Will Apple make an M4 Ultra chip?
Apple’s answer according to Ars Technica:
When asked why the high-end Mac Studio was getting an M3 Ultra chip instead of an M4 Ultra, Apple told us that not every chip generation will get an “Ultra” tier. This is, as far as I can recall, the first time that Apple has said anything like this in public.
“Not every chip generation will get an ‘Ultra’ tier.”
This is not some sort of breakthrough statement like Ars Technica is reporting. It just means Apple will continue to give ambiguous answers about future products in a very strategic way to keep you guessing, while psychologically comforting you to buy your “inferior” M3 Ultra.
Apple’s answer according to Ars Technica:
When asked why the high-end Mac Studio was getting an M3 Ultra chip instead of an M4 Ultra, Apple told us that not every chip generation will get an “Ultra” tier. This is, as far as I can recall, the first time that Apple has said anything like this in public.
“Not every chip generation will get an ‘Ultra’ tier.”
This is not some sort of breakthrough statement like Ars Technica is reporting. It just means Apple will continue to give ambiguous answers about future products in a very strategic way to keep you guessing, while psychologically comforting you to buy your “inferior” M3 Ultra.
Powerbeats Pro 2 thoughts from an AirPods Pro 2 user.
I’ve been trying these for almost two weeks now, and here are my thoughts as an AirPods Pro 2 user:
Silicone ear tips do not secure as easily as you think. They can easily fly off if they’re not seated correctly. You won’t be doing this a whole lot after you get the right size, but don’t lose them as they bounce away. There is no click that confirms proper positioning like on the AirPods Pro 2.
There is no mesh on the ear tips, so earwax buildup is a bigger problem here than it is for AirPods Pro, which have ear tips with a built-in mesh.
The charging case is 33% smaller than the 1st generation Powerbeats, but it is still more than twice as big as the AirPods Pro 2 case.
I dropped the case from about 3 feet and the earbuds flew out of the case. Not surprising, but just in case you thought it had a snugger fit or a stronger lid magnet, which it does not.
The top lid feels like cardboard, feeling like a recycled takeout box lid. The beige-like Quick Sand color doesn’t help either, giving it the same color as a recycled box. I guess it was either feeling cheap and light or feeling premium and heavy. Don’t expect that dense, quality feel of AirPods cases.
Being a clamshell case, you also lose the “fidgetability” you get from the AirPods case that opens like a Pez dispenser, whereas the Powerbeats case opens clamshell style.
No magnetic wireless charging. It will charge on Apple’s MagSafe chargers which supports the Qi standard, but not magnetically. You also don’t get Apple Watch puck charging. For the record, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with Noise Cancellation support magnetic wireless charging on MagSafe and Apple Watch chargers.
The fit is definitely more secure compared to AirPods, but for casual use the AirPods are better since they are easier to take on and off at will. If your AirPods frustrate you because they get loose or fall off during workouts, these will please you.
If you trim your own beard, the Powerbeats Pro 2 don’t get in the way since there are no stems jutting out from your ears. There is a simple solution though, to make sure AirPods don’t get in the way of manscaping.
I would be cautious using the beats in a torrential environment or cleaning them too aggressively. I’ve accidentally washed my AirPods Pro 1 in the washer before, and they survived after drying them out. I’m sure my AirPods Pro 2 would also survive, but the Powerbeats Pro 2 have physical buttons and more ingress points for water to get in.
Speaking of physical buttons, I appreciate the volume rocker. It’s really personal preference when it comes to a physical volume rocker vs swiping up and down on an AirPods Pro 2 stem to change volume. Both work great.
I do have a problem with the Beats ‘b’ button mainly because the button is too easy to press, and it easily registers clicks even when the earbud is not fully secured in your ear. If I’m watching a YouTube video with one earbud in place, the minute I start to put the second earbud in, my video ends up being skipped to the next video in the algorithm. This happens more often than I’d like even though skipping a video requires two clicks of the ‘b’ button. Not an issue with AirPods Pro.
Sound quality is similar, if not the same as AirPods Pro 2. Don’t buy these thinking they will sound better. Noise cancellation is also the same or very similar, and the difference between these and the AirPods Pro 2 is negligible.
I highly recommend doing the Ear Tip Fit Test. My left ear is perfect with the default medium tip, but my right ear required an extra-large tip to be comfortable. Don’t hesitate to try all 5 sizes of ear tips.
The Find My App works much better on the AirPods Pro 2 due to its U1 chip, giving you Precision Finding. The speaker grilles on the charging case also makes it easy to hear and find. I tried playing a sound on my Powerbeats even though it was right next to me, and it wouldn’t work even after several minutes. Find My will let you know that your Powerbeats are in your house, but you will still have to rummage everywhere to actually find them.
These are far better at monitoring your resting heart rate vs your workout heart rate. I’m working on a more detailed piece about this but in short, don’t buy these if you’re serious about tracking your workout heart rate.
I’ve been trying these for almost two weeks now, and here are my thoughts as an AirPods Pro 2 user:
Silicone ear tips do not secure as easily as you think. They can easily fly off if they’re not seated correctly. You won’t be doing this a whole lot after you get the right size, but don’t lose them as they bounce away. There is no click that confirms proper positioning like on the AirPods Pro 2.
There is no mesh on the ear tips, so earwax buildup is a bigger problem here than it is for AirPods Pro, which have ear tips with a built-in mesh.
The charging case is 33% smaller than the 1st generation Powerbeats, but it is still more than twice as big as the AirPods Pro 2 case.
I dropped the case from about 3 feet and the earbuds flew out of the case. Not surprising, but just in case you thought it had a snugger fit or a stronger lid magnet, which it does not.
The top lid feels like cardboard, feeling like a recycled takeout box lid. The beige-like Quick Sand color doesn’t help either, giving it the same color as a recycled box. I guess it was either feeling cheap and light or feeling premium and heavy. Don’t expect that dense, quality feel of AirPods cases.
Being a clamshell case, you also lose the “fidgetability” you get from the AirPods case that opens like a Pez dispenser, whereas the Powerbeats case opens clamshell style.
No magnetic wireless charging. It will charge on Apple’s MagSafe chargers which supports the Qi standard, but not magnetically. You also don’t get Apple Watch puck charging. For the record, AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with Noise Cancellation support magnetic wireless charging on MagSafe and Apple Watch chargers.
