Phone companies make it their top priority to make you feel as though you're missing out if you're not buying the latest release. It doesn't matter how recent your existing phone is, or whether it still performs admirably — there's always that little thought at the back of your mind making you wonder what you could get from upgrading.

Admittedly, phone companies also make it fairly easy to ignore new releases, because substantial upgrades seem to be getting much rarer. But there may be a time where the FOMO is really getting to you, even if you can't justify spending a thousand dollars or more on the latest. But before you attempt to sign on for a new phone plan, try what I did and buy a new case instead.

A fresh new look

Picture this: You have your phone for a year, or longer, and you're still using the same case that you had on day one. If your situation is anything like mine, that case is probably looking a little worse for wear.

In my case, the official Google case for my Pixel 10 Pro was slowly starting to fall apart. The silicone was chipping off the edges, and the thing hadn't been properly cleaned for a while, so it was looking pretty tired and worse for wear. Combine that with the big crack along the width of my screen protector, and it generally made my phone look like it was ready to be replaced.

The thing is, there is absolutely nothing wrong with the phone itself. In fact, when I reviewed the Pixel 11 Pro and Pixel 11 Pro XL, I actually suggested that some people would be better off buying last year's model instead. I found the new versions to be that disappointing.

My response seems obvious: I simply purchased a brand new case for my phone.

The case was nothing special, a translucent black silicone case with Qi2 magnetic charging support and a metal lip around the camera bar. I anticipated that this would be a change, but what I didn't realize was how much of a psychological impact a cheap silicone case would have since it made my phone feel brand new.

I knew it wasn't brand new, and the fact I still haven't replaced the screen protector makes that visually apparent every single day. The phone is the same, performs the same and still has the same disappointing Pixel battery life. Still, the simple fact of having a new case made my phone feel like a totally different device,

Sorry consumerism, you can't get me this year

I'm going to make it very clear right now that I think buying a new phone every year is stupid, and a total waste of money — even if you have generous trade-in deals. The fact is, phones don't change that much year by year, and the upgrades you're actually getting are minimal. That was true back in the early years of iPhone and Android, and it's even more true today. It doesn't actually matter which phone company has your loyalty, it's all the same in the end.

But there's a weird thing about humans (and animals), and it's that our brains don't follow logic. We love having new stuff to mix everything up, especially if we know that other people might get their hands on it first.

I see it in my young son, and the way his attention switches to things that are either new or being enjoyed by someone else. He doesn't want to miss out, and suddenly getting hold of my laptop, the TV remote or the ice cream I'm trying to eat becomes the only thing he cares about.

Sadly, much as our dumb brains might want to, we can't just pick up a brand new phone every year. Phone prices are only getting higher, and we're at a point where ultra-premium flagship phones are inching towards a $1,500 starting price. Thankfully, it seems that, in some cases, that impulse can be curbed with something as simple as $10.

Now, some of you may be practically-minded and believe that there's little point in changing a perfectly good case when it still works. I totally understand that mindset, and held onto it for a long time with previous devices. It's a case I like, and it's doing its job, so why spend the money on a new one?

As it turns out, spending those few extra dollars on a brand new case might be enough to get the demon of consumerism off your back. Because apparently looking and feeling new is almost as good as being new, to the point where you can trick your brain into thinking you have a shiny new phone. Even if it is the same old device you've had for the past year or two.

Bottom line

There are plenty of ways to get a good deal on a brand new phone, but there's no better deal than not buying one. Assuming you are happy with the performance of your current phone, you don't necessarily need to pick up a new model just because it's been released. Especially not if the best upgrade the designers can muster is a glorified RGB notification light on the back.

If you feel the urge, and know full well that it would be a waste of money to give in, simply trick your brain by swapping out the case. It doesn't have to be a nice stylish case, or even an expensive one made by a big name brand. I purchased the first random no-name phone case I liked the look of, and it's doing me just fine. It's practically identical to the one my wife uses, and we mix up our phones all the time, but that's entirely my fault.

So if you've been wondering whether the upcoming Prime Day or Black Friday sales are the right time to pick up a new phone, it might be worth picking up a new case instead. Just to make sure you actually want a new phone, rather than a change of scenery. It worked for me, and it might work for you.

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Ever since Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo last month, just about everyone who’s seen and held it hasn’t stopped raving about the hardware. Between its thin profile and that seamless-looking inner display, the iPhone Duo could really be the one to convince people to make the upgrade to a foldable phone.

Yet, there’s one particular characteristic that has been stealing the conversation: the nano-texture coating on its 7.6-inch main display. I’ve watched enough videos in the past couple of weeks to know that its visibility can wash out, or appear unviewable, if it’s slightly off-axis. On camera, it looks like a catastrophic design flaw for a premium device.

I was concerned at first, but the more I thought about this intentional design, the less worried I became. Here’s why.

Reflection versus diffusion

The matte versus glossy conversation has been around for ages, but considering how the best phones are practically all fashioned with glossy panels, coming across one that has a matte display undoubtedly evokes surprise. But honestly, it boils down to how each handles ambient light: reflection versus diffusion.

Glossy displays, like the Super AMOLED panel Samsung’s leaned on for years with its phones, offer outstanding contrast, punchy colors, ultra-wide viewing angles, and most notably deep blacks, making it hard to tell if the panel’s on or not.

While they’re certainly vibrant, the major drawback is their reflectivity. Like a mirror, glossy glass bounces light sources and causes harsh glare under direct sunlight or overhead light fixtures.

Matte screens, by contrast, incorporate a textured or chemically treated surface designed to break up incoming light rays and diffuse them.

Obviously, the immediate benefit of matte displays is glare reduction — which inherently reduces eye strain in bright environments. The trade-off is that there can be a subtle loss of contrast, slightly raised black levels in bright rooms, and reduced clarity or color pop when viewed off-axis.

It’s a proven tech

While seeing a matte finish on a flagship smartphone feels novel, this isn't Apple experimenting with a piece of new tech just to see if it works.

In fact, Apple has refined its nano-texture displays across its hardware lineup for years now, consistently proving that it can mitigate reflections far better than glossy screens — all without sacrificing display performance.

For example, my colleagues tested the nano-texture option on the M4 MacBook Pro, and it proved to be an absolute game-changer, especially under direct sunlight. Just look at the side-by-side of the two competing display technologies above. When you’re interacting directly with these devices, your vantage point is of the utmost importance — not someone’s way off to your side.

We’ve seen similar payoffs across other Apple devices, like the premium Studio Display and high-end configurations of the iPad Pro. In just about every implementation, Apple has demonstrated that its nano-texture process avoids the muddy, low-contrast haziness typical of cheap matte films.

By bringing what it has developed and refined over the years to the iPhone Duo, Apple isn’t taking an experimental gamble.

iPhone Duo will still be a test

Apple faces a steep hurdle with the iPhone Duo because it needs to convince loyalists that a matte finish is an upgrade — not a downgrade.

For nearly two decades, every iPhone has relied on glossy glass to deliver the vibrant saturation, deep blacks, and eye-popping contrast users associate with Apple's Retina displays.

I completely understand the decision Apple made here. User visibility is paramount under harsh lighting conditions, especially when there’s far more screen real estate prone to glare and reflections.

By choosing a nano-texture display, Apple ensures that visibility won’t be an issue for anyone using its upcoming foldable. That’s a big reason why I appreciate gadgets with matte screens, like TCL’s NXTPAPER 70 Pro and NXTPAPER 14 tablet.

More from Tom's Guide

• Apple reveals iPhone Duo has a 'replaceable' display layer — what it means for you
• 4 new iOS 27 features that turn Apple Notes into a productivity powerhouse
• 4 ways Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 beats Apple iPhone Duo

We praised the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max as "obscenely powerful phones" in our full review of the new Apple flagship phones, but two weeks after they hit store shelves, the newest iPhone is launching with problems.

Two separate issues are reportedly affecting cellular connectivity and the speakers on the iPhone 18 Pro models. Fortunately, one of them already appears to have a fix.

And these are separate from the already-fixed iPhone 18 Pro Face ID freezing bug.

AT&T Cellular Connectivity issues

Last week, reports of cellular connectivity issues for AT&T customers started popping up on Reddit and the Apple Support Community forums. Basically, the new iPhones, especially the iPhone 18 Pro Max, were starting in SOS mode and not connecting to the AT&T network or were operating extremely slowly if they did manage to connect.

It appeared that some of the problems were with eSIM transferring from older phones or between accounts.

AT&T acknowledged the problem via a text message sent to impacted customers. The network carrier is urging customers to update to iOS 27.0.1.

An AT&T spokesperson confirmed the message to Tom's Guide.

Here's what the text says:

"Hi, it's AT&T. Action needed: An important Apple software update for your iPhone 18 Pro Max is available. Some phones may be unable to complete calls/text/data, including to 911. Update to iOS 27.0.1 immediately — Settings > General > Software Update. Please contact AT&T or Apple if you have questions."

The spokesperson added, "Our top priority is ensuring customers can stay connected when they need it most, and we are working with Apple to make it right.”

Some users said that the iOS 27 update didn't fix the problem, but I've seen several comments suggesting that AT&T will swap your phone. Though that's proved contentious on whether Apple or AT&T will take responsibility for the swap.

Interestingly, the Pro Max is the only new iPhone featuring a Qualcomm cellular modem, while the Pro and iPhone Duo come with Apple's in-house-designed C2 modem. However, it's not clear if that's what is causing issues or if it's a software issue.

Tom's Guide was told that if you've experienced issues, you can go to an Apple or AT&T store for additional support. We've also reached out to Apple about the issue and will update this article if the company responds.

Popping speakers

The other issue that we can't confirm is a potential audio or speaker problem in the iPhone 18 Pro models.

Users on Reddit and the MacRumors forums are reporting a crackling or "popping noise" emanating from the iPhone's speakers. One theory involves the earpiece speaker. One person described the sound as if someone is "pulling out a aux cord and you hear a brief click pop noise.

To be upfront, at Tom's Guide we have both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max in for testing and were unable to recreate this issue on either phone.

"When setting it up I could hear a crackling sound coming from the speakers a few times and exchanged it," one person wrote. "I set up the second one all seemed good but i heard it again. This happen to anyone else?"

Some people reported that Apple and Best Buy told them it's likely a software issue.

We've also asked Apple about the speaker popping problem and will update if the company says anything.

Other issues

We've seen other reports of Control Center freezing, springboard and widget crashes, overheating and rapid battery draining, as well as strange camera colors.

However, it appears most of the issues have been resolved thanks to iOS 27.0.1. update.

If you're experiencing any of these problems, or something totally different, let us know in the comments!

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• Apple reveals iPhone Duo has a 'replaceable' display layer — what it means for you
• 4 new iOS 27 features that turn Apple Notes into a productivity powerhouse
• 4 ways Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 beats Apple iPhone Duo

The iPhone Duo is almost here, and there are lots of reasons to snatch up Apple’s first foldable phone come October 16 when pre-orders begin. It gives you a compact 5.4-inch phone and 7.6-inch mini tablet in one device, and it looks like an awesome option for those who want a more immersive viewing experience on the go along with dual-app multitasking — finally!

But as many in our comments have reminded me, Samsung has been making foldable phones for seven years. And that experience shows in the Galaxy Z Fold 8. It has a similar passport-style design to the iPhone Duo, but it offers some pretty unique advantages over Apple’s device and could be the best foldable phone for you. If you’re on the fence about getting an iPhone Duo or Galaxy Z Fold 8, here’s where Samsung’s device could sway you.

1. It’s considerably thinner and lighter

I only played around with the iPhone Duo for about an hour between various hands-on sessions, but it definitely feels heftier than the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Sure, the iPhone Duo is technically the “thinnest iPhone ever,” at just 5.2 mm unfolded. That’s even less than the iPhone Air’s 5.64mm. However, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 is only 4.5 mm.

When folded, the iPhone Duo measures 11.3mm thick, compared to 9.7mm for the Fold 8. For context, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is 8.75mm thick. So while the Duo will slip into a pocket with ease, it will take up some room.

In addition, the iPhone Duo weighs 8.96 ounces or 254 grams, while the Fold 8 is a feather light 7.09 ounces (201 grams). Samsung’s foldable is even lighter than the regular iPhone 18 Pro (7.44 ounces), which has a relatively tiny 6.3 inch display compared to the 7.6-inch panel on the Fold 8.

2. You can run more apps at once

I give Apple plenty of credit for making running two apps at once so seamless and intuitive on the iPhone Duo. You just select an app and then place it on the left or right side of the display. From there you can easily create app pairs and go back to them at any time. And it’s also a cinch to switch out apps; you just swipe up and go back to the home screen — it’s like having two distinct desktops.

However, the Galaxy Z Fold 8 can let you run three tiled apps at the same time on screen. So, for example, I could have Gmail in one window, Slack in another and Spotify in another. It’s pretty cool. Plus, Samsung lets you put up to five floating windows on top. Now, eight apps at once seems like overkill to me, but it’s pretty amazing that you have that flexibility.

3. Gemini AI is more advanced

Siri AI is definitely improved in iOS 27, and it lets you do some pretty cool things on the iPhone Duo. You get better personal context understanding in all sorts of apps, including Messages and Notes. And there’s on-screen awareness, so you can say things like “add these items to my shopping list.” And I also appreciate that there’s finally a Siri mode in the camera app, so you don’t have to think about performing any shortcuts.

However, I think Galaxy AI and Gemini on the Galaxy Z Fold 8 are not only more advanced but more tailored to the foldable experience. For example, Now Nudge gives you suggestions in Messages for apps that you can open in split-screen mode, such as Calendar.

And Gemini itself is just more versatile than Siri AI. You can share your live camera video in real time and get advice and troubleshooting tips. I did this when trying to figure out how to clean out battery corrosion from an outdoor flood light.

4. It’s $100 cheaper

The Galaxy Fold 8 starts at $1,799, which is $100 less than the iPhone Duo. Plus, there are already some pretty good deals out there. At time of writing I found the Fold 8 for just $1,649 on Best Buy, which is $250 off.

I’m sure there will be plenty of iPhone Duo pre-order deals around Apple’s launch as well, so you should be able to get it at a discount. But as of now the Fold 8 is a better value.

Where the iPhone Duo wins

As good as Samsung’s foldable is, there are several ways the iPhone Duo beats the Fold 8. For example, the iPhone Duo offers an IP68 rating for durability, which means it’s protected from both water and dust. Samsung’s phone is only water resistant.

In addition, the iPhone Duo offers MagSafe built in for wireless charging, Apple Pencil support and vapor chamber cooling, which will presumably help with sustained performance for Apple’s faster A20 chip.

But Apple’s biggest advantage will likely come with software and apps. The iPhone Duo’s software can react based on the position of the hinge while the Fold 8 lacks Samsung’s Flex Mode. And I expect a sizable wave of Duo optimized apps at launch, including Slack, Netflix and Zoom.

Bottom line

The iPhone Duo clearly has the most buzz, and it makes sense because Apple is entering a new category. But I wouldn’t overlook the Galaxy Z Fold 8. It feels so light and thin that it almost seems like Samsung cheated physics. And if you like the idea of multitasking on a big screen, the Fold 8 lets you run more apps at once. And while Siri is smarter than ever, Samsung and Google are in the lead with AI features.

So which foldable has your interest? Let us know in the comments.

One of the drawbacks of foldable phones is that the interior display develops a more and more visible crease over time. Apple allegedly delayed the release of the iPhone Duo as the company tried to solve this problem.

Apple's VP of Hardware Engineering, Kate Bergeron, recently revealed one way that the company is combating creasing: replacement layers.

Per an interview with @angietutorials on TikTok, Apple made a replacement cover layer on the folding screen.

“The matte display coating does a really nice job of, I’ll say, minimizing the crease. But there’s a cover layer on top, and we’ve done a significant amount of engineering work to help that wear in as long a manner as we can, and to make sure that you get the most out of that layer’s performance," Bergeron said.

"It’s actually replaceable, which is a really nice thing for the customer, that you can peel off that layer and get a new one," she continued.

This layer, referred to as the Nano Texture "cover layer," is actually considered a separate part of the display per an AppleCare service cost listing spotted by tech YouTuber Quinn Nelson. This cover layer costs $19 for service, while inner display damage will set you back $99.

I have not seen any reporting or releases from Apple detailing replacement prices for uncovered phones though. If you keep the Duo for a while and the crease starts to bother you, it seems like Apple has a solution.

Let us know if the crease is a concern for you in the comments below and whether an inexpensive to replace cover layer would make a big difference.

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My 11-month old son is obsessed with my Apple TV 4K remote. It used to be that he just wanted to chew it, which isn't ideal since it's made of metal, but these days he's started actively playing with it and pressing buttons. Unfortunately, this also means the remote is starting to go missing quite a lot.

It feels like it ends up in that dimension that is only accessible to socks in the dryer and objects your kids were holding before you turned your back for two seconds. Thankfully, unlike most remotes, the Apple TV remote has a way to let you track it down — and I'm not talking about those bulky cases that attach an AirTag to it, either. It all relies on this hidden iPhone feature.

How to hunt down your missing Apple TV remote

Normally if you're missing an Apple device, your first idea would be to jump into the Find My Device app and look there. It's how you track down AirTags, phones, tablets and even some Apple Pencils — among other things. The Apple TV remote, specifically the third generation Siri remote, does not include that level of support.

That's not to say you are stuck if your Apple TV remote falls down the back of the couch, or into the fourth dimension where it's impossible to see no matter how hard you look. Because the Apple TV app actually has a feature to locate it. It's similar to the precision tracking Apple already offers for other devices, even if it isn't quite as accurate.

Here's how it works:

This is about all you get when it comes to tracking your remote down, though. In my case the issue was that we had absolutely no idea where the remote could be, and any attempt to look in or around the couch proved absolutely fruitless.

