Do you need a cellular plan on your Apple Watch?

My opinion on this matter mimics quite literally everything Jason Cross at Macworld said about this topic. For most people, you don’t need a cellular plan.

I’ve never even considered having a plan in the last 10 years.

Cross quotes a cellular plan at an extra $10/month, but with fees it’s closer to $15-$20 per month.

Everytime he finds a reason to need a cellular plan, he finds a valid excuse:

For example, if you’re a runner that wants to run outdoors without the awkwardness of an iPhone strapped to you somewhere, and don’t want to give up listening to music or a podcast, an Apple Watch streaming to your earbuds is a great solution. You can always download the music or podcast ahead of time—cellular would let you stream, but that’s a minor convenience… 

I’ve seen reports of people who were glad they had their cellular Apple Watch to make a phone call when out on a hike without their iPhone, which I suppose could happen. But… you hike without your iPhone? You don’t want your camera with you, or the capability to connect to a satellite if you’re out of cellular range? (Emergency SOS via satellite isn’t a feature of the Apple Watch.)

The only real excuses?

The real benefit would be staying in touch via text or phone while out on your iPhone-free run…

Note that if you want to set up an Apple Watch for your child using a Kids account, it must have cellular. This is meant for a child that doesn’t have their own phone and ensures that you’ll always be able to locate them with Find My, send or receive texts or calls, and control their access to apps or notifications.

Most freak situations like swimming outdoors, paddle boarding, and surfing might warrant a cellular connection, but beyond that, your iPhone will likely be on your person or very close by.

Save yourself the $100 premium plus the monthly costs.

If you go stainless steel or titanium, the cellular capability will be built-in, but you don’t have to activate a plan.

For the record, I used a spare iPhone for my three young kids at $12/month with all fees included. The phone is given to the kid who will be away from home depending on their schedules.

The Right Way to Backup your iPhone.

Many people will be getting new iPhones this holiday season, and there’s nothing worse than having your transfer to another iPhone go bad without having a proper backup.

It’s easy to just backup your iPhone to iCloud, but there is a proper way to do it so you have little to no problems in case you need it.

Here is the proper way to backup your device to iCloud:

1. Update all your apps to the latest version in the App Store.

2. Force quit all your apps.

3. Restart your iPhone to remove any software gremlins running in the background.

4. Backup your iPhone to iCloud.

There is no 100% failsafe solution, but this method has always worked for me and gave me a reliable backup to fall back to.

Will the iPhone SE 3rd gen become a collector's item?

With the EU discontinuing any phone that does not have a USB-C port, that means aloha to the iPhone 14 and iPhone SE. 

The iPhone SE by itself is a mediocre iPhone, but it has the potential to become a collector’s item one day.

It will probably be decades before it is, but it has a lot of “lasts” that make it unique as a collector’s item:

1. Last iPhone with a lightning port.

2. Last iPhone with an LCD screen.

3. Last iPhone with Touch ID(?).

4. Last iPhone with a Home Button.

Touch ID might return to an iPhone near you, but what won’t return is the Home Button. 

One of the most iconic features of the iPhone era.

It doesn’t seem like a big deal right now, but it was the gateway to safety. The gateway back home.

No matter where you were on your phone, if you felt lost, you could always come home simply with a press.

In this case, a haptic press.

I passed up my chance to get the “Designed by Apple in California” book, when it was released, making the excuse that it was “too expensive.” 

Retailing for $199 for the small version and $299 for the large version, that seems like peanuts now since they’re fetching over $1,000 online in excellent condition. I wanted to buy one to look at and one to keep as an investment, but it might be too late.

The iPhone SE is still readily available.

Apple Collectors, don’t lose your chance.

Apple Watch compatibility with iPhones.

There’s a slew of iPhones and Apple Watches out there, but not every watch is compatible with every iPhone. How do you get around the confusion?

Apple has a convenient website that lets you know what is compatible, but the chart does not help you if you own an iPhone SE.

I am here to fill in the gap so you know what is compatible with your iPhone SE 1st, 2nd, or 3rd generation. This will be updated as new iPhones, watches, and software updates are announced.

