Apple's "It's Glowtime" just took place at Apple Park, featuring a bunch of announcements that could tempt a lot of fans to upgrade devices across the board.

Apple CEO Tim Cook and his team revealed the new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, the Apple Watch Series 10, and a line of new and refreshed AirPods, all launching on September 20. iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11 and macOS Sequoia will also be available on September 16.

We've covered every device that was launched individually, and also rounded up everything that was announced in case you missed the event. But was the new Apple clobber any good? Here are my thoughts on each of the new Apple devices unveiled at the iPhone 16 launch event.

iPhone 16, Apple Watch Series 10, and AirPods 4 impressions

The Apple Watch Series 10 is an impressive new device, but it's a little bitter-sweet. My expectations were high, with years of Apple Watch X rumors. While I'm a fan of the device we got, I'm yearning for what could have been.

Apple's latest smartwatch comes packing the new S10 chipset and a larger wide-angle OLED display for brighter off-angle viewing. We always get a new chipset, so that's nothing special, but I like the better viewing angles. Apple also says that the display on the Series 10 is bigger than the one on the Apple Watch Ultra 2. I'm a huge fan of that, seeing as I've currently got the Apple Watch Ultra on my wrist. Like previous devices, it's available in two sizes: 42MM and 46MM.

You can now play media out of the speaker, and there's all-new Sleep Apnea detection. A new Titanium model replaces Stainless Steel, offered in natural, gold, or dark slate. Unfortunately, there's no brushed titanium option for the Series 10 – so I still prefer the design of the Apple Watch Ultra better.

Speaking of the Apple Watch Ultra, we didn't gen a new third-gen model. The Apple Watch Ultra 2 is staying, but now comes in a Satin Black finish. While I've been excited about this new color since we first heard rumors about it, I've grown more fondly of titanium recently. I'll be sticking with the original color option, but am still glad to see the Black edition make its debut.

There's also a new range of Milanese bands to compliment this new shade. I instantly fell in love with these, and will be getting one immediately. Having always been a fan of titanium bands and Milanese straps, this option is perfect for me.

The iPhone 16 line introduces several upgrades over the iPhone 15, such as the Action Button and a new "Camera Control" button that enables users to take photos and videos instantly. It can determine between a light and a hard press, as it's a haptic button. For example, a light press will show you a preview; or you can press harder for additional controls.

I'm a little torn over this button. On the one hand, it'll make controlling the camera easier, and I've been missing the quick camera launch after mapping my Action Button to Arc Search. But on the other, it's yet another button to get used to, and doesn't do anything the Camera app doesn't already offer. I think that I'll have to wait until my new iPhone arrives to make my mind up on this one.

New camera updates add a 48MP snapper here, with the promise of better aperture and snappier photos. The ability to record Spatial Video or take Spatial Photos is impressive for a non-Pro device, but I have no use for this without an Apple Vision Pro headset. Also, the new camera bump layout gives me major WALL-E vibes.

iPhone 16 also comes with 8GB of memory and an A18 chip, enabling Apple Intelligence when it's made available later this year in iOS 18.1. The decision to continue offering 128GB base storage is infuriating, but to be expected as a way to differentiate from the Pro models.

This year's selection of colors certainly makes a statement. The new iPhone 16 is certainly a lot bolder than the iPhone 15's muted pastel colors – something many fans criticised. The new flagship Ultramarine blue color is my personal favorite, and the option I'd pick

But the iPhone 16 Pro Max (and smaller sibling) is where my particular focus is, being the device I'm going to buy this year – upgrading from the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Screen sizes have seen an increase from 6.1 and 6.7 inches to 6.3 and 6.9 inches, respectively. Wider bezels mean that the devices aren't actually any bigger than before. Since I've always opted for the Pro Max for the extra screen real estate, this move is something I'm very fond of – I'm getting more iPhone screen without the device starting to get too big.

There's also a new Desert Titanium color, replacing Blue Titanium from last year. I initially ordered my iPhone 15 Pro Max in Blue Titanium, but quickly switched to the Natural Titanium to match my Apple Watch Ultra – a decision I'm glad I made. But the new Desert Titanium is tempting me, which is a hot take. Most are criticising the color, but I'm actually rather fond. I said what I said.

The fact that both main cameras are now 48MP is better, as I take thousands of photos on my iPhone each month. I'm excited to see the faster aperture speed for snappier shots, and how much brighter photos are. While I've been using the 5x tetraprism camera for a year now, I am glad it's now available on the smaller iPhone 16 Pro – it should have been from the beginning. Also, 4K Slo-Mo at 120fps is technically very impressive, but I don't think I've ever recorded in slow motion. Ever.

I won't rehash my thoughts on the Camera Control button or any other features that are identical to the regular iPhone 16 devices. Although I will say that I'm glad pricing has remained where it is.

As for the new AirPods, my feelings are a little mixed. The new AirPods 4 offer a more comfortable design, new case Find My features, and wireless charging. And (plot twist) there are two variants: one with ANC and one without.

I'm very glad to see the new $129 AirPods 4, and I think this model makes sense (in theory). $179 is still a little steep for the cheapest AirPods in a world where decent wireless earbuds can be had for around $50. While $129 is still pricier, it makes AirPods much more accessible for those that don't care about the latest and greatest features.

But (and this is a big but), the AirPods line-up is now far too confusing. AirPods 4 have the same name, but one has ANC and is $179 while the other has no noise cancellation and is $129. AirPods Pro 2 can now be had in three configurations: Lightning case, MagSafe and USB-C case, and USB-C case with the new hearing features. And then there's AirPods Max at the high end. Try explaining all that to your grandma or in less than 20 words.

Apple is using the same name for too many devices at once. The $129 AirPods 4 should be AirPods SE, while the $179 AirPods 4 should maintain their 4th-gen name. As for the Pros, Apple should just slap a 3 on there already, as a third minor upgrade is dragging on a little. As for AirPods Max keeping their name, I'll allow it since the only changes are USB-C and colors – but next time must add a number on there.

Rant over. I like the fact that Find My is now on AirPods 4 – a must-have feature that's come to my rescue a fair few times. I like the new AirPods Max colors, and I'm sure many fans will too. Although I'm disappointed, there aren't any audio improvements to Apple's expensive and premium over-ear cans. AirPods Pro 2 (v3)'s new hearing features look really useful, and I'm excited to try them out. But. Call. Them. AirPods. Pro. 3. For. The. Love. Of. God. Please.

My thoughts on the newest Apple devices summarised

The Apple Watch Series 10 and iPhone 16 line bring solid upgrades like a larger OLED display and the anticipated S10 chip for the watch, and enhanced camera systems for the iPhones. But across the board, Apple's newest devices are somewhat bittersweet.

The Apple Watch Series didn't quite live up to the buzz of Apple Watch X rumors, leaving a sense of "what could have been," and the confusing AirPods line-up with identical names, but different features adds unnecessary complexity. Still, some new features like Find My for AirPods and sleep apnea detection for the Watch stand out.

All in all, I'm a happy camper. The new releases bring a mix of excitement and mild frustration, but overall offer compelling new features that are welcoming to see.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 16 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch X, Apple Watch Ultra 3, iOS 18 and watchOS 11 coverage so far.

The iPhone 16 launch event saw plenty of announcements from Apple. There's a new Camera Control on the new iPhones, which gives better access to taking photos and videos. The screens across the line-up are better than ever, and more durable. Apple is showing a fondness for new colors this year, with plenty of options to pick from.

Apple Watch Series 10 was a big upgrade, with a bigger screen than ever before. The body is the slimmest it's ever been, things are faster on the inside, and moves the antennas to the backside of the case. Apple Watch Ultra 2 got a new colour option, and a third-gen Apple Watch SE never materialized.

AirPods also saw some big changes. AirPods 4 gain active noise cancellation, and launch an even cheaper $129 model without ANC. AirPods Max get a minor refresh with USB-C and new colours, while AirPods Pro 2 got a third iteration with new hearing tech added.

But the latest Apple event doesn't just mark the beginning of Apple's latest devices; it also marks the end for a bunch of products.

Every Apple product discontinued after the iPhone 16 event

While everybody's attention has been on everything announced at the iPhone 16 event, I've been diving in to the products Apple discontinued after the event. Here's everything I've found so far:

• iPhone 15 Pro
• iPhone 15 Pro Max
• AirPods (2nd-generation)
• AirPods (3rd-generation)
• Apple Watch Series 9
• iPhone 13
• iPhone 13 mini
• FineWoven iPhone 16 cases (so far)

While an online Target listing made us think Apple's wired EarPods might be on the way out, they're still available on Apple's store for now. Those that prefer wires can enjoy $19 earphones from Apple for a while longer.

As I find more Apple products discontinued after the iPhone 16 event, we'll update this list.

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 16 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max, Apple Watch X, Apple Watch Ultra 3, iOS 18 and watchOS 11 coverage so far.

While the Apple Watch X and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 could be arriving in September, we're also expecting an Apple Watch SE 3 to debut.

Apple's cheaper smartwatch could make some big changes to appeal to a wider range of budgets and users, with rumors it'll be made of a cheaper plastic material, while still packing as many of its fitness-focused features in as possible.

The idea could be to compete with cheaper Android fitness trackers that are only getting lower in price every year. Still, with watchOS 11 under the hood, there's every chance an Apple Watch SE 3 could blow them all out of the water with a more mature operating system.

Here's all we know about the Apple Watch SE 3.

Apple Watch SE 3: Release Date Rumors

Apple Watch is a companion device to the iPhone in just about every sense, and as a result, we tend to see it revealed alongside Apple's big-selling handset.

With that in mind, it's likely we'll get a reveal in September alongside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro lineup, followed by a release date in late September or early October.

Naturally, there's always the potential for things to change. Still, given the history of the Apple Watch, it's unlikely to deviate too much - although the Apple Watch X could arrive later because it's a tenth-anniversary model. The original didn't ship until 2015.

Apple Watch SE 3: Price Expectations

The current Apple Watch SE, the second generation, retails at $249 for the 40mm model, and $279 for the larger 44mm one.

That could stay the same with the Apple Watch SE 3, but Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested it could use a rigid plastic shell to get closer to Samsung's Galaxy Watch FE which retails for $199.

Apple Watch SE 3: Design and Size

As mentioned above, the material could change to keep costs down, but reports have previously suggested the new SE could use the overall shape of the Series 8.

That could mean slimmer bezels and a slightly larger 41 and 45mm display option for the SE 3, upping the usable display area by almost 20%.

Apple Watch SE 3: Features

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has suggested that the next Apple Watch lineup could see a new SiP (system in package), potentially to "lay the groundwork for some AI enhancements down the road", and while Apple Intelligence isn't expected just yet, it'll be pretty wild if the cheaper SE 3 ends up with the same chip as its much more expensive siblings.

It's hard to say if that could happen, but given the SE 2 is on the S8 chip and Apple finally pushed past that with last year's Series 9 and Ultra 2 getting the S9, at the very least it seems reasonable to expect the S9 chip to come to the latest SE.

Elsewhere, there's a good chance that the Apple Watch SE 3 could benefit from the fast-charging introduced with the Series 7 a few years back, as well as the next generation of the optical heart sensor which debuted in the Series 6 way back in 2020 but somehow hasn't found its way to the SE lineup yet.

Apple Watch SE 3: Battery Life

The current Apple Watch SE (and indeed the mainline Series 9) all claim 18 hours of battery life, and it's unlikely Apple would allow for anything less in the SE.

Still, with drastically cheaper fitness trackers on the Android side of the fence going for days and even weeks without needing a charge, this could be an area for Apple to improve - but we've not heard anything to suggest it's high up in the company's list of priorities.

watchOS 11

watchOS 11 is the upcoming version of Apple's wearable OS, which adds a new Vitals app as well as the option to customize your Activity Rings in more detail.

Live Activities will also arrive, but Apple Intelligence won't - at least not yet. For now, that's for iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Vision Pro.

Apple is fresh off of announcing Apple Intelligence at WWDC 2024, and we’re all trying to figure out what features are going to be useful to each one of us. From Genmoji to an upgraded Siri to writing tools, there’s a lot of features that could have a meaningful impact on many of us.

When I was digging into all of the features that I would want to use that the company announced, I was also looking into any features that I might want to hold off on using — and the one feature that stood out as something I am really hesitant to touch (besides ChatGPT, but that’s another conversation) is Apple using AI to prioritize my notifications.

Wait, what’s changing with notifications?

With Apple Intelligence in iOS 18, Apple is bringing some AI smarts to help you better manage your notifications. The biggest feature is what the company is calling Priority Messages in Mail and Priority Notifications.

In Mail, Priority Messages is a new section at the top of your inbox that uses Apple Intelligence to show you what it believes to be the "most urgent" emails. Apple says that it is smart enough to read your emails and recognize something like a "same-day dinner invitation or boarding pass."

In addition to choosing which emails to consider priority, Apple Intelligence will also read the contents of the email and, instead of showing you the first few lines of the email in the preview, show you a summary of the email. If you tap into an email with a long thread, Apple Intelligence will also provide a TLDR at the top of the entire message thread.

Priority Notifications is the same kind of idea as Priority Messages in Mail — but for all of the notifications hitting your iPhone. If you're running iOS 17, you're familiar by now with the "stack" of notifications at the bottom of your Lock Screen. 

With iOS 18, Apple is adding a new section at the top of the Stack called Priority Notifications that Apple says will "surface what’s most important." Like Mail, Priority Notifications will use AI to show summaries in the notification so you can get a TLDR instead of having to tap in to get the key information.

The company is also adding a new Focus called Reduce Interruptions that "surfaces only the notifications that might need immediate attention, like a text about an early pickup from daycare."

Apple has always struggled to make notifications manageable

The first reason that I hesitate to trust this has nothing to do with the feature itself and more with the history we all have with the iPhone and notification management.

Apple, compared to Android, has always been behind when it comes to releasing tools to help us manage our notifications. Grouping notifications by app didn't come to the iPhone until iOS 12 back in 2018, more than a decade after the iPhone originally launched.

Time-sensitive notifications, which would break through your Do Not Disturb setting to alert you to something that was incredibly important, didn't show up until iOS 15 back in 2021. The ability to snooze a notification also didn't launch until iOS 15. 

Prioritization of notifications also still doesn't exist for users to configure themselves and, with iOS 18, Apple is trusting its own AI to do it for us rather than giving us the control ourselves.

Even today, coming back to my iPhone is like trying to stand up in the ocean right as a wave annihilates your face. There are so many notifications that — up to this day — I’ve resorted to just turning notifications for most apps off.

I do not trust Apple Intelligence to get this right...yet

While I am excited to see what Apple Intelligence can do for me and everyone else who utilizes the features that it brings to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, I am really hesitant to trust Apple to get notifications right straight out of the gate.

Between this being a completely new technology for the company and the history we've had with notification issues or lack of features on the iPhone, it feels like a real gamble to trust Apple with this as soon as iOS 18 launches these features later this year.

The two features that I am most nervous about are Priority Notifications and the new Reduce Interruptions feature. I'm not so much concerned about Apple choosing what emails get prioritized with Priority Messages in Mail. Emails aren't usually that urgent — that's what text messages and phone calls are for — so if the company gets some of that wrong that's not a big deal.

While I am nervous about Priority Notifications, this is also one that — like Priority Messages — can't do much damage. While you might find that the company has missed moving something to priority when it should, you're only looking at Priority Notifications when you're purposefully looking at all of your notifications, so it's not like you're going to miss something here — it just might not be in the place you think it should be.

However, I am really hesitant to trust Apple to get prioritization right when it comes to the notifications on my iPhone, especially with that Reduce Interruptions Focus. That Focus will only display a notification that Apple has determined as "Maybe Important." If Apple Intelligence has decided that the notification isn't important, it's not going to surface the notification at all.

That is putting a heck of a lot of faith in Apple to get this right for those who actually put their trust in this Focus. I immediately think about the fact that, when my friends are ready to play a video game, we'll send each other a meme or GIF. I'd want to see that notification since it's time-sensitive, but is Apple Intelligence going to understand that context and surface it when I have the Reduce Notifications Focus turned on? I doubt it.

Of course, that's a case of missing some gaming time, which isn't a life-or-death scenario. But what if it was? Am I going to be sitting at my desk, using the Focus to try and work, and miss something really urgent that I otherwise would have? Can we really put our trust in Apple Intelligence at that level?

We'll have to wait until it launches later this year to find out, but I think I'll be watching those features like a hawk — if I even decide to turn them on.

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I’ve written in the past about how I’ve always felt a little like a “fake Pro” having a MacBook Pro. Not only does Apple’s “top of the line” laptop cost a fortune, but there’s always been a sort of status that comes with it.

Growing up, everyone I knew wanted a MacBook Pro, and after spending time with outdated MacBook Airs provided by employers, I’d grown to feel like Apple’s slimline machines were somehow “lesser”.

If you’d felt a tad snobbish about the gap between the two product lines, though, I’m pleased to tell you that you can drop that misconception - I swapped my MacBook Pro for a MacBook Air, and I may never go back. 

 Light as Air

My main reason for the change was simple - I travel fairly regularly for work, and lugging a 16-inch MacBook Pro in a backpack was starting to become a drag. It’s not that it’s all that heavy, and the MacBook Pro is an unbelievably impressive machine, but it began to get harder to find backpacks and bags that fit its chunkier chassis without too much of a squeeze.

I considered the MacBook Air as a replacement and thought better of it. After all, could I really give up the speakers, ports, ProMotion refresh rate, and the extra inch of screen real estate just for a slimmer laptop?

As it turns out, each of those was easier to reckon with than anticipated. I don’t game on my Mac (I have a Windows machine and consoles), and I can’t say ProMotion has ever stood out to me in day-to-day usage anyway.

My laptop is also usually docked and connected to a monitor and speakers which means the built-in speakers only really need to be impressive on the rare occasions it’s not, and I connect everything via a single USB-C port. As for the extra portion of screen size, it’s pretty negligible for the most part.

There was just one issue - the M2 chip couldn’t handle two external displays at once.

Make room for M3

Thankfully, the M3 chip fixed that issue, albeit by requiring the laptop to be in clamshell mode. This means I could hook the MacBook Air up to my dual-monitor setup, with a single cable, but also know I could remove it and throw it in a bag if I wanted to work elsewhere.

After ticking off everything on my list, it all comes down to performance. Could I really do what I need to do on a laptop with an M3, rather than the M1 Pro? Surely it couldn’t be that simple?

As it happens, yes, it is. Since I’ve not done big tasks like editing audio in years, the bump in single-core performance from the M1 Pro to the M3 was more than enough, but the M3 Air also performs at a similar level to the MacBook Pro M1 Pro when it comes to multi-core tasks.

While the lack of a fan may change things under sustained load, I’ve been really impressed so far - and I’m only just scratching the surface.

It’s all about intelligence

Apple made a big deal in its M3 MacBook Air press release about the potential of the device for AI tasks, packing additional neural cores into its third-generation chip.

With Apple Intelligence on the way, that could be a great way to future-proof, but it’s also likely to come in handy for me, a tech freelancer who regularly contributes content to iMore and its sister sites about AI developments.

So, if you're concerned about moving from a Pro to an Air, rest assured - it's a much easier transition than you may think.

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I love AirPods, I really do — but I test enough headphones to know that there are some excellent alternatives out there if you want to save some money, don’t want the same thing as pretty much everyone else, or want better sound quality. It also happens to be Prime Day in just a few weeks on July 16 and as expectations for the deals event start to burgeon, I’m going to use my expertise to show you what else you can get for your money.

I’ll do it by AirPods model — looking for X AirPods? Here’s X alternative, and why you should consider them instead. We’re not looking to say the AirPods are bad here by any stretch of the imagination, but we are looking to show you that there are different options out there depending on what you’re looking for. So, without further ado, here are four alternatives to AirPods you should consider this Prime Day.

AirPods 2

The base model AirPods 2 are some great headphones, and the cheapest way to join the AirPods faithful. They do have some key weaknesses, however, such as a lack of noise canceling and what some find to be a loose fit. They’re getting a bit old at this point as well so you may want to look elsewhere for your in-ear bud fit.

We’d recommend the Denon AH-C6309W instead. Despite their annoying numerical name, they are an excellent pair of earbuds with wicked sound quality, noise canceling, and a very comfortable fit. They might be larger than the AirPods, but they are a better pair of buds. They’re around the same price too — nice. We gave them five stars in our review, so they get our stamp of approval as well.

• Denon AH-C6309W $99 at Amazon

AirPods 3

The AirPods 3 are the black sheep of the family — they’re not a bad bud at all, but they are very overpriced. The main difference between them and the AirPods 2 is their shape and the addition of Spatial Audio. Apart from those key differences, you don’t get anything new for the extra that you’ll spend on the weirdest AirPods of the bunch.

Instead, we reckon you should check out the Marshall Motif II. They have more visual charm with their throwback marshall amplifier stylings, for one, and their silicon tips make for a more comfortable, useable bud. They’re around the same price as the AirPods 3, but you get more battery life and noise-canceling for the trouble. We gave the Motif II a four-star review, loving their genre-focused sound and comfortable fit. The ANC isn’t the best around, but it’s got it where the AirPods do not.

• Marshall Motif II $189 at Amazon

AirPods Pro 2

The AirPods Pro 2 are some of iMores favorite wireless earbuds, with a super comfortable fit, excellent noise canceling, and some wicked extra features. There are adaptive noise-canceling modes, reasonable battery life, and MagSafe charging so you don’t need to worry about taking multiple chargers out and about with you wherever you go. There’s only one thing that needs some work — the sound quality.

If you want the best sound possible, we’d say go for the Denon Perl Pro. You’ll pay a price premium, that’s for sure, but you’ll get a similarly comfortable fit, comparable noise canceling, and some of the best sound quality in a pair of wireless in-ear buds. You’ll pay $100 more, but you won’t regret sticking a pair of these in your ears.

• Denon Perl Pro $349 at Amazon

AirPods Max

If you want the most impressive pair of headphones that Apple has to offer, then a pair of AirPods Max is going to be exactly what you’ve been looking for. Expensive, heavy, and super-premium, they’re a stunning pair of headphones with a price tag to match. To some, however, their design could be over the top, with their mesh headband and square earcups.

If you want a pair of headphones that look and sound the part, then the Master & Dynamic MW75 are an excellent option. The sound quality is monstrous, the build quality excellent, and the carrying case a masterwork. They are more expensive than the AirPods Max, but you do get what you pay for — and then some.

• Master and Dynamic MW75 $599 at Amazon

Although Apple Intelligence was most people’s main focus during WWDC 2024, plenty of goodies are set to arrive on your best Apple Watch too via the latest software update, watchOS 11. Enhanced women’s health features improve cycle tracking and additional tools offer support during pregnancy, activity rings are becoming more customizable, and the smart stack is getting better with interactive features. 

However, it’s the new Training Load feature on the Workout app, and the new Vitals app, that’s got fitness fans really excited. Apple describes Training Load as “an insightful new way to measure how the intensity and duration of workouts are impacting a user’s body over time”, but that doesn’t tell us very much about the nuts and bolts of it. What is Training Load? How is it calculated? And how can understanding our Training Load help us recover from tough workouts? Read on to find out all about it. 

What is Training Load?

In Apple terms, Training Load helps Apple Watch users understand how their workouts are placing strain on their bodies in order to determine whether it’s above or below their usual levels of activity. Every time you exercise, you place a bit of stress on your body. Of course, this is how the process works: you recover, you get stronger, and you’re able to take a little bit more stress next time. It’s how people go from running five kilometers to marathons. 

However, in order for your body to recover successfully, you need adequate rest. If your Training Load is too far above your usual level, Apple will flag it up, and recommend you rest for a day or two to bring the stress on your body back down to manageable levels. 

Garmin and Fitbit offer similar services, incorporating ‘readiness scores’ into their health summaries. While using one of these devices, if your readiness score is low, the companion app will recommend you sleep more and train lighter until your body has had a chance to fully recover. This is Apple’s take on the feature, and it’s nicely incorporated into the ecosystem of its cornerstone Workout app, along with the new Vitals app. 

How is Training Load calculated?

After you have recorded a cardio-based workout in your Apple Watch’s Workout app, whether it’s an ad-hoc workout or one from Apple Fitness Plus, it will look at your health data in order to determine how intense you found it compared to your usual effort. How elevated was your heart rate? How many calories did you burn? How far did you travel?

watchOS 11 will look at “a combination of data sources like age, height, and weight, alongside workout data like GPS, heart rate, and elevation”. It will then give the workout a number between one and 10, and an intensity grading such as “moderate”. 

For some workout types like strength training, you won’t get an automatic estimate, but you can manually enter a rating at the end of each workout, following a prompt on your Apple Watch to do so. 

Your Apple Watch will then compare this data to your seven-day training load, which is the amount and intensity of workouts performed over the last seven days, and your 28-day training load. From there, the Training Load feature can tell you whether you are below or above your usual level, via a cool-looking graph, a percentage number, and a brief descriptive note or rating. For example, if your training load is 20% down over the last 28 days, you’ll get a rating of “Below”, while a 12% increase could offer a rating of “Steady” indicating overall growth. 

You can also view your Training Load in the Apple Watch’s Vitals app, Activity app, and your iPhone’s Fitness app. Viewing your Training Load on iPhone offers the opportunity for more insights: if you continue to train above your usual level, your iPhone’s fitness app can tell you more about how your fitness is increasing. If you’re training too much, it will flag up the possibility of injury. 

How to use download and use Training Load

First off, you’ll need to download the watchOS11 beta. The public beta is available in July, but you can download the developer beta early by signing up for the Apple Beta Software Program. This requires paying a fee, which you can do as part of an individual or an organization. You can find more information on Apple’s Developer website. 

Whether you’re a developer or you’re waiting for the public beta, you can access the feature by going to Software Update > Beta Updates and downloading the iOS 18 beta. From there, you can head to the Watch app and download the watchOS 11 beta by going to Watch > General > Software Update.

Once you’ve updated, you’ll need to spend 28 days with the watch before you can use Training Load in the way it’s intended to be used. However, when you finish a workout in the Workout app, you can scroll down in your Workout Summary to view your workout’s effort rating. As previously mentioned, popular cardio workouts such as running and cycling will generate an effort rating automatically, but you can tap on the effort rating and use your digital crown to manually set the effort rating by scrolling up and down, from one to 10. This is the default method of adding an effort rating for workouts that don’t auto-populate the effort rating field. 

You don’t have to add or change an effort rating straight away: you can do this later on within the Fitness app on your iPhone, by going to Fitness > Summary > Activity, tapping on a workout, and entering an effort rating for that workout. After 28 days of wearing your watch during activities, you’ll be able to see your Training Load in the Fitness app, comparing the last seven days to the last 28 days. 

You can also use the Fitness app on your iPhone to filter your Training Load by specific workouts. Going to Summary > Training Load > All Workouts will provide the option to only view workouts of a particular type. For example, if you’re only interested in your running mileage, you can change the Training Load view from All Workouts to Running by tapping on the Running option. 

Apple came out swinging with the Apple Watch Ultra when it debuted a couple of years back, and while the second version made small changes, it was nonetheless a great wearable as our review of the Ultra 2 shows.

All rumors point to a relatively quiet year for the third-generation Apple Watch Ultra, though, with Apple focusing much of its effort on Apple Intelligence, which isn't expected to come to any Apple Watch anytime soon.

After a big year last year, watchOS 11 could be a relatively slim upgrade too, but in case you're itching for a rugged, powerful smartwatch regardless, we've rounded up all the rumors and reports here.

Here's all we know about the Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: The headlines

• What is it? The Apple Watch Ultra 3 will be Apple’s next rugged, premium smartwatch.
• When can we expect it? Q4 2024
• Key upgrades: New Apple silicon chip

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Release Date Rumors

Apple Watch models tend to be revealed at September events alongside the new iPhone, so there’s a good chance we’ll see it in the same showcase as the iPhone 16 and the ‘Series X’ if it’s real.

As for when it may be available to buy, expect Ultra 3 to go up for preorder after the event and launch within a few short weeks - likely in October.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Price Expectations

Both prior versions of the Apple Watch Ultra have debuted at $799, and with this being a slimmer year for new features, we can't see that changing this time around.

So while we don't expect a price increase, a price drop remains unlikely.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Design and Display

Ming-Chi Kuo, a longtime Apple analyst and source of plenty of leaks, has suggested the next Apple watch will be darker in color - maybe even black titanium.

We’ve previously covered why a slick new colorway could tempt us to upgrade.

The Apple Watch Ultra 2 has a 1.93-inch display, but reports have suggested the third version will grow to 2.12 inches. Whether that means a larger footprint or the thinning of the existing bezels, however, it’s hard to say.

Here’s hoping Apple can remove some of the weight of the device, too - it doesn’t feel drastically heftier than rivals, but it can’t hurt.

One thing we’re not expecting though is the microLED display that’s reportedly been in the works for some time. Reports suggest this has been pushed back to 2026, and possibly further, due to issues with producing the new displays.

Interestingly, Mark Gurman has reported that the Series X could match the Ultra 3 in terms of display size, so it'll be interesting to see just how the Ultra 3 changes to differentiate itself - if at all.

In July, Gurman added that he expects Ultra 3 to include a new Apple silicon chip, but nothing else regarding major hardware updates this year to the wearable.

Apple Watch Ultra 3: Features

New fitness features

Apple’s lengthy legal disputes with Masimo over the blood oxygen sensors in its Apple Watch models are still rumbling on, and that may have slowed down the updates on the latest Apple Watch Ultra - and the second generation was a pretty slow year, too.

We had been hoping blood pressure monitoring would be coming this year as was reported by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, but at the time of writing it appears quiet on that front from Apple.

That could make the Ultra a tough sell for Ultra 2 owners or even owners of the original Ultra, and with the ongoing legal battle, there's every chance blood oxygen monitoring isn't available at launch.

Apple has also reportedly been working on sleep apnea detection, but its ties to the blood oxygen monitoring that isn't available right now could mean it slips.

Performance and Apple Intelligence

Reports have suggested that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 and the Series 10 will gain a new SiP (system in package) to offer additional performance and "lay the groundwork for some AI enhancements down the road".

The Ultra 2 saw the arrival of the S9 chip, which allows for more on-device processing of Siri requests, but Mark Gurman says we shouldn't expect Apple Intelligence on the wearable anytime soon.

"For now, that service is only headed to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Later, it will come to the Vision Pro, but there are no plans to bring the full initiative to the watch," he said.

What does watchOS 11 offer?

Apple’s latest OS update for Apple Watch doesn’t offer many clues for the future of the Ultra lineup, but it does offer some notable improvements for the Apple Watch line.

The new Vitals update in watchOS 11 gives a more glanceable look at your health data, including heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep, and blood oxygen, helping you understand big changes to any of those.

Training Load will also help users plan workouts based on a variety of factors, including effort levels and timing, to ensure they’re getting the most out of things. It uses algorithmic data from multiple sources.

Users will also be able to log a pregnancy within the Health app and use the cycle tracker to track gestational age, and Activity Rings can now be personalized on a per-day basis or paused if a user suffers an injury or needs a rest day.

A big 'finally' in watchOS 11 is the ability to set rest days, so you won't lose your workout streaks if you suddenly come down with illness and you're unable to do a workout.

While Apple Intelligence stole the show at WWDC 2024, and will come to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, and macOS Sequoia later this year (unless you’re in the UK) Apple didn’t forget its other platforms.

tvOS didn’t get a whole host of new features announced for its 18th installment, but some nifty features may just keep you reaching for Apple’s remote over one from a competitor.

Here’s everything coming in tvOS 18, from TV app improvements to new projector aspect ratio support.

tvOS 18: New features

TV app improvements

Not to be confused with Apple TV the device or Apple TV Plus the service, the TV app is getting some fresh new features. 

InSight is Apple’s equivalent to Prime Video’s X-Ray option, letting you check out which actor is in a scene, a blurb about the character they’re playing, and other additional information including where you may have seen them before.

Enhance Dialogue is also getting an improvement, which should make it easier for those with hearing impairments, or simply those that prefer clearer audio, to pick out dialogue amongst action scenes.

Apple says “In addition to HomePod speakers, users can now enjoy Enhance Dialogue when listening through built-in TV or HDMI-connected speakers, AirPods, and other Bluetooth-connected devices, and when playing supported content on iPhone and iPad.”

Subtitles will be switched on automatically if you mute the video, while rewinding will also add them so you can catch up on anything you’ve missed.

21:9 support

The tvOS 18 update will give users the option to playback in the 21:9 projector format, increasing the available display options on your Apple TV. 

Fitness Plus redesign 

If you’ve been using Apple Fitness Plus to get yourself in shape, you’ll be pleased to know the Fitness Plus app is getting an overhaul. 

The app will offer a personalized For You section, and make it easier to find the workout you’re looking for.

Rewards have also been updated, so you can earn what Apple calls “enhanced awards”, but we’re not sure what that could mean as yet.

New wallpapers

New wallpapers are coming with tvOS, including adorable new Snoopy and Woodstock options, as well as some based on Apple TV Plus shows like Foundation. 

Live Captions

In the US and Canada, you’ll be able to access Live Captions via the Continuity Camera on tvOS 18.

That means if you’re displaying your FaceTime call on your TV, you’ll get automatic subtitles during a call.

tvOS 18: Expected release date

The tvOS 18 developer beta is available now, with a public beta slated for July. For now, though, the developer one is your only option.

Come September, the update will roll out to all compatible Apple TV models.

tvOS 18: Compatible models

tvOS 18 will work on the old Apple TV HD from 2015 and onward, as well as every 4K Apple TV model released so far.

The brand new Vitals app in watchOS 11 gives you important information related to your health, but this design mishap makes its iOS 18 widget appear like a ticking Doomsday Clock.

Taking to X, @battleangelviv shared their Health widget on iPhone that has been worded in such a way that could easily be taken out of context and make you sleep with one eye open at night. The widget says "Vitals: 7 Nights Remaining" with no context as to what this could mean. 

Hilariously the tweet reads, "Hold on. what do you mean. 7 nights remaining. WHAT DO YOU MEAN."

7 nights remaining

Presumably, the info on display in the new Vitals widget is related to a cycle count or perhaps a calibration period, but the tweet's author hasn't shared any further details to let us in on the mystery. Hopefully, they keep X users updated on the platform as we count down the 7 days until doomsday, fingers crossed for them Apple Intelligence hasn't made its way onto their device early, working as a sentient being to cause havoc and stress.

The Vitals app will be available on all the best Apple Watches later this year when watchOS 11 becomes available. You can download the watchOS 11 beta today, although we'd advise against it unless you want to be reminded of the ticking time bomb that is life. Hopefully, Apple will tweak that copy soon. 

What is the Vitals app?

The Vitals app is the latest advancement in Apple's aim to create the best smartwatch for your health by giving important health metrics during sleep: heart rate, respiratory rate, wrist temperature, sleep duration, and blood oxygen.

In the new app, you'll get key info related to your health and then analyze the data to make sure you're living the healthiest way possible. Apple says, "When two or more metrics are out of their typical range, users can receive a notification, along with a message detailing how the changes in these specific metrics may be linked to other aspects of their life, such as elevation changes, alcohol consumption, or even illness."

Follow WWDC 2024 as it happened. Check out our roundups for all the latest on the newly announced iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS 15, watchOS 11, visionOS 2, and Apple Intelligence.

More from iMore

• I've spent a day with the iOS 18 beta and, without Apple Intelligence, it's not a great iPhone update — but the potential is immense
• iOS 18: Everything you need to know about Apple Intelligence, ChatGPT on iPhone, and more
• Everything Apple announced at WWDC 2024: iOS 18, Apple Intelligence, and more

Apple unveiled iOS 18 yesterday. The latest software update for the best iPhones brings some of the biggest changes to Apple’s smartphone. There are a bunch of new customization options, designs, apps, and interactions. Not to mention all the Apple Intelligence AI features. But customization is what appeals to most users, it seems. And iOS 18's new options remind me of jailbroken iPhones.

After spending a day with the iOS 18 beta, I can't help but notice how much it feels like the old jailbreak days of 2015. I remember the thrill of unlocking extra iPhone  potential and personalizing it beyond Apple's restrictions. Even though it was a little naughty. And lots of users did the same. Now, it seems Apple has taken a page from that book, bringing us some much-missed features without the risk of bricking your device or voiding your warranty.

iOS 18 finally allows you to rearrange apps and widgets in any open space on the Home Screen, even above the dock. This flexibility is reminiscent of jailbreak tweaks like Gridlock, which allowed for similar freedom in arranging icons. You can apply dark or tinted effects to app icons and widgets, offering a sleek, minimalist look or a customized color match with your wallpaper. Back in the jailbreak days, tweaks like WinterBoard were essential for theme customization, letting you change icons and overall UI aesthetics.

