some visual differences on the AirPods Pro 3's charging case. Like it did for the AirPods 4 last year, Apple has removed the Bluetooth pairing button entirely. You'll now double tap on the front of the case near the LED to activate that function while the AirPods Pro are in their case. Additionally, just like AirPods 4, the LED is now hidden, so you don't see the dot when it's not illuminated. It's a small thing, but as I noticed on last year's models, it makes the surface of the case look cleaner. A quick word about fit Billy Steele for Engadget Thanks to the AirPods Pro 3's revised curves and foam-filled ear tips, Apple is calling this model the best-fitting AirPods ever." While I do think that's true, I also believe that the new fit will take some getting used to - especially if you've worn the AirPods Pro 2 before. First, the new tips feel very different and seal off your ear canal in a more complete way than the Pro 2's silicone-only tips. If you've used foam ear tips before, you know they provide better passive noise isolation than their silicone counterparts, and that remains true here. In fact, you may need to go down a size to find the most comfortable fit with the AirPods Pro 3. For example, I typically wear medium ear tips, but those felt too tight here. After swapping them out for the small ones, I began to understand why Apple won't stop bragging about the updated fit. Upgraded ANC and its impact on other features Across the first two generations of the AirPods Pro, Apple had already made big strides in active noise cancellation. But with the AirPods Pro 3, the company ramped up its efforts several notches. Ultra-low-noise microphones combine with advanced computational audio to silence even more background noise. The new foam-infused ear tips play a major role here too, since they offer increased passive noise isolation. This trio of improvements allowed Apple to cover more of the noise spectrum, including higher frequencies like human voices. In the last week, there have been several times when I had the AirPods Pro 3 in and I couldn't hear someone talking right next to me. In fact, Apple says the latest model cancels twice as much noise as the AirPods Pro 2 and four times more than the original AirPods Pro. Obviously, I don't have a way to quantify that, but I can tell you the ANC performance on this new model was noticeably stronger than before. The improved seal the AirPods Pro 3's ear tips offer helps make Apple's ANC setup more precise. This allows the active noise cancellation system to be the foundation for several of the company's other features like the Hearing Test, Live Translation and more. For the Hearing Test, you can now be in slightly louder environments without Siri asking you to relocate to a quieter place. And with Live Translation, ANC will lower the voice of the person you're speaking to so you can focus on Siri playing the role of interpreter. Live Translation on the AirPods Pro 3 Billy Steele for Engadget At WWDC, Apple announced that Live Translation would be coming to Phone, FaceTime and Messages in iOS 26. There was no mention then that it would come to AirPods. Skip ahead to the iPhone 17 event and Live Translation was easily one of the most exciting new features announced for the AirPods Pro 3, because it will allow the wearer to translate in-person conversations with Apple's earbuds. Google has been offering real-time translation on Pixel Buds for years, so Apple is very late to the game here. However, the AirPods Pro 3 uses its H2 chip in different ways, and now combines Voice Isolation, ANC and the beamforming mics to enable Live Translation. What's more, you can activate it on the earbuds themselves (press and hold on both stems), ask Siri to start it or set the iPhone's Action Button to carry out the task. When Live Translation begins, ANC kicks in to muffle environmental noise and to reduce the volume of the person you're speaking to. Both are done so you can clearly hear Siri's translation through your AirPods. Siri will warn you when ambient sound levels are too high, asking you to move to a quieter spot so that it can hear the speaker better. Live Translation worked well, at least for my Spanish-to-English and French-to-English tests. Plus, a real-time transcription is visible in the Translate app so you can show it to the person you're chatting with - an element that'll be useful for international travel. Just know that if you're looking at your phone too, you'll see the translation there before the audio comes through your AirPods. This isn't surprising since the processing is being done by the connected iPhone, but seeing the English version right before I heard it was slightly confusing. You will need to enable Apple Intelligence on a compatible iPhone for Live Translation to work. The tool leverages Apple's AI to translate the meanings of phrases so that sentences have the proper context. The feature will also be available on any AirPods that have the H2 chip inside, which includes the AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with ANC. You'll have to download the different language models before you get started, too. Apple explains that the downloads would be required for offline use, but Siri prompted me to do so to use Live Translation even when I was was connected. Lastly, only five languages are supported at launch: English, French, German, Portuguese and Spanish. Apple says Italian, Japanese, Korean and Chinese (simplified) are coming later this year. Heart-rate tracking finally arrives Billy Steele for Engadget After initially debuting heart-rate sensing capabilities on the Powerbeats Pro 2, Apple is now bringing it to the AirPods Pro 3. Like with the Powerbeats model, heart rate data from the AirPods can be accessed by Apple's own Fitness app in addition to other workout apps like Nike Run Club, Runna, Ladder and Peloton. Basically, if an app works with the Powerbeats Pro 2, it should work with the AirPods Pro 3, and it should do so by the time those earbuds ship. As always, I expect even more integrations will be announced in the future, so don't panic if your go-to app has worked with Apple gear in the past but doesn't yet support the AirPods Pro 3. I exclusively tested the new heart-rate sensing tech on the AirPods Pro 3 with Apple's Fitness app. I'm an Apple Watch owner and that's where the bulk of my stats already reside. Speaking of the Watch, you don't have to worry about conflicting streams of heart rate info if you're using it as well as the AirPods Pro 3 during a workout. Apple explained that its devices will work together to provide multiple streams of data for better coverage of your activity. What's more, if you don't wear your Apple Watch during a session, the Fitness app will use data gathered from the AirPods Pro 3 to still log your stats for your Move, Exercise and Stand rings. During this review, I used the AirPods Pro 3 to monitor my heart rate primarily during outdoor walks. The earbuds actually support 50 different workouts in the Fitness app though, with HIIT, yoga and paddling among the available options. You can even track a session at the archery range. You'll see live heart rate metrics on the workout screen alongside stats like time and distance, and your average heart rate will be displayed in the workout summary when you're done. Heart rate info is also displayed with Live Activities on the lock screen and is a tap away on the icon in the Dynamic Island. So far, I haven't encountered any issues leaving my Watch at home and relying solely on the AirPods Pro 3. The earbuds provided a constant stream of data to the Fitness app. The AirPods Pro 3's sound quality The AirPods Pro 3 (left) vs. the AirPods Pro 2 (right). Billy Steele for Engadget The improvement to sound quality on the AirPods Pro 3 isn't exclusively due to its new drivers/transducers. Although