Here’s the link: Apple Watch Compatibility Chart (updated 12-22-24)

To find out what iPhone SE or Apple Watch model you have check out these links:

Identifying your iPhone model

Identifying your Apple Watch model

Updated 12/22/24 @ 8PM: Spreadsheet was updated with more accurate iPhone SE compatibility.

Anker MagGo Apple Watch Power Bank Review - a lone champion.

Following the recent recall of Belkin’s BoostCharge Pro Fast Wireless Charger for Apple Watch + Power Bank 10K, (that’s one heck of a name), there are now only a handful of official fast charging power banks for the Apple Watch.

Two to be exact.

You have Otterbox’s 2-in-1 Power Bank with Apple Watch Charger, and the other one is the Anker MagGo Power Bank for Apple Watch.

The Otterbox one is cheaper at $35, but it has several limitations that make the Anker MagGo at $55 a much better deal. The only thing the Otterbox version has going for it is its smaller size and price. But for just $20, you can get so much more for your money. Not to mention your watch might not be as secure as you would like on the charging stand. Throw a steel Apple watch with a link bracelet, and I bet it falls off.

Here’s a quick chart comparison:

In terms of design and aesthetics, the Anker MagGo Power Bank looks and feels like a high quality product. Say goodbye to battery packs with rubbery coatings that inevitably get sticky and attract more lint than wool pants. The top is a curved matte-plastic with a glossy sheen, while the bottom is a matte plastic with 4 little feet that  probably are screw covers.

The sides are matte but ridged so you get a grippy surface. The MagSafe puck can be flush with the device or can be positioned at 90 degrees if you have a special band that won’t lie flat like the link bracelet . The puck is a bit stiff to bring up and down, but I would rather have it be a bit stiff vs being loose.

The built-in USB-C cable is supposedly very durable since it acts as a lanyard, and only time will tell how well it holds up. It’s not meant to be lassoed around, but if you just use it to pick it up and put away, that should be fine. The cord material is nice and might be made of the same material as an Apple Watch sport band. It feels like the Apple coined, “fluoroelastomer” material. The cord easily glides out of the slot to be used to charge any other USB-C device and nestles back into its space magnetically, which is satisfying.

You can charge the battery bank two ways: with the built-in cord, or with the built-in port. You also get infinite battery life if you plug in the cord to the port (you don’t actually get infinite battery life by doing that).

The button next to the cord allows you to turn on the display to check battery status, and pressing it again changes the orientation of the read-out. If you take the puck charger out at its 90 degree angle, the display automatically orients itself in the right direction. The display turns blue when charging other devices, and green when being charged up. You also get wattage readouts for each device being charged. Up to 3 devices at the same time.

So does it actually live up to its claim of fast charging the Apple Watch Series 10 from 0-80 in 30 minutes? 

Yes it does.

I drained my 42mm Jet Black Series 10, and I got 82% after 30 minutes. With the larger sized watches I am sure they will meet the 80% claim. I even tested the 41mm Series 9, and I got 88% in 45 minutes which exceeds Apple’s 80% in 45 minutes claim.

The Anker MagGo Power Bank for the Apple Watch is the lone champion right now if you want an external power bank that can fast charge the latest Apple Watches. Even though it is the only option with faster charging, it does not skimp on features and functionality, making it a great buy. Normally priced at $80, it is currently on sale for $65, and if you keep track of the price, you can get it for even cheaper (I got mine for $55).

iPhone 16 Camera Control - an Accessibility control Apple needs to add.

I’ve complained not once, but twice about the single click to take a photo being a bad idea. The iPhone shakes at exactly the wrong time and you risk taking a blurry photo, especially if you’re doing it one-handed.

Considering how much customizability Apple gives you in the Camera Control settings, they can easily make one more customization:

A single light press (the half-press with haptic feedback) to take photos. This does mean no more menu system to adjust common camera controls like exposure, zoom, etc., but there is already an option under Accessibility that allows you to disable the Light-Press and Swipe gestures altogether, getting rid of the common camera controls.

If Apple is OK with getting rid of the common camera controls, why not let us use a single or double click to launch the camera, and a single light press to take a photo?

Apple even included 3 sensitivity settings for light presses in accessibility, so you can fine tune the force for light presses.

This would honestly be a game changer and would make more people use the feature, especially for people who have a hard time pressing a button that is already flush with the phone’s body, making it the hardest button to press on the device.

