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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

For years, the regular" iPhone received hand-me-downs from the Pro models. This was less so with the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, but the trickle-down philosophy was still there to a degree. For 2025 and the iPhone 17 ($799) is no longer the compromise that the base model used to be. Apple finally blessed it with a 120Hz display and this year's most exciting camera feature, Center Stage. While it may seem like Apple is no longer forcing iPhone users to compromise, or at least not to the degree it used to, there's still one big thing to consider. With the introduction of the iPhone Air, the company has shaken up the screen sizes across the iPhone 17 lineup. Instead of the previous 6.1-inch iPhone and 6.7-inch Plus model, Apple is splitting the difference with the iPhone 17's 6.3-inch screen. That also aligns it size-wise with the iPhone 17 Pro, while the Air sits in the middle of the series at 6.5 inches. I guess I'm a big-phone guy now, because it's been a rough week transitioning from the 16 Plus to the iPhone 17. At times I feel like my phone is a toy, and at others it's like I stepped back in time. I don't particularly like either sensation. Putting my screen size preferences aside, the iPhone 17 remains the best iPhone for most people. Since Apple brought its best new features to this regular model this year, you don't have to feel like you're waiting for the exciting tools from the Air or Pro to make it to a more affordable iPhone model in 12 months. The upgraded display and new front camera are certainly the highlights, but the iPhone 17 remains a solidly built device with dependable all-day battery life and capable performance. Editor's note (on September 19, 8:00AM ET): The iPhone 17 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 Air, 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. Finally, a 120Hz display A big change on the iPhone 17 is the 6.3-inch ProMotion 120Hz display. Not only is it slightly bigger than the 6.1-inch iPhone 16, but it finally refreshes faster now. The higher refresh rate was one of the last remaining items Apple had yet to bring down from its Pro models, and this one makes a big difference to the overall experience. Swiping around iOS 26 feels a lot smoother. Apps like Instagram and Safari where I previously encountered some jitters now move effortlessly. When it's time to venture outside, you'll be glad that Apple boosted the peak brightness to 3,000 nits - a 1,000-nit increase from the iPhone 16. It's a welcome upgrade for the times you need to use your phone in direct sunlight. The company also equipped the iPhone 17 with an always-on display, which is useful for updates at a glance if you've missed a notification. And of course, Dynamic Island is still there, providing ongoing info for progress on things like live sports, music playback, navigation, ride sharing and more. You won't really notice the display upgrade until you start using the phone, so a quick glance won't reveal any obvious hardware changes. Unless you do a side-by-side with the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, where the size variation will be apparent, you won't detect any difference. Flip over to the back though and there's an almost entirely new color palette. Black and white remain, but Lavender, Sage and Mist Blue have replaced last year's Ultramarine, Teal and Pink options. I prefer this year's hues, as they aren't as pastel-y as the 2024 lineup, and that Sage green looks really sharp in person. Venture back to the front and there's another important update that isn't visible. Apple upgraded the scratch resistance with Ceramic Shield 2, which the company says provides three times better protection than on the iPhone 16. I needed to keep my iPhone 17 pristine for photos during my review, so I haven't put it in situations with the potential for injury just yet. My mischievous cocker spaniel did get a hold of it for a few minutes, but there are no visible teeth marks or scratches from that harrowing (for me) incident. Camera updates take Center Stage Billy Steele for Engadget For many, camera performance is the most essential aspect of an iPhone, and this year's model got a significant upgrade there. The biggest change is the new 18MP Center Stage front camera that replaces the 12MP TrueDepth camera. This new version has a square sensor that enables the iPhone 17 to automatically switch from portrait to landscape when more people enter the frame for a selfie. After using Center Stage for about a week, it's easily the best new camera feature Apple has released in years. I can concede that the addition of macro mode and Photographic Styles in previous iPhones were also excellent, but Center Stage feels like magic. I'm not even a big selfie taker, but when I do need to snap one on a family outing, this 41 year old no longer feels like a Boomer holding his phone sideways. The adjustments happen quickly so you're not left waiting, and if you don't like it, you can disable the auto rotation, auto zoom or both. Center Stage also works with video calls to keep you in the frame. This is particularly helpful if you're walking or otherwise moving around while trying to have a chat. It does take a second for the system to make its adjustment after you move from the center of the frame, but it's smooth and won't be a distraction to anyone on the call. Another update to the front-facing camera is a new Dual Capture mode. This simultaneously records footage with the front and rear cameras for things like reaction videos. As the parent of two kids in youth sports, I can see the utility for things like championship games, or even milestone moments at school. I think a lot of people will also film themselves singing along at concerts, but I'm not one of them. Billy Steele for Engadget The only issue I have with Dual Capture is that it's a challenge to keep both the action and yourself in frame. You can't look in two places at once, so if you want to maintain a centered reaction shot or ongoing commentary, you'll have to figure out a way to juggle the shots. I've yet to master it myself and you'll likely struggle if you prefer your selfie clips shot from a downward angle. The front-facing camera isn't the only photography-centric upgrade on the iPhone 17. Around back, there are now two 48MP Fusion cameras. On the iPhone 16, only the main was a Fusion camera while the ultra-wide has a 12MP sensor. You'll get the same 0.5x, 1x and 2x zoom options as before, automatic macro mode, True Tone flash and the rest of the handy features from the iPhone 16 - like Portrait Lighting. If you're into Apple's Photographic Styles, there's a new one called Bright that enhances skin tones and makes the rest of the image more vibrant. My colleague Cherlynn Low compared it to the now-retired Oslo filter on Instagram, and I think that's an apt comparison. By default, the main camera delivers shots in 24MP resolution for a balance of detail and brightness. In general, the photos I took with the iPhone 17 appeared to be slightly sharper than those I captured with my iPhone 16 Plus, especially in details like texture (as evidenced by the photos of pumpkins and my dog Biscuit). There isn't a huge leap in rear camera performance here, but I noticed a slight improvement. In lower-light settings, like in my pictures under the awning of my local produce stand and inside a local bar, colors remained accurate and crisp. Macro images were just as sharp and detailed as before, judging from my close-up of a sunflower which you can see here. Night time pics still produce accurate colors, especially when rendering the warmth or coolness of street lights, and those elements aren't lacking in clarity either. Swap your camera settings to 48MP and you'll notice enhanced detail in images that contain landscapes, as one example. Just keep in mind that those max-res