those components were revised this generation, Apple's biggest strides in the audio department are also thanks to increased air flow inside the earbuds. The company developed a new multiport acoustic architecture for better control of the air that delivers sounds into the ear. This allowed Apple to significantly improve bass response while providing a wider soundstage and increased vocal clarity. With all of that air to move around, Apple had to tweak its drivers for the task, but also make sure its tuning covered all the needed frequencies adequately. But those transducers remain the same size as the AirPods Pro 2. As I mentioned, Apple also reconfigured their angle so they now beam sound more directly into the ear canal. You might recall that an angular adjustment was also part of the company's strategy for improving audio quality on the AirPods 4. The improvement you hear first will depend on the style of music you choose. Pick something with big, bombastic drums like Deftones' my mind is a mountain" and you'll immediately notice the warmer, boomier bass. Opt for a track like Hayley Williams' True Believer" and your initial impression will likely be the enhanced vocal quality. And if you go for a song like Sleep Token's Dangerous" that's more atmospheric, you'll get a great sense of the expanded soundstage. Oftentimes audio companies make claims about sound quality improvements that don't translate to what I actually hear. With the AirPods Pro 3, all of Apple's proclamations not only hold true but are obvious, observable improvements. Call quality and voice performance Apple's best-in-class transparency mode has been one of my favorite things about AirPods for years. No other company manages to handle ambient sound in a way that's so clear it's almost as if you aren't wearing earbuds at all. With the AirPods Pro 3, Apple says it took things even further, making your voice and the voices of those around you sound more natural and vibrant." The company points specifically to Hearing Aid and Live Translation as areas where this fine-tuned transparency mode will help, but it will also be a boost to voice and video calls, too. Since Apple does such a good job of feeding your voice back through the AirPods Pro 3 and other transparency-enabled AirPods models, you never feel the need to talk louder to hear yourself on calls. It lets you relax and speak normally, and makes a day's worth of Zoom calls much less exhausting. The AirPods Pro 3 support Apple's newly introduced studio-quality voice recording as well. Arriving with iOS 26, the feature allows you to capture higher-quality vocal clips in apps like Camera, Voice Memos, Messages, FaceTime and any CallKit-enabled software. And when you're recording video with an iPhone, you can now quickly select AirPods as the main audio source. The earbuds can act as a lavalier microphone with voice pickup that's closer to your mouth. The AirPods Pro 3's battery life Billy Steele for Engadget Even with all of the new features, Apple still managed to extend the AirPods Pro's battery life. With ANC enabled, you can now expect up to eight hours of use on a charge - two hours longer than the AirPods Pro 2. This means you could be able to wear the new model for a full day of work without having to charge them. Additionally, Apple says that if you're using transparency mode with the Hearing Aid feature, AirPods Pro 3 will last up to 10 hours. So far, I have no reason to think Apple has overstated battery life on the AirPods Pro 3. I haven't conducted a straight battery rundown test yet as I've been focused on trying all of the new features at various times over the last few days. I will update this review later this week with the results of my battery test though. If you find the promised eight hours still isn't enough, a five-minute rest in the case will be enough to give you an hour of use. That's long enough to get you through a quick workout or a call when you need to keep things hands-free. There is an important caveat with the case though. Despite the extended use time on the earbuds themselves, the total battery life including the case is reduced to 24 hours from the previous 30. There's also a new ultra wideband chip (U2) in the charging case that Apple says has increased the distance for Precision Find My by one and a half times compared to the previous version. The competition Since the regular" AirPods now offer ANC, Apple's primary competition for the AirPods Pro 3 comes from within its own product lineup. The AirPods 4 with ANC offer an open-type fit even though they have impressive noise-blocking abilities, so they may be more comfortable for those who don't like buds sticking into their ear canals. You'll get Live Translation there too, but you won't be able to access heart-rate tracking and Apple's suite of hearing health tools. That might not matter to those who want to save some money though, as the AirPods 4 with ANC are $179 versus $249 for the AirPods Pro 3. All AirPods are really a conduit for Apple's ecosystem, so if you don't mind missing some iPhone integrations and special features, there are worthwhile alternatives. Sony's WF-1000XM5 remains a jack of all trades, offering a set of features that perhaps only Apple can rival. The difference being that Sony's tools will work with both iOS and Android, of course. The second-gen Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are your best bet for pure noise-canceling abilities, and if you demand pristine sound, consider Noble Audio's FoKus Rex5. Wrap-up The AirPods Pro 3 is the biggest update to Apple's earbuds lineup in years. The sum of the company's upgrades here are more significant than the choice to finally bring ANC to the regular" AirPods last year. The combination of more precise ANC, improved sound quality, heart-rate tracking, Live Translation and longer battery life is a lot to explore. And that's not even counting the redesign and new ear tips that offer a more secure fit, two items that directly address one of the main criticisms of previous AirPods models. If recent history is any indication, the company will continue to add new features to this third-generation version. I highly doubt that Apple is finished exploiting the power of the H2 chip, so it's just getting started with what the AirPods Pro 3 can do. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/airpods-pro-3-review-a-significant-update-to-apples-best-earbuds-120028170.html?src=rss

The iPhone Air is a device with shorter battery life, fewer cameras and a price tag that's $200 more than a base iPhone 17. Sure, it's got a bigger screen and it's unbelievably sleek, but no matter how you slice it, that value proposition doesn't make sense. At least on paper. That's because as soon as you hold an iPhone Air, you instantly get a sense that this handset represents much more than a simple quest for thinness. The iPhone Air is a device with a mission: To push the company's design and engineering further than ever before while doubling down on style. Plus, it's potentially laying the foundation for something even more radical down the line. Editor's note (on September 19, 9:00AM ET): The iPhone Air is now officially available in retail outlets, and those who have pre-ordered their devices will be receiving them starting today. As you make your decisions on whether or which of these you should buy, make sure to check out our reviews of the iPhone 17, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, as well as the AirPods Pro 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11. We also published a closer look at the Apple Watch Ultra 3's satellite connectivity feature, which has some impressions of what it's like to use in real life. What is the iPhone Air? New iPhones generally don't need to be explained, but the Air is a different sort of iPhone. On a