How to turn on the “Always On Display” on your iPhone.

Apple introduced it’s first always on display for the iPhone 14 Pro. It works fine most of the time, but sometimes it just turns itself off for no apparent reason. I even did a fresh from zero setup for my iPhone 16 Pro Max and stil,l once every 2 days or so, the Always On Display just turns itself off.

I could go into Settings > Display & Brightness > Always On Display and toggle it on, but why do that when I can just use a shortcut instead?

If you’re having the same problem, a one-click shortcut will fix it.

How to get the maximum brightness on your iPhone.

By default, Apple has auto-brightness on your iPhone set to ON.

When you are indoors, you will never achieve the max brightness that your phone can achieve with this setting turned on.

Yes, even if you go to control center and slide the brightness all the way up, it will not be its brightest.

To unlock your maximum brightness and really see it shine, I need you to follow this process:

1. Go to a dimly lit area.

2. Make sure your phone has Dark Mode turned OFF.

3. Open your Control Center and maximize your brightness. Now you are setup to see eye-blinding brightness.

4. Go to Settings > Accessibility > Display and Text Size, and scroll all the way down and disable auto-brightness.

Watch the screen and notice how much brighter it gets!

Remember one thing: this is great for indoor brightness only.

If you do want the highest brightness outdoors, you need to keep the auto-brightness setting ON. That is the only way to get peak brightness on your iPhone when outdoors. Apple limits this so your screen doesn’t max out at 2000 nits of brightness all day long and either destroy your screen or your battery life.

Instead of having to go through settings each time to toggle this on and off, you can ask Siri to either, “Turn on auto brightness” or “Turn off auto brightness.”

If you want to change the setting in silence, add this shortcut to take you right to the auto brightness toggle with a single click:

Auto brightness shortcut

Note: Tested on iOS 17 and iOS 18.2 Developer Beta

Are RCS messages encrypted?

The short answer is no, but the devil is in the details.

With iOS 18, Apple has introduced RCS messages, which is a new industry standard in messaging that allows you to send high quality videos and photos instead of those abysmally low-resolution photos and videos you currently send to your fellow Android users.

RCS also supports delivery and read message receipts just like iMessage.

In a nutshell, it makes your interaction with non-iPhone users more like iMessage, while still keeping the green bubble.

Not all carriers support RCS, but remember one thing.

One very important thing.

RCS is not end-to-end encrypted.

According to Apple’s site:

Apple’s implementation of RCS is based on the industry’s standard. RCS messages aren’t end-to-end encrypted, which means they're not protected from a third-party reading them while they're sent between devices.

Besides the messages themselves, What other sensitive information about you can be transmitted when using RCS? 

More than you think:

User identifiers are exchanged for your carrier and their partners to authenticate your device and provide a connection. These identifiers could include but are not limited to your IMEI, IMSI, current IP address, and phone number. Your current IP address might also be shared with other RCS users.

It’s funny how all the news around RCS focuses on high end photo and video transmission, but no one emphasizes that it is just as insecure as regular SMS/MMS.

If you really want to have secure group chats that allow high quality images and videos, stick with a more secure platform such as WhatsApp.

Or better yet, you could just convince your friends to get an iPhone and use iMessage, which is end-to-end encrypted.

Your new iPhone is going to get stolen unless you watch your window like a nerd.

Tyler Lacoma from CNET discussing how criminals are stealing iPhones this holiday season:

They follow package deliveries and nab the shipment the moment it's dropped off. In most cases, these thieves run up and grab a package from a porch or doorstep only seconds after the delivery person leaves.

Reports indicate that these thefts are frequently occurring with AT&T iPhone purchases and FedEx deliveries, although the details can vary.

Across the United States, especially on the East Coast. Cases have been reported in New York, Massachusetts, Florida, Texas, Virginia, Georgia, Pennsylvania and other states. In some cases teens and young adults have been apprehended and accused of stealing these packages, while in other cases the thieves have not been caught.

How are thieves able to do this?

Two important reasons. First, these thieves are somehow getting tracking numbers or similar tracking information for iPhone deliveries, so they get real-time updates about when and where packages are delivered, allowing them to swoop in the moment the package status changes.

Second, AT&T is one of the few telecom companies that -- in many cases -- doesn't require signatures for high-value deliveries like iPhones. That allows thieves to steal packages when they are left unattended.