photos are limited to 1x zoom and any Night mode or flash shots will always be saved at 12MP. Besides the fact that it uses the non-Pro A19 processor, the cameras are the main area the iPhone 17 lags behind the 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max. They have a third camera around back - a 48MP Fusion telephoto - that's equipped with 3D sensor-shift optical image stabilization. That three-camera array also provides additional zoom options at 4x and 8x. They also unlock ProRAW for stills and both ProRes and ProRes Raw for video, and come with a four-microphone setup for studio-quality" audio capture. If you desire the pinnacle of Apple's photographic prowess (currently, anyway), the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099 - $300 more than the iPhone 17. Performance Billy Steele for Engadget While Apple equipped the iPhone 17 with its latest A19 chip, there's still a six-core CPU and five-core GPU - same as the iPhone 16. The difference here is that the GPU now has Neural Accelerators on each core, which Apple says will boost peak computing power for AI tasks. Unless you're coming from an older iPhone, you probably won't notice too much of an improvement year-to-year. Apple explains that the CPU performance in the iPhone 17 is up to 50 percent faster than the iPhone 13, but that phone is from four years ago - basically an eternity. Obviously, you'd expect to see a major uptick in speed when comparing the flashy new model to such an aging device. That said, the iPhone 17 speedily handled any task I threw at it. During my everyday use, I didn't encounter a single time the phone stuttered or struggled to complete the job. The only time I had to wait for anything was for Apple Intelligence and ChatGPT to generate my latest prompt or make a Genmoji in Image Playground (I don't recommend asking for a hot dog thunderstorm," by the way). What's more, I never noticed the iPhone 17 getting warm when using these AI tools on their own, but it did start to heat up when I simultaneously started multitasking (playing music, etc.). The iPhone 17 never got more than noticeably warm to the touch, though. I'm not an avid mobile gamer, but I did play some Destiny: Rising (a recommendation from the Engadget staff) on the iPhone 17 for my due diligence. The combination of the A19 chip and the 120Hz display provided silky smooth action for the first-person shooter, even in chaotic skirmishes. Plus, the iPhone 17 didn't get hot during my gaming sessions, despite not having the vapor chamber that the Pros do. This probably led me to play a lot longer than I should at times, since the device never got warm enough to remind me of how much time had passed. The iPhone 17 Pro, Pro Max and Air all have the more powerful A19 Pro chip, but the regular iPhone this year is a capable mobile gaming device too. The arrival of iOS 26 My colleague Mat Smith covered all the new features of iOS 26 in detail, so I'll refer you to his guide for the nitty gritty on the update. I will offer some quick thoughts on the new software overall, starting with Liquid Glass. After a week with the latest design, I'm still not a fan. In some areas the refresh is useful: I particularly like the changes to CarPlay, the phone app and Messages. I'm also starting to get onboard with the tweaks to the Camera app. But for every one update that's helpful, I find five more I hate. I don't like the new menu in Apple Music that sometimes requires an extra tap to reveal the options, which is one of my biggest annoyances. I do love the combination of the iPhone 17's always-on display and iOS 26's Priority Notifications. It's immensely helpful to glance over at my phone and see if there's anything I need to address immediately. This pairing is also handy when it shows me things when I might've missed a notification as it first popped up. It's only been a week, so I'm likely to find other elements I can put to good use as I spend more time with the new OS. And since iOS 26 is a bigger visual overhaul than Apple's typical annual refresh, the iPhone 17 feels like even more of an upgrade. Since I've also been using the AirPods Pro 3 for the last several days, two features I've tested a lot are the earbuds' heart-rate tracking and Live Translation. It's nice to not have to postpone a workout if my Apple Watch is charging, since I now know the AirPods Pro 3 will track my movement and properly credit my Activity Rings. I also can't wait to travel abroad with Live Translation, since the tests I've conducted at home have already produced surprisingly helpful results. Battery life Billy Steele for Engadget Once again, Apple promises all day" battery life on the iPhone 17. Of course, the company doesn't quantify that phrase, other than a commitment to 30 hours of video playback or 27 hours of streaming time. My colleague Sam Rutherford got nearly 25 hours while streaming a video as a comparison for his review of the iPhone Air. During a day of what I'd consider regular" use - checking email, responding to Slack messages, listening to music, calls, texting, scrolling Instagram and watching a few episodes of The Bear - I still had 16 percent battery left by bed time. That's after a day that started at 7AM and ended at 12AM, and I had the always-on display active the entire time. Apple slightly increased the MagSafe wireless charging wattage on the iPhone 17. It's now up to 25W (with a 30W adapter), which matches the iPhone 16 Plus, and is a 3W increase from the iPhone 16. If you don't mind cables, you can expect to recharge to 50 percent in 20 minutes with a 40W (or higher) adapter and to get halfway with a 30W charging accessory in half an hour. That charging-to-50-percent time on the iPhone 17 is faster than what you get on the 16 and 16 Plus by 10 and 15 minutes respectively. The competition If you're looking for a non-Apple alternative, Google's Pixel 10 is your best bet. It has improved performance compared to its predecessor along with an upgraded telephoto camera with 5x zoom. There's support for Google's take on MagSafe (Pixelsnap) and the Gemini-powered Magic Cue feature is surprisingly handy. Plus, the Pixel 10 starts at $799, just like the iPhone 17. Samsung's latest entry-level flagship, the Galaxy S25, is less of an obvious choice. Since the series has long been a rival of Apple's iPhone, it merits inclusion here. The S25's display and cameras haven't been upgraded over the S24's, but it has a powerful new processor and excellent battery life. Gemini works better on the S25 than it did in the past and there's the solid build quality that Samsung always offers at this price range. Speaking of cost, the S25 also costs the same as the iPhone 17. Wrap-up With the most significant update in years, the iPhone 17 is an easy choice for an upgrade for most people. Even if you're coming from the iPhone 16, you'll reap the benefits of the overhauled display and improved cameras. I don't say any of that lightly as I'm not a person who recommends getting a new phone every year. Most of the time, there simply aren't compelling enough changes to warrant it. That's not the case this year, and if you're coming from an iPhone that's a few years old, you'll likely feel as if you've stepped into the future. I went into this review expecting to be eager to return to my iPhone 16 Plus when I was through testing. And while I do prefer the larger device after using it for a year, the updates Apple has amassed on the iPhone 17 - especially the Center Stage camera - have appeased that desire... for now. I don't have much use for the performance boosts that the iPhone 17 Pro or Pro Max provide, and I can't justify splurging just for a bigger display. So, I can confidently say that even though there's one less option in the regular iPhone lineup than there was a year ago, the iPhone 17 is still the best iPhone for most of us. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/iphone-17-review-closer-to-pro-110055511.html?src=rss

