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An NHL official is shown wearing an Apple Watch with a custom app to help track game and penalty time.Getty Images/Courtesy of the NHL
Apple and the NHL are collaborating to give its officials Apple Watches
They’ll be used in an outdoor game for the first time on March 1
A custom app can give officials countdowns and even tell them which players are in the penalty box
Appleand the National Hockey League (NHL) have announced the next step in a partnership that has seen officials across the league equipped with thebest Apple Watchesin order to assist them in officiating games.
Announced by theNHL, officials will wear Apple Watches and use a custom NHL Watch Comms App during an outdoor game for the first time, specifically the match between the Columbus Blue Jackets and the Detroit Red Wings at Ohio Stadium, March 1.
The NHL says that officials across the league have been using the technology on a widespread scale, with nearly all officials wearing a watch this season.
In fact, they’ve been using and refining it for a few seasons. The Apple Watches come with a custom app developed by Presidio, offering real-time in-game notifications.
The NHL Watch Comms App showing the imminent end of two penalties.Courtesy of the NHL
The NHL says that communication between officials is difficult during games because of crowd noise and the electric pace of games. An outdoor environment makes that even more challenging, the biggest one being the lack of a scoreboard hanging above center ice, which limits how officials can keep track of game timing and situations.The NHL has future plans to expand the tech, including adding support for direct communications between the four officials on the ice, other arena officials, and officials at the league HQ in Toronto. Apple Watch may even facilitate communication between officials and coaches in the future.
Officials wearing the watch get haptic notifications during the game, including game clock and penalty clock countdowns, and even the jersey numbers of which players are in the penalty box at any given time.
NHL executive vice president of business development and innovation David Lehanski says the league has a 90 percent participation rate among officials using the tech. The NHL has been collaborating with Apple for a number of years, notably using iPad and Mac to deliver real-time videos to coaches and players in game for the past eight years.
Don’t knock the iPhone 16e for having just one camera
Soon after theiPhone 16ewas officially announced, I expressed doubt about theiPhone 16e cameracompeting against some of thebest camera phoneson the market. Namely, I feared that Apple’s decision to stick with a single rear camera would make the 16e less compelling compared to the dual and triple camera setups I see in many other similarly priced phones.
That’s why I’m doing this 10-round photo shootout with the iPhone 16e vsiPhone 16vsiPhone SE 2022— let’s see exactly how good the new iPhone 16e is compared to some of thebest iPhones.
On paper, I prefer the utility of the iPhone 16’s dual camera setup — which consists of a 48MP main shooter paired with a 12MP ultrawide. It inherently has an advantage because its ultrawide camera is more suitable for landscape photography and group photos. In contrast, the iPhone 16e features a single 48MP main camera, while the iPhone SE 2022 has just a 12MP main camera.
I captured a bunch of scenes to best illustrate how each camera handles different scenarios, then I compared the results on my computer to see them all side-by-side with one another. That way, I can better spot their differences to ultimately tell you which has the best performance.
Picture order：iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: daytime
iPhone 16e
iPhone 16
iPhone se 2022
Starting with these sets of photos I snapped down by the beach near me, all the shots look fantastic. Upon closer inspection though, it’s hard to discredit the iPhone SE 2022 because zooming into the building in the far background reveals that it captures details just as well as its newer counterparts. However, it’s ultimately the iPhone 16e that gets my vote due to its warmer color temperature.
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: Dynamic Range
The photos above prove why the iPhone SE 2022 is still a capable camera phone in 2025, mainly because of its wide dynamic range performance.
With the sun nearly overhead, the shadowed areas of the gazebo and surrounding townhomes in the background are still visible with the iPhone SE 2022’s shot, but both the iPhone 16 and 16e better expose those shadowed areas.
It’s not a huge bump, but it’s enough for me to notice when I zoom into the rocks underneath the gazebo.