Yes, having a signature required is a step in making sure your device isn’t stolen, but I have never been asked for a signature even though UPS requires it too. They just ring the bell (sometimes) and walk away. With their crazy schedules, I doubt any delivery carrier will get signatures to the extent they need to, especially during the holiday season.

Assume you’re at risk regardless of which carrier you’re getting your phone from, not just AT&T.

Your best bet is to be home and have someone watching the window.

Apple's MagSafe Battery Pack 3 years later - why it is still the most versatile battery pack.

Announced back in July 2021, Apple’s MagSafe Battery Pack was the first official MagSafe battery bank. Although it doesn’t have the capacity of many cheaper alternatives in the market, it arguably has the most versatility. 

That versatility all comes down to its lightning port.

Apple is phasing out the lightning port, but the fact is there are still millions, if not hundreds of millions of people who still use a lightning iPhone.

You and I might have switched to USB-C, but we all probably know at least one person in our families that has a lightning iPhone. 

If you plug in your MagSafe Battery Pack with a lightning cable and have your iPhone attached, it will charge both the battery pack and the iPhone. That’s a given.

What most people find surprising is that if you plug in your iPhone via USB-C to charge while the battery pack is attached, it will charge your iPhone and reverse charge your battery pack. 

If you are ever stuck in a pinch and need to borrow someone’s “iPhone cable,” you don’t have to worry about what cable they hand you because you can top up both devices with either lightning or USB-C.

I have mine since launch day back in July 2021, and it has still held up well. I recently tested it on my 15 and 16 Pro Max devices, and the software integration is still there, with some false promises:

iPhone can charge to approximately 90% while using a MagSafe battery pack.

Not sure why it says that because the most this battery could charge an iPhone is 70% for an iPhone 12 or 13 mini.

In actuality, my 16 Pro Max charged from 20% to 59%, which is on par with Apple’s claim of 40% for the 12, 13, and 14 Pro Max. 

This device technically is not supported on any of the iPhones 15 and 16 according to their website, but it still works. 

Once again, not the most capacity, but still has great versatility for those situations where all you have access to is a lightning cable.

Even though it is discontinued, you can grab one on eBay for less than $50 compared to the $99 it was when new.

This is the one reason why you need iPhone Mirroring on your Mac.

With macOS Sequoia and iOS 18, you can now seamlessly mirror your iPhone to any of your Macs.

It might seem pointless since whatever you can do on your iPhone you can do bigger on the Mac, but there is one reason, one critical reason, why you need this feature.

As much as we love our Macs, there are always times where it just doesn’t want to work as magically as Apple would make you think. 

You get an iMessage on your iPhone, but it doesn’t show up on your Mac. 

You get a WhatsApp message on your iPhone, but it doesn’t show up on your Mac. 

You need to login to your bank and need your 2-factor code that was texted to you, but it doesn’t show up on your Mac.

Are you getting it?

With iPhone Mirroring, you will never miss a message from any app since you literally have your iPhone on screen. No more frustration and forcing yourself to reboot your Mac right then and there when you are in the skin of it in order to make all the things sync perfectly.

Just mirror your iPhone and reboot later when it’s convenient for you.

iPhone Mirroring on a desktop Mac only works well if you have these devices.

To put it simply, you need a Magic Trackpad or a Magic Mouse to get the full iPhone mirroring experience. If you use any other mouse, the experience is not good.

Transitions stutter, and clicking and holding your normal mouse to swipe left and right on your home screen is imprecise. Very often the iPhone triggers “jiggle mode” to edit your home screen when you just wanted to swipe left or right. Scrolling with the click wheel is also not smooth at all.

And yes, I have a very capable wired mouse.

Swiping left, right, up, and down on the Magic Trackpad just feels more natural for operating iOS since it is a touch-based OS. The experience is very similar to my iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard.

I haven’t tested the Magic Mouse, but if you love the Magic Mouse, I am sure it will work just as well since it uses a similar touch interface.

Thankfully, Apple’s Magic Trackpad is worth the cost compared to the Magic Mouse, especially now that it is USB-C.