purely practical level, it could be viewed as a (very) glowed-up replacement to the iPhone 16 Plus. However, the Air starts at $999, which is $100 more than the launch price of last year's closest Apple equivalent (or $200 more after its recent price drop). Furthermore, the Air has a smaller 6.5-inch display (versus 6.7 inches on the 16 Plus) and only a single rear camera instead of the two you typically get on a base model iPhone. Then, to make things a touch more confusing, the Air has nearly the same A19 Pro chip used in Apple's Pro series this year instead of a regular A19 processor. But most importantly, the Air's design is unlike any iPhone that's come before it, and it may end up becoming a bridge to Apple's next era of smartphones (while also being irresistibly thin and stylish today). Design: Simply stunning Even with the arrival of Samsung's super sleek Galaxy S25 Edge earlier this year, Apple is setting new highs for mobile design with the iPhone Air. Not only is it even skinnier at just 5.6mm (versus 5.8mm for the S25E), it's the best example yet of what I like to call the sci-fi space pebble look" thanks to its rounded corners and beautifully polished edges. It's a proper marvel of engineering and while I generally don't like saying this, you really do have to hold one to fully appreciate Apple's craftsmanship. Despite its dimensions, the Air isn't all sleekness and no strength. You still get a full IP68 rating for dust and water resistance, while the titanium frame makes the whole handset remarkably sturdy. On top of that, the Air has a screen covered by a new Ceramic Shield 2 panel that also comes with an anti-reflective coating. And while it doesn't completely eliminate glare, it does a good job of preventing annoying bright spots. Sam Rutherford for Engadget As for the display itself, there's not much to complain about here either. The Air's screen has a peak brightness of 3,000 nits and it has ProMotion support with a refresh rate that varies between 1Hz and 120Hz depending on the situation. But the real impact is that when you put a display this good in a device this thin, sometimes it really does look like someone has ripped a page out of a magazine and made it float in your hand. It's kind of uncanny and I can't get enough. To be fair, Samsung's S25 Edge does produce a similar effect but it isn't quite as pronounced. I also appreciate that Apple still found room for the iPhone's Action button and a flush Camera Control key. Around back, there's subtle sophistication in the way the Air's Ceramic Shield rear panel slopes up gently to create Apple's camera plateau (though I don't love that name). And weighing just 5.82 ounces (165 grams), the Air's heft (or lack thereof) adds even more to its ethereal in-hand feel. Sam Rutherford for Engadget My main issue with the Air's design is that it only has a single mono speaker. Granted, it packs a punch both in terms of volume and presence, but after years of stereo sound being the de facto equipment on premium smartphones, one-sided audio doesn't sit quite right. The other potential sore spot is that the Air's USB-C port isn't perfectly centered in the bottom edge. But I fully admit that this is the most minor of nitpicks, and when you consider that due to the Air's thinness Apple had to 3D-print the connector out of titanium (a first for the company), I'm not bothered. Performance: Way better than good enough Compared to the base iPhone 17, the Air has a more powerful A19 Pro chip. However, unlike the silicon available in the iPhone 17 Pro line, the Air's processor has one fewer GPU core (five instead of six). But even with that small shortfall, the phone was never hurting for speed. Flipping between apps is essentially instantaneous and thanks to the new Liquid Glass visual design in iOS 26, doing so looks better than ever. Sam Rutherford for Engadget More intense tasks like gaming didn't do much to slow it down either. Frame rates remained stable in demanding titles like Destiny: Rising while more casual fare like Sword of Convallaria looked effortlessly fluid. The only time the phone seemed mildly taxed was when using tools like Apple's Image Playground. Just watch out if when do you any high performance tasks for a prolonged time, because the the Air can get a bit warm - particularly on its camera bump. Thankfully, in my experience, it never got too hot to touch. Elsewhere, the addition of Apple's new N1 and C1X chips rounds out the package that the company claims makes this the most power-efficient iPhone yet. That's important because without a vapor chamber like on the Pro line, or room for a large battery, the Air doesn't have much leeway for excess heat or power draw. The downside is that Apple's C1X modem doesn't support mmWave 5G. This may not be an issue depending on where you live or what network you're on, but for those demanding peak mobile data speeds, it is something worth considering before upgrading. Camera: Crisp images but is one lens enough? Sam Rutherford for Engadget The photos and videos the iPhone Air takes are excellent. But at the end of the day, there still isn't a real replacement for more glass, and with only a single lens in back, Apple's lone 48MP rear camera may be the phone's biggest limitation. In a shot of some homemade cookies, details were sharp and colors were so rich that my mouth was still watering long after the treats were eaten. Same goes for a tricky photo at sunset, where the Air still managed to capture the warmth and subtle tones of the day's fading light. And at night, it kept pace with or even outshot its biggest rivals, including the Pixel 10 Pro and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge - like in my image of a local mural and flower in low-light. However, if you're the kind of person who loves a good telephoto shot or the extra field of view an ultra-wide lens provides, the Air's 2x optical quality zoom means you're out of luck. Impressively, despite only having a single rear camera, the Air still manages to take portrait pics that look practically just as good as those from iPhones with two. Apple says that it reengineered its portrait pipeline to work without the need for stereo cameras for the Air, and it totally works. Now, if you do some serious pixel peeping, you might notice some small discrepancies between the iPhone 17 and the Air on things like flyaway hairs. But in the end, it's nice to see that even without the same number of lenses, there isn't a major drop in quality. However, in front, Apple's Center Stage feature and the Air's new 18MP selfie cam might be the next big photo revolution that other companies will copy soon. By using a square sensor instead of a rectangular one, the phone can flip between wider landscape shots or taller portrait-style pics at a moment's notice. In fact, there's even an auto setting that allows the phone to switch between the two on its own, depending on how many people are in the frame. As someone who is selfie-averse, the times that I do want to take a photo of my face are usually when I'm standing in front of a big vista and want to capture myself and the scenery. Center Stage lets me do just that without needing to awkwardly turn the phone on its side. Additionally, while the photos you see here were taken with Apple's default Standard" Photographic Style, I must admit I like the new "Bright" option in iOS 26, which adds just enough pop and color to your photos without going overboard. Battery life and charging: Not a problem The iPhone Air's emphasis on thinness means there's less room for a big battery, so you might think longevity would be a concern. But in my experience, it's been a complete non-issue. Officially, Apple doesn't provide specs for the size of the power cells in its devices, though the company does state the Air should provide 27 hours of continuous video playback, which is only three less than what you get from a base iPhone 17. That's a drop of just 10 percent and, considering the sleekness of the Air, it's a trade-off I'm happy to make. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Furthermore, my results generally line up with Apple's numbers. In a streaming video rundown test over Wi-Fi, the iPhone Air lasted 23 hours and 39 minutes - barely an hour less than what I got from a base iPhone 17 (24:45). And in the real world, the Air fared even better than expected. Even on a day with over seven hours of screen on time (which includes running benchmarks and gaming), the phone has 25 percent juice left in the tank. And on lighter days when I'm not working or constantly checking my phone, I often had 40 to 45 percent energy remaining. When it comes to recharging, the Air keeps things simple: a 30-minute charge (either wired or wirelessly) can add 50 percent battery in just 30 minutes. Apple's MagSafe battery pack: The Air's best buddy I don't normally mention peripherals during a review, since I'm not a fan of cases but I can understand wanting extra protection for a $1,000 phone. However, I'd argue that Apple's MagSafe Battery for the iPhone Air may be an essential accessory for folks who like to travel light but don't want to worry about their electronics dying - even if its $99 price tag stings. Sam Rutherford for Engadget In keeping with the iPhone Air's design, Apple's power pack is exceedingly slim at just 7.5mm and it snaps neatly onto the back of the device magnetically, so there are no wires to worry about. On its own, recharging tops out at 12 watts. Though if there's a cord lying around, you can boost speeds up to the Air's 20-watt limit. Alternatively, you can also use the pack's built-in USB-C port to power up any of your other gadgets. And when you need to recharge the portable battery, all you have to do is keep it attached to the iPhone while it's charging and it will automatically pass through juice as needed. But my favorite part is that not only does the battery pack refill the iPhone Air, it can recharge the AirPods Pro 3 wirelessly as well. Admittedly, Apple's slim MagSafe Battery doesn't have the biggest capacity at 3,149mAh (which is enough to add an extra 65 percent charge to the phone). So even though you're paying a premium to keep things super thin and breezy, between the handset, the power pack and Apple's latest earbuds, I really appreciate the convenience for what might be the ultimate lightweight travel kit for iPhone faithful. Wrap-up Sam Rutherford for Engadget While the iPhone Air's thinness may be its most striking quality, it's abundantly clear that this handset is so much more than that. Not only does this device represent a radical evolution of Apple's design chops, it forced the company's engineers to come up with more power-efficient solutions to make all this possible. And in that respect, the iPhone Air is a massive success. It's sleek, it's fast and it's wildly stylish in a way that both fashionistas and people who just like packing light can appreciate. One interesting wrinkle in all of this is that the true potential of the Air's success might not be truly felt for another year or two. While Apple might not want to say so just yet, I'm willing to bet that this device will also be the template for an upcoming foldable iPhone. You slap two Airs together, connect them with a hinge and a flexible screen and baby you got stew going. That said, for fans of previous Plus models, the Air's increased price, smaller screen and single rear cam certainly aren't ideal. As long as you don't mind the lack of extra lenses, for those who appreciate a powerful but still eminently effervescent mobile companion, the iPhone Air is in another stratosphere.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/iphone-air-review-thinness-with-purpose-120037520.html?src=rss

Once upon a time, noise-canceling headphones primarily existed for one purpose: air travel. Bose and Sennheiser were among the first on the scene commercially, blocking unwanted sounds for pilots long before wireless headphones were even a thing. Today, active noise cancellation (ANC) is not just commonplace, it's practically expected for any consumer headphone.During the development of its four sets of AirPods with ANC, Apple has harnessed the power of its noise-blocking system to create a natural-sounding transparency mode, develop the automatic Adaptive Audio feature and create accessibility tools like Conversation Awareness. ANC is the basis for a litany of handy AirPods features, and with the AirPods Pro 3, Apple has honed this set of offerings even further.As director of home and audio product marketing Eric Treski told Engadget. With ANC, it was really about extending that capability to other use cases."The overall redesign of AirPods Pro 3Billy Steele for EngadgetBefore I get into the upgrades to the ANC system and the other tools that those unlock, I'd be remiss not to discuss how the overall redesign of the AirPods Pro 3 factors in. First, Apple adjusted the direction of the sound coming out of the earbuds so it's going more directly into the ear canal. Next, the updates to the AirPods Pro 3's fit - including the new foam-filled ear tips - create a better seal that helps make the ANC setup more efficient.The better fit allows us to diagnose what's happening inside the ear canal," Matthew Costello, vice president of audio and hardware engineering, explained. We can actually make ANC more precise, compensate for leak and also better understand the geometry of the individual ear canals."Costello said that the product design team spent a lot of time on the new ear tips, arriving at a silicone-coated, foam-infused version for the AirPods Pro 3. He noted that these tips provide the best seal of any AirPods so far, which I can confirm, and that the passive noise isolation they provide is one aspect of the new-and-improved ANC performance.A more precise ANC systemIn order to improve the ANC tech, the engineers employed something called headroom control so that Apple could get more feedback from the microphones in the noise-cancelling system. Those internal mics monitor any unwanted noise that sneaks into the ear canal and prompts the ANC setup to make the necessary changes. The team was then able to optimize performance using a combination of software, geometry and acoustics.An inherent trait of foam ear tips is that they're better at blocking higher-frequency sounds, which Costello describes as "more challenging," so I asked how much of the improvement in overall ANC performance was simply due to this new component. Costello was quick to clarify it's one part of a much wider system.It's a significant contributor, but it's part of the overall system performance," he continued. The understanding of what's actually happening in the ear canal helps us diagnose when you need more ANC, but the better seal makes the whole experience more reliable."The acoustics engineers, which include a dedicated ANC team, also redesigned and repositioned the noise floor microphones. These are the components that detect any unwanted sounds from either the earbuds themselves or your environment. Since there's now a more direct path into the ear canal, there's less room for interference or distortion. A new self-tuning algorithm then takes the data from those mics and identifies exactly what's going on inside of the ear. Again, it's all in the name of precision.It's essentially a cleaner signal that's more predictable," Treski explained.ANC's role in other audio featuresBilly Steele for EngadgetThe evolving ANC setup became the foundation for many of Apple's features on the AirPods and AirPods Pro. As the noise cancellation system improves, transparency mode does too. Now that the system can account for more