I went so deep into the cushions that I managed to find an unopened can of Pepsi that had been sitting there for an undetermined amount of time. No, I have no idea how that got there either, usually the depths of my couch are only home to dog fur, crumbs and the occasional missing Lego piece. Still, no matter how hard my wife and I looked, we could not find the remote.

It even got to the point where I wondered if I'd accidentally dropped it in a box of stuff I'd taken to the trash earlier that day. The Remote app's tracking feature didn't help me nail down an exact location, but it gave me a rough idea on where the blasted remote actually was — even with the interference from the couch itself. Once I knew where to look, the job became significantly easier.

That said, it still required some effort on my part, including slowly moving the couch until the remote revealed itself. It turned out the thing was hiding under the back of the couch, and since my couch doesn't leave a huge gap between it and the floor, the remote wasn't visible all the times I'd gone down with a flashlight to try and find it.

So there are definitely things Apple could do to make that hunting process easier.

How Apple could improve remote discoverability

I've seen a lot of people asking why the Apple TV remote doesn't have an AirTag installed, and at first I agreed with them. Then I realized that the Apple TV remote doesn't need an AirTag, per se, at least not in the way people think. Considering the TV remote almost never leaves the room, let alone the house, tracking down its geographical location isn't a priority.

There's already something similar to precision tracking, albeit without the same distance levels you'd get with Ultrawideband-enabled devices like AirTags and recent iPhones. So adding UWB and a distance meter would definitely be a welcome change when the next Apple TV 4K box is released.

What's really missing is the fact that the current Siri remote doesn't have any kind of speaker. That means if the remote does go missing, you have to go through a process of trial and error to hunt it down — rather than just forcing it to play a sound and make the process that much easier.

I'll admit, most remotes don't have built-in trackers, and if it disappears down into the depths of your couch then you have to go looking for it without any technological help. But since Apple has already gone halfway there, there's no reason why it can't push ahead with an experience that's even closer to using an actual AirTag.

After all, the Siri Remote is quite skinny, and a lot easier to lose than most streaming remotes — particularly those ones that use replaceable AAA batteries.

Bottom line

If you end up in a situation when your Apple TV remote goes missing, your first instinct is probably to use the Remote app as a substitute. It's one of the great things about the best streaming boxes, there's almost always an app for that — especially on iPhones.

But Apple's remote app has the thing that could help you get the real thing back, and without paying $59 for a replacement Apple TV remote. There are some ways it could be improved, but it's still much better than the alternative. So the next time your remote goes missing, either at the hands of a tech-obsessed toddler or for some other reason, make sure to load up the Apple Remote app to help hunt it down.

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The iPhone Duo isn't available yet, and pre-orders aren't set to open until October 16 — but that doesn't mean you won't see ads promising to let you pre-order the foldable. These ads are a scam, and you should avoid them at all costs.

Spotted by Malwarebytes, this scam promises buyers that they can save $500 by pre-ordering an iPhone Duo. I can see the appeal of that when the Duo starts at $2,000, but that's a big red flag. If something seems too good to be true, it probably is, but logic tends to go out the window when hundreds of dollars are on the line.

This isn't just your ordinary run-of-the-mill scam, though. Malwarebytes reports that the bogus pre-order page is actually using a leaked DarkSword exploit chain to try and crack into vulnerable iPhones. A successful version of this exploit attempts to steal any saved credentials, notes and crypto wallet data. This exploit targets iPhones running iOS 18.4 to iOS 18.6.2, but apparently the offending code shouldn't affect iPads or Macs.

The scary part? The exploit starts when you open the webpage. You don't need to download or click anything, nor do you have to fill out the fake pre-order form for things to start going south.

The page certainly looks legitimate. It has Apple's logos, font, copyright information and overall language style. Unlike a lot of scams there aren't any obvious typos or grammatical mistakes . However all the links to things like the privacy policy and terms & conditions don't actually go anywhere.

The fake pre-order form does feature some red flags, such as the mention of a "Natural titanium" color, despite the fact the iPhone Duo is only available in Start White and Night Sky (black). It also gets the dimensions wrong, listing size options of 6.3- and 6.9-inches, which are the screen sizes on iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The Duo only comes in one size, with a 7.6-inch foldable screen and 5.4-inch cover display.

But by that point it's already too late and the DarkSword exploit has already begun. However, this form does hand over a bunch of your personal data directly to the scammers, letting them use it as they please. That includes selling it for profit, using it to try and scam you even further and all those other risks that come from exposure of your personal data.

How to protect yourself

The first thing you can do to ensure this scam doesn't affect you, is to update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS. Since it only affects certain versions of iOS 18, updating to the newly-released iOS 27 will ensure that your iPhone is protected from DarkSword. It also means you have access to the best new iOS 27 features and updates, some of which are incredibly useful.

Apple has patched the exploit already, but it can't forcibly send fixes to your phone if you ignore the update notices iOS sends you. It's not pestering you for the sake of being annoying, those patches are important.

The second is to always be wary about the kind of links you click — especially if you're not keeping your device software up to date. If an ad is offering something a little too unbelievable, steer clear. Odds are it's some kind of honeypot designed to lure you in for other nefarious purposes.

Finally, be sure to only pre-order iPhones from legitimate channels. That means the Apple Store, major retailers like Walmart or Best Buy, as well as the best phone carriers. Many of those third parties will also have different deals, but for something as new and sought after as the iPhone Duo they're likely to come in the form of enhanced trade-ins or discounted data plans — not money off the phone itself.

As for Apple, they almost never offer discounts on their devices, certainly not at the start of their life cycle. So any official looking sites offering major discounts is guaranteed to be some sort of scam. And just to reiterate, pre-orders for the Duo open on October 16, and won't be available anywhere until that day.

If you have already accidentally clicked a potentially dangerous link, don't worry, Malwarebytes recommends updating your phone and restarting it. Apparently the exploit doesn't continue stealing data after a reboot, though there's no telling what they may have stolen before that. If that has happened be sure to create a new crypto wallet with a different recovery phrase, and transfer your money over.

Likewise, you should change any passwords that may have been stolen. iOS 27 does have a feature that can do this for you in the event of future data breaches, but for now you'll need to do it all manually.

More from Tom's Guide

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If you've ever asked Siri AI a follow-up question only to have it seemingly forget what you were talking about, the problem wasn't necessarily that Siri couldn't hear you.

It was that the assistant was built for a very different era of AI.

That's according to Nikola Mrkšić, CEO and co-founder of conversational AI company PolyAI, who previously worked on the technology behind Siri. I asked him why Apple's assistant has historically struggled with the kind of natural, back-and-forth conversation that now feels routine with ChatGPT and Gemini.

His answer comes down to a fundamental difference in how the technology works.

"The old Siri worked off enumerated intents: every path a conversation could take had to be mapped out in advance," Mrkšić tells Tom's Guide. "The moment you deviated from the script, the system got stuck."

That explains a lot about the Siri we've spent the past decade talking to.

Old Siri was essentially following a script

When Siri was built, developers couldn't simply give an AI model a conversation and let it figure out what the user wanted. Instead, engineers had to anticipate what people might ask and build flows capable of handling those requests.

Setting an alarm was one flow. Playing music was another. Sending a text was another. The problem appeared when humans, well, behaved like humans.

Change your mind halfway through a request, refer back to something you said earlier or phrase a question in an unexpected way and suddenly the carefully constructed path could fall apart.

"It looked like the assistant had forgotten what it was doing, but really it was just cornered," Mrkšić said.

One particularly difficult problem was disambiguation. If you asked Siri to contact someone whose name sounded similar to another person in your contacts, engineers had to build systems capable of working out which person you meant. I actually ran into this myself when my daughter was born. Because the spelling of her name is different than the typical spelling and I was asking Siri to share pictures of her with family and friends, I actually had to put her name into my contacts at birth.

Mrkšić described the process as building an "ontology of a conversation": mapping the different directions an interaction might go and trying to make common tasks hold up within that structure.

Rather than engineers trying to predict every possible conversational path, an LLM like ChatGPT or Gemini can consider the conversation itself as context and determine how to respond.

That's why talking to Gemini Live or ChatGPT Voice can feel fundamentally different from talking to the Siri many of us grew accustomed to.

Why Siri couldn't simply be upgraded into ChatGPT

That raises an obvious question: couldn't Apple have simply upgraded the Siri it already had? Not really, according to Mrkšić.

"Not into something like ChatGPT," he said.

Part of the problem was technological. Before modern LLMs, the ability to have genuinely free-flowing conversations simply wasn't there.

But Mrkšić argues there was another limitation: risk.

"Siri never set out to be a ChatGPT-style assistant," he said. "Apple's leadership has always run a low risk appetite, so any Siri response that could be misread as offensive or wrong got treated as a real risk."

The safer option was to tightly define what Siri could do.

Ask it to set an alarm, play a song or add something to your calendar and Apple could reasonably predict what would happen. Give an AI far more freedom to interpret what someone means and suddenly its behavior becomes much harder to control.

That tension hasn't disappeared just because the models have improved.

AI has largely solved Siri's short-term memory problem

One of the most frustrating things about traditional voice assistants is how easily they lose the thread of a conversation.

Mrkšić says remembering what someone said earlier in the same conversation is "largely solved at the model level." Current models can process enormous amounts of context, giving them far more room than necessary to keep track of an ordinary conversation.

So, if an assistant suddenly appears to forget what you said, the model itself may not always be the problem.

Companies still place rules and structures around models to control what they can do. According to Mrkšić, those constraints can sometimes create the impression that an assistant has lost the conversation when it has actually run into the boundaries placed around it.

There's also a much harder kind of memory to solve: knowing you. An assistant that remembers what you said five minutes ago is useful. An assistant that understands the people in your life, your routines, your emails and the things you're working on could be far more useful.

And that's where Apple faces an interesting trade-off.

Apple's biggest Siri advantage could also be its biggest challenge

Apple potentially has something ChatGPT and other standalone AI apps don't automatically have: deep access to the operating system. Your iPhone contains messages, emails, photos, contacts and other personal information that could provide an AI assistant with the context it needs to understand what you're actually asking.

"In theory, yes," Mrkšić said when I asked whether that gives Siri an advantage. "OS-level access to email, messages, photos, whatever's on your screen, is exactly the context that makes an AI assistant useful, more than any app-based chatbot can get without additional connectors."

The catch is privacy and trust. Apple has spent years positioning privacy as one of the iPhone's defining features. Giving an AI assistant enough personal context to become genuinely useful therefore requires Apple to walk a much narrower line than simply building a chatbot that knows more about you.

Mrkšić argues that Apple's privacy approach has historically limited the amount of user data available to its systems compared with some competitors.

"Voice agents become more useful the more they know about you," he said.

That may ultimately be the real test for Siri: not whether Apple can build an intelligent model, but how much personal context it is willing to let that model use.

Even the way you say something matters

There's another reason talking is harder than typing: humans are messy speakers. We pause. We interrupt ourselves. We change our minds in the middle of sentences.

Imagine saying, "Make the appointment for 2 ... 3 PM."

A human listener can hear the pause and change in your voice and understand that you corrected yourself. A system that converts your speech into text before reasoning over it may only have the transcript to work with.

That can strip away information carried in your tone, timing and delivery. Newer audio-native AI models are designed to reason over audio directly rather than relying entirely on a transcript. Mrkšić points to PolyAI's own Dialog-RSN-1 as an example of that approach.

For an assistant like Siri, understanding those cues could eventually make conversations feel much less like issuing commands to a computer and much more like simply talking.

What Siri still needs to get right

The surprising part of Mrkšić's assessment is that the underlying AI may no longer be the hardest part.

The technology already exists for voice agents to hold long, natural conversations. PolyAI, for example, deploys conversational agents for businesses in industries including banking, hospitality and healthcare.

The bigger question for Apple is what it is willing to let Siri do.

"What's missing is Apple's willingness to loosen its constraints somewhat so that Siri can truly help you get things done," Mrkšić said.

The next generation of voice assistants won't be defined simply by whether they can answer a follow-up question or remember what you said three sentences ago. ChatGPT, Gemini and other modern AI systems have already changed expectations around that. The bigger leap comes when an assistant understands enough about you and has enough access to actually act on what you're saying.

Apple has an enormous advantage because Siri already lives on the devices where much of our digital lives happen. But taking advantage of that position means solving a problem that's as much about trust and product philosophy as it is about AI.

The technology that made the old Siri feel like it was constantly forgetting you is disappearing. Now Apple has to decide how much it wants the new Siri to remember.

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If you want to get professional with your videos, you should check out Final Cut Camera on your iPhone. The Apple-owned app features recording and shooting options that you won't find in the normal Camera app, including exposure control and monitoring tools that pros use.

For those with or planning to get the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max, today Apple released an update to Final Cut Camera that adds support for the new variable lens, a streamlined UI and more.

What is Final Cut Camera?

For the unfamiliar, the iOS Camera app is already pretty good for shooting videos with simple controls, HDR and SDR recording, slow motion and even a Cinematic mode. However, if you want more control with settings and option adjustments, it can be a bit of a pain.

Final Cut Camera puts those controls front and center with an interface that lets you swap between exposure modes, change frame rate, color modes and encoding formats. It also includes multicam recording to sync multiple iPhones.

What's new

Version 2.4 brings a new interface meant to give you easier access to settings like shutter angle, ISO, and white balance using customizable overlays. The updated controls include a new tally light to indicate when recording is underway, and a two-finger tap control to clear the viewfinder so you can see your shot.

The update also supports the new Variable Aperture lens in the iPhone 18 Pro models. This will let you dial in your aperture settings or choose your shutter priority and aperture priority modes.

For editing, version 2.4 gets Cinematic mode effects for your videos including those captured in ProRes and Apple Log. This will let you adjust focus points and depth of field while editing in Final Cut Pro.

Finally, in iOS 27 the app now has support for professional video scopes, clean SDI out and genlock offset.

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A new report from the Chinese publication Jiemian News revealed both bad news and good news about iPhone Duo production.

According to the article, Apple has not completed the expected mass production ramp-up for the company's first foldable phone. Foxconn, Apple's manufacturing partner, has only managed a yield rate of 60%, even with a small production run.

The yield percentage refers to the number of viable devices created during a manufacturing run. At 60%, that means 40% of the produced devices have some flaw that would prevent Apple from selling them.

Even before the announcement earlier this month, it was rumored that Apple was having production issues and that it would only be available in "extremely limited stock." Largely, this is based on the complicated manufacturing process for the foldable phone.

Exacting standards

Here's the caveated good news: per Jiemian, the low yield is thanks to Apple's quality standards, which the company refuses to relax.

"The supply chain is now waiting for Apple to make a decision on whether to relax the quality requirements," an unnamed source who is allegedly close to the Foxconn supply chain told the outlet (machine translated). "If the quality requirements are relaxed, it will be possible to move towards mass production more quickly."

The source reported that the production line is still debugging the process and repeatedly adjusting things during actual production to optimize equipment and processes.

Reportedly, delays in receiving Samsung Display's OLED panels and some hinge-components have also contributed to delays and lower yields.

Manufacturing isn't expecting to reach maturity for at least another six months.

Apple is only expected to produce around 6 to 8 million iPhone Duo units for its global inventory, a third of what the company will make for the more mature iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which should get between 20 and 30 million.

Expectations and price

If Apple is able to sell out an initial inventory of 8 million Duos, that would be a major win for the company.

We're still two weeks out from the launch date of October 16, and you can preorder now if you're interested.

With a starting price of $1,999, Apple's take on the foldable is more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, but it's nice to know that Apple's high standards means you should get a quality, working device if you buy one.

Apple is causing quite the stir with the Duo but, it'll be interesting to see if customers respond. As we found in a recent reader poll, most of you are more interested in the Z Fold 8 which has seen a surge in popularity since Apple's announcement.

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After Apple revealed the iPhone Duo at its September launch event, you may have assumed we'd found out everything there is to know about the phone. That's apparently not the case. A new leak has revealed specific details about the foldable's StandBy Mode that Apple hasn't officially shared yet.

Apple already confirmed that StandBy would be coming to iPhone Duo, and that the feature would work regardless of the physical configuration of the phone. It's also available to use without having to plug the Duo in to charge, which is a privilege the company doesn't offer to other iPhones. But leaker pdfu just discovered a bunch more uses, thanks to a code deep-dive.

Specifically pdfu uncovered several new StandBy faces for the iPhone Duo, including:

• Home Camera, which features between one and nine live camera feeds
• Home Modular, which pdfu speculates is a screen focused on home accessories
• Flow, which is assumed to be an abstract animated design
• Face, which is a total unknown
• Snoopy, which is almost certainly another Apple tie-in with Peanuts

To me, that suggests Apple is prepping StandBy Mode to be more of a smart home hub than a glorified clock and weather device. Considering the long-standing rumors that Apple has a dedicated Smart Display in the works (tentatively called the HomePad), it makes sense that it would try and expand those features to tablet-like devices like iPhone Duo.

The question is whether iPadOS may finally get its own StandBy mode as well. If the Duo is getting its own version, and without needing to charge, then there's little reason why iPads can't follow suit.

Pdfu also discovered a new face editor, which they liken to the Apple Watch face editor. This mode lets you swipe between settings and different options. Those options include a calendar, plus analog and digital clock faces, with different looks, fonts and color options to choose from.

The code also mentions five separate layouts for the Duo's StandBy mode, including StandBy, Stacked, Top, Middle and Bottom. Pdfu speculates that the last four are intended for the foldable screen, while StandBy sounds just like the normal StandBy mode iPhones have had for a few years.

You can see all the leaked designs in greater detail by checking out pdfu's thread on X. Meanwhile, let me know what your early impressions are of the iPhone Duo in the comments below.

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There are a lot of things to love about the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, but they definitely are not perfect. There are things that Apple's latest flagships are missing, and that could give Samsung an advantage with the release of the Galaxy S27 Ultra next year.