The revamped Control Center in iOS 18 allows you to add controls from third-party apps, resize them, and create custom groups. This level of customization was once the realm of jailbreak tweaks like CCSettings, which let users tweak Control Center to their liking. Customizing controls at the bottom of the Lock Screen is another feature that brings back memories of tweaks like JellyLock, which allowed users to add shortcuts and customize the Lock Screen interface.

Privacy gets a major boost with the ability to lock apps using Face ID, Touch ID, or a passcode, and even hide them from search and notifications by moving them to a hidden apps folder. This is a nod to jailbreak tweaks like BioProtect and Poof, which provided similar functionalities for securing and hiding apps.

As you'll have noticed, for almost all of the new customization features in iOS 18, there was a jailbreak tweak to match. It's great that Apple is finally giving users so much flexibility, especially when Android devices have had the option for so long. But I also think it's a little scary.

So much safer, but a little scary

While the customization options in iOS 18 are exciting and offer a fresh level of personalization, they come with the peace of mind that only official updates can provide. There's no need to worry about the instability or security risks that came with jailbreaking. Apple has managed to incorporate these long-desired features in a way that maintains the integrity and security of the iPhone ecosystem.

For those of us who remember the days of manually installing Cydia, tweaking every aspect of the iPhone, and occasionally dealing with the headaches that came with it, iOS 18 feels like a homecoming. It's as if Apple has acknowledged the creative spirit of the jailbreak community and decided to give us a taste of that freedom, safely and securely.

So then, why do I think these customization options are a little scary? Ok, scary is the wrong word – I'm being very hyperbolic. Or am I? You see, I've seen some people share their new home screen designs on Twitter after installing the iOS 18 beta. And they are scary. Giving users so much control also comes with the trade-off of every iPhone looking the same, and, well, good. Of course, you don't have to touch these customization options. But for those that are using them? Some of the designs don't look great, to put it nicely.

More from iMore

• I've spent a day with the iOS 18 beta and, without Apple Intelligence, it's not a great iPhone update — but the potential is immense
• iOS 18: Everything you need to know about Apple Intelligence, ChatGPT on iPhone, and more
• Everything Apple announced at WWDC 2024: iOS 18, Apple Intelligence, and more

Using the best TMs in Pokémon Go can be crucial when facing difficult battles, as they allow you to change a Pokémon's moves.

TMs (Technical Machines) have been a mainstay of the series ever since Pokémon Red and Blue debuted on the Nintendo Game Boy in 1997. TMs enable different Pokémon to learn new skills to be more effective against various types.

In Pokémon Go, there are three types:

• Fast, which can change a Pokémon's fast move.
• Charged, which can change a Pokémon's charged move
• Elite, which can allow a Pokémon to learn a specific move.

However, that's just the start of what TMs can do. To help, we've compiled the guide below to help you see which TMs are compatible with certain Pokémon, and how to use them very effectively.

What are the best movesets to change with TMs in Pokémon Go?

If Raid Battles are your things and you want to beat the Raid Bosses, these are the Pokémon you want to use your TMs on and the Fast Moves and Charged Moves you want to get. They're all single Fast TM or single Charged TM safe, which means you're guaranteed to get something better than you have. While there are "best movesets" for every Pokémon out there, there are plenty of exceptions and special cases. We've got the best movesets here but you might find other movesets are useful too.

Note: Before changing any move, double-check to make sure you do not have a Legacy Move. A Legacy Move is no longer available in a Pokémon's pool of Moves. Sometimes a Move is removed during an update, and sometimes it was only available for Community Day or Special Raids. While some Legacy Moves are less useful or even outright bad, some of them are outstanding, and some players collect Legacy Move Pokémon.

What are the best Pokémon Go movesets to change with TMs for Mega Evolution?

With the introduction of Mega Evolution Pokémon, these are the movesets you'll want for Pokémon capable of Mega Evolving. Some of the best movesets for Mega Evolved Pokémon include Legacy Moves so if you don't have a move indicated with an asterisk, it will require an Elite TM:

What are the best Pokémon Go movesets to change with TMs for Gym Battles?

It's hard to recommend anyone "waste" TMs on defenders anymore, given how the Gym system in Pokémon Go operates now. By punishing defenders with CP of 3000 or higher, limiting each Gym to only one Pokémon of the same kind at any given time, and making it much easier to take down Gyms, there's very little room left for classical "Gym defenders."

You're better off investing TMs — and stardust — in Raid Boss counters (see above) since anything you put into a Gym defender will, at most, only slow down an attacker by seconds. Still, if having the best defense is a point of pride for you, and you have the TMs to burn, here are some of the top Gym defenders.

Get the right moves for your Pokémon

Whenever you're dealing with TMs, the best options will depend on the Pokémon you're using and what you're doing with it. Take advantage of changing these movesets as you see fit to give your Pokémon a fighting edge. 

Time Machine is one of the most useful features of macOS. Something goes wrong on your MacBook or iMac? Dive into Time Machine and you can reverse that change and it’s like nothing ever happened. It’s a fantastically powerful backup tool that allows you to restore individual files or the whole mirror image of the drive. 

So, why did I go against the grain and perform a fresh install on my MacBook during one quiet Saturday? Call it foolishness or overly bold, but it actually worked out far better than I expected. Here’s a look at how it turned out for me and why I’d recommend others consider doing similar.

I was overly attached to Time Machine. Don't be me.

I’ve been using Macs for over 10 years now. I’m on my third Mac (a MacBook Pro 16-inch M1 Pro) and each new device, I’ve simply restored from a Time Machine backup. It’s been nice not to really think about it after too many years of dealing with Windows and regular reinstalls. 

However, it also made me lazy. Due to my work and curiosity, I installed a lot of apps, and sometimes, things went wrong. There was a strange time when I pressed the wrong button on DropBox (don’t ask) and ended up ‘losing’ ready access to my Documents folder. I still couldn’t explain what happened but I came up with a workaround involving iCloud and moved on. 

Almost as frequently as I introduced new tweaks (hello, right-click, and some neat automator additions), so came through some oddities that, of course, were saved to Time Machine with macOS blindly thinking it was helping.

The final macOS straw

I learned to live with such issues but they grew. A lot. Safari started freezing for no logical reason even after uninstalling as many extensions as possible. Sometimes, a Microsoft Auto Update error would come up and I couldn’t open Microsoft Teams or use my webcam for some reason. This was probably the final straw. I needed my webcam for meetings and for streaming purposes. Having to restart on a daily basis really didn’t feel like the macOS way of doing things. 

My MacBook Pro was starting to feel a little slow too. Was it actually getting too old now? Surely the M1 Pro chip was still competent? It’s only three years old and my work isn’t that demanding.

Doubts started creeping through. I considered spending a day trying to fix each individual issue but some brief research wasn’t exactly coming up with obvious solutions. There was always Time Machine but how far back did I need to go to be in the clear? 

So, I decided to go with the nuclear approach — start afresh.

All the prep, none of the hassle?

Thinking to Windows back in the day, I planned for the worst. I backed up all my documents to an external SSD drive but I also wrote a list of apps that needed to be reinstalled, kept a few links and passwords aside, and backed up my email (because I still use Mozilla Thunderbird). 

I set aside a full Saturday afternoon fearing the worst, grabbed my PS5 controller, and planned on playing Final Fantasy XIV while my laptop slowly reinstalled macOS. 

It took hardly any time. I didn’t time it but I’d guess about 10 minutes from start to finish. From searches, it seems I might have been one of the lucky ones but I was impressed nonetheless. 

Once reinstalled, I entered a few basic details like my country, name, and Apple ID. Access to macOS truly took hardly any time at all. 

Reinstalling apps took longer but I had my trusty list. Many of the apps were on the App Store so I could have just looked through my purchase history instead. 

The fiddlier parts came from realizing that I’d actually tweaked my macOS install more than I remembered. It sounds ridiculous now but I forgot that I had to enable right-click on the trackpad, so I quickly looked up how to do that. I also reversed the scroll wheel direction and changed how folders look. Perhaps weirdly, it was those minor details that felt the most annoying to get back to ‘normal’.

I also opened up Automator for the first time in 10 years so I could add a menu option to convert images to JPG at the touch of a button. Other than that, it was business as usual in a surprisingly fast time and with plenty of my Saturday afternoon left. 

Did it fix everything? Yes! All the issues I mentioned earlier were corrected and even better -- the laptop feels that little bit speedier. It could be a placebo effect but anything that means my two-year-old laptop feels new again is good with me. 

The next day, I had to print something and I was delighted to see macOS do the equivalent of "Ohh, you have this printer on the network. Yup, you got it" meaning it was no effort to print at all. 

One side quirk -- my screen time on my iPhone showed my screen time across all devices before I toggled it back to just my iPhone (I don’t want to know how much time I spend on my laptop).

My stressful Saturday afternoon completely vanquished in under an hour. Not bad at all! In many ways, far more effective than Time Machine.

How to perform a fresh reinstall

If you’d also like to give your Mac a fresh start, here’s what to do.

1. Backup your data! I used an external SSD drive but you can also use a USB stick if you prefer. Have a good think about what needs to be saved and look around your hard drive for inspiration
2. Go to Apple menu > System Settings > General and scroll down to Transfer or Reset.
3. Click Erase All Content and Settings
4. Follow the instructions on Erase Assistant. Select everything possible to be removed and be prepared to agree to it. A lot. You’ll also need to log out of your Apple ID on the system
5. When your MacBook restarts, you’ll see the Startup options appear. Select Reinstall macOS and then be prepared to enter your Wi-Fi password, your Apple ID, and so forth
6. Give it less time than you’d think (usually) and you’re all set

Having the latest and greatest iPhone can be a bit of a status symbol amongst your peers. And what, you’re going to slap on a $10 case from Amazon? Well, you certainly can protect your investment that way, but some people find themselves going in the other direction. At the extreme end, you can even spend far more on the case than on the iPhone itself. 

Custom cases like those from luxury brand Caviar run well into the six-figure range. That’s not a typo; their cases range from just under a grand to over half a million dollars for the diamond-encrusted version. Certainly a $100-ish case isn’t all that extravagant in comparison.

But why would anyone in their right mind spend over $100 on an iPhone case? There are a number of reasons why a person might feel inclined to do so. 

When it comes to more down-to-earth luxury, a high-end case might be a doable splurge. Who doesn’t love to treat themselves now and then? I’ll fess up to indulging in a bit of retail therapy now and then. It’s easy to be, well, influenced by an influencer on YouTube or other social media. I certainly have. You follow people on social media because you admire their taste and trust their advice. You can feel a bit of FOMO when something you want is going viral without you. So, when influencers show off a fancy new case, it can be tempting to click that “buy” button regardless of the price tag.

And then there is Apple itself. Apple is considered to be at least a mid-tier luxury brand. Apple tech never comes cheap, and even Apple’s most basic accessories carry an upmarket price tag. The current iPhone Pro models start at $1,000. Why not spend a tenth of that to protect your iPhone securely, fashionably, even sumptuously? You’ve got a premium phone, don’t you need a premium case as well?

Yet the short answer to the question of whether you need to spend $100 on a case to properly protect your iPhone is no. You certainly do not. Not in a million years. I’ve tested out hundreds and hundreds of iPhone cases in my many years in the tech reviewing space, and my favorite cases over the years have covered a wide price range. You can do a good job protecting the edges of your phone for ten bucks, let alone with a case ten times the cost.

But if you are looking to spend some serious dough for something out of the ordinary to protect your precious, there are some very nice ways to do so. Each of these premium cases offers something special that might feel worth the extra coin. Here are some cases I’ve tested that go for at least $100, and might just come close to justifying that eye-watering price tag — if not quite making it to our best iPhone cases guide.

Carved Live Edge case

Looking for a one-of-a-kind artisan case? Turn your iPhone into art with a Carved case. Carved handcrafts each case from wood and epoxy in their Indiana studio. You can choose from dozens of gorgeous styles; no two cases will be exactly the same. The Live Edge case is the most expensive, running $189 for the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The Live Edge refers to the bumper being wood and epoxy as well. The case is quite solid but it has enough give that it’s not too hard to put on and take off. The wood and epoxy are very smooth but there is added texture along the side to give you some grip. The slightly raised lips give you some screen and camera lens protection. I find the volume, Sleep/Wake, and Action Button covers to be satisfyingly clicky. The MagSafe ring is nice and strong, making it fully compatible with all of your favorite MagSafe accessories. 

If you like this look but not the price tag, you can choose their standard iPhone case, which is mostly rubber with a wood/epoxy back panel for $64. Carved also sells a number of other accessories with their signature look, including a MagSafe charger.

Atom Studios Alara case

Atom Studios claims that their $100 Alara case offers much more than protection for your iPhone: it offers EMF protection for you. 

EMF, or electromagnetic field radiation, is commonly known as cell phone radiation. Exposure to cell phone radiation may have negative health effects, particularly on brain function, sleep, and fertility. According to Atom Studios, the Alara case has been tested and proven to reduce cell phone radiation exposure by up to 75%. Unlike some cases that block radiation, the Alara is designed to divert it away from your body. 

I can’t speak to the radiation claims, since I don’t have equipment to test it myself. But I can say that it’s a very nice case, at least. It’s quite lovely and feels pleasant to the touch. The Alara has sort of a futuristic look, blending plastic and silicone on the outside and soft microfiber inside. The button covers work well, and it does have an Action Button cover. It’s fully MagSafe compatible and has raised edges that give you some screen and camera protection. The Alara case protects your phone from drops of up to 10 feet. Atom Studios offers a less expensive and similar-looking case without the EMF protection for $60.

UAG Urban Armor Gear Monarch Pro Kevlar

If ultimate iPhone protection is your goal, how does “drop-tested to 25 feet (7.6 meters)” sound? That’s what you’re paying for when you buy UAG’s Monarch Pro Kevlar. Every time I see a UAG case, I am half expecting the case to unfold into a robot or something. It’s a very particular look, you either love it or you don’t. This is a case that feels super-solid and heavy-duty. Yet the case is surprisingly lightweight and not overly bulky. The button covers are nice and clicky, but note that there is a hole rather than a button cover for the Action button. MagSafe compatibility is nice and strong despite the shape of the case. There’s texture along the edges for added grip. If you want to spend even more, there’s a special forged carbon limited edition of this case for $150. There is also a cheaper version without the Kevlar for $80.

CASETiFY Ultra Bounce

For the ultimate in both protection and customizability, you can’t beat the CASETiFY Ultra Bounce. We’re talking drop-it-off-a-building protection. The six-layer case with ultra-bounce corners and integrated camera lens protection promises protection from up to 32.8-foot (10-meter) drops. Now this is a bulky case. And you’ll still need a screen protector. But it seems unlikely your iPhone could sustain damage (other than to the screen) ensconced in the Ultra Bounce. The MagSafe magnets are nice and strong. The button covers aren’t clicky but they work just fine and there is indeed a button cover for the Action Button. 

But besides being super protective, the coolest thing about this case is how you can customize it to your own taste. Besides the thousands of available designs (including collaborations with artists and licensed characters) you can upload your own design if you prefer. CASETiFY has a big lineup of case styles ranging from slim to heavy-duty; the Ultra Bounce is the most protective and the priciest at $112.

Harber London Wallet Organiser for Smartphones

Harber London handcrafts high quality full-grain leather goods in Spain. While they don’t have phone cases, per se, they do have a variety of gorgeous phone sleeves at different price points. The Wallet Organiser for Smartphones holds up to an iPhone 15 Pro Max (without an additional case on it) along with cards and cash. There’s an outer zippered pocket for coins and six slots of different sizes on the inside. The whole thing zippers around for security and there’s a carrying handle along one edge. Obviously your iPhone is only protected while it’s inside this wallet. But for people who can’t stand using their iPhone with a case on it, this is an elegant way to fully protect your phone when you’re not actively using it.

Spigen Enzo

The $150 price tag on this one was surprising, given that Spigen is generally known for its reasonably-priced lineup of iPhone cases. But unlike Spigen’s popular plastic cases, the Enzo is a vegetable-tanned Genoma Leather. If you miss Apple’s real leather cases and don’t consider the FineWoven case to be a suitable replacement, the Spigen Enzo might be one to consider. I reviewed a previous version of the Spigen Enzo and found that while it’s a sumptuous case, the raised metal logo on the back interfered with some of my MagSafe accessories. It appears from photos that the newest version may have remedied that with a flatter logo, but I don’t have my hands on the current model to confirm that.

Arc Pulse

Yes, I’m sure the stylish two-piece metal sculpture offers some drop protection, but I personally couldn’t rely on the Arc Pulse. I tried it on a previous model iPhone but couldn’t bring myself to go out of the house with it on. The case does look stunning and it certainly doesn’t interfere with the functioning of the iPhone itself. It just reminds me of wearing a bikini while snow-skiing. I know people do it, and they look darn cool doing so, but it wouldn’t be my preference. Different colors of this aerospace-grade aluminum case go for different price points; they range from $65-$120. 

OtterBox Frē

For your watery adventures, the OtterBox Frē might be worth the $100 price tag. While modern iPhones are water resistant in up to six meters of water for 30 minutes, this waterproof iPhone case gives you more time in the water. The OtterBox Frē is labeled waterproof up to six feet (two meters) for up to one hour. Gaskets seal the case and built-in screen protector together as well as covering the charging ports. Yet the phone is still fully functional while in the case, including MagSafe compatibility. While the case was too bulky for me to use every day, I can see having a case like this handy for beach days. I’m a big fan of OtterBox cases generally, most of which are much cheaper than the Frē.

That posh life

While I can’t recommend to you that you ought to spend $100 for a decent iPhone case, there are some extremely appealing options out there at that price point and beyond. Whether you’re looking for ultimate protection, some special functionality, or a unique artistic statement, you might find one of these cases well worth its price tag. It’s your money, you decide!

• The best iPhone cases: The ultimate guide

When Apple released its first-ever VR headset this year bringing a $3,499 price tag in tow, the expectation was that it would be a niche product. Still, despite an early surge in sales in the early days of Apple Vision Pro, the headset's launch managed to underwhelm. This week, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reported that the company cut Vision Pro shipments by about 300,000 units and a 2025 refresh could be in jeopardy.

It's the latest hit to Vision Pro, and would be one of the first tangible indications that the headset is in trouble. Previously, there seemed to be a general lack of public interest related to Vision Pro, with YouTube videos about the device flopping and some stores reportedly selling only a few units a week. But what do declining sales figures and scarce enthusiasm mean for the future of Apple Vision Pro?

As an early adopter, I learned firsthand just how weird Vision Pro was as a first-gen product. Strolling into an Apple Store about eight hours after the location opened on launch day in the U.S., there were no problems buying a headset. Apple employees told me that while Light Seal and Cushion configurations might not be in stock, there were plenty of Vision Pro units to go around. I've had more trouble picking up an iPad mini on launch day than when purchasing Apple's first new product in nearly a decade. 

I purchased Vision Pro knowing that there was one big uncertainty related to the headset: software and app support. That's still my concern, not declining sales. However, Apple won't cruise to a victory in the VR/AR market. Meta is a force, combining affordable hardware with a software strategy that parallels that of Windows. Vision Pro isn't a failure yet, but Apple can't stop making it better and empowering developers to create great visionOS apps if it wants to beat Meta. 

We never expected Vision Pro to sell a ton of units

First, it's important to put our expectations in context. With the headset costing more than a used car, no one thought that Apple Vision Pro would start off putting up iPhone, iPad, or Apple Watch numbers. In fact, it was likely that Vision Pro wouldn't sell more than the Meta Quest 3, either — you could buy seven Quest 3 headsets for the same price as one Vision Pro. 

Apple's strategy here was clearly to start off with a premium, high-end device and eventually bring that down to consumer-level products over time. It may be semantics, but Apple Vision Pro would suggest that a standard Apple Vision will come someday.

Still, it's impossible to ignore just how low sales numbers are for Apple Vision Pro have been so far. Kuo's report says that Apple “cut its 2024 Vision Pro shipments to 400-450k units (vs. market consensus of 700-800k units or more)." For perspective, the first-ever iPhone sold roughly 270,000 during launch weekend. While the iPhone wasn't as expensive as Vision Pro, it did cost about $750 after accounting for inflation, which was a lot to ask for a phone in 2007. It still went on to sell over six million units. 

The elephant in the room is Meta, which is unmistakably thriving. An earnings report released in February 2024 revealed that the Quest 3 likely sold between 900,000 and 1.5 million units in its first quarter. Apple isn't one to worry about competitors, but it should absolutely keep an eye on Meta.

As an early adopter, I'm worried about the App Store — not declining sales

Meta is succeeding where Apple is failing, and that's in software. Vision Pro launched with about 600 native visionOS apps, with support for thousands more iPadOS apps as well. However, app development has slowed to a crawl in recent weeks. Just take a look at this chart from Appfigures showing the number of visionOS vs. macOS apps added to the App Store over time:

This is what concerns me as an early Vision Pro adopter. I knew there would be limited apps at launch, but I can't say I expected the situation to be exactly the same months later. I also didn't expect Apple to forget about Vision Pro. More than two months after launch, there are still two visionOS Environments that aren't available and no new immersive experiences have arrived. There are still a handful of first-party Apple apps that don't run as native visionOS apps. If Apple doesn't care about developing for visionOS, why should third-party developers?

Meta isn't far ahead of visionOS in the raw number of supported apps; the Meta Quest Store and the Quest App Lab have over a thousand apps each. That's more than the visionOS App Store, but isn't all that impressive considering the head start Meta and Quest have had. 

However, with Meta's recent announcement that it plans to license Horizon OS — the operating system that powers Quest headsets — to third parties, the company's strategy becomes clear. Meta wants to put Quest headsets on as many faces as possible. And if it can't, Meta will do the next best thing, which is getting Horizon software on third-party headsets. It's the polar opposite of Apple's strategy, but will it work? 

It's impossible to count out Apple this early in the company's mixed-reality push. Remember, Android is an open platform just like Horizon OS will be, and Apple still found dominance with closed ecosystems in iOS and the iPhone. There's no reason Apple can't do it again with visionOS and Vision Pro. 

Apple is in 'Vision' for the long haul

It's easy to get caught up in the negative hype around Vision Pro, but it's far too early to deem the headset a failure. Before buying the $3,500 headset, I used the first-generation iPad and Apple Watch, and both of those products suffered from many of the same issues as Vision Pro does today. Both of those products also grew to become commanding forces in their respective categories.

Apple isn't afraid to cancel projects that it isn't absolutely committed to, no matter the loss. It canned the Apple Car project after a decade and about $10 billion in research and development costs. And yet, Apple Vision Pro made it to launch. That alone should tell you that Apple is all-in on mixed-reality hardware, regardless of how the first generation of Vision Pro goes. 

There’s one thing on every tech publication's lips at the moment — and as much as Apple wants it to be ‘new iPads!’, it’s closer to ‘what does AI mean for the world at large’. I am not big enough, tough enough, nor clever enough to talk about what it will mean for humanity as a whole, but I can share how we see it affecting the media that we consume, be that a TV show on Apple TV Plus or a piece of music on Apple Music.

Some streamers have already gotten started with the AI ‘revolution’, most notably Spotify with its AI DJ tech that listens and watches your play habits, and then builds ‘up next’ playlists with your choices and likes in mind. It even has a voice. Apple Music is yet to dip its toes into the AI-inclusive pool as yet, but if it’s looking at how it can get started, it should be aware of some key points from Tencent Music Entertainment, China’s premier streaming platform which has embraced AI in its streaming model. The streamer has given four different pain points in AI and streaming in its most recent annual report for 2023 — although there’s really only one that Apple actually needs to pay any attention to.

The problem with artificial intelligence

Apple’s AI journey might not take it too close to the sun when it comes to Apple Music, but given the rest of the streaming landscape, it's impossible that Cupertino isn’t thinking about how to get artificial intelligence into its music streaming service. It likely isn’t going to go quite as far as Tencent however, which includes the likes of an AI-aided lyrics generator, AI-curated playlists, a Karaoke app with AI singers for duets, and a predictive model that Music Business World tells us “can how predict the ‘next hit song.’” Take that, bookies.

Apple Music on the other hand prides itself on its human-curated library, with playlists created by like-minded music fans and experts and ‘For You pages’ with music selected by real people. In this way, Apple doesn’t have to worry about most of Tencent’s warnings, which mostly fall in the camp of ‘we use AI for almost everything, and we’ve found problems with algorithms, ethical issues, and legal ramifications’. Apple can help how it uses AI in Apple Music, and most of those issues only arise if you use AI to create new music or use the tech in more nefarious ways. What Apple has less control over, however, is what kind of music people upload to the service.

One of the concerns raised by Tencent is copyright issues that stem from AI-created music. While it’s unlikely that Apple will be adding a feature that will let users create their own tunes, there is a chance that users might upload their own AI-generated music to the platform, with all the included AI copyright issues in tow.

See, AI uses music that already exists as a part of its learning model in order to make something new. Sometimes, with ethically iffy creation engines, there’s a massive chance that the music the model has learned from is copyrighted by the original artist, and given there’s then a little bit of that artist's music in whatever the plagiarism engine makes, to sell the music made would be to break copyright. 

There’s already a legal precedent that says AI music artists don’t own anything they create using AI, but there’s little stopping them from uploading it to music streaming services like Apple Music or Spotify. What would this mean legally for Apple Music? As a virtue of it being streamed on the platform, Apple would be making money on what could be copyrighted content, uploaded to Apple Music without the express permission of the original artist. That could open a whole new can of worms for Apple — one that it likely isn’t going to want to see kicked down the road.

It wouldn’t, in theory, be hard to stop this from happening. There are certain things that you can use to tell AI music apart from human-made music, such as the way that it sounds and digital artifacts, so it might not be too hard to add a vetting process to music that is uploaded to Apple Music. If it doesn’t get the problem sorted, however, there could be some hefty legal fees and intellectual property issues that could rear their heads — and those are never fun.

The Spotify problem, and the EU law that’s making life hard

Also likely not fun is Apple’s ongoing war of attrition with Spotify, which seems hellbent on taking up everyone’s time and brain power.

Earlier this year, Apple was made to pay a massive, $2 billion fine by the European Commission, which claimed that Apple should allow apps to advertise their own websites as payment options, in a bid to encourage competition on the App Store. Where many saw it as a government intervention in something it knew nothing about, Spotify instead saw it as an opportunity to finally avoid Apple’s App Store fees, and stick a link to its website in its app so that users can more easily head over and grab a subscription there, avoiding the fees Apple levies on apps and companies for using its platform.

Since the court decision, Spotify has been sending proposed updates to Apple’s App Store with the link in place — and every time, without fail, Apple has rejected it. Until Thursday, April 25, that is, when Spotify finally changed the contents of its update, which now only tells users that they can go to the Spotify website to get a subscription, along with a price list so that they can see how much their subscription will cost. Along with this, the firm took to X to share a tweet that logged their increased irritation with Apple and how the latter is ‘breaking European law’ by continuing to get in the way of Spotify’s need for a link to its website in-app.

In response, Apple released the rejection email it sent to Spotify around its previous updates to outlets — including to us. The email was clear: Apple wasn’t allowing the update because Spotify didn’t agree to Apple’s Music Streaming Services Entitlement, rather than any specific design element. This is, apparently, a requirement whether there is a button or not, so even this new update will need to go with the requirements that Apple has set out, and that “We will, however, approve version 8.9.33 after you accept the terms of the Music Streaming Services Entitlement and resubmit it for review.” The ball is now once again in Spotify’s court — let’s see what it decides to do.

New Beats in the hands of LeBron James

The hardest of hardware leaks as LeBron James is pictured on the Laker's Instagram wielding a new, as yet unseen, Beats Bluetooth speaker. Hanging from a chord on his finger, the Beats oval seems to be a new version of the now discontinued Beats Pill speaker line, replete with new color and… well, you can’t see much in the zoomed-out portrait video beyond the fact that it’s there. 

We did have as close a look as possible, looking for anything that sticks out as drastically new or different. He’s carrying a bag in the other hand, although it’s likely a shoe bag because it is much larger than the speaker itself. There’s a chord, loop, hanging thing so you’ll be able to hang it from stuff… and that’s about it. Otherwise, it's a tantalizing look at what could be a return to a product category for the Beats line.

Even though I called the Beats Studio Pro “the death rattle of a dying brand” in my review, the brand seems to be going through a renaissance in recent months. There were new versions of the Beats Studio Buds in the form of the Buds Plus, along with the aforementioned Studio Pro over-ear headphones. The Solo4 are rumored to be coming soon, and this new Beats pill could round out the product line. Under the caring wing of Apple, Beats could well be back for good.

Apple's AI worries, and Spotify's fight

In the next few months, Apple is expected to make some big announcements about AI and how it's going to implement the tech into its most popular devices, such as its best iPhones. It's likely going to have some form of AI inclusion in the likes of Apple TV Plus and Apple Music, although what form that inclusion is going to take is yet to be seen. Whatever happens, there are some significant bumps in the road that Apple will have to contend with before it can consider a full investment in the technology — not least of all the legal ramifications that come from others use of AI that might end up in its services.

The firm is facing its struggles against Spotify as well, highlighting the exciting legal time that it's having across the board. In this case, it's now back in Spotify's corner to get sorted, but continued legal drama isn't good for business.

Either way, the crux of Apple's media woes could be and are currently legal issues — and it looks like they're not going to end any time soon.

What to watch

The Bloody Hundred

Did you enjoy Masters of the Air? I did. I loved its visceral, sky-based action that left me covered with imaginary airplane oil, and the characters did a spectacular job of pulling me into the story. If nothing else, before you go and watch The Bloody Hundred, you should go watch the short series from the creators of Band of Brothers if you’ve even the slightest interest in well-written and spectacularly well-realized war stories.

Once you’ve finished there, you should go watch The Bloody Hundred, a documentary that tells the real, undramatized story of the US bomber group stationed in the UK. It’s narrated by Tom Hanks, and it’s only an hour long so it won’t take up too much of your time. It’s the perfect companion to Masters of the Air, and a great way to learn some more personal history that you might not have known otherwise. It’s available on Apple TV Plus to watch now.

Argylle

The most controversially terrible movie of the year is now available on Apple TV Plus, and while many aren’t massive fans of the spy thriller, there are still some things to like about the otherwise abject failure. Henry Cavil manages to prove that he has the range to play around two different character archetypes, while John Cena continues to be one of the biggest surprises to come from WWE who isn’t Dave Bautista. Dua Lipa… tries, and Bryce Dallas Howard seems completely tuned out the entire time — which does little for the story.

The narrative itself is a confusing mess of made-up events within the world of the story melding with events that are supposed to be actually happening to the characters, making for a jarring watch. In the long run, what could be an interesting deconstruction of narrative structure becomes a mess of ideas that don’t really work together. It is, however, in the same universe as the Kingsmen movies, which might work for some people in the audience. It is a bad, bad movie — but sometimes, curiosity can get the better of you. As it did me, and my Saturday afternoon. Best watched with liberal lashings of something strong. Like Sauerkraut.

What to listen to

Tortured Poets Department — Taylor Swift

This exists, with the extra 15 tracks Swift released just as the album came out. It’s in Spatial Audio. You can listen to it on Apple Music.

Only God Was Above Us — Vampire Weekend

Or you could listen to something new that isn’t by the biggest megastar in the world, whose reach is only matched by her obscene carbon footprint. Vampire Weekend's blend of Indie Rock and pop makes for a compelling recipe. This latest album has more edge than previous outings, but manages a more optimistic outlook despite the state of the world around them.

Banished By Sin — Deicide

AI cover art aside, the Floridian masters of the death metal riff return for their thirteenth album with all the anger and devilish tendencies dialed up to 11. Riffs for days, blistering blast beats and galloping, wailing guitars for a solid forty minutes to get the blood pumping and the horns in the air. Not for everyone by any stretch of the imagination, but one for the lover of all things heavy.

Apple recently released a swathe of massive changes to the way it distributes apps on iPhone in the EU. As part of its plan to comply with the new Digital Markets Act, Apple has introduced new ways to distribute and download apps on iPhone through alternative app marketplaces. 

To discuss the new changes, how Apple is handling them, and what they might mean to developers, I recently sat down with MacPaw, the development team behind the popular macOS subscription service Setapp, which lets users subscribe to a library of Mac apps for a monthly fee. In its most rudimentary form, it is an alternative app marketplace for macOS, the kind Apple must now allow on iPhone. So who better to discuss these changes with than developers at the forefront of this service?

Following the announcement of alternative app marketplaces on iPhone, MacPaw quickly confirmed that Setapp for iPhone would be coming later this year. For 60 minutes I spoke with Mykola Savin, Director of Product Management at MacPaw,  discussing in depth Apple’s changes to its iOS business model. Less than 60 seconds after our chat ended (and characteristic of the constantly shifting sands currently redefining Apple’s app business in the EU) Apple published a major update to its new terms for iOS app distribution that will allow users to download apps directly from the web — the exact changes that Savin and the Setapp team had really been hoping to see all this time. 

Following on from our initial conversation, Savin says that “Apple's announcement (regarding web distribution) is certainly an intriguing development that aligns with the vision MacPaw had when we announced the beta version of Setapp Mobile. 

“It appears Apple is reaching a turning point and adjusting its approach, either as a planned move or in response to the feedback it's been receiving.”

Sideloading success 

As Apple continues to grapple with the Digital Markets App and complying with changes without surrendering its entire iOS business model to the EU, the company most recently announced its changes will include a form of sideloading, downloading apps directly from the web, as well as alternative app marketplaces that can feature solely the apps from that developers. 

Savin says that Apple’s “move towards sideloading” is “great,” and a surprising measure that “many, including us, previously considered highly unlikely.” He believes this change “enables more freedom and opens up new opportunities for software vendors, though there are still some questions around the business model that need clarification.” 

“The fact that developers can now create marketplaces solely with their own apps is a very big change,” Savin continues. 

“This means companies like Epic Games can launch marketplaces with just their own games. And that's huge because it means that this story with the core technology fee can take a different route.” 

The changes could open up more profitable distribution for app vendors, who will still have to pay Apple’s Core Technology fee of 50 cents per download over 1 million downloads, but “they'll be able to keep their entire profit margin, meaning no 20-30% cut for Apple.” Savin estimates this could herald the emergence of big stores from the likes of Microsoft, Adobe, and Steam, as well as the return of major players like NVIDIA’s GeForce Now on iOS.

The fall of the walled garden 

Savin says Apple’s “current openness to the industry is notable” and that the company appears to be “actively seeking to find a middle ground, aiming to balance external demands with their business objectives.” He also praised the influence of Epic Games, without which “these changes likely wouldn't have happened.” While Savin believes it's hard to say how much Epic swayed the European Commission, he believes it “clearly acted as a catalyst” for the changes. But what of Apple’s changes in general up to this point?

“In general, first and foremost, we are happy,” Savin tells me. He says that ever since Setapp launched on macOS, users have been clamoring for a similar offering on iPhone. However, the tremendous differences between the regulations on macOS and iPhone (until very recently) have precluded MacPaw from bringing Setapp to the iPhone. Savin describes the frustration of explaining “year after year” to its persistent users, many of whom might not have understood why it was so hard (or really impossible) to deliver Setapp to iPhone users. 

“We are absolutely happy that we can finally deliver,” Savin tells me, but it hasn’t all been plain sailing. Since the Epic Games App Store lawsuit, first filed in 2020, MacPaw has been aware that changes might be afoot, but legal back and forth has dragged out those proceedings for years. Ultimately Epic Games managed to extract barely any concessions to the benefit of iPhone developers. Instead, it was the EU that delivered the first real changes with its Digital Markets Act, in force since early March, 2024. Savin says that MacPaw’s team was hyped to start building Setapp for iPhone, but before Apple’s public announcement just a few weeks ago “it was really hard to assume what was going to actually happen.” 

“Our team was hyped,” he reveals, “and said ‘let’s start building’, but at the same time we’re like ‘building what exactly?’As soon as Apple started to implement things, everything started to work rather quickly and smoothly.” 

While Apple’s announcement that it would open the floodgates in the EU provided some clarity to developers like MacPaw, Savin says that Apple is also reacting promptly to feedback, pointing to several addendums Apple has made since it first announced the changes. 