frequencies, Costello said that this ambient sound tool is more customized to your hearing.We've actually been able to personalize transparency, because the pass-through information is much better," he noted.Because the AirPods Pro 3's ANC can now cover a wider frequency range, Adaptive Audio is also more adept at picking up loud, high-pitched sounds. This increased the effectiveness of Apple's hearing protection tools, which reduce your exposure to dangerously loud noises when, say, walking past a construction site, being bombarded by an ambulance's siren or attending a concert. The re-tuned audio EQ profile helps the company better understand when you need more ANC in loud environments, and to better balance the mix of noise cancellation and transparency in those situations.The same changes also support improvements in Apple's hearing test. Thanks to these tweaks, you can now take the test in slightly louder environments than before without the feature asking you to move to a quieter spot. The hearing aid feature has been expanded as well, as Costello said the team added more gain so that the tool can correct higher levels of hearing loss.Because of the improvements to ANC, the [hearing aid] benefits actually extend deeper into mild and moderate hearing loss, to help even more people that have challenges with hearing," Treski continued. All of the hearing health functionality on AirPods was developed in audio labs and in collaboration with audiologists. Apple tests the features with microphones in people's ears, for both validation and safety, under the guidance of those clinical professionals. This confirmation lets the product development team know when these types of features may be ready for real-world use.Billy Steele for EngadgetThe most impressive part of Apple's new Live Translation feature on the AirPods 4 with ANC, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 3 isn't the language conversion. For me, it's the way active noise cancellation kicks in to ensure you can hear Siri speaking. When you begin a Live Translation session on a compatible set of AirPods, ANC lowers the volume of the person you're speaking to and reduces environmental noise so that you don't miss a word from Siri.We really wanted to ensure that you were able to hear Siri and have an understanding of the conversation in the best way possible," Treski explained. So, the idea is being able to really focus on that voice and not be distracted from other surrounding sounds." Costello added that real-world testing, with careful attention to hide the unannounced products in public, is inherent to the development process.What started out as something that was really only used in an airplane is now doing things to help you translate language, preserve your [hearing] health if you're at a concert, listen to lower levels of music or even take a hearing test," Treski said.Apple has taken the seemingly straightforward ability to block noise and applied it to so many of the features that have become synonymous with AirPods. The company probably still has more plans for its H2 chip, so there are likely even more ANC-powered features to come.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/how-apple-used-anc-to-build-its-best-airpods-features-130037859.html?src=rss

When Mark Zuckerberg announced Meta's latest smart glasses at the company's Connect 2025 keynote, he encountered two glitches that prevented him from properly demonstrating some of the devices' features. Now, Meta's Chief Technology Officer, Andrew Bosworth, said in an AMA on Instagram that they were demo failures and not actual product failures. The first glitch took place in the middle of a live demo with a cooking content creator, who asked Live AI for instructions on how to make a Korean-inspired steak sauce on his Meta glasses. Instead of giving him detailed instructions, his glasses' AI skipped ahead by several steps and continued glitching. The chef told Zuckerberg that the "WiFi might be messed up" in the venue.Bosworth said, however, that it was not the case. Apparently, when the chef said "Hey Meta, start Live AI," it fired up every single Meta Ray-Ban's Live AI in the building. And since the event was all about the company's smart glasses, there were a lot of them in the venue at the time. The company had also routed Live AI's traffic to its dev server to isolate it, but it ended up routing the Live AI traffic of everyone's glasses in the building to its server. "We DDoS'd ourselves, basically," he said. He continued that it didn't happen at rehearsal, because there weren't as many people wearing the glasses when they tested it out.Zuckerberg also ran into an issue when he tried demonstrating taking WhatsApp video calls on the Meta Ray-Ban Display. The audience could see him getting calls on the glasses' HUD, but he couldn't answer them to start the call. Bosworth said that it was caused by a "never-before-seen bug" that had put the display to sleep at the very instant that the notifications came in that someone was calling. Even after Zuckerberg woke up the display, there was no option to answer the call. The CTO said Meta had never come across that bug before the demo and that it has since been fixed. "You guys know we can do video calling... we got WhatsApp, we know how to do video calling," he said, but admitted that it was a missed opportunity to be able to show on stage that the feature actually works.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/meta-cto-explains-the-cause-of-its-embarrassing-smart-glasses-demo-failures-123011790.html?src=rss

For the sake of this iPhone 17 Pro review, I've developed a gaming addiction. I don't mean triple-A games like Destiny: Rising and Genshin Impact, or even double-A or non-A titles like Inside or Vampire Survivors, both ofwhich I greatly enjoy. I'm specifically referring to Snake Clash on YouTube Games - the type of thing you mindlessly play while pretending to watch a documentary on TV, or while sitting on the throne, slowly growing a hemorrhoid. The reason I've been playing so much Snake Clash is because I've noticed in my year with an iPhone 16 Pro that countless hours with games like this cause the device to burn up in my hands. And maybe some other title might also push thermal performance in similar ways, but alas, such is my taste. (Also, Inside and Vampire Survivors never caused my phone to get too warm.) I spent a lot of time on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max trying to get them to run hot, because one of the most interesting additions this year is a vapor chamber. That thermal management feature, together with the aluminum unibody redesign and three 48-megapixel rear cameras, is among the most compelling updates for this generation. Throw in the powerful A19 Pro chip (now situated in the plateau"), a novel Center Stage selfie camera, promises of longer battery life and an eye-catching new color, and frankly the latest Pro phones seem like a serious leap. For this review, I focused on the performance, thermal management, camera capabilities and battery life of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. I am bundling them together because aside from screen size, battery capacity and price, the two are functionally identical. I also spent time checking out Apple Intelligence and iOS 26 features, which won't be exclusive to the new hardware and I'll refer you to our iOS 26 preview for a deeper dive on. Editor's note (on September 19, 8:00AM ET): The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are now officially available in retail outlets, and those who have pre-ordered their devices will be receiving them starting today. As you make your decisions on whether or which of these you should buy, make sure to check out our reviews of the iPhone Air and the iPhone 17, as well as the AirPods Pro 3 and the Apple