Winner:iPhone 16 & 16e
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: Colors
Clearly, the iPhone 16e has a penchant for producing bolder color tones, which leads to noticeable saturation in the shots of the bruschetta above. I personally like the vibrant reds of the tomato pieces, but the iPhone 16’s colors are more true-to-life. The red has a more balanced tone, which is why I prefer its color science.
Winner:iPhone 16
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: Macro
One of the challenges with capturing macro photos with all three iPhones is trying to find their minimal focal distance. It’s rather tough to tell when I’m tapping the screen and trying to discern if the image is in focus where I want it to be.
What’s apparent is that I can get a lot closer to a subject with the iPhone 16, resulting in more detailed macro photos. You can see it in the shots above in how the iPhone 16 better defines the details in the exposed wood railing.
Both the iPhone 16e and iPhone SE 2022 can still capture outstanding looking closeups, but this one goes to the iPhone 16.
Winner:iPhone 16
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: 2x zoom
Now comes the fun part: zooming. That’s because all three phones rely on their main camera for all zooming, but the iPhone 16 and 16e leverage special techniques that give their zooms optical-like quality.
Right away, it’s evident that the iPhone SE 2022 is at a big disadvantage with zooming because it’s effectively a digital zoom. The wooden sign in the photos above doesn’t have the same amount of detail I see with the iPhone 16 and 16e’s shots. But between the two of them, I’m giving it to the iPhone 16e because of its warmer tone.
Winner:iPhone 16e
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: 10x zoom
Image processing truly becomes important at further zoom levels because it can expose details that are otherwise hidden in the shot. This is true for the iPhone 16e, since it’s able to catch more of the wooden textures of the sign at 10x zoom. I see it in the green painted portion of the wooden sign and the post to the right of the yellow emblem.
The iPhone SE 2022 tops out at 5x zoom, so it doesn’t have nearly as much definition.
Winner:iPhone 16e
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: Nighttime
I think all three phones are capable of delivering acceptable low light photos, but only when there are strong light sources in the scene. The shots above at the parking lot prove this as the much older iPhone SE 2022 manages to match its younger siblings in terms of overall brightness and exposure.
However, zooming into the scene reveals it’s not as good at neutralizing the exposure with the highlights — which I can see with the brightly lit signs in the background. The iPhone 16 clearly does the best job because most of the signs are still visible and not overblown like the iPhone 16e.
Winner:iPhone 16
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: Low light
Besides zooming, the other area where I see substantial differences in all phones is low light — and these shots prove it. In the near pitch dark conditions of my backyard, you can see how the iPhone SE 2022 fails at brightening up the scene. It doesn’t help when the details are muddy and indistinct.
In contrast, the iPhone 16 and 16e do an amazing job of brightening the scene. It almost looks like an ambient light source is shining on the tree, but this is the magic of their night modes. Even though the iPhone 16 has a slightly brighter exposure, zooming in reveals better definition and clarity with the iPhone 16e. And for these reasons, it gets my vote.
Winner:iPhone 16e
iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022: Verdict
I’m looking forward to capturing even more photos with the iPhone 16e in order to get a better feel of how it performs consistently. In this iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16 vs iPhone SE 2022 photo shootout, I’m surprised that the iPhone 16e wins more categories than the iPhone 16.
What impresses me the most is how the 16e actually performs better than the iPhone 16 in low light and zooming, two areas I didn’t think it could win. Yet, it proves how image processing techniques can really get the most out of a phone’s camera. However, I still can’t count out the iPhone 16 because of the extra utility it offers — like a proper ultrawide camera that’s better suited for macrophotography and capturing more of the scene.
And not surprisingly, there’s a big gap in performance between the iPhone SE 2022 and its spiritual successor in the iPhone 16e.