Revealed at Meta's Connect 2025 conference, the Ray-Ban Display has a small, integrated display on the right lens, designed for quick, discreet glances at notifications, directions and even video calls. The clever part is its subtlety; to an onlooker, you're just wearing a pair of Ray-Bans, not accessing a tiny screen with your peripheral vision. (Although you will appear to offer multiple pensive stares into the middle-distance)Paired with a Meta Neural Band, which you wear on your wrist, the glasses respond to subtle hand gestures. A simple swipe of your thumb across your index finger navigates the interface, while a twist of the wrist handles volume control. This system makes interacting with the glasses feel impressively seamless and intuitive.While these glasses aren't about to make your smartphone obsolete, they represent a significant refinement of the smart eyewear concept. According to Engadget's Karissa Bell, who tested them earlier this week, they are a practical step towards integrating digital information more naturally into our daily lives.She also tested the Conversational Focus feature, which gives you live captions of the person you're speaking with even in a loud environment that may be hard to hear.The Ray-Ban Display are priced at $799 - once again a pricey test of new tech. They're heading to select US store shelves on September 30. Check out our full impressions right here.- Mat SmithGet Engadget's newsletter delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!The news you might have missed

The best iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro cases do more than just guard against drops - they can add MagSafe compatibility, extra grip, built-in stands or even a touch of luxury. Whether you're after slim and stylish, rugged and shockproof or something that adds a bit of personality, there's a case to match every need.

I've been testing smart glasses for almost a decade. And in that time, one of the questions I've been asked the most is "oh, but can you see anything in them?" For years, I had to explain that no, glasses like that don't really exist yet.That's no longer the case. And while I've seen a bunch of glasses over the last year that have some kind of display, the Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses feel the closest to fulfilling what so many people envision when they hear the words "smart glasses."To be clear, they don't offer the kind of immersive AR that's possible with Meta's Orion prototype. In fact Meta considers "display AI glasses" to be a totally separate category from AR. The display is only on one lens - the right - and its 20-degree field of view is much smaller than the 70 degrees on Orion. That may sound like a big compromise, but it doesn't feel like one.Karissa Bell for EngadgetThe single display feels much more practical for a pair of glasses you'll want to wear every day. It's meant to be something you can glance at when you need it, not an always-on overlay. The smaller size also means that the display is much sharper, at 42 pixels per degree. This was especially noticeable when I walked outside with the glasses on; images on the display looked even sharper than in indoor light, thanks to automatic brightness features.I also appreciated that you can't see any light from the display when you're looking at someone wearing the glasses. In fact the display is only barely noticeable at all when you at them up close.Having a smaller display also means that the glasses are cheaper, at $799, and that they don't look like the chunky AR glasses we've seen so many times. At 69 grams, they are a bit heavier and thicker than the second-gen Meta Ray-Bans, but not much. As someone who has tried on way too many pairs of thick black smart glasses, I'm glad Meta is offering these in a color besides black. All Wayfarer-style frames look wide on my face but the lighter "sand" color feels a lot more flattering.The Meta Ray-Ban Display (left) and second-gen Ray-Ban Meta glasses (right.) The display glasses are a little thicker.Karissa Bell for EngadgetThe Meta Neural Band wristband that comes with the display glasses functions pretty much the same as the band I used on the Orion prototype. It uses sensors to detect the subtle muscle movements on your hand and wrist and can translate that into actions within the glasses' interface.It's hard to describe, but the gestures for navigating the glasses interfaces work surprisingly well. I can see how it could take a little time to get used to the various gestures for navigating between apps, bringing up Meta AI, adjusting the volume and other actions, but they are all fairly intuitive. For example, you use your thumb to swipe along the the top of your index finger, sort of like a D-pad, to move up and down and side to side. And you can raise and lower the speaker volume by holding your thumb and index finger together and rotating your wrist right or left like it's a volume knob.It's no secret that Meta's ultimate goal for its smart glasses is to replace, or almost replace, your phone. That's not possible yet, but having an actual display means you can look at your phone a whole lot less.Karissa Bell for EngadgetThe display can surface incoming texts, navigation with map previews (for walking directions), and info from your calendar. I was also able to take a video call from the glasses - unlike Mark Zuckerberg's attempted live demo during his keynote - and it was way better than I expected. I could not only clearly see the person I was talking to and their surroundings, I could turn on my glasses' camera and see a smaller version of the video from my side.I also got a chance to try the Conversational Focus feature, which allows you to get live captions of the person you're speaking with even in a loud environment that may be hard to hear. There was something very surreal about getting real-time subtitles to a conversation with a person standing directly in front of me. As someone who tries really hard to not look at screens when I'm speaking to people, it almost felt a little wrong. But I can also see how this would be incredibly helpful to people who have trouble hearing or processing conversations. It would also be great for translations, something Meta AI already does very well.I also appreciated that the wristband allows you to invoke Meta AI with a gesture so you don't always have to say "Hey Meta." It's a small change, but I've always felt weird about talking to Meta AI in public. The display also addresses another one of my longtime gripes with the Ray-Ban Meta and Oakley glasses: framing a photo is really difficult. But with a display, you can see a preview of your shot, as well as the photo after the fact, so you no longer have to just snap a bunch and hope for the best.I've only had about 30 minutes with the glasses, so I don't really know how having a display could fit into my daily routine. But even after a short time with them, they really do feel like the beginning of the kind of smart glasses a lot of people have been waiting for.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/meta-ray-ban-display-hands-on-discreet-and-intuitive-002334346.html?src=rss