“Apple on the one hand is obviously making efforts to make this process transparent, smooth, and viable for developers,” Savin says, but he also highlights “the elephant in the room” of Apple’s new business model. Apple has fought the EU’s changes at every turn and continues to warn users that there are greater risks that come with installing apps via alternative marketplaces. 

Satisfying Spotify and entertaining Epic 

Before Apple’s announcement regarding web distribution, Savin said that while the change would be “a great opportunity and an interesting change” for some developers, others simply wouldn’t accept the new business terms. Indeed, companies like Epic Games and Spotify have called out Apple for malicious compliance. One independent developer likened Apple to The Godfather, charging a Core Technology fee as if it was protection money. With great foreboding, Savin told me just an hour before Apple’s web distribution change that the refusal of some companies to adopt the new changes could lead to a further loosening up of Apple’s iOS business model. He noted under the initial terms that Apple “still has quite a lot of power” to control the ecosystem, requiring developers to have a developer ID that could be canceled by the company, jeopardy Epic Games fell foul of briefly a few weeks ago. 

Savin points to the history of Microsoft as a great example of how tech regulation can boost competition. He says that when Microsoft was forced to open up Windows to alternative browsers, it lost the battle to Chrome. “But what happened since then? Microsoft was basically forced to evolve and introduce Microsoft Edge,” which is a much more capable and adequate browser than Internet Explorer ever was. 

Before any other changes, Savin highlights that Apple has reduced its commissions, echoing Apple’s declaration that 99% of developers will pay less to Apple under its new guidelines. “Even without joining any alternative app stores, you are dropping your commission from 30 or 20% to 15%... this can save a lot of revenue for vendors.” 

As mentioned, not everyone is happy with Apple's new rules, but Savin appreciates Apple’s difficult position. 

“I think they are trying to strike a balance,” he says, “they are trying to make sure that they're as protected as possible.” Savin notes one stark contrast with his aforementioned Microsoft example, that “in no shape or form was Microsoft threatened in its core by the requirements of opening up the browser market because they were still selling software,” whereas these new EU rules cut to the heart of one of Apple’s most lucrative business channels. 

“So basically the DMA attacks the core of Apple’s business right now, yes they still have hardware… but services and commissions are extremely important."

“So are they malicious? I think anyone at any company in the world if someone came and tried to force you to open up more competition in the core of your business, you would be trying to protect it as much as possible, so I think that’s not fair to say that Apple should just give it up and say ‘This is an open platform.’” 

Savin even thinks it is possible that if Apple sees success with its changes in the EU it could be opened up further afield, provided Apple can still obtain revenue from the App Store and realizes the changes haven’t destroyed Apple’s core business model.

A glass ceiling for developers? 

One continued sticking point, even in the wake of Apple’s new web distribution changes, is the very high bar Apple has set for developers who want to get involved. Developers will need to have been in Apple’s developer program and in good standing with it for two years (something Epic Games surely doesn’t qualify for). Others will need a standby letter of credit for a million euros. What does Savin make of these criteria? 

“I think it's a bit too high,” he says of the entry requirements Apple has set. While he says the measures are understandable, they’re a big barrier to individual developers and emerging startups. 

“As the developer of Setapp, we are more than happy,” he says, but that it would be fairer to give every developer a chance to sell their apps directly, just like they can on Mac. Savin highlights that pricing for Mac software is often more straightforward, with developers selling lifetime licenses for Mac, alternative pricing beyond the App Store, and more. “In this regard, I am pro-choice,” he tells me. “We are all adults and it's important for us to be able to make a choice.” 

Despite being a self-professed Apple advocate who isn’t thrilled by government tech regulation, even I have to admit that one measure in Apple’s DMA plan stands out as overbearing, the Core Technology Fee (CTF). Developers using the alternative app marketplace model will be required to pay Apple a flat 50-cent fee for each first annual install of an app once they’ve crossed a one million install threshold. For instance, if Spotify’s app is downloaded 10 million times in the EU, it would owe Apple 5 million euros. This also includes updates, and reinstalls, meaning it’s a recurring fee, renewing every 12 months. 

“I do not personally like it, as a tool,” Savin tells me, but says it’s not without merits. Savin says the CTF precludes certain types of business models because it’s not commission-based — for instance it will deter developers from adopting freemium business models because they need their apps to make money to cover this fee. It also means “it’s not in our best interest to distribute as wide as possible,” because having users who just download an app to check it out and then leave will cost the company money. “It forces us kind of to make some additional barriers to make sure that only people who are actually kind of interested [are installing an app].” Savin says that if you have a very popular freemium app, with millions of installs, but only a fraction of the users are paying, then the CTF fee would destroy your business model. 

Another objection he highlights that I’d never considered is that it robs app developers of some control. If you push out an update to a user who no longer uses your app, but hasn’t uninstalled it, they’ll be counted as a user even if they’re not making a developer money, creating a dangerous scenario for developers who can’t say “I want all these users who are not paying me not to get any updates.” While Savin says this is unfair on Apple’s part, he doesn’t think it was intentional. Apple has added an option to revert back to its old App Store rules, in the case where a viral app could see an emerging developer financially ruined, but as recently as March 18, Apple told the EU it was still reconsidering the implementation of its Core Technology Fee. Savin posits a highly likely, and potentially damaging scenario for devs. “Say you have tried mobile Setapp and have said ‘you know what it’s not for me’ and you are not deleting it, and you keep it for four years… we are basically going to pay two euros for this user for four years… It’s not the most elegant realization of what Apple was trying to do.” 

What alternative app stores will mean for you 

Savin and I then moved on to discuss the types of content users can expect to see on alternative app marketplaces. Apple has repeatedly warned that users may encounter apps that encourage illicit activity, pornography, and more, but Savin says that, looking at the example of the existing openness of macOS, the safety and security of Apple’s own desktop operating system undermines this argument. 

“I think the easiest way for me to address it is to just ask you how worried you are regarding content of such type on your Mac or the internet in general?” Savin says protecting children from harmful content is another discussion that doesn’t end with the iPhone, but that a good portion of us are adults, and that even if there are some marketplaces where there is content intended exclusively for adults then accessing these is “up to the choice of the user… Just seeing what's happening on Macs, I do not have any concerns here.”

So how will users benefit from a marketplace like SetApp, in terms of what we’ve seen it offer on Mac? Savin says there are two main benefits. Firstly, he says that users will gain from MacPaw’s staunch curation of quality apps. With around 200 on its Mac services, it’s a much smaller and less unwieldy beast than Apple’s iOS App Store. 

“We preselect, we test, we talk to vendors, we really pay attention to reviews, you know, we have introduced this rating system, only users who actually use the app are able to rate,” Savin says of the Setapp curation process. The company even has a guideline system to help developers if their ratings fall below a certain level, allowing them to improve, before removing apps that ultimately fall short of its quality standards. It’s a far cry from the App Store, which has millions of apps, including poor-quality offerings and outright scams designed to steal cash and cryptocurrency. 

Savin says Setapp is also one of the best ways for developers to get installs quickly, because of how discoverable its apps are. “As soon as an app joins Setapp, you get the majority of your audience within the first week.” For users who like to go between different apps, Setapp cuts out surfing and making purchase decisions. There are no commercials or ad sales, you pay one subscription service fee and can trust that every app on the marketplace is high-quality. Savin even likens it to Apple’s own Apple Arcade offering for gamers on iPhone. The Setapp business model also helps developers retain their users — while it’s hard to justify holding on to lots of different app subscriptions, by subscribing to Setapp, those apps are always available and you only have one subscription to manage. For developers, Savin says that Setapp might deliver less money than direct subscriptions, but there are no customer acquisition costs and “you'll get all your users almost instantaneously.” 

“You're not worrying about anything, you're just improving your product, getting feedback, and getting paid.”  

A glimpse at Setapp for iPhone 

So how will Setapp on iPhone work? Well, you’ll download the alternative app marketplace, and then you’ll be able to download apps directly from that to your iPhone. For iPhone-specific apps, that will be straightforward. For existing Setapp subscribers and cross-platform apps, things get a bit more tricky. Savin says iOS-only apps will be much like the experience on macOS, but admits that when it comes to multi-platform apps “we are not completely sure what's the best way to do this.” Currently, Setapp uses QR codes — one to offer an app download and another to activate the app, and Setapp is planning to keep this offering going forward. Some multi-platform apps might have direct downloads from the Setapp store, but this doesn’t help iPad users who aren’t covered by the new EU laws. 

“Even within the European Union, we cannot offer a seamless experience for users,” he tells me. As it stands, Setapp might offer an app on iPhone, iPad, and macOS, and within the EU there are now three separate sets of regulations governing their distribution and three sets of rules from Apple. 

According to Savin, some multi-platform developers might not take their apps to Setapp’s alternative app marketplace because they don’t want to create a messy experience for users, or because their apps are used more by iPad users than on iPhone. 

Overall, however, the company seems very optimistic about the changes. Savin anticipates the move will be a nice way to broaden Setapp’s audience, but notes that while the EU is a really important market, it’s not the biggest one it operates in. Savin laments that these changes are only EU-specific. As such, there don’t seem to be any big changes to the Setapp experience beyond the EU for the time being. 

“Obviously having a separate marketplace like Setapp mobile as a separate app for every user globally would create a much more consistent kind of and transparent user experience, and this is something that you know hurts me badly because I know what has to be done to make this experience better, but we just cannot and it's out of our hands.”

As to when we can expect Setapp’s alternative app marketplace on iPhone? Savin tells me it’s the company’s main priority and they’re hoping to have it out by Spring. Setapp plans to launch a closed beta, and then an open beta before its public release. 

Alternative app marketplaces like Setapp might not be the end of the story, however. Savin tells me that as MacPaw gets familiar with the rules, the company is already developing some fresh ideas that could materialize as early as this year. He says the company is thinking about “how we expand our model and what new experiences for you, both users and vendors, can be introduced, taking into account this new ecosystem.”

“I'm absolutely sure that a lot of companies right now are going to study and see… and I’m absolutely sure that we will have a positive impact on the market because more companies will figure out better user experiences by the end of the day. It always works this way.”

I know what you’re thinking: “Here’s another Apple fan coming to its defense.” And you’re right, sort of. If you’ve read anything I’ve ever put online, you’ll have been able to puzzle out that most of my tech is from Apple, and yes, I am a fan of the company. But I’m not here to defend Apple for Apple’s sake. I’ve criticized moves it has made in the past — the company isn’t perfect. And while this is a nuanced topic, I’m on Apple’s side. The company should be standing up to the EU, Spotify, and anyone else coming at them for unfair competition.

Why? It’s quite simply not the case. The EU and certain brands are acting against Apple under the masquerade of being “pro-consumer” and against “anti-competition practices.” But they’re simply excuses to hide the truth: they’re just anti-big-company. And they certainly don’t like it when they don’t get their way. But don’t just take my word for it. Nor Apple’s, for that matter, despite the somewhat whiny (while correct) press release issued the other day. Let’s look at why I’m on Apple’s side.

• Apple's rambling response to EU's $2 billion fine over abusive App Store rules puts the blame at Spotify's door, but it really shouldn't

Is there any merit to Apple’s adversaries? 

Here, we’re going to look at two of Apple’s biggest adversaries at the moment: the EU and Spotify. We’re not talking about countries in Europe, but rather the EU organization, and the regulators behind it. Apple is undergoing similar scrutiny from other parties, such as Epic Games (remember that lawsuit?), but that’s not what we’re focusing on here.

Apple was recently fined a rather hefty amount of $2 billion by the European Commission for “abusive App Store rules” that affect music streaming apps. Who’s the biggest advocate of this penalty? Why Spotify, of course! Apple’s response was an emotional press release that explained why it felt the fine was unfair, pinning the blame on Spotify. Of course, Apple is going to defend itself. But do you know what? It’s right.

The reasoning behind the fine is that Apple allegedly broke EU rules on anti-steering. With the fine, the EC alleges that Apple banned music streaming apps from fully informing iOS users about cheaper music subscription services outside of their apps. But is that really true?

As Apple claimed in its own defense, there are ways that music streamers (and all other apps) can inform users about cheaper pricing tiers. How? By adding a webpage. To quote Apple, “Under the App Store’s reader rule, Spotify can also include a link in their app to a webpage where users can create or manage an account.” Apple also cites Spotify as being able to use other marketing to tell users about pricing tiers.

And Apple’s bang on the money. While perhaps a more recent rule, Spotify can redirect users to its website via its app. It can choose to do this with whatever text it wants, so can make it clear it’s for cheaper pricing. But Spotify has chosen not to do so. Instead, it wants to make Apple change its App Store rules to let it skirt the In-App Purchase system, from which Apple takes a commission. Spotify doesn’t want to pay Apple the fee it charges to use its services. That’s not exactly fair, is it?

As Apple explained, Spotify gets access to iOS, CarPlay, Siri, and other Apple devices. It uses Apple’s APIs, technologies, and App Store for free marketing. And what does this cost Spotify? Absolutely nothing. So when Spotify is presented with a charge, per Apple’s rules for everyone else, it wants to throw a hissy fit and scream “not fair.” When, in fact, it’s completely fair. It’s Apple’s platform and Apple gets to make the rules. If you don’t like them, you don’t have to be on the App Store. But nope, Spotify wants to have its cake and eat it too, disguising its complaint under the accusation of Apple being “anti-competitive.”

However, Spotify is far from the only company accusing Apple of anti-competitive practices. The EU is the biggest advocate of this claim and has forced Apple to allow third-party App Stores and contactless payment solutions. Why? Because Apple has never allowed them before, and the EU thinks this is anticompetitive. It claims you’re forced to use Apple’s solutions and don’t have another choice. That’s sort of true, but puts a false spin on things to back up unproven allegations.

Any developer can get themselves on the App Store. They just have to go through Apple’s process and pay a commission on any purchases customers make. So, some don’t want to do this. Some developers want to release software away from Apple’s methods to avoid this charge. It’s the “getting what I want” mentality all over again. With features like Apple Pay, you’re locked into Apple’s solution, yes. But that’s somewhat the point of the iPhone. If you want free reign over every feature, setting, and functionality of your device – that’s what an Android smartphone is for. Apple’s devices play by Apple’s rules. Everyone knows that. And it’s what allows Apple devices to be simple and “just work.” It’s the essence of the Apple magic – which is why people go to Apple in the first place. So removing that isn’t pro-consumer, it’s almost anti-consumer – taking away what the consumer wants.

How can something be pro-consumer, if consumers don’t want it? 

The EU and Spotify want to make their own rules because they don’t like Apple’s. They’re claiming to be pro-consumer. But, as I’ve already said, this is a disguise. It’s not pro-consumer, it’s anti-big company. Apple’s so big it can set its own rules. But some people aren’t happy with this and want to bend the rules to fit their whims. But how can something be pro-consumer, if consumers don’t even want it?

A lot of people buy Apple’s devices because they “just work”. They’re simple, features are easy, and the ecosystem makes sure things play nicely together. If you start to mess with this, you start to mess with the magic of Apple devices – and that’s the reason people want to buy them in the first place. But you can’t very well prove what makes an iPhone “magic.” That’s subjective, not objective. It’s pretty clear that most consumers don’t actually want these changes, and there’s evidence to back it up.

It’s pretty easy to switch browsers on your iPhone already, you can easily do so via Settings. Despite this, 55% of iPhone users browse with Safari, per a recent report. It goes further, though, as 49% of respondents in this survey have never changed their mobile browser. Clearly, the users who want to change up their browsers have no trouble doing so. However, the majority of users want to continue using what Apple ships out of the box. It’s a little harder to try and look at who’s been sideloading apps. But looking at Google’s trends for people searching “How to sideload iPhone app” or just “sideload iPhone app,” we can see that interest has been pretty low, with big spikes in the recent months that it’s been in the news. Estimates (from startup experts) predict that  95% of iPhone users don’t even know what sideloading is, never mind actually looking to try it. Do you think your family members who have an iPhone want to download a third-party app store? Would they even know what that is? That’s not saying iPhone users are dumb, the general population of consumers just simply aren’t interested in that. It’s not what the masses want – it’s a niche.

You have the option not to opt-in to any of these features, so most consumers can leave them alone, right? In theory. But because the EU wants to be really stubborn, they’re forcing Apple to add onboarding screens that force you to pick a browser. When you set up an iPhone, you’ll now have to go through an extra screen to pick software. That’s not the Apple experience. It’s clunky and confusing if you just want things to work. And what if you don’t even know what alternative browsers are? Would your grandma know what to pick here if she got a new iPhone, or would she ring you to ask? It gets even more confusing, with similar pop-ups for the default App Store or contactless payment option inevitably in the pipeline. And some apps will be able to withdraw from the App Store entirely, forcing you to figure out how to download an alternative app store. How consumer-friendly is that?

It’s no longer opt-out, it’s forced-in. Consumers are being forced into something they don’t want under the guise of being “pro-consumer.” Apple is being fined and forced to do things by an entity that shouldn’t have any opinion on the matter, under the name “pro-consumer.” But when it’s not “pro-consumer,” it’s an abuse of power. It’s throwing your toys out of the pram because you’re not getting what you want.

But Apple is not having it. It’s fighting back. These forced measures are only an option in the EU and will disappear if you’re in another location for too long. Is it petty? Potentially. But Apple’s options are limited. It’s making things just as awkward for the EU as the EU is making things for Apple. And I’m on Apple’s side. It should fight back, and I hope that it comes out on top.

Around this time every year the world of technology turns its attention to Mobile World Congress. Taking place in Barcelona, Spain, the event runs from February 26 through February 29 this year and it's where some of the biggest names in consumer technology go to announce their latest and greatest products. Think of it as Europe's CES but with more products that will actually ship and fewer casinos and you won't be too far off the point. And as the name suggests, Mobile World Congress is all about the future of mobile technology whether that's a new phone, tablet, or something else entirely.

Mobile World Congress, or MWC, isn't an event that Apple attends but it's still a vital part of the technology calendar. It's also one that Apple should be paying plenty of attention to because it's where companies like Samsung, OnePlus, Huawei, and others go to show off the products that will ultimately compete with Apple's iPhones, iPads, and Apple Watches. And this year is absolutely no different.

I've taken a look through all of the biggest and best announcements and launches of MWC 2024 to see which are of interest not only to Apple itself, but those of us who follow it, use its products, and ultimately find ourselves wondering what is happening outside of this walled garden we've so willingly locked ourselves into. And sometimes, just sometimes, things might just be greener on the other side.

Samsung Galaxy Ring

As rumors of Apple's entry into the smart ring world with the so-called Apple Ring continue to swirl, Samsung is already ahead of the game. The Galaxy Ring was teased last month but it's MWC that saw the big unveiling.

Our friends at TechRadar spend some time with the Galaxy Ring over in Barcelona and the reports are positive. The ring will look to compete with the popular Oura Ring and it has the features to match — sleep tracking is a given, while the wearable will also offer a Vitality score which should offer insights into how your body is dealing with the stresses and strains of life. The Ring will also be able to detect sleep apnea, something Apple's future wearables have been tipped to sport as well.

Why Apple should pay attention

Rumors of the Apple Ring couldn't have come at a better time and I do have to wonder if their leaking was timed perfectly to compete with the Galaxy Ring's unveiling. Regardless, I love my Oura Ring and Apple will have to go some way to convince existing smart ring owners to switch. But this is Apple, and tight integration with Health could make for features and benefits that third-party alternatives can't compete with. If not, Apple might have a battle on its hands if you'll pardon the pun.

OnePlus Watch 2

Apple makes the most popular smartwatches on the planet but that doesn't mean it's the only company making them or that it can't learn a thing or two from other outfits. The newly announced OnePlus Watch 2 is a prime example of that.

Sporting battery life that runs for a massive 100 hours between charges, the OnePlus Watch 2 easily bests even the best Apple Watch, the Apple Watch Ultra 2. It does that by using two operating systems that run on two different chips, one aimed at using the least possible power. The watch switches between the two depending on what's needed, giving battery life the likes of which Apple could only dream. It also looks great, and is much less of an in-your-face statement piece when compared to the utilitarian Apple Watch Ultra design language.

Why Apple should pay attention

While few people are ditching Apple Watches for OnePlus Watch 2 wearables, there's no denying that there are some great ideas here. Taking battery life and stretching it to the point where people can go away for a weekend without taking their charger is a big advantage. People shouldn't have to buy a big and bulky Apple Watch Ultra 2 just to get strong battery life, either. The OnePlus Watch 2 proves that and now it's time Apple took note.

Motorola's adaptive display concept

OK, so this one isn't a real product just yet but it surely will be one day — and it can't come soon enough.

Motorola used its time at MWC to share details about its new adaptive display concept device and Tom's Guide got to take a look at it. Designed to be a phone that can literally be rolled up, this device is part smartphone, part smartwatch.

Featuring a 6.9-inch FHD+ pOLED display, the device can bend backward and be set up in a few different configurations, but it doesn't have a name just yet and we obviously don't know what it will cost if and when it goes on sale. But it sure does look more interesting than the usual slab of metal and glass that we're so familiar with.

Why Apple should pay attention

While I'm not suggesting that Apple should beat Motorola to market with an iPhone that doubles as an Apple Watch, I think this concept should be a wake-up call for those at Apple Park.

With no foldable iPhone on the market and little sign that there will be within the next couple of years, it's never been more clear that Apple is being left behind here. Foldable phones have gotten so much better in the last couple of years that it's high time Apple joined the fray. Whether that turns out to be a foldable iPhone or a bendy iPad, it's time — and it isn't very often Motorola puts Apple in the shade.

Nothing Phone (2a)

Nothing took the opportunity of an ongoing Mobile World Congress to tease the upcoming Nothing Phone (2a) while it had the attention of the world's press. The phone won't officially be unveiled until March 5, but this being Nothing, the London firm has already started to tease things ahead of time.

The third phone under the Nothing brand, the Phone (2a) is designed to offer a budget approach for people who want a phone that doesn't cost a small fortune. Despite that, the Nothing Phone (2a) promises the same aesthetics we've become accustomed to as well as a dual-camera setup around the back. Little is really known beyond that, but this could be a budget Android phone well worth keeping an eye on.

Why Apple should pay attention

While we still don't know all that much about the new phone it's still one that Apple should be keeping an eye on. Budget Android phones have come a long way in recent years and the Nothing brand is a much-loved one among those in the community.

While we don't yet know the price point for the Nothing Phone (2a) we can safely assume that it will be considerably less than most iPhones and that means Apple should be paying close attention if only to inform its decisions when working on the rumored iPhone SE 4.

Lenovo's transparent laptop concept

As great as the latest M3 MacBook Pros might be, there is no denying the fact that they look pretty much the same as every other laptop. You can't say the same thing about Lenovo's new transparent laptop concept, that's for sure.

Apparently sporting the market's first laptop with a 17.3-inch Micro-LED transparent display, there isn't much to say about the concept laptop other than you can see through it. There's a borderless display that can be seen right through if needed, and it promises "exceptional contrast and 1000-nit brightness." Lenovo says that the concept "showcases a futuristic perspective on AI PCs, blending digital and physical environments that can enhance user experiences in ways never imagined."

Why Apple should pay attention

We have to be the first to admit that the chances of this ever coming to market are slim, and if it does, it won't be for some time yet. But that isn't really the point — the point is that laptops are getting a bit boring, especially if you want them to run macOS.

It's perhaps time that Apple started to try something new, and rumors of a foldable laptop could point to that.

We've been waiting for a company to show us what futuristic laptops could look like, we just didn't expect it to be Lenovo that did it.

MWC 2024 and beyond

Soon after MWC 2024 is done and dusted attention will turn to what comes next. For Apple, we're expecting the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro handsets later this year and new Apple Watches are also a given. WWDC's preview of new iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch software not to mention updated Apple TV and Apple Vision Pro software will arrive before then of course, while the impending OLED iPad Pro and M3 MacBook Air releases are also worth looking forward to.

But with the Apple Vision Pro now here, it's difficult to find anything to truly get excited about. The technology shown off at MWC is an indication of what's out there in the non-Apple world. Let's hope someone in Cupertino has been paying attention.

There’s a healthy amount of skepticism to the term ‘Shot on iPhone.' Like last year’s “Get Him Back” from Olivia Rodrigo, this not only meant it was filmed on an iPhone 15 Pro Max but post-treated by a professional and edited in complex ways. Though it’s an impressive showcase of what the iPhone can do, one of the best uses of an iPhone camera in a more lifelike way is a small indie film named Tangerine which released almost a decade ago. 

Unlike the music video above, which has multiple versions of Olivia Rodrigo set upon a green screen with special effects, Tangerine attempts to frame its story through a very human lens with realistic coloring and movement and nails it as a result 

A quick Google search will show that Tangerine is not the first full-length film to be shot on iPhone, but previous attempts like 2013’s Hooked Up and To Jennifer are both found footage flicks that rely on poorer quality video and sound to produce a scare. Tangerine feels different in its sincerity to the form. It is supposed to function and look like a traditional movie. 

With small or unheard-of actors, a budding director, and a small budget, it is entirely shot with just three iPhone 5S smartphones and post-produced with Final Cut Pro and Davinci Resolve. In line, it has a heart to it that could only be achieved with the almost intimate lens of an iPhone. Too high a production value, and Tangerine wouldn’t quite be the same. 

What is Tangerine?

Funded by Mark Duplass, who is known for his lead roles in Creep and Creep 2, Sean Baker, Tangerine’s director, worked off a $100,000 budget to direct, produce, and release Tangerine. It tells the story of Sin-Dee Rella, a transgender sex worker who gets out of prison to discover her pimp, Chester, has been cheating on her. Spurned on by the betrayal and the knowledge that this woman is Cisgender, she and her friend Alexandra go on a trip around Hollywood looking for both Chester and this mystery woman. 

Starting out in a donut shop, the story tells the tale of a handful of people around Hollywood, all of whom link to each other in some way. Set on Christmas Eve, Tangerine references Chrismas itself very little, likely to drive home the fact that it’s more or less irrelevant to Sin-Dee right now. The intimacy of the entire movie is something you notice within minutes, thanks to the distinctive lens of an iPhone 5S. 

Why does it work so well?

The camera is very close up in the movie's opening segment, opting to flit back and forth between both characters rather than have one wide shot with both of them in it. You don’t see the two main characters in the same frame until after the main plot point is revealed, where they are then set on the same path. Tangerine, at almost every moment, is close up to the main cast, which helps make the movie feel more personal.

It’s important to note that the iPhone 5S’ camera is not massively impressive, in comparison to that found in the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and this definitely shows in the raw shots in Tangerine. There’s occasionally a lack of clarity that more expensive cameras will give, but Baker gets a lot out of all 8 megapixels on offer. Video recording on the iPhone 5S gives a max of 1080p HD at 30 fps and only has 3x zoom. This is part of why the movie tends to feel so personal. The limitations of the iPhone are not just something it works around but something it thrives in. It also helps to cement the humor as Tangerine’s funnier moments have all the charm of an online video sketch with a little more intent. 

Near the end, as tensions rise and plot points start to come together, it almost feels like an episode of It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Actors often intentionally shout over each other, and there’s a certain chaos that iPhones are just so wonderful at capturing. At its more sincere moments, like a scene in a club where Sin-Dee is connecting with the girl who her pimp cheated on her with, it starts to feel like a more “traditional” movie. However, it is the raw feel of the captures that allows these to shine. 

A wonderful legacy

Tangerine was not Sean Baker’s first full-length movie, but its near-unanimous acclaim and nominations pushed him into the spotlight. It currently has a 96% on Rotten Tomatoes with 86 on Metacritic, suggesting universal praise. Despite its small $100,000 budget, it managed to pull in almost $1 million at the box office alone. This helped raise the appeal of not only the actors but Baker himself. 

Just two years later, he would go on to direct The Florida Project with William Dafoe, which had a budget of $2 million and made over $11 million at the box office. Sean Baker has made a habit of casting relatively unknown actors and throwing them into the spotlight and did so once more four years after this with Red Rocket in 2021. 

Red Rocket was distributed by A24 and had a budget of over $1 million, ten times that of Tangerine. Sean Baker has only gone up in scale from Tangerine, but it remains one of his most important works, partially down to how intimate and raw that plot, cinematography, and performers felt. 

Tangerine helped prove just how versatile an iPhone camera can be and that “Shot on iPhone” doesn’t just mean music videos or adverts. 

This feature is part of iPhone Photography Week 2024. Expect new posts to appear daily, focused on making your photos shot with iPhone better than ever before.

Share your photos with iMore on X (Twitter) using #iMorePhotographyWeek

Just as the iPod put a thousand songs in your pocket, the iPhone has given every user a superb snapper that they can take everywhere they go. 

Over the near-20 years it’s been around, the iPhone has packed in innumerable photographic improvements that have seen it go from strength to strength. No single device has changed the way people take photography more than the smartphone, and no smartphone line has pushed photography further than the iPhone.

Here, we’re going to look back at the ten most important changes to the iPhone camera setup of all time, from video recording to periscope lenses.

Video is here to stay

You might remember the iPhone 3GS for its emphasis on speedy performance, but its camera improvements were just as important, and perhaps the most significant was the addition of video recording. Sure, it’s nothing compared to what we have these days – 3MP of VGA video recorded at 30fps feels practically prehistoric now – but it opened up a whole new way to use the iPhone. It meant the camera wasn’t just for snapping photos: videos could join the party too. It was a humble beginning, but it made the iPhone a much more capable device.

Focus on the future

Alongside video recording, the iPhone 3GS brought another significant new feature: autofocus. All you had to do was tap the area of the image you wanted the camera to focus on and the iPhone would do the rest. As well as adjusting the focus, this control would also tweak the image’s light levels, ensuring the in-focus area was properly exposed. Apple has always been good at simplifying controls to make complex actions much more palatable, and the addition of autofocus was a big step forward in this area.

The selfie is born

These days, taking a selfie is an everyday occurrence for iPhone users the world over. But it wasn’t always that way – in fact, you’re only able to take what we'd consider a real selfie in the first place thanks to the iPhone 4. This was the first iPhone to feature a front-facing camera, and just as the introduction of video recording changed the way the iPhone’s camera was used, so too did the selfie lens. Without it, perhaps there would be no selfie sticks, no Snapchat, and no Memojis (although whether all that would be a good thing depends on your outlook).

4K captures the imagination

In the quest for ever-sharper videos, 4K has often been held up as the holy grail for consumer phone cameras. In the iPhone’s case, this giant leap was made back in 2015 with the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus. As well as shooting 4K video, you could save still images from the footage. The only drawback? The 4K footage chewed through the iPhone’s storage – a 16GB iPhone 6s would have its storage completely filled by just 40 minutes of 4K video.

Doubling up on lenses

For many years, iPhone cameras were held back by a major limitation: they only had one lens. That all changed with the introduction of the iPhone 7 Plus. In adding a second lens, it gave users far more flexibility over how they shot images and videos. That extra snapper has the added distinction of being the first optical zoom lens in an iPhone, being capable of 2x optical zoom and 10x digital zoom. With a combination of wide-angle and telephoto lenses, the iPhone took a solid step towards the high-end capabilities Apple fans are used to these days.

A perfect portrait

Apple enabled the iPhone to further mimic far more expensive cameras with the arrival of Portrait mode in the iPhone 7 Plus. This feature artfully blurs the background of your photos, just as DSLR cameras use depth of field for the same purpose. While it was only available for the rear cameras in the iPhone 7 Plus, Portrait mode came to the selfie camera the next year in the iPhone X. That phone – and the iPhone 8 Plus – also brought Portrait Lighting effects, which replicated popular studio lighting techniques to help your photos pop even more.

Face the music

Not every momentous camera improvement revolved around photos and videos. Some, like the iPhone X’s Face ID, used the camera system in new and ingenious ways. Before Face ID, you either had to unlock your iPhone using Touch ID or a passcode. Once Face ID arrived, there was no going back – it was faster, more reliable and much more secure. In fact, Apple claimed its chances of being fooled were one in a million (compared to Touch ID’s far leakier one in 50,000). Enabled by a complex array of scanners and sensors, Face ID showed just how good Apple’s cameras had become.

Get the big picture

The iPhone 7 Plus from 2016 may have been the first iPhone with a dual-lens camera, but it took until 2019’s iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max for Apple to add another shooter to the picture. The combination of a wide, ultra-wide and telephoto lens was called “transformative” by Apple, and we’re inclined to agree. It meant you could zoom out beyond the initial starting point for the first time, opening the door to wide-angle shots and allowing you to fit far more into the frame. It was a milestone moment for anyone who wanted to take photography on their iPhone a little more seriously.

Ramping up the resolution

For years, one of the biggest pain points for iPhone photographers was their cameras’ resolution. Apple upped things from 8MP to 12MP in 2015, but then kept things that way for eight years, by which point the complaints were hard to ignore. Fortunately, Apple changed that with the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, which quadrupled the resolution to 48MP – and the difference was night and day. The following year Apple brought it to the entire iPhone 15 range, including the non-Pro models.

Zoom in on the details

Things haven’t slowed down in recent years. Over time, Apple has been adding features more often associated with DSLRs than phones to its iPhone range, and we saw that continue with the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Both phones packed in what Apple said was “the equivalent of seven pro lenses” that imitated lenses of varying focal lengths. The iPhone 15 Pro Max went further by including a periscope lens that could zoom in up to 5x – the highest optical zoom rating of any iPhone so far. With all that included, who needs a DSLR? We compared the 15 Pro Max to a DSLR to find out.

This feature is part of iPhone Photography Week 2024. Expect new posts to appear daily, focused on making your photos shot with iPhone better than ever before.

Share your photos with iMore on X (Twitter) using #iMorePhotographyWeek

I love taking photos. Before the iPhone, I always had a point-and-shoot camera handy, and even dabbled in DSLR photography. I’m no newbie to iPhoneography, but I confess I’ve gotten lazy over the years. While I once spent a lot of time learning all of the iPhone’s camera features, I’d either forgotten a lot or I just didn’t learn as much as I’d thought.

I enrolled in iPhone Photography School, an online course for budding iPhone photographers,  to reacquaint myself with the iPhone camera and improve my photography skills. I have learned a lot, and have been inspired to learn more.

How does iPhone Photography School work?

Download the free app CamGuru. There are many courses available in the app; each one is priced separately. The one I took is called iPhone Photo Academy, which is $49 (US or Canadian) or £49, and it’s a one-time fee with no subscriptions. There’s a 30-day money-back guarantee in case you’re not happy with it. The cost also includes updates, tips, and comments/responses from the team. Instructor Emil Pakarklis starts with the very basics and gets into great detail in a lot of different areas. 

The courses are pre-recorded videos, not in real time, so you can take the courses at your own pace. If you have questions or comments along the way, you can leave a comment under the video and someone on the staff will respond.

I took part of just one course, but there are loads of other courses within the app taught by different instructors. Plus there are lots of quick tip videos. You can pick and choose what to watch, based on your own needs and interests.

How much does iPhone Photo Academy cover?

There are five modules, each of which takes about 1.5 hours to watch. Each module is divided into eight or nine shorter videos so it’s not overwhelming; you can do a little bit at a time. The five modules are: The Essentials of the iPhone Camera, Additional iPhone Camera Features, The Principles of Great Photography, Creative iPhone Photography Techniques, and Common iPhone Photography Scenarios. There are also four bonus modules: Authentic iPhone Portraits, How to Preserve the Quality of your Photos, Secrets for Managing a Huge Photo Library, and Photo Analysis. I completed the first three modules and selected parts of the fourth and fifth.

How is the quality?

Emil is a wonderful instructor. He starts with the very basics and goes up from there, but never talks down to us. I found him easy to follow. Frequently, a question pops up in my mind and he addresses it. You can tell he’s not only passionate about photography, but specifically iPhone photography. He encourages experimentation and keeps things very light and fun. I watched part of another class taught by a different instructor and also found that one quite useful and interesting. I feel like the course does a good balancing act between total beginners and more advanced learners.  

Not everyone has the same iPhone model, and he is using an iPhone 11 Pro for most of the modules. Since iPhone features do change over the years, some of his discussion about features is a bit dated. And of course, some people have older models that don’t have the features of an iPhone 11 Pro. In the videos where that’s an issue, you’ll see staff comments pinned beneath the video addressing the features of different iPhone models. For example, for certain types of images, Emil suggests turning off the Smart HDR. On the iPhone 11 Pro, turning off Smart HDR was an option, but it’s not in newer models. In a pinned comment, a team member explains that if you want that dramatic shadow, you can dial up or down the exposure instead of turning off the HDR.