Speech-to-text on the iPhone is misbehaving(Image credit: Shutterstock / DedMityay)
iOS is changing “Trump” to “racist” when transcribing
Apple says the bug is now being fixed
The official explanation is “phonetic overlap”
iPhone owners have noticed a peculiar bug in recent days: “Trump” autocorrects to “racist” when using speech-to-text dictation mode. According toApple, it’s a problem with “phonetic overlap”, and a fix is already in the works.
AfterTikTok videosof the slip went viral, Apple provided a statement toThe Guardianand others, blaming “phonetic overlap” between the two words: “We are aware of an issue with the speech recognition model that powers Dictation, and we are rolling out a fix as soon as possible,” a spokesperson said.
While many people were able to recreate the blip, it didn’t happen every time – and the text seemed to revert back to “Trump” after a short delay.The latest reportsonline suggest Apple’s fix has already taken effect, so you might not see it happening any more.
In its explanation, Apple suggested its speech recognition engines were struggling to distinguish between words with “r” in them. Further testing suggested iOS didn’t always get the word “racist” right either, though historically Apple’s speech-to-text engines have been very reliable.
Apple says the Trump-related bug is getting patched(Image credit: Getty Images)
Apple will be keen to draw a line under this as soon as possible and get the error corrected. It seems particularly unfortunate that a transcription bug like this would link two specific words sure to set off a wave of controversy and politically-charged debate.
Peter Bell, professor of speech technology at the University of Edinburgh, told theBBCthat Apple’s explanation was “just not plausible” given what we know about speech-to-text technology. “It probably points to somebody that’s got access to the process,” said Bell.
John Burkey, founder of Wonderrush.ai, gave a similar option to theNew York Times: “This smells like a serious prank,” he said. “The only question is: did someone slip this into the data or slip into the code?”
This also feeds into the wider conversation about AI and its reliability, as AI models are used to convert the spoken word into transcribed text – something that you can now do on any modern smartphone. Whether it’s meeting notes or show subtitles, we need to be able to rely on the accuracy of this fast-spreading technology.
Whether you’re switching to a newiPhoneand need to transfer all your data fromAndroid, or you want to use both devices side by side and share files between them, you’ll be glad to know that the process is quite straightforward.
In the first instance, we’d advise you to use an Apple app calledMove to iOS. If you’re sharing files between both devices,GoogleDrive or Google Photos are great options. You can also use other apps like Dropbox or Microsoft OneDrive, but the process underlying principles are the same.
Here, we’ll walk you through the process and introduce a method similar toAirDrop(which is handy to knowif you’re not already familiar with it). So, without further ado, let’s dive into how to transfer data from Android to iPhone.
Got a new iPhone out of the box? There’s an easy way to get set up using the data stored on your Android device.
1. Launch the Move to iOS app
Go to Google Play on your Android device then search for andinstall theMove to iOSapp.
Nowopen Move to iOSandagree to the terms and conditions. You should alsodecide if you want to share app datawith Apple and if you’d like it to access the device’s location (perhapsselect While using the app).
Next,turn on your new iPhoneandfollow the setup instructionsuntil you reach the Quick Start screen.Tap Set Up Without Another Deviceand on the Transfer Your Apps & Data screen,tap From Android.
3. Enter a code
Eitherconnect your iPhone and Android via a USB cable,ortap continue with Wi-Fiandensure both devices are on the same network.
When you see the Move from Android screen on your iPhone,tap Continueto see a single use code. You shouldenter the code on your Androiddevice.
4. Select your data
On the Android device,select the datayou would like to transfer to the iPhone (you can evenadd files) andselect Continue. Sit back andallow the process to complete. Don’t touch the screen or buttons on either device during this time.
How to manually transfer data
If you’ve already set up your iPhone and you want easily transfer data from an Android device to it, it’s best to use Google’s own software, notably Google Drive.
If you’re dealing with images, you can also use the Google Photos app on both theiPhoneandAndroiddevices. The same principles apply as in the first two steps below.
1. Use Google Drive
Since Google Drive tends to be the go-to storage app on Android devices, it makes sense to use it as a way to access data across Android and iPhone.