The fit is definitely more secure compared to AirPods, but for casual use the AirPods are better since they are easier to take on and off at will. If your AirPods frustrate you because they get loose or fall off during workouts, these will please you.
If you trim your own beard, the Powerbeats Pro 2 don’t get in the way since there are no stems jutting out from your ears. There is a simple solution though, to make sure AirPods don’t get in the way of manscaping.
I would be cautious using the beats in a torrential environment or cleaning them too aggressively. I’ve accidentally washed my AirPods Pro 1 in the washer before, and they survived after drying them out. I’m sure my AirPods Pro 2 would also survive, but the Powerbeats Pro 2 have physical buttons and more ingress points for water to get in.
Speaking of physical buttons, I appreciate the volume rocker. It’s really personal preference when it comes to a physical volume rocker vs swiping up and down on an AirPods Pro 2 stem to change volume. Both work great.
I do have a problem with the Beats ‘b’ button mainly because the button is too easy to press, and it easily registers clicks even when the earbud is not fully secured in your ear. If I’m watching a YouTube video with one earbud in place, the minute I start to put the second earbud in, my video ends up being skipped to the next video in the algorithm. This happens more often than I’d like even though skipping a video requires two clicks of the ‘b’ button. Not an issue with AirPods Pro.
Sound quality is similar, if not the same as AirPods Pro 2. Don’t buy these thinking they will sound better. Noise cancellation is also the same or very similar, and the difference between these and the AirPods Pro 2 is negligible.
I highly recommend doing the Ear Tip Fit Test. My left ear is perfect with the default medium tip, but my right ear required an extra-large tip to be comfortable. Don’t hesitate to try all 5 sizes of ear tips.
The Find My App works much better on the AirPods Pro 2 due to its U1 chip, giving you Precision Finding. The speaker grilles on the charging case also makes it easy to hear and find. I tried playing a sound on my Powerbeats even though it was right next to me, and it wouldn’t work even after several minutes. Find My will let you know that your Powerbeats are in your house, but you will still have to rummage everywhere to actually find them.
These are far better at monitoring your resting heart rate vs your workout heart rate. I’m working on a more detailed piece about this but in short, don’t buy these if you’re serious about tracking your workout heart rate.
MacBook Air updated with the M4 chip, launches in Sky Blue.
Apple Press:
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced the new MacBook Air, featuring the blazing-fast performance of the M4 chip, up to 18 hours of battery life,1 a new 12MP Center Stage camera, and a lower starting price. It also offers support for up to two external displays in addition to the built-in display, 16GB of starting unified memory, and the incredible capabilities of macOS Sequoia with Apple Intelligence — all packed into its strikingly thin and light design that’s built to last. The new MacBook Air now comes in an all-new color — sky blue, a metallic light blue that joins midnight, starlight, and silver — giving MacBook Air its most beautiful array of colors ever. It also now starts at just $999 — $100 less than before — and $899 for education, making it an incredible value for students, business professionals, or anyone looking for a phenomenal combination of world-class performance, portability, design, and durability. With two sizes to choose from, the new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air are available to pre-order today, with availability beginning Wednesday, March 12.
Apple’s target audience for this upgrade is M1 Air owners and Intel users. I’m still using an M1 Air with just 8GB of RAM, and it works just fine for basic tasks and even some graphical work in Canva. The M4 is up to twice as fast as the M1, which actually speaks to how great the M1 still is. The main upgrade reason isn’t speed, but the other features, such as the bigger display, support for two external monitors, better FaceTime camera, and MagSafe charging.
I’m glad that Space Gray is gone. Never liked it. Sky Blue does look very similar to Sierra Blue on the iPhone 13 Pro, and it would be the color I pick. 15-inches please.
Apple Press:
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA Apple today announced the new MacBook Air, featuring the blazing-fast performance of the M4 chip, up to 18 hours of battery life,1 a new 12MP Center Stage camera, and a lower starting price. It also offers support for up to two external displays in addition to the built-in display, 16GB of starting unified memory, and the incredible capabilities of macOS Sequoia with Apple Intelligence — all packed into its strikingly thin and light design that’s built to last. The new MacBook Air now comes in an all-new color — sky blue, a metallic light blue that joins midnight, starlight, and silver — giving MacBook Air its most beautiful array of colors ever. It also now starts at just $999 — $100 less than before — and $899 for education, making it an incredible value for students, business professionals, or anyone looking for a phenomenal combination of world-class performance, portability, design, and durability. With two sizes to choose from, the new 13- and 15-inch MacBook Air are available to pre-order today, with availability beginning Wednesday, March 12.
Apple’s target audience for this upgrade is M1 Air owners and Intel users. I’m still using an M1 Air with just 8GB of RAM, and it works just fine for basic tasks and even some graphical work in Canva. The M4 is up to twice as fast as the M1, which actually speaks to how great the M1 still is. The main upgrade reason isn’t speed, but the other features, such as the bigger display, support for two external monitors, better FaceTime camera, and MagSafe charging.
I’m glad that Space Gray is gone. Never liked it. Sky Blue does look very similar to Sierra Blue on the iPhone 13 Pro, and it would be the color I pick. 15-inches please.
Apple’s new watch bands still don’t have the right description for compatibility.
Apple released new watch bands today, and their compatibility description is still wrong. Not all 42mm Apple Watches fit all 42mm watch bands.
What Apple’s description says:
You can match most bands with any Apple Watch Series 3 or later case of the same size.
38mm, 40mm, 41mm, and 42mm bands are compatible with 38mm, 40mm, 41mm, 42mm case sizes. 44mm, 45mm, 46mm, and 49mm bands are compatible with 44mm, 45mm, 46mm, and 49mm case sizes.
What it should say:
You can match most bands with any Apple Watch Series 3 or later case of the same size.38mm, 40mm, 41mm, and 42mm bands are compatible with 38mm, 40mm, 41mm, and Series 10 42mm case sizes.
44mm, 45mm, 46mm, and 49mm bands are compatible with 44mm, 45mm, 46mm, and 49mm case sizes, and Series 3 or earlier models with a 42mm case size.
If you’re still wearing a Series 3 watch or earlier in the 42mm size and you want to buy one of the new watch bands that is worth more than your watch (you know who you are), you would have to buy the 46mm watch bands for a proper fit.