Meta's lineup of smart glasses could soon get a lot more capabilities. The company will begin allowing outside developers to bring their apps to its RayBan and Oakley smart glasses, Meta announced on the second day of its Connect event.Up to now, Meta has only had a limited number of third-party integrations for its glasses, with apps like Spotify and Audible. But Meta will now allow developers to start experimenting with apps that can take advantage of the built-in sensors and audio capabilities of its glasses. This means other companies will be able to create their own custom experiences that use Meta's multimodal AI features.The company is already working with a set of early partners, like Twitch, which is creating livestreaming capabilities for the glasses, and Disney, which is experimenting with an app for inside its parks. A demo video shows a visitor walking around Disneyland and asking the AI assistant about the rides she's seeing and other park information. 18Birdies, a golf app, is working on an integration that can give players club recommendations and yardage stats.Notably, these apps all seem like they work with Meta's non-display glasses, which means that even people who have first-gen Ray-Ban Meta glasses could see a bunch of added new functionality. It's not clear if the company will also allow developers to also build experiences that can take advantage of the display on its newest Meta Ray-Ban Display frames, but that could open up even more possibilities.Meta's new set of tools, officially called the "Wearables Device Access Toolkit," will roll out as a limited developer preview ahead of broader availability in 2026.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/meta-will-let-outside-developers-create-ai-powered-apps-for-its-smart-glasses-194159233.html?src=rss

Creators building experiences in Fortnite are getting a new way to earn revenue. Epic says developers will soon have the ability to make and sell in-game items in Fortnite, and earn a cut of the V-Bucks users spend to buy them. Previously, developers only earned money through Fortnite based on the amount of time users spent on their "islands," the in-game name for third-party experiences creators can offer through Fortnite.Developers will be able to create their consumable and durable in-game items using soon-to-be-released tools in Unreal Editor for Fortnite and a new "Verse-based API," according to Epic. The company also plans to be generous with the revenue split its offering, at least at first. Developers"will ordinarily earn 50 percent of the V-Bucks value from sales in their islands," but from December 2025 through the end of 2026, they'll get to keep 100 percent.Epic says its 50 percent cut - notably more than the 30 percent popularized by Apple's App Store - is to help "contribute to server hosting costs, safety and moderation costs, R&D and other operating expenses" of running Fortnite. It's also a make-good of sorts, since Epic claims it's been "investing and operating the business at a loss."How much 100 percent or 50 percent of "V-Bucks value" actually equals in real money unfortunately isn't as simple as converting Fortnite's digital currency to dollars, though. Epic offers the following explanation for how it calculates V-Bucks value:

The FTC and seven states sued Ticketmaster owner Live Nation on Wednesday. The lawsuit accused the company of knowingly allowing brokers to buy tickets in bulk. Ticketmaster allegedly then let them resell the tickets at a significant markup on its own second-hand market.The FTC claims Ticketmaster was aware that resellers routinely bypassed its security measures for these purchases. The company profits three times from resales. It collects fees at the initial purchase, followed by both buyer and seller fees upon resale. Between 2019 and 2024, Ticketmaster raked in $16.4 billion in fees, according to the FTC.The agency paints a picture of the company that epitomizes rampant corporate greed. The FTC claims an internal Live Nation review showed that five resellers alone harvested 246,407 tickets to 2,594 events. The agency accused Ticketmaster of admitting in an internal email that it "turn[s] a blind eye as a matter of policy."The company is said to even offer tech support to brokers through its TradeDesk app. The software is designed to consolidate and manage tickets purchased through multiple Ticketmaster accounts.Ticketmaster also allegedly failed to implement third-party identity verification tools that could have prevented the bulk purchases. Why? The FTC quotes the company as saying these tools would have been "too effective." The company is also said to have admitted to engaging in deceptive pricing. Their alleged reason: Customers were less likely to buy tickets when they saw the actual cost upfront.The FTC accused Live Nation of violating two laws: the FTC Act's ban on deceptive practices and the BOTS Act. The latter was signed by President Obama in 2016, just before leaving office. As its name suggests, it banned the use of bots or other software to obtain more tickets than is legally allowed. Earlier this year, President Trump issued an executive order to increase enforcement of the law.The suit was filed in the US District Court for the Central District of California. Joining the FTC in the suit are Virginia, Utah, Florida, Tennessee, Nebraska, Illinois and Colorado.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/the-ftc-sues-ticketmaster-for-allegedly-colluding-with-resellers-191337586.html?src=rss

Microsoft's Gaming Copilot AI assistant is officially coming to Windows PCs and the Xbox mobile app. The company has been testing the tool for PCs with Xbox Insiders, but now it's getting a broader rollout.To that end, it'll be available to players aged 18 and older on the PC Game Bar. The Xbox app version rolls out this October, for both Android and iOS, after a beta test took place earlier this year. Microsoft says that its Gaming Copilot will be available throughout the globe, except in mainland China.So what exactly is this thing? It's sort of like an AI version of those old Nintendo help phone lines. The chat box appears as an overlay on the screen and players can use it to ask questions or to get tips about a game. The company says it "knows what you're playing and understands your Xbox activity," as it uses in-game screenshots. It can also answer questions about an Xbox account and offer recommendations on stuff to buy.The official version also offers voice chat, so you can just ask the questions out loud. On PC, there's a "Push to Talk" hotkey that activates the bot, which is handy. The app includes a microphone button. There's a widget for the PC build that can be placed anywhere on the screen. This is useful for longer conversations.

In addition to new hardware announcements, Meta had software news to share during its Meta Connect 2025 conference today. The company revealed that Discord will be making a native app for the Meta Quest headset. According to Meta, the native window app will be available some time in 2026.The development makes sense. VR is a platform with a lot of gaming presence, so having Discord for easy social and voice connections while playing is a win for players and a natural match for the two businesses. Having a native app can make a big difference in the ease of use. I'm primarily a member of the PlayStation nation, and I swear I heard an angelic choir singing when the PS5 finally got call support.Meta positioned the upcoming availability of the native app as a boon for the developers of VR experiences to reach new audiences, thanks to Discord's more than 200 million monthly active players. We've reached out to Discord for additional comment and will update with any more details we receive.