Success over Apple isn't guaranteed, but with Galaxy S27 Ultra rumors arriving pretty regularly, we're getting a good idea of what the next Samsung flagship could offer. There could be some pretty big changes, including a brand new design that ditches the vertical camera array of the last several generations of Galaxy phones.

That's only scratching the surface. These 5 things in particular could help the Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra beat the iPhone 18 Pro — but there are two ways Apple could stay on top.

A bigger battery

Samsung already proved that it has what it takes to boost battery capacity without affecting the design of the device — as we saw with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's 5,000 mAh silicon carbon battery. Rumor has it that Samsung could utilize the same tech in the S27 Ultra, which makes total sense considering how long the Ultra models have been stuck with 5,000 mAh batteries

Regulator documents have already revealed that Samsung could add a 5,700 mAh battery to the phone. That's a 14% increase over the Galaxy S26 Ultra, and while it's nowhere near as large as the 7,300 mAh OnePlus 15, it's still a noticeable jump in available power. That should hopefully increase the overall battery life. That said, we won't know whether it will exceed the iPhone 18 Pro Max's 18 hours and 27 minutes.

That would require an extra two hours of battery life on Samsung's part, so it better get to work on the efficiency side of things.

An improved privacy display

The Privacy Display is the S26 Ultra's stand-out feature, but it wasn't perfect, and what we really want to see are some improvements to the technology. We'd hope that means brighter overall displays, even when Privacy Display is turned off, and more versatile use of the dimmed sections of the screen.

The latter may be coming true, with leaker Ice Universe claiming that Samsung will adopt a feature that Xiaomi included on the newly-released 18 Pro — a split-screen privacy display. This feature would work in tandem with the S27 Ultra's multitasking, and would expand or contract according to how big the different windows are. The other window is fully lit and visible.

S Pen

While the iPhone Duo is set to get Apple Pencil support, the iPhone 18 Pro does not. The Samsung Galaxy S27 Ultra is likely to stick with the same level of S Pen support Samsung has offered for the past several years.

We're not expecting any major changes with the S27 Ultra's S Pen. This means you shouldn't expect to see the return of Bluetooth or other more advanced functionality we have seen in previous years. But even the simplest S Pen around is something that Apple doesn't offer on its flagship. So if you like to use a stylus to draw, take notes or make fine photo edits, the S27 Ultra is a more appealing device.

Better camera hardware

Ultra-tier Galaxy phones already have superior camera hardware, thanks to the 200MP main sensor, but things could be getting even better with the S27 Ultra — in the front and back of the phone.

The first upgrade rumor is the addition of a 16MP selfie camera, which would be a notable upgrade from the 12MP shooter on the S26 Ultra. While that's still a little bit less than the 18MP Center Stage camera on iPhone 18 Pro, it's still a welcome upgrade. However, Samsung could jump ahead with rumors of a large sensor on the telephoto lens.

Some rumors suggest that Samsung could offer a larger 1/1.9-inch telephoto sensor, but as a result reduce the amount of optical zoom from 5x magnification to 4x. However, this has been disputed by some leakers, who claim Samsung is sticking with the same 5x 1/2.52-inch sensor as the S26 Ultra. But either way, it's a telephoto lens offering higher resolution and sensor size than the 48MP 1/2.55-inch sensor on iPhone 18 Pro Max.

A 16GB RAM option

While it's unlikely that we'll see the S27 Ultra get a full 16GB of RAM in its cheapest form, there's still a good chance the pricier 1TB models will get that memory boost. This should in turn give those models a slight advantage when it comes to processing, specifically where on-device AI is concerned.

Considering on-device AI is a big focus for Apple, the 12GB of RAM in the iPhone 18 Pro doesn't seem quite so impressive. The S27 Ultra, with more advanced Galaxy AI and computing hardware, could end up leaving the iPhone 18 Pro in the dust here.

2 ways Apple can still win

Performance power

We can't say for certain how powerful the Galaxy S27 Ultra will be, but we have tested the chip that should power the phone when it arrives next year — the Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6. We have done some benchmarking tests with a Qualcomm Reference Device, which gives us an idea of how the chip should perform. As powerful as it is, it doesn't really compare to Apple's A20 Pro in a lot of areas.

As you can see, the A20 Pro pulls ahead in most areas, including single- and multi-core benchmarking tests, and 3DMark's Solar Bay Extreme graphics test. The figures are close in a lot of places, but the only time the Gen 6 chip outpaces Apple is with the 3DMark Wildlife Extreme graphics test.

We don't know how Qualcomm's chip will perform on the S27 Ultra, especially if Samsung gets another custom "for Galaxy" chipset, but for now it seems like Apple certainly has the upper hand.

More storage

As small a difference as it may be, we know that Apple currently offers more storage space than Samsung — offering a maximum storage space of 2TB to Samsung's 1TB. There's always the possibility that this could change, but the rumors suggest otherwise. In fact, the S27 series will apparently have the exact same storage options as the S26 series. This means the Ultra will max out at 1TB.

Those larger storage variants might get LPDDR6 RAM and UFS 5.1 storage, which would be a benefit for performance and loading speed. Sadly, your maximum limit will be the same 1TB as always, if these rumors are to be believed.

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I’ve spent the last couple of weeks testing both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which revealed some of their biggest upgrades — like the class-leading performance of the A20 Pro chip and improved battery life. But with the launch of the iPhone Duo right around the corner, plenty of people are likely still undecided about which one they should buy.

The fact that the Duo is Apple’s first-ever foldable device is appealing all on its own. Who wouldn’t want the novelty of having an expansive 7.6-inch canvas to multitask and watch videos on the go? However, the price gap certainly gives reason to pause. With a starting price of $1,999, the iPhone Duo commands a massive premium over the $1,299 iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Paying significantly more for the Duo doesn't just mean a lighter wallet — it comes with the reality of accepting some real compromises. And I'm not just talking about potential iPhone Duo dealbreakers we've already covered, like the lack of telephoto zoom and Face ID. After testing the 18 Pro lineup, these are the 7 features you’re giving up if you choose the iPhone Duo over the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Proper MagSafe compatibility

MagSafe is no longer just an option for me — it’s a necessity given the utility it offers. While the iPhone Duo does include a magnetic ring, I won’t be able to use my favorite MagSafe accessories nearly as smoothly as I do on the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

That's because the Duo's folding design shifts internal components and cuts into rear real estate. Meaning, standard-sized MagSafe accessories don't sit flush against the back. A perfect example is the MagSafe wallets I've tested, which would overhang past the bottom edge of the frame. Sure, they might still technically stick — but you lose the seamless feel that makes the ecosystem so good in the first place.

Variable aperture

Even now, I’m constantly impressed watching the mechanical aperture blades over the main camera open and close on the iPhone 18 Pro series. This new system finally brings true optical versatility, letting me stop down to keep expansive landscapes in razor-sharp focus or open wide to produce authentic background blur in portraits.

I won’t have that mechanical control on the iPhone Duo, leaving me entirely at the mercy of digital post-processing and simulated depth maps. Missing out on the iPhone 18 Pro Max's physical aperture also means losing creative flexibility in other shooting scenarios — like intentionally adding motion blur with moving subjects.

Action Button

Whether you stick with its default setting or customize it, the Action button on the iPhone 18 Pro Max offers genuine utility and granular control over how the phone behaves.

I rely on it daily for tactile access to my flashlight, camera presets, and favorite Shortcuts — a luxury the iPhone Duo simply won't have. That absence stings even more on a foldable, where a programmable physical key could have effortlessly launched two apps side by side with a single click.

ProRAW/ProRES

For serious shooters like myself, Apple ProRAW and ProRes on the iPhone 18 Pro Max provide an essential layer of control in the editing room. ProRAW captures uncompressed files with full sensor readout, giving me the ability to recover highlights, lift shadows, and fine-tune white balance. Pair that with ProRes video — which preserves 10-bit color depth and low compression for smooth scrubbing — and the 18 Pro Max can easily double as an A-cam when I can't use my professional setup.

With the iPhone Duo, though, you’re limited to standard HEIF and JPEG photos alongside heavily compressed video. While those are perfectly fine for quick social shares, they strip away the post-production editing workflow that lets me get the most out of the cameras.

Log recording

Another video-centric feature that delivers noticeable quality gains is Apple Log on the iPhone 18 Pro Max. While the unedited footage looks flat and desaturated straight out of camera, the Log profile preserves maximum dynamic range in the highlights and shadows — giving me far more control when color grading. That becomes especially crucial whenever I need to match mobile clips to footage shot on dedicated mirrorless cameras.

Because Log recording isn’t available on the iPhone Duo, I’d be stuck with Apple’s baked-in color science and contrast. That’s more than fine for casual social clips, but if you rely on your phone as a reliable B-cam, losing Log support makes the Duo a tough sell for serious video workflows.

Spatial photos and videos

Even if it isn't an everyday shooting mode for most people, the ability to capture spatial photos and videos has real perks. The iPhone 18 Pro Max has the calibrated sensor array required to record lifelike stereoscopic media ready for playback on Apple Vision Pro — while letting you preview that parallax effect right inside the Photos app.

Because the iPhone Duo lacks a LiDAR scanner and the necessary lens alignment, spatial capture isn't an option. That's a miss in my book, especially given how much more pronounced and lifelike the 3D depth feels with static shots. It's way more genuine than the AI-assisted generation of Reframe.

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I have a confession to make. I totally missed the release of “Trying” season 5 on Apple TV over the summer. For me, this is doubly embarrassing. Firstly, because as a streaming editor, it’s my job to be on the pulse of the latest arrivals on the best streaming service, and secondly, because I’ve been shouting about (and writing about) this wonderfully warm show for years.

The moment I discovered that “Trying” season 5 was out, I dropped everything and got down to binge-watching. Within a single day, I’d consumed all eight episodes. That speaks to the easygoing nature of Apple TV’s best comfort watch. And yes, that’s a shot at “Ted Lasso.” The optimistic soccer coach might get all the press, but real ones know that “Trying” is actually the most charming show on the platform. It's a simple series, but so very sweet.

For those out of the loop, “Trying” follows a young(ish) couple, Nikki (Esther Smith) and Jason (Rafe Spall), who enter the world of adoption after difficulties conceiving a child. With their eccentric friends and family in tow, they navigate the lengthy process while trying to prove they're grown-up enough to handle the responsibilities that come with being parents.

Across its first four seasons, “Trying” struck a perfect balance between good-natured comedy and a sensitive exploration of deeper issues, like the challenges of the adoption process. In season 5, you'll find more of the same. But that's not a criticism. “Trying” isn’t a show that thrives on shocking mid-series twists, and as a viewer since day one, that’s exactly why I love it.

‘Trying’ remains sugary sweet (even if it’s losing some steam)

“Trying” season 5 briskly picks up in the wake of season 4’s cliffhanger that saw Princess (Scarlett Rayner) and Tyler’s (Cooper Turner) biological mom, Kat (Charlotte Riley), show up on the doorstep of Nikki and Jason’s London home. The focus of the fifth season is largely on Princess’ attempts to connect with her long-absent biological mother and how Nikki handles this new family dynamic (oddly, Kat seems entirely disinterested in her son, and vice versa).

Another plot point sees recurring character Scott (Darren Boyd) attempting to row the Atlantic Ocean single-handedly. “Trying” fans know that Scott’s hairbrained schemes never really work out, so unsurprisingly this latest one quickly falls apart. Scott and Sian Brooke's Karen continue to be a highlight, taking the spotlight in the season's best episode, "The Hurricane"

Overall, it’s an unambitious season of television. The core cast is unchanged, aside from Kat, who was already introduced in a season 4 episode. There is little noticeable character development, and the overarching plot barely develops between episodes. But “Trying” was never about grand multi-episode arcs. It’s a show of simple moments between likeable characters, and in this area, “Trying” season 5 maintains the show’s overall consistency.

The show's dependable gentle comedy is here in spades, and the banter between Nikki and Jason remains one of “Trying’s” biggest strengths. However, a short-lived arc in which Nikki develops a crush on her attractive new co-worker feels ill-judged. Meritfully, it’s wrapped up without melodrama.

For the more cynical viewers, there is an argument to be made that “Trying” season 5 fails to justify its own existence. By the end, most characters are in the same spot where they began, and the new story arcs that have sprung up are resolved quickly, or even discarded, such as Jason’s new career training to be a social worker, which amounts to very little over the course of the season.

I also couldn’t help but notice that “Trying” season 5 doesn’t end with a cliffhanger of its own. Instead, the final scene feels more like a series finale, rather than just the latest chapter coming to an end. I won’t be surprised if “Trying” season 5 marks the end of the show.

If that is the case, I’m content. We got five seasons of a show that never conquered the mainstream in the way “Ted Lasso” did. It feels like a bit of a miracle we got to spend so much time with Nikki and Jason in a streaming era where unceremonious cancellations are commonplace. And it’s clear at this point that “Trying” has little road left to run. Nikki and Jason have their family and have proved more than capable of providing a loving home.

Watch "Trying" seasons 1- 5 on Apple TV now

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Being able to carry a powerful camera in my pocket is fantastic, and I can't tell you the number of times I've been able to pull out my phone to snap something that would have otherwise vanished in a second. The problem is that smartphones are not so great and shooting a lot of photos in a short space of time.

The lack of a burst mode has always irked me, especially since I'm often trying to take photos of things that are moving around — mainly my dogs or my son. My workaround has been to shoot video and then try and screenshot the appropriate frame, but those results are often lacking. You lose resolution and the whole process is rather fiddly, as you try and find the perfect frame.

Thankfully Google and Apple have each developed systems to do this exact thing, without all the same pitfalls. The execution is very different, though, and I set out to see whether Google Pixel 11 Pro's Magic Capture or the Save Video Frame as Photo option from iPhone 18 Pro and iOS 27 offered a better experience.

What are Magic Capture and Save Video Frame as Photo?

Magic Capture is a new AI-powered feature exclusive to Google's Pixel 11 series, and it functions as a separate mode within the Pixel camera app. Magic Capture records videos up to two minutes in length, and once finished, uses AI to analyze the footage and export a handful of frames as standalone photos.

The crucial thing there is that the whole process is automatic. You don't get to choose what Magic Capture picks out, and the number of photos you get is actually pretty limited. You get one photo at first, but that number increases to five once the cloud-based processing is complete.

In contrast to this, Apple's Save Video Frame as Photo feature is all on you. Rather than having a specialist camera mode, or complicated AI integration, it all functions as a feature in the Apple Photos app. Simply find a video you want to pull photos from, tap the three-dot menu in the top-right corner, and tap the Save Video Frame as Photo option.

Tapping that option then isolates the frame that's on screen and exports it to Apple Photos as a photo. It doesn't matter whether the video is playing, or if you've paused it, the feature will work as advertised, dropping the newly-created photo at the end of your timeline. Naturally, the manual process means you're not guaranteed to get a good photo, since it only copies what's seen on screen.

How do they actually differ in practice?

Magic Capture is certainly the more convenient method of extracting photos from video, though it definitely comes with some downsides. The fact that you can record a video clip, and have Google's AI do all the hard work for you to get things done quickly and stress-free. That said, the limitations do get in the way.

One issue is that Magic Capture is limited to two minutes of actual use. That's not an issue for short bursts of video, but if you want continuous, uninterrupted recording, you're out of luck. Similarly the feature sticks you with five photos no matter how long the clip is — no more, no less. It doesn't matter whether you record 30 seconds or the full two minutes, you get five photos.

If you want anything more, or you don't like what Magic Capture selected, you're going to have to do things the old fashioned way. That is less than ideal, especially since Magic Capture was supposed to solve this problem. The reliance on cloud processing may also be a little much for some people, depending on how much you trust Google's servers to keep your video clips secure.

Apple's system has no such limitations, because it doesn't rely on AI processing or a specialist camera. You simply record a video as normal, with no extra caveats or conditions you need to meet. The obvious downside is that you need to pull each individual frame out manually, which is not that easy — especially on an iPhone touchscreen.

There's a difference between photographs and video frames, since one is designed to be standalone and the other is one part of something much larger. Without the surrounding frames, that single snapshot could look like absolute garbage. And that happens quite a lot with the Save Video Frame as Photo feature. Not always, and rapid movement definitely makes it a lot harder, but it is something to be aware of.

The process is fairly simple, though. You load up the video you recorded in Apple Photos, and slide the progress bar along until you get to the frame you want to see as a photo. The main issue is that doing it in Portrait mode is not easy, especially if it's a particularly long video. This isn't like VLC, where you can advance frame by frame until you get to the spot you want.

There isn't enough finesse in my fingers to be super accurate with everything, but I found that flipping the phone into landscape mode made the process slightly easier. Similarly, loading up the video on my iPad and cycling through the video using the Apple Pencil made it feel as though I had more control over the entire process. Yes, iPadOS 27 has this feature too, and it works in the exact same way.

Clipping videos down into shorter clips can also be a big help, since the playback bar is the same size no matter the length of the video in question.

Verdict: Which is the better option?

The most important thing to remember about Magic Capture and Apple's Save Video Frame as Photo is that they are both rather different methods of reaching the same goal. The way they work is going to impact which of these is actually right for you, and the truth is that neither of them is a bad option.

Magic Capture has its limits, but it's the easiest way to get a handful of photos from short video clips. Personally I think Google's option is better suited to those times when you know getting a good photo is going to be difficult, but you don't want the moment to pass. So you use Magic Capture to record the video, and have Google AI select five photos of the event in question.

Meanwhile Apple's Save Video Frame to Photo feature is arguably better for those times you know you're going to be recording anyway, but want to be able to export different frames as their own photos. Or, alternatively, for those of you that prefer to put the effort into generating those photos yourself, rather than having a faceless collection of cloud-based AI algorithms do it for you. It's certainly the more labor-intensive option, but it's also the one that ensures better data security. Provided you have the will and means to go through your video frame-by-frame — or close enough to it.