To understand why, I went in extreme detail a few months ago discussing this growing confusion of Apple Watch band compatibility.
Apple released new watch bands today, and their compatibility description is still wrong. Not all 42mm Apple Watches fit all 42mm watch bands.
What Apple’s description says:
You can match most bands with any Apple Watch Series 3 or later case of the same size.
38mm, 40mm, 41mm, and 42mm bands are compatible with 38mm, 40mm, 41mm, 42mm case sizes. 44mm, 45mm, 46mm, and 49mm bands are compatible with 44mm, 45mm, 46mm, and 49mm case sizes.
What it should say:
You can match most bands with any Apple Watch Series 3 or later case of the same size.
38mm, 40mm, 41mm, and 42mm bands are compatible with 38mm, 40mm, 41mm, and Series 10 42mm case sizes.
44mm, 45mm, 46mm, and 49mm bands are compatible with 44mm, 45mm, 46mm, and 49mm case sizes, and Series 3 or earlier models with a 42mm case size.
If you’re still wearing a Series 3 watch or earlier in the 42mm size and you want to buy one of the new watch bands that is worth more than your watch (you know who you are), you would have to buy the 46mm watch bands for a proper fit.
To understand why, I went in extreme detail a few months ago discussing this growing confusion of Apple Watch band compatibility.
Background Sounds in iOS are great for White Noise
I play YouTube videos as my background noise when going to sleep, but I found a way to prevent any hiccups in case the YouTube app crashes for whatever reason (which it does).
Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Background Sounds.
This isn’t a new feature by any means, but it provides redundancy to my background noise should my main source of background noise (YouTube) stop working. Every once in a while, the app crashes, and there’s nothing worse than waking up earlier than expected.
With Background Sounds ON, I can still have white noise playing, keeping me sound asleep. The great thing is you have 8 different sounds to choose from, and you can control the volume of Apple’s background noises separately from your main source of volume.
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Background Sounds. From here, you can adjust the volume along with whether or not you want to stop Background Sounds when the iPhone is locked.
You can do this easily by adding a Control Center widget as well.
I play YouTube videos as my background noise when going to sleep, but I found a way to prevent any hiccups in case the YouTube app crashes for whatever reason (which it does).
Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing Background Sounds.
This isn’t a new feature by any means, but it provides redundancy to my background noise should my main source of background noise (YouTube) stop working. Every once in a while, the app crashes, and there’s nothing worse than waking up earlier than expected.
With Background Sounds ON, I can still have white noise playing, keeping me sound asleep. The great thing is you have 8 different sounds to choose from, and you can control the volume of Apple’s background noises separately from your main source of volume.
Go to Settings > Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Background Sounds. From here, you can adjust the volume along with whether or not you want to stop Background Sounds when the iPhone is locked.
You can do this easily by adding a Control Center widget as well.
The iPhone 17 lineup is the perfect time for Apple to upgrade MagSafe.
Apple debuted MagSafe back in October 2020 with the iPhone 12, and it has been in every major new iPhone since then. With the release of the iPhone 16e, Apple decided not to include MagSafe in this budget device. People have been prematurely speculating whether or not this is the end of MagSafe, but I would argue that now is the best time for Apple to give MagSafe a much needed upgrade.
Alongside the iPhone 12, Apple released the 12 Mini, which had a 5.4 inch display. That meant all MagSafe accessories had to accommodate the smaller 5.4 inch body, up to the 12 Pro Max’s 6.7 inch body. The lower size limit for MagSafe accessories was the 12 mini, and you could tell because Apple’s accessories such as the MagSafe wallet and the MagSafe Battery Pack fit flush with the device and wrapped around the corners perfectly. Apple’s smallest iPhone 17 display is rumored to start at 6.3 inches, which gives MagSafe more room to breathe.
The base iPhone 17 is rumored to be 6.3 inches, climbing up to 6.6 inches for the iPhone 17 Air, and topping off at 6.9 inches for the 17 Pro Max.
The charging coil diameter will probably not change since it is part of the Qi2 standard, but more magnets can be added in the bottom two-thirds of the iPhone to give accessories more stability, using the 6.3 inch iPhone as the new lower limit.
This can lead to a whole slew of new accessories, such as iPad-like folio cases, ultra-sturdy car mounts, and thinner battery packs.
Apple debuted MagSafe back in October 2020 with the iPhone 12, and it has been in every major new iPhone since then. With the release of the iPhone 16e, Apple decided not to include MagSafe in this budget device. People have been prematurely speculating whether or not this is the end of MagSafe, but I would argue that now is the best time for Apple to give MagSafe a much needed upgrade.
Alongside the iPhone 12, Apple released the 12 Mini, which had a 5.4 inch display. That meant all MagSafe accessories had to accommodate the smaller 5.4 inch body, up to the 12 Pro Max’s 6.7 inch body. The lower size limit for MagSafe accessories was the 12 mini, and you could tell because Apple’s accessories such as the MagSafe wallet and the MagSafe Battery Pack fit flush with the device and wrapped around the corners perfectly. Apple’s smallest iPhone 17 display is rumored to start at 6.3 inches, which gives MagSafe more room to breathe.
The base iPhone 17 is rumored to be 6.3 inches, climbing up to 6.6 inches for the iPhone 17 Air, and topping off at 6.9 inches for the 17 Pro Max.
The charging coil diameter will probably not change since it is part of the Qi2 standard, but more magnets can be added in the bottom two-thirds of the iPhone to give accessories more stability, using the 6.3 inch iPhone as the new lower limit.
This can lead to a whole slew of new accessories, such as iPad-like folio cases, ultra-sturdy car mounts, and thinner battery packs.
“MagSafe” cases for your iPhone 16e are not MagSafe, and will make your wireless charging experience even worse.
There is a simple reason why Apple didn’t include MagSafe magnets in their iPhone 16e cases:
It would be a classic blunder of over promising and under delivering.
The iPhone 16e does support Qi wireless charging which has a max output of 7.5W, while the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro can get 25W of wireless charging with MagSafe.
Having those circular magnets will give people the illusion that they have faster MagSafe charging, but they will realize that not only is it charging slowly, it might not be charging their iPhone at all.