Steam is officially dropping Windows 32-bit support at the end of this year, the company announced today. The only 32-bit version of Windows that is currently supported by Steam is Windows 10 32-bit. The company says 0.01 percent of systems reported through the Steam Hardware Survey are using that version of Windows. On any given day, Steam sees just over 36 million daily users, so it's safe to assume that this change will only affect a few thousand gamers.While this doesn't mean that your Steam client running on Windows 10 32-bit will self-destruct at midnight on January 1, it does mean that you will no longer receive updates or technical support. Microsoft is also sunsetting Windows 10 on October 14 of this year, which will similarly mean an end to security updates.Valve will still support Steam on Windows 10 64-bit for the time being. Windows 11 doesn't offer a 32-bit version, making it the first version not to offer 32-bit since the feature was introduced with Windows NT in 1993."Core features in Steam rely on system drivers and other libraries that are not supported on 32-bit versions of Windows," Steam explained in the announcement. Hopefully this change frees up enough bandwidth at Valve to get Half-Life 3 over the finish line.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/pc/steam-is-ending-support-for-windows-32-bit-next-year-171057805.html?src=rss

Back at I/O 2025, Google began integrating Gemini into Chrome. At the time, you needed an AI Pro or AI Ultra subscription to access the AI assistant in the browser. That's changing today. Google has begun rolling out the tool to all Chrome desktop users on both Windows and Mac. Provided you have Chrome's language set to English and live in the US, you'll see a new sparkle icon at the top of the interface. Tapping it will allow you to start making requests of Gemini.You can also use the tool on a smartphone. On Android, you can do so by holding your phone's power button. On iOS, meanwhile, Google is working on bringing the assistant to the Chrome app.GoogleSince its introduction at I/O, Google has made some enhancements to how Gemini works inside of Chrome. To start, the tool can now work across multiple tabs, allowing it to compare and summarize information from different websites. At the same time, Gemini can access your browsing history thanks to a new recall feature. Google suggests this can be helpful in situations where you can't quite remember where you saw something online. Instead of manually sifting through your browser history, you can write a prompt like "what was that blog I read on back to school shopping?" and Gemini will take care of the rest.The new version of Gemini for Chrome also offers deeper integrations with other Google services, including Calendar, YouTube and Maps. For instance, you can ask the assistant to schedule meetings for you, and if you're working through a long YouTube video, Gemini can generate timestamps you can use to jump around the video.GoogleAt the start of May, Google began using Gemini Nano to upgrade Chrome's Enhanced Protection suite. On Thursday, the company said Gemini Nano would also soon work to protect users against websites that use fake viruses or giveaways to trick them. Google has also added an algorithm that will learn your preferences for granting permissions. When it determines you're unlikely to grant a website permission to access your computer's camera or location, it will present those requests in a less intrusive way. Similarly, Google will add an AI designed to make it easier to update compromised credentials through Chrome's built-in password manager. Starting with a handful of supported websites - including Coursera, Duolingo and Spotify - you'll be able to change your passwords with a single click.In the coming months, Google plans to bring agentic capabilities to Chrome, meaning Gemini will be able to complete tasks for you. For example, the company envisions people using this feature to do their weekly grocery shopping through Instacart. The company first previewed this capability with Project Mariner at the end of 2024. Over the last year, a few different companies have released their own takes on web-surfing agents with mixed results. For example, people have complained of OpenAI's Operator failing to complete some tasks.Google"Our hope is that by the time this gets to users, we've done away with many of the potential snafus," said Mike Torres, vice president of product for Chrome, during a media briefing Google held ahead of today's announcement. "This is an experimental experience we're continuing to improve. We're not going to do something that compromises the user experience."Last but not least, Google is adding an AI Mode mode shortcut directly to Chrome's address bar. If you need a refresher, AI Mode is Google's dedicated search chatbot. At I/O 2025, the company made it available to every Search user in the US. Now you can access it without navigating to Google first. When I asked Torres about the button, he was quick to note users don't have to use the shortcut. "What we're trying to do is maintain users' existing behavior," he added.As with any major update from Google, it may take a few days for the new features to roll out to your installation of Chrome.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/gemini-in-chrome-no-longer-requires-a-subscription-170045611.html?src=rss

CoPilot+ PC owners have a new perk in the pipeline. Your AI PC will soon perform Notepad's AI writing features on-device - no subscription required. The app's summarize, write and rewrite options were introduced earlier this year.Up to this point, you've needed a CoPilot Pro or Microsoft 365 subscription to use Notepad's AI writing tools. So, if you've splurged on an AI PC, this could save you a few bucks each month. And if you have both a subscription and a CoPilot+ PC, it lets you choose between local and cloud generation.Microsoft is rolling out the new local AI feature now for its Windows Insider beta testers. It's available in English only, at least for now.MicrosoftPaint is also getting some love in the latest Insider builds. You can now save projects, Adobe-style. If you're in the middle of an edit, you can choose File > Save as project. You can then select a location to save the .paint file and pick up later where you left off.On top of that, Paint is also adding an opacity slider to the pencil and brush tools. Nobody in their right mind will describe MS Paint as a Photoshop rival. But at least the simple drawing and editing app is growing slightly more advanced. It's gotten a renewed focus from the company after adding AI image generation chops last year.Last but... definitely least is an update to Snipping Tool. Insiders will see a new quick markup option in the screenshot app. After snipping something onscreen, you'll find the feature in the capture toolbar. You can then scribble away before saving.All the Windows updates are available in the Canary and Dev Insider channels. Anyone with a Microsoft account can sign up for free. The company does occasionally cancel beta features before they're released to Windows proper. But that's more the exception than the rule.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/notepads-ai-writing-features-will-soon-run-locally-on-copilot-pcs-163518223.html?src=rss

A former lobbyist for Meta is now in charge of the EU's chief regulator for big tech firms, according to reporting by The Irish Times. Niamh Sweeney has been named commissioner of the Data Protection Commission (DPC), which is one of the largest EU data protection authorities.Prior to this, she worked at Meta for six years. Sweeney was director of European public policy at WhatsApp and head of Irish public policy at Facebook for many of those years. She becomes the third active commissioner of the regulatory body, joining Des Hogan and Dale Sutherland.As the responsibilities and scope of the DPC continue to grow, I am pleased that three commissioners will now lead and manage this key regulatory body," said Ireland's Minister for Justice Jim O'Callaghan.