Watch Series 11. We also published a closer look at the Apple Watch Ultra 3's satellite connectivity feature, which has some impressions of what it's like to use in real life. An aluminum unibody design that's new and familiar all at once When I first picked up the iPhone 17 Pro at Apple Park, I found it refreshingly different from the iPhone 16 Pro I'd been using for a year (and also the iPhone 15 Pro before that). But the longer I caressed the matte edges of my review unit, the more I felt sparks of familiarity. The aluminum unibody here reminded me of the iPhone 8, which is no surprise since that device was made of steel wrapped in an aluminum band. Both the iPhone 8 and iPhone 17 Pros use the same 7000-series aluminum alloy that's proprietary to Apple so that makes sense. Of course, the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are far from being as thin as the older handset, but something about the matte finish felt great. Two weeks before the iPhone launch event, my iPhone 16 Pro slipped out of my hand and crashed to the floor of a grimy public bathroom. It had landed at an awkward angle on its edge and cracked spectacularly. Thankfully, most of the shattered glass was near the bottom edge, while hairline fractures reached up in a strangely pretty pattern to the rear camera module. These didn't cut my hands, but I knew I wanted the next iPhone to be a lot more durable. With its aluminum frame protecting the edges of the rear and back, there is little chance the iPhone 17 Pro will break in the way my iPhone 16 Pro did. Its screen is now protected by Ceramic Shield 2, so if it fell flat on its face it should still be able to survive the impact. The rear is a bit more vulnerable, since the three cameras still protrude slightly from the plateau, but those are covered by the same sapphire crystal that previous models were. I've yet to crack an iPhone's camera despite my years of klutzy behavior. This bodes well for the iPhone 17 Pro, though I'll say I didn't try very hard to scratch my review unit. I actually went as far as to keep it in the Finewoven case that Apple provided in the first few days so I could maintain a pristine surface for our review photos. After removing the case, I did put both the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max in a bag with the iPhone 16 Pro and Pixel 10 Pro so I could bring them around while camera testing, and it was pretty nice to be able to identify the newest models simply by touch. For years, I've seen Android phones, particularly those by Samsung, grow more and more iPhone-like so the departure from glossy glass is welcome. Plus, neither the Pro nor the Pro Max have been scratched despite my placing them, naked, in backpacks or pockets with other phones, keys or badges with hooks in them, though to be fair the same is true of the iPhone 16 Pro until its unfortunate fall. One other way the iPhone 17 Pro is distinct? That orange color, which is reminiscent of the Action Button on Apple Watch Ultras. It's also fairly similar to the hue on some traffic cones, though in a more metallic, burnished way. Because the iPhone 17 Pro is supposed to be so much more durable and scratch-resistant, I'd argue for simply showing off its bold new color by going case-free. I also took a whole bunch of pictures of the orange iPhone 17 Pro Max I've been testing in a variety of lighting conditions so you can better understand what it looks like in real life. Enjoy: After publishing this review, I noticed our slideshow's captions stated the iPhone 17 Pro was silver, when I believed it was white. I set about complaining to our team about the error when I was rightfully informed it is actually silver. So you should be aware that the silver iPhone 17 Pro looks white on its back, where the aluminum ends and Ceramic Shield begins. Faster AI processing and a body that's largely cooler to hold Apart from the material and the camera plateau, the iPhone 17 Pro's redesign had a lot to do with thermal management and battery life. Like I mentioned in the beginning of this review, my iPhone 16 Pro runs hot sometimes, especially in recent months. I was eager to see if the vapor chamber in the new devices was effective at keeping them cool in similar situations. In general, the iPhone 17 Pro stayed cool - and that's both during the first few days with the case on and after I removed it altogether. When I played Snake Crash for about 25 minutes, I started noticing some gentle warmth emanating from the camera plateau. I put the device down on a terry cloth blanket and picked up the iPhone 16 Pro to play on instead, and just five minutes later it had gotten as warm as the 17 Pro. Ten minutes later, I had to adjust my fingers so the iPhone 16 Pro didn't feel like an iron. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro had cooled down in that time despite being on something I usually use to keep warm. That's not to say the iPhone 17 Pro never got noticeably hot in my testing, by the way. In my experience, generating photos in Image Playground or creating Genmoji typically caused my iPhone 16 Pro to heat up to scary levels. On the iPhone 17 Pro, it took a slightly longer time to get as warm, but it did eventually become so hot I felt the need to warn people if I were to hand the device off. I found the aluminum parts of the handset to be the hottest, which makes sense both scientifically and in the way our skin perceives temperatures. I do want to commend Apple for the improved performance in Image Playground and Genmoji. It used to take ages for AI-generated pictures or emoji to appear (especially those based on a picture of someone in my photo album), but on the iPhone 17 Pro I was able to get several options in succession before things slowed down. Pictures where I opted to use ChatGPT's more realistic styles took a lot longer, but by and large I saw a marked improvement in speed here. Those neural accelerators in the A19 Pro's six-core GPU are certainly pulling their weight. It might be worth noting that in the 25 minutes of Snake Clash time, the iPhone 17 Pro's battery level dropped about ten percent. The iPhone 16 Pro went from 90 percent to 79 percent in roughly the same duration, so power efficiency in this specific use case seems fairly similar. Camera performance The trio of 48MP cameras on the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are impressively versatile. Not only are they sharp, megapixel-laden sensors that deliver rich detail and vibrant colors, but also pull double duty and provide additional zoom options. When I was shooting on the iPhone 17 Pro, the camera app showed shortcuts for 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 4x and 8x, which is slightly different from the iPhone 16 Pro's 0.5x, 1x, 2x and 5x. As I mention those two models, I'm deeply aware that most people aren't going to be considering upgrading from a phone as recent as the iPhone 16 Pro. So I'll just say that as long as you're swapping from the iPhone 14 Pro and older, you'll get a significantly better camera system. For those already on an iPhone 15 Pro, it depends on whether you're using a Max model and care a lot about some extra zooming ability. I compared the iPhone 17 Pro mostly to the iPhone 16 Pro to see its improvements, as well as to the Pixel 10 Pro, since I consider it to be the best smartphone camera this year. So far, anyway. As it turns out, the iPhone 17 Pro holds its own against Google's latest in most situations. In fact, it's usually a bit better at retaining detail in shadows in photos with high dynamic range. Also, as has been the case in the last few generations of iPhones, Apple's images tend to be warmer and more saturated, whereas Google's seem a bit muted and gray in comparison. That's a somewhat subjective observation, really, and likely won't impact anyone that's not constantly carrying