I’m going through a similar situation at my house with my kids’ iPhone SE 2nd gen. I bought a circular magnet and glued it to the iPhone right where the coil is, but sometimes the phone won’t charge, even though it’s sitting magnetically on an official Apple MagSafe puck. It’ll start charging, but then stop randomly. When it is charging, it is very slow. This is all being done without a case which is the most efficient way of charging wirelessly.
Don’t just take my word for it, because MKBHD discusses his wireless charging experience with the iPhone 16e:
This week I had it on my desk charger for like 1/2 an hour and it gained zero percent (laughing) while just getting warmer. I don’t have to remind you of the downsides of early wireless charging.
The tech enthusiast doesn’t need a reminder of how bad 1st generation Qi wireless charging was (and still is), but the average person buying the 16e needs that reminder more than ever.
It will objectively be a disadvantage for charging speeds because the case adds an extra barrier that power has to travel through from the charger to the iPhone, generating more heat in the process. That excess heat will eventually cause the battery to either charge slowly, or stop charging completely.
Any case company that tells you it provides MagSafe charging with the iPhone 16e is technically lying.
Real MagSafe, which is available on the iPhone 12 and newer (except for the SE and 16e), is more than just magnets aligning the charging coils. There is communication between the magnetic puck and the phone, ramping up charging speeds and slowing them down depending on many factors such as current battery level, device temperature, and the power adapter being used for charging. The goal is to provide faster wireless charging without destroying the battery’s health.
It’s called MagSafe for a reason.
If you do want to buy a magnetic case for your iPhone 16e, just remember not to rely on it for fast charging. Use it for the other conveniences that it will give you, such as propping it up on your desk, your car, or to slap on a wallet magnetically.
If I were buying this phone, I would buy a magnetic case and use it with these accessories that I currently own (not sponsored or affiliated):
These are not chargers, but they are convenient holders that make life easier.
There is a simple reason why Apple didn’t include MagSafe magnets in their iPhone 16e cases:
It would be a classic blunder of over promising and under delivering.
The iPhone 16e does support Qi wireless charging which has a max output of 7.5W, while the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro can get 25W of wireless charging with MagSafe.
Having those circular magnets will give people the illusion that they have faster MagSafe charging, but they will realize that not only is it charging slowly, it might not be charging their iPhone at all.
I’m going through a similar situation at my house with my kids’ iPhone SE 2nd gen. I bought a circular magnet and glued it to the iPhone right where the coil is, but sometimes the phone won’t charge, even though it’s sitting magnetically on an official Apple MagSafe puck. It’ll start charging, but then stop randomly. When it is charging, it is very slow. This is all being done without a case which is the most efficient way of charging wirelessly.
Don’t just take my word for it, because MKBHD discusses his wireless charging experience with the iPhone 16e:
This week I had it on my desk charger for like 1/2 an hour and it gained zero percent (laughing) while just getting warmer. I don’t have to remind you of the downsides of early wireless charging.
The tech enthusiast doesn’t need a reminder of how bad 1st generation Qi wireless charging was (and still is), but the average person buying the 16e needs that reminder more than ever.
It will objectively be a disadvantage for charging speeds because the case adds an extra barrier that power has to travel through from the charger to the iPhone, generating more heat in the process. That excess heat will eventually cause the battery to either charge slowly, or stop charging completely.
Any case company that tells you it provides MagSafe charging with the iPhone 16e is technically lying.
Real MagSafe, which is available on the iPhone 12 and newer (except for the SE and 16e), is more than just magnets aligning the charging coils. There is communication between the magnetic puck and the phone, ramping up charging speeds and slowing them down depending on many factors such as current battery level, device temperature, and the power adapter being used for charging. The goal is to provide faster wireless charging without destroying the battery’s health.
It’s called MagSafe for a reason.
If you do want to buy a magnetic case for your iPhone 16e, just remember not to rely on it for fast charging. Use it for the other conveniences that it will give you, such as propping it up on your desk, your car, or to slap on a wallet magnetically.
If I were buying this phone, I would buy a magnetic case and use it with these accessories that I currently own (not sponsored or affiliated):
These are not chargers, but they are convenient holders that make life easier.
Will the iPhone 17 Pro finally get a Pro camera app?
Mark Gurman in his Power On Newsletter:
The iPhone 17 line is shaping up to be a significant upgrade, particularly for the Pro models. In past years, Apple has focused more heavily on the camera’s photo-taking abilities. This year it will stress improvements to video recording. One of the goals for 2025’s iPhone line is to get the vlogging community and other video creators to move away from standalone cameras and use the iPhone for even more of their work. Look for Apple to more heavily than ever tout these video recording capabilities when the new iPhones debut in September.
If Apple really wants bloggers and video creators to move away from standalone cameras, they need to give its Pro users full camera controls, with white balance, ISO, actual lens selection, etc. Currently we have the illusion of lens selection, but Apple decides based on its algorithm whether or not to use a digital zoom vs switching to the telephoto lens.
On the 15 and 16 Pro for example, if you want to use the 5x zoom in medium to low light, the iPhone will use the 1x lens, and digitally zoom in to 5x, giving you a huge loss in detail. Sometimes the software switches back and forth between digitally zooming at 5x vs switching to the 5x telephoto lens, again trying to decide which is best for the user. This is frustrating to say the least.
On top of that, I’m sure vloggers would love the ability to record front and rear facing video at the same time, with their face inlaid with whatever footage they’re taking. Top that off with a CapCut like editing features like auto-captions, and people will happily pay for higher-priced iPhones.
Mark Gurman in his Power On Newsletter:
The iPhone 17 line is shaping up to be a significant upgrade, particularly for the Pro models. In past years, Apple has focused more heavily on the camera’s photo-taking abilities. This year it will stress improvements to video recording. One of the goals for 2025’s iPhone line is to get the vlogging community and other video creators to move away from standalone cameras and use the iPhone for even more of their work. Look for Apple to more heavily than ever tout these video recording capabilities when the new iPhones debut in September.
If Apple really wants bloggers and video creators to move away from standalone cameras, they need to give its Pro users full camera controls, with white balance, ISO, actual lens selection, etc. Currently we have the illusion of lens selection, but Apple decides based on its algorithm whether or not to use a digital zoom vs switching to the telephoto lens.
On the 15 and 16 Pro for example, if you want to use the 5x zoom in medium to low light, the iPhone will use the 1x lens, and digitally zoom in to 5x, giving you a huge loss in detail. Sometimes the software switches back and forth between digitally zooming at 5x vs switching to the 5x telephoto lens, again trying to decide which is best for the user. This is frustrating to say the least.