3 security reasons why you should upgrade to iOS 18.

iOS 18 is Apple’s latest software update for iPhones, and with it you get 3 very important security features that will make it harder for others to snoop around your devices and make it easier for you to manage your ever-growing digital footprint.

1. Passwords app

This is an underrated feature, but having a dedicated Passwords app from Apple breaks the barrier for most people to start organizing their passwords. Apple already had its own password manager in the past, but it was buried in the Settings app making it hard for most people to use.

You can even create shared group where you can share passwords with others, which is great for families.

The app also has a built verification code system like Google Authenticator, so you can save all your 2-factor authentication codes all in one place.

You can even create new passwords from the app so you don’t have to come up with them yourself. Check out Apple’s website for more info on the passwords app.

2. Locking and hiding your apps

Every app can now require authentication, either via Face ID or Touch ID. Simply tap and hold any app, and select the “Require Face ID” option (It will say Touch ID if you have an iPhone SE 2nd gen or later). This is an easy and secure way to protect your most private information from people who also might share your device.

For all 3rd party apps, you can also require Face ID and hide the app from your homescreen. This does also disable notifications and critical alerts from the app, so be careful.

To “un-hide” the apps, you just need to go to your hidden apps folder under App Library, and tap on it to initiate Face ID, and it will reveal the hidden apps. Touch and hold the app of your choice and select, “Don’t require Face ID.”

3. “Inactivity Reboot”

This is the hero feature of iOS 18.

This feature was added by Apple in iOS 18.1 as an extra security and safety measure against hackers and thieves. If your phone goes unused for 3 days (72 hours to be exact), the phone automatically reboots itself even if it has plenty of battery power.

It was initially thought to be 4 days, but it has been confirmed to be 72 hours.

This reboot puts your iPhone in a more secure state, also known as “Before First Unlock,” or BFU state. Every time your iPhone reboots, it requires your password before it enables Touch ID or Face ID, making it harder for hackers to retrieve information from the phone with older hacking devices since the data is encrypted.

Per TechCrunch:

“Inactivity reboot” effectively puts iPhones in a more secure state by locking the user’s encryption keys in the iPhone’s secure enclave chip. 

Once someone unlocks their phone with their password, the phone is now in “After First Unlock,” state or AFU.

Security researchers use their own simplified terms. Phones that have had their password entered are “hot” devices, while freshly rebooted phones are “cold” devices:

Tihmstar said that many forensic companies focus on “hot” devices in an AFU state, because at some point the user entered their correct passcode, which is stored in the memory of the iPhone’s secure enclave. By contrast, “cold” devices are far more difficult to compromise because their memory cannot be easily extracted once the phone restarts.

Although it might be a nuisance for law enforcement, it is another deterrent for thieves and hackers until they find more sophisticated ways to steal data from your iPhone.

For the general consumer, it is another victory for data privacy and security.

How to tell if your iPhone is charging slow.

Tim Hardwick from MacRumors:

In iOS 18, Apple has introduced a clever new way to identify if your iPhone charging setup is running at less than optimal speeds. The new feature appears directly in Settings, making it easy to spot when you're not getting the fastest possible charge.

This is a good way to test out any suspicious 3rd party chargers that claim fast charging when in fact they are not. Just go to Settings > Battery, and you will see the slow charger warning:

The article also contains more interesting details about other factors that cause slower charging:

If you keep accessories like headphones connected during wireless charging, your device automatically limits power to 7.5W to meet safety standards. Running demanding apps, playing graphics-intensive games, or streaming video at high brightness while charging can also reduce charging speeds as your iPhone manages power and heat. Lastly, it's worth bearing in mind that charging in a warm environment may cause your iPhone to temporarily pause charging until the temperature falls.

The slow charging warning is not something to be alarmed about as Apple clarifies on their website:

With iOS 18, if iOS detects that your charging experience could be improved, you'll see a Slow Charger message in Settings > Battery. This doesn’t mean that there’s anything wrong with your iPhone or charger; it just means that your iPhone could charge faster by using a higher-wattage charger.

I did verify that my 8-foot USB-C cable rated at 240W connected to an Apple 67W power brick was slow charging my iPhone, which was a surprise to me.

The iPhone 16 camera control button is a worse shutter button.

Took my kids go-karting this past weekend, and since I was far away, I used the 5x telephoto zoom to capture some photos. Not only did I not use the camera control button to snap photos, but I purposely avoided it (which is very easy to do).