A blend of the two wouldn't be a bad option, especially if Apple can adapt its own version of Magic Capture through Private Cloud Compute. However, we can all agree that it certainly beats the alternative of screenshotting videos and losing all resolution in the process.

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It feels strange to finally say it, but with iOS 27, Siri has become more useful than ever. When Apple debuted its voice assistant in the iPhone 4S all those years ago, we had no idea it would become a punchline for so long, paling in comparison to Amazon's Alexa and Google's Home Assistant before being blown away by LLMs like ChatGPT, Claude, and Gemini.

Now, though, the Cupertino firm's AI tech has finally caught up (with a little help from Google's Gemini). Apple Intelligence may have felt like vaporware after its demo a couple of years ago, but now it's the real deal across pretty much all of Apple's 27 operating systems.

Sure, you can ask how many millilitres are in a teaspoon, how many letters are in a word, and all sorts of other relatively generic questions, but the real strength of Siri AI and Apple Intelligence is in its awareness of personal context. Your iPhone knows your contacts, can read your messages and emails, and check your calendar, meaning it can surface the appropriate information when it's needed. Here are some examples.

Before we begin

It's worth noting that you'll need Siri AI on your device. That sounds obvious, but it's not available in all regions, and is notably not coming to the EU anytime soon.

You'll also need to activate it within the Settings menu and ensure it indexes all of the relevant information from your apps. This can take a little while (sometimes more than a few hours), so be patient.

Surface a recommendation

My friends and I have similar music tastes, which means our group chat is always getting fresh links for Spotify. That means I can say "what was that song Phil recommended to me last week?" And have Siri pull a Spotify link from our chat for me to hit play.

It's worth noting that, at the time of writing, WhatsApp hasn't yet been updated for Siri AI, so your mileage may vary, but you can expect it to work with other links shared.

Plan the day ahead

While it is possible to use agentic AI and apps like Slashy to get a quick look at your day, Siri AI can find your appointments, too.

"Show me my meetings for this week" can highlight everything you have coming up, allowing you to easily plan out where you need to be and when.

Just don't forget that you need to enable each Calendar individually in your Settings app, lest you miss an important meeting because your work calendar wasn't ticked on the list!

Pick the best restaurant

Siri's new on-screen awareness means it notes what's going on while you use your iPhone, while Visual Intelligence is ideal for grabbing information from the world around you.

That means you pull up a few restaurants and ask Siri for recommendations based on user reviews, narrow the search to the types of food served, and more.

You can also use Visual Intelligence to instantly translate a menu, or ask for a deeper look at one item in particular. With a quick lookup, you can even find out nutritional information about something you're thinking of ordering.

Find that photo, and expand it

We've all been there. Whether it's a memory from last week, or years ago, we've all had to search for a specific photo in amongst the mess of our Photo Library, and there's a good chance it's not in a folder because who has the time?

Thankfully, asking Apple Intelligence for "all of the photos from the beach in Altea" will surface them. This also ties into the latest editing options, too. Asking Siri AI to "extend this image" will use the Extend tool to fill in around the outside of the image with generative AI, helping reframe your subject, too.

Manage your files

Asking Siri to find a file you've misplaced has saved me more time than I care to admit as a small business owner. Asking Siri AI to find a particular screenshot for a feature or identify the latest version of a file has also been super useful - not just on the iPhone, but also on iPad and Mac.

"Siri, where's that presentation for Tom's Guide?" highlights where it is, and I can even ask it to pull key data from the file itself.

Sure, a lot of this has been possible on Gemini devices for some time, but if you're new to using an AI assistant such as this, there's a ton of ways to learn the ropes. Our advice is to experiment!

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A quartet of unannounced Apple products was reportedly discovered in a company code that revealed images of a new iPad mini 8, iPad 12, HomePod mini 2, and the long-awaited Apple TV 4K refresh.

The images were found by Aaron Perris, a regular contributor to MacRumors. It's not clear what code Perris dug through to find the images, though usually it's one of the major operating systems like iOS or macOS.

Per MacRumors, where the images were discovered indicates that these devices could launch very soon.

Here's what we know about the four products.

Apple TV 4K

The image Perris discovered appears to be labeled "Apple TV 4K (4th generation)." Based on this image, the fourth generation will look pretty much exactly the same as gen three.

The upgrades should all be inside, including a new chip, anything from an A17 Pro all the way up to the A20, based on rumors. The newer chip will come with more RAM and the ability to run Apple Intelligence and the new Siri AI.

It's also rumored to get an Apple-designed N1 chip (possibly the N2) and WiFi 7 support, plus an updated Remote.

iPad 12

Not every leaked image comes with potential technical specifications, but the iPad 12 apparently did. According to the code, Apple's updated entry-level iPad 12 will feature an A19 chip, an Apple-built C1X modem, an N1 chip and 8GB of RAM.

In all, those are expected updates based on previous rumors. Like the Apple TV, more RAM and a more recent chip will enable the iPad 12 to support Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, which the current iPad 11 can't run.

iPad mini 8

Interestingly, the leaked code of the iPad mini 8 doesn't seem to discuss the rumored OLED display. Instead, MacRumors found that it will have an A20 Pro chip, a new landscape front-facing camera, and an updated speaker system.

Many previous rumors have suggested that the next mini tablet will be the iPad mini with OLED, meant to launch this October. Just because OLED doesn't appear in the code doesn't mean that it won't launch this fall though.

That said, the iPad mini running the A20 Pro chip is new and should make Apple's smallest tablet quite powerful. For instance, the iPad mini 7, released two years ago features an A17 Pro chipset.

HomePod mini 2

It appears that new version of the HomePod mini will be released in five colors which appear to include white, black, green, blue and a pinkish variant. The current models come in blue, yellow, orange, midnight and white.

We've tracked the HomePod mini 2 on our rumor radar since at least 2023. It should be a simple update including a new chip that will likely let it run Apple Intelligence and Siri AI as with every other device listed above. It's also expected to have improved audio.

We expect all four devices to launch before the end of October alongside the HomePad smart home hub, and new M6 Macbooks.

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After years of delays, Siri AI is finally available for everyone bringing an Apple-supported AI experience to most of your devices. One of the few things that hasn't been graced with Siri Ai just yet to the HomePod smart speaker — but that might be changing soon.

Details related to Siri AI have been uncovered by pdfu in HomePod's audio OS 27 software. The code contains references to "Linwood," which is apparently the system that will power Siri AI on Apple's speaker. However, the downside is that it may not be available unless you buy a brand new HomePod first.

There are more updates than just which version of Siri you'll have access to. The light and sound effects on the HomePod seem to be changing, much like they do on other devices. The comparison pdfu posted shows the standard Siri with a simple "bing" chime and the classic rainbow light effects. Meanwhile Siri AI uses a lighter tone, with more yellows and blues, as well as a longer chime with an echo-effect.

Obviously audioOS 27 is already available and Siri AI is non-functional. This leads pdfu to speculate it may be limited to newer HomePod devices. However, they do note HomePod is "accepted as a Siri AI-capable device" and "activation is separately blocked in current versions."

That could mean that Apple is simply not ready to roll out Siri AI to HomePod yet, even if there's no hardware reason for it not to work.

We're not expecting a new version of the large HomePod anytime soon, but there have been rumors suggesting two different devices could be on the way. That includes the HomePod mini 2, which is supposedly coming with a newer chip, as well as the long-awaited Apple smart display — often referred to as a HomePad.

Considering the HomePad was reportedly delayed because Siri AI wasn't ready, we can certainly expect it to come equipped with the full range of Apple AI tools. As for other models, we're not so sure. However, it would be bizarre for Apple to restrict which devices can use Siri AI unless there are hardware incompatibility issues.

I would personally hope Apple is just holding off on releasing Siri AI to HomePods until the newer devices have been formally revealed. Sadly we'd need Apple to clarify what the deal is, otherwise all we can do is wildly speculate until an official announcement is made.

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• iOS 27 didn't add this anti-snatching feature to iPhone, but that doesn't mean it's been cancelled — here's why it's important
• Forget iPhone 18 Pro — 9 reasons to wait for the iPhone 20

Apple is slowly rolling out a revamped Health app for iPhone and Apple Watch, and you can try it now by downloading the iOS 27.2 public beta; you’ll also need to run watchOS 27 on your Apple Watch.

One of the coolest new features in the overhauled app is a series of at-home longevity assessments designed to be done in your living room using your iPhone’s camera and Apple Watch’s heart rate sensor.

These assessments provide insights into a user’s strength, balance, flexibility, and more. I tried both the balance and flexibility tests, which take about five to seven minutes each, and gained some valuable, surprising insights into my physical health. Here’s what I learned.

How Apple’s at-home longevity tests work

To perform one of these assessments, users are asked to place their iPhone on the ground, lean up against a wall, and then walk back ten to 12 feet, ensuring their entire body is framed within the front-facing camera’s view.

The assessments use a vision-based AI model to track your body movement as you perform each step. However, no video is actually being recorded during the assessment, and all the AI processing occurs on-device.

What I learned from Apple’s flexibility test

Once your iPhone is set up and you're well-framed in the center of the screen, it’s time to start the assessment.

An on-screen trainer demos the movements for each test with more than enough detail to easily follow along. For example, the flexibility assessment involves five different stretches to thoroughly determine your overall upper and lower body flexibility ratings. Ratings fall into one of four categories: Needs Improvement, Fair, Good, and Excellent.

So, how did I do? My upper body flexibility score was ‘Good,’ but my lower body flexibility score was only ‘Fair,’ lower than I expected. I performed the five tests in the assessment twice, just to be sure I properly followed all the instructions, and both times the results were the same.

Was I aware that my lower body flexibility could use some attention? Honestly, no, not at all. Now that I am, I plan to prioritize more workouts and stretches to improve it.

Helpfully, in addition to a rating, the new Health app also provides fairly comprehensive information on the best ways to make progress in either category, including suggested exercises to try.

My balance is better than my flexibility, according to Apple

The balance assessment is even easier than the flexibility one, involving just one test. Users are asked to stand on one foot, with their other foot suspended in the air behind them for as long as they can without touching the ground, for up to sixty seconds. You do this twice, once for each foot.

Once the countdown begins, calming music starts playing, while a voice periodically provides encouraging words. Balance is scored on the same rubric as flexibility.

Fortunately, this time around I scored an Excellent — again, I did the test twice — which was a lovely little ego boost after my mediocre flexibility performance.

Like an at-home physical exam

These are just two of the 17 longevity assessments found in the new Apple Health app. Once all the assessments are complete, the Health app generates a report based on the results to share with your doctor.

Ultimately, Apple’s new longevity assessment might be foreshadowing what the future of healthcare will look like, where users rely on a mix of AI-powered consumer tech and traditional doctor visits to better understand and improve their well-being.

What are your thoughts on Apple’s new longevity tests in the updated Health app in iOS 27.2? Are you looking forward to trying them yourself? Let me know in the comments below.

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Back in March we heard rumors that Apple could add an important anti-theft feature to iPhones: the ability for iOS to lock everything down in the event your phone is snatched out of your hands. While I had hoped that such a feature could launch with iOS 27, that hasn't happened — but it doesn't mean anti-snatch protection is dead in the water.

Code discovered in the newly released iOS 27.2 beta reveals that Apple could still be working on this feature — as well as what signals could end up triggering it in the real world.

Google launched something similar last year, known as Theft Detection Lock, and I'm glad to see that Apple is still powering ahead with its own version. Considering how much we have on our phone, and how easy they are to steal, there's no such thing as having too much protection from thieves and other criminals.

How Apple's anti-snatching feature might work

Android's Theft Detection Lock works by detecting sudden changes in your device, using the internal sensors. So if it notices your phone suddenly jerks in one direction and takes off at speed, odds are someone has snatched your phone and started running off with it.

We assumed that Apple's version would work in a similar manner, but the uncovered code offers a little bit of detail about how iOS will register possible thefts.

Code snippets seen by 9to5Mac shows that the theft detection is internally known as "AutoLock," though there's no guarantee that Apple will actually use that name for the public launch. The code also suggests that AutoLock will rely on five key signals to determine whether a phone has been stolen or not.

The first trigger is the presence of a "sharp acceleration" that is "consistent with a phone being snatched." Or, in other words, the internal sensors detecting your phone moving in a way that is inconsistent with typical use. Connectivity to the Apple Watch is also considered, including a paired watch not being reachable for an extended period, and general loss of connectivity to that watch. Presumably if that loss of contact is very sudden, then the AutoLock feature will realize something is up.

The code also refers to being disconnected from the network for extended periods. This would be consistent with thieves switching a phone into Airplane mode in an attempt to evade Find My Device — either for tracking or remotely locking down the phone.

Finally it's said that AutoLock could engage when a device has been unlocked beyond a specific time interval. This suggests that there may be circumstances where AutoLock can engage after being snatched, rather than during the process — the way Android's version of the feature does.

The code also makes reference to safeguards designed to avoid false positives, including location-based systems that would prevent AutoLock engaging in familiar locations like home ort work — similar to how Apple's Stolen Device Protection works. Other safeguards mention a veto system, in which certain features can override a request to AutoLock, biometric authentication, and a "backoff mechanism" that temporarily prevents automatic locks after repeated AutoLock events.

Naturally, this feature is still a work in progress, and that means things can (and likely will) change between now and the official release. So don't expect the final feature to arrive in this exact form, whenever that day might actually be.

Why it's important to have

I doubt there's anyone reading this that hasn't heard about phone snatching, and many of you may have experienced it first hand. It's become quite a problem, especially in big cities and places with lax enforcement of rules regarding ebikes and mopeds.

It certainly doesn't help that we use our phones so much, and some people tend to wander around with their phones out, oblivious to the fact that they're putting their device at risk. Last time my wife and I both went to London, I repeatedly had to tell her to put her phone away because she has the awful habit of absentmindedly wandering around with her phone by her side. It's a problem made worse by the fact it's so hard to find women's clothing with phone-friendly pockets.

Really, we should know to keep our phones more secure. Not only are they expensive devices, the amount of data we keep in them is arguably worth more than the hardware itself. Banking apps, social media, personal photos and videos, the list is endless. The last thing you need is for someone to snatch your phone and gain access to all that data, simply because your phone was unlocked at the wrong moment.

Obviously staying vigilant, and ensuring your phone is not exposed unnecessarily is always going to be the best way to avoid drive-by phone snatching. But it's foolish to assume that you can stay safe 100% of the time, and there will be points where you need to use your phone and your guard is down just enough for an opportunistic thief to swoop by and grab it from your hands.

Having a system that locks your phone down means it's that bit harder for a thief to access your data, or attempt to wipe the phone and sell it on for a profit. Crucially it gives you a little more time to find a way to get into Find My Device and lock the device down — significantly reducing its value to the potential thieves.

AutoLock wouldn't be the only system helping to safeguard your data. Stolen Device Protection has measures to stop potential thieves from accessing key areas of your device — including Find My settings, your Apple account and factory reset. Most importantly, it also works if the thief knows your PIN, since it relies on biometric security. Apple also forces your iPhone to restart after 72 hours of inactivity, which encrypts your device and makes it even harder for thieves to try and break in.

Replacing a phone sucks, especially if it isn't covered by AppleCare+ or some other form of insurance. But the cost of a new phone pales in comparison to the cost of losing control of your accounts and data.

Bottom line

It's important to keep tabs on your phone, no matter where you are or how secure you might feel in the moment. Constant vigilance is a nice idea in theory, but it's not realistically possible. For that reason, it's great that phone companies are continually adding features to keep your devices secure, and lock everything down in the event that your phone is stolen.

I'm mainly an Android user, and I've lost track of the number of times I've looked at my phone and been met with a notification telling me the screen has auto-locked because it thought someone was stealing it. Some may find that slightly irritating, but not me. Considering how easy it is to unlock a smartphone with biometrics (be it a fingerprint or Face ID), I'd rather the software be a little more cautious and ask me to unlock my phone again than face the alternative.

And the sooner Apple implements that feature on iPhones, the better.

More from Tom's Guide

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The iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are definitely the best phones Apple has ever made, but that doesn't necessarily mean you should rush out to buy one. In fact, there's a strong case to be made for waiting another year and picking up the iPhone 20 instead.

The 20th anniversary model is expected to follow in the iPhone X's footsteps, with Apple reportedly releasing a device that will set the standard for the next decade of iPhone flagships. This means if you've found yourself disappointed with the level of upgrades Apple has offered over the past few years, the iPhone 20 could make up for a lot of it.

Here are nine reasons why you should skip the iPhone 18 Pro and wait for the iPhone 20.

Quad-curved, all-glass display

The most noticeable iPhone 20 change is shaping up to be the quad-curved all-glass display. While a screen with four curved edges is fairly common among Chinese brands, it never really took off in the U.S. and other regions. However, Apple's version is a little different.

The design reportedly wraps around all four corners, connecting with a separate glass back-plate to give the illusion that this device is made from nothing but glass. Obviously, the interior will still have the usual metal frame and other components, but it should ensure the iPhone 20 is one of the most visually striking phones Apple has made in a while.

Better OLED screens

The iPhone 20's design may not be the only thing changing about the screen. Apple is rumored to be offering new OLED display panels that are brighter and thinner than what we have now. The panels themselves are expected to come from Samsung, complete with the Color Filter on Encapsulation (COE, not to be confused with the Church of England) technology.

This tech is said to be able to reduce the thickness of the display itself, while also allowing more light through. This improves the overall brightness, but in a way that doesn't increase the power consumption. Considering how much battery power a phone display can use, this could potentially be a massive win for battery life.

Under display Face ID and cameras

We know Apple can make under-display cameras, since it's added that technology to the iPhone Duo's foldable display. One of the long-standing rumors for the iPhone 20 is that both the camera and Face ID will vanish beneath the display, offering a true, uninterrupted display — though the Dynamic Island may still stick around.