On top of that, I’m sure vloggers would love the ability to record front and rear facing video at the same time, with their face inlaid with whatever footage they’re taking. Top that off with a CapCut like editing features like auto-captions, and people will happily pay for higher-priced iPhones.
Apple products: Why you should film your unboxing videos (part 2)
I mentioned earlier how Best Buy was going to give me a refund simply because I told them I didn’t receive a watch inside the package. It turns out I was misinformed by the person who helped me with this case. This actually makes a ton of sense though because if it was as simple as calling Best Buy and telling them there was nothing in the package, what is there to stop anyone from simply abusing that policy? They do want to do an investigation, which makes perfect sense.
They got back to me via email and kindly requested pictures of the product packaging and the shipping box. I one-upped that request with detailed photos and a video of me unboxing the watch strap box, tearing the seals and finding even more overly engineered cardboard.
I do expect to get a full refund eventually, but in today’s day and age, it is worth your time to take photos of the shipping box, along with a video of you unboxing your expensive, high-value items. I personally believe that without the video I made, it would be hard for me to prove my innocence.
Stay tuned.
Update: 3/1/2025 - Got my refund from Best Buy, but no explanation or any details about the investigation. Probably something they won’t share with consumers.
I mentioned earlier how Best Buy was going to give me a refund simply because I told them I didn’t receive a watch inside the package. It turns out I was misinformed by the person who helped me with this case. This actually makes a ton of sense though because if it was as simple as calling Best Buy and telling them there was nothing in the package, what is there to stop anyone from simply abusing that policy? They do want to do an investigation, which makes perfect sense.
They got back to me via email and kindly requested pictures of the product packaging and the shipping box. I one-upped that request with detailed photos and a video of me unboxing the watch strap box, tearing the seals and finding even more overly engineered cardboard.
I do expect to get a full refund eventually, but in today’s day and age, it is worth your time to take photos of the shipping box, along with a video of you unboxing your expensive, high-value items. I personally believe that without the video I made, it would be hard for me to prove my innocence.
Stay tuned.
How not to describe the iPhone 16e.
It is the same size as an iPhone 14.
It has USB-C like an iPhone 15, but wirelessly charges like an iPhone SE.
It has the same screen as an iPhone 14, which has the brightness of an iPhone 12 Pro, but the notch of the iPhone 13.
It has the same processor as the iPhone 16, but the same amount of GPU cores as an iPhone 13.
The back camera is almost the same as the iPhone 16, but it takes portraits like an iPhone 12.
But don’t worry, the selfie camera is the same as the iPhone 16.
It is the same size as an iPhone 14.
It has USB-C like an iPhone 15, but wirelessly charges like an iPhone SE.
It has the same screen as an iPhone 14, which has the brightness of an iPhone 12 Pro, but the notch of the iPhone 13.
It has the same processor as the iPhone 16, but the same amount of GPU cores as an iPhone 13.
The back camera is almost the same as the iPhone 16, but it takes portraits like an iPhone 12.
But don’t worry, the selfie camera is the same as the iPhone 16.
Who should buy the Powerbeats Pro 2? The answer will surprise you.
Apple’s Superstar lineup for marketing the Powerbeats Pro 2:
Shohei Ohtani.
Lionel Messi.
Lebron James.
Your mom.
Wait…what??
Yes, that’s right. Your mom is a Superstar, and an ideal candidate for the Powerbeats Pro 2, at least if she’s anything like mine.
My mom was in the market for some durable earbuds back in October 2021. Besides being wireless, she only had one criterion: the earbuds had to have a loop that goes around her ears and keeps it secure. She wears a headscarf, and headscarves don’t go well with any AirPods that she has tried since they simply are not secure enough. As a bus driver, the last thing she wants to do is try to find her ear bud in the driver’s footwell.
The Powerbeats Pro were the best choice, and she has been using the same pair every day since November 2021. They’re still going strong, and once they go bad, I will probably get her the Powerbeats Pro 2 that I am testing out. I can’t give them to her now because her original ones still work, and she wouldn’t want me to get her new headphones for no reason. I might even get a lecture about wasting money if I did.
It’s an Asian thing.
Just don’t tell her about my Apple Watch obsession.
She’s in her 60s, yet these are perfect for her in many ways besides the secure fit. She is a marathon talker on the phone, and she will be happy with the much better battery life. She manages battery life by alternating ear pieces, and she keeps her other ear free for listening to her surroundings.
I don’t even want to try to explain to her how the force touch tips on AirPods work, let alone the swipe gestures, but the actual buttons on the beats make it simple and easy to understand. A simple volume rocker and a “beats” button for play and pause. Real, clickable buttons, perfect for the elderly and non tech-savvy. She is already used to this layout, so she will feel right at home.
The smaller case will make more room for her purse which is already full (what purse isn’t full anyway?), but it won’t be too small for her to lose it either. The balance is just right.
The other cool aspect about the Pro 2 is heart rate monitoring. My mom refuses to wear an Apple Watch because that’s just one more thing to learn and charge, but she wears her beats all the time. When she is not actively listening to lectures or talking on the phone, her iPhone would be logging her heart rate with the Pro 2. It only logs your heart rate when you are actively in the Health App with both earbuds in place, but it would be nice for her to see at least one health metric. The minute you leave the Health app, the heart rate monitor stops, probably to preserve battery life.
My plan is to get her interested in heart rate monitoring, and then eventually upsell her into an Apple Watch for all the other health benefits.
Lastly, if you’re afraid someone might steal her earbuds, buy the Quick Sand color. That hue of light grayish-brown is a similar color to hearing aids, and looks the part when placed in your ear. I instantly felt older when I looked in the mirror instead of younger and hip.
Apple’s Superstar lineup for marketing the Powerbeats Pro 2:
Shohei Ohtani.
Lionel Messi.
Lebron James.
Your mom.
Wait…what??
Yes, that’s right. Your mom is a Superstar, and an ideal candidate for the Powerbeats Pro 2, at least if she’s anything like mine.
My mom was in the market for some durable earbuds back in October 2021. Besides being wireless, she only had one criterion: the earbuds had to have a loop that goes around her ears and keeps it secure. She wears a headscarf, and headscarves don’t go well with any AirPods that she has tried since they simply are not secure enough. As a bus driver, the last thing she wants to do is try to find her ear bud in the driver’s footwell.