There is a Facebook group and a social media hashtag, so you can do “assignments” and people taking the course can comment on one another’s work.

My contact at iPhone Photography School tells me that they plan to update the course with a newer iPhone model this year, and the tuition includes all updates. It’s really only an issue for the first two modules which go into depth about the iPhone features. The rest of the modules are either about iPhone photography or just photography in general.

Some improvements I made

I am certainly no professional photographer, but I did take some photos on a recent trip to Florida and took some of Emil’s tips to heart. Here are some more examples. I have taken a million photos of my loved ones like this:

But I took what I learned, and used Portrait Mode, and added Studio Lighting to compensate for the non-ideal lighting situation (strong midday sun and harsh shadows) and came up with this photo, taken from the exact same spot:

At a recent museum visit, I took a perfectly serviceable photo as I normally would, using the 1x camera lens:

With Emil’s encouragement to experiment, I also took a panoramic image (which I never would have thought to do) from the same spot and got a result I think is a bit more interesting:

Is it worthwhile?

It’s not cheap, but I think it’s worthwhile. If you don’t like it, you can always get your money back, no questions asked. When I worked at the Apple Store, I often referred customers to the Today at Apple classes. Customers frequently asked if they could just take the course online. This is the kind of online class that I think many people are looking for.  

That said, if you don't wish to spend money taking a course like this, I'd recommend at least checking out some iPhone photography tips on YouTube and our iPhone Photography Week articles. Learn more about the camera settings and principles of photography and you'll be surprised what you can get from the tiny camera in your pocket.

This feature is part of iPhone Photography Week 2024. Expect new posts to appear daily, focused on making your photos shot with iPhone better than ever before.

Share your photos with iMore on X (Twitter) using #iMorePhotographyWeek

Thanks to AI image generators, the most brilliant and absurd images can now be created in seconds with a simple text prompt. 

Ever wondered what a giant red panda riding a mongoose into a sunset might look like? Well, you don't have to leave it to the imagination, just take a look at the image below:

If you've kept an eye on AI developments over the past year, you're likely aware of the buzz around image generators like DALL·E 3, Midjourney, and Stable Diffusion. They've stirred up their share of controversies, from copyright concerns to deepfake implications, and even fears about the future of the creative industries.

However, if we step away from these headline-dominating, potentially society-altering AI tools, we discover a whole other world of AI applications. These don't conjure new images from thin air but rather empower you to edit your own photos effortlessly. But where exactly do you find these AI editing tools, and more importantly, do they really make your photos better?

What are AI photo editing tools and what can they do?

Editing tools that use some sort of AI to enhance your images aren’t new. For example, Adobe’s Photoshop Content Aware Fill, filling gaps on a canvas or over imperfections based on the surrounding image data, has been around for years. It allows you to remove an unwanted element – say, a dog photobombing your perfect beach sunset shot – and seamlessly fill in the gap with the surrounding scenery, like sand and sea, making it look as though your new furry friend was never there.

But recent advances in AI have revolutionized photo editing, with a growing number of apps and software programs now incorporating smart tools similar to, even exceeding the capabilities of, Content Aware Fill. These require minimal editing skills and take little time to use.

While these AI tools don't create images from scratch like DALL·E 3 (yes, the one behind our red panda on a mongoose image), they're incredibly handy for tasks such as adjusting lighting, smoothing skin, or conjuring up new backgrounds and objects.

You'll find these AI wonders in many apps, catering to everything from sprucing up selfies to more sophisticated tasks, like social media content creation, professional photography, product shots, or advertising campaigns.

Now, we're using 'AI' a bit broadly here, as is the norm these days. It implies some form of artificial intelligence at work, but its functionality varies. For example, Photoshop employs generative AI, which can create new outputs (like texts or images) based on learned patterns and features. It 'knows' what a wall looks like because it's been trained on numerous wall images. Other tools might use simpler algorithms for tasks like identifying blurry areas in a photo and suggesting fixes.

Although AI is a broad term, it's become a widely accepted catch-all in many areas, especially in image editing. It typically refers to using an AI tool for smarter, automated tasks that would otherwise require professional expertise.

Does AI make photos better?

Is AI making our photos better? For many purposes, the answer is a resounding yes, especially for specific tasks. Let’s dive into some of the coolest AI photo editing features available in top apps today. 

These tools can sharpen blurry images, remove or add backgrounds, isolate subjects, enhance lighting uniformly, tweak facial features (like smoothing skin and brightening eyes), colorize black and white photos, and even suggest optimal edits based on the photo type.

Using a decent app makes photo editing not just easy, but also fun. It’s great for selfies, of course, but the benefits extend to professional work as well. For pros, tasks like manually cutting out objects or choosing new backgrounds with realistic lighting can be time-consuming. AI streamlines these processes, enhancing workflow and reducing headaches.

Now, let's dive into the latest and greatest in AI tools offered by popular apps. They're incredibly fun to explore but do warrant a thoughtful approach. My current favorite? The Generative Expand and Fill features in Photoshop.

These features harness the power of generative AI technology. In essence, when you provide a text prompt, Photoshop taps into its extensive knowledge base to generate a visual interpretation that closely aligns with your request. It's like having a digital artist at your fingertips, ready to transform your ideas into visual realities.

Take the portrait of me above the 'Does AI make photos better?' heading. I upload it to Photoshop, expand the crop, and instead of being left with white space, I can add a text prompt like 'in a bright co-working space wearing a futuristic black outfit.' The results, as you can see in the image above, are impressive for something that takes just 30 seconds.

This tech is great for headshots, mock-ups, spicing up selfies, or just for fun – like the 'engineering room of a spaceship from the future' image at the top of this article. The angles, lighting, and color palette look believable. But perfect? That’s up for debate.

Consider another example below with the prompt 'on a yacht sailing in the sea.' Someone with editing skills could refine it further, but for a novice like me, the outcome is decent, albeit a bit eerie.

So adding new elements to an image is one thing; ensuring alignment, realistic lighting, and a natural look is another. 

This applies to my experiments with Generative Fill above, but I also find this applies to selfies too sometimes. The changes can look real, but go overboard with skin smoothing or eye brightening, and there’s an unsettling 'uncanny valley' effect.

Which AI photo tools are the best?

In the world of image editing and even on social media platforms, especially those focused on selfies (I'm looking at you, TikTok), AI is quietly at work. Some apps may not heavily promote their AI features, while others boast them as their unique selling point.

But certain tools excel in specific areas. Take Facetune, for example. It's fantastic for subtle selfie enhancements – although remember, moderation is key. It suggests optimal adjustments, some of which look incredibly natural. Lensa is another top choice in this category.

Then there's Canva, primarily a design app, which boasts AI features like background removal. It's also recently launched Magic Design. Input a brief, like ‘Instagram post for a beach holiday travel company,’ add a relevant photo, and it suggests numerous templates and designs. They're not flawless and may need a bit of tweaking, but they're an excellent starting point. Canva also has a generative AI feature for creating images from text prompts – think ‘cat eating birthday cake’ for party invites.

Pixlr is an affordable, user-friendly option with nifty AI tools, including template designs similar to Canva, straightforward object selection and removal, background removal, and batch editing. It’s free with limited features, but a subscription unlocks more.

For those willing to invest time and effort, apps like Luminar Neo shine, especially with AI-powered features like sky replacement, making it a solid choice for editing selfies and portraits. And then, of course, there's Adobe Photoshop – the gold standard in photo editing, packed with advanced AI tools, like the Generative Expand and Generative Fill features I mentioned above, as well as many more. It's not free or the easiest to use, but it offers unparalleled performance and control for those seeking professional-quality results.

Should we use AI to edit our photos?

Deciding whether to use AI photo editing tools really comes down to your objectives and the nature of your photos.

AI image generators have sparked controversy, and there's a growing concern among creative professionals that larger editing tasks traditionally outsourced to experts are now being handled by apps.

The debate extends to the ethics of image editing. How much is standard tweaking, and when does it become potentially harmful manipulation – not just to viewers but also to those who frequently edit their own images? 

Some experts believe that constant exposure to edited faces, especially through highly refined TikTok filters like 'Bold Glamour', could skew our perception of reality. These filters, powered by machine learning and AI, subtly yet significantly alter skin texture and facial features, potentially fueling dissatisfaction with real-life appearances and reinforcing unrealistic beauty standards.

Despite these challenges, it's undeniable that AI-enabled apps can significantly enhance your photos – to an extent. Many common edits are just a tap away. Especially straightforward tasks like smoothing skin or erasing a photobombing dog. If that's all you want to do then today's AI tools are efficient, effective, and enjoyable.

But for miraculous transformations that don't look creepy, you might need to invest in more advanced tools like Photoshop, learn the ropes and remember that when enhancing photos for a natural, believable look, less is more.

This feature is part of iPhone Photography Week 2024. Expect new posts to appear daily, focused on making your photos shot with iPhone better than ever before.

Share your photos with iMore on X (Twitter) using #iMorePhotographyWeek

Working in an Apple store in my early twenties while attending university was a lot of fun. For five years, I dedicated my spare time between classes to product launches, merchandise resets, endless customer interactions, and four different roles between two stores. 

One of the roles that took up most of my Apple career was the wonderful role of Creative, where I taught classes within the Apple Store, and it still holds a very special place in my heart. It's also a role with photography at its heart — and an excellent opportunity for Apple staff to share their photo-snapping tips with iPhone owners.

The Creative Role & Today at Apple

Creatives hold a lot of knowledge about Apple's software and hardware and spend their days in an Apple store teaching customers through the delivery of the Today at Apple program, a vast and curated array of free sessions. 

Today at Apple was created by the ex-senior vice president of retail, Angela Arendhts, with the desire to turn Apple stores into modern-day town squares where people could meet and connect. The goal was to ensure that the Apple Store would become the best place to experience Apple's technology guided by experts, the Creatives, to unlock creativity and foster human connection. 

Today at Apple features sessions for all ages and all skill levels, from product basics for those who are new to Apple technology to more advanced sessions on how to draw with Procreate or compose music on GarageBand; from group sessions with educators to school field trips focused on learning the basics of coding. 

The role of a Creative is to learn the curriculum for all these sessions and deliver them to attendees and sometimes, if you happen to work in a big flagship store, to witness the delivery of these sessions by industry leaders, musicians, designers, and other VIPs.

The best part about being a Creative and learning the Today at Apple curriculum was that no matter how long I had used Apple products for, there was always something new to learn; the one session I learned the most from and had the most fun teaching was the Photo Walk, since rebranded as a Photo Tour.

What is a Photo Walk/ Photo Tour?

A Photo Tour is perfect for those with some iPhone photography experience who need help applying their knowledge when taking everyday pictures, or for those who would like to be more creative with their photographs. A Photo Tour is also a super fun tourist activity, especially when visiting big cities like London, New York, Rome, and other travel hotspots across the globe, where both architecturally and aesthetically, there is a lot that can inspire breathtaking shots.

These sessions are an hour and a half as the Creative team will take you through a quick refresh of the camera settings to tailor the experience to your iPhone model, explore a few composition techniques before heading out, and some editing tips upon returning to the store. 

There are many types of Photo Tours, so you can choose which one best matches your style. You might have a city break coming up and would like to learn more about framing architecture, or perhaps you want to master the art of taking candid portraits for your social media feed; either way, Today at Apple has something for everyone.

Why should you attend a Photo Tour?

One of the best parts of teaching a Photo Tour was seeing the group of attendees, at first shy at the table in the store, coming together to help each other out during the session, and then erupting in triumphant celebrations during the showcase of what everyone had captured during the tour. 

I, like many attendees, might have known how to work an iPhone camera. But in this age when we are all so linked through the internet and social media, yet quite isolated behind the comfort of our screens, it was truly empowering to be able to experience an hour and a half of collaboration and human connection. 

So, as an ex-Creative at an Apple store, I strongly encourage you to experience a Photo Tour at least once to unlock the full potential of your devices, connect with people, and perhaps inspire others by sharing your perception of the world through the lenses of your iPhone camera.

How to book a Photo Tour

If you are intrigued and would like to attend a Photo Tour or another Today at Apple session, here's how to book one:

1. Browse the catalog of Today at Apple sessions offered at your local Apple Store at https://www.apple.com/today/ or via the Apple Store App
2. Once you find a session you are interested in book it with your Apple ID
3. If you are looking for a different location, search the store/city you are interested in and browse their programming! 

Next steps...

Today at Apple is a great way to get to know your Apple technology, and here at iMore we want to help you take that knowledge of Apple software even further! 

For the next few days, as part of our themed iPhone Photography Week, we have partnered with iPhone photography experts to create a curated and detailed collection of articles to help your iPhone photography game reach the next level. From editing tips to composition techniques, we have something for everyone, and we cannot wait to see your amazing shots!

Share your Today at Apple stories with iMore on X (Twitter) using #iMorePhotographyWeek

Death Stranding, the post-apocalyptic open-world walking simulator that Hideo Kojima decided to make his first major project after walking away from Konami and the Metal Gear series he created, is seemingly about… a lot of things. But the man himself would probably tell you that it is ultimately a game about connection. So you could make an argument that the iPhone — very much our primary go-to device for connection — is Death Stranding’s natural home. 

Death Stranding Director’s Cut is the third modern AAA console game to take advantage of the power of the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, following Resident Evil Village and Resident Evil 4 last year, and probably the most ambitious endeavour of the three. Like the Resi games, this is a native version of the game built specifically for Apple’s family devices (you can also play the game on Mac and the best iPads — those with an M1 chipset and above), rather than a straight port. 

For those unaware, Death Stranding is an action game set in a post-apocalyptic United States attempting to rebuild itself. A series of supernatural events leave in their wake otherworldly creatures that roam the ravaged land of the living and trigger explosions when they feed. You play as Sam Porter Bridges, a deliveryman tasked with reconnecting the settlements that were once America’s cities by transporting cargo and hooking them up to Death Stranding’s version of the internet. You’ll soon learn that our hero has a much bigger part to play in this new world than he knew, but I don’t dare try to succinctly summarise the plot of this game here. 

I played through Death Stranding in its entirety on the PlayStation 4 and found it to be one of the more memorable games of the last decade. Brilliant, baffling and boring in equal measure, there really is nothing else like it, and I was very keen to revisit the game — with all the Director’s Cut enhancements and added content — to see how my iPhone 15 Pro would handle Kojima’s most recent masterpiece. I was even more excited to jump back in after watching the new trailer for the currently in-development sequel, Death Stranding 2: On the Beach (yep, they’re really calling it that), which somehow looks even weirder than its predecessor. Quite a feat. 

The fact that what was one of the PS4’s flagship games can run at all on the completely fanless phone I carry everywhere in my pocket is kind of a miracle in itself, and further evidence that Apple’s latest blower is an incredible piece of hardware, but it’s not an experience I can wholeheartedly recommend right now, especially for first-time players. If Death Stranding 2 ever makes its way to a future iPhone, here’s what needs to change. 

1. Better visuals 

A lot of the time the iPhone version of Death Stranding Director’s Cut is visually comparable to the PS4 original, and booting up the game for the first time I was pretty impressed with how much hasn’t been compromised. Cutscenes look lovely on the OLED display too, which is a relief given how many of them you’ll be watching. But as you start exploring the open world it becomes clear that image clarity takes a big hit. To my eye it looks like the iPhone version uses dynamic resolution scaling to help it manage the load, which probably makes sense, but when the camera pans out during one of Sam Porter Bridges’ many epic strolls through the American wasteland, things can start to look pretty soft. Motion blur is enabled by default and can’t currently be disabled, which not everyone will like. The visual performance is never terrible by any means, and the smaller iPhone 15 Pro display helps to mask some of the obvious drawbacks, but it’s an obvious step down from the console version. 

2. A more consistent framerate

Death Stranding Director’s Cut for iPhone 15 Pro doesn’t offer any graphic options to players, so you can’t make any tweaks if you’re not happy with what you’re seeing on the display, and that means you’re stuck with what is a very inconsistent frame rate. The game targets 30fps and often maintains it fairly well when not much is happening, but big dips are sadly something you’ll have to accept when the action ramps up, and even uneventful world traversal when the camera is zoomed in is prone to stuttering. Without having any control over the fidelity settings, there is nothing you can do to smooth things out, so I’m hoping for patches down the line. It’s definitely not unplayable, but Death Stranding is a beautiful game that should be experienced at the very least at a solid 30fps.  

3. More intuitive touch controls (if that’s even possible)

I’m going to come right out and say it: you should not play Death Stranding Director’s Cut with touch controls. The vast majority of my time with this version of the game was spent with my iPhone lodged in a Backbone One (other excellent game controllers for iPhone are available) and I’d absolutely recommend this approach. When I did experiment with the touch interface, things went south pretty quickly. Basic movement using the virtual joysticks is fine, but this is an input-heavy game that’s almost impossible to intuitively map to a touch screen. You’ll frequently need to use the trigger buttons which by default are at the top of the display, and I couldn’t find a comfortable way of using them while also moving and controlling the camera. You can customise the size and arrangement of the face buttons in the settings, but I just couldn’t make it feel good, and they just look ugly on the screen. I get why as a mobile game this needs to be an option, but right now it isn’t a good one. 

4. A more easily readable UI 

If you’ve played Death Stranding before then you’ll already have a good understanding of how important menus and maps are in the game. You’ll frequently be in the former managing your cargo, while effective management of your compass and map is essential for the game’s more challenging deliveries. The problem is that a lot of the icons and text that make these up is hard to read on a phone display, and I found myself squinting more than I would have liked. Admittedly this would likely have been less of a problem on the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max, but I would have appreciated a UI that was better tailored to smaller displays. Even just the ability to pinch and zoom on particularly hard-to-read HUD information in-game would go a long way. 

5. More gameplay variety

Death Stranding is essentially 50+ hours of drawn out fetch quests interspersed with even more drawn out cinematics featuring Hollywood A-listers playing characters with ridiculous names. For all the monotony and repetition, once you settle into the game’s unique rhythm it can be a strangely meditative and poignant experience, and one I’d recommend everyone who enjoys Kojima’s singular approach to game design at least give a try. But there really is very little to do beyond collecting cargo and delivering it. The Director’s Cut version improves the combat sections and, for some reason, adds a race track, but most of the time you’re walking between points on a map. I don’t expect this to change a lot in the sequel, but some more bite-size, non-delivery missions and mini-games would make it a more palatable mobile experience. Sam has all the time in the world to make his cross-country deliveries, but as a mobile gamer sometimes I only have 15 minutes. 

It’s a singularly weird game then, and continues to be as barmy as it is brilliant on iPhone. The fact such a recent triple AAA game can run this well on a phone at all remains commendable. But with Death Stranding 2 in the works as we speak, Hideo Kojima, now armed with the knowledge that these sort of ports are even possible, should look to factor in as many mobile-friendly optimizations for the sequel as can be managed.

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If you're thinking of buying an iPad, checking out the 50 best iPad apps below is a great way of seeing what the tablet is capable of. Since its debut in 2010, it's become a blank canvas for developers, enabling them to take advantage of that big vibrant display.

The current iPad lineup is its strongest yet. The M4 OLED iPad Pro and iPad Air M2 both launched in April and showcase how powerful the tablet has become 14 years on. When combined with the Apple Pencil Pro, exclusive to iPad, so many apps take advantage of the drawing pen's capabilities.

Whether you want to use an iPad for work, fun, or to consume content with the best Apple TV Plus shows, there's an app for almost every use case. With this in mind, our list below should give you an idea of what you could be using your iPad for in the near future.

Best iPad Information apps

Flipboard

Flipboard is an excellent app for a curated view of everything you might want to read about your interests in one place. You choose your topics – spanning business and wine tasting to film and science, with plenty in between – and Flipboard will offer up quick access to all the latest stories and features in your chosen areas.

There is a huge selection of publishers on board, from The New York Times and National Geographic to Runner's World and Elle Decor, so there's plenty to keep you reading and the way it 'flips' between stories is dreamy.

PressReader

Whether you love to read magazines or newspapers, PressReader will have you covered, offering a pleasant way to read either on your iPad. You might not get the feel of the paper in-between your digits, but you don't get inky fingers either. There's a listening mode, dynamic commenting and access to more than 7,000 of the world's most popular titles. 

You can sign up to PressReader Premium to enjoy unlimited reading on up to five devices, but the free version will still allow you to select your favorite sources, discover new ones and toggle between the original print view of issues to the mobile-optimised text view.

Readly

Certainly one for the magazine lovers out there, Readly offers access to over 6,000 US and International magazines, but best of all – it isn't just about the latest issues. This app not only offers back issues so you can flick back a few months, but you can download them and read them offline, wherever you are – plane, train or relaxing in a coffee shop.

There is family sharing for reading across up to five profiles and one subscription covers all, meaning it's pretty much Spotify for magazines. Aside from reading your favorite magazines however, Readly also offers up crosswords so you can keep your brain ticking without leaving the app.

Apple News

Apple News might be a native iPad app, but if you're after brilliantly curated content, then don't ignore it. As with many of the curated news platforms, there is a free option or you can sign up to the subscriber edition where you will get access to hundreds of premium magazines and newspapers in one place. 

The Today feed delivers top stories across a range of news outlets, but there is plenty more than meets the eye with this app. You can like or dislike articles to teach the algorithm your preferences, check out the For You section for recommendations based on the topics and channels you read and scroll all the way down for a special sports section. The side bar is full of treats too, with Special Coverage and Favorites.

Best iPad Entertainment apps

Disney Plus

If you're looking for one of the best entertainment apps out there, Disney Plus is exceptional. The interface is incredibly easy to navigate and there are thousands of hours of content available, whether you're looking for Disney, Pixar, Marvel, or Star Wars. 

Shows or films are added weekly so there is always something fresh to watch, while the current library has everything from new releases to timeless classics. There are multiple parental controls available if your iPad is a family iPad, and while you'll need a Disney+ subscription to watch the content here, it's worth it, trust us.

Netflix

We all know Netflix – it's the OG of the streaming platforms and still one of the best entertainment apps for iPad out there, even if its competition is much fiercer now than when it first launched. Perfect for binge-watching your favorite TV shows and films on the go – whether traveling or commuting – the Netflix iPad app is an absolute must.

Like all streaming apps, you'll need a subscription to access the huge library of content on offer here, whether that's Stranger Things or Emily in Paris. The interface is one of the best though, super simple to navigate and the Netflix algorithm is superb at serving up extra content you might like based on what you have previously watched.

Spotify

If listening to music or podcasts wherever you are is your jam, then you'll want to make sure the Spotify app is on your iPad and your iPhone. It offers access to millions – and we mean millions – of songs, albums, and podcasts for free, with everything from Bad Bunny to Taylor Swift.

The app is incredibly easy to navigate so finding new music is especially easy thanks to the various curated lists like daily music mixes and algorithms working behind the scenes, and you can make your own playlists too. When it comes to podcasts, you can bookmark individual podcasts into your Playlists, and subscribe to your favorites so you don't miss any episodes, whatever your podcast vibe.

YouTube

A 'best iPad app' list has to require YouTube. Whether you get your kicks out of gaming videos, beauty videos, news, or learning, there's something for everyone on YouTube and if you can't find something, well then you can always create your own.

The YouTube iPad app is exceptionally user-friendly, serving up videos within a range of popular topics, along with trending videos and your favorite channels. Personal recommendations can be found in the Home section, while Library collects any videos you've watched, liked, and saved for later.  

Prime Video

It's not our favorite streaming platform interface, but Prime Video still offers up some superb shows. You can search for content by genre, title or even actor, as well as download any TV shows or movies for offline viewing – perfect for taking with you on the move.

From Fallout and Detective Bosch to Tom Clancy's Jack Ryan and films like Air, there's content to fill your entertainment bucket for months. Multi-user profiles ensure your entertainment experience isn't infiltrated by others in your home, while features like X-Ray are excellent for finding out information on actors while watching.

Callsheet

If you enjoy watching movies and bingeing on TV shows, you don't just need apps to make that possible but also apps to help you learn more about them. So if you're  the kind of person who always wants to find out more about the films and boxsets you enjoy, like where you recognize someone from or when a TV series was first released, you need the Callsheet app for your iPad. 

It's a comprehensive app filled with all sorts of information about movies and TV shows, which includes age ratings, titles, cast history, crew information and more. If that sounds a lot like IMDb, you're right. But Callsheet is much more straightforward and a great alternative with no login prompts, ads or autoplaying videos that distract you.

Best iPad Productivity apps

iWork - Pages, Numbers and Keynote

Apple's suite of productivity apps includes Pages, Numbers, and Keynote and they are all great for working on the move with iPad. As you would expect being native Apple apps, they are all optimized for use on iPad, offering a fluid experience with a range of handy features.

Pages is our favorite app from the three, but all have their uses – Numbers for spreadsheets, Pages for Word documents, and Keynote for presentations. You can create and edit a range of files and document types too, and if you're sharing your work with Office users, all three are compatible with Microsoft's counterparts.

Microsoft 365 (Office)

Similar to Apple's iWork suite but better for those more comfortable with Microsoft's way of doing things, its 365 line of productivity apps is comprehensive. You can view, edit, and create documents on your iPad with these free apps, but with a Microsoft 365 subscription, you'll get some nice extras, including OneDrive storage and an Outlook email account.

If you prefer Microsoft to Apple when it comes to productivity, the Microsoft 365 apps are an absolute essential for getting work done on your iPad.

Notability

Notability is an excellent note-taking app that lets you handwrite your notes instead of typing them, which is perfect for anyone with an iPad and Apple Pencil at their disposal. There are a variety of features on offer, from sketching, writing, and typing to organizing.

You can also record audio that is then saved within a specific note and search everything from handwriting and text to audio. This note-taking app also features palm detection, so you can write with your hand resting on your screen (the way most people handwrite) without confusing the app, and it's compatible with widgets too.

ChatGPT

The ChatGPT app gives you access to the latest model of OpenAI at your fingertips. There's so much power in an app that is on the whole pretty simple in its appearance. Type in any request you wish — from asking what the best iPad app is to asking it to make up a recipe by listing some specific ingredients, and it will deliver you an answer pretty much instantly.

There's a voice mode that allows you to speak to it, ask it to read a bedtime story, or settle a debate between friends, but you can also ask it to help you brainstorm for a meeting, or come up with an elaborate explanation about electricity for a child that likes dinosaurs. The possibilities are pretty much endless.

Notion

Notion is one of many tools designed to make organizing your workflow easier, but this is one that works well, whilst also being very easy to use and navigate. There are plenty of customization options here to get things just how you like them, and in turn, get stuff done. 

It's simple to drag and drop pretty much anything from documents to notes or tasks, while it's also just as easy to share things with others and work collaboratively. One major highlight is syncing across devices including iPad and Mac, helping you stay up to date on all your devices.

Google Docs

It's a classic, but it's a classic for a reason. Google Docs is perfect for creating, editing, and collaborating on Word documents, allowing you to see real-time changes, make comments, and add actions by @ your team members.

Whilst real-time changes are an online feature and require connection, you can choose to work offline and there's a dark mode too. Using the iPad app rather than just a browser gives you greater control and an easier interface to work with.

Noisli

If you enjoying putting background noise on while you work or sleep, like rain sounds or white noise, then there are lots of apps to choose from. But the noise generating app Noisli is one of our favorites because it offers a huge range of noises that can all be fine-tuned from a very beautiful and minimal app.

The app works thanks to a selection of icons that each represent a different sound. For example, a cloud is a rain sound, a wave is the sound of the sea. When you tap on a symbol you turn its sound on and can then move its slider up and down to adjust volume. You can layer sounds, so the sounds of night-time nature with a crackling fire for a camping experience. 

Best Essential iPad apps

Mint: Budget & Expense Manager

Mint automatically creates a budget for you, saving time and effort on your part. Once you connect your credit cards and bank accounts, it does the rest, creating a budget based on your average spending habits and offering insights into things like subscriptions you don't use anymore.

You can increase or decrease the maximum for each budget, as well as add or remove categories. Income and expenses are automatically added as you make purchases, but you'll need to enter cash transactions manually. If you don't need a budget, you can use Mint for finance tracking and take advantage of the budgeting feature should you find it useful in the future.

Fantastical

Apple's Calendar app has improved over the years, but Fantastical 3 is still up there with one of the best calendar apps available. It's a very robust app for keeping track of your daily events as well as keeping track of your reminders. 

It has three different views to show you your days, weeks, and months at a glance and its sidebar helps keep you on schedule too. It connects to your Reminders app so whether it's a meeting or a quick dash to the store for milk, Fantastical will ensure you get things done and don't miss a beat.

Zoom

Zoom might have lost some of its spark since being one of the most popular apps in the COVID-19 pandemic, but it remains an integral part of many lives and the iPad version of the app is great.

Apple's latest iPads have the Center Stage feature on board so if you're moving around the room on camera, they will follow you and keep you within the frame. Meanwhile, the iPad 10th generation, M4 iPad Pro, and iPad Air 6 all have a front camera in landscape orientation, making it a perfect choice for Zoom catchups.

Kindle

There are plenty of reasons to invest in a Kindle as well as an iPad, but the Kindle app is a great start. It offers access to thousands of books and serves up various settings to make reading on your tablet enjoyable too.

It's possible to customize everything from the font size and type to the text alignment, orientation, and margins. When you purchase a book on Amazon, you can send it directly to your iPad and when you open the Kindle app, it will be there waiting for you to download. Landscape mode also means reading on an iPad is more natural than on a smaller screen, but books sync across devices if you want to read on your iPhone and Mac too.

1Password

Whatever device you're using, there's a good chance you have several website passwords to try and keep track of. Apple is pretty good at saving passwords if you use Safari but 1Password also makes it incredibly easy to store information across all of your devices so you only have to remember the one you use to unlock the app. 

It works with Touch ID and Face ID, so you can keep your passwords ultra-secure and it's significantly better for security than using easy-to-guess passwords. No more typing in multiple versions of your favorite password trying to get into an app!

Google Translate

It's pretty much as simple as apps come in terms of appearance, but Google Translate has the power to help you order a drink on holiday, understand a menu, or have a conversation with a loved one who speaks a different language. 

It can translate between 133 languages and it will do everything from translating text that you simply type, to real-time translation of words you speak into the app. It can also translate text in real-time when you hold your iPad's camera up to words you don't understand, as well as translate text in imported images. Comprende?

Google Drive

Many of us have a Google account – even if it's just for email – but that account comes with Google Drive, which works brilliantly as a cloud service. Similar to iCloud Drive and Dropbox, you can save all kinds of files, including videos and pictures, before sharing them with others, and it's perfect for having on your iPad as a storage option.

All you need to do is be online and logged into your Google account, and you can save any files you're working on to Google Drive, as well as access files like saved PDFs. 

Best iPad Gaming apps

Monopoly

If you love a classic board game, Monopoly is an iPad app you should download. You can play by yourself against AI, with friends and family, or with players around the globe, as well as online or offline so plenty of opportunities to grab the boot and get yourself passed Go.

It's fully immersive so you get gorgeous Monopoly graphics lighting up your iPad display and while you do pay for the app initially, no ads interrupt your game play once you start.

Uno

It's another family classic and whether you're an Uno veteran or you're new to the card game, the iPad version lets you take it from the kitchen table to anywhere you're going – plane, train, office, or holiday.

You can play with friends and family, or compete in Uno tournaments, and you can buddy up to play in two-player teams too. For those feeling particularly competitive, try and top the leaderboards, or choose to take on one of the World Series tournaments to see if you can become numero uno.

Where's My Water?

You can always count on Disney to bring the goods when it comes to entertainment – whether for adults or children – and Where's My Water delivers. There are over 500 physics-based puzzles within this iPad app, delivered through four characters; Swampy, Allie, Cranky, and Mystery Duck.

The aim of the game is to guide water to the broken shower, with each level increasing in difficulty. It's fun, but educational too, and who doesn't love a puzzle with some entertaining characters to keep it interesting?

Delta

Delta was released for iPhone in April, followed by iPad in July 2024. The retro-gaming emulator can mimic gaming systems such as Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and more. You can play free games made by independent developers and use Delta's settings to add cheat codes, change controller skins, and much more.

Duolingo

Duolingo might be one of the best apps out there, not just for iPad but in general. The app is a lot more than just learning a language — it features the ability to learn maths as well as music, in the Duolingo way.

Using science-based teaching methodologies, Duolingo gamifies learning languages, music, and maths, offering bite-sized lessons and introducing characters to keep you motivated and build solid skills.

Best iPad Shopping apps

Amazon

The iPad is the perfect mobile device for making a few sneaky online purchases and Amazon has pretty much everything available to buy, making this mobile app both brilliant but dangerous for your bank balance.

You can add items to your wish list, compare items, check for daily deals, view recommended products, and buy pretty much anything. It makes shopping exceptionally easy, with a simple interface too so download with caution.

Vinted

Whether you're having a clear out and you want to make a bit of extra dollar, or you are looking for some second-hand or vintage bargains, Vinted is the app you'll want to download.

The interface is super simple to use and it looks excellent on iPad, serving up what is effectively a newsfeed of bargains. You can shop by brand, view popular items and selling is incredibly easy too.

Pinterest

Pinterest is a social networking website for crafting, cooking, building your dream home, or just great ideas. In what can only be described as a digital scrapbook – that you can also find links to buy from – you can search for anything that interests you with a delightful focus on all things visual.

You can browse through pins in your feed, search for specific topics, and see who is saving your finds. Your pins are all saved on your private personal boards for quick access and it's ideal for finding new recipes, inspiration for a home or cupboard redesign and shopping links to rare trainers.

Ebay

Like Amazon, eBay is a huge online retailer, selling products across a huge range of categories, whilst also enabling you to sell your own products. It is useful for finding some fairly obscure items and it's lovely and simple to use, making browsing a breeze. 

On iPad, you can search for products and filter by price, ending time, distance, and plenty more. You can also see what condition something is in and bid in auctions or purchase immediately. If you've been looking for a vintage favorite from your youth, this is where to go.

Shein

If you're looking for a cheap online shopping marketplace that covers off everything from home, pets and shoes, to beauty, tools and electronics, Shein is an app you shouldn't miss off your download list.

It delivers easy shopping – which is of course both a good and a bad thing – and the interface is exceptionally simple to browse on iPad. You can look by New Arrivals, Trends, Category, Best Sellers and plenty more, so we challenge you not to have something in your basket within several minutes. 

Temu

Not too dissimilar from Shein above, Temu also prides itself on being cheap and cheerful, offering products across a multitude of categories. From clothing, shoes and beauty, to home decor, handmade crafts and electronics, there's something for everyone.

The iPad app makes Temu very easy to navigate – and spend money – with prices so low on some items, it's a constant surprise. Be sure to look at the reviews of products you're buying though and make sure you don't expect the sort of quality you would get from more reputable brands with some things.

Best iPad Creating apps

Capcut

CapCut is an easy-to-use but incredibly powerful video editing tool. It's as simple as you need it to be. You can use it to just trim and shorten clips, or you can add keyframe video animations, adjust speed via the speed curve tool, or remove specific colors.

If you're a keen content creator, it's will simplify your workflow right down to applying text-to-speech in order to make your videos more accessible. 

Procreate

Procreate is a powerful app for creating full digital paintings. It has a huge range of painting and drawing tools with a wide array of color options, plenty of customization and hundreds of handmade brushes. 

You can paint on top of colors as well as blend shades for a realistic artistic experience and it also has digitizing features like adjustable motion and perspective blur, as well as color balance. The project tracking feature lets you record your progress as a time-lapse video, while there are also UHD canvases available in 16K and 8K for compatible iPad Pros. 

Canva

If you're looking for a solid app for photo and video editing, Canva should be on your list. It has plenty of features on board, from offering up the ability make videos to swapping backgrounds on photos, adding filters and flicking on stickers for good measure.

There are a range of templates if you need some inspiration, and you can design and collaborate from any device, meaning you can start on iPad, but finish on Mac.

Adobe Photoshop

Photoshop really needs no introduction – it is one of the most powerful image manipulation tools available with more features than many will ever even touch on in use. The iPad app is brilliant, offering everything from brushes and drawing with touch, to smudging, blending and mixing. 

Select images with the lasso tool and the power of AI, and work across multiple layers. You'll need a subscription, but once you have signed in with an Adobe ID, your files will synchronise across all your devices.

Adobe Lightroom

One of the most trusted apps for photo and image editing is Lightroom and the iPad version of the app is superb. The easy-to-use interface offers a huge range of tools at your disposal for turning your photos into professional looking shots, from enhancing portraits with one-tap presents to making detailed edits.