Open Google Drive on your Android deviceto see what you have stored. You canadd new files by tapping +New.
2. Launch Drive on iPhone
Next,installGoogle Driveon your iPhoneandlog inusing the exact same detailsas on your Android device. The files you have saved in Drive via Android will be available on your iPhone.
3. Browse via Files
To make life even easier, you can nowuse the Files appon your iPhone.Launch Filesandtap the Browse tabthenselect Drivefrom the list of Locations.
You may be prompted totap Turn On. Once you do, your files will be available to view.
4. Move a file
If you want to move a file from Google Drive to another location on your iPhone,tap and hold a single file.
If youtap the three-dot iconin the top-right corner of the screen andtap Select, you canchoose multiple files— when done, again tap and hold. Thenselect Moveanddecide where you want to put the files(s).
And there you have it—two ways to transfer data from Android to iPhone, whether you’re starting fresh or not. But if you just need to move a few files quickly, check outhow to share files between Android and iPhoneusing Snapdrop. You can also learnhow to transfer data from Android to Androidorhow to transfer data from iPhone to iPhone.
Is it worth splurging on the iPad 11, or should you stick with the iPad 10?
Apple’s plain old iPad 10 is a gem.
It offers lplentyof screen real estate to watch your favorite shows, snappy eerformance, and decent battery life ll at a wallet-friendly price. But how does it compare to the upcoming iPad 11, Apple’s new affordable tablet?
The iPad 11 and iPad 10 are expected to be quite similar, but they’ll vary in a few major aspects, namely price and performance.
Apple’s next-gen base iPad will likely come equipped with the hardware chops needed to utilize Apple Intelligence features, which means it’ll offer better overall performance as well.
Are convenient AI features, improved performance, and a likely battery life boost in the iPad 11 worth its potential price hike? Let’s dive into how exactly the iPad 11 compares to the iPad 10 and ultimately help you decide which tablet to pick up.
In ouriPad 10 review, the tablet’s launch price was $449. Due to some slight public outrage and the tablet already going on sale frequently, Apple decided to permanently lower the recommended retail price to $349 at the’Let Loose’ event in May 2024.
Now, you can frequently find theiPad 10 dip as low as $299during major sales, making it the cheapest modern iPad you can pick up.
Switching gears to the iPad 11, which will hopefully launch in March or April, current rumors aren’t clear on how Apple plans to price the new tablet.
That said, the general consensus seems to be that Apple will likely start the iPad 11 at $449, matching the iPad 10’s original price, and possibly run it on sale at $349 a lot.
Because Apple modernized the base iPad’s look in 2022, the iPad 11’s design will likely not be significantly different.
We’re expecting to see the same flat-edge aluminum chassis, similar dimensions and weight, and similar cameras and camera placement.
If Apple keeps the dimensions and weight of the iPad 10 and iPad 11 the same, customers will be much more eager to upgrade, knowing that any cases or folios they’ve already purchased will fit their new tablet.
The iPad 10 gained a Touch ID power button, a USB-C charging port, and support for Face ID, Magic Keyboard Folio,Apple PencilUSB-C, and Apple Pencil (1st Gen) — we expect all of these features to be present in the iPad 11 as well.
The only design area we could see Apple implementing change in is with the iPad’s available colorways. The iPad 10 is currently available in silver, blue, pink, and yellow.
We haven’t heard any rumors suggesting that Apple will keep the old colors or replace them with fun alternatives, but new shades would be the easiest way to give the iPad 11 a flook without changing the overall design.
iPad 11 vs. iPad 10: Display
In ouriPad 10 review, we noted the display as “pretty darn lovely to look at.” It’s a 10.9-inch, 2,360 x 1,640-pixel, LED-backlit, multi-touch, IPS display with a 60Hz refresh rate and 500 nits max brightness, larger than its predecessor’s 10.2-inch display with similar specs.