The Powerbeats Pro were the best choice, and she has been using the same pair every day since November 2021. They’re still going strong, and once they go bad, I will probably get her the Powerbeats Pro 2 that I am testing out. I can’t give them to her now because her original ones still work, and she wouldn’t want me to get her new headphones for no reason. I might even get a lecture about wasting money if I did.
It’s an Asian thing.
Just don’t tell her about my Apple Watch obsession.
She’s in her 60s, yet these are perfect for her in many ways besides the secure fit. She is a marathon talker on the phone, and she will be happy with the much better battery life. She manages battery life by alternating ear pieces, and she keeps her other ear free for listening to her surroundings.
I don’t even want to try to explain to her how the force touch tips on AirPods work, let alone the swipe gestures, but the actual buttons on the beats make it simple and easy to understand. A simple volume rocker and a “beats” button for play and pause. Real, clickable buttons, perfect for the elderly and non tech-savvy. She is already used to this layout, so she will feel right at home.
The smaller case will make more room for her purse which is already full (what purse isn’t full anyway?), but it won’t be too small for her to lose it either. The balance is just right.
The other cool aspect about the Pro 2 is heart rate monitoring. My mom refuses to wear an Apple Watch because that’s just one more thing to learn and charge, but she wears her beats all the time. When she is not actively listening to lectures or talking on the phone, her iPhone would be logging her heart rate with the Pro 2. It only logs your heart rate when you are actively in the Health App with both earbuds in place, but it would be nice for her to see at least one health metric. The minute you leave the Health app, the heart rate monitor stops, probably to preserve battery life.
My plan is to get her interested in heart rate monitoring, and then eventually upsell her into an Apple Watch for all the other health benefits.
Lastly, if you’re afraid someone might steal her earbuds, buy the Quick Sand color. That hue of light grayish-brown is a similar color to hearing aids, and looks the part when placed in your ear. I instantly felt older when I looked in the mirror instead of younger and hip.
Apple products: Why you should film your unboxing videos (part 1)
I bought an Apple Watch Ultra 2 from Best Buy Geek Squad Refurbished, and I had a “unique” unboxing experience. It was advertised as “Open Box Excellent” and when I opened the outer packaging, I got excited because the inner box that holds the Apple Watch still had the white plastic seals on it, signifying a brand new, unopened watch.
I tore the tabs off, and inside the box was the charger… and no watch.
I was not disappointed as much as I should have been, but I was actually impressed. How did they seal this package back up and make it look just like a brand new seal? I inspected the pull tabs on the seal and on the box, and nothing looked like it was put back together or jimmy-rigged in some way.
There was still the watch band to unbox, but this time I recorded it. The box felt suspiciously light, but the Alpine Loop is light too, so it was anybody’s guess if there was a band inside. When I pulled the sealed tab, there was an empty cardboard shell that holds the Alpine Loop.
Ouch.
The thieves have upped their game, but thankfully Best Buy is siding with the customer (me) and will be refunding me without even needing my video proving my innocence.
Not sure if other retailers/sellers will make it this easy to get a refund, but do yourself a favor and record your unboxings of any high-demand product, especially if it’s used.
Update: changed title to current title from previous title - PSA: Record your unboxings so you can prove your innocence.
I bought an Apple Watch Ultra 2 from Best Buy Geek Squad Refurbished, and I had a “unique” unboxing experience. It was advertised as “Open Box Excellent,” and when I opened the outer packaging, I got excited because the inner box that holds the Apple Watch still had the white plastic seals on it, signifying a brand new, unopened watch.
I tore the tabs off, and inside the box was the charger…and no watch.
I was not disappointed as much as I should have been, but I was actually impressed. How did they seal this package back up and make it look like a brand new seal? I inspected the pull tabs on the seal and on the box, and nothing looked like it was put back together or jimmy-rigged in some way.
There was still the watch band to unbox, but this time I recorded it. The box felt suspiciously light, but the Alpine Loop is light too, so it was anybody’s guess if there was a band inside. When I pulled the sealed tab, there was an empty cardboard shell that holds the Alpine Loop.
Ouch.
The thieves have upped their game, but thankfully Best Buy is siding with the customer (me) and will be refunding me without even needing my video proving my innocence.
Not sure if other retailers/sellers will make it this easy to get a refund, but do yourself a favor and record your unboxings of any high-demand product, especially if it’s used.
The influence for the Vision Pro’s design.
It’s hard not to see the uncanny resemblance between these two products. 📓
It’s hard not to see the uncanny resemblance between these two products.
Take the Apple Watch, stretch it out, add a curve to it, and there you have it:
The Vision Pro.
Storing things inside Your AirPods Pro 2 case.
I ended up getting a mini workout done when I was not really expecting to at my son’s wrestling practice. Normally I just use the time to do some writing, but now I have to split the time between writing and working out due to less free time at home with the new baby.
The Milanese band is my band of choice for jogging, but I forgot to swap it out and was wearing my link bracelet. I wear the link bracelet a bit loose since it’s uncomfortable when tight, but I needed to tighten it up for the workout.
I ended up taking out one link, and storing it in my AirPods Pro 2 case. It fits pretty good inside there, and even attaches magnetically making it harder for the link to fall out. I do use the smaller sized bracelet labelled 38mm (also the same as 40mm, 41mm, and the new 42mm), but I’m confident there is enough space for the larger links to also fit.
I’m not a fan of working out with the link bracelet, but it’s doable, especially if you have storage for your extra links. 📓
I ended up getting a mini workout done when I was not really expecting to at my son’s wrestling practice. Normally I just use the time to do some writing, but now I have to split the time between writing and working out due to less free time at home with the new baby.
The Milanese band is my band of choice for jogging, but I forgot to swap it out and was wearing my link bracelet. I wear the link bracelet a bit loose since it’s uncomfortable when tight, but I needed to tighten it up for the workout.
I ended up taking out one link, and storing it in my AirPods Pro 2 case. It fits pretty good inside there, and even attaches magnetically making it harder for the link to fall out. I do use the smaller sized bracelet labelled 38mm (also the same as 40mm, 41mm, and the new 42mm), but I’m confident there is enough space for the larger links to also fit.