Face ID hardware has slowly been making that migration for a few years, and it makes sense Apple would be ready to make the jump next year. The camera is a different matter, especially with under-display cameras' reputation for mediocre quality. Even the iPhone Duo's hidden camera is only designed for FaceTime and video calls, and it's unclear whether Apple can fix that issue before next year.

Solid state buttons

There have been rumors circulating about Apple switching from mechanical to solid-state buttons for years, and iPhone 20 could be the year it finally happens. Such a move would see traditional buttons replaced with haptic alternatives that are built directly into the device itself — which would aid that uninterrupted glass look.

Those buttons would not have any moving parts, which has two benefits. Fewer chances to break down, and fewer gaps in the frame that could be damaged and invite water or dust inside the phone. All while retaining a tactile button-like response from the built-in haptic feedback.

A21 Pro

One thing we can all but guarantee is the inclusion of the A21 Pro chipset. As is the case with new Apple chips, this will likely come with increased computing and graphical performance, alongside gains in AI processing.

The level of improvement isn't clear right now, but we should expect the iPhone 20 to be the most powerful iPhone Apple has made — and among the most powerful phones on sale. Naturally, we should also expect improvements to power consumption and energy efficiency, which should in turn improve the overall battery life.

No Qualcomm modems in sight

While Apple was keen to hype up the addition of the C2 modem in the iPhone 18 Pro series, it turns out that Qualcomm modems are still being utilized. iFixit teardowns revealed that the iPhone 18 Pro Max still uses a Qualcomm modem, and they have a reputation for being a little power-hungry.

The reason Apple hasn't ditched Qualcomm in its entirety is all very legal. Suffice it to say Apple was obligated to continue using some Qualcomm modems in its devices until this year. As far as we know, the end of 2026 means Apple is free to use its own modems across the entire iPhone lineup — including iPhone 20.

Silicon carbon batteries

More and more phones are adopting Silicon Carbon battery technology, and the iPhone 20 could be the first Apple smartphone to make the switch. These batteries use a silicon-coated anode and are able to offer much better energy density as a result. Effectively meaning Apple can reduce the size of the iPhone 20 battery without lowering the actual capacity in the process.

OnePlus 15 did this with its monster 7,300 mAh battery, without adding any meaningful amount of weight or thickness to the phone. Samsung did it with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 too, increasing the total battery capacity while maintaining a sleek, thin foldable profile. So there's little reason for Apple not to follow suit.

Better cameras

Apple could be developing a stacked image sensor for the iPhone 20's cameras, effectively replacing the Sony sensors iPhones have relied on for years. The benefit of this is that the camera would be able to capture even more detail in bright and darker areas, without losing any information in the process. In other words, better picture quality and dynamic range rolled into one.

It's also been rumored that Apple may copy Samsung and adopt a 200MP main camera on the iPhone 20 — up from 48MP on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. It seems like quite a big leap, especially since Apple generally focuses on improving photography software, but if it's going to happen, it might as well be on the iPhone 20.

New screen sizes

The all-glass displays also mean the iPhone 20 could come with slightly larger screens. A recent rumor from Digital Chat Station claims that the iPhone 20 Pro will feature a 6.41-inch display, and the Pro Max model will have a 6.96-inch display. That's up from a respective 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.

Both new phones are rumored to come with resolutions of 2,686 x 1,236 and 2,912 x 1,340 — suggesting that they will be incrementally taller and wider as a result of the larger screen. Not by much, but that extra screen space has to come from somewhere, right?

More from Tom's Guide

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If you’ve been waiting for Apple’s smallest desktop to get a true performance jump, you’re in luck: the new Mac mini M6 is finally here. While it keeps a nearly identical design to its predecessor, this latest model packs major under-the-hood upgrades that make it an even better productivity machine.

For starters, you get faster single-core and multi-core performance thanks to Apple’s M6 chip. Built on a more efficient 2nm process, it features a Dual 16-Core Neural Engine for local AI tasks, along with an upgraded 12-core GPU for a dramatically better gaming experience.

That speed comes with a trade-off, though. At $899, the Mac mini M6 carries a higher starting price, and anyone hoping for a visual redesign or new colorways will find the exterior virtually unchanged.

Whether you’re upgrading from an older Mac mini or picking up your very first Mac, here is everything you need to know about the Mac mini M6 — along with five reasons to buy and two reasons you might want to skip Apple’s latest mini desktop.

Mac mini M6: Reasons to buy

Same tiny footprint

The Mac mini M6 isn’t just one of the best mini PCs; it’s also one of the smallest. At 5 x 5 x 2 inches, it’s tiny and won’t take up much space on your desk. Also, since it has an internal power supply, you don’t have to worry about a bulky power brick. This makes cable management a breeze, and it's easy to move your Mac mini from room to room or even travel with it.

For an even cleaner desk setup, I’d recommend Bluetooth accessories like Apple’s Magic Keyboard, Magic Mouse, or Magic Trackpad. If you want more customization, though, Logitech’s MX Master Series is also a great fit for Apple’s smallest Mac.

Massive M6 speed boost

Don’t get me wrong, the Mac mini M4 was a big step up over the Mac mini M2. However, with the M6 chip in this new model, our benchmark tests showed results that were closer to the Mac mini M4 Pro. For instance, on the Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark, its single-core score of 4,708 easily beat the Mac mini M4 Pro by nearly a thousand points. The multi-core results were slightly under the M4 Pro’s at 21,405 (versus 22,661) but were 44% faster than the base M4.

The Mac mini M6 will be a big upgrade for most workflows. However, if you plan to edit video or do more intensive tasks on your Mac mini, budget an extra $200-$400 for extra storage and RAM when configuring your system. Though 16GB of RAM is more than enough for most tasks, choosing a 512GB SSD over the standard 256GB one unlocks full multi-channel PCIe Gen 4 storage bandwidth on Apple Silicon, resulting in faster exports and file transfers.

Faster wireless and wired downloads

Raw processing power may be the biggest upgrade with the Mac mini M6, but you also get a connectivity boost as well thanks to Apple’s custom N1 networking chip. Unlike the previous generation, this new Mac mini supports Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6.0, and Thread networking thanks to the N1 chip housed inside it.

With Wi-Fi 7, you’ll see faster downloads and uploads, while Bluetooth 6.0 brings Channel Sounding for far more accurate distance tracking, better power efficiency, and lower-latency wireless audio. With native Thread support built in, you can also use the Mac mini M6 as a smart home hub instead of an external bridge.

Finally, if you prefer a wired internet connection over wireless, you’re in luck. While the previous Mac mini came with a gigabit Ethernet port, this one has a multi-gig 2.5 GbE port. Wi-Fi is convenient, but for large downloads or uploads, you might want to use an Ethernet cable instead to speed things up even further.

Mini Mac gaming realized

Apple’s M-series chips have made great strides in gaming on your Mac. While older titles ran well on the M4, the M6 finally lets you play modern titles right on your Mac mini. This isn’t one of the best gaming PCs, but if you’re willing to drop the resolution and lower some settings, you can play quite a lot of native Mac games surprisingly well.

I tested Control on the Mac mini M6, and after lowering the resolution to 1440p, it ran quite well even on Apple’s high-resolution Studio Display XDR. In our test lab, though, we dropped the resolution down to 1080p and saw framerates well above 60 fps in a number of titles. Using its dedicated “For this Mac” preset, we even managed to play Cyberpunk 2077 at a stable 56 fps at 1080p. I wouldn’t recommend buying a Mac mini M6 solely for gaming, but it’s nice to know you can play even more demanding games with a few compromises.

Easy (and cheaper) to accessorize

Now you might see the Mac mini M6 sharing an identical design with its predecessor as a bad thing. However, since both mini PCs share the same ports (minus the upgraded Ethernet port) and dimensions, you can use any existing third-party accessories for the Mac mini M4 with this new model.

I’m particularly fond of the Satechi Mac mini M4 Hub & Stand as well as this one from Ugreen for several reasons. They add a ton of extra ports to your Mac mini, including USB-A, plus SD and microSD card readers. The best part, though, is that when you flip either one over, there’s a compartment on the bottom where you can add an SSD to significantly expand your Mac mini’s storage without paying a fortune.

Mac mini M6: Reasons to skip

Higher starting price

At $599 (or $499 with an education discount), the Mac mini M4 was an absolute steal. Thanks to RAMaggedon and the ongoing storage and memory crisis, the Mac mini M6 now starts at $899 (or $799 with an education discount). That $300 price hike isn’t insignificant, especially when you factor in the cost of adding extra memory or storage to your new Mac mini directly from Apple.

The Mac mini M4 is still an excellent choice, and if you can find one used in good condition, that might be a better option depending on your budget. Still, the Mac mini M6 is a much more powerful machine and could be worth the premium, depending on your workflow.

A nearly identical design

When Apple introduces a major redesign as it did with the Mac mini M4, the company usually waits a few generations before making any big changes. Since the Mac mini M6 is its direct successor, you won’t find much difference in design. It uses the same case and port layout, and the power button is still on the underside of the device.

If you already have a Mac mini M4, Apple’s faster M6 chip and the Wi-Fi 7 upgrade, along with the included N1 chip, are the main reasons to upgrade. If you have a perfectly fine Mac mini M4 but want something a bit different, it might be worth holding out for the next generation instead. Even then though, this smaller, squarer Mac mini redesign might be here to stay for a while.

More from Tom's Guide

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For years, iPhone users have lived with a high-stakes daily anxiety: turning down your ringer volume before bed meant accidentally silencing your morning alarm.

In iOS 27, Apple makes it easier than ever to keep your alarm volume completely independent from your overall ringer. The setting isn't enabled by default, and it's tucked away inside a menu most people scroll right past.

Here is how to set up your alarm volume independently so you can keep your ringer quiet overnight without missing your wake-up call.

How to set a dedicated alarm volume in iOS 27

Open Settings on your iPhone, tap Sounds & Haptics, and scroll down to the Alarms & Timers section.

From there, toggle Match Ringtone Volume to off. This step permanently unlinks your alarm slider from your physical side volume buttons.

Then drag the new Alarm & Timer Volume slider to your preferred level.

Once Match Ringtone Volume is turned off, pressing your iPhone's physical side buttons during the day will only change your media and ringer volume. Your morning alarm will stay locked at the exact volume level you set on this slider.

Does this override Sleep Focus?

No. If you use a Wake-Up Alarm configured inside the Health app or a Sleep Focus schedule, iOS continues to manage that volume dynamically based on your sleep goals.

However, for any standard alarms set in the Clock app or quick voice timers set via Siri, this new slider acts as your master volume control.

More from Tom's Guide

• iOS 27: 7 features you need to try first after updating
• Siri in iOS 27 actually lives up to the hype — here are 3 truly unique uses
• iOS 27 has a hidden Mac Easter egg — here's how to trigger it

"Brothers" will finally answer the question we've all been wondering: what would happen if Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson were actually related?

Below, we’ll show you how to watch "Brothers" online, plus how to stream it from anywhere in the world with a VPN.

For years, McConaughey and Harrelson have joked about the idea of them being brothers. The pair are great friends and long-time collaborators, as well as looking fairly similar. Then, while on holiday together a few years ago, McConaughey's mother mentioned she knew Harrelson's father many years ago, at a time which would correlate with the conception and birth of her son, Matthew.

While McConaughey is reluctant to take a DNA test as it would hurt the memory of the man who raised him, Harrelson is willing, but the likelihood is we will never really know. Still, at least we have this fictional comedy series to dive into, in which the duo play out that alternate reality where they are related. Across eight episodes of "Brothers" we will see Harrelson's daughter's wedding ruined, the two families spending time at McConaughey's ranch, and long-lost secrets spilled.

Ready for this wild ride? Here's how to watch "Brothers" from wherever you are — and potentially even catch a couple of episodes for FREE.

How to watch 'Brothers' on Apple TV

Watch 'Brothers' from anywhere

Traveling and locked out of your Apple TV account or your usual apps? A VPN can make your device appear to be back in your home country, so you can securely access the streaming services you already pay for while abroad.

We have tested plenty of options, and NordVPN is still the best VPN out there..

'Brothers' trailer

'Brothers' cast

• Matthew McConaughey as himself
• Woody Harrelson as himself
• Holland Taylor as Ma Mac
• Natalie Martinez as Valentina McConaughey
• Brittany Ishibashi as Joy Harrelson
• Oona Yaffe
• Highdee Kuan
• Nolan Almeida
• Ella Grace Helton
• Noah Carganilla

'Brothers' episode guide

There is no official synopsis for any of the "Brothers" episodes, but we do have episode titles and release dates...

• Episode 1, “On the Road”: Wednesday, September 23
• Episode 2, “The Hunt”: Wednesday, September 23
• Episode 3, “Little Wood”: Wednesday, September 30
• Episode 4, “The Band”: Wednesday, October 7
• Episode 5, “Valentine's Day”: Wednesday, October 14
• Episode 6, “The Dance”: Wednesday, October 21
• Episode 7, "The Interview": Wednesday, October 28
• Episode 8, "On the Road Again": "Wednesday, November 4

More from Tom's Guide

• 3 best Apple TV shows you (probably) haven't watched but should stream now
• How to watch 'Conan O’Brien Must Go' season 3 online – from anywhere and even for free
• How to watch 'The Paper' season 2 online — stream 'The Office' spinoff from anywhere

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.

If there’s one phone I saw out in the wild more than any other this past year, it was easily the Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max. As tempting as it is to credit that eye-catching finish alone, Apple backed up the fresh coat of paint with substantial hardware improvements and top-tier performance that drove people to buy it .

Now that the iPhone 18 Pro Max is officially here, Apple has to convince those same owners that it’s time to move on. While my general rule of thumb is to upgrade every three years, the pull of the latest flagship is hard to resist.

That sets the stage for my iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max face-off: can Apple prove its newest generational leap is actually worth the investment? Armed with the cutting-edge A20 Pro chip and an ambitious variable-aperture camera, the 18 Pro Max enters the ring with serious firepower. Here’s how it holds up against the reigning heavyweight.

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Specifications

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Price and release

When it comes to your wallet, the older flagship came with an initial starting price of $1,199 when it was released last year. With the latest flagship now on shelf, Apple's asking $100 more for the the iPhone 18 Pro Max — pushing its starting price up to $1,299.

While the iPhone 18 Pro Max certainly brings cutting-edge upgrades to the table, an extra hundred dollars is a tough pill to swallow when last year's top-tier phone offers 90% of the same experience. For raw value and affordability out of the gate, the older model takes the crown, especially with the extra discounts you're likely to find right now as carriers and retailers try to clear out remaining stock.

Winner: iPhone 17 Pro Max

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Design

Besides their colorways, it’s nearly impossible to tell them apart at a cursory glance. That’s because Apple sticks to the same design, featuring an identical titanium frame, contoured edges, and the familiar stretched-out camera arrangement across the back. While Apple has gone after a unified color scheme with the iPhone 18 Pro Max, I still like the two-tone look of the previous design.

When I pick them up, however, I notice a subtle difference. By no means is the iPhone 17 Pro Max lightweight, but the iPhone 18 Pro Max feels noticeably denser in the hand because it tips the scales at a heftier 8.78 ounces — compared to the 8.22-ounce iPhone 17 Pro Max. It’s not a massive differential on paper, but it’s still immediately felt.

Besides that, I think it’s worth pointing out how Apple has trimmed the size of the Dynamic Island with the iPhone 18 Pro Max. It was never a distraction for me with the iPhone 17 Pro Max, but I nonetheless appreciate it being scaled down to make the display look more seamless.

Sure, it weighs more, but the slimmed-down Dynamic Island compensates for the 18 Pro Max’s overall design.

Winner: tie

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Display

Both phones feature a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display, complete with 120Hz ProMotion that makes nearly everything on the screen look buttery smooth. Our lab testing reveals that the iPhone 18 Pro Max reaches a much more substantial peak brightness of 2,326 nits, making it a breeze to see whatever I’m doing when the sun is beating down on me.

While the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s peak of 1,899 nits is no slouch, the difference side by side is obvious — with the 18 Pro Max exhibiting superior visibility when I need it most.

Apple also touts an updated anti-reflective coating on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, but in my experience, it’s an enhancement I hardly notice. Harsh overhead lights and reflections still pose a challenge.

Winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Cameras

Apple has long set the gold standard for reliable point-and-shoot smartphone photography in virtually any condition. At a glance, both flagships seem to share the same 48MP triple-camera array, but the iPhone 18 Pro Max introduces two transformative upgrades: a mechanical variable aperture and native Pro Controls.

This variable aperture represents one of the most substantial hardware evolutions the iPhone line has seen in years, cycling through four distinct physical stops: f/1.48, f/1.8, f/2.8, and f/4. As an avid photographer, I know just how significant optical control is on mobile hardware — it grants the 18 Pro Max an immediate edge in capturing natural depth of field and managing light.

Better yet, Apple backed up the optical hardware overhaul with native Pro Controls. Enthusiasts have spent years pleading for true manual tools baked directly into iOS's default camera app, and Apple finally answered the call. The 18 Pro Max puts granular adjustment of shutter speed, ISO, white balance, manual focus, and aperture right at your fingertips.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max remains an effortless, dependable shooter that produces gorgeous results with zero fuss. But the synergy of a true mechanical aperture and extensive manual shooting tools turns the iPhone 18 Pro Max into a legitimate photographer’s tool, delivering creative versatility its predecessor simply can't touch.

Starting with their main cameras, it’s a dead heat between the two — and I genuinely can’t see a meaningful difference under daytime settings like this. Both flagships capture exceptional detail in the signage, pumpkins, and clouds in sky, with only a trained eye spotting that the iPhone 18 Pro Max lifts the deepest shadows beneath the awning just a hair more.

These ultrawide camera shots again show how similarly both phones handle daytime scenes. From the rich blue water and rolling cloud formations to finer details like the sand patterns and docked rowboats, dynamic range and sharpness look nearly identical side by side.