both phones around. Engadget All about zoom It gets a bit complicated to compare the three phones on their various zoom capabilities, since they all have different limits and dedicated pipelines. But by and large, the iPhones performed similarly at the 1x level, which isn't surprising given they're basically the same hardware. They were also pretty closely tied at the 2x level, and further zooms were slightly different from that point. I did find that the 8x option on the iPhone 17 Pro delivered clean shots with little noise or blur, and they were well-exposed in general. The fact that I could now go up to 40x compared to the iPhone 16 Pro's top limit of 25x with digital zoom was a delightful bonus, especially when I was photographing some geese chilling by the river. The Pixel 10 Pro's scene options are 0.5x, 1x, 2x, 5x and 10x, with Pro Res Zoom allowing you to get all the way up to 100x, if you don't mind AI filling in some gaps. I would caution against that, given the strange things it's generated so far, but you'll also still be able to use Super Res Zoom for up to 20x zoom without any generative AI assistance, just good ol' computational photography (Math). For what it's worth, none of the photos beyond 8x on the iPhone 17 Pro and 10x on the Pixel 10 Pro look great. But in pictures I took of the Water's Soul" sculpture from my vantage point along the waterfront in downtown Jersey City, the Google version delivered cleaner lines and generally looked more sharp. I have yet to encounter obviously weird hallucinations in my photos, though in one close-up shot of a window in a skyscraper, the Pixel turned a white object inside the building into what appeared to be a smear of bird poop. As an aside, I also had to wonder what the lettering on the Hoboken Terminal clock tower actually looked like up close, since the Pixel-rendered image had the word Lackawanna" seem like it had bulbs or dots. In short, you can get up closer to faraway subjects with a Pixel 10 Pro and typically get cleaner photos, but be mindful that the AI might generate some weird things. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro delivers solid quality at 8x and gives you greater flexibility than it did before. Portrait mode is better now Apple is even closing the gap that Google has had in the last few years in Portrait mode, with its updated engine for photos with digitally applied background blur. The differences, I've learned, are in overall Portrait quality at the 2x zoom level, as well as refinements in separation of stray hairs from the background across the mode. In these portraits I shot of a friend, as well as of a dog statue with a furry tail, there was a significant improvement, particularly at 2x zoom (which is the level I always use for portraits on an iPhone anyway). The iPhone 16 Pro blended some bits of hair (and fur) that stuck out of the silhouette into the mudded background, while the iPhone 17 Pro managed to accurately keep both in focus. Engadget When I compared the portraits by the iPhone 17 Pro to those from the Pixel 10 Pro, it was a close fight. While the Pixel was better at keeping definition along my friend's temples, the iPhone was slightly better at mimicking the falloff in focus you'd get from a standalone camera with a large sensor. This is especially noticeable with the tuft of blonde hair poking out of her post-cardio ponytail, which the Pixel blurred completely into the background, while the iPhone 17 Pro kept it more in focus. I will point out that I still prefer Google's approach when it comes to shooting in portrait mode. In the dedicated mode on iPhones, you have to wait till the interface lights up to take your shot. That's outside of the usual photo mode where the effect kicks in as soon as it detects faces of people and some animals. On a Pixel, you can simply swipe to Portrait mode, aim your camera and snap - no need to wait for the system to tell you it's okay to shoot. It's also worth noting that people might prefer how they look with the coloration of the iPhone shots compared to the Pixel's, regardless of which is truer to life. You can always edit a picture in post-processing to get it to your desired representation, of course, and Apple's portraits are also subject to the specific style chosen by the photographer. I do want to shout out how much I love Apple's Photographic Styles, which are basically sophisticated filters that apply effects based on depth maps. This year, the company added a new Bright style, which makes everything pop in a pleasant way (and is similar to my once-favorite Instagram filter Oslo," that is unfortunately no longer available). Center Stage square sensor for portrait and landscape selfies Apple's latest selfie-camera update is, quite simply, a stroke of genius. I know it sounds hyperbolic, and I want to reassure the skeptics that I was on your side. At first. But I was won over when, almost immediately after saying I didn't see the practical use for Center Stage in selfies, I was forced to turn my iPhone horizontally so I could squeeze in an extra person when trying to grab a photo of myself and my podcast guests Karissa Bell and The Verge's Allison Johnson. Nothing convinces as quickly as instant shame. I was all the more persuaded when I paired Center Stage with a timer or remote control of the selfie camera and placed the iPhone 17 Pro Max on a table. A group of seven or so friends and I gathered in front of the device and watched it flip into landscape mode as more of us got into the scene. It has been helpful in a number of unexpected ways. If you're like me and have grown used to zooming out whenever you flip over to the iPhone's front camera, you'll find that tapping the onscreen button to do so will disable Center Stage for that photo session. Don't fret though, whenever you exit the camera app and relaunch it, Center Stage will be on again. You can turn it off altogether by tapping the button on the top right of the viewfinder and disabling both the zoom and orientation options. Or you can select one of the two, whichever you prefer to have. I'll also point out that the camera is sharper now, as the 24MP square sensor delivers 18MP selfies, compared to the 12MP TrueDepth system before. Though Ive noticed some issues with FaceID, no changes have been made to either TrueDepth or FaceID, so it's likely my struggles were to do with the way I had set it up on the iPhone 17 Pro compared to the 16 Pro. I'm not usually a fan of higher-resolution selfies, and did notice my freckles were a lot more prominent in some sunlit shots, but by and large the images haven't been jarringly different. Center Stage also works on FaceTime calls, although there it mostly tries to keep your face centered, similarly to how it functions on iPad and Macbook. However, the execution is slightly different, since it's meant for hand-held calls as you're walking on the street, for example, or when you don't have a stable surface to place your phone. I would have loved it if my partner had Center Stage when he FaceTimed me from the streets of New York during a wild night out on the town. When I called my coworker and paced around a large meeting room, we both noticed the difference with Center Stage and after I turned it off. It was most obvious when I stood still, held out my arm and didn't move it, then shifted my head around. The iPhone 17 Pro adjusted the background and view of the call to keep my face fully in frame. Now I want to use Center Stage whenever I'm forced to hold my phone during a FaceTime (like an impromptu therapy session, for instance), so I can worry less about whether I'm in view and focus on the conversation. Dual-camera video recording I don't know about you, but my selfie video angle is quite different from my regular angle. That is to say, I hold my hand stretched out farther away from my