With a display size increase between 9th and 10th generation iPads, and with most people already satisfied with the iPad 10’s display, we don’t expect to see Apple dole out any major display upgrades this time around.
Apple may consider only a minor upgrade: a laminated display. Upgrading the base iPad to a laminated display would make it slightly thinner and ultimately make it feel nicer for the user, whether using a finger or a stylus to navigate.
iPad 11 vs. iPad 10: Features
Apple probably won’t bring any speaker or camera upgrades to the iPad 11, but that’s not necessarily bad.
OuriPad 10 reviewdescribes the speakers as providing “impactful audio capable of filling a small room” and the rear 12-megapixel camera as “sharp and vivid, managing a level of detail that will alarm you.”
The front camera could be improved, so we wouldn’t mind if Apple treated it to some TLC. However, as Apple changed the front camera placement from portrait to landscape with the iPad 10 and has Center Stage, it’s not likely that Apple will mess with the front camera specs. However, there could be software improvements that enhance the quality of selfies.
Speaking of software improvements, let’s talk about Apple Intelligence. According toBloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, the iPad 11 will feature an A17 Pro chip and 8GB of memory, which means it’ll be capable of utilizing new Apple Intelligence features.
If you’re interested in using AI to help you respond to emails and texts, edit your photos, manage your overflowing inbox, schedule tasks, and more, the iPad 11 is absolutely worth waiting for over the iPad 10. On the other hand, if you’d rather not have an AI-powered tablet, opt for the iPad 10.
Additionally, Apple will likely bring Wi-Fi 6E and Bluetooth 5.3 to the iPad 11, compared to the iPad 10’s Wi-Fi 6 and Bluetooth 5.2. It’s not an intense connectivity boost, but if you have a Wi-Fi 6E router and devices that support newer Bluetooth gens, you’ll be thankful for the slightly increased connectivity speeds.
iPad 11 vs. iPad 10: Which should you buy?
Unless you need a tablet right away, it’s worth waiting for the iPad 11 to launch. The iPad 11 is overall a better tablet compared to the iPad 10, with much snappier performance, likely improved battery life, and Apple Intelligence capabilities thanks to the A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM.
Yes, the iPad 11 will probably be more expensive than the iPad 10, but not by much. The iPad 10’s retail price has been slashed to an incredibly affordable $349, and even if the iPad 11 launches at $449, it’ll still be the cheapest new iPad option available. For reference, theiPad ministarts at $499.
The only reasons to consider the iPad 10 vs. the iPad 11 are to save the most money or to avoid an AI-powered tablet for personal security or privacy reasons. Otherwise, the iPad 11 is the best choice for most people.
Apple’s new-generation iPhone SE is called the iPhone 16e
Applehas officially launched the iPhone 16e. The company announced the new budget-friendly iPhone at 11am ET / 8am PT / 4pm GMT on February 19, confirming that the iPhone 16e is a new member of the iPhone 16 family and not, as many suspected, a standalone iPhone SE 4.
The new phone features the A18 chipset, a 6.1-inchOLEDdisplay, Apple Intelligence compatibility, a single 48MP rear camera, and a 12MP front-facing camera. The iPhone 16e also features a notch instead of the Dynamic Island, but it does inherit the Action button from the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 lines.
Pre-orders for the iPhone 16e begin on February 21, and the device will ship from February 28. It starts at $599 / £599 / AU$999 and comes in either 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage configurations.
Follow along as we react to the announcement of Apple’s latest mid-range model, which has discontinued both the iPhone SE (2022) and the iPhone 14.
The Galaxy S25 Edge has two cameras, one less than the Galaxy S25
One Apple product that the iPhone 16e might foreshadow is the rumorediPhone 17 Air. With Samsung launching a super-slimGalaxy S25 Edgelater this year, it is more likely than ever than we’ll see an extra-thin iPhone from Apple to answer the long-running rumors.