I’ve shown earlier how the physical variable aperture of the iPhone 18 Pro Max produces a more authentic background blur in standard shooting, but that hardware perk matters very little in Portrait Mode since both handsets lean entirely on computational photography. They perform almost identically, isolating my colleague Mark cleanly along the shoulders, with matching skin tones, exposure levels, and edge-detection accuracy.

Switching over to their front-facing Center Stage cameras, the selfies reveal another remarkably close face-off. However, the iPhone 18 Pro Max pulls ahead with slightly cleaner dynamic range, warmer skin tones, and clearer facial detail.

At 4x zoom, both flagships capture the rowboats with nearly identical clarity — it’s really hard to tell them apart.

Pushing them to 40x zoom, however, reveals the iPhone 18 Pro Max's superior processing. It keeps the phone number's stenciled lettering crisp and legible with noticeably less artifacting. The iPhone 17 Pro Max still manages to keep the text readable, but fine details begin to soften.

Low-light performance leans in favor of the iPhone 18 Pro Max, largely because its wider f/1.48 aperture takes in more light without needing to artificially brighten the entire room. The iPhone 17 Pro Max pushes exposure a bit too far, resulting in blown-out candle highlights along the mantel and a washed-out wall that loses the moody ambiance of the scene.

That wider aperture also allows the iPhone 18 Pro Max to capture the scene at ISO 1600, resulting in noticeably less noise and grain than the iPhone 17 Pro Max at ISO 2000.

Winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Performance

While last year’s A19 Pro was already a beast on its own, Apple widens the gap significantly with the new 2nm-class A20 Pro silicon powering the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Synthetic benchmark tests reveal this in a substantial way, with the iPhone 18 Pro Max churning out Geekbench scores that blow away its predecessor.

Its 4,741 single-core and 12,789 multi-core scores beat the 17 Pro Max by a wide margin (3,871 and 9,968). Essentially, this translates to roughly a 22% performance increase in single-core and an even better 28% jump in multi-core. The newer Geekbench 7 test tells a similar story.

Graphics processing also sees marked improvements for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, showing an even greater divide that could be attributed to its larger, redesigned vapor chamber. In 3DMark’s Solar Bay Unlimited test, the 18 Pro Max hits an impressive 67.9 fps average (17,850 score) — which represents a massive 45% leap over the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s 46.6 fps average (12,260 score).

Those benchmark numbers look great on paper, but synthetic results don’t always tell the whole story. Personally, I’ve enjoyed playing my go-to games on my iPhone 17 Pro Max — but the iPhone 18 Pro Max simply makes them look and run way better with more fluid animations and tighter, more responsive gameplay.

Winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Battery Life and charging

The iPhone 17 Pro Max was already an absolute endurance beast, setting an exceptionally high bar. Yet, the iPhone 18 Pro Max manages to stretch that lead even further — although I was expecting a bit more.

In the Tom’s Guide battery drain test — which involves continuous web surfing over 5G with the display calibrated to 150 nits — the iPhone 18 Pro Max turns in an average time of 18 hours and 27 minutes. That stretches out to 18 hours and 41 minutes on its longest run. This average eclipses the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s time of 17 hours and 54 minutes. In real-world terms, both are reliable two-day phones, but the 18 Pro Max gives you that extra cushion of reassurance.

Where the newer flagship truly pulls away, however, is charging speed. Apple finally upgraded the iPhone 18 Pro Max with 60W charging support for the first time. The payoff is immediate: the iPhone 18 Pro Max rockets to 44% in 15 minutes and 77% in 30 minutes, easily besting the iPhone 17 Pro Max’s slower 35% and 64% fill-ups at the same intervals.

Winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Software and AI

Both flagships run the latest iOS 27 software, so the experience is virtually identical with a couple of exceptions. Visually, you get the same level of customization with the interface — complete with control over Liquid Glass’ look, icon arrangement, and lock screen personalization. At the same time, both phones offer identical Apple Intelligence tools like Clean Up, notification summaries, Writing Tools, Reframe, and more.

One of the biggest driving forces that comes with these titans is the arrival of Siri AI, which works identically on both models. This turbocharged version of Apple’s virtual assistant is more proactive and aware, offering contextual responses based on whatever you’re doing — like suggesting a calendar event if someone mentions an upcoming appointment in Messages. I’ve also tested out Siri AI with the new CarPlay in iOS 27, and I can say that it’s way more reliable at handling multi-step tasks.

However, the iPhone 18 Pro Max pulls away with a couple of standout exclusive features. I’ve already pointed out the slimmer Dynamic Island, which takes advantage of the redesigned cutout to monitor three simultaneous Live Activities at once — compared to the two-activity limit on the iPhone 17 Pro Max. Secondly, the 18 Pro Max exclusively packs native Pro Controls into the camera app, something Apple simply doesn’t include with the updated iOS 27 experience on the 17 Pro Max.

Winner: iPhone 18 Pro Max

iPhone 18 Pro Max vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max: Verdict

Apple didn’t just deliver a routine refresh with the iPhone 18 Pro Max — it pushed the envelope where it matters most. Pairing the physical variable aperture with native Pro Controls transforms the camera into a creative setup that could happily replace my point-and-shoot camera. Backed by the blistering performance of the A20 Pro silicon, a much brighter display, faster 60W charging, and class-leading battery endurance, the iPhone 18 Pro Max handily wins this matchup.

That said, if you already own an iPhone 17 Pro Max, you will find it hard to justify spending even more money — especially with Apple slapping a $100 price hike on the 18 Pro Max. Last year’s flagship still delivers phenomenal battery life, blazing-fast speed, and nearly the exact same iOS 27 and Siri AI software experience.

More from Tom’s Guide

• I've been testing the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 18 Pro — your 10 biggest questions answered
• iPhone 18 Pro teardown reveals the ins and outs of the latest iPhone models — including one annoying repair issue
• Apple's $250 million class action settlement website is now open — here's how eligible iPhone owners can file a claim and how much they'll get

Even before the iPhone Duo launched, Android and Samsung fans were ribbing Apple for being so late to the foldable phone party. After all, the first Galaxy Fold launched in 2019.

Right after the Apple September event, Samsung tweeted “Let us know when you're done reheating our leftovers.”

Now that we’re edging closer to the iPhone Duo pre-order date of Oct 16, I thought it would be interesting to get the reaction of Sameer Samat, who is the president of Android Ecosystem at Google.

We were sitting down to talk about the new Googlebook push, but since those laptops are powered by Android, I wanted to ask him what he thought about Apple’s foldable entry versus Android foldables.

Better late than never

As you might expect, Samat pointed out that Apple’s foldable launch is a wee bit behind the Android camp.

“I think that it's wonderful to see more people realizing after so long that the foldable space is the place to be. And Android is usually where you see the future first.”

It’s true that Android beat Apple to the foldable punch by a long shot, including the wide passport form factor the iPhone Duo has. Samat has been using the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and is a big fan of that device in particular.

“The Fold 8 is an amazing device, Samat said. “It helps me get so much work done. I actually find myself starting productivity quite often on that device, and then moving to my laptop.”

But the Duo is still a real threat

At the same time, analysts predict a big foldable phone market share for Apple. For example, Counterpoint Research says Apple will gain about 25% of the market in year one, growing to 40% by the end of 2027.

A lot of that likely has to do with the ecosystem factor. I did a story recently ranking the iPhone Duo trade-offs — from the lack of telephoto zoom to a heavier weight versus the Fold 8 — and this reader comment summed up the pent-up demand best.

“Seriously, I've been waiting since the first Galaxy Z Fold for Apple to enter the arena (tried the Fold 5 and Fold 6, but just couldn't do Android because I'm locked into the rest of Apple's ecosystem).”

Despite Apple’s momentum at the moment, Samat is confident that the Duo will have a halo effect on Android foldables, because it will only increase interest in the category overall.

“I think that what this speaks to is something that we've known for a long time in the Android ecosystem, which is that the foldable space, the foldable form factor is awesome.”

Apple = app advantage?

In addition, Apple could have a sizable advantage when it comes to app support for larger foldable displays, as it is making a big push with developers.

In fact, Apple specifically called out Slack during its event as one of the optimized apps, which as we speak still looks like a stretched out phone app on Android foldables. Apple also showed off a foldable-friendly version of Netflix.

Samat admitted that there’s still work to be done. And ironically Apple’s entry could be the tide to lift Android’s boat.

“I think that as this form factor becomes more and more popular, developers realize that there's more and more value in investing in it,” Samat said. “I think one of the things that we've done is to make the tools simpler and easier for them to invest in. And of course there are apps that haven't made that transition yet. Either they're working on it, or we're in conversations with them, but there are also thousands of thousands of apps that have.”

We talked about one of those apps in TikTok, which works very well on the Samsung Fold 8. You get an immersive viewing experience on the outside display, and on the inside you can scroll videos on the left and view comments on the right.

In addition, many of Google’s own apps have been fully optimized for foldables, including Gmail and YouTube.

“We can cherry pick an app or two that you know one platform will have or the other platform will have, but the reality is this form factor is a hit,” Samat said. “It's growing. It was growing even before these last couple weeks, and I'm glad to see more people joining what is now the obvious party.”

More from Tom's Guide

• iPhone Duo hands-on: Apple nailed it — and just put everyone else on notice
• iPhone Duo vs Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8
• I spent 30 minutes with the iPhone Duo — 3 things you just don't get from the pictures

The iPhone Duo is the most expensive phone Apple has ever made, and for good reason.

You get a compact 5.4-inch phone and tablet in one device with a huge 7.6-inch nano-texture display. And Apple promises unparalleled durability in the Duo’s design along with a new software experience that takes multitasking to the next level — and makes the most of all the positions you can put this foldable in.

But it’s only fair to call out the compromises for this foldable phone versus other flagship phones, including Apple’s own iPhone 18 Pro Max that I just reviewed.

What annoys me is that people are already lumping all of the missing features and trade-offs into a list of “dealbreakers” as if they’re all of equal value. Spoiler: they’re not.

As we get closer to the Oct. 16 iPhone Duo pre-order date, I think it’s worth sense checking these trade-offs. I’m scoring each trade-off on a scale of 1-10 to tell you what’s an annoyance versus an actual dealbreaker.

No telephoto zoom: ‘Dealbreaker’ score 8/10

There’s no getting around it. The iPhone Duo’s 2x optical quality zoom is not the same thing as having a dedicated telephoto lens. You’re getting that zoom via cropping on the 48MP main sensor. If you want to get closer to the action, you’ll max out at just 10x digital zoom.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max both have 4x telephoto lenses with 8x optical quality zooms. And you get a 40x digital zoom. If you like to zoom in a lot when shooting pics, don’t get the Duo.

No Face ID: ‘Dealbreaker’ score 7/10

It’s understandable why the iPhone Duo doesn’t have Face ID given that there’s less space for all of the sensors that are required for it, but it’s still a bummer because it’s such an easy way to unlock your phone. And Face ID is better than any face unlock solution on any Android phone.

Instead, you get a Touch ID sensor built into the power button on the right side. At least I’m fairly confident it will work well based on how reliable Touch ID is on the MacBook, iPad and previous iPhones.

Weight: ‘Dealbreaker’ score 6/10

The iPhone Duo is certainly compact enough to slip into your front pocket, but it’s definitely heftier than the iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple’s main foldable rival.

Weighing 8.96 ounces, the Duo is the heaviest iPhone yet and slightly heavier than the iPhone 18 Pro Max’s 8.78 ounces.

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is the portability champ, weighing just 7.09 ounces. You really notice it in the hand.

But it’s worth keeping in mind that the iPhone Duo packs in some features that to many will be worth the extra weight, including IP68 durability, a vapor chamber and a digitizer layer on the display to support Apple Pencil input.

Price: ‘Dealbreaker’ score 5/10

You might have thought I would have ranked the high $2,000 price of the Duo higher on this list of dealbreakers. But it’s really more of a dealbreaker for the category as opposed to this particular phone.

After all, most foldable phones like this are in the same range. The Galaxy Fold 8 and Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold are $100 less. Still, the price certainly skyrockets as you add more storage. We’re talking $2,200 for 512GB, $2,599 for 1TB and a whopping $3,200 for 2TB. Though the competition makes out at 1TB.

Less battery life than iPhone 18 Pro Max: ‘Dealbreaker’ score 4/10

Based on Apple’s own estimates, the iPhone Duo is going to last less than the iPhone 18 Pro Max in a charge. And that makes sense because the Duo’s dual battery system has to power a larger display.

Apple claims the iPhone Duo will last 24 hours with regular use versus 30 hours for the 18 Pro Max. But that gap grows with video playback, with the Duo rated for 31 hours and the Pro Max 45 hours. You can get up to 44 hours on the Duo’s small display.

Under-display camera: ‘Dealbreaker’ score 3.5/10

Apple decided to give the iPhone Duo an under display FaceTime camera while other companies have ditched them due to quality issues. Based on what I’ve seen so far, I’d say it looks good enough for video calls but you'll want to use the front 12MP camera or even the main 48MP camera for selfies.

Lacks variable aperture and Pro Controls: ‘Dealbreaker’ score 3/10

It’s a bummer that the variable aperture main camera is limited to the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. It does give you more flexibility when shooting.

But the bigger annoyance for me is that Apple didn’t grace the Duo with Pro controls. Why not make it easier to control shutter speed, white balance and more?

Bottom line

When you add it all up the only real iPhone Duo dealbreaker for me is the lack of a telephoto zoom. And while I really wish it had Face ID, I can live with Touch ID.

But what about you? Are there any iPhone Duo dealbreakers high on your list or do you plan to buy despite any trade-offs? Let us know in the comments.

A lot of iPhone users are still getting to grips with the recent release of iOS 27, but that doesn't mean Apple gets to take a break. It's just released iOS 27.2 beta, which comes with a bunch more changes and upgrades for beta testers to try out.

Some of you may be wondering what happened to iOS 27.1 beta, and that's a fair question. Apparently Apple has skipped over that bit of software, and it's speculated that the iPhone Duo is the reason. The foldable will apparently arrive running iOS 27.1 out of the box, complete with all the extra software needed to run a foldable phone. Whether other devices will get iOS 27.1, or if they'll jump straight to iOS 27.2, isn't clear.

In the meantime, here are all the newest features and changes coming as part of the iOS 27.2 beta release.

Revamped Health app

Back during its September iPhone launch event, Apple confirmed that it would be revamping the Health app — and iOS 27.2 beta is our first chance to see it in action. This new version of the app is laid out with three tabs: Insight, Longevity and Browse.

Insights includes general health information, such as vitals, sleep score, heart rate and your activity rings. Longevity takes that information and applies it over time, offering a Health Age score calculated from various health metrics — including VO2 max, sleep time and activity levels. Browse is the same as it always was, offering health-based resources to help you with your fitness, or general healthy-living goals.

Call context

iOS 27.2 beta will now surface relevant information during phone calls, specifically warning you about birthdays or anniversaries. The caveat being that you need to have entered that information into the Contacts app first. You also need to call those people to get the reminder, which means you actively need to be calling them for a totally different reason.

It might be worth making sure your calendar reminders are set up properly instead. But this could be the start of even more contextual information in calls, some of which may not be quite as difficult to to forget.

CarPlay Ultra

Apple's advanced version of CarPlay isn't that widespread, but if you do have a compatible car the iOS 27.2 beta will let you select new options for the wallpaper, gauge style and overall color of your interfaces. Code references also suggest that ambient light may be supported in select vehicles, matching the overall theme.

Apple TV

The Apple TV app now includes extended profiles in iOS 27.2 beta, letting users create specific profiles for different users. All they require is a name, profile rating and whether the user is a child. Child accounts are limited to PG rated content by default, but in line with Apple's new parental controls, those settings can be adjusted based on your wishes.

Sign language interpretation is also available and can be turned on in the Apple TV app settings.

Siri

Siri AI is also now available in French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish, letting those speakers use AI without having to revert to English. Meanwhile ,the Siri app has renamed "App Access" to "Excluded Apps", and tapping it lets you exclude multiple apps from Siri features in one go — rather than one at a time.

Other iOS 27.2 beta upgrades

The Clock app now features A.M. and P.M. readouts that are slightly smaller than the actual time of your alarms. The Music app has also removed some of the red accents, with shuffle and play buttons in the library now appearing black. Podcasts has also swapped the "Up Next" feature for a "New Episodes" option, and has added a "Continue Playing" option.

Apple's release notes also include an expanded App Tracking Transparency prompt for EU users, specifically those in France, Germany, Poland, Italy and Romania. This will need to be re-accepted every year.

Hidden features for the future

Deep dives into iOS 27.2 beta's code have also revealed some details on possible future features, which Apple is working on but isn't ready to roll out just yet. The first is a new release countdown timer that may be coming to Apple Music, showing you how long you have to wait before the next big album is available to listen to.

It was also discovered that the Shortcuts app may be opened to third-party developers, letting you create your own Shortcuts for apps and services that weren't made by Apple. Plus, references to an "AutoLock" feature have been uncovered, suggesting that Apple really is working on a feature to automatically detect when an iPhone has been snatched, and lock the phone down in response.

More from Tom's Guide

• 36 million iPhone owners can soon get paid from $250 million Apple Siri lawsuit — how to claim your share
• iPhone 18 Pro teardown reveals the ins and outs of the latest iPhone models — including one annoying repair issue
• I extended my iPhone's telephoto range with this add-on camera lens — and my point-and-shoot camera is officially retired

The new Mac mini and Mac Studio are here! While these Apple desktop computers retain the same design as their respective predecessors, each has been refreshed with the latest M-series chips and connectivity options. If you’re brand-new to Apple desktops or simply want to switch from one of the best MacBooks, these are the computers for you.

As you can read in our Mac mini M6 review and Mac Studio M5 Ultra review, these are highly capable machines for everyday work and heavy workloads. But depending on your specific needs (and budget), one might be a better choice than the other. That’s where I come in.