China is ending its antitrust probe into Google, which had centered around Android's ubiquity in the mobile world and what impact, if any, it was having on Chinese phone makers like Oppo and Xiaomi that use the software. As reported by the Financial Times, this move comes amid ongoing discussions between the US and Chinese governments over TikTok, NVIDIA, tariffs and the broader trading relationship between the world's two largest economies.Google's search engine remains blocked in China, along with many of its other core products like Gmail, YouTube and Google Maps. Despite this, the tech giant still generates substantial revenue in the country through cloud services and ad sales to Chinese companies targeting overseas audiences.According to the Financial Times, the decision by Beijing to ease up on Google is a tactical move, as China increasingly flexes its regulatory scrutiny on NVIDIA as a negotiating tool during trade talks with the US.Earlier this summer NVIDIA struck a deal with the Trump administration to sell its pared-back H20 GPUs in China on the condition that it gives the US government 15 percent of the sales. Shortly thereafter, however, China began discouraging local companies from buying the H20 chips. Recently, the government outright banned Chinese tech companies from buying NVIDIA's newest AI chip made specifically for the region, the RTX Pro 6000D.In yet another move to exert control and flex power, Chinese regulators have accused NVIDIA of violating Chinese antitrust laws with its acquisition of chipmaker Mellanox. Were the chipmaker to be found in violation of China's anti-monopoly law, the company could owe fines between 1 percent and 10 percent of its 2024 sales.US and Chinese officials just wrapped three days of trade talks in Madrid, with President Donald Trump and President Xi Jinping set to speak on Friday. The leaders are expected to discuss a supposed framework for a TikTok deal that would cede control of the company's US business to American companies, resulting in a roughly 80 percent stake in the entity domestically.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/china-closes-antitrust-probe-into-googles-android-operating-system-145815140.html?src=rss

If you've just shelled out thousands of dollars on one of Samsung's smart fridges, you'd be forgiven for expecting it to leave you alone, rather than encouraging you to spend even more money. But that is no longer the case - following a recent update, you'll start seeing ads on the fridge's display.According to Android Authority, the new software update is being rolled out to Samsung's Family Hub refrigerators in the US, and will now display ads and promotions while the display is idle. In a statement to the outlet, Samsung confirmed that it's conducting a pilot program as part of its commitment to (brace yourselves for this one) "enhancing every day value for our home appliance customers."The Cover Screen on which ads show up appears when a refrigerator is not displaying something else, such as Samsung's Art Mode or a photo album. Samsung told Android Authority that advertising won't appear when one of these modes is active, adding that specific ads can also be dismissed and won't appear again while the campaign is running.What the statement doesn't make clear is whether advertising can be turned off altogether, which again, seems like a reasonable option given that you can expect to pay anything between $1,800 and $3,500 for a Family Hub-equipped fridge. But it doesn't appear to be possible while the pilot period is live. It also isn't clear if any specific models are omitted from the testing.Back in April, Samsung's head of R&D for digital appliances, Jeong Seung Moon, told The Verge that at that time the company had no plans to bring ads to its smart home displays, but in the case of its refrigerators it appears to have changed its mind pretty quickly.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/home/smart-home/samsungs-very-expensive-family-hub-fridges-will-now-treat-you-to-ads-on-their-displays-143529070.html?src=rss

With streaming service prices constantly on the rise, it can feel like good deals are few and far between. But they do come around every once in a while - such is the case with Paramount+ right now. You can get half off annual subscriptions through September 18; that brings the Essential (with ads) plan down to $30 for one year instead of $60, and the Premium plan down to $60 for the year instead of $120. This is a substantial deal that both new and returning subscribers can take advantage of; it's not uncommon for this type of serious discount to only be offered to a first-timer. Anyone who signs up for a year-long subscription to Paramount+ from now through September 18 will be able to get this pricing. The only real caveat with this deal is that you have to pay for the full year in advance; month-to-month subscriptions will still cost the usual rate. Paramount+ has some great programming options, particularly if you're a fan of anything involving RuPaul. It's also the home of Star Trek: Strange New Worlds and Star Trek: Lower Decks, which are arguably the best modern additions to the sci-fi show's canon, as well as the other past and present Star Trek series. The platform offers a solid lineup of sports as well. And if you opt to go for the Premium plan, you'll also be granted access to Showtime titles such as Yellowjackets and the rebooted Dexter: Resurrection. Check out our coverage of the best streaming 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/paramount-deal-its-the-last-chance-to-save-50-percent-on-annual-subscriptions-212655375.html?src=rss

Try as I might, turn-based strategy games don't usually do it for me. That's one reason I haven't yet dipped into Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, many people's favorite of the year so far. I'd almost always rather be playing a more action-based game.But after trying the demo for Flick Shot Rogues on a whim during the most recent Steam Next Fest, the game hasn't been far from my thoughts. The debut title from Butter By The Fish, a three-person studio in Germany, arrived on Steam this week. Despite the likes of Hollow Knight: Silksong tugging at my attention, I keep turning back to this pirate-themed, turn-based roguelite.It's a bit like Subbuteo but with crabs, monkeys and lasers. Each level features several enemies on red discs that you have to take out by flicking your character toward them. One hero causes damage when you clatter into enemies, and another will smash every foe within a certain radius after they stop moving. My favorite, the Froggomancer, collects frogs and uses them to attack goons that they slide by or end up next to.You can take a couple of characters into each run (and swap to the other one before your turn) and equip each with a relic. These include fire damage, lightning attacks and sticky bombs. Many of these have chain effects, so you can use them to attack multiple bad guys in one turn. Since this is a roguelite, you'll upgrade your abilities as you go. After the first couple of stages, each level has at least one enemy or boss with a yellow disc. Once you take those out, you beat that wave or level.There are no prizes for guessing that putting together a strong build is a big part of this game. In one run, I tripled up on a trinket that gave me a 50 percent attack boost (so 150 percent extra damage) when I had full shields, making the first shot of each round all the more important.Flick Shot Rogues echoes one of my favorite games of 2023, Subpar Pool. I played quite a bit of snooker and pool growing up, and I always enjoyed figuring out the angle and power of my shot - executing it successfully was an entirely different matter. Being able to replicate that here is one reason why I'm digging this game so much.You can see where your character will end up after hitting a wall or enemy to help you better plan your turn. So, for once in a video game, I'm slowing down and taking more time to actually consider the consequences of my actions before doing anything.The tactility of slamming my character's disc into enemies and causing a killer chain reaction helps make Flick Shot Rogues feel more active and engaging to me than many other turn-based games I've tried. Each runs can take up to an hour or so, but they don't feel anything like that long.I do wish the game did a better job of communicating the enemies' next moves and how their attacks work. It's not clear to me, for instance, when a yellow-disc enemy is about to teleport to the other side of a level. You'll often get an indicator of what your foes are about to do, but not every time. That makes it a little more difficult to decide whether to attack, make a defensive move or reposition for a better angle on my next turn.But still, I keep coming back for more. Launching a barrage of fire-inducing frogs after squeezing through a narrow gap on a bank shot is pretty fun. I'm looking forward to finding out what other characters, relics and enhancements can do.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/flick-shot-rogues-is-the-rare-turn-based-game-that-my-brain-is-gelling-with-133020834.html?src=rss