Using AI to its advantage, the iPad Lightroom app lets you blur the background of images quickly, delivering that portrait effect, but perhaps even better, is the ability to retouch and remove elements you don't want in your shots. It effectively puts the power of Google Pixel's Magic Editor on your iPad. 

Adobe Illustrator

Adobe's Illustrator is a fantastic tool for creating logos, illustrations (hence the name), graphics and plenty more. The iPad app is carefully considered, allowing you to design whatever your craft with precision, whist also offering a variety of tools from the ability to upload fonts, to typing on a path. 

There are more than 18,000 fonts available, coupled with over 20 color books, and features including the Blend Tool, the ability to raster images or paper sketches into vector images and stunning art and calligraphic brushes. If you want to let your imagination flow, this is the app to do it.

Garageband

Whether you shred on an electric guitar or drop beats on a synthesizer, GarageBand makes it very easy to create music. You can download tracks you've recorded from another program, connect your instrument with an adapter, or capture your inspiration using a microphone. 

Even if you don't own or play instruments, you can use the app to create multi-track songs as there are dozens of guitar, bass, keyboard, and drum samples here for digital music creation. Once recorded, you can export your tracks to a range of platforms, including Facebook, YouTube, and SoundCloud.

Freeform

Freeform is another native Apple app, but it is fantastic for creating what we would describe as mood boards or scrap books. Back in the day you may have stuck inspiration into a scrapbook, but Freeform gives you the power to save paper and create multiple boards directly on your iPad screen.

There's a dotted canvas by default but you can switch to plain if you so wish. After you select your base, you can draw with your finger or Apple Pencil using the various pen options, add sticky notes, add text boxes, introduce various shapes or add your own images from your library. It's a lovely app for brainstorming. 

Best iPad Kids apps

Bluey: Let's Play!

If you're a parent and you haven't watched Bluey, you are missing out. The hilarious TV show about an Australian family of dogs is recreated in this iPad app, allowing children to explore, create, imagine and play in Bluey and Bingo's house.

Kids will be able to hunt for longdogs, play a game of Pop Up Croc, listen to their favourite Bluey tracks or have a bounce on the trampoline in the garden. Best of all,  Bluey and Bingo's friends are in the app too, as well as parents Bandit and Chili.

YouTube Kids

While YouTube is great for entertaining us adults, YouTube Kids is a far more appropriate app for any younger people in your home and it's perfect for iPad. There are a range of parental controls that allow you to customise various settings and content available, as well as features like limiting screen time and keeping up with what your kids watch.

The app offers up a contained environment for kids filled with family-friendly videos on a range of different topics, from learning how to make slime to watching some of the great TV shows out there for kids.

Teach Your Monster to Read

Teach Your Monster To Read's aim is all but given away by the title of the app itself, but it's a lovely app on iPad, and an educating one too. Three games are included – First Steps, Fun with Words and Champion Reader – and the idea is that children create a monster that they then take on a magical journey. 

Through that journey, they meet a range of colorful characters, but more importantly, improve reading skills at the same time. The app is designed to cover the first two years of learning to read for children, from matching letters and sounds to enjoying little books, and it has been designed in collaboration with phonics programs.

Numberblocks: Hide and Seek

It wouldn't be right to have a reading app on our list and not a numbers app right? Numberblocks: Hide and Seek is designed to help children with addition, numbers bonds and other number skills, offering a fun way to learn. 

The aim is to find the hidden Numberblocks and add them together to see what happens, with each time the child gets to 10, they win something new to play with. An animation will play to celebrate each time the child hits 10, and the sums get harder as the child continues to play, helping them develop.

LingoKids - Play and Learn

For one of the best learning apps for kids, look no further than LingoKids. It isn't just about maths or reading, this app looks to cover it all. From science and engineering, to art, music and technology, there are more than 1200 learning activities wrapped up in this delightful app.

Using interactive games, songs and activities, the LingoKids app attempts to introduce life skills like empathy and resilience, whilst also covering off academics. There are more than 650 objectives across the various subjects and curated STEM curriculum. It's excellent.

Photomath

Maths is by no means everyone's bag, but the Photomath app aims to combat that, offering you the ability to learn, practice and understand maths, one small step at a time. It will tackle everything from primary school maths to advanced calculus, allowing you to solve problems and untangle the trickiest of algebra equations. 

You can scan any maths problem on your iPad with the Photomath app to be presented with step-by-step explanations and solutions from a number of teacher-approved methods, breaking the problem down into easy-to-understand steps. Handwritten, textbook or on a screen, there's no maths problem this app won't be able to help with.

Room on the Broom

If you haven't read Room on the Broom then you really should – it's lovely – but even if you haven't, this iPad app is still excellent. Perfect for three to seven year olds, the Room on the Broom app has eight fun-filled games designed to inspire creativity and learning. 

Children will collect medals as they fly star to star and create pictures in the sky, catch things for cat as they fly past and help dog, bird and frog find things the witch has dropped. They will also be able to help the dragon eat his favorite food and steer the magnificent broom through the sky.

How to choose the best iPad apps for you

The last thing you want when you buy a shiny new iPad is to clutter it up with hundreds of apps you don't really need. But at the same time, there are some essential apps we think that everyone should check out – even if they don't end up downloading them. These apps make the iPad's top features really shine and could seriously elevate the way you watch movies, create and even use the iPad for work and productivity. 

Take a look at each of the iPad apps in this list, or browse by category if there's a particular kind of app you want to focus on. For example, the productivity apps section is going to be invaluable if you plan on using your iPad at work or university. But if you want it solely for chilling out, bingeing TV shows and social media, you'll want to steer clear. 

Only a few days ago, Apple released its new mixed-reality headset, the Vision Pro. While all the other virtual reality or augmented reality headset manufacturers have stuck with the VR or AR moniker with which to describe their devices, Apple however has instead made its own name for what it presumably sees as the next era of computing — spatial computing. Computing in space! Or something…?

Apple doesn’t want the Vision Pro to be a gaming headset like its competitors. Instead, Vision Pro is positioned to one day replace your PC, today acting as a working companion to your expensive and powerful MacBook Pro or Mac Studio, as well as being a very high-tech media player. As a computer replacement in a world where people use their primary computer as a method of consuming various types of content, Vision Pro needs to be good at watching movies, playing games, and more — and do it in such a way that stands out from the rest of the portable computing space.

Apple hopes that what sets Vision Pro apart is ‘spatial’ everything.

Spatial video, Spatial Audio, and spatial photography are all built into Apple's latest innovative device — although that does mean that Apple has tossed all its eggs in one basket. If no one is interested in all things spatial then Vision Pro, and by extension, Apple, have a problem 

To make sure that spatial ‘things’ become the ‘next big thing, period’, Apple has put a significant amount of money into making sure that content exists for the headset. That means Spatial Audio tracks that don’t cost Apple Music users any extra subscription fees, and 3D movies in Apple TV+. To get the ball rolling, Apple has already gotten started on making the new ‘spatial’ version of ‘things’ more likely to happen. There’s Apple Original Pictures for one, with its aim to bring exclusive movies and TV shows to Apple devices, and then a boost to Spatial Audio royalties for artists that record and master their music in Spatial Audio. A good start, one might have thought.

Unfortunately, not everything seems to be going to plan.

Spatial Audio royalties go pop

If Apple wants Spatial Audio to really take off, the first thing it needs is loads of Spatial Audio tracks to be available on its streaming platform. While we don’t have the exact number of tracks that are available with Apple Music, we do have some interesting stats from Apple itself. According to the Cupertino giant, there are only 10% of users who are yet to listen to a Spatial Audio mixed track, and the amount of tracks mixed in Spatial Audio has increased 5,000% since the format joined Apple Music. Even more interestingly, Spatial Audio accounted for 4/5s of the music that landed in the platforms Global Daily Top 100 over the last 12 months — which is certainly impressive.

It remains hard to find precisely just how many albums have the Spatial Audio surround sound mix attached, but it's by no means the entire Apple library. Finding anything mixed in the format is harder than it needs to be, and even new music being added to the platform won’t necessarily have the Dolby Atmos accreditation.

To make the Spatial library larger, Apple increased royalties for artists and labels adding Spatial Audio music to the platform. That would be an extra 10% for tracks added in the format — a not insignificant percentage that Apple hoped would encourage engagement with surround sound. Unfortunately, there’s a catch that many artists and labels aren’t too happy about.

That extra 10% isn’t really added on, instead coming from a fixed pot of available revenue for streaming, according to a Financial Times report. That means that money for normal streams of music that aren’t Spatial Audio accredited could go down, costing the label and the artist revenue in the process. For those who are confused by this seemingly-fixed payment structure, you are not alone — we reached out to some of the affected labels for clarification, but at the time of writing none were prepared to discuss the details of the deals they have in place with Apple.

However confusing, the fact remains that it hasn’t encouraged artists and labels to pick up the format — after all, to record and master a Spatial Audio track you have to add on an extra $1,000 in production costs per piece. For some labels that could add up to tens of thousands of dollars per artist, making updating their library too costly — but also leaving them with lower revenue as non-spatial tracks are left in the cold. Some labels are now looking at fixing the problem with Apple, or taking their business elsewhere should discussions falter or fail. That, obviously, would be catastrophic.

It’s not a good start to the Spatial era, particularly as the Vision Pro headset has gone all-in on Spatial Audio. The apparently excellent but leaky speakers strapped to the side of the headset will pump out Spatial Audio from Apple Music, as will the USB-C version of the AirPods Pro 2 that can be paired with Vision Pro.

Want Spatial Audio in Vision Pro?

Then you’re stuck with those two above options — although it seems like that’s for good reason. Apple is only allowing ‘hi-res’ Spatial Audio with Vision Pro, something that the AirPods Pro 2 (with USB-C — sorry Lightning-model owners) are exclusively capable of. Same goes for those weird head-mounted speakers that will let everyone in the room/plane cabin/jacuzzi know that you’re listening to something embarrassing. 

Want to try out Spatial Audio with a pair of otherwise-spatially-compatible AirPods 3 or AirPods Max? No luck there I’m afraid, time for a new pair, you pauper.

Some directors are all in on spatial movies, though

What won’t make Apple worried (or at least as worried) is that all the directors that see spatial movies in Vision Pro are apparently ‘blown away.’ James Cameron, the visionary director behind the likes of Titanic, Aliens, and most recently Avatar: The Way of Water seems to be pretty excited about Vision Pro and the movie experience that the headset can provide.

“I would say my experience was religious,” Cameron told Vanity Fair, giving us some idea as to the calibre of director that’s had a chance to play with Vision Pro. Jon Favreau, creator of Chef and The Mandalorian (and never the twain shall meet) said that he was “excited by what kind of story I can tell now that I couldn’t tell before now” — and he’s the guy that brought dinosaurs to Vision Pro through Dinosaur Encounters on the App Store and Prehistoric Planet on Apple TV+. He’s made sure that those of us with dreams of being eaten by a T-Rex are well fed (or at least as well fed as the T-Rex would be when he’s got me in his jaws. I’m very fatty, so I’m likely more delicious than filling, though.)

Apple at the Oscars

Apple has already had some success with its Original Films business, coming away with awards for movies like CODA at the Oscars. Even more recently, Apple has had loads of Oscar nominations for its latest movie projects, with Killers of the Flower Moon (a Martin Scorsese opus) and Napoleon (from one Ridley Scott, Gladiator man) both receiving nominations — including Best Picture for the former.

Both of those movies will be coming to Apple TV+, with enhanced immersion thanks to the extra pizazz that the headset adds in the form of a kind of virtual cinema. Will this make more people likely to buy an Apple Vision Pro? Only time will tell, and I’m not sure that spatial movies, video, or even hi-res Spatial Audio are going to be what really pushes potential customers over the ‘should I really spend as much as a secondhand car on a mixed reality headset?’ threshold.

Apple’s Spatial speculation

Apple is almost putting all its eggs in one basket with the Vision Pro. While it has thriving lines of laptops, phones, and tablets, it looks like the firm thinks that this is the future of computing. Personally, I can’t think of something much worse than wearing an aluminum and glass headset that weighs as much as an iPad on my face for anything longer than half an hour, but I am but one grumpy tech writer.

Apple certainly seems to be putting in the work to make sure that Vision Pro has plenty of content for some time to come — but is it really enough?

What to watch

Apple is going to the Oscars once again — and you should probably check out the two films that its awards hopes rest on. First and foremost is the movie up for best picture: Killers of the Flower Moon. The Martin Scorsese flick is an epic western drama that tells the story of the murders of the Osage Native American people in 1920s Oklahoma. It's based on a book by David Grann and real history — and it does an excellent job of not only sticking pretty rigidly to the actual story but also being a harrowing and realistic portrayal of the US's relationship with its indigenous population.

Lily Gladstone, who plays the main character Mollie Kyle, is up for Best Actress in a Leading Role, and Scorsese is up for Best Director. It's loaded to the top with incredible talent, including Robert De Niro, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Brendan Fraser. Make no mistake — it's a lot to take in and emotionally draining, but it's an excellent picture and one to watch.

Napoleon, Apple's other Oscar-nominated film, is one that's slightly more divisive. It tells the story of the legendary French Emperor and General, Napoleon Bonaparte, and director Ridley Scott managed to rustle some feathers with movie critics, the French, and historians in one two-and-a-half-hour streak. 

There's no denying that Scott's film is an epic affair — the battles look incredible, with some truly enormous set pieces hammering home the scale of the fighting. There's a standout performance from Vanessa Kirby who plays Napoleon's long-suffering wife, Josephine, arresting your attention every time she's on-screen with a kind of mischievous joy and underlying cunning.

Joaquin Phoenix's Napoleon himself leaves a lot to be desired, however — beyond his weird, sniveling on-screen persona, it feels like Phoenix is only putting in three-quarters of the effort necessary. History fans aren't going to be massive fans of the inaccuracies either, especially as they watch a cannonball take a massive chunk out of the pyramids of Giza. For those after an epic historical romp that will make you laugh (whether it means to or not), however, will have a good time watching Napoleon mope about his manor houses and have various battles with other rulers of the time.

What to listen to

Looking for something to listen to in the run-up to the Super Bowl? Usher's going to be playing the Apple Music-sponsored halftime show, and Apple Music listeners can tune into his "My Road to Halftime" playlist to dust up on one of the biggest R&B artists in the world.

There are some of Usher's most well-known tracks in the playlist, including U Don't Have To Call, U Got it Bad, and My Boo. There's more here than just the greatest hits of Usher — there's a whole bunch of his biggest influences as well, like Alicia Keys' No One, and Frank Sinatra's Classic My Way. It follows Usher as he prepares for what is often one of the biggest music moments in the entertainment world, preparing himself for something that might become the most important show of his career.

The playlist is available now, just before Usher releases his ninth album, COMING HOME. If you want to learn more about the man behind the name then there's also going to be an editorial feature on Apple Music called 'The Story of Usher in 20 Songs', "giving an in-depth look at the 30-year career of a generational artist and performer" Apple tells us.

Although an estimated 1 billion people use iPhones, most of us are not using them to their full capability. You may have already heard of using a ‘VPN’ or ‘Virtual Private Network’ for your computer, designed to encrypt your connection and bolster online security. These same VPNs can be employed on your phones to help secure your data if you’re connecting to public or unsecure Wi-Fi. 

But did you know that  downloading a VPN can also help you get the most out of your iPhone by allowing you to access streaming content from other countries, blocking ads and bypassing content blocks? 

Access streaming content from other countries

There has never been a better time to binge watch your favorite shows and movies, with so much great content being uploaded daily across services like Disney Plus, HBO Max and Prime Video. Streaming services often have location specific catalogs, meaning viewers in different counties can access different content.  But what if there’s a movie you're desperate to watch but you can’t find anywhere or a show that’s airing in the US only? 

Employing a virtual private network (VPN) on your iPhone allows you to access streaming content from other countries that is missing from your own location, such as films specific to US Netflix or UK exclusive TV episodes on BBC iPlayer. 

When you attempt to stream a video online, your iPhone sends information to your server’s IP address and tells the streaming service your location.  A VPN is able to encrypt your internet traffic and change your IP address to a country of your choice. Some streaming services are beginning to catch up to the use of VPNs, so ensure you choose a VPN with a good reputation for streaming as well as many servers in multiple countries and locations, such as ExpressVPN or NordVPN. 

Block adverts

Whilst a VPN’s primary purpose is to encrypt your own data online, they are also able to block some ads indirectly. As VPN’s work by hiding your IP Address and therefore location, any ads that are based on your location or IP address are hidden by the VPN.

However, if you are visiting websites that have native ads embedded in their code or content these will not be blocked by a VPN. If you want to intentionally block more ads you will have to download a special ad blocker extension for your browser. An ad blocker works to remove intrusive advertising by employing a range of techniques including blocking pop-ups and webpage disruptions.

Bypass internet censorship

Virtual private networks are also utilized by individuals living in countries where governments own all the locations IP addresses and therefore can control website access.

By using a VPN on an iPhone people in these countries, such as China, can mask their IP address and restore their access to the sites that have been blocked. However, this is a risky practice that can involve breaking laws dependent on which country the VPN is being used in. Before traveling to one of these countries ensure you have read up on local rules around VPN usage so you don’t land yourself in trouble.

The best VPN for iPhones in 2026

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are an integral tool for fortifying the cybersecurity of your iPhone as well to mask IP addresses and bypass geographic specific content blocks or firewalls whilst browsing. Their private, encrypted connection owned by the VPN provider adds an extra layer of protection, safeguarding your data from potential threats. By utilizing a virtual private network, you are able to protect your privacy as well as get the most out of your iPhone

Need a quick answer on which VPN to download to your iPhone?  These are our top three picks:

How to choose a VPN for your iPhone

Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are an essential cybersecurity tool for encrypting your online connection and unlocking the potential of your iPhone. 

But with so many different options available,  it can be difficult to know where to start with comparing the different aspects that each of the leading Virtual Private Networks bring to the table. 

The first that you will need to consider is how you intend to use your VPN and think about how you will incorporate different aspects in your day to day life. This includes how hands-on you want to be, both with your online security and streaming  geographically restricted content, as well as accessing torrents and gaming. 

Ensure that you are taking into considering these key factors when selecting a VPN to meet your personal user:

Unblocking capability: Opt for a VPN with the capability to bypass streaming services location specific restrictions quickly and effectively. Some VPN services offer dedicated servers for different uses ,like streaming, which make it more convenient to unblock your favorite content, regardless of where you are.

Simultaneous connections: Check how many devices you want to secure with your new VPN. Make sure to check the limit on the number of devices a VPN service will allow you to protect simultaneously to be sure it accommodates your current requirements as well as any additional devices you may add in the future.

Additional Features: Evaluate the additional features offered by VPN providers to determine which ones may justify any extra cost for you. For example, NordVPN offers built-in ad blocking or Express VPN's 24/7 offers customer support which could save you money on purchasing multiple programs. Check out any plan upgrades offered that may include a full security suite with antivirus, cloud storage, and data breach tracking.

Apps: Consider how you plan to access your VPN, keeping in mind the compatibility with your devices. Some VPNs offer apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, and Android but may lack support for other platforms. Be sure to try out the associated apps to assess the user interface and ease of navigation across all of your devices.

Price: Once you've pinpointed the essential functionalities,  you can then compare the cost of applicable VPNs that meet your criteria. Be careful not to compromise on quality and therefore compromise on your digital security. Luckily some VPNs like Surfshark offer great features at a low price, so you aren't forced to make this choice.

How we test VPNs

iMore’s team of experts use the top VPNs daily across their personal and work devices, but to make sure we’re continuously updating we conduct a complete comprehensive analysis of the top 30 VPN services every 6 months.

We begin our investigation of each VPN  by collecting comprehensive details on the service and the features it claims to offer, directly from its website. We sign up anonymously  and verify server claims by connecting to multiple different test locations.  We read through privacy policy documents including the small print to ensure robust security and test privacy claims. 

We conduct extensive speed tests over 120 times across two sessions, using both a US home connection and a 1 Gbps UK data center to show us a provider's potential and the real-world use case application. 

Good virtual private networks should be able to unblock multiple streaming services seamlessly. To assess this, we attempt to access geographically exclusive content from Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Disney Plus, and BBC iPlayer, repeating the test from at least three different locations to get an idea of how the service performs in a real life scenario.  We carry out constant real-world testing to make sure our analysis is always relevant and accurate to the latest version of the VPN.

We don't just trust what we see on the surface of a VPN provider's website. We go further by checking its RAM contents and decompiling and examining its source code to find out what's going on behind the scenes and whether the service gives genuine protection.

To learn about our full methodology visit our testing methodology page. 

Using a VPN FAQs

We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.

I'll come clean. I've been writing this now for a few days, on and off, and it's been scrapped and rewritten more than a few times as well. See, the problem isn't the Apple Vision Pro, it's me. I haven't had a chance to spend any time with Apple's first foray into the spatial computing world because I live in the wrong part of the world and those of us outside the United States will have to wait a little while longer before we get to see what all the fuss is about. But I've been watching from afar. Engorging myself with every little bit of Apple Vision Pro information, every review, every post on social media to see how the headset is being received.

The real question isn't what early Apple Vision Pro reviewers had to say, they aren't normal people. Like me, these people spend their lives with technology, writing and talking about it for umpteen hours every day whether they want to or not. And when technology becomes a job, you'd be amazed how quickly it becomes the norm. Not boring, per se, but not exciting, either. Some people say those who work in the technology media get jaded like game reviewers or those in the car industry might do, but that isn't quite it. It's just that things don't tend to excite you as much as they might other people. It can make it difficult to really get a feel for how good or bad some products really are, especially potentially game-changing ones like Apple Vision Pro. Equally, those who are a little too effusive should perhaps be observed with just the right amount of cynicism.

So with that in mind, I like to look to social media to see how people are getting on with their new toy. That word might be harsh, and there are negative connotations associated with calling any piece of tech a toy. But word choice aside, buyers of the Apple Vision Pro are the best people to give a truly "real" review from. These aren't people who found themselves blessed with early access — they're people who put their money where their mouths were. They splashed the cash, and spent at least $3,499 to see what Apple's future of computing is all about. They have the battle scars and the receipts to prove it and it's these people that matter. These people whose opinions we should be paying attention to.

And it's these people that have me so conflicted.

The future of computing

Despite early concerns about the cost and a perceived lack of market for it, there has been no shortage of Apple Vision Pro buyers in my timeline. Granted, my socials are skewed heavily towards people who were always likely to be in the category of people most likely to buy the hot new Apple thing on day one. Developers who are working on Apple Vision Pro apps make up a decent chunk of those people, but I've found that buyers come from all walks of life. And the response, so far, has been almost universally positive.

Common themes that I've seen include people loving the way that apps and app windows can be pinned in 3D space, essentially making them a part of the room. Use cases are obvious here, including but not limited to simple timers — put a timer over a pot on the stove and another over the oven and you'll always know which timer just went off and what it was for. It's the kind of thing that seems super simple but when used changes the way we do things. Another example puts shortcuts in 3D space for a similar reason, and I can't wait to test this kind of experience out for myself.

More good stuff comes in the shape of Mac Virtual Desktop, the feature that takes a Mac's desktop and puts into into 3D space via the Apple Vision Pro. The faux display can be thrown around and resized at will, with Apple Vision Pro apps running alongside it. Magical? Perhaps not, but it seems to be pretty close in use. The same goes for the passthrough capabilities that make it feel like the wearer can really see the outside world despite the fact they're viewing it through a complicated system of low-latency cameras and incredible displays.

From what I gather, you really need to spend time with Apple Vision Pro to appreciate it. You're allowed an opinion without doing that, but it's possible it'll change afterward.

But is Apple Vision Pro perfect? No, but it doesn't necessarily need to be, either.

A glimpse into the future

As much as people seem to love their Apple Vision Pro, it clearly has its problems. As impressive as the passthrough is, it struggles in low-light environments where grain and blur start to creep in. And there are plenty of strange Apple Vision Pro bugs going around, too.

But none of this matters, not in the long term. It's clear that Apple's technology couldn't keep up with its ambition here, but that just makes the future all the more exciting.

I've seen enough from the Apple Vision Pro to know that it's going to be huge. Videographer and vlogger Casey Neistat said as much in his own video review, and I think he's right. This is the way we will want to use computers in the future. But we won't be doing it via something that looks like a futuristic (and expensive) ski goggle. We'll be doing it with something the size and shape of sunglasses — like Apple Glass. We'll be walking down the street, receive a call from someone, and answer it with a gesture. We'll say hi and explain that we can't talk right now but we'll speak later and then we'll end the call with a swipe of a hand or a click of the fingers and go about our day. All while following AR walking directions and keeping up with the big game's score at the same time.

Sure, there's a bit of the Wall-E feel about it and I can't guarantee it won't be the downfall of all humanity. But I can guarantee that I'll be freaking cool.

More from iMore

• Apple Vision Pro financing starts at $291 a month over 12 months
• 50 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro
• Apple Vision Pro — Can you import one from the U.S., and is it worth it?

If you’re in the market for a pair of headphones that cost under $200, cancel out the noise of your commute, and sound good while they do it, you are spoilt for choice the moment you look at Amazon. There are a multitude of options from large brands like Sony, Sennheiser, and more — but now there’s a new challenger that’s vying for your cash.

SoundMagic is a UK-based company that’s been around the block a few times, and it’s just updated its lineup with some new headphones. At the top of the pile are the cans we’ve got to test out here — the P60BT, a pair of over-ear noise-canceling headphones that look to get your money over the competition.

Solid, if underwhelming, build

The P60BT are only £99 in their country of origin, so you can’t expect them to be the most incredibly well-built or slick-looking pair of headphones. Having said that, their build is perfectly serviceable with decent quality plastics used all over the place and metal components in their hinging and folding parts.

Those folding hinges allow them to fold flat so that you can fit them into their unreasonably sturdy carry case — which will also take up loads of space in your backpack. Compared to the case of similar Sony options or the similarly priced Sonoflow from 1More, the case that comes with the P60BT is MASSIVE.

The case is lovely though, beyond its size. There’s a little bag inside for the charging and analog cables, as well as a connector so that you can use them on a flight. Accessories, case, and build then? A good start, that’s for sure.

A comfortable fit

I am very sensitive to uncomfortable headphones. The pressure across the top of my head is one of my main complaints with loads of headphones, and the P60BT almost get away with it. Are they uncomfortable? No, but they aren’t the most comfortable either.

The earcups are soft and pliable which goes towards somewhat making you forget you’re wearing them, but they aren’t very deep so at some point you’ll start to feel the surface of the driver covers at the bottom. They aren’t an uncomfortable pair of headphones, but you won’t want to wear them for hours and hours on end.

There are more comfortable headphones at this price — the 1More Sonoflow or the Soundcore Space One to name a couple that we’ve tested. The Soundcore, in fact, are cheaper as well — and well worth considering instead if you want some light, comfortable headphones.

Stunning sound?

You’re never going to get world-altering good sound for this price, but you can expect a listenable sound profile so that you feel like you’re getting your money’s worth. After all, while I’m usually talking about hundreds of dollars worth of audio hardware and the inherent value therein, I’m not so out of touch that $200 isn’t still a lot of money for ordinary people. I am, after all, an ordinary person.

The SoundMagic’s sound… fine. They’re energetic, and fun, with great response to the music at hand. Devin Townsend’s Vampira is a bouncy track filled with a youthful spring, and the P60BT follow along with aplomb. They don’t have the widest soundstage and the highs and lows are washed out slightly, but for most, they’re going to sound fine.

Those problems with the sound are worth talking about briefly — because they are an issue if you’re interested in sound. The highs have a habit of getting sibilant, which means that the "S" sounds that the singer might make or the hit of a cymbal is emphasized to an uncomfortable degree. It might make it sound like there’s a slight squeal to proceedings, which can make headphones sound fatiguing. After a while, this happens with the P60BT, but it’s not as bad as some I’ve sampled.

The bass then gets a little muddy, or flabby. Bass drum hits are ill-defined, and bass guitar notes are more of a ‘sound’ rather than an actual string being hit. Neither the sibilant highs nor the muddy bass make them sound bad — for most, they’ll sound better than the even cheaper headphones that they’re used to, but they are issues worth highlighting.

Everything else

There are some other features on board. There are touch controls, for one — and I don’t like them. I am predisposed to not liking touch controls, and these do nothing to change my mind. They are too sensitive when I don’t want them to be, and when I need them to work they don’t. Buttons may be the old control option, but they are still the best.

The rest of the features are nice. Battery life is good — 50 hours on a single charge. That’s a long time, and it only goes down by 5 hours when you punch the noise canceling into action. That noise canceling is solid enough and easily matches the performance of its competition.

Beyond that, there’s support for aptX HD, which is a nice latency-free bonus. The call quality is good, and the mic is clear on the other end. All present and correct for a pair of the best noise-canceling headphones from 2023.

Are they the new kings?

No, they’re not — they haven’t managed to succeed where none have before and offer a package that ups the game. They are fine headphones, even though they don’t sound fantastic, but that just means they don’t offer enough over the competition to make you choose these over something else.

For our money, the 1More Sonoflow do a better job, or the Soundcore Space One which costs less. For the best carrying case the SoundMagic are great — but they require a little work in the sound department.

As a headphone enthusiast (and in my case, reviewer), you want to try out as many different kinds of headphones as you possibly can. Whether that's the latest wired over ears, made boutique-style in a small room by hand, or fresh off a factory production line to get stamped with a ‘Sony’ logo, you want to hear what they’re like. 

The problem, of course, is space, and, to perhaps a larger degree, cost. Headphones are not cheap with some of the best costing tens of thousands of dollars. I’m lucky enough to have tried out some of the most expensive headphones around (and they left me changed, unrecognizable) — but not everyone might have the opportunity.

What if, however, there was a pair of headphones that could sound like all the best? A pair that could encapsulate some of the most impressive sound signatures out there, replicated, for you, in the depths of a single pair of over-head cans? The Titum Audio, successfully funded on IndieGoGo, are a pair of headphones that claim to do just that.

What are they?

Titum Audio is a brand that you have likely never heard of — I know I hadn’t until I got an email from them. The only thing that Titum makes are the Titum headphones, and on first glance, it seems like it could be some kind of internet vaporware thing, a concept too interesting  — impossible, even — to actually come out in shape or form.

But here they are — and I’ve got my mitts on a pair. The idea behind the headphones is to make a kind of ‘jack of all trades’, a pair of headphones that can sound like other pairs of popular headphones through clever audio trickery. It sounds too good to be true… but we’ll talk more about that later.

First, the design.

The Titum headphones

In order to make something that sounds like other headphones you’d better hope that the core product is a good one — and the Titum headphones, when it all comes down to it, are a very solid pair of Bluetooth-supporting noise-canceling headphones.

They’re weighty, and feel like they’ve been hewn out of lumps of metal. There is a touch of plastic to be found here and there, but most of the bits you put your hands on have the cold hardness of a metallic alloy. It goes some way to justifying their not-inconsiderable price — $499.

That is $50 more than the AirPods Max, which also feature a great deal of metal in their construction. Where the AirPods are more fashion-conscious with an eye-catching industrial design, the Titum cans however want to blend in, and look like ‘just another pair of headphones’. That’s not to say they don’t have their own stylistic charm — they simply don’t want to shout from the rooftops about how much they cost.

All that weight often makes a pair of headphones uncomfortable — and while they’re not the most friendly to my crown, I have worn far worse. The earcups are luxorious, smothered in Alcantara (that's a kind of faux suede that they cover grippy racing car steering wheels in), and they are plush and comfortable. My main complaint is the firmness of the headband cushioning. Because they are so heavy, they lean on the cushioning support too much, and they dig into the top of your head while you’re wearing them. I managed to dial in the fit just right, but there is still some pressure along the top side of my head.

All in all, they are a lovely thing in hand, and perhaps with more wear the top cushion will soften and let me wear them for a longer stretch of time comfortably — but there’s more to a solid pair of headphones than the way they look and feel. How does the Titum Audio sound?

This is arguably one of the most important parts of the Titum audio headphones, because the entire gimmick is based around how the headphones are able to replicate sound. At their most neutral, with none of the fancy tech turned on to make them sound like something else, they are very good. There’s a neutrality to the sound that to some might make them sound light on the bass, but there’s some great accuracy and smoothness to the signature. It’s above average, that’s for sure, and even without the ‘transforming’ part, makes them a decent set of cans.

How do they ‘transform?’

The idea is that you connect the headphones to an app available on all the best iPhones, where you’re given a list of different headphones that the Titum can replicate. There are fewer here than I thought there might be when initially checking the product pages, and crucially, no Apple-aping options. Shame. The sound signatures replicated include:

• Bose wireless noise cancelling headphones 700
• Beyerdynamic DT770 Pro
• Steelseries Arctis
• Audeze LCD-X
• Sony XM5

Of course, the options on the screen aren’t called that — they’ve all got truncated names, presumably to confound the legal departments of the companies at hand. There’s little else to the app beyond this list of headphones — no EQ changing, noise canceling settings, or custom sound profiles. Only the transforming page.

So what does transforming the sound actually do? I’ve compared the different sound profiles to some of the actual headphones in my collection to find out — and tried to find whether they actually work.

Or at least I would have done — but the moment I selected the first headphone, and pressed the ‘transform’ button everything became crystal clear. I’m not convinced there’s any kind of true audio trickery going on here at all — just some custom EQs with names that reflect headphone styles that they might get close to.

The first on the list is the Bose Noise Canceling 700, a pair of headphones that I have significant experience with after I bought a pair to get me through university. They're well well-rounded, if bassy, and a very pleasurable listening experience.

The Titum version of the profile is… well, it kind of reflects those words, but not in a way that it actually makes them sound like the headphones at hand. My plan was to use one track, Celtic Frost’s A Dying God Coming into Human Flesh, and then compare them with the actual headphones to see if they managed to replicate the experience at least slightly.

I didn't have to get very far in the testing to hit problems — the transform button makes a snazzy splash noise that says ‘Titum, transform your world’, and then makes the headphones sound bad. The Bose option, for example, sounds synthetic and is filled with some truly abysmal distortion. The bass is warmer, but the highs are all over the place and the drums are messy. The vocals are fine when the rest of the cacophony is gone, but they’re lost when the mix gets busy again. The LCD-X sound option thickens up the mids but loses all the definition in the bass and the highs. 

Perhaps I was stupid to think that $499 worth of headphones could replicate $899 worth of Audeze classics, but there was still a little bit of me that had some hope. Some hope that it wouldn’t be just a fancy-looking EQ. That it might actually work.

The Titum headphones — a failure?

Ok, I don’t think it's completely fair to call the Titum headphones a failure. I love how they’ve tried something new — although that something new is giving me bad EQ settings and calling them emulated headphones.

The problem is that at their heart, the Titum Audio Headphones are a solid pair of luxury noise-canceling cans. The in-built DAC is top quality and supports hi-res lossless audio formats of up to 24bit/96Khz when plugged in over USB-C. Dolby Atmos works well with movies and games, and the audio hardware that runs the show is top-class stuff.

The Titum didn’t need any kind of audio trickery to be a good pair of headphones to begin with — but they took a risk and tried something that would make them stand out in an otherwise saturated space. What worries me is that there is obviously a very talented audio team at work here, but this initial product has a leading gimmick that doesn’t work and undermines the otherwise-solid quality of what sits at the core.

I want Titum to do well — but I reckon they’d be better off focusing on the strong audio experience they’ve got here, and selling them as luxury headphones. Alas, I can’t look at these as luxury headphones alone, and I have to take into consideration the gimmick as well. And the gimmick? Well, again, the gimmick just doesn’t work.

Buy the Titum Audio headphones if you want some great-sounding, solidly built headphones — and then have a play with the app. You’ll end up at the standard sound profile before long, but that’s no bad thing. It’s really good. Just don't expect that top line magic audio claim to stand up to much scrutiny.

Nothing screams CES like a fat load of eye-popping new monitors, and 2024 has already started delivering them in spades. With Dell and Samsung already waving incredible new displays around and more sure to follow, Mac users are left with more choices than ever before regarding the perfect pixel companion, and Apple needs to respond. 

Right now, Apple offers two Mac displays that are undeniably potent. There’s the 27-inch 5K Studio Display and the eye-watering 32-inch 6K Pro Display XDR. Since the latter is a $5,000 behemoth targeted at the ultra-power user, I’d like to focus on Apple’s smaller Studio Display, a monitor that is dangerously close to becoming obsolete in very short order. 