body, sometimes higher up than my face, tilted slightly down. I find it more flattering. When I shoot anything using the rear cameras, I simply hold it up in front of my face, not as far away as it would be for a selfie. What I'm trying to say is: I didn't like most of the dual-camera videos I shot because I could either prioritize the angle for the selfie camera, which might not be great for the rear sensor. Or I could focus on shooting what was behind the phone and include beautiful footage of my forehead. And I'll be honest, I frequently found myself staring at my face in the little picture-in-picture box and sometimes even moved the phone around to show landmarks behind me, only to realize the main camera (and the rest of the screen) had already been recording it all along. I don't think there will be too many situations where dual-camera videos will be useful or share-worthy, but at least it's a mode you turn on only when you want and isn't in the way. Plus, for the specific times when you want to show off where you're at while proving you're also in the scene, it's a nice tool to have handy. I did end up liking one dual-camera video I shot of myself enjoying the breeze by the Hudson River. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Greater battery life I had one goal during this review, and that was to see if the iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max would be able to last during my testing period without needing a charge. Since there was supposedly more space and better efficiency thanks to the redesign creating more room for the battery, I thought, perhaps naively, that maybe there would be a leap in endurance. Alas, I was wrong. The smaller Pro fell short of those admittedly great expectations, the Pro Max did come close. Usually, the larger handset lasts about two full days as I go about my review process, which typically mostly involves camera testing, messaging and gaming. I tend to spend more time on the smaller device, using it for tasks like banking, emailing, social media browsing and posting, all in addition to the things I do on the Max. All that is to say that the two days I normally get out of the Pro Max is likely due in part to the fact that I use it less than the Pro, so don't expect yours to last that long. With that in mind, the iPhone 17 Pro Max made it to the end of Saturday before it dropped to 20 percent, having last been charged to about 95 percent on Thursday at 8:54AM. Meanwhile, the iPhone 17 Pro typically gets from 7AM till about 11pm ET without breaking a sweat. I still plugged it in overnight though, because I generally don't like leaving the house in the morning with less than 50 percent, and the iPhone 17 Pro usually ends the day close to 25 percent. So far it mirrors my experience with the iPhone 16 Pro, though I'll need a bit more time to better gauge the differences. iOS 26 updates and other areas of improvement I can't write a review of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max and not mention their screen sizes, so here: they're 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches respectively. ProMotion's adaptive refresh rates of up to 120Hz continue to make scrolling Reddit a breeze, and while Apple has improved the anti-reflection treatment here, it's been hard for me to determine what's changed. The more obvious refresh when using the iPhone 17 Pro is in iOS 26, which rolled out this week to the public. Friends have already begun to complain about or compliment the new Liquid Glass aesthetic, and one buddy immediately had to turn on the reduce transparency" option. There's a lot I could say about how much I appreciate the bigger buttons throughout the system, or the new lock screen styles. I could also go on about how I had to adjust to the new Screenshots interface and hate that it now requires an extra swipe to dismiss. The revamped Photos, Camera and Phone apps are... fine. I don't hate the changes, and actually like the new Phone layout. Ultimately, iOS 26 feels like a significant refresh that matches the vibes of Apple's new hardware - especially the Air. But because it also rolls out to several previous generations, it's not something that will impact your (or my) evaluation of the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Sam Rutherford for Engadget Why a Pro and not an Air or the iPhone 17? This year, the iPhone Air actually feels like the status symbol model for those who need to own fancy hardware for external validation. It's impressively svelte, has an A19 Pro chip and is just something I can't stop trying to wave in people's faces to get them to touch. It supplants the Plus model, at least this year, and has a medium-sized 6.5-inch screen that might be ideal for many. And despite its thin profile, the iPhone Air still managed to deliver respectable battery life, according to my colleague Sam Rutherford. If a 6.5-inch screen or a super thin phone is something you simply must have, by all means go for the iPhone Air. But because I love to shoot ultrawide shots as well as closeups of distant, skittish wildlife, a versatile multi-camera setup is a must for me. If that sounds like you, pick a Pro. Whether you opt for the Max boils down to your preference for size (and I have to admit using the larger 6.9-inch screen was a lot easier on my eyes). Those with unlimited resources can, of course, get both. Congrats on the wealth. People with partners or family members that are looking to upgrade at the same time can consider getting one of each. I've suggested that to my friends who are married, so the person who cares more about photos gets the Pro and the one who hates bulk gets the Air. Neither is a bad purchase, but the Pro is slightly more reliable. In exchange, you'll have to fork over more money and give up some pocket space. Finally, it's worth looking seriously at the iPhone 17 this year. With its new ProMotion screen, dual 48MP rear cameras and Center Stage selfie setup (that supports the same dual-camera video feature as the Pros), it's a compelling package for hundreds less. You'll even get the same Portrait mode that the 17 Pros offer, while the Air has its own specific image pipeline that enables automatic depth capture with a single camera. If you're a video creator or producer, I should point out that the iPhone Air's USB-C port is only rated for USB 2 transfer speeds of 480Mbps and doesn't support DisplayPort for video out. The regular iPhone 17 is also USB 2, but does support DisplayPort, while the Pro line can handle USB 3 speeds of up to 10Gbps and DisplayPort. Wrap-up This year's iPhone lineup is forcing me to re-think the idea of a Pro phone. Is it one that looks and feels expensive or is it one that's slightly more durable and maybe doesn't appear as stylish? I've seen some discourse online about how the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max don't look as classy as before and that the iPhone Air seems to be the more premium of the family. And while I agree that the Air is a shinier, more attractive device, for my needs the iPhone 17 Pro is still the way to go. Of course, it would be better if Apple didn't create this conundrum with this year's iPhones, but it still has to obey the laws of physics. I like a reliable, durable phone that easily lasts all day, takes great pictures from all distances and angles and won't burn a literal hole in my pocket. It might burn up your wallet, since the $1,099 price is certainly not something everyone can afford, but it does buy some security and longevity. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are a significant update from previous models, and I haven't felt this excited by a new generation of iPhones in a very long time.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/iphone-17-pro-and-pro-max-review-an-impactful-redesign-120002202.html?src=rss