I’m not a fan of working out with the link bracelet, but it’s doable, especially if you have storage for your extra links.
You can store one link in each slot.
The links have a strong enough magnetic connection to not fall out when turned upside down. If you drop the case though, they will pop out and fly away.
The iPhone 16E will be Apple’s new “buffered” iPhone.
Tim Cook on Twitter:
Get ready to meet the newest member of the family.
Wednesday, February 19. #AppleLaunch
I’ve been thinking about this (probably too much,) but I don’t think it will be a new iPhone SE.
As a matter of fact, I think the SE lineup will be killed off.
What we will probably get is a new variant of the iPhone 16, rumored to be the iPhone 16E. This makes perfect sense for several reasons.
The iPhone SE lineup has defining features that make it an SE, the biggest two being the classic top and bottom bezels and the Home Button. If you get rid of both of those, you might as well get rid of the name too since it won’t make sense. People have associated the SE branding with those two hallmark features.
I know what you’re thinking. Apple has transformed many other devices and kept the same name, but in this case, pricing is a huge factor.
The 16E will have to support Apple Intelligence since Apple is heavily pushing it, meaning it will have an A17 Pro or A18 chip. Putting a faster chip in an iPhone SE model that beats the iPhone 15 in performance, and pricing it lower than that is nonsensical. If this device is part of the 16 lineup as the 16E, it becomes easy to make the price higher than the SE, but lower than the regular 16. I think it will take the place of the iPhone 15 and start at $699.
So now you have the following price points:
iPhone 16 Pro Max - $1,199 (starts at 256GB)
iPhone 16 Pro - $999
iPhone 16 Plus - $899
iPhone 16 - $799
iPhone 16E - $699
iPhone 15 Plus - $699
iPhone 15 - $599
The iPhone 14 and SE will be discontinued like in the EU, and the starting iPhone price takes a huge jump up from $429 to $599. I don’t think that’s a real shocker even though the click-bait headlines will definitely scream, “Apple raises lowest iPhone price by 40%.”
Seriously though, who really is buying the iPhone SE these days? I’m sure most people are being upsold into the iPhone 14 which is leagues better than the SE, making the real starting price of an iPhone as of today, $599.
Tim’s headline, “newest member of the family,” sounds like a whole new branding, and I think the “E” lineup of iPhones will fall in-line with the “A” line of Pixel phones.
The “E” lineup of iPhones also doesn’t have to be refreshed every year. It will be like the SE, acting like a price buffer to accommodate for technological advancements, laws and regulations, consumer demand, and company performance.
This is my speculation for this coming Wednesday.
Tim Cook on Twitter:
Get ready to meet the newest member of the family.
Wednesday, February 19. #AppleLaunch
I’ve been thinking about this (probably too much,) but I don’t think it will be a new iPhone SE.
As a matter of fact, I think the SE lineup will be killed off.
What we will probably get is a new variant of the iPhone 16, rumored to be the iPhone 16E. This makes perfect sense for several reasons.
The iPhone SE lineup has defining features that make it an SE, the biggest two being the classic top and bottom bezels and the Home Button. If you get rid of both of those, you might as well get rid of the name too since it won’t make sense. People have associated the SE branding with those two hallmark features.
I know what you’re thinking. Apple has transformed many other devices and kept the same name, but in this case, pricing is a huge factor.
The 16E will have to support Apple Intelligence since Apple is heavily pushing it, meaning it will have an A17 Pro or A18 chip. Putting a faster chip in an iPhone SE model that beats the iPhone 15 in performance, and pricing it lower than that is nonsensical. If this device is part of the 16 lineup as the 16E, it becomes easy to make the price higher than the SE, but lower than the regular 16. I think it will take the place of the iPhone 15 and start at $699.
So now you have the following price points:
iPhone 16 Pro Max - $1,199 (starts at 256GB)
iPhone 16 Pro - $999
iPhone 16 Plus - $899
iPhone 16 - $799
iPhone 16E - $699
iPhone 15 Plus - $699
iPhone 15 - $599
The iPhone 14 and SE will be discontinued like in the EU, and the starting iPhone price takes a huge jump up from $429 to $599. I don’t think that’s a real shocker even though the click-bait headlines will definitely scream, “Apple raises lowest iPhone price by 40%.”
Seriously though, who really is buying the iPhone SE these days? I’m sure most people are being upsold into the iPhone 14 which is leagues better than the SE, making the real starting price of an iPhone as of today, $599.
Tim’s headline, “newest member of the family,” sounds like a whole new branding, and I think the “E” lineup of iPhones will fall in-line with the “A” line of Pixel phones.
The “E” lineup of iPhones also doesn’t have to be refreshed every year. It will be like the SE, acting like a price buffer to accommodate for technological advancements, laws and regulations, consumer demand, and company performance.
This is my speculation for this coming Wednesday.
JD Vance gets told to take off his Apple Watch.
An open letter from Watches of Espionage, letting JD Vance know of the obvious security risks for a Vice President to be wearing a smartwatch.
Not a politically charged piece, just one that makes sense.
An open letter from Watches of Espionage, letting JD Vance know of the obvious security risks for a Vice President to be wearing a smartwatch.
Not a politically charged piece, just one that makes sense.
Using a Series 3 Ceramic Edition Apple Watch is like driving a weekend car.
It’s like an old, weekend car you want to enjoy for a few days, but then you’re glad it’s over by Sunday afternoon because the car is nice and fun, but also a bit cumbersome, makes a few rattles, is missing many creature comforts, needs to be warmed up before you throw it around, and takes premium gas. 📓
I use my White Ceramic Series 3 occasionally, and it is a joy to look at that thing. Sure it’s an old Apple Watch, but it has that pearlescent white finish that just contrasts well with the black screen and colorful watch faces.
It is the most “Apple-like” color.
Playful…
Serious.
Band compatibility is also great with a white watch. Most color combos would work in my opinion, except for the Natural and Gold Stainless Steel, and Natural Titanium bands. Black Steel and Black Titanium would look amazing.
There’s a lot of work involved though in getting this watch up to speed even for just the weekend. I mentioned earlier that it takes about 9 minutes to boot and have the watch connect to my device, but in reality, it takes about 20-30 minutes for the watch to sync all the messages, weather information, email, etc., to my watch from the past week of living.
I was quite surprised last Saturday when I wore it, and my Messages counter on the watch went from “No new messages,” to 40 new messages, down to 22, and then eventually to “No new messages.”