The Studio Display hasn’t had an easy life and got off to a rocky start when it was released last year. It was panned by a lot of reviewers for its crummy webcam but was also unfairly criticized by people who’d missed the point. A 5K monitor fills an incredibly niche customer need for Mac users because it’s the perfect resolution at which to display macOS at twice the size without ruining the proportions. As such, there’s definitely a market for it, Apple just stumbled out of the blocks a little. 

The Studio Display ruled the 5K roost until the middle of 2023, when the Samsung ViewFinity S9 came along. The ViewFinity S9, like the Studio Display, is a 5K 27-inch display. However, it boasts a matte finish as standard and a much more favorable $1,300 tag, often reduced to sub-$1000 during major sales events. With the same 600 nits of brightness and a 4K webcam, the ViewFinity S9 was the first shot across the bow for the Studio Display, a warning to Apple that it can’t be complacent when it comes to selling great Mac monitors. Now, with CES at the door, that has never been more true. 

 Samsung strikes again 

Earlier this week, Samsung unveiled its expanded Odyssey Gaming monitor lineup ahead of CES, with three epic new OLED models. While some Mac users might not favor a gaming monitor as their display of choice, the Odyssey OLED G9, G8, and G6 each reveal just how potent the world of display expansion is beyond Apple’s wall. 

The G9 is a new curved ultra-wide gaming monitor with a 5120x1440 resolution and a 32:9 aspect ratio. Meanwhile, the new 4K G8 is a 32-inch OLED panel with 240Hz refresh rate and epic response times. Anyone who wants to use a Mac and do any kind of gaming on a console or PC will surely be looking sideways at those models before they’d consider anything Apple sells. I know this isn’t an Apple-to-apples comparison, but Samsung is one of several companies consistently banging out great displays year in and year out, whereas Apple’s display cycle is very long and not really that exciting. 

Another blow from Dell

Much closer to home for Mac users, Dell unveiled a stunning new 40-inch 5K monitor this week. The U4025QW features DisplayHDR 600, 5120x2160 resolution, IPS technology, and a 120Hz refresh rate for use with lower resolutions. At first glance, it looks like the ultimate monitor for work, and a bit of play too. That 5K resolution will score you the all-important macOS scaling, while HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort, and Thunderbolt 4 give you plenty of connection options, the latter including 140W of power delivery for MacBook users.

There are a few key disadvantages, however. Being a 40-inch monitor, it clocks in at $2,399, doesn’t have LED, and doesn’t have a webcam like the Studio Display (although some people would argue the Studio Display’s webcam is a disadvantage.) All-in-all though, it’s an impressive package and one sure to pique the interest of prospective buyers. 

There was a time when the only 5K Mac monitor was the crappy LG UltraFine, then for about a year, the Studio Display was king. Now, however, the display market is moving so quickly that I fear Apple risks being left behind if it doesn’t pull another rabbit out of the hat soon. 

Rumor has it that Apple might have a new 27-inch mini-LED display in the works that supports Apple’s variable ProMotion refresh rates up to 120Hz. Our last rumored date for that was a very nebulous “2024 or early 2025,” plenty of time for rivals to pull out an even bigger lead. 

The Apple TV holds a unique place in the Apple ecosystem as the least upgradeable product. Once someone has bought an Apple TV 4K, for instance, there's little reason to be filled with an urge to get a newer model.

Think about it. While it’s true the changes between, say, the best iPhone from year to year are smaller than in the past, noticeable differences do crop up with each cycle. That not only includes physical additions, like Dynamic Island, ProMotion, or the Action button, but also exciting new software features, as seen in iOS 17.

Even when you compare the Apple TV to something like AirPods, you’re likely to see a usability difference when upgrading Apple’s headphones because of the improvement in the headphones’ battery life, or noise cancelling algorithm. All that Apple TV has been able to boast in recent years is processor improvements — and that's only really going to benefit the small number of regular gamers using the device.

It doesn’t have to be like this though. The Apple TV could be a must-buy product for everyone — and I have an idea of how that could happen, just by taking some simple inspiration from the iPad line-up.

Before that though, let’s find out how the hardware got into this situation.

A short history of the Apple TV

The Apple TV is a slight outlier in the company’s product range, as there have only been seven generations over about 17 years.

In its recent iterations, there was a giant leap between the 2015 HD model and the first 4K machine in 2017, but this stalled in the following versions in 2021. The 2022 version was an improvement thanks to its chip improvements and gaming capabilities — but it was the sort of upgrade that wouldn't hugely benefit its core TV streaming audience.

Yes, there was an updated Siri remote, new chips, and support for HDR10+, but the difference between the second and third-generation 4K versions of the Apple TV was minimal at best.

This isn’t an attack on Apple per se. After all, it’s tough to innovate when the device’s main function — streaming TV and movies — is something it’s done exemplarily for eons.

Where I fail to see wisdom though is the fact it’s rumored that the next Apple TV will be released in 2024 and it’ll be broadly the same as the 2022 model.

This feels like a mistake. Thankfully though, I have some ideas.

How should Apple approach the Apple TV?

The Apple TV is a good device and what I’m going to suggest isn’t revolutionary. In some ways it’s quite the opposite.

To me, Apple should apply the same principles it uses on other products, like its iPad line-up, to the Apple TV. It should scrap the idea of it being a single device and split in twain: the Apple TV Air and the Apple TV Pro, similar to how we already have an iPad Air and iPad Pro.

Let’s begin with the former.

The Apple TV Air

Here’s my pitch: the Apple TV Air should be an entry-level device. It should be financially attainable and a serious challenger to similar streaming hardware.

Just consider the fact you can get a Chromecast HD for $29.99 and a 4K version for $49.99. For further context, the 4K Amazon Fire Stick goes for $49.99 too.

But the cheapest new Apple TV? That starts at $129.99.

I understand Apple’s business model rests in offering a premium service at premium prices, but this current setup isn’t just a little more expensive than competitors, it’s over double the price. Effectively, it’s a different market segment altogether.

The Apple TV Air would be a no-frills replacement. It could be powered by an older A-series chip, have reduced capabilities (such as no Siri support), and retail for a lower price, maybe something closer to $60 or $70.

This could help pull people further into Apple’s ecosystem, drive up visibility and recognition of the product category and the associated Apple TV Plus service, and provide a direct competitor to the Chromecast and Fire Stick, all while still being positioned as a more premium device than either.

It’d sell like hot cakes, and send viewer numbers for the best Apple TV Plus shows and best Apple TV Plus movies through the roof.

The Apple TV Pro

While the Apple TV Air is something I’d have a passing interest in (maybe to use in the office or on a secondary display), I’d by most hyped about what I'm calling the Apple TV Pro.

To put it simply, I think this should be Apple’s version of a games console.

Yes, it’d be jam-packed with as much innovative TV technology as possible (8K output, Dolby Vision and HDR10+, the latest upscaling advances, and so forth), but a big selling point would be its position as a solid gaming machine.

It wouldn’t aim to compete directly with Nintendo, PlayStation, or Microsoft, instead it could be used to carve an Apple-sized niche in the sector.

The Apple TV Pro should be equipped with an M-series chip, meaning it could support the same games available on Apple computers.

This would work in two interesting ways. The first would be to take advantage of Apple’s ecosystem. Imagine playing a game on your MacBook in the office, then coming into the lounge and it immediately booting up on the TV. 

The second focuses more on gaming. If tens of millions of Apple TV Pros are sold, it suddenly becomes attractive to developers — especially if the same version would work flawlessly on the company’s computers too. This could usher in an environment where Apple becomes a relevant player in the gaming market.

Lord, I want an Apple TV Pro.

The Apple TV dream

I’ve been an Apple TV devotee for years. When the hardware was first released, it felt magical, but in recent years the media streamer has been overshadowed by its competitors.

But this doesn’t need to be the case. As we’ve seen, the Apple TV could be an industry leader and definer.

Unfortunately, though, we’re probably going to see something very similar to before release in 2024. It’s nice to dream though.

With smash hits like For All Mankind, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters, Silo, and Foundation, 2023 was a bumper year for Apple TV Plus. But if you’ve not yet taken the plunge or you’re still waiting for that one bumper show that ticks all of your boxes, then we’ve got five (six) that should absolutely blow your socks off. Even though very few shows are confirmed for Apple TV Plus in 2024, there’s still something for nearly everyone and a couple of shows that look like they could be smash hits! If that doesn’t get you excited enough, 2024 might herald the return of arguably the greatest show on Apple TV Plus, or TV anywhere. I am, of course, talking about Severance Season 2, which had been tipped for 2023 but is currently beleaguered by production issues. Let’s get into our top picks for Apple TV Plus in 2024. 

Masters of the Air

Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Band of Brothers, The Pacific. The pedigree of Masters of the Air is off the charts, and on January 26, the third installment in this unofficial spiritual WW2 trilogy will grace the small green. Based on a Donald L. Miller book by the same name, Masters of the Air charts the journey of the 100th Bomb Group (the “Bloody Hundredth”) as they conduct bombing raids over Nazi Germany. Apple says the show will portray “the psychological and emotional price paid by these young men as they helped destroy the horror of Hitler’s Third Reich.” The official trailer, released in December, is an absolute marvel, and I am stoked beyond measure for this one. 

• January 26
• Starring: Austin Butler, Callum Turner, Anthony Boyle, Nate Mann, Raff Law, Barry Keoghan, Josiah Cross, Branden Cook and Ncuti Gatwa

Constellation 

With Foundation and For All Mankind on its books, Apple’s space-based drama chops are well established now. On February 21, Apple will debut season one of Constellation, a psychological thriller from Peter Harness and Michelle MacLaren. Noomi Rapace (The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo) stars as an astronaut “who returns to Earth after a disaster in space — only to discover that key pieces of her life seem to be missing.” This conspiracy-based mind bender “is an exploration of the dark edges of human psychology, and one woman's desperate quest to expose the truth about the hidden history of space travel and recover all that she has lost.” Maybe not one to watch before bed, then. 

• February 21
• Starring: Noomi Rapace, Jonathan Banks, James D’Arcy, Julian Looman

Argylle 

Henry Cavill stars as a globe-trotting super-spy? No, it's not The Man from U.N.C.L.E, it’s Argylle, coming to theaters in February 2024 and Apple TV Plus soon after. There’s much more to Argylle than meets the eye. The film follows authority Elly Conway, writer of the Argylle book series, a work of fiction that seemingly comes to life in the real world. Starring John Cena, Dua Lipa, Samuel L. Jackson, and Bryan Cranston, it gives Kingsman vibes in all the right ways and looks like light-hearted entertainment for the whole family. 

• February 2 (Theaters)
• Starring: Henry Cavill, Bryce Dallas Howard, Sam Rockwell, Bryan Cranston, Catherine O’Hara, John Cena, Dua Lipa, Ariana DeBose, and Samuel L. Jackson

The New Look

The New Look is a drama series coming to Apple TV Plus on February 14. Recently, announced, it stars Ben Mendelsohn as Christian Dior, alongside Juliette Binoche as Coco Chanel, Maisie Williams as Catherine Dior; John Malkovich as Lucien Lelong; Emily Mortimer as Elsa Lombardi, and Claes Bang as Spatz. The series, inspired by true events, “centers on fashion designers Christian Dior, Coco Chanel and their contemporaries as they navigated the horrors of World War II and launched modern fashion.” The movie is set in Nazi-occupied Paris during World War 2 and “focuses on the pivotal moment in the 20th century when the French city led the world back to life through its fashion icon Christian Dior.” So, it's a slightly different take on WW2 compared to Masters of the Air, but a gripping one nonetheless. 

• February 14
• Starring: Ben Mendelsohn, Juliette Binoche, John Malkovich, Maisie Williams

Criminal Record

If you hadn’t noticed by now, Apple loves a good drama, and Criminal Record crime thriller starring Peter Capaldi looks like another nail-biter. Capaldi stars as Chief Inspector Daniel Hegarty alongside Cush Jumbo as Detective Sergeant June Lenker in a high-octane police thriller, centered around an anonymous phone call that pits the two detectives against each other regarding an old murder case. 

• January 10
• Starring: Peter Capaldi, Cush Jumbo, Charlie Creed-Miles, Dionne Brown

Severance season 2?

Our most hotly-anticipated show for 2024 hasn’t even been confirmed for a release yet, and that’s because it’s Severance season 2. Season one dazzled Apple TV Plus fans in 2022 and ended on a massive cliffhanger, which means that devotees have now gone a whole year without any sort of resolution. While we had expected Severance Season 2 in 2023, the show has been plagued by production issues. Reports include a spat between showrunners Dan Erickson and Mark Friedman, who are now no longer on speaking terms, scrapped scripts, a soaring budget, and more. For the uninitiated, Severance follows the employees of Lumon Industries, a biotech company that makes workers undergo a surgical procedure to separate their work and personal lives. When a new team member joins, the team quickly start going rogue, learning some pretty wild things about the company they work for and their external lives. Sound enticing? There’s a reason Severance is arguably the most popular Apple TV Plus show out there and one of its most successful titles to date.

• Date: ?
• Starring: Adam Scott, Britt Lower, Zach Cherry, John Turturro, Patricia Arquette, Tramell Tillman, Dichen Lachman, Christopher Walken, Gwendoline Christie, Bob Balaban

Napoleon and Killers of the Flower Moon

While this article is focused on confirmed 2024 Apple TV Plus titles, you get a bonus double dose of movies in the form of Napoleon and Killers of the Flower Moon. Both have just finished their theatrical runs and are due on Apple TV Plus any day now, which means they're definitely a lock-in for two great titles you can enjoy on Apple TV Plus in 2024. 

New Years resolution - 4K HDR

This is just a taste of the new content coming to Apple TV Plus in 2024, and of course, ignores all of the great content already available on the platform. If you're new to Apple TV or thinking about taking the plunge, why not check out our list of the best Apple TV Plus shows and movies too!

You can't hope to get the most out of your Apple Watch without some of the best Apple Watch apps on the market. Whether you need a helpful companion to stay on top of productivity, a smart workout app to help you tackle the gym, or a tiny game to pass the help pass the time, we've got you covered with our definitive list of the 50 best Apple Watch apps in 2024. 

As standard, most of the apps on your Apple Watch are likely carried over from the apps you already have installed on your iPhone, but that doesn't mean you can seek out great dedicated watch apps elsewhere. You can find all of our picks in Apple's App Store on iPhone. Once you're there, here are all of our recommendations. 

Best productivity Apple Watch apps

Things 3

Things 3 is a great task manager on the iPhone, and its Apple Watch app makes tracking your day-to-day tasks simple. The primary screen in Things 3 puts your tasks for the day in front of you, which you can check off as you complete them right on your wrist. You can also tap on each task to get a little more detail or to move that task to the next day.

In an excellent, if small, piece of visual feedback, a circle under Today shows how many tasks you've completed, and continues to fill as you finish more to-dos. Adding an item to your list is also very simple. Just tap the + button and speak to your watch. When that task is created, you can tap on it to add a start date or deadline. 

Reminders

Apple's native Reminders app has really come into its own in the last couple of years and it's now significantly more useful than it was in the past. You can scroll easily through the colored blocks representing your lists, or tap on a specific list to bring up the individual tasks within that list.

The Apple Watch app makes it nice and simple to mark tasks as completed directly from your wrist and it's very easy to add new tasks to your lists too — though we do recommend using dictation rather than the tiny keyboard. For any scheduled Reminders, swipe up from the bottom of your Apple Watch screen on watchOS 10 and you can view the widget easily.

Todoist

Todoist on iPhone is one of the best productivity apps out there, and its Apple Watch counterpart doesn't disappoint. Keeping things very clean and simple, Todoist makes it very easy to mark tasks as completed directly from your wrist, while the main menu screen allows you to see all tasks within your Inbox, upcoming tasks, or tasks for the day in hand.

You can also choose to see a list of tasks by filter so depending on how organized you are with your filters and labels in the main iPhone app, the Apple Watch companion app for Todoist can really help you organize your day. As you might expect, you can also add tasks, and there's a lovely completion ring too.

Streaks

Streaks is the perfect Apple Watch app to download if you're someone who is always saying things like 'I need to drink more water', 'I need to do more exercise' or 'I need to floss more'. It's designed to help you form good habits, tracking up to 24 tasks to complete each day, from walking the dog to brushing your pearly whites — all of which you can tick off straight from your wrist.

The aim is to build a streak of consecutive days and let us tell you, when you've started that streak, you won't want to break it. You can also create negative tasks for breaking those naughty habits and the Streaks Apple Watch app interface is just beautiful with plenty of theme options so it looks good too.

Fantastical

Apple's native Calendar app has improved significantly of late, but Fantastical on Apple Watch offers a clean, simple interface while taking calendaring to the next level. You can create new events or tasks directly from your Apple Watch, giving you more flexibility and reducing the number of times you need to pull your phone out of your pocket, plus the interface is wonderful.

If you use Apple's Reminders app regularly, Fantastical is also great for its built-in Reminders integration. You can view all of your reminder lists, and check off tasks as they're performed, and there's compatibility with Todoist and Google Tasks too.

Petey

AI might be taking the world by storm, but Apple Intelligence is only coming to iPhone, iPad, and Mac. If you want to taste everything AI on Apple Watch, the best way to do it is with Petey. Petey is a ChatGPT companion that lets you type, swipe, or speak requests to ChatGPT directly from your Apple Watch. It costs just $4.99 and can be launched from your Home Screen or a complication. You can also use it with the latest GPT4 model, but there is an extra cost. 

Just Press Record

Record something on the fly without needing to touch your iPhone with Just Press Record. Just open up the app and tap the big red button with the microphone on it to start your recording. You can browse your recent recordings and make new ones and you can even record when you're not connected to your iPhone. When you reconnect, just tap Outbox and send your recordings over to your phone.

Once your recordings are on your iPhone, everything you recorded on your Apple Watch can be synced with iCloud so you can access them on your iPad and Mac as well. It's also possible to use Just Press Record to transcribe once on iPhone and there's support for over 30 languages no matter what language your device is set to.

Forest

Forest is one of our favorite apps for the iPhone and the Apple Watch. But we felt like it deserved a special mention in this list because you really do benefit by having it work on your wrist. Forest is a focus and productivity timer, dividing up your focus sessions into 25-minute chunks – also known as the Pomodoro Technique. 

But Forest isn't like other Pomodoro timers. Because when you're in a session of focused work, you can grow your own virtual plants and trees – as long as you don't get distracted. It might sound like a gimmick, but it's a popular app that's worked well for us in the past. We recommend it if you find it hard to stick to focus timers and like the incentive of growing a virtual garden.

Best health and fitness Apple Watch apps

SmartGym

SmartGym is designed to offer simple tracking of your workouts and progress, whether that's the exercises you choose for each workout, the weight you lift, the routines you follow, or the workouts you have done in the past. 

The Apple Watch version of the SmartGym app is designed to work independently of your iPhone and it enables you to keep track of your heart rate, distance and calories burned, use your session data to count towards closing your rings, and modify exercises from your wrist. There are over 620 pre-installed exercises in the main app, and you can also select workouts based on the equipment you have.

Workout

While there are many third party Apple Watch apps for fitness and exercise available — some of which we have selected in this list – the native Apple Watch Workout app is excellent. It lacks a couple of things, like readiness for working out, but it is very simple to use, offers an extensive range of workout options and the data provided during workouts is easy to read and digestible.

Whether you want to track dance or cycling, the Workout app on Apple Watch has something for everyone, it's free to use, and there are plenty of settings available too, as well as the ability to change goals.

StepsApp Pedometer

Rather than focusing on step count, Apple uses Move and Exercise Rings to present how much you've moved in a day. If you like to aim for that 10,000 steps a day figure though, Apple's native Workout app doesn't really lend itself very well to that. This is where StepsApp Pedometer comes into play.

There's automatic step counting as you would expect, but there are also great charts and animations that bring the data offered to life. You'll also find workouts with Map Tracking, Heart Rate Zones and Insights, alongside day, week and month views so you can see how you're doing when it comes to reaching those step goals.

Strava

Strava is one of the best apps out there for tracking your workouts, helping you get on track to a healthy and active lifestyle. The Strava Apple Watch app is also a fantastic companion to have on-the-go. You can track your runs, cycling rides, swims, and more. 

The Apple Watch app is standalone, so you don't even need to have your iPhone with you to track your activity with it. Information like distance and live pacing is recorded directly on the watch and you'll see it as you go. Saving a workout is done with one button press, and everything will sync with your iPhone and Apple Health once it's close by.

Peloton

The Peloton iPhone app is excellent, packed with plenty of workouts across a range of sectors, and the Apple Watch companion app doesn't disappoint. You'll need to start a workout on the iPhone app, but once started, you can see all your metrics at a glance on your wrist, from calories burned or distance travelled to heart rate and heart rate zones. 

If you have Peloton equipment, like the Bike or Tread, you can use your Apple Watch as a heart rate monitor through the Peloton Apple Watch app too, which means you'll get more accurate stats at the end of a workout. 

MyFitnessPal

MyFitnessPal is a brilliant app for keeping track of your eating habits with a goal of helping you make smarter food choices. Do you need the third cookie? Probably not, even if it does taste exceptional. The MyFitnessPal Apple Watch app gives you a breakdown of how many calories you have consumed for the day, and how many you have left within your allowance, as well as a breakdown of your macros.

It will also take into account exercise for the day when calculating your calories. You do have to manually enter all food in the iPhone app, but the Apple Watch app is great for keeping an eye on your progress — and stopping you having that extra biscuit.

CARROT Fit

CARROT Fit tries to inject personality into your workouts — and by personality, we, of course, mean a hostile robot that yells at you and calls you a "meatbag." It specializes in small workouts with "7 Minutes in Hell" that condenses multiple high-intensity exercises into just seven minutes.

Just tap the big red Start button to begin your seven-minute workout. CARROT Fit will threaten, insult, and, when it's in a nicer mood, try to bribe you to get the results it wants to see. You can customize a bit of what 7 Minutes in Hell throws at you, determine how long each exercise lasts, as well as how long the rest period is. When you've successfully completed a workout, you'll be treated to app upgrades and funny rewards.

Pedometer++

For those more interested in hitting a specific step count over closing their Apple Watch Rings, Pedometer++ is a great app to download. It's simple, but it will allow you to see your step progress each day, whilst also allowing you to keep track of your daily and weekly step counts. 

To find a weekly step count on Apple without a third party app, you have to dig into the Health app and it's not possible to add steps as a complication on a Watch Face either. The Pedometer++ app enables both of these features however, and it will also present walking distance, active calories and heart rate data too, along with some nice looking maps.

Best sleep and wellbeing Apple Watch apps

Athlytic

Athlytic uses all the data your Apple Watch collects on you and turns it into insights that can help you meet your health and fitness goals. Whilst Apple offers plenty of data within its Health app, not all of it is translatable. For example, Apple doesn't offer a feature like Garmin's Body Battery where it will tell you if you should be resting or exercising on a particular day.

Athlytic does though, and its Apple Watch app is not only gorgeous to look at, but there are plenty of features on board from workout options, exercise intensity and heart rate zones, to your readiness to train. 

AutoSleep

Apple Watch can track your sleep without a third party app when you wear it to bed, but the AutoSleep app gives you a different set of metrics, along with some great additional features. On a basic level, it does everything you would expect, such as tracking your sleep duration, heart rate, blood oxygen and respiration rate whilst sleeping. 

On a more advanced level though — and the reasons to download it — AutoSleep recommends a bedtime for the following evening based on your previous night's sleep, it measures the quality and efficiency of your sleep and it offers a Readiness function too, indicating physical and mental stress. There's also a Smart Alarm function to help you wake up in a lighter sleep and it measures the time it takes you to fall asleep too. It's excellent.

Calm

Apple offers its own Mindfulness app, which has a number of great features within it, including the ability to log a mood, but the Calm app has a huge library of guided meditations, breathing exercises and stretching options. There are topics spanning Deep Sleep and Calming Anxiety to Managing Stress and Breaking Habits, which you can sign up to help you on your journey. 

The Calm Apple Watch app itself has a Daily Calm program, Breathing Exercises, Morning and Evening Stretch workouts and you can start a Mindful Walking exercise straight from your wrist too, choosing how long you'd like to walk for. There's also an Emergency Calm option you can start from your Apple Watch too.

Gentler Streak

Gentler Streak is refreshingly different from traditional workout apps, putting your wellbeing ahead of anything else. It's designed to help you find a balance between exercise and rest — because the latter is just as important in case you didn't know. The Gentler Streak Apple Watch app offers personalized suggestions for daily workouts filtered by type, duration and intensity — don't worry rest is also included within this guidance — and you can monitor intensity during a workout with heart rate zones so you know when to pick it up or slow it down. 

If the app tells you to rest then take the advice because it's using your health metrics to determine that, and rest days make up part of your streak so you don't need to worry about losing it just because you took a day on the sofa.

WaterMinder

While not as flashy as other workout-tracking apps, WaterMinder still fulfils an important fitness function: keeping track of your hydration. Getting in a nice long run is great right up until you collapse on the sidewalk because you forgot that humans need water to survive. WaterMinder keeps you on top of that, letting you easily log your water intake with a single button tap on your Apple Watch. 

Using your existing health data, WaterMinder determines how much water you should be drinking on any given day. With each entry in the app, you'll be able to watch your progress towards your goal. The app has pre-filled buttons for six, eight, 14, and 17 ounces per entry, while you can also set a custom smaller or larger amount.

Headspace

The Headspace app is all about helping you stress less, sleep better and ultimately be happier overall. It's designed for everyday use in order to help you make mindfulness a habit and it uses a streak-based reward system to encourage you, as well as a range of meditations and breath work exercises. 

The Apple Watch version of the Headspace app offers easy access to features like Everyday Headspace, meditation basics and short and manageable workouts, such as 10 minutes of walking or running. You'll also find short 3-minute mindful mediation sessions designed to fit into busy schedules, along with SOS sessions for easing stress during moments of anxiety.

Flo Period & Cycles Tracker

The Flo Period & Cycle Tracker is a fully fledged app on iPhone but the Apple Watch companion app is great for a quick glance at what's happening in your cycle. There's of course plenty more data within the iPhone app that you can sift through to get a better understanding, though the Apple Watch version is perfect for adding symptoms and moods, as well as weight and getting a summary of your feelings that day.

It's worth mentioning Flo added Flo for Partners to the main app so you can link up your Flo account with your other half so they can see your cycle and pregnancy updates.

Best travel Apple Watch apps

Citymapper

Citymapper is an excellent app for getting you around cities with public transport, presenting the quickest way to get to your chosen destination, whether that's on a train, bus, tram, car, walking, or a combination. The Citymapper Apple Watch app lets you see the nearest transit lines close to you, wherever you are. You can input a destination and the app will provide you with step-by-step directions on what buses and trains to take. You can save favorite destinations, or add your Home or Work addresses for quick access.

The app will also let you know when your stop is approaching, how often the bus or train comes, and give you an ETA of when you'll get there. It's an absolute must if you're in a large city.

Flighty

If you're someone that travels a lot, or you have a family member that does, you'll want to make sure you've downloaded Flighty. It's an exceptional flight tracker, but there's plenty of other features too, from useful information about your upcoming flight — whether it's on time and what gate you need to head to for example — as well as a view of flights your family and friends are on too.

The Flighty Apple Watch app is compatible with complications on some Apple Watch faces as well so you can get a quick breakdown of the information you need at a glance, such as when baggage has arrived.

App in the Air

The Apple Watch app for App in the Air is another great one for the frequent flyers out there. It tracks your flights so you can see when you need to check-in and board, and it will monitor your travel time and when you'll be landing too. If there are any changes to your flight, the app will notify you so you shouldn't ever go to the wrong gate, or get to the gate top early if it is late. 

It's a useful app to have if you're traveling often, and the subscription - albeit quite pricey - lets you subscribe your family in through SMS, so everyone will be in the loop about when you'll be gone.

iTranslate Converse

It would be great if we were all able to speak multiple languages, but sadly that's not the case for many of us. Not to worry though as iTranslate Converse is a terrific speech translation app that will turn your Apple Watch into a two-way translation device. 

Supporting 38 languages, iTranslate Converse has a super simple interface that lets you speak directly into your Apple Watch's microphone after tapping the big orange button. To translate what you said into the language you have chosen, you simply release the orange button. Whether it's ordering a drink in Spanish or asking for directions in French, this Apple Watch app will have you covered.

Best entertainment Apple Watch apps

Overcast

Overcast lets you control podcast playback on your iPhone from your Apple Watch. You can also go through your collection of available podcast episodes to play something new, with all of your playlists available to peruse. Controls for play/pause, skipping forward and backward, opening your playlists, and recommending an episode are all located on the same screen, but in a way that doesn't feel busy. 

For those who may not have a reliable data connection on the Apple Watch, Overcast allows you to download episodes directly on your watch too, and there are handy features like Voice Boost to make audio sound better and Smart Speed to save time when listening.

Sky Guide

There are plenty of fantastic constellation spotting and stargazing apps available for the iPhone and the Apple Watch, but Sky Guide is one of our favorites. It automatically allows you to identify any star, constellation, planet or satellite that's overhead. 

The iPhone app lets you hold up your smartphone to see maps of constellations overlaid over the night sky. But the Apple Watch version is really handy if you can't get your iPhone out or don't want to because it's dark. It brings you much of the same information, including what you'll see overhead and how long you'll have to wait before spotting a satellite. It's incredibly easy to use and powerful, satisfying stargazers of every level.

Shazam

Ever find yourself bopping along to a great track when you're out and about but you can't think for the life of you who sings it or what it is called? That's where Shazam comes into its own. Apple bought Shazam in 2018 and so it's perhaps unsurprising the Apple Watch app works brilliantly, given it's native and Apple has full control. 

Shazam is lovely and simple, allowing you to just tap your Apple Watch screen to start listening when it's open. Once Shazam has listened and found the song, it will appear on your Apple Watch with artwork and everything and you can start playing it directly from your wrist.

Spotify

Apple Music of course has its own Apple Watch app, which is great, but if you're a Spotify subscriber, then you'll want to get the Spotify app on your watch. The interface is nice and simple, making it easy to navigate with just three screens to move between.

You can swipe to see Albums, Artists or Playlists, while the Home screen shows you popular radio shows, great audiobooks and timely playlists, along with popular artists. There is also a now playing screen that will allow you to select device to play your music on, as well as like a particular track and choose to shuffle or repeat a track.

Best essential Apple Watch apps

CARROT Weather

CARROT Weather is so much more than a weather app. Sure, it will give you a breakdown of current, hourly and daily forecasts as you would expect from a weather app, and that's all lovely and simple to read on Apple Watch. It's what it does with the forecasts that makes this app special though.

You can choose from five personalities for your CARROT Weather robot, from "Professional" to "Overkill", and then just wait and see what brilliance it comes up with. If you use the iPhone app, you can also complete activities and follow clues to track down secret locations. Just trust us, this is a good one. 

Cheatsheet

Can't remember the Wi-Fi password every time you need to give it to a guest? Or what hotel room you're staying in? Or that security code to gain entry to a work building? Sometimes you just need a Cheatsheet for those small details. Cheatsheet is a simple widget type of app where you can make a tiny list of quick notes, and put those on your Apple Watch. 

You can view your notes normally through the Apple Watch app, or have them available at all times through the Apple Watch complication. Each note can be customized with an icon (there are over 200) to make it easy to recognize quickly. Just make sure that you don't use it for highly sensitive information, like account login passwords, since this app has no security.

PCalc

Apple added a Calculator app to the Apple Watch with watchOS 6 in 2019, but we still think PCalc is a better option as it does so much more. On the Apple Watch, PCalc can help you do basic calculations, as you would expect, but it can also do some extras like calculate tips when it comes to paying the check for dinner, or split the bill up evenly, including tip. 

There are plenty of other functions too, like converting units, constants, trig/log, and even functions. It's an all-in-one calculator app on the iPhone and your Apple Watch so you can do many of these calculations directly from your wrist.

Deliveries

If you're a keen online shopper, the Deliveries app is a must. On Apple Watch, Deliveries allows you to see a list of packages that are coming your way very soon. The list includes the number of days until delivery, and you can tap on an item to view it in more detail, such as the status, location, and a map of where it is. 

Unfortunately, you need to use the iPhone app to add new deliveries but you can use your Apple Watch to archive completed ones and the Apple Watch version is great for a quick check of what you have coming up.

Authy

Authy is a brilliant app to have on your Apple Watch if you need to quickly generate a secure 2-step verification code for an account and you don't have your iPhone or iPad close by. The app supports a huge range of multi-factor authentication accounts, from Facebook, Amazon and Gmail to Slack, Outlook and Dropbox and it supports 8-digit tokens too. 

You'll need to add your accounts to Authy in the iPhone app and enable multi-device, but then you can just open the Apple Watch app and get the code for the service you need, making it easy to protect your accounts.

Uptime

Uptime is all about making you that little bit smarter, but only requiring five minutes of your day to do it. Called Hacks, the five-minute summaries cover a diverse range of topics and subjects and they are designed to be easy to understand and quick to digest. 

You can choose to listen to your daily Hack, read it or tap through visual stories. Like many other apps, Uptime uses streaks to help you maintain the habit of opening the app and learning something new for the day, and there's also the option to save your favourite quotes, insights and actions as "Sparks" that you can share later.

Night Sky

For the stargazers out there, Night Sky is a must have app. It works across all Apple devices but the Apple Watch app offers plenty of features despite the smaller screen compared to an iPad, Mac or Apple TV. You can use Night Sky to identify stars, plants, constellations and satellites, and it also uses the built-in compass to give you an idea of what's above you. 

The Apple Watch app for Night Sky also offers guidance on what the stargazing conditions are like and when they might be at their best, as well as detail when satellites are passing by overhead.

Daily Random Facts

There's a classic saying "you learn something new everyday" and the Daily Random Facts app makes sure that's the case. It offers up thousands of facts in a range of categories, comprising human body facts, history dates and facts about sports, but there are some fun ones too, like life hacks and riddles. 

The Apple Watch version of the app keeps it clean and simple but you'll still discover a new fact and you can select from a range of categories too. The Apple Watch version of Daily Random Facts also makes it nice and easy to share facts if you think they are worthy.

LookUp Dictionary

If you've ever felt like you use the same words a little too much and your vocabulary could do with a bit of expansion, then LookUp Dictionary is the perfect Apple Watch app for you. Powered by the Oxford English Dictionary, this Apple Watch app offers a Word of the Day with stunning illustrations to help you visually remember the word. 

You of course get the meaning of the word alongside the word itself and if you come across a word you don't know or haven't heard, there is a search tool as well. The LookUp Dictionary Apple Watch app also has a daily quiz, adding a little more fun to the learning process.

1Password

Already a great password manager, 1Password offers an equally superb companion for its watch app on the Apple Watch. While not a full-featured password manager on your wrist, 1Password for Apple Watch shows you the one-time login key for accounts that use two-factor authentication. 

If you do a lot of work with those types of accounts, 1Password is definitely an app you need to check out. The interface is great too, and everything is end-to-end encrypted.

MoneyCoach Budget

If you're not brilliant at keeping your money in check, budget apps can be very helpful for making you more aware about what you're spending and where you're spending it. You might still buy the extra coffee on your morning commute, but if you have to add it into your budget app, you also might think twice. 

MoneyCoach Budget has a great Apple Watch app that makes tracking money nice and simple. It allows you to see your daily limit, how much you have left to spend on certain items like groceries, and you can enter a new purchase directly from your wrist too.

Best social media Apple Watch apps

Lens

Instagram used to have an Apple Watch app but support was removed in 2018, which means the best way to view your Instagram feed on your Apple Watch is the Lens for Watch app. You can do pretty much everything you can do on the Instagram app, from viewing your feed and the explore tab to your seeing your activity, direct messages and stories. 

You can't upload new posts from Lens for Watch of course, but you can like posts, view comments, reply to comments, reply to direct messages and search for new users so there is plenty to keep you occupied.

Nano

If you're a regular Reddit user then you'll want to make sure you have downloaded Nano on your Apple Watch. The Nano app brings the Reddit experience to your tiny Apple Watch screen, allowing you to browse Reddit, check your inbox, vote on posts and read the latest news. 

There's also inline Twitter support and GIF support, as well as an article reader so there's plenty on offer here. You can even post a comment from your wrist if you feel you just can't wait until you have your iPhone handy to say what you need to say, and you can check out your profile too.

WatchChat 2

There are a couple of glaring omissions from the Apple Watch apps offering and WhatsApp is one of those. While you get notifications on your wrist, and you can reply to them when they appear, the only way to see your WhatsApp chats like you can Messages, is through a third party app like WatchChat 2. 