With its single high-resolution, wide aperture camera, the iPhone 16e might be a good model for a thin iPhone 17 Air. Cameras add much of the thickness to today’s big phones, so I expect two cameras on an iPhone Air at most, but one great camera with flexible shooting modes, like we see on the new iPhone 16e, would do the trick.
Will the iPhone 17 Air arrive looking like a slimmed-down iPhone 16e? We’ll find out eventually, if the rumors are true.
If the iPhone 16e is drumming up Apple nostalgia for long-time Apple followers, for me it resembles nothing so much as the original (in)Famous iPod nano. I personally loved the nano’s look and design, but it replaced the iPod mini, the most popular iPod of all time (thus far). The iPod mini was bright and colorful, available in pink and blue and green. The iPod nano was sleek and professional, available only black and white.
The iPod nano was the future, of course, with its solid state storage. I might argue that Apple’s incredible investment in the iPod nano and solid state drives drove the price of that technology down faster, and ultimately led to the smartphones and other mobile innovation we have today. It all started with the iPod nano, folks.
So, if the iPhone 16e color options make you sad, they don’t bring me down. They remind me of an important an influential time for Apple, when it shifted from old and fun to innovative and new.
20 February 2025 at 03:50
An Apple iPhone 5c in green
Let’s be honest, this is a huge price hike for Apple’s bargain iPhone offering. It’s a big jump over theiPhone SE (2022), which started at $429 / £419 / AU$719, but that phone was also more expensive thanitspredecessor, theiPhone SE (2020), which cost only $399 / £389 / AU$679.
Of course, to be fair to Apple, the original budget iPhone was theiPhone 5c, launched in 2013, and that phone cost $549 / £469 / AU$739 at launch (wow, sorry GBP :-£).
Also, previous budget iPhone models have skimped on the processing power, and therefore the potential longevity with software updates, compared to the base model iPhone of the same year. It’s a very big deal that the iPhone 16e gets an Apple A18 chipset and Apple Intelligence features. Those would have been doubtful for the predicted iPhone SE 4 that did not arrive today.
20 February 2025 at 03:09
So what does the iPhone 16e get that makes it worth more than the iPhone SE, besides the latest Apple A18 processor? The addition of FaceID is especially interesting. Unlike basic face unlock methods on Android phones, Apple isn’t just using a camera for FaceID. It has specialized hardware that would make it a more expensive proposition for a bargain phone.
FaceID needs an infrared emitter to spray your face with invisible dots (you can see them with an infrared camera). Then it has a special camera to read those dots and make a 3D model of your face, which is much more secure than simply reading a photograph of your face. That’s why banks have long allowed Apple to use FaceID to unlock banking apps, but Android phones usually won’t let you use your face to unlock your bank account.
I’ve used every unlock method, and I’d have to say that Apple’s FaceID is the fastest and most reliable by a wide margin. Whatever sacrifices the iPhone 16e makes, Apple clearly felt the super-fast, secure unlock method was worth the trade for bargain hunters.
20 February 2025 at 02:20
C1, who?
(Image credit: Apple)
Let’s talk quickly about that C1 modem.
Ever since Appleacquired Intel’s modem business for $1 billion, the company has been racing to build its own modem in a bit to reduce reliance on Qualcomm, which produces the modems for all current iPhone models. Perhaps surprisingly, the iPhone 16e is the first beneficiary of this years-long project.
It’s not yet clear how much better or worse Apple’s C1 modem is versus Qualcomm’s equivalent, but superior battery efficiency could be on the cards for iPhone 16e owners. Indeed, Apple is touting 26 hours of video playback, which is certainly an impressive figure.
20 February 2025 at 01:28
(Image credit: Apple)
Here’s the front and back of the new iPhone 16e, which comes in either Black or White (where are the funky colors, Apple?).