5x zoom is already a bit unstable when it comes to taking photos, and to add more instability with the physical shutter button would have resulted in worse photos than just touching the screen.

Buy this phone for the great camera, not for the lackluster camera button.

What features do older iPhones get with iOS18.1?

Great writeup by Chance Miller showing all the features you get even if your iPhone doesn’t support Apple Intelligence.

Apple Intelligence is only supported on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, and all iPhone 16 models.

If you have an older iPhone, then check out the link to see what features you will get with iOS 18.1.

The best feature in my opinion the ability to drag and drop files from your iPhone to your Mac and vice versa:

Making good on its promise from WWDC, iPhone Mirroring now supports the ability to easily drag and drop files between your iPhone and your Mac. This feature requires both iOS 18.1 and macOS Sequoia 15.1. Then, when you’re using iPhone Mirroring, you can wirelessly move files back and forth just by dragging and dropping.

Apple will fix your iPhone 14 Plus’ Rear Camera issue for free.

Michael Burkhardt from 9to5Mac:

Apple today has launched a new service program for iPhone 14 Plus models, where a ‘very small percentage’ of devices may show no rear camera preview. This is the first iPhone service program in a couple years, with the last one being in 2021 where some iPhone 12 models experienced an earpiece speaker problem.

This new service program is for iPhone 14 Plus models sold between April 10th, 2023 and April 28th, 2024 – potentially affecting around a year of iPhone 14 Plus models. iPhone 14 Plus launched in September 2022, so the issue didn’t pop up until later on.

You can check whether or not your iPhone 14 Plus is impacted by inputting your serial number on Apple’s website. If you’re impacted, Apple will fix the issue free of charge, presuming your iPhone has no other forms of damage.

Apple states that this program covers eligible iPhone 14 Plus models for 3 years after the original date of purchase. Additionally, if you paid to have your iPhone 14 Plus serviced for this issue, you can request a refund.

It’s funny how Apple always mentions a “very small percentage” of devices are having this issue.

It’s also funny that Apple releases these website updates on Fridays, right at the end of the weekly news cycle.

Either way it’s good to be informed when Apple has a new recall because consumers can take advantage of this to get free repairs.

It can also be a way to get a new lease on life from your products.

I remember when the 1st generation AirPods Pro had the “crackling sound” recall, and I was able to get each AirPod exchanged. The first one died 6 months after buying them, and the second AirPod died 6 months after that.

They will be 5 years old in January, and one of the reasons I believe they have lasted this long is because I got them both replaced.

iPhone 14 Plus owners that have this problem could be in for a treat as well. Not sure how the repair process will work, but if they just give you a device replacement, you will end up with essentially a brand new iPhone with a fresh screen and battery, and save yourself from having to buy a new device.

Check out the details here, along with their service programs.

See the inside of your iPhone 16 Pro with these wallpapers.

Basic Apple Guy makes some of the best free wallpapers out there, and the new iPhone 16 Pro internal wallpapers have been released.

I had to go with silver for my white iPhone 16 Pro Max, and the combo is just amazing. It’s a shame you can’t see the hint of color from the Face ID camera lenses due to the Dynamic Island being in the way, but that’s kinda the point.

Check out his wallpapers here.

The iPhone 16 Camera Control Button will make your photos worse.

To put it simply, pressing the physical camera control button versus tapping the shutter button on-screen makes it more likely that you will end up with a blurry photo.

Oh, the irony!

Especially if you one-hand your phone to take photos, you will definitely get blurrier photos since the force you put on the button will make your phone shake.

Apple was touting that they will update the button later this year with the ability to half-press the button to focus and a full press to take the photo.

This is even worse because your camera already does a really good job of focusing on your subject. If you really need to fine-tune your focus point, the touch screen is the only way to select a focal point accurately and quickly.

I do love the button for quickly launching the app, but that's it. It will come in handy in emergency situations where you really need to grab a photo or video. For that, it is invaluable since the button works every time. You can essentially start taking photos and videos even if you are blindfolded.

There is one limitation with video recording. After launching the camera, you have to press and hold the button for video recordings. When you let go of the button, the recording stops. A simple update should fix that to allow the recording to continue after letting go of the button.