So, should you buy the Mac mini or the Mac Studio? Below, I’ll detail the key differences between Apple’s Macs to help you decide which one is right for you.

Mac mini vs Mac Studio: Price

Aside from performance (which we’ll get to shortly), the biggest difference between the Mac mini and Mac Studio is price. Sure, both are more expensive than their previous models, but even with that in mind, there is a substantial price gap between these two Macs.

The Mac mini with the M6 chip is the most affordable option at $899. If you want more power, you can opt for a model with an M5 Pro chip starting at $1,699. Upgrading the RAM and storage will naturally raise the price by hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

The Mac Studio starts at $2,499 for the model with an M5 Max chip. The M5 Ultra chip model costs $5,499. As with the Mac mini, upgrading memory and storage will increase the price.

Mac mini vs Mac Studio: Design

Neither the Mac mini nor the Mac Studio received a major redesign from prior models. Still, it’s worth detailing their designs, as one might be a better fit for your setup over the other.

As its name suggests, the Mac mini is the smaller of the two, measuring 5 x 5 x 2 inches and weighing 1.5 pounds. Due to its diminutive size, finding a spot for it on your desk shouldn’t be much of an issue. Heck, if you have an Apple Studio XDR Display, you can even rest it on the monitor’s stand, though cable management might be a tad tricky.

At 7.7 x 7.7 x 3.7 inches and up to 8 pounds, the Mac Studio is definitely the bigger cousin of the Mac mini. That said, it’s still a relatively small PC — especially if you’re used to enormous desktops. It can’t sit neatly on the Studio Display’s stand like the Mac mini, but I didn’t have trouble positioning it on my desk at work.

Both the Mac mini and Mac Studio are relatively small computers, but if you want the smallest Mac possible, then the mini is the way to go.

Mac mini vs Mac Studio: Performance

The next major divide between these Macs is performance. Though both can handle everyday work and even heavier workloads, one is significantly more powerful, which could make it more enticing (or necessary) for hardcore power users or professionals.

The Mac mini we reviewed packs an M6 chip and 24GB of RAM, while the Mac Studio I tested has an M5 Ultra chip and a whopping 256GB of RAM. Neither is configured like its respective starting model, and there's a huge RAM gap between them. Keep that in mind as I detail the results of the performance tests we conducted.

On the Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark, the Mac mini and Mac Studio have roughly similar single-core performance. However, the Mac Studio is the undisputed winner in multi-core performance. That said, the mini’s multi-core performance is still extremely impressive.

In the Blackmagic SSD speed tests, the Mac Studio greatly outperformed the Mac mini with faster read and write times. The same is true for the HandBrake test, which converts a 25GB 4K video file to 1080p. Basically, if you’re transferring files or rendering videos, the Mac Studio can perform those tasks much faster.

Neither the Mac mini nor the Mac Studio can compete with the best gaming PCs, but it shouldn’t surprise you that the Mac Studio runs games better at higher resolutions and frame rates. That isn’t to say you can't play games on the Mac mini, especially with Apple Silicon-optimized titles, but don’t expect games to run smoothly above 1080p.

Mac mini vs Mac Studio: Which one to buy?

Choosing between a Mac mini and a Mac Studio comes down to two things: price and necessity.

If you mainly use a computer for everyday tasks like web browsing, Google Docs, or watching videos, the Mac mini is the machine for you. The same is also true if you’re on a tighter budget. In short, the Mac mini is the better option for most folks who want a Mac desktop.

Conversely, if you’re a professional video editor, want to run heavy AI workloads on device, or just want an extremely powerful Mac, then the Mac Studio is a no-brainer—especially if money is no object. And if you are a professional, the Mac Studio will likely pay for itself over time by speeding up your workflow and saving you time and money.

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• I've been testing the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 18 Pro — your 10 biggest questions answered
• Apple's $250 million class action settlement website is now open — here's how eligible iPhone owners can file a claim and how much they'll get

If you recently updated your Mac to macOS 27 and noticed your available storage shrinking, Apple Intelligence could be taking up more space than you realize.

Mac users on Reddit and Hacker News have reported discovering several gigabytes of AI-related files on their machines, with some users claiming local AI assets are taking up around 10GB or more. That's a significant chunk of storage if you have a 256GB MacBook Air or Mac mini.

There's a reason those files are there. Apple Intelligence doesn't run entirely in the cloud. Some of Apple's AI features rely on models stored and processed directly on your Mac, which is great for privacy but not necessarily great for your available storage.

And if you don't use Apple Intelligence, you might understandably wonder why those files need to be sitting on your SSD at all. Here's what's happening, how to check your Mac and what you can safely do about it.

Why is Apple Intelligence taking up space on my Mac?

One of Apple's big selling points for Apple Intelligence is privacy. Rather than sending everything you do to a remote server, Apple can perform some AI tasks directly on compatible devices. But, that requires downloading AI models to your Mac.

According to MacRumors, once you install macOS 27 Golden Gate, Apple automatically downloads a multi-gigabyte AI model the next time your Mac connects to the internet. In previous versions of macOS, you could opt out. Now, there's no way to stop the download, making the AI models that power Siri and other Apple Intelligence features effectively part of the operating system.

Apple's latest Apple Intelligence architecture includes AFM 3 Core, a 3-billion-parameter on-device model, alongside a more powerful multimodal model called AFM 3 Core Advanced. Other Apple Intelligence features can use Apple's Private Cloud Compute infrastructure when more processing power is required.

The downside of all that on-device processing is that the models themselves need somewhere to live.

macOS manages many of these resources as system assets, which can make it difficult to tell exactly what's using your storage. You may simply notice the amount of space attributed to System Data increasing.

First, check your Mac's storage

Before changing anything, it's worth checking whether you're actually running low on space.

• Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner.
• Select System Settings.
• Choose General.
• Click Storage.
• Give macOS a moment to calculate everything.

You'll see your storage divided into categories such as Applications, Documents, Photos and System Data.

Unfortunately, macOS doesn't provide a neat "Apple Intelligence models: 10GB" entry, so a large System Data category doesn't automatically mean Apple Intelligence is responsible.

Still, take note of how much free storage you currently have. That gives you a baseline before making any changes.

How to turn off Apple Intelligence

If you don't use Apple Intelligence, the safest first step is simply turning it off.

• Open System Settings.
• Select Apple Intelligence & Siri.
• Find Apple Intelligence.
• Toggle it Off.

Confirm that you want to disable Apple Intelligence if prompted. You can also disable Siri AI from this menu if you don't use it.

Don't expect your free storage to jump immediately after doing this. macOS manages system assets automatically, and disabling Apple Intelligence doesn't mean every downloaded model will disappear the moment you flip the switch.

I'd avoid manually deleting anything from macOS system folders just to force the issue.

What about Screen Time?

macOS also includes restrictions for Apple Intelligence and Siri features through Screen Time.

Head to: System Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy

Depending on your Mac and settings, you'll find controls governing access to Apple Intelligence and related generative AI features. These restrictions can be useful if you want to prevent someone using the Mac from accessing particular AI features.

However, I wouldn't rely on Screen Time as a guaranteed way to stop macOS from ever downloading an AI-related system asset. Apple doesn't make that relationship particularly clear.

For most people, disabling Apple Intelligence itself is the better place to start.

Don't delete macOS AI files manually

Here's where things get a little complicated. You'll find Terminal commands online that claim to remove Apple's downloaded AI models manually. Some methods even involve booting your Mac into Recovery Mode and deleting files from macOS system directories.

But, I wouldn't recommend doing that. These are system-managed assets, and deleting files from protected macOS directories can cause unintended problems. There's also no guarantee macOS won't download an asset again if the operating system decides it's required.

Saving a few extra gigabytes isn't worth potentially breaking something in macOS.

If you're critically low on storage, you're better off using Apple's built-in storage management tools first.

Still missing storage? Check Time Machine

Apple Intelligence might not be the only reason your available storage seems lower than expected. If you use Time Machine, macOS can also keep local snapshots on your Mac. These allow you to recover files even when your Time Machine backup drive isn't connected.

Apple normally manages this storage automatically and considers snapshot space available for use when necessary.

That means the amount of storage macOS reports can occasionally be confusing, particularly if you've recently deleted a large amount of data and expected your free-space number to immediately increase.

You can see whether local snapshots exist by opening Disk Utility, selecting your Mac's volume and looking for APFS snapshots.

Again, I wouldn't start deleting snapshots unless you're actually experiencing a storage problem.

Bottom line: Should you turn off Apple Intelligence to save space?

If you regularly use Writing Tools, Siri's newer AI features or other Apple Intelligence capabilities, the storage they consume is essentially part of the cost of having those features available locally.

But it's totally different if you never use them. That's especially true for anyone with a 256GB Mac. Losing even 10GB represents roughly 4% of your entire advertised storage capacity — before accounting for macOS itself, applications, photos, videos and everything else you keep on your computer.

Until Apple gives users more granular control over which AI models are stored locally, the safest option if you don't want Apple Intelligence is to simply turn it off, keep an eye on your storage and let macOS manage the underlying system assets rather than trying to rip them out yourself.

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• Nvidia says 'local AI is here' — and it could change how you use AI at home
• I replaced ChatGPT with Siri AI for a day — here's what surprised me
• AI could be costing you money: new study finds chatbots get most financial questions wrong

The iPhone Duo is ticking all of the right boxes at the moment, wowing just about everyone that's been able to use it ahead of its official release Oct. 23. We still don't know how much of a success the phone will be, especially considering the $2,000 price tag, but you can be sure other phone makers are watching closely — especially Samsung.

Samsung has been the de-factor king of the foldable phone business for several years. Mainly because, outside of China, the best foldables have been limited to Google and Motorola — who haven't exactly put up much of a fight. Apple could finally bring the Galaxy Fold series some serious competition, and if I were Samsung I'd be looking for ways to make my foldables stand out. Even if it means blatantly copying Apple's ideas.

Here are five things the Galaxy Z Fold 9 should steal from iPhone Duo, and two things it should leave well alone.

What Z Fold 9 should steal from iPhone Duo

Under display camera

Samsung had under-display cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold lineup for four generations, from the Galaxy Z Fold 3 to Z Fold 6. The quality of those cameras was a little... weak, to say the least, so it's no surprise that Samsung pulled them for the last two generations. But maybe now is the time to bring them back.

Apple has added an under-display camera to the iPhone Duo's foldable display, though this one isn't designed for selfies. Apple has referred to it as a FaceTime camera, and talked about its use as an aid for video calling. That suggests the quality isn't all that either, but by limiting its use cases (at least in marketing) Apple can avoid the same criticisms as Samsung.

This means the Z Fold 9 could be the perfect time for Samsung to bring the under-display camera back — and give you more of your screen back. Plus, considering you can already take selfies with the rear cameras and the hole-punch on the cover display, I'd avoid using it as a way to take photos of yourself.

S Pen support

The loss of the stylus is one of the things Galaxy foldable fans have been complaining about since the release of Galaxy Z Fold 7. The stylus requires a special digitizer layer in the display, which was removed in an apparent attempt to reduce thickness. Which isn't a great reason to remove a long-standing feature, especially when it leaves Galaxy foldables feeling a little bit lacking.

Not only does the iPhone Duo have stylus support, it uses the Apple Pencil USB-C — which is compatible with almost every iPad on sale. There's no special iPhone-exclusive stylus; it's the one a lot of iPad users may already have. The same couldn't be said for past Z Fold models, which needed a special foldable-exclusive stylus designed for the more fragile folding display.

I felt that the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra was missing out on account of its lost stylus, and the launch of Z Fold 9 would be the perfect opportunity to reintroduce that support. Ideally, it would the form of a stylus that will work across Galaxy devices, including tablets and other phones.

IP68 durability

Google was the first foldable phone maker in the U.S. to add IP68 water and dust resistance to foldables with Pixel 10 Pro Fold, and Apple has followed its example with iPhone Duo. Galaxy Z Fold 8, on the other hand only has an IP48 rating, which means it's totally exposed to dust — even if it is sealed tight against water.

Obviously, that's not a good look for Samsung, especially when you consider all the moving parts associated with a foldable hinge. You should be able to take your $1,900 to $2,000 foldable to the beach. So Samsung definitely needs to do better with the Z Fold 9.

Magnetic wireless charging built in

One of the things I'll never understand is why Samsung is so seemingly against adding magnetic wireless charging to its phones — foldables included. The phones support Qi2 wireless charging technology, but they lack the integrated magnets that let chargers and accessories snap into place.

One reason I was given was that the magnets interfered with the S Pen, and Samsung couldn't offer both. But considering the iPhone Duo has Apple Pencil support and MagSafe, it's clear that there is a way to offer both features without asking users to compromise. Because a magnetic case system is just a poor show for a phone company that sells devices for close to two thousand dollars.

An actual Vapor Chamber

The Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset is powerful. But the phones that use it can get quite hot, and a lack of cooling can lead to worse sustained performance.That's why Samsung needs to add a vapor chamber, much like the Galaxy S26 Ultra and the iPhone Duo.

Vapor chambers help move heat across the phone, allowing it to dissipate more evenly, and keep key components from overheating. It also helps improve sustained performance, and les the phone work harder for longer.

Admittedly, the Z Fold 8 does have pretty good sustained performance compared to the S26 Ultra (72.4% versus 53.9%) but it's behind the iPhone 18 Pro Max (79.4%), But can you imagine how much better things could be if there was a vapor chamber to help keep everything cool?

Two things iPhone Duo can keep

Curved corners

Apple loves curved corners on its phones, a design that has made its way to foldables as well. Samsung may have opted for more curved corners on its non-folding phones, like Galaxy S26, but for the time being foldables have retained the sharper right-angles Samsung was once known for. The Galaxy Z Fold 9 should stay the same way.

My issue with the iPhone Duo is the lack of symmetry in the design. If you look at it from the cover display, the disparity between the left side and right side is painfully apparent. It looks wrong to have curved corners on one side and rounded edges on the other, even if you don't actually see that when the phone is unfolded.

The Z Fold 8 and Z Fold 8 Ultra are the total opposite, with a symmetrical design regardless of which screen you're actually looking at — and it makes Galaxy foldables all the better to look at. Plus, you're likely to get a little bit more screen space if you're using the phone in certain display configurations.

The eSIM only design

Apple has been aggressively pushing eSIMs the past few years, and that's led to a foldable with no support for physical SIM cards — regardless of which part of the world you buy it in. Samsung, on the other hand, has stuck to the physical nano SIM slot on all its flagship phones — and it should continue that trend for Z Fold 9.

I get the appeal of eSIMs in certain situations, but I also feel as though they come with a key disadvantage compared to physical SIM cards. A physical SIM pops out of your phone and into another device without issue, while eSIMs have to be digitally transferred. The process is not as awkward or laborious as it used to be, but it's still not as convenient.

If you prefer eSIMs, that's great, more power to you. But it's good to offer users a choice on how they connect to cell networks, rather than deciding for you and giving you no flexibility. Which is a very Apple way of doing things.

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• Apple's $250 million class action settlement website is now open — here's how eligible iPhone owners can file a claim and how much they'll get

Apple settled a $250 million class action lawsuit over claims of false advertising about Siri's AI capabilities in May of this year. The settlement allows up to 36 million iPhone users in the U.S. to receive up to $95.

That window is finally opening, but it runs for only three months, starting Monday, September 21. Here's what you need to know to claim your share of the settlement.

How we got here

The lawsuit was initially filed in California in 2024 by Peter Landsheft after Apple promoted its more "personalized Siri" and the introduction of Apple Intelligence. The National Advertising Division bolstered the lawsuit, concluding that Apple misled users by claiming the new Siri was "now available."

Apple filed the settlement, which includes no admissions of wrongdoing, on May 5. "We resolved this matter to stay focused on doing what we do ⁠best, delivering ​the most innovative products and ​services to our users," the company said in a statement.

“False advertising settlements aim to raise the floor of truth-telling, protect fair competition, and increase consumer choice. The $250 million settlement fund represents the largest false advertising settlement in history, and we are proud to have achieved this result for Apple customers," Ryan Clarkson, one of the lawyers on the case, said in a statement to Tom's Guide.

Eligibility and how to claim

The settlement covers roughly 36 million iPhones, including the iPhone 16, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. All of which must have been purchased in the U.S. between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025.

The window for entering a claim starts September 21 and closes on December 21, 2026.

You can enter a claim by going to SmartphoneAISettlement.com. You will need your device's serial number. You can find the number by opening Settings, going to General, tapping About, and scrolling to Serial Number.

As for payout, claimants will receive at least $25 per device and up to $95, depending on how many claims are submitted.

Final approval by a judge won't happen until February 24, 2027, and Apple will have a set number of days after that to issue payments. Typically, those windows are 180 days.

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The Apple Mac Studio M5 Ultra ($5,499 to start) is the most powerful computer I’ve ever reviewed. While the Apple M6 chip now exists, the “older” M5 Max and the new M5 Ultra processors still run circles around the new silicon. And that’s exactly what you want if you need a Mac desktop with no compromises. That said, that impressive performance certainly doesn’t come cheap!

Powerful performance is the main highlight, and the Mac Studio’s design remains identical to last year’s model. That’s fine, as this desktop PC’s sleek, compact design makes it easy to fit into your work setup. As before, the Mac Studio runs cool and quiet even under heavy load and packs a ton of ports — the M5 Ultra model features a whopping 6 Thunderbolt 5 ports.

The Mac Studio is undoubtedly one of the best computers, capable of handling even the most demanding video editing or 3D rendering projects with ease. It’s also good for gaming, especially games optimized for Apple silicon. However, if you don’t need all the power this expensive PC offers, you’re probably better off with the $899 M6-powered Mac mini.

Price aside, this is one seriously impressive machine. Find out more in my full review of the Apple Mac Studio M5 Ultra!