20 February 2025 at 01:26
‘Apple is finally simplifying its iPhone lineup’
“Apple is finally simplifying its iPhone lineup, squeezing almost all of it into the 16 family. This is a good thing for people trying to choose and it also means that the distance from a budget iPhone to a Pro one isn’t as great as it used to be. For my money, though, the inclusion of the C1 chip is the most intriguing bit. It isn’t often your most affordable handset gets your newest and maybe most controversial piece of tech.” – Lance Ulanoff, Editor-at-Large
“What would have sold it for me is Apple opting down in terms of computing power to offer a non-AI iPhone alternative, which would cater to a big chunk of consumers who just aren’t bothered about AI et. But then, that’s basically admitting that consumers might not care about Silicon Valley’s latest golden goose.” – Josie Watson, Managing Editor, Lifestyle
“I’ve never noticed Tim Cook’s accent before – isn’t it lovely?” – Becky Scarrott, Audio Editor
Thanks, Becky.
20 February 2025 at 01:19
No MagSafe?!
(Image credit: Apple)
A quick look at Apple’s newmodel comparison pagereveals a few frustrating omissions for the iPhone 16e.
The biggest is the lack of MagSafe support. Yes, you read that right:the iPhone 16e will not support MagSafe cases, wallets, and wireless chargers. The phonedoeshave wireless charging capabilities, but only up to 7.5W, which is punishingly slow. There’s also no ultra-wideband (UWB) technology, and the GPU is made up of only four cores (compared to five and six on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro Max, respectively).
20 February 2025 at 01:03
‘I think this could be a hit for Apple’
Some more reactions to the iPhone 16e announcement from the batterymap team for you here:
“I like the simple, unfussy design paired with some powerful chips and access to Apple Intelligence. I think this could be a hit for Apple, though the price is a bit high, but I think people will gobble it up.” – Roland Moore-Colyer, Managing Editor, Mobile Computing
“At $599, the iPhone 16e is more expensive than any of us were hoping – but it looks like there’s some serious Apple power under the hood, too. Looking forward to trying this one out, but not sure I’d recommend pre-ordering.” – Jamie Richards, Staff Writer, Mobile Computing
“It’s somehow killed off two phones [the iPhone 14 and previous iPhone SE] without filling the void left by either of them.” – Rob Dunne (aka The Dunnster), VPN Editor
20 February 2025 at 00:40
(Image credit: Apple)
Here’s that 48MP camera lens up close. It’s the same ‘Fusion’ camera as you’ll find on the iPhone 16, which Apple claims “has the capabilities of two cameras in one.” That’s because it features an integrated 2x telephoto that lets you zoom in with optical quality. The 48MP Fusion camera lets you shoot 4K video in Dolby Vision, too, which is neat.
20 February 2025 at 00:33
Do the specs justify the price?
Now for those specs…
The iPhone 16e features the A18 chipset, a 6.1-inchOLEDdisplay, Apple Intelligence compatibility, a single 48MP rear camera, and a 12MP front-facing camera. There’s a notch instead of the Dynamic Island, but the new phone does inherit the Action button from the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 lines.
All told, then, this is a major step up from the iPhone SE (2022), but the iPhone 16e’s $599 / £599 / AU$999 price tag also marks a major increase over that of its predecessor.
20 February 2025 at 00:16
The official iPhone 16e announcement video
Introducing iPhone 16e – February 19 – YouTube20 February 2025 at 00:16
Here’s the official iPhone 16e announcement video, hosted by Tim Cook himself.
20 February 2025 at 00:15
Farewell, iPhone 14 and iPhone SE (2022)
(Image credit: Apple)
And just like that, the iPhone 14 and iPhone SE (2022) are no more. Apple has removed both models from its website.
20 February 2025 at 00:13
(Image credit: Apple)
Here’s the official product page for the iPhone 16e in the UK.