With WatchChat 2, you can't see all your chats unless you sign up to a subscription but your recent ones will be visible in the Apple Watch app and you can open them up and reply directly from your wrist. It's also possible to add a status to your WhatsApp and change settings like font size.

WristWeb

Meta doesn't offer official Apple Watch apps for any of its services, including Facebook. Don't worry though, WristWeb is available for Apple Watch so you can see your Facebook feed on your wrist. You can see your posts, with images, see your notifications and see comments and add comments. 

It's also possible to compose a new post, which you can do using the keyboard on your Apple Watch, Emojis, Scribble or Dictation. You'll need to link your Facebook account through the website but after that, you'll be able to scroll through your feed on your wrist as much as you like when you have a connection.

Best Apple Watch gaming apps

Snake.io

If you remember Snake on Nokia phones back in the day, you'll very much appreciate the Snake.io Apple Watch app. It's a very simple game — much like Snake used to be on phones — but it's highly addictive and great fun to play, even on the smaller screen. 

You can tap your Apple Watch screen to move your snake around but it moves much more fluidly with the Digital Crown to give you a better chance of a high score. Around 20 seconds into each game, a few extra snakes will appear so watch out for those as you'll need to avoid them and the edges so you don't die.

Invaders Mini

If Space Invaders was a favourite arcade game of yours then you'll want to make sure you have Invaders Mini downloaded on your Apple Watch. It uses the full screen of the Apple Watch Series 7 and newer and you can choose whether you swipe left and right to move or you use the Digital Crown. 

As you progress, the aliens get faster and deadlier so you'll need to make sure you tap your watch screen as quickly as you can. One of the best things about this game though is the sound effects and vibration, both of which really add to the experience.

Galaxia Watch Game

Galaxia: Watch Game is another take on arcade game Space Invaders and it is done brilliantly for Apple Watch. Its reminiscent of Namco's Galaxian, as its name implies — you will first need to defeat the aliens on the moon, after which you'll be taking on those in space. All Apple Watch models from the Series 7 are supported and you can swipe or use the Digital Crown to move around.

Just remember some aliens need extra hits to be destroyed, while the spaceship can take two extra hits and it will also be temporarily invisible when you first hit it so watch out for that. Galaxia: Watch Game is bound to make you feel nostalgic though.

Arcadia

The Arcadia app has a collection of 22 retro 8-bit games that you can play across a range of Apple devices, including Apple Watch. Within the list of games, you'll find Tap a Mole, Bounce, BrickOut and MineHound. There's even RainBowling, where you have to hit all the pins like traditional bowling whilst avoiding the unexpected obstacles, while Indiana GP lets you race from your wrist. 

Our favourite is probably Fruity Snake as it's nice and simple to play but put it this way, if you like the sound of retro arcade games on a small screen, there is plenty in this app to keep you occupied.

How we've picked the best Apple Watch apps

The Apple Watch is a powerful wearable device, packed with sensors and boasting all sorts of features that make it way more than a smartwatch but more a digital companion on your wrist. Although there are some fantastic native apps pre-installed on the best Apple Watch models, there are also lots of third-party apps you'll want to try.

The ones we've included in our best Apple Watch apps guide above are the apps that take advantage of everything the Apple Watch has to offer. They then use it to deliver a great experience and bring you plenty of2 bonus features. You might not download them all — 50 is a lot — but you should definitely consider some because they'll make your Apple Watch even more useful.

Apple's AirPods Pro 2 are widely considered to be some of the best noise-canceling wireless earbuds in the game. They've got a fantastic neutral sound profile, excellent connectivity to Apple products, and smashing battery life. They'd be considered an excellent deal at their usual price of around $240, but a recent new deal at Walmart has seen their price slashed to just $169 at Walmart, as long as you don't mind using the Lightning version. 

I use my AirPods Pro 2 every single day for hours at a time and absolutely love them. While this deal might not get you the saving on the new USB-C version of the AirPods Pro, the Lightning version also charge wirelessly, so there's no reason not to buy them even if you don't have Lightning cables lying around at home. 

AirPods Pro 2's cheapest-ever price

• Airpods 2nd Generation $129 $79 at Amazon
• Airpods 3rd Generation $169 $159 at Amazon
• AirPods Pro 2 (Lightning) $249 $189 at Amazon
• AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C) $229 at Amazon
• AirPods Max $549 $449 at Amazon

AirPods deals: Amazon | B&H Photo | Best Buy | Walmart

As noted, these are the cheapest AirPods Pro you can buy right now, but they aren't the newest. If you want the latest and greatest AirPods Pro with USB-C, you actually can buy those at a pretty hefty discount over Black Friday, despite the fact they only came out a few weeks ago. 

Apple’s Halloween-themed ‘Scary Fast’ event was a little dry for my tastes, but that could just be me wanting iPad news at every opportunity.

Still, it was a bold move to announce not one, not two, but three new chips in one go. The M3, M3 Pro, and M3 Max chips, the third generation of Apple silicon is now in full swing, and much more quickly compared to the M1 or M2 generation.

While the first Apple silicon chip felt like a revolution in 2020, the competition is starting to catch up. In the years since the M2 offered a necessary next step, but not a particularly exciting one, which is why I’m writing this on an M1 Pro MacBook Pro and not an M2 model.

In that spirit of incremental updates, though, Apple feels like it’s shifting gears a little. Most iPhone owners don’t necessarily upgrade every year or even two years, but that third year feels like a quantum leap for cameras and performance. 

Apple seems to have realized this, and it’s making a big play this time for anyone still using an Intel Mac.

Taken to the back shed

Intel provided the engine of Apple’s Mac lineup for years, ever since the announcement in 2005, followed by the appearance of the Intel iMac in 2006. Yet as soon as the first Apple silicon Mac arrived in late 2020, it started to fall by the wayside, being found in fewer and fewer machines as Apple began converting each of its Macs to M-series chips.

The transition was completed in June this year with the Mac Pro, but with Macs being seen as a longer-term investment than the supercomputer you keep in your pocket, it appears the company is making a play for the holdouts.

Throughout the 'Scary Fast' event, the company mentioned Intel machines multiple times, pointing to the transformative power of Apple silicon versus the “scorned ex” from yesteryear.

In some ways, it’s nothing new - Apple has always rolled out benchmarks to accompany new product reveals, and it did compare many of these for the M3 lineup to their predecessors in the M1 and M2 families.

However, Intel was mentioned so regularly, both in terms of the presenters’ scripts and the accompanying press release, that it feels a little different this time.

Window of Opportunity

As much as I enjoy picking up the latest shiny tech (and as much as I was very excited by the Space Black MacBook Pro), I’m not suggesting MacBooks should be upgraded every year as some may do an iPhone or even an Apple Watch.

Three years is certainly a sweet spot to upgrade though, especially when you look at other Apple products. An Apple Watch Series 9 has a bigger, brighter display, compared to the Series 6, and can run Siri locally, on the Watch. iPhone 12 was great, but now there’s a whole new size with the iPhone 15 Plus.

Apple seems to be looking at its Mac users more, and in turn, working even more obviously to evangelize the Apple silicon revolution. Just look at how many influencer quotes and article headlines the company adds to its product reveals. YouTuber MKBHD was mentioned back at the iPhone 15 event for instance.

It’s obvious, and yet, feels like a smart strategy because Mac users aren’t going into stores to test out new hardware. Until you use an Apple Silicon Mac, it almost feels too good to be true, just a mess of numbers and percentages.

Once you go hands-on with one though, you experience the speed, the compatibility, and the minimal battery drain. It clicks and suddenly you're planning an upgrade. While the iPhone X felt alien and extraordinary all at once just a few years ago for the tech-savvy among us, due to Face ID and the brand-new design, it was likely years before many upgraded to an all-display, gesture-based iPhone because of being beholden to a years-long phone contract.

If you bought a MacBook in 2019, would the M1 have enticed you just a year later? What about the M2 in June 2022? It’s unlikely, but now we’re in that third generation, that year 3-4 “sweet spot”, it feels about right.

And honestly, if you’re about to shift your Intel Mac for an M3, M3 Pro, or, heaven forbid, an M3 Max model, you’re about to seriously adjust your expectations for computing… and likely just in time for M4.

iPhones are luxury products. To think the device I hold in my hands every day, walk to the shops with, and use to talk to my little brother as he absent-mindedly plays Fortnite is $1,199 can feel rather astounding sometimes.

After being unlucky enough to mess up two different pre-orders, but lucky enough to afford a nice phone contract that I pay off monthly, I’ve gotten quite a lot of joy out of my first month with the device. 

There are the obvious noticeable upgrades from my old iPhone 12. From the faster chip and bigger screen, but my first few weeks were spent getting used to the sheer volume of differences it makes to everything I do on it.

As someone who probably spends too much time looking at a screen, it makes it very easy to skip out on responsibilities and curl up playing some tycoon game I delete in a day.

The upgrades present in the iPhone 15 Pro Max have managed to worm their way into every facet of my digital life and that’s not just me justifying to my partner why I need to spend over $1000 over two years on a device that makes everyday life marginally better. Though it helps.  

Refreshing

My new iPhone 15 Pro Max looks incredibly crisp thanks to a fantastic display capable of running at 120Hz thanks to its ProMotion feature. 

There are, of course, other phones out there with better displays in a technical sense, running at higher Hz and with more brightness. But the iPhone Pro line, with its Super Retina XDR OLED display, allows all those colors to shine and combines with impressive software to get the most out of it.

The iPhone 12 still looks pretty good as the screen is bright and vibrant but it’s blown away by the screen size and depth of color present in my iPhone 15 Pro Max. 

But this does enunciate how far behind the market the standard iPhone 15 feels with a 60Hz screen  — something that’s matched by my iPhone 12. Once you have moved up to a Pro iPhone, it will feel like a major downgrade going to the standard line even if its chip is better. Hopefully, the iPhone 16 will buck this trend by giving the base models a 120Hz display as well. 

Into the action

I initially saw the Action Button as a bit of a gimmick but muscle memory has kicked in and I get real use out of it now. To put it simply, the Action Button replaces the mute switch and can now be programmed to activate Shazam, the flashlight, and many more with a single click. Though it is iconic in its own way, I almost never used the mute button on my iPhone 12. I have always been far more likely to enable silent mode in the Control Center due to how easy it is to do so being able to program something new there has given me a reason to test it out. 

As I write music and articles, I find myself constantly thinking of ideas that are good to take down for later. For this reason, my favorite use of the Action Button so far is for Voice Memos. If I have my guitar on me, I don’t need to hold the phone up to unlock, then go through my apps, and click on the right one. I can simply hold the button down and start playing. 

Better Storage

Outside of the device aging and my phone contract ending, the puny 64GB of storage present in my iPhone 12 constantly got in my way while I was using it. As part of the smart storage functions, apps would regularly delete themselves while I slept and this became a bit of a frustration near the end of its life.

Practically any modern mobile game takes a sizable chunk of that storage up and even just using it to take pictures will fill it up pretty quickly. With the iPhone 12, it took just a year for me to feel like I had to upgrade my cloud storage plan which isn’t much for a modern phone. 

The iPhone 15 Pro Max comes with 256GB of storage in the base model, which explains the price increase, and this is sizable enough to contain the entirety of my iPhone 12 with enough room for all those games I couldn’t download until now. It doesn’t help that games like Resident Evil Village, Assassin’s Creed Mirage, and Death Stranding will all need significantly more space than your average mobile game.

Gaming and the future

What makes the iPhone 15 Pro Max so exciting to me is what that A17 Pro chip means for the future of the phone. I’ve always loved games but have never quite gravitated toward mobile gaming, partially because many of the games don’t quite compare to a console or PC experience.

There are some great experiences on there but they don’t happen every month like one might find in a more traditional gaming package. With Resident Evil Village on the way on October 30th, it plans on finally delivering a console-like experience on the go. Up until now, the only game that came close was Genshin Impact, which looks fantastic but is a little less demanding. 

I hope this succeeds, not only because I love Resident Evil but because I want more traditional game developers to see the potential of mobile gaming. The A17 Pro chip present in the iPhone 15 Pro phones is capable of running ray tracing on-device, without the need for a cloud service — an incredibly impressive feat.

With my iPhone 12, I have a phone that, whilst still quite powerful, constantly shows its age. With the iPhone 15 Pro Max, I have a phone that will only get better over the next few years. 

Macs haven’t had the greatest reputation among gamers in the last few years. From stories of Whoopi Goldberg being annoyed about her inability to play Diablo 4 on Apple devices to Baldur’s Gate 3 taking months to launch on Mac, it feels like they're regularly behind the curve on trending games. 

Fortunately, one of the things that excited me most about this year’s Apple Event is the impressive A17 Pro chip in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. This doesn’t just signify it is an impressive phone (it is) but it also shows a commitment to gaming that Apple hasn’t had for a long time. Though it may take a little while for them to figure things out, this makes future M3 Macs a very interesting potential upgrade from my gracefully aging M1 MacBook from 2020. 

It’s not just a mirage

First, let’s talk about what that A17 Pro really looks like. Promising on-device ray tracing and improved gaming performance, it is capable of running games not seen on a mobile device like Resident Evil 4 Remake, Resident Evil Village, and Death Stranding: Directors Cut. What is perhaps most impressive is the introduction of Assassin’s Creed Mirage, a game that is still in development. 

This means that the iPhone isn’t just running older titles on-device, it is capable of being developed alongside games, as opposed to being ported after the fact. This signifies a shift in priority for game developers. Resident Evil Village takes directly from last-generation console textures, meaning that developers don’t need to build the iPhone 15 Pro Max version of the game from the ground up. 

It will need to be tweaked and changed but it isn’t the same as getting something to run on a device like the Nintendo Switch. Unfortunately, due to its very limited hardware, controversies like the Mortal Kombat 1 Nintendo Switch port show what happens when games aren’t finetuned for that device.

We haven’t yet seen an iPhone 15 Pro Max port that doesn’t have a PS4 or Xbox One counterpart yet so we haven’t seen the hardware pushed to its limits but the next year of iPhone gaming is sure to be quite an interesting one. 

The ecosystem

Perhaps one of the greatest selling points of Apple is just how alluring its ecosystem is. Once you’ve bought one device, the calling of that next little gadget is very attractive. Then, suddenly, you have an iPhone, a MacBook, and an Apple Watch. This ecosystem means that Apple is incentivized to share its iPhone gaming vision with the Mac. 

The likelihood of ports from iPhone to Mac and vice versa has become much more likely, especially after the adaptation of the Mac’s silicon chip in 2020. As Macs are closer to mobile architecture than ever before, they share many of the same apps and use them in similar ways. This connectivity will make game ports a little easier — though they will still require a lot of finetuning. 

It is also worth noting deals that Apple may have with publishers. Assassin’s Creed Mirage and The Division Resurgence are big Ubisoft titles coming to the iPhone 15 Pro Max and both Resident Evil games are made by Capcom. This implies some relationship with these big publishers and these connections could bear releases on Mac. Resident Evil 4 will launch simultaneously on both Mac and iPhone which is a bit step in unifying the two. This is before mentioning how much Mac has developed over the last few years. 

Hardware upgrades 

The change to Apple-made silicon chips in 2020 has meant better performance across the board due to both better hardware and improved software handshakes between internals. Now, all the parts of a MacBook are designed with precision to work with each other. 

The current M2 chip is based on 5nm technology which is impressive but the A17 Pro moving to 3nm technology means Apple can ram more transistors into the same space, allowing for better performance. While the chips are getting smaller, they are also getting more powerful. It seems likely the M3 chip will opt for a smaller chip than before, as a result. 

At the moment, what makes MacBooks so special is how they manage to balance that power with a near-silent build, thanks to some very clever processes and efficient design. Learning from the iPhone, they can push even greater gaming performance out of their Mac and MacBook lineup. 

Software upgrades

The hardware isn’t the only thing that will enhance gaming on Apple devices. macOS Sonoma has just launched and this comes with a dedicated game mode, capable of optimizing the GPU and CPU to get a better performance. It slows down unnecessary tasks and provides lower-latency audio and controls. It works with any game currently available on Mac. 

As well as this, Apple has introduced a Metal porting toolkit that is designed to help developers more easily port their games to Mac. It tests games on its hardware and gives results and recommendations for the porting process. Ultimately, some developers would have previously stayed away from Mac due to less strong hardware and a smaller install base than Windows. Hopefully, removing some of those barriers to entry will enable games to flourish on the device. 

Though I’m very excited to get gaming on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it is easy to understate how important gaming seems to be in Apple’s vision for the ecosystem as a whole. MacBooks are becoming much better gaming devices and the commitment on two fronts is sure to improve iPhones and Macs over the coming year. As gaming on these devices flourishes, so too will the developers responsible for those games. Even for non-Mac users, the prospect of more gaming support on the platform says very good things about gaming as a whole. 

My iPhone 12 contract has just ended and my hype for the iPhone 15 Pro Max has been increasing every single day. Unfortunately, two separate big mistakes have cost me a day-one preorder and I may not finally get my hands on it for a few months. At least it will make for a nice Christmas present. 

I am currently living in the UK but I only moved here last year and doing so has required getting used to lots of small differences. Somehow, both of my major mistakes are related to this move. 

The first mistake

Ready half an hour before the preorder window, I had my credit card out and decided to go with a carrier this time. This is partially due to my phone contract ending and partially related to not being able to afford to pay for the $1,199 phone outright. I applied and managed to get it in a mere ten minutes. After gloating to my colleagues at iMore, I left work on Friday content that it would arrive on my doorstep on September 22nd. 

Fueled by nothing but anxiety in the back of my brain, I checked in on my order on Monday morning, only to find it missing. My Irish contact number was flagged and, instead of reaching out to correct this problem, the carrier had canceled my entire order. This was something I found out after a lengthy conversation with the carrier’s support worker. With the carrier (I won’t name them, but it rhymes with “sodaprone”) taking my upfront payment and promising to refund it in up to two weeks, my plans of getting an iPhone 15 on its release were gone, even if I reordered right away from the same place. The phone has exploded in popularity so I would be effectively put in the back of the line. 

The second mistake

Due to this inconvenience, I decided to try a different carrier and managed to get a good deal. I picked out my Titanium Black iPhone 15 Pro Max, successfully went through the credit check, and was about to hit pay. This was until I remembered a conversation I had with my partner. Was Natural Titanium actually the best color? Maybe it would work better with some of the best iPhone 15 Pro Max cases?

I edited my order and picked the Natural Titanium, even if it meant getting it a little later. This was until I was hit with a declined credit application. Order canceled. 

Despite getting it just a moment ago, I wasn’t allowed to buy the contract anymore, because I’d made a fatal mistake that anyone could have made. Being young and never really needing to research credit, a lengthy lunchtime phone call revealed that checking your credit too much can actually lead to an application getting rejected, even if your credit is okay. In fairness, this is something I probably should have learned before now, two iMore colleagues who worked at Apple confirmed to me straight away that this is what had likely happened.

The silver (Titanium) lining

Frantically trying different carriers, I went back to my first choice and was somehow accepted for an order. However, things are still up in the air even now. One support worker informed me my order was canceled, only for an order confirmation to be sent to my email. Two hours later, I contacted support again who informed me my order was successful. Now, I sit constantly refreshing my order waiting for some update either way. Though I will probably get one, it seems likely to arrive at any point over the next two months. Hopefully, my fear of missing out will dissipate a little after this Friday. 

Looking for a free iPhone app? You've come to the right place. As of July 2024, there are almost 1.9 million free apps currently available in the App Store, so you've got plenty to choose from!

However, some apps may be free but require a paid subscription in order to use all of their features, which can be confusing. These are called 'freemium' apps.

Although we have a guide showcasing the 101 best iPhone apps, we wanted to have another one that only highlights the best free iPhone apps. This way, you can try them out right now without having to wonder if some are 'freemium' and see if they're worth keeping on your iPhone's home screen.

With this in mind, we've collated a bunch of free apps for the best iPhones currently available that you can download right now without using your credit card.

Best free apps for iPhone: Entertainment and News

Spotify

Many music apps for iPhone compete for your ears, but there are very few that have been as popular and consistent as Spotify. You get one of the most extensive music catalogs out there and the convenience of having your music, podcasts, and audiobooks in a single app. The app does have Premium tiers, of course, but it has one of the best music experiences you can get on a music app without having to spend a penny in its free tier. The ad-supported free music experience is great — you get all the essential features and access to over 80 million songs and podcasts. For those who listen to the radio, Spotify’s advertisements are no more intrusive than those you’d get listening to your favorite stations.

• Download now

YouTube

YouTube needs no introduction. One of the world’s biggest video content libraries has a pretty great iPhone app that is free to use. You get to watch nearly every video on YouTube with the app, minus the Premium exclusives such as no ads and picture-in-picture support. YouTube reserves some features for its Premium tier, but the free ad-supported tier has a pretty solid experience on the iPhone. You can also use the iOS app to cast videos from your iPhone to other devices, even if they don’t support AirPlay. The ad count has gone up lately, but the overall experience is strong if you don’t want to shell out cash for a subscription.

• Download now

Shazam

 Shazam is a pioneer in the music industry, having popularized the concept of music recognition using your phone’s microphone, as well as being able to cross-check with a huge database of songs from across the globe. It remains one of the best iPhone apps today. Though Apple acquired Shazam and integrated its music recognition into iOS, you still need the Shazam app for the full experience. The app will let you keep track of your music recognition history and play a snippet of the songs found. You’ll need an Apple Music subscription in order to play the full songs — though nothing is stopping you from just hitting play on an identified track in the streaming service of your choice elsewhere. If you like the song you Shazam-ed, you can even see where the artist will be playing next, using the app’s concerts feature.

• Download now

Duolingo

Duolingo is a language-learning app that has been around for a while and offers an astounding amount of features for a free app. You can learn 43 different languages, with courses catered for all kinds of learners. The hook of this app is the streaks feature, which is known to work to help users maintain consistency in learning languages and has become a popular meme. The app will bug you to return to it so you can keep up with your lessons. Additionally, you can also add your friends and compete with them to stay higher on the leaderboard.

• Download now

Letterboxd

We all watch a bunch of movies, but what if you had an all-in-one app to decide what to watch, as well as to track your watch history? Letterboxd is a very capable free app that will let you do exactly that. It’ll show you a trending tab with new films that are currently popular and a section with popular reviews — arguably the best part of the app. It also gets recommendations right with a bunch of user-generated lists that you can rely on. Letterboxd will also let you watch trailers, read up on related news and cast lists, and more.

• Download now

Goodreads

Goodreads has been helping folks maintain a reading habit for years, and it's currently the best iPhone app you can use for that purpose. It will let you keep track of the progress on books you’re currently reading and let you make lists of books you’ve read and books you want to read. The app will also give you the option to take reading challenges, as well as recaps of your progress. If you want suggestions on what to read, the Discover feature has you covered.

• Download now

Best free apps for iPhone: Social and Utility

Google Maps

While the iPhone comes with Apple Maps preloaded, Google Maps is seen as the better option for many users. Google Maps doesn’t have nearly as many ads as some other free apps from Google do, and it functions well, especially with CarPlay support. You get turn-by-turn navigation, traffic updates, road closures, and alternative routes. Google Maps also has a community feature integrated, wherein you can leave reviews for places you visit and also check operating times. Since Apple started allowing users to change default Maps apps, Google Maps has been a pretty great Apple Maps alternative for iPhone users.

• Download now

Telegram

Telegram is one of the best free apps you can get. It's got a clean user interface and great customizability, especially for an iOS app. The chat sync is pretty much a non-issue, unlike WhatsApp. If you're looking for the best messaging app for iPhone that's not iMessage, Telegram is the best pick to talk to your iPhone and Android phone friends at once. You can also use it on multiple devices, including the web, without having to jump through hoops.

• Download now

NordPass

Password management has come to be a chore, but thankfully there are a few great apps that can take care of that for you, and NordPass is the best one of the lot. Apple does have iCloud Keychain built in for password management on the iPhone and other Apple devices, but the biggest issue is that it's not cross-platform. That's a problem NordPass solves, and the free tier gives enough features to keep using it without feeling like you absolutely need the paid version. It will even let you store your credit cards securely.

• Download now

Calcbot 2

Calcbot has been our favorite calculator app for the iPhone for a long time now, and Calcbot 2 is an improvement over it. While Apple’s in-built calculator app does the basics, it’s not quite as feature-rich as everyone would like it to be. One of the best features of Calcbot 2 is the history tape, which records all your calculations for you to refer back to whenever needed. You also get an expression view to see all your typed inputs so you can avoid making repetitions while calculating. You also get an Apple Watch app in case you want to use the app on the go.

• Download now

Pinterest

Pinterest is a bit of a unique app. The service has been around forever as a social media platform that has a greater focus on the visual content instead of the social aspects of it. It is particularly popular among folks who like to brainstorm ideas for just about anything, be it craft decor-related or a larger project that requires a lot of ideation. The app will let you create boards for different purposes and pin a bunch of ideas as and when you spot them. Think of it as a social media network focused on inspiration, right on your iPhone.

• Download now

Gamma

Since Apple changed a rule in April to allow retro-gaming emulators on the App Store, a few of them have been made available, transforming how some users play games on their iPhones. Gamma, a Sony PlayStation emulator, is a great example of this.

Available for free with an optional $4.99 fee to remove ads, Gamma is a powerful app that has seen many updates since its release in May. The app features cover art support, cheats, save states so you can resume your progress at any time, multiplayer support, and much more.

iMore spoke to Gamma's developer, Zodttd, in July about his history in developing the app and his plans for future updates. It's safe to say that Gamma will be available for iPhones and iPads in the foreseeable future — and for free.

• Download now

Grammarly

Grammarly has been a staple for years for anybody who types a lot. Offering grammar and spelling correction, Grammarly has been a popular tool, especially as a browser extension. Grammarly for iOS arrives in the form of a keyboard that replaces your default keyboard and actively checks for grammar and spelling issues. While a Premium subscription will get you a bunch of additional features like help with phrasing and AI assistance, the free version is plenty good with basic spelling and grammar issues. It’s a particularly great app if you type a lot and want to avoid typos.

• Download now

Google Photos

Google’s suite of apps is actually surprisingly great on the iPhone and particularly useful if you’re not fully immersed in the Apple ecosystem. Google Photos is a solid alternative to the default Photos app + iCloud backup combination on the iPhone. You can have a centralized photo backup and sync across your devices, and there are options to backup the original quality, as well as a lower quality that saves file size. The app is free by default and relies on the 15GB free storage that comes with a Google account, although you can buy more storage if you need it. 

• Download now

Best free apps for iPhone: Health and Fitness

Flo Period & Pregnancy Tracker

There are a lot of period and pregnancy tracking apps out there, but Flo is one of the best ones around. It has a solid track record with 300M installs so far, and it has been created with inputs from over 100 experts in the field. The free version itself is very feature-rich, offering you options to track your menstrual cycle, track ovulation, and stay on top of a possible pregnancy. It's also one of the best apps to track your fertility. It’s not just a period tracker, either, and you can use it as an assistant throughout your pregnancy as well, letting you track your baby’s growth weekly.

• Download now

Moodflow

Wellness is key to surviving in today’s stressful world. It may not be easy for everyone to reduce screen time, but Moodflow will let you use the screen to track your moods better and work towards your goal of self-improvement. Moodflow is an all-in-one mental health app that has a mood tracker as its central function. You can also see your year in pixels, use the diary and journal to note down your thoughts, as well as set habits and routines. It also offers photo album integration and sleep tracking. If you want a one-stop solution to tracking your mental health progress, this is it.

• Download now

Nike Run Club

Nike has an age-old partnership with Apple, going all the way back to the Nike+iPod launched in 2006. Nike Run Club is the modern-day fruit of that partnership, now equipped to work with the iPhone and the Apple Watch. As the name suggests, Nike Run Club is an app designed to help you track your workouts, and maintain consistency with your running to the point of running a marathon. You get challenges that will let you run towards your goal. It has different approaches for different kinds of runners, and the Apple Watch integration is amazing for the tracking features.

• Download now

Journey

If you want a dedicated journaling app, Journey is as good as it gets, and it mimics a real physical journal rather well. It’s not just an app to write down your thoughts but has a full-fledged media experience to add images and videos to your Journal, see it organized in a calendar for quick access, and personalize each entry as you like it. There are also mood-tracking features and a memories feature for throwbacks, making it one of the best journaling apps for iPhone.

• Download now

Oak – Meditation & Breathing

Meditation is a very popular technique to integrate into your wellness routine, but it requires discipline. That discipline may not be easy to form for everybody, and that’s exactly where Oak comes in. Oak is a very well-designed meditation and breathing app that gives you guided meditations with instructors. You can pick a session that suits your needs and even go for unguided meditations if you prefer that. The iOS app has been designed to evoke a sense of calmness. The breathing and sleep exercises are excellent to calm yourself down and help maintain that calm for sustained periods.

• Download now

CBT Self-Care Journal

Mental health progress can be difficult, but cognitive behavioral therapy is something that has been known to help people form healthier habits. CBT Self-Care Journal focuses on helping you with your progress with CBT in the form of mood-tracking and journaling. It packs in all the CBT exercises you need, including relaxation exercises, meditations, positive psychology exercises, and mood tracking. The journaling aspect is central here to ensure you can note your feelings and track them as you progress with your exercises. The app aims to help you make progress towards having more positive thoughts, and it does it well.

• Download now

Best free apps for iPhone: Miscellaneous

Tasty: Recipes, Cooking Videos

Recipes aren’t hard to find, but Tasty is an app with detailed recipes and features that will help you cook the right portion sizes, cooking times, and instructions. The app boasts over 10,000 recipes and collections. There’s also an integration that will let you directly shop for groceries needed for a recipe through Walmart. There’s a bit of a social aspect to this app, too. If you love sharing your cooking and giving or taking general cooking advice, you can do exactly that. There’s also an AI assistant feature to help you sift through the 10,000 recipes to find the best one for your current needs.

• Download now

Google Opinion Rewards

Google Opinion Rewards is a fun app if you want to earn some cash to spend on Google’s services. It will serve you surveys based on your usage of Google services, and once you answer the survey, you get a reward in the form of Google Play Balance. While it seems like a chore, the surveys are often simple and will let you pay for a bunch of things, including YouTube Premium, Google Drive, and Photos storage, or even renting or buying movies from Google’s massive library — making it useful even if you’re an iPhone user. If you already use Google services, this is one of those apps that won’t hurt to have.

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Photomath

Photomath is a very cool math-learning app. It lets you scan mathematical functions with your camera and solve them instantly with step-by-step instructions and logic. It’s a nifty way to get the solution to your mathematical problems while learning how to solve them in detail. The solutions are vetted by Photomath’s team of math teachers, so you can be sure that you’re learning the right way to solve. It covers several areas of mathematics, including the tricky calculus. The free version can get you the basic solutions, but if you want to go for advanced techniques and more help, there’s a premium subscription available.

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The Apple leather watch bands are about to go extinct and it looks like we’ll have a new eco-friendly material instead.

As has been spotted on Twitter, we are due to receive an update to the Apple Watch with a new material Apple is calling “FineWoven.”. This is linked to a previous story about Apple discontinuing leather watch bands. In an effort to make the brand more sustainable and have a more unified look to watches, we are likely to see many band types using the FineWoven material in place of leather. 

Unfortunately, our first look makes the material seem a little dull and it will need an excitingband and color to take advantage of its unique texture. Here are three Apple Watch bands from the smartwatch’s history that we think would look great with a FineWoven makeover. 

Alpine Loop

The Alpine Loop’s ridged design fits with what we’ve seen of the FineWoven band and the buckle is so unique that it would be a shame to lose it. Coming with a clip, rather than a button, you can tighten it a little without having to take the entire band off. 

The Alpine Loop currently combines materials to create a rugged effect and the FineWoven Alpine loop could do the same, interweaving different textures to get a much stronger feel. The Alpine Loop is designed for the Apple Watch Ultra but with the Apple Watch Ultra 2 on the way, it makes perfect sense to implement the FineWoven Alpine Loop too. In the images leaked by Kosutami, they show off a FineWoven Loop with an Ultra Watch so it seems possible we could get a more dedicated rugged FineWoven feel for future Ultra 2 accessories.

Braided Solo Loop

Apart from looking great, the Braided Solo Loop thrives in just how breathable it is. They entirely remove the clasp mechanism of other bands which is quite freeing in a way but it also means the band has to be very flexible. As we haven’t managed to get our hands on the FineWoven material just yet, we don’t know what kind of flexibility to expect. 

If a braided style finish can be met with these materials, the quite washed-out color palettes in the original imagery could work well. 

Modern Buckle

As the FineWoven line seems set to replace the leather bands, it’s important to not miss some of the best leather bands’ features.. The Modern Buckle is a leather watch with a very different type of clasp. Opting for a buckle mechanism, it has a metal frame that holds your watch in place when you put it through the holes on the side. Similar to that of a belt buckle, it’s a much more classic look for a watch, that looks particularly classy with the leather line. 

With FineWoven material, Apple could implement the same basic buckle and go for a very dark brown color - complimenting the style. You don’t need leather to get that look and I think a FineWoven Modern Buckle band could prove this. 

Ultimately, the FineWoven material is a way of replacing leather and becoming a bit more sustainable but this doesn’t have to be where it ends. The FineWoven line could, and likely will, look great in the future, especially if Apple adapts a little bit of what makes the Apple Watch look so good right now. 

The pictures we have seen showcase a pretty ordinary strap likely intended to be the default leather band for many. This swap doesn’t suggest we won’t be able to get stranger and more expensive designs, especially given the leather-like color we have seen so far. 

We're covering all the Apple iPhone 15 event announcements live as they happen. Don't miss all our iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Pro, iPhone 15 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 9, Apple Watch Ultra 2, iOS 17and watchOS 10 coverage so far.

After all the rumors and guessing, Apple has now officially taken the wraps off the Apple Watch Series 10. Apple might not have given is the Series X that we hoped for, but the new model is definitely worthy of celebrating a full decade of Apple Watches.

The new model comes with a bigger and brighter display, faster chip, and more, all while sticking to the same $399 starting price that we're familiar with. On the software side,  watchOS 11, unveiled at WWDC 2024 in June, will add new features galore. There's a lot to like about the new Apple Watch, especially if you're currently wearing an older model.

Here's all we know about the Apple Watch Series 10. 

Apple Watch Series 10: Release Date

Alongside the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, the Apple Watch Series 10 will be available for preorder from Friday, September 13 before being made available to buy on Friday, September 20.

Apple Watch Series 10: Price

While there are always concerns that Apple will increase prices, that doesn't appear to have been the case this time around. The new 42mm Apple Watch Series 10 starts at $399 for the GPS model, while an extra $130 is needed to upgrade to the larger 46mm version. Those prices get you an aluminum Apple Watch while the new titanium models start at $699 with cellular connectivity included, just like the Apple Watch Ultra 2.

Apple Watch Series 10: Specs

Apple Watch Series 10: Design

The Apple Watch Series 10 features the biggest display ever used in an Apple wearable, even bigger than the Apple Watch Ultra models. Despite that, it's just 9.9mm thick and weighs as little as 29.3 grams, depending on the model you choose.

Apple's latest Apple Watch also features a Jet Black finish on the aluminum model as well as an all-new titanium offering that replaces the popular stainless steel. Titanium buyers can choose between Natural, Gold, and Slate finishes.

Apple Watch Series 10: Features

The Apple Watch Series 10 offers all of the same features we're familiar with, including potentially life-saving ones including Crash Detection, heart rate monitoring, and ECG technology. With this new model, Apple has also added new sleep apnea detection that will allow Apple Watches to alert their wearer of a potential diagnosis. This feature will also be available on the Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra models, however.

The new display features up to 320% more active screen area and is capable of offering an extra 40% screen brightness when in always-on mode. The use of a new wide-angle OLED display also means wearers will be able to more easily read the display when it's on their wrist, too.

The addition of the new S10 SiP also means that the upcoming watchOS 11 software will add new Apple Intelligence features including summarized notifications.

One controversial feature may be the addition of support for playing music via the new, upgraded speaker system. This is huge for people who don't have their AirPods to hand, but terrible for people who don't want to listen to someone else's music on public transport.

Apple Watch Series 10: Processor

The new S10 SiP was designed to be thinner, allowing the Apple Watch Series 10 to be the thinnest ever. Despite that, it still offers strong performance, battery life, and support for Apple Intelligence.