It really is a device you need to be patient with unless you use it every day.
It’s like an old, weekend car you want to enjoy for a few days, but then you’re glad it’s over by Sunday afternoon because the car is nice and fun, but also a bit cumbersome, makes a few rattles, is missing many creature comforts, needs to be warmed up before you throw it around, and takes premium gas.
Apple found a good balance with this watch by stopping the updates at watchOS 8. I know people like to complain that new updates have slowed down their Apple devices and that’s probably true for the Series 3 on watchOS 8, but you can never please anyone, and you have to find that perfect balance where you can update a device with more features, while keeping it as zippy as possible.
If I wear the Series 3 for weeks on end (which I did earlier), then it doesn’t have to do a massive sync of all the data, and it runs just fine. Just don’t let it run out of battery for the love of God.
Once again, it is absolutely illogical to buy a Ceramic Edition Series 3 for productivity reasons. You’re buying this watch for nostalgia and aesthetics, and you’re trying to experience luxury at a discount. You can do the same with the Stainless Steel models, which were beautiful.
I’ll use Adam Savage’s analogy (also fitting for my line of work), and say that the Series 3 Ceramic and Stainless Steel models are like a gateway drug into experiencing Apple’s premium watches at a steep discount.
Why your AirPods might not be working.
If you have AirPods 2, 3, or 4, you might have an issue where the sound is too low, or the sound is heard from the outside vent projecting outward instead of inward to your ears.
I recently had a relative have this problem with her AirPods 2nd gen and 3rd gen, and it was due to earwax build up.
The buildup causes the speaker facing your ear canal to be blocked, causing the sound to be diverted to the outside vent in some cases.
If you have changed nothing else in your Bluetooth or Sound settings, this is probably what’s going on.
It can be hard to see any buildup since the speaker grill is black, but you should follow Apple’s instructions for cleaning them.
You’ll be surprised by how much gunk gets stuck in there.
If you want to avoid this problem in the future, consider getting the AirPods Pro 2. The silicone tips have a mesh grille that detaches from the black speaker head. The mesh is small enough to let sound through, but no earwax can go back into the speaker grille, preventing buildup.
I’ve had my original AirPods Pro for 5 years now, and never had the earwax buildup issue.
If you have AirPods 2, 3, or 4, you might have an issue where the sound is too low, or the sound is heard from the outside vent projecting outward instead of inward to your ears.
I recently had a relative have this problem with her AirPods 2nd gen and 3rd gen, and it was due to earwax build up.
The buildup causes the speaker facing your ear canal to be blocked, causing the sound to be diverted to the outside vent in some cases.
If you have changed nothing else in your Bluetooth or Sound settings, this is probably what’s going on.
It can be hard to see any buildup since the speaker grill is black, but you should follow Apple’s instructions for cleaning them.
You’ll be surprised by how much gunk gets stuck in there.
If you want to avoid this problem in the future, consider getting the AirPods Pro 2. The silicone tips have a mesh grille that detaches from the black speaker head. The mesh is small enough to let sound through, but no earwax can go back into the speaker grille, preventing buildup.
I’ve had my original AirPods Pro for 5 years now, and never had the earwax buildup issue.
Apple Watch Meridian Face - Unique colors you didn’t know about.
I’ve written two earlier pieces about the unique colors for the California and Chronograph Pro watch faces, but what really surprised me was the Meridian watch face. 📓
I’ve written two earlier pieces about the unique colors for the California and Chronograph Pro watch faces, but what really surprised me was the Meridian watch face.
Meridian is another analog watch face like California and Chronograph Pro and is the simplest of the bunch. It just has 4 complications in the middle of the watch in a diamond-shaped pattern.
The dial can be either black or white contrasted with white or black hour markers. The color that you choose only changes the color of the complications.
The Meridian watch face keeps a low profile with color strictly restricted to the complications. (Standard colors shown.)
There are 139 custom colors to choose from, but only four of those give you a unique look that also change the color of the hour and seconds markers. Combine that with either a white or black face, and you have 8 unique watch faces.
And they look amazing.
Those four colors are Clover, Starlight, Red, and Abyss Blue, and they’re located under the Fall 2021 collection.
Whether you use the white or black face, you get an interesting look that you probably didn’t know existed among the other 135 custom colors.
Just for scale, take a look at all the custom colors below, with the four unique colors highlighted:
4 out 139 have the special color feature.
Not only are the hour markers color-coded, but so are the second markers. In an alternate world, these colors would be: Sour Cream and Onion, Salted Caramel, Peppermint Red, and Gorgonzola.
Now, let’s go dark:
The darker versions really pop more due to the contrast.
Once again, among all the standard and custom colors, only these four give you that extra splash of color.
My theory for why these four colors are special? In Fall 2021, the Series 7 aluminum models came in four special colors: Green, Starlight, (PRODUCT) RED, and Blue.
They also came in the standard Space Gray which was called Midnight, but no one cares.
There are many shades of red to choose from, but the red from Fall 2021 definitely resembles (PRODUCT) RED. I think Apple wanted matching watch face colors with the debut of these new colors and the newly remodeled edge-to-edge screen on the Series 7.
Whatever the reason, I hope you enjoy these new colors on your Meridian watch face.
Check out the same colors on other watch faces to see their unique look:
How to add the Apple logo to your Apple watch face.
Just like all watch brands that showcase their logo right below the 12 o’clock marker, you can brand your Apple Watch with a Monogram on several watch faces. 📓
Update 2/10/25 @ 8:14pm: added additional image for instructional clarity.
Just like all watch brands that showcase their logo right below the 12 o’clock marker, you can brand your Apple Watch with a Monogram on several watch faces.
Per Apple’s statement:
Choose up to five characters to appear in the Monogram complication on the Typograph, Infograph, Meridian, California, and Color watch faces.
You could add any five characters, but I find it best suited to put the Apple logo in the Monogram complication.
Also, Apple’s statement is wrong. You can also apply the Monogram to the Contour and Solar Analog watch faces (image below).
Go to your Watch App under Clock > Monogram and simply copy and paste this Apple logo:
Then go to one of the compatible watch faces, and for the “Sub-dial Top” complication, go to Personalization and add the Monogram.
You can have your Apple Watch faces looking like this:
The logo gives your watch face some class.