Apple Mac Studio M5 Ultra review: Cheat sheet

• What is it? The Mac Studio is Apple’s most powerful desktop computer.
• Who is it for? For professionals who need more power than even the iMac or Mac mini can provide.
• What does it cost? The Mac Studio with the M5 Max chip starts at $2,499, while the model packing the M5 Ultra starts at $5,499. As configured, our review unit is valued at $12,299.
• What do we like? We like the sleek, compact design, powerful CPU and gaming performance, and how cool and quiet it runs even under heavy load.
• What don’t we like? We don’t like the extremely steep asking price.

Apple Mac Studio M5 Ultra review: Specs

Apple Mac Studio M5 Ultra review: The ups

The Mac Studio impresses thanks to its elegant design and powerful performance. It's the kind of computer for serious power users and professionals.

Lovely design

The Mac Studio retains the same simple, boxy design as its immediate predecessors. Thanks to its small footprint, it’s easy to place almost anywhere on your desk. And with the lion’s share of ports on the back, cable management is also a breeze.

Speaking of ports, you’ll find plenty here. The front has two USB-C ports and an SDXC card slot, while the back has four USB-C/Thunderbolt 5 ports, an Ethernet port, two USB-A ports, an HDMI port, and a headphone jack. On Mac Studios with the M5 Ultra chip, all USB-C ports are Thunderbolt 5, for a total of six.

Though the Mac Studio can be heavy (especially the 8-pound M5 Ultra model), moving it around your desk is seamless thanks to its smooth, protruding bottom. The computer practically glides across the desk, so you’ll rarely need to pick it up when moving it to another spot.

Killer CPU performance

The Mac Studio I tested is an absolute monster thanks to its Apple M5 Ultra chip and whopping 256GB of RAM! It’s certainly more power than I need for my daily work, which involves keeping multiple Chrome tabs open, with the occasional video tossed in. It won’t surprise anyone that even with well over 30 Chrome tabs open, the Mac Studio kept going without slowing down and stayed cool and quiet the entire time.

To be clear, the Mac Studio I reviewed is so powerful that we had a difficult time finding other computers in its class. So keep that in mind as I move forward with the comparisons I decided to make, as they still give you an idea of what Apple’s desktop is capable of.

On the Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark, the new Mac Studio has single-core performance comparable to its M4 Max-powered predecessor. However, multi-core performance differs significantly. Again, this isn’t an apples-to-apples comparison since it’s an M5 Ultra chip vs. M4 Max, but the numbers still tell a story.

The Mac Studio also delivered strong results compared with last year’s model in our other benchmark tests. For instance, on the Blackmagic SSD speed tests, the new Apple computer vastly outperformed the previous model. On the HandBrake test, which converts a 25GB 4K video file to 1080p, the Mac Studio completed the task 51 seconds faster than the M4 Max Mac Studio.

Lastly, we also had the Mac Studio export a high-res video. The video was 8 minutes, 27 seconds long and included 5K at 30 fps ProRes RAW footage with color grading, plus one 4K 120 fps clip reduced to 25% speed. The Mac Studio took 1 minute and 20 seconds to convert this video to 4K at 30 fps.

In comparison, a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M5 chip and 32GB of RAM completed the task in 5 minutes and 40 seconds. While comparing an M5 Ultra Mac Studio to an M5 MacBook Pro isn’t exactly fair, it highlights the wide gulf between these M5-powered machines.

Awesome for gaming

Given the power under the hood, I was eager to see the Mac Studio’s gaming prowess. Though it can’t quite match the performance of one of the best gaming PCs, you’ll still see solid results — especially for Apple Silicon-optimized games.

Cyberpunk 2077 has a dedicated “For this Mac” graphical mode, and when I enabled that and set the resolution to match the Mac Studio Display’s 5K, the game ran at a consistent 60 frames per second. Sure, I’ve seen this title run at higher frame rates on proper gaming rigs; this is very impressive for such a graphically demanding title.

Now, how does the Mac Studio hold up against a gaming PC? For this comparison, I’m using the Alienware Area-51, which is one of the best gaming PCs we’ve tested. Again, the comparison isn’t perfect, but it shows you how the Mac Studio compares to a proper gaming rig.

At high graphical settings and 4K resolution, Apple Silicon-optimized games such as Assassin’s Creed Shadows and Cyberpunk 2077 ran smoothly. This is especially true of the latter, which has a dedicated “For this Mac” setting that further optimizes performance. Even an unoptimized game like Borderlands 3 runs like a dream on the Mac Studio.

Though the Mac Studio’s gaming prowess is commendable, it doesn’t come close to the Alienware Area-51, which packs an Intel Core Ultra 9 285K CPU, an Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 GPU, and 64GB of RAM. Except for Cyberpunk 2077, the beefy gaming rig ran games at well over 120 frames per second on the same settings.

I should note that even Apple Silicon-optimized games have likely not been specifically tuned for the M5 Ultra chip. As a result, we could see much better gaming performance soon. Still, even if you’re not getting exact gaming PC-like performance, the Mac Studio can handle AAA games, as long as they’re optimized.

Runs cool and quiet

Powerful computers tend to get very loud and hot when pushed to the limit. I didn’t experience that with the Mac Studio during my testing.

The fans are on the bottom and back, and both do an effective job of pushing heat out. But even when I ran a demanding game or rendered a large video file, the vents got lukewarm at best.

Apple Mac Studio M5 Ultra review: The downs

There’s no denying the Mac Studio’s impressive performance, but you’ll have to pay a steep price for that privilege.

Very expensive

The Mac Studio comes in two models: one with an M5 Max chip and another with an M5 Ultra. The former starts at $2,499 ($500 more than last year’s model), while the latter will set you back a wallet-crunching $5,499 — or $1,500 more than last year's M3 Ultra model.

You get what you pay for with this computer, and if you’re a professional video editor, this could be a worthwhile investment, as it will certainly speed up your projects. The same is true if you want to run complex AI models on device. However, if you’re just looking for an Apple desktop computer for everyday work, you’re better off with the more reasonably priced M6 Mac mini, which starts at $899.

Apple Mac Studio M5 Ultra review: Verdict

The Mac Studio M5 Ultra is one seriously impressive computer. It can handle just about anything you throw at it and keeps asking for more. Doing so while running quietly makes it even more astonishing. Again, if you need an insanely powerful Mac for video editing or heavy AI workloads, you can’t do better.

Of course, this isn’t a computer for everyone, and not just because of its steep price. If you just want a desktop Mac for everyday work, then the $899 Mac mini M6 is your best bet. Conversely, if you have cash to spare but want a proper gaming rig, the Alienware Area-51 or the HP Omen Max 45L are solid choices.

But if you like what I had to say about the Mac Studio M5 Ultra and think it’ll make your workflow easier, then certainly consider checking it out, especially if you’re using a much older model or want to upgrade from a MacBook Pro. Yes, it’ll cost a pretty penny, but you won’t be disappointed by the results.

Apple’s Mac mini with M6 is one of the company's most impressive desktops, packing desktop-class power into a tiny footprint thanks to the cutting-edge 2nm chip inside. While it retains the same design and port layout as its predecessor, this upgraded Mac mini is a true workhorse that can handle far more demanding tasks.

Apple completely redesigned the Mac mini from the ground up with the M4 generation, which meant it didn’t need to change the exterior this time around. You still get convenient front ports and three Thunderbolt ports for video out around back. With the power of Cupertino’s new M6 chip — featuring a 12-core CPU and GPU alongside a dual 16-core Neural Engine — the Mac mini M6 handles everything from local AI workloads to video editing and even gaming with ease.

My Mac mini M6 review will help you decide if this is the best mini PC for your workload, and whether it’s the desktop equivalent of the MacBook Neo for those finally looking to ditch their Windows PC for good.

Mac mini M6: Cheat Sheet

• What is it? An upgraded version of Apple’s smallest desktop computer featuring new M6 or M5 Pro chips.
• Who is it for? People looking to switch to Mac, or MacBook users who want a small form-factor desktop for their desk.
• What does it cost? The Mac mini with M6 starts at $899, while the Mac mini with M5 Pro starts at $1,699. Both systems can be configured with additional memory, storage, and 10Gb Ethernet.
• What do we like? It keeps the same compact design and front/rear port layout as its predecessor, adds Apple’s N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, and makes 2.5 GbE the standard Ethernet port.
• What don’t we like? The higher starting price, the awkwardly placed power button on the bottom of the device, that it ships with a 256GB SSD, and how quickly the price increases when you add extra memory or storage at checkout.

Mac mini M6: Specs

Mac mini M6: The ups

The Mac mini M6 takes everything that worked so well with its predecessor while turbocharging its internals with Apple’s new M6 chip. However, the smaller, connectivity-focused upgrades and its gaming performance impressed me most.

Refined not redesigned

At 5 x 5 x 2 inches, the Mac mini M6 takes up the exact same footprint on your desk as its predecessor. Unlike many of the other mini PCs I’ve tested, it features an internal power supply, making cable management and traveling with it a breeze.

On the front, you still get two USB-C ports, a 3.5mm headphone jack, and a subtle white LED power indicator. Keep in mind, though, these front ports are strictly for connecting accessories and transferring data, as they don’t support video out.

Around back, there are three Thunderbolt 4 ports on the Mac mini M6 (or three Thunderbolt 5 ports on the M5 Pro model). On both versions, you also get an HDMI port, an Ethernet port and the power connection.

While the layout is virtually identical to the previous generation, the Ethernet port got a stealthy upgrade: instead of standard Gigabit Ethernet, Apple now includes a multi-gig 2.5 GbE port as the new standard for faster wired downloads and uploads, which is a fantastic addition in my book.

M6 upgrades all around

If you’re upgrading from the previous generation to the Mac mini M6, you might feel a bit of déjà vu when unboxing your new desktop — I know I did. In terms of looks and accessories, everything is virtually identical. However, it’s the added power under the hood (and one key connectivity upgrade) that truly sets this new Mac mini apart.

During my time testing the Mac mini M6, I threw my typical daily workload at it: dozens of Chrome tabs spread across side-by-side windows alongside photo editing in GIMP. Unlike the Mac mini M4, which could occasionally stutter under heavy multitasking, the M6 didn’t miss a beat.

It’s worth noting that Apple provided our review unit with 24GB of unified memory rather than the base 16GB. Still, with the M6 silicon running the show, even the base model will feel like a massive step up for most users.

It was in our lab testing that the Mac mini M6 really shone. On the Geekbench 6 CPU benchmark, its single-core score of 4,708 easily beat the Mac mini M4 Pro by nearly a thousand points. The M6’s multi-core result landed at 21,405 — just shy of the M4 Pro’s 22,661 — and a staggering 44% jump over the base M4.

If you plan on using the Mac mini M6 for video editing, you’re in for a welcome surprise. In our Handbrake test — which transcodes a 25GB 4K video file down to 1080p — the M6 finished in just 2 minutes and 45 seconds, shaving nearly two full minutes off the M4's time.

The Mac mini M6 also crushed our 25GB file copy benchmark at 6,371.5 MBps, more than doubling the M4’s 3,017.3 MBps and outpacing PC competitors like the Lenovo Yoga Mini (1,457.1 MBps).

Much like the gains seen in Blackmagic SSD tests, this speed boost is largely tied to our review unit’s 512GB SSD, which unlocks full multi-channel PCIe Gen 4 storage bandwidth on Apple Silicon. For anyone handling heavy video workflows or large media transfers, that extra file speed alone makes upgrading to at least 512GB worth the additional $200 at checkout.

More than faster performance

The new M6 silicon may be the star of the show, but it’s not the only piece of custom Apple hardware inside the Mac mini M6. The company also outfitted its upgraded desktop with its proprietary N1 networking chip, improving short-range wireless connectivity across the board.

In addition to Wi-Fi 7, you get Bluetooth 6.0 and native Thread support out of the box. For me, the jump to Wi-Fi 7 is the major upgrade — alongside access to the faster 6 GHz band, you get key protocol features like Multi-Link Operation (MLO), which aggregates multiple bands simultaneously for lower latency and higher throughput.

Meanwhile, Bluetooth 6 brings Channel Sounding for far more accurate distance tracking, better power efficiency and lower-latency wireless audio. With native Thread support built in, the Mac mini M6 can also double as a smart home hub without needing an external bridge.

After Apple debuted the N1 chip on the iPhone 17, I knew it was only a matter of time before it migrated to the Mac mini. I’m glad to see Apple make the switch from off-the-shelf Broadcom modules to its own custom networking silicon sooner rather than later.

Mini Mac gaming realized

Now don’t get me wrong — I was certainly able to play games on the Mac mini M4, but I was largely limited to older titles and rarely saw anything close to 60 fps. With the Mac mini M6, however, you can now comfortably run modern titles on a desktop even smaller than Valve’s Steam Machine.

While testing the Mac mini M6 with Apple’s Studio Display XDR at the office, I decided to jump into Control, especially with its sequel, Control Resonant, hitting shelves. I did have to drop the resolution down to 1440p, but the game looked crisp and ran smoothly. If you’re willing to scale down to 1080p, performance gets a massive boost — particularly compared to the previous generation.

In our lab testing, the title that surprised me most was Cyberpunk 2077. Thanks to its dedicated "For this Mac" graphical preset, it maintained a steady 56 fps at 1080p. In older titles like Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Sid Meier’s Civilization VI: Gathering Storm, the M6 easily cleared 60 fps at that same resolution.

I still wouldn’t rush out to buy a Mac mini M6 purely as a dedicated gaming rig, but it’s refreshing to know you can play demanding titles comfortably if you’re open to tweaking your resolution and graphics settings.

Mac mini M6: The downs

The Mac mini M6 is a big step up over its predecessor, but it’s not without its downsides. Namely, its higher starting price and the fact that Apple played it safe with this mini PC’s design.

Not quite a mini price tag

At $599 (or $499 with an education discount), the Mac mini M4 was a surprisingly affordable mini PC. Now, with a starting price of $899, the Mac mini M6 costs $300 more. While you’re getting a much faster chip, you aren’t getting extra storage or a memory bump like we saw when Apple moved from 8GB to 16GB of unified memory as the baseline standard on the M4.

Because of RAMageddon, much of this is out of Apple’s control. Still, looking at the MacBook Neo — where Apple kept the price hike down to $100 despite rising memory costs — a $300 bump here stings.

While the base Mac mini M6 is plenty fast for everyday tasks like writing documents or checking email, anyone planning on heavier workloads will likely need to configure more headroom. At $200 a pop to upgrade storage or memory, those costs add up fast.

You can offset storage limits with external accessories like Satechi’s Mac mini M4 Hub & Stand (which works with the M6, too), but memory is locked in for life — so plan accordingly before ordering.

Lacking that "One more thing"

When the Mac mini M6 was first revealed, I was definitely excited, but also slightly let down. Once Apple introduces a major redesign, the company usually waits a few generations before making any big physical changes — but I really wish it had tweaked the Mac mini M6 just a bit.

For example, putting the power button on the bottom of the computer still feels like a strange design choice. (Even if I accidentally ended up proving Apple right when I left my Mac mini M4 powered on for several months straight without noticing last year.)

One upgrade I would have loved to see on the Mac mini M6 is built-in Touch ID. As we’ve seen on the iPad mini and now with the iPhone Duo, Apple does a great job of integrating fingerprint readers directly into power buttons. Why couldn’t the Mac mini get the same treatment? A small tweak like that wouldn't have required redesigning the whole computer, either.

A faster chip and improved connectivity are great upgrades, but just a little something extra on the hardware side really would have been a nice touch — and perhaps even reason enough to convince Mac mini M4 users to upgrade.

Mac mini M6: Verdict

The Mac mini M6 doesn’t reinvent the wheel, but thanks to the major redesign of its predecessor, it really doesn’t need to. You still get a beautifully designed and compact mini PC with plenty of ports and 16GB of unified memory standard. However, it’s the extra processing and graphical horsepower of the M6 silicon that truly shines here.

Whether you’re browsing the web, managing local files, or putting Apple Intelligence and Siri AI through their paces, everything just feels noticeably faster. Equally impressive, this tiny Mac stays completely cool to the touch and dead silent while doing so.

At $899, the higher price tag does sting a bit — especially if you plan to add extra memory or storage. But even at a higher price, the Mac mini M6 remains an excellent mini PC and the perfect MacBook alternative for desktop users. It’s also a fantastic entry point for anyone looking to dive headfirst into the Apple ecosystem with the full power of Apple Silicon.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are out in the world, and that means we’re starting to hear about all the things Apple didn’t tell us about. The teardown specialists at iFixit have already revealed how large the batteries are inside the eSIM-only models that are on sale in the U.S. But what other secrets are hiding inside?

Here's what was uncovered when iFixit popped open the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

The ins and outs of variable aperture

One of the biggest upgrades in the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max is the variable aperture camera lens, which lets you adjust how much light actually makes it through the camera lens. It’s a feature that a lot of people have raved about, though iFixit simply calls it “a nice gimmick.”

Why a gimmick? Because the site questions the feature's validity altogether, given how iPhone cameras actually work. The camera sensors are a little over half an inch in size, which limits the potential to let more light inside the camera in the first place. The short focal length of the lens already ensures most of your photo is kept in focus, while depth of field effects, including bokeh, have been software-based for a long time.

Most crucially, though, is the fact that the variable aperture blades offer a brand new place for iPhone cameras to fail. More moving parts mean more things that can break, as users reported in the past on other variable aperture-capable phones like the Samsung Galaxy S9. This means that the ability to fix those blades is crucial, and apart from some issues with the screen reaching the camera, it isn’t that difficult.

However, any issues with the aperture blades will likely require a full replacement of the camera assembly — which isn’t going to be cheap. Apple’s official spare parts store sells iPhone 17 Pro cameras for $250, and the addition of variable aperture isn’t likely to make a replacement iPhone 18 Pro camera any less expensive.