Nothing has unveiled its latest premium earbuds, the Ear 3 ($179), which look ready to pair tastefully with its newest Phone 3. The company has refined its headphone series with an aluminum finish (in places) across both the buds and the case.Also housed inside the case is the Ear 3's new standout feature/gimmick: the Super Mic. It's like a walkie-talkie for your wireless headphones, pitched as a noise-banishing mic option - but I'll get to that later.A slightly revamped design apparently gives the Ear 3 20 percent more signal sensitivity for less audio dropout, something that the company's buds have occasionally been guilty of in the past. The design revamp should also mean the buds fit better. There's a more natural" stem angle, according to Nothing, and internal venting to reduce in-ear pressure.Image by Mat Smith for EngadgetThe case is a similar blend of recycled aluminum and plastic, but made with a new nano-injection process that fuses together the metal and plastic parts. That means there's no glue, which normally means a win for repairability. However, you can wrench off glue. Fused-together plastic and aluminum will probably be far more challenging. Alongside the USB-C charger, there's the grill of the aforementioned Super Mic, small enough to be confused for a 3mm headphone jack. Another nice design touch is a lanyard loop on the opposite side of the ports. Companies like lanyards now.What is a Super Mic? It's a second pair of mics that live inside the charging case. The premise is that - thanks to beamforming tech and the ability to be positioned just like a traditional handheld mic - the Super Mic is better able to block out everything that isn't your voice. The process feels like you're still talking on earbuds, but with a walkie-talkie from the distant future. That distant future doesn't have full software support, however. Supported in-app calls include Zoom, Teams, Google Meet, WhatsAppand WeChat.However, voice recordings are a little different. There is support for native voice memos on both Android and iOS, as well as in Blackmagic's third-party video app. But if you like sending voice notes in Messages, WhatsApp and the like, you're out of luck. Nothing told me that it couldn't force the Super Mic to override the default mic inputs on smartphones. Likewise, you can't use it as a remote mic for video recording either - unless you use the Blackmagic app.In use, the Super Mic makes calls and voice notes sound clearer. That was the verdict from both my own iOS Voice Memos and a handful of calls I made with friends and family, switching between just the Ear 3 bud mics and the Super Mic. I was surprised that listeners didn't detect any significant reduction in environmental noise when I made calls in a coffee shop, but conversation partners said I sounded clearer. What I liked was being able to talk at a lower volume and still be picked up by the Super Mic - a notable difference from the buds.Image by Mat Smith for EngadgetThere are upgrades within the buds themselves, too. Each has three directional mics and a bone conduction VPU (voice pickup unit) to improve how well it can pick up speech. We've seen countless bone conduction headphones and headsets over the years, but Nothing's implementation is a little subtler. The benefit of bone-conducted signals is that they're less likely to be affected by wind and other noises. Nothing says its noise cancellation tech can reduce external noise by over 25 dB.However, while listening to them over the last few days, the Ear 3 doesn't seem to isolate sound well enough from noise. I'd often hear an environmental hiss while using the ANC. Compared to recent buds I've tested like the Pixel Buds Pro 2 and AirPods Pro 2, the noise cancellation seems a little weak. Priced at $179, the Ear 3 aren't as keenly priced as its predecessors (Ear 2 launched at $149, while the Ear Stick was $99), which means expectations are higher.Nothing has improved the sound of the Ear 3, thanks to the redesign of the 12mm dynamic driver and other adjustments. I noticed far more prominent bass tones compared to the Ear 2, while trebles sounded richer and less whistly. You can also use Nothing X companion app to tweak the equalizers for your preferred listening experience.Image by Mat Smith for EngadgetThat's not the only software hook. Nothing has integrated a handful of AI features, but these require a recent Nothing phone to be used. Essential Space - the company's take on pulling together voice notes, reminders, screenshots and more - can be directly connected to the Super Mic. Outside of call apps, you can press and hold to record voice notes, which will sync and be transcribed automatically. (There's also ChatGPT functionality built in; by double-pinching, you can make requests to OpenAI's chatbot.)The Ear 3 lasts longer than its predecessor, too. On Nothing's Ear 2, you could expect around four hours of listening with ANC, with the case adding 22.5 hours of listening. On the upgraded model, Nothing estimates you'll get roughly 5.5 hours of ANC listening, and then a further 22 hours from the case. With a five-minute charge, Nothing claims the buds will last up to an hour of audio (without ANC).The Ear 3 will launch in both white and black colors on September 25 for $179, and preorders are open now on Nothing's site and retail partners.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/audio/headphones/nothing-ear-3-buds-price-release-date-impressions-123006913.html?src=rss

NVIDIA has today announced it will invest $5 billion in Intel as part of a new collaboration between the two companies. In a statement, NVIDIA said it would work with its ailing rival to jointly develop multiple generations of custom data center and PC products." The partnership will focus on "seamlessly integrating" NVIDIA's class-leading GPUs and AI chips with Intel's ailing x86 CPUs. Some of that work will be based on harnessing NVLink, NVIDIA's existing system to marry-up x86 CPUs with its own silicon in big data center setups. And Intel will also be tasked with building NVIDIA-custom x86 CPUs" for integration with the latter company's AI products.More interestingly for consumers, however, is the news Intel will "build" what's being described as "x86 system-on-chips (SOCs) that integrate NVIDIA RTX GPU chiplets." The quote says these "RTX SOXs will power a wide range of PCs that demand integration of world-class CPUs and GPUs." Now, it's not clear if this means the end of Intel's in-house graphics silicon, or if they'll be built in Intel's own foundries. But the consequences of such a move could be wide-ranging if the focus is on broadening access to NVIDIA's high-end GPU technology.The statement includes personal remarks from both NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang, who says the deal tightly couples" Intel's x86 CPUs with NVIDIA's AI technology. Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan, meanwhile, says the deal will combine its CPU know-how, its process technology, manufacturing and advanced packaging capabilities" with NVIDIA's. If we take that at face value, it could be that NVIDIA has opted to use Intel's foundry - chip manufacturing for third parties - business to build some of its own silicon. But given Intel has struggled to find customers for that business, and the repeated failure of its ability to build its own chips, we'll be interested in seeing how this all shakes out. Especially if NVIDIA, for far less than the cost of buying Intel outright, has essentially turned its former rival into a sales front for its own tech.Intel's leadership space in the chip world has been eroded over the last two decades as momentum shifted toward its rivals. It developed, and then passed on, the EUV manufacturing technology that enables the chips found in most smartphones and GPUs. It was given the opportunity to invest and collaborate with OpenAI back in 2017, but passed on that and therefore missed its shot with the AI Boom. And, of course, its own engineering momentum slowed as it became harder to make faster chips with its older processes while TSMC, who went all-in on EUV, scored a galaxy of blue chip clients like Apple, Qualcomm and NVIDIA. Intel then fired then-CEO Pat Gelsinger at the end of 2024, who was widely known as the only figure who would have been able to pull Intel back from the brink. Meanwhile, rivals like Qualcomm and ARM began circling in the hope of buying some or all of the company.And while Intel has seen its previously-healthy revenues fall, NVIDIA has seen record profits on the back of the AI boom.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/nvidia-throws-intel-a-5-billion-lifeline-to-build-pc-and-data-center-cpus-122030186.html?src=rss