The new chip has a four-core Neural Engine while support for on-device Siri, Crash Detection, Fall Detection, and more performant apps are all included. This is the fastest Apple Watch ever, and it features a more modern chip than the range-topping Apple Watch Ultra 2 as well. No other Apple Watch will be able to run the new watchOS 11 software better.

watchOS 11

Unveiled at WWDC 2024, watchOS 11 will be the featured operating system of Apple Watch X if it's unveiled in 2024. The new OS doubles down on Apple's focus on the Apple Watch as a fitness device. It features a new Vitals app to monitor... your vitals... as well as new customization for Activity Rings. Notably, fitness tracking now includes the option to add rest days, and training load measurements ensure that you don't overtrain yourself, helping you avoid injury. Live Activities also come to the Watch in watchOS 11.

While Apple's Glowtime event naturally focused on the iPhone 16 and this year's Apple Watch, it also finally showed off new AirPods 4.

We've got two brand-new models for the first time, giving users access to AirPods for a lower price than ever before. AirPods 4 now start at $129, instead of the previous $179 starting point.

AirPods 4: Release Date

AirPods 4 launched at the iPhone 16 event in September 2024, dubbed "It's Glowtime." They were unveiled alongside the latest iPhones, a new version of AirPods Pro 2, and a color refresh to AirPods Max.

Ming-Chi Kuo, a reliable source in the industry, stated in a prediction Tweet that the next AirPods will ship in the second half of 2024 or the first half of 2025, alongside new AirPods Max. 

This aligns with previous launch cycles. The following are the launch years of all AirPods since the start:

• First Generation AirPods released in December, 2016
• Second Generation AirPods released in March, 2019
• First Generation Airpods Pro released in October, 2019
• AirPods Max released in December, 2020
• Third Generation released in October, 2021
• Second Generation AirPods released in September, 2022

AirPods 4: Price

Apple's AirPods 4 are cheaper than ever, with a new starting point of $129. That's down $50 from the previous starting price of $179.

The $129 AirPods 4 offer all the new features (more on this later), except for active noise cancellation. That includes the more comfortable design, new case Find My features, and wireless charging. But, ANC is reserved for a slightly more expensive version of AirPods 4, priced at $179.

That's right, the second AirPods 4 option is back at the $179 price point. But with the addition of ANC, they're more of a steal than ever. Some rumors expected the price to drop down to $169 instead, but we're sticking at the same price as AirPods 3.

AirPods 4: Features

AirPods 4 feature a USB-C port to comply with new EU regulations around charging, just like the iPhone 15 and AirPods Pro 2. 

AirPods 4 are set to be the most comfortable AirPods ever made, and are designed to fit more people than ever. There's a new acoustic architecture as well, so they'll be better sounding. The stems have almost disappeared, so look more like AirPods Pro than ever before.

But there are two models. Apple’s finally brought active noise cancellation to its base-level AirPods with a second model. Yep, ANC is no longer exclusive to the pricier AirPods Pro – so you can now enjoy some peace and quiet with the 4th-gen AirPods too. They’ve also thrown in Transparency Mode and even Adaptive Audio – which automatically mutes your music so you can hear voices.

As for the case, AirPods (4th-gen) now work with Find My, including the wider Find My network. There’s even a little speaker on the case, ready to play a chime when you inevitably lose them. No lanyard hole this time, but honestly, who’s using that anyway? Didn’t bother with it on my AirPods Pro 2, and I doubt anyone’s crying over its absence here.

Charging is easier than ever, thanks to added wireless charging in the case. Plus, you can expect 30 hours of battery from these earbuds.

Conversation Awareness will turn down or turn off music when you are speaking, meaning you can keep in your AirPods in conversation without missing out on anything. Though these features are very impressive, they are currently locked to the AirPods Pro 2. 

For most, the AirPods 4 with ANC are probably more compelling than AirPods Pro 2. You lose out on some passive noise cancellation and a better fit due to the lack of ear tips, the new hearing features are absent, and there aren't quite as many features. But if you're looking for a cheaper set of AirPods, this model is an excellent choice.

AirPods 4: Battery life

So far, all models of AirPods have had similar battery life. The first generation had around 5 hours of listening time, with the AirPods second generation hitting a similar mark and the third generation getting about an hour more than that. Given they charge in their case, this is a pretty decent battery life so we can expect a similar figure for AirPods 4. 

The AirPods 1,2, and 3 case comes with around 4 charges at full battery, giving an extra 24 hours of listening time per device. Unfortunately, as AirPods age, they tend to lose some of their battery effectiveness, giving you less per charge. This means that most AirPods 1s today will give you under that battery, incentivizing upgrading every few years.

AirPods 4 have a similar battery life on paper – Apple says you can expect 30 hours of battery from these earbuds. But this will likely be more than your previous AirPods in practice. Charging is easier than ever on AirPods 4, thanks to added wireless charging in the case.

Apple swapping charging ports to USB-C technically gives the ability to charge quicker than Lightning cables, even though this likely won’t affect charge time by too much.

Q&A

Watch out Apple: Samsung Unpacked just dropped all of the company’s biggest new Android hardware of the year, and there’s plenty going on to make your average Apple user just a little bit jealous. From the Samsung Galaxy Watch6 to the new Tab S9 range and the Galaxy Z Fold5, it’s a strong line-up that any iPhone 15 or Apple Watch Ultra 2 is going to have to do battle against.

When you compare Apple’s product lineup to Samsung’s fancy flip phones, foldables, and round-faced watches, some of Apple’s own offerings can start to look just a little bit boring. 

In fact, there’s plenty going on here that I think Apple should be looking to steal, emulate, or even improve upon with its own hardware as it seeks to win the hearts and minds of prospective and existing customers everywhere. 

Here are 7 things Apple should steal from Samsung Unpacked 2023. 

Unpacked and inspired: What Apple should steal from Samsung this year

1. Round watches

Samsung’s Galaxy Watch range boasts a feature Apple Watch has never had — round faces. It sounds daft, but conventional watches are usually circular, so it really makes sense that successful and user-friendly smartwatches could also be circular. The Galaxy Watch6 and Galaxy Watch6 Classic both boast some impressive specs (more on that later), but the most obvious thing Apple could steal here is a funky round face. It would require changes to the watchOS 10 UI, but is the sort of change that would really turn heads.

2. Watch battery life

The Galaxy watch6 range also boasts an impressive battery life of up to 40 hours, or up to 30 hours, with its always on display. While Apple Watch Ultra can definitely match or beat that, the standard Apple Watch range has always struggled to deliver true all-day battery life and certainly doesn’t offer anything more than that. 

3. Biometric tablet authentication

The new Galaxy Tab S9 range boasts an on-screen fingerprint sensor across the board. Apple ditched Touch ID in its tablet range a couple of years ago, and now offers Touch ID in the Top Button of many of its cheaper devices, but an on-screen fingerprint scanner like that in the S9, S9+, and S9 Ultra could prove to be a great foil to Face ID. 

4. microSD in tablets

The Galaxy Tab S9 range offers more modest storage compared to say the iPad Pro and doesn’t have options up to 2TB, for instance. However, it boasts a much cooler and more useful feature, expandable storage. All three models can take a microSD card of up to 1TB in size. This would not only make expanding iPad storage cheaper and more accessible but would be a game-changer for video and photography users who want to edit photos on their iPads quickly and easily. 

5. More 120Hz tablet displays 

Both Android phones and tablets at nearly all price points offer 120Hz displays, a feature that Apple reserves for its very best iPads, the iPad Pro. From a hardware perspective, I think it’s a real shame that some cheaper Galaxy tablets offer 120Hz, but that you can’t get it on the iPad Air or iPad mini. It’s a really game-changing feature to go from 60Hz to 120Hz, and as with the iPhone, a 60Hz tablet in 2023 is starting to look quite long in the tooth.  

6. Folding iPhones

Sorry, this was an obvious one, but Samsung has announced not one but two new folding phones, the Z Flip5 and the Galaxy Z Fold5. We can’t even get an iPhone that folds one way, let alone the choice of either the landscape book fold or a clamshell. The word on the street is that Apple isn’t planning a foldable iPhone for several years, which is all the more time to get it right, but still, this is the fifth generation of foldable Samsung phones. What are we doing out here Apple?

7. Under-display camera

The Dynamic Island is cool, but the new Galaxy Z Fold5 boasts a 4MP under-display camera. That might not be quite as potent as Apple’s front-facing offerings, but Apple should definitely be pulling out all the stops to remove the troublesome Dynamic Island/notch once and for all so that we can have edge-to-edge unadulterated screens on our iPhones. 

What's next for Apple?

A few of these are more realistic, or at least possible than others. There are rumors Apple is working on under-display cameras for iPhone, for example. It's also always trying to improve battery life, and fingerprint scanners in your display could also be in the not-too-distant future. However, there are a couple of things here that are probably pipe dreams, as mentioned foldable iPhones and beyond are still years away, and even a 120Hz refresh rate on a cheaper Apple tablet seems like a bit of wishful thinking. But then again, who knows? September will bring us the iPhone 15, new Apple Watch models, and possibly more as we move further into the fall. 

Finding the best wallpaper apps for iPhone and iPad can be a bit of a complicated affair, with so many apps out there to choose from. While some like to create their own wallpapers by taking pictures or drawing art, others look on the internet to find the best iPhone wallpapers. Luckily, if you have an iPhone or iPad, you can take most of the work out of the search and let some very impressive apps do the heavy lifting for you. 

Where the App Store a decade ago might have had the problem of having too few apps to choose from, we have now gotten to a point where it can be hard to stick to just a few apps at a time. Given the iPhone and iPad screens both look wonderful, you will want a wallpaper that is not only aesthetically interesting but sharp enough to take advantage of the screen. 

Luckily, we've done the hard work and picked out the very best wallpaper apps for iPhone and iPad in 2024. 

Editor's choice — Lockd - Lock Screen Wallpapers

With iOS 16, Apple unveiled a stunning new array of tools to help users create great lock screens, especially using really nice depth effects that interact with your iPhone's time and date on the Lock Screen. This has led to a massive uptick in fantastic-looking iPhone wallpapers on all iOS versions after it, in particular thanks to the power of portrait mode on the iPhone's camera. 

Lockd is an incredibly popular App Store app with a 4.7-star rating and over 3,800 reviews. It's a collection of Depth Effect Lock Screen wallpapers that all work with iOS 16 onward, bringing objects in the images out to the front and interacting with your Lock Screen furniture. It has great categories such as cities, fashion, cars, nature, and more, so there's something for everyone!

Vellum Wallpapers

Vellum Wallpapers is one of the most popular iPhone and iPad wallpaper apps out there, with more than 55,900 ratings and a 4.8-star score. It has hundreds of free hand-picked wallpapers, with new packs arriving often and a new wallpaper daily. Vellum also has a fantastic blurred background tool so that you can create cool effects. 

Vellum is free if you're happy to use it with ads, or you can pay a small in-app subscription fee to remove them. 

Everpix

Everpix boasts a myriad of 4K, Retina, and HD wallpapers in all manner of themes and categories, curated to ensure they fit your device's display perfectly. Again the app is organized into handy categories, and features cool additions like the aforementioned Depth effect, and even AI-generated wallpapers!

Like Vellum, a premium subscription will unlock even more content and get rid of those pesky ads. 

Papers.co

Papers.co boasts a similarly excellent library compared to other options on here, but excels thanks to its very minimalist and simple interface which offers you a very narrow choice of sharing, saving, and liking wallpapers. 

Papers.co is also available on Android and Desktop, and can be used simply through a desktop browser if you want to add a splash of excellence to your laptop or PC. With nearly 3,000 ratings and a 4.8-star score on the App Store, it's definitely a popular option, and is available for free with an optional in-app purchase to remove all ads. 

Walli

Walli is a unique wallpaper app in that its images come from artists, helping them to earn money through the sharing of their creations. The app is free, as are the wallpapers, and because it offers artist-created wallpapers it definitely boasts a more unique collection of images. There are a slew of categories to suit every taste, and wallpapers are linked to artist bios where you can see more of their work, view their websites, and access their social media. 

So Walli is giving you great wallpapers while promoting great artists and helping you find them in the process!

Zedge

When you want a plethora of wallpapers for pretty much anything you can think of, then Zedge should be your go-to.

Zedge is one of Apple's top 100 App Store apps in the entertainment section and boasts wallpapers, live wallpapers, and even ringtones. 

It also has an AI wallpaper generator and literally millions of wallpapers to choose from. There's a big set of both free and premium options and even GIF wallpapers so you can set your favorite meme as your Lock Screen and Home Screen backgrounds. If you're still into that sort of thing, there are even NFTs that you can buy, although all the usual caveats and warnings about blockchain art definitely apply. 

While there are paid options for this free app, it does offer the chance to buy credits as an in-app purchase, rather than making users sign up for a subscription. 

Make your iOS device stand out above the rest

One of my favorite things when checking out other people's devices in person or through their home screens is what they use as their wallpaper. In fact, I change my wallpapers pretty frequently as well, and I love having a variety of options available to me when it comes to finding awesome wallpapers.

These are some of the best options out there on the App Store, and you're sure to find something you love from these choices.

As I awoke to the unfamiliar morning alarm coming from Pokémon Sleep and pushed the poofy hotel blanket off, I couldn't help but wonder what the app had in store for me. I was excited, you see. Curious to know which Pokémon had appeared on the phone that I had been loaned overnight. To my utter delight, I discovered several favorites — Squirtle, Pichu, Geodude, Doduo, and Larvitar — all in various sleeping positions and looking cute as hell. I started the morning with a smile.

Strangely enough, I then did something I never do. I found myself looking forward to getting a decent night's sleep that night. Granted, this was in the hopes that I could find more Pokémon, but it's a good thing nonetheless.

For as long as I can remember I’ve had really bad sleep habits. Plagued by insomnia in high school and now frequently visited by strange nightmares that lead to sleepwalking, I don’t often get a full night’s rest or even want to. It's not uncommon for me to stay up ridiculously late and go to bed every night between 2:00 a.m. and 4:00 a.m. and still get up by 7:30 a.m.

After having spent some time with this upcoming app developed by The Pokémon Company, I can say it is by no means perfect. However, it is very charming, and having something in my life that actually incentivizes me to go to bed at a good hour might be the thing that finally makes me develop better sleep habits.

This sleep-tracking concept might feel out of place for a Pokémon game, but it really isn't when compared to other Pokémon games in the mobile space. The popular Pokémon GO is what I consider one of the best free iOS games and it is designed around getting people outside and walking.

Meanwhile, Pokémon Smile is an app that encourages people to brush their teeth. Pokémon Sleep is simply the latest iOS and Android app designed around developing healthy habits in people of all ages. 

A typical night with Pokémon Sleep

As I alluded to earlier, during a Pokémon Sleep hands-on event hosted at a hotel in Santa Monica, California, I was loaned a phone with a preview build of Pokémon Sleep on it and was allowed to use the app overnight. Just note that since this was a preview build, the artwork, prices, and mechanics might not be the same as at launch. 

The app kicks things off by introducing you to Professor Neroli, who has discovered a string of islands filled with various Snorlax that have a strange Drowsy Power, which draws in other Pokémon and puts them to sleep around it. He wants your help documenting the Pokémon that appear and the sleeping positions they show up in.

Professor Neroli goes on to explain that each week, players are tasked with raising a specific Snorlax, and each morning after a sleep session is recorded, up to five Pokémon appear around that Snorlax. Sometimes you can even add these creatures to your Pokémon team. Once the week wraps up, it's time to move onto another island with a different Snorlax, which could open up new sighting possibilities. After I learned all of this, it was time to actually test the app out.

Before turning out the light for the night, I informed Pokémon Sleep when I wanted my target bedtime to be, and specified when I wanted to be woken up the next morning. I then told the app to start my sleep session and placed the borrowed phone plugged in and lying face down on the mattress next to me. I had been told that the phone needed to be on the bed in order to sense me and my movements through the night. This was a little odd since I'm used to keeping my phone on a nightstand so I don't knock it off the bed, but it was also easy enough to accommodate. 

If you don't like the idea of keeping your phone on the bed, you might want to get the optional Pokémon GO Plus + accessory, which releases on July 17, 2023. In addition to helping you play Pokémon GO, it can be used in place of your phone during Pokémon Sleep to rest on the bed next to you and record your sleep data. Using it also unlocks an adorable Nightcap Pikachu in Pokémon Sleep who gets added to your team as an extra team member than the usual five you're limited to. 

What's more, the accessory speaks softly in Pikachu's voice to remind you when to go to bed or tell you when to wake up. Full functionality between Pokémon GO Plus + and the Pokémon Sleep preview build wasn't available at the time of the event, but I was able to handle this device in person and got to hear the adorable Pikachu voice singing lullabies. It's ridiculously cute.

Speaking of cute things, there is a lullaby button in the app which when pressed plays the Pokémon Center theme music in a sweet and slow music box style. The loaner phone was too loud for me to get it to a low enough volume, so I ended up turning the music off, but it was still a fun surprise to discover. 

No room for abnormalities like sleepwalking

After using Pokémon Sleep through the night, I awoke and pressed a button to end my sleep session. Then the app launched into a rather lengthy tutorial, so you'll want to make sure you have time to get through everything the first time you use it. 

Here, the app explained that the type of Pokémon that appear around Snorlax depends on what Sleep Type the app classifies you as for the night. There's Dozing, Snoozing, and Slumbering — according to Professor Neroli, "these sleep stages help show how deep your sleep is." I attempted to get more information on what exactly determined these Sleep Types but the representative I spoke to made it clear that this information wasn't supposed to be the focus of the game. However, since Sleep Types determine which Pokémon show up it is going to be something we all care about, quite a bit.

The app categorized my 7.5 hours of sleep data as 5% Dozing, 42% Snoozing, and 53% Slumbering — meaning that, overall, I had a Slumbering Type Sleep Style for the night. Fortunately for me, Slumbering Type tends to draw in Water and Rock types, so I was delighted to find some of my favorite Pokémon when I awoke, including Squirtle. You can sometimes add one of these creatures to your team so they can collect berries to feed Snorlax and make it stronger, thus increasing the chance of getting more interesting Pokémon and rewards to appear. I only saw Gen 1 Pokémon during my time with the app. There are only 100 Pokémon to register at launch, but don't worry. There are plans to add more Pokémon in the future.

Pokémon Sleep gives out better rewards to adult players who get closer to recording 8.5 hours of sleep (11 hours if you're a child) — the extra half hour being when you start the recording before actually falling asleep. Those of us attending the event were told that this goal is based on data the developers learned about when consulting with Director and Professor Masashi Yanagisawa, at the international institute for Integrative Sleep Medicine at University of Tsukuba in Japan. The whole point is to get people into healthy habits that are recommended for the average person. So the idea is to encourage people to sleep more.

This is very good for the average person. The problem is, Pokémon Sleep doesn't have any way to account for irregular sleep tendencies. Personally, I think requiring adults to track 8.5 hours of data in order to get a 100% score is odd, especially for people like me who don't need to rest that much. I had the app running for roughly 7.5 hours, but I probably only slept for 5 on account of my usual restlessness. In total, I was only given a sleep score of 65%, and considering how little I tend to sleep, it doesn't seem likely that I'll hit 100% any time soon — even despite my best efforts.

During a Q&A session with Pokémon Sleep Director Kaname Kosugi, preview attendees were informed via an interpreter that the app "evaluates the weekly consistency" so if you stick to six or seven-hour sleep throughout the week you'll still earn Drowsy Power for Snorlax, but probably still won't get a better percentage. All of the other Pokémon Sleep preview attendees I spoke to got between a 45% and an 85% sleep score, showing how elusive that 100% might just be. But maybe this at least gives us all something to aspire to.

Additionally, being a sleepwalker I don't always stay in my bed at night (thankfully, I did during the preview event sleepover). However, this means that Pokémon Sleep won't always record my data correctly when I do my midnight ramblings. In this way, I wish the Pokémon GO Plus + was a watch or at least had a strap like the original Pokémon Go Plus accessory, that I could attach to my person so it recorded even when I moved around. Alternately, it would be nice if the Pokémon GO Plus + at least communicated with Fitbit or other health trackers to get my full sleep details. 

During that aforementioned Q&A session with Director Kosugi, I told him via interpreter about how my sleepwalking might lead to incorrect scoring and that I wished there was a way to go in later and fix my score if I actually did get a full night's sleep despite leaving my bed in the night. He responded that this is the first time he heard about "these kinds of needs" and that he "will consider putting those kinds of features in the future."

It's also worth noting that the app isn't meant to be used during naps as “sleep has to be at least 90 minutes long to be counted for research” and “you can (only) track 2 sleep sessions per day.” 

On the subject of privacy

In addition to telling me my Sleep Type, Pokémon Sleep created a chart displaying my sleep details allowing me to see when I entered into each type of sleep. Though not enabled for the preview build, the launch version will also record any noises you make during the night for you to listen to. I was disappointed to find that you cannot send these recordings to your friends because that would make for some hilarious sharing, but it's possible that this sharing feature isn't there for privacy reasons. 

Speaking of privacy, representatives assured preview attendees that this sleep data gets deleted from the phone after a few days and that all of the sleep data is sent anonymously to the Pokémon Company rather than being tied to any specific accounts. They further went on to explain that the company might do something like share general data for specific areas of the world like saying something like 81% of people in the Americas tend to have Slumbering Sleep Type. But the company won't know details about any specific person.

A reason to keep using the app

I was happy to find that Pokémon Sleep also makes it exciting to see the same Pokémon more than once by tasking players with filling out both a Pokédex as well as a Sleep Style Dex. Each creature has a few different Sleep Styles. For instance, the Doduo that came to me was in the Lookout Sleep style, with one of the bird heads standing sentry while the other dozed away. However, I might come upon another Doduo sleeping in a rarer Sleep Style (signified by a star rating) another morning and be able to add that to my Sleep Style Dex.

But the game isn't done once you wake up. Snorlax is a very hungry Pokémon, and each one has favorite foods that will increase its power more. So you can cook a recipe for your Snorlax using its favorite foods to increase its strength, meaning his ability to attract certain Pokémon. The helper Pokémon on my team gathered berries and other items over time, which can be used to create dishes and power up Snorlax. I simply had to tap on these helpers whenever there was an icon over their heads telling me when they'd gathered anything. 

The longer I waited between tapping, the more items my helpers had collected. Of course, my hard-working Pikachu and Squirtle who gathered berries also needed to be rewarded with Bonus Biscuits, which increase their friendship level with me. The higher my friendship points, the more efficient my helpers are, which means the more I can feed my Snorlax and power it up. 

From what I saw, there isn't much more to the game during the day, but that's a good thing as this app is supposed to help you sleep rather than keep you up late at night using your phone. 

Microtransactions and the future of Pokémon Sleep

I was a little surprised to find that there are microtransactions in Pokémon Sleep, but there definitely are. First off, there's a Premium Pass, which is $9.99 for a 1-Month Plan or $49.99 for a 6-Month Plan. The Premium Pass makes it so you have unlimited sleep data rather than deleting it every few days. You also get a Premium Bonus Biscuit each day, receive 100 sleep points each day, gain access to the Premium Exchange for exchanging sleep points, gain a monthly gift of 1,000 sleep points, get additional lavish rewards, and unlock a diary where you can take notes about your sleep. 

Much like with Pokémon GO, Pokémon Sleep users can also purchase various items in the General Store by spending Diamonds. Diamonds can be earned in the game by interacting with various menus or be given out as rewards for sleeping well. However, they can also be purchased with real-world money. The lowest purchase is 60 Diamonds for $1.19 while the largest purchase is 7,000 Diamonds for $97.99 — that's quite a lot.

Purchasing items can help you gain different perks. For instance, a Pokémon Box (120 Diamonds) expands storage while an Energy Pillow (60 Diamonds) restores 50 Energy to a single helper Pokémon. From my limited experience with Pokémon Sleep, I wouldn't say that there is any pay-to-win focus. As is the case with Pokémon GO, this new app can easily and effectively be paid for free. There are just some nice perks for people who want to use items. The real win is getting better sleep habits anyway, which you cannot buy.

During the Pokémon Sleep hands-on event, I got the impression that this app could be seeing a lot of changes and updates in the future including more competitive options and tweaks to the main mechanics. One of the things that has helped make Pokémon GO so engaging is that its players can join one of three teams and then compete against each other. This type of competition won't be available in Pokémon Sleep at launch, however, Kosugi explained that "the development team is now considering having those similar types of functions in the future." It's safe to say that we'll likely see several updates come to the app over time that will help it evolve into an even better sleep incentive.

Time to catch some Pokémon ZZZs

There's no denying that I've been thinking about Pokémon Sleep ever since I got to test it out in person. I'm sure it will consistently help me wake up to a smile as I discover the cute positions I find my favorite Pokémon sleeping in. I am excited to check out the full app when it launches.

However, as much as I love the idea behind Pokémon Sleep, I have some reservations about how well it will actually work for people with irregular sleeping issues, like me. Hopefully, updates will come in down the line that makes it more accommodating for a wider range of people. Regardless of that, I'm sure that using this app consistently could help me develop better sleeping habits and encourage me to go to bed at a reasonable hour every night. And that's truly something special.

Apple's Vision Pro headset looks incredible and it is definitely the biggest jump into the future I've seen for both virtual and mixed reality, but as it stands, the $3,500 price tag is not for me, which is why I'm looking at an alternative.

I've been thinking about the Vision Pro since Apple announced it back at WWDC at the beginning of this month. There's no denying it — Apple has created perhaps the most technically capable virtual and mixed-reality headset yet, and it will enable experiences previously impossible.

However, even with all of that in mind, I can't help but feel that the Vision Pro isn't for me yet and that, as much as it pains me to say, Meta will likely be getting my money for at least one more generation thanks to its upcoming Quest 3.

There's no denying Apple's headset is superior

When Apple announced the Vision Pro, I was immediately blown away by the visual quality alone. As someone who has used both the original Meta Quest and the Meta Quest 2, I'm used to seeing okay-but-not-amazing graphics. The headset, while cool, is certainly not like strapping an Xbox Series X or PS5 to your head in terms of what it can achieve graphically.

Apple's headset, in comparison, is like strapping two 4K TVs to your face. The sheer resolution of each display on the headset is a true feat of engineering and will enable truly high-resolution experiences not just when using the headset for work, but for gaming experiences as well.

Apple's mixed-reality experience also actually looks good — compared to the Meta Quest 2's extremely basic experience. I'll be honest — using the Meta Quest 2 to do anything in mixed reality feels like I'm seeing my apartment through a black-and-white television from the 50s. I would not trust walking around and doing things in my apartment with the headset on — I'd be afraid I'd trip over something and kill myself.

Apple Vision Pro's mixed reality, in comparison, looks incredible. Of course, I've only seen what Apple has shown in its promo videos, but those who have tried it say that the experience almost feels like actual reality.

The comment that stood out to me most was when The Verge's Nilay Patel said that he, while wearing the headset, instinctively picked up his iPhone and started taking notes. Being able to do things like that while wearing a headset is just not possible right now.

The ability to actually comfortably and confidently interact with the real world, whether you are in a mixed-reality experience or just in general, while wearing a headset is a real breakthrough.

The price alone will keep me away

However, even with all of those impressive specifications and the incredible experiences that they will enable, there is one thing and one thing alone that will keep me — and I'm sure a lot of other people — from ditching my Quest headset and jumping into the future. That thing, of course, is the price.

After showing off everything that the Apple Vision Pro could do and getting all of us completely hyped up, Apple threw a big wrench in everyone's dream of buying the headset by announcing the price. The Apple Vision Pro will cost a staggering $3,500 when it launches early next year.

Now, I can't say I'm surprised by the price. With all of the technological breakthroughs enabled by the headset and the truly insane specs that make it possible, a premium price is expected. Plus, by Apple giving it the "Pro" moniker, the company is openly admitting that it is starting with the more premium version of the headset.

With all of that in mind, and knowing that Apple is already working on a more affordable version of the headset that is expected to come out in the next few years, I'm going to have to skip the Vision Pro.

That doesn't mean I want to give up those virtual and mixed reality experiences, however. So, as hard as it is to pick anything Meta — especially over Apple — I think I'll be picking up the Meta Quest 3 when it comes out this fall. At $500, it is seven times less expensive than the Apple Vision Pro.

Of course, the Quest 3 won't have the specs or experiences that the Vision Pro will be capable of. But, with some impressive performance gains in its CPU and GPU power, as well as adding full-color passthrough for better-mixed reality experiences, it seems like a great upgrade from the Quest 2 and a perfectly good headset to hold me over until a cheaper Apple Vision Pro hopefully comes out in 2025 or 2026.

I've been writing about Apple for over a decade, and spent over a year working as a Product Specialist in an Apple Store. I pride myself on being able to recommend the best Apple products for any individual person, according to their needs. Friends and family often come to me for recommendations when they're ready to buy a new Mac, iPad, iPhone, or Apple Watch. I find out how they use their technology so I can make my best recommendation. I might recommend more expensive or less expensive options, depending on individual use cases. But I almost never recommend that anyone buy technology that is more than a year old – With one exception.

Why AirPods?

Choosing the best earbuds for you depends on many factors, such as how you see yourself using them, what features you need, and what your budget is like. I've tested dozens of headphones and earbuds in my time as a tech reviewer, and my favorite of all is the AirPods lineup, no matter which model you choose. What makes AirPods stand out to me is the "automagic" device switching.

The AirPods mystique

I wanted to purchase AirPods ever since the original AirPods came out, during which time I was working in the Apple Store. We literally couldn't keep them on the shelves. Even months after release, we'd restock the AirPods daily and sell out within hours. I tried them in the store, I knew they were great, but couldn't justify the three-figure price tag when I had perfectly good earbuds at home. The AirPods 2 came out in 2019, by which time I was back in the tech writing world, and I wanted those even more. Our AirPods 2 review pointed out improvements like the updated H1 chip, faster pairing/switching, lower latency, wireless charging case, and more. Still, that price tag.

If you can get a good price on older AirPods ...

In 2022, I finally bought my first pair of AirPods, the AirPods 2. At that time, they were already three-year-old tech, and so the price had come well under $100 and I snagged them on Prime Day for about $90. From the moment I put the AirPods 2 in my ears, all other headphones were dead to me. They sound good, or good enough for me as I'm not a major audiophile or music aficionado. That magical device switching saved me the hassle of going into the settings every time I switch from my MacBook to my iPad to my iPhone. Other features like easy setup and FindMy make them even more special to me.

Now in 2023, the AirPods 2 are over four years old. But I'd still argue that if you don't need Active Noise Cancellation of the AirPods Pro, or the Spatial Audio, water resistance, better in-ear fit (for some) of the AirPods 3, then the AirPods 2 are still a worthwhile purchase today. If you can get a good price, they are a particularly good option for teens or anyone who tends to lose wireless earbuds.

What about AirPods 3?

I don't own the AirPods Pro 3, but our reviewer loved them, citing the price as being the most problematic issue. So, if the price comes down, now's a great time to jump on them. They definitely offer some great features over and above the AirPods 2, while still coming in cheaper than the AirPods Pro 2.

I've got to go Pro, should I get the AirPods Pro 2?

Obviously when Apple gives anything the Pro moniker, it's going to represent a more sizable investment. While the AirPods Pro 2 are the current model, they are coming up on a year old and it's likely we'll see a new model soon. Should you still get them now, if you can get a good price, or it better to hold out and see what is coming down the pike? Well, that's the age-old question, isn't it? I'd never let a friend buy the iPhone 14 now, with the iPhone 15 likely to be announced soon, but I feel differently about the AirPods 2. I recently got some myself and was just blown away. In addition to all of the AirPods features I've become accustomed to and spoiled by, the AirPods Pro 2 Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency Mode are incredible. If you can get a good price on these, I'd go for it, unless you're holding out for the upgraded audio sure to come on the next model.

Don't rule out an older pair of AirPods

Once you've decided on the features you want, I'd recommend you grab the AirPods with those features when you can get a good price on them. While I generally avoid buying older tech as a rule, AirPods are an exception. The quality of this lineup is excellent, and as long as you don't lose or break them, you should be able to enjoy them for many years to come.

One of the most unique features that we got to see with the Vision Pro announcement was a new one from Apple called Spatial Memories. However, the feature doesn’t have a chance to gain traction unless the iPhone 15 supports it.

Spatial Memories are a brand new way to enjoy videos with the Vision Pro. Someone with the headset can take a video with it and then, when they go back to watch what they captured, it will be shown to them in a more immersive way than simply watching a 4K video. The Wall Street Journal’s Joanna Stern said that it felt like she could reach out into the video — as if she wasn’t so much watching a video as she was peering through a portal into a memory she could step into.

I remember when Apple announced Live Photos, thinking that was the pinnacle of the photography experience. The ability to see a photo move and hear the audio of what was happening when it was captured was crazy - it was straight out of Harry Potter.

Actually, while I’m on that subject, if anyone knows of a photo frame that supports Live Photos so they can move when I walk by them, let me know. I will spend absurd amounts of money on that. If not, let me know who wants to start that company (as long as Apple has an API to support it).

Spatial Memories does look incredible

Anyway, Spatial Memories sounds incredible and far more immersive than Live Photos, due to the benefits of what a mixed reality headset is capable of — creating a sense of depth and realness impossible with a flat-screen display. I can’t imagine what it would be like to put a headset on and feel like I can reach into a memory that I captured years ago. The experience sounds more emotional than scrolling through any photos or videos on my iPhone could ever be.

However, even with all of that in mind, I really doubt that Spatial Memories will take off in their current state — and that has everything to do with how you have to capture them. Right now, capturing those memories can only be done using the Vision Pro headset itself.

That means that, if you see something cute your kids are doing, or want to catch a grandparent blowing out their 80th birthday candles, you’ll have to be wearing the headset to capture it in order to enjoy the memory in that format.

Practically, this is going to mean that most candid moments will pass us by. Just think of it — you’ll need to find the headset, put it on, make sure it is turned on, and then press a button on the top of the headset to capture.

That’s a lot more to do to get the shot than taking the iPhone out, which is likely already in your pocket.

Vision Pro still needs the iPhone to make it magical

If Spatial Memories is going to take off, which I would love if it did, it’s going to need the iPhone 15 to do it.

We are so trained to capture memories with our smartphones now that it would be incredibly inconvenient to require users to choose another device to capture a memory in order to experience it in a specific format. That’s why the iPad can also take Live Photos — it would be strange for a user to have to learn which device to use in order to capture things the way they want.

Of course, Apple already knows this. I would not be surprised if the company is already working on supporting Spatial Memories capture with the iPhone 15 Pro. The LiDAR sensor on the Pro iPhone models will likely be essential in order to capture the depth information that Apple will need in order to create Spatial Memories, and the Pro iPhones (and iPads) are the only devices to feature the sensor.

While users won’t likely be able to experience Spatial Memories in their truly immersive form on the iPhone or iPad, being able to capture them on those devices is key. With iCloud, a user could capture a Spatial Memory on their iPhone at a party for example, head home, put their Vision Pro headset on, and enjoy it as if they were there once again. That’s the experience we’ll all need to adopt Spatial Memories the same way we’ve come to expect Live Photos when using our Apple devices.

With the price, will iPhone capture even matter?

Of course, we’ll also need to shell out $3,500 for the Vision Pro in order to enjoy those Spatial Memories, and that will also be a barrier to entry. However, Apple is already rumored to be working on a cheaper, non-pro headset that will be certain to support the feature. Could that mean that the LiDAR sensor comes to the non-pro iPhones in the future as well? I could see that, especially if Apple keeps leaning into photo and video capabilities as the true differentiator between the regular and pro models.

When Apple unveiled the Vision Pro, I knew it was the best mixed-reality headset ever made (so far). The technical achievement in visuals was astounding and, of course, the price reflected that. Meta’s Mark Zuckerberg even said that his company could achieve something similar if they were also willing to charge $3500 for a headset. I honestly still doubt that — Apple is perhaps uniquely capable of mass-producing a piece of new technology like that of the Vision Pro. 

Meta tried to release a $1500 headset with its Quest Pro that would have been its closest competitor but, after poor reviews and lackluster sales, the headset already got cut in price to $999. I'm worried that, even though Apple's execution looks to be much more impressive, the price alone will really hold people back from enjoying something like Spatial Memories and everything else that the Vision Pro has to offer.

Time will tell but, as Apple has always done, it's playing the long game with the Vision Pro and visionOS. So, even if it takes a while to release a cheaper headset and an iPhone to capture the content, I bet we'll all be enjoying Spatial Memories at some point in the future. It's not a matter of if, but a matter of when.