Uber Eats is testing out drone deliveries yet again, this time in partnership with Flytrex. To note, Flytrex is one of the drone operators behind Walmart's drone deliveries and already delivers food in some parts of the US. It's one of the four providers that received authorization by the FAA for Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) operations, in which pilots can't see the aircraft they're controlling directly. The partnership, the companies said, will enable Uber Eats customers to receive orders within minutes while reducing road congestion. They're planning to launch their drone delivery service for pilot markets in the US by the end of the year.As part of their partnership, Uber is also making an investment in Flytrex, giving it the resources needed to be able to accelerate the deployment of its drone technology in the US. "Autonomous technology is transforming mobility and delivery faster than ever before" said Sarfraz Maredia, the President of Autonomous Mobility and Delivery at Uber. "With Flytrex, we're entering the next chapter - bringing the speed and sustainability of drone delivery to the Uber Eats platform, at scale, for the first time."It sounds like Uber is expecting this pilot testing program to have a much wider reach that its previous attempt. Way back in 2018, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi talked about the possibility of starting a drone-based food delivery service by 2021. Uber, under a product called Uber Elevate, then made a few test deliveries in partnership with McDonald's in 2020, but the service didn't get a wide release. The company also unveiled its own unmanned aerial system capable of vertical take-off and landing that was designed to carry meals for two people, but it's unclear what happened to that particular project.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/apps/uber-will-once-again-test-delivering-food-by-drone-this-year-120017602.html?src=rss

At Meta Connect 2025's kickoff event, Mark Zuckerberg unveiled a trio of new smart eyewear, including its first model with augmented reality. Meta's boss also announced the second generation Ray-Ban Meta, as well as a pair of Oakley-branded sunglasses designed for athletes. In addition, Zuckerberg launched Horizon TV, a new entertainment hub for the Quest headsets, which will give you easy access to Disney+, Prime Video and other streaming services in virtual reality. Here's everything you might have missed.Ray-Ban Meta "Gen 2"MetaThe second-gen Ray-Ban Meta glasses come with improved battery life that the company says can now last up to eight hours with "typical use." Even their accompanying charging case provides an additional 48 hours of juice, compared to the previous version's 32 hours. The model is equipped with a 12-megapixel camera that can capture videos in 3K Ultra HD, with up to 60 frames per second and HDR support, as well as 32GB of storage. This fall, Meta will also roll out updates that will bring hyperlapse and slow-motion video capture to all its glasses, including this one. The Gen 2 Ray-Ban Meta glasses are now available with the same three base frames as their predecessor, namely Wayfarer, Skyler and Headliner, and will cost you at least $379.Read more: Meta unveils its second-gen Ray-Ban smart glasses at ConnectOakley Meta VanguardMetaUnlike the original Oakley Meta glasses, the Vanguard was clearly designed to cater to athletes. It features the wraparound frames Oakley is known for, with reflective swappable lens in different colors. Due to how it curves around the face, Meta placed its 12-megapixel camera in the center of the frames so that helmets and hats don't ruin your shots. The camera on this model has a wider 122-degree angle lens and adjustable video stabilization so that you can still take videos while moving. Meta told us that the device's battery was optimized for a wider range of temperatures, as well, allowing it to hold up better in harsh environments. In addition to the better battery life, the Vanguard also has louder onboard speakers and will come with integrations for Strava and Garmin. The Oakley Meta Vanguard glasses are now available for preorder for $499 and will be officially available on October 21.Read more: Oakley Meta Vanguard are the smart glasses athletes might actually wantMeta Ray-Ban DisplayMetaThe Meta Ray-Ban Display is the company's first pair of AR glasses. Its lenses function as translucent heads-up displays (HUD) that can show you texts, AI prompts, turn-by-turn pedestrian navigation and video calls. The dedicated EMG wristband it's paired with will allow you to interact with the HUD's interface and will even give you the ability to type out responses. Video calling didn't work properly during its on-stage demo, but Zuckerberg was able to play a song on Spotify, demonstrate a real-time subtitle feature that could be a huge help for those with hearing impairments, as well as capture and view images. The Meta Ray-Ban Display will be available through a limited number of brick-and-mortar stores, including Best Buy, LensCrafters, Ray-Ban and Verizon, since you'll have to be fitted for the wristband. You'll be able to get it for $799 starting on September 30 in the US and starting early next year in Canada, France, Italy and the United Kingdom.Read more: Meta Ray-Ban Display glasses offer an AR display for $799Meta Horizon TVMetaNear the end of the Meta Connect keynote, Zuckerberg announced a new entertainment hub for Quest headsets. Called Horizon TV, it's a unified interface for the streaming services available on the device, including Prime Video and Peacock. The Meta CEO also revealed that Disney+ is coming to Quest headsets.Read more: Meta Horizon TV is an entertainment hub for VR headsetsThis article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/wearables/everything-meta-announced-at-connect-2025-second-gen-ray-ban-meta-oakley-meta-vanguard-and-meta-ray-ban-display-100007120.html?src=rss

A simple experiment can tell you whether an ergonomic keyboard could be more comfortable for you: With your elbows hugged into your sides, bring your thumbs to touch in front of you. Now angle your elbows slightly outward and separate your hands. If the latter position feels better, you may appreciate the design of an ergonomic keyboard. These boards split, tilt and/or angle the keys in so your shoulders and chest feel more open and your forearms and wrists stay aligned.