The phone will start at $599 / £599 / AU$999 and comes in either 128GB, 256GB, or 512GB storage configurations. That’s a huge increase on the $429 / £419 / AU$719 starting price of the iPhone SE (2022). Can we really consider this a budget phone?
20 February 2025 at 00:07
The iPhone 16e is official!
(Image credit: Apple)
The iPhone 16e is official!
Appleofficially announced the new deviceon its website at 11am ET / 8am PT / 4pm GMT, confirming that the iPhone 16e is a new member of the iPhone 16 family and not, as many suspected, a standalone iPhone SE 4.
We don’t yet know the name of Apple’s new device, but is this its official design?
The above images (or perhaps best-guess renders) shared by leakerMajin Buare the closest thing we have to a peek at the new iPhone SE’s possible design. They certainly line up with previous leaks; the device in question has a notch, a flat metal frame, and a single-lens camera.
There’s also a customizable action button (a nice bonus for a more affordable iPhone). The notch means this should also be the first SE model with Face ID, which is a nice time-saver on my iPhone 16 Pro. If this is all true, it could prove popular – if the price is right…
19 February 2025 at 23:53
The Apple Store is down!
(Image credit: Apple)
OK, here’s our first big indicator that a product launch is imminent. Apple has closed its online store for maintenance, which is almost always a sign that new devices are on the way.
In this case, Apple has only closed theproduct page for the iPhone SE (2022), which (surprise!) strongly hints that a replacement device is about to be revealed. But will it be the iPhone SE 4, the iPhone SE (2022), or the iPhone 16E? Given Tim Cook’s “family” comment, my money’s on the latter.
19 February 2025 at 23:42
The biggest iPhone SE upgrade rumors
(Image credit: Apple)
As for the iPhone SE 4 specifically, we’re expecting the new device to bring major hardware and software improvements over its now-outdated predecessor. Thebiggest rumored upgrades for the iPhone SE 4are as follows:
A bigger, better display: Where the iPhone SE (2022) uses a 4.7-inch LCD panel, its successor is tipped to use a 6.1-inch OLED display running at a resolution of 2532 x 1170 pixels.
Apple Intelligence compatibility: The iPhone SE 4 will likely be the cheapest entry point into Apple Intelligence, and therefore one of the best AI phones at its price point.
A more powerful camera: The iPhone SE 4 will very likely get a better camera than the almost three-year-old iPhone SE (2022), and the latest rumors point towards a single 48MP rear snapper and a 12MP selfie camera.
A longer-lasting battery: The iPhone SE 4 will almost certainly get a larger, longer-lasting battery than that of its predecessor. The latest leaks suggest it’ll be an iPhone 14-style 3,279mAh cell, which will surely bring tangible improvements to endurance.
Let’s kick off with a proper look at Apple’s official teaser, which was shared to X on February 13. Tim Cook’s shiny Apple logo doesn’t give a lot away, but the internet has some compelling theories.
Firstly, the tagline “get ready to meet the newest member of the family” does tally with rumors of a new iPhone SE. It’d be part of the iPhone family, but does that also hint at a rebrand? The iPhone SE 3 was simply theiPhone SE (2022)and there have also been rumors that the new model might be called the iPhone 16E.
The circle around the logo could also be hinting at the new SE’s single camera, or the move away from a physical home button. It does also look a lot like an AirTag (potentially theAirTag 2?), but we weren’t expecting to see a new one of those for quite a while yet…
We test every Apple Pencil model vs Logitech Crayon to see which is the best iPad stylus.
(Image credit: Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon)
Apple Pencilvs Logitech Crayon – the ultimate battle of the smart styluses, but which is best? While there are a host ofApplePencils to pick from (including this year’s swanky new Apple Pencil Pro) it can be tricky to decide which to pick to accompany thebest drawing tablets, especially when compared to the humble yet powerful Logitech Crayon.
We’ve already reviewed the latest version of theLogitech Crayonand the newApple Pencil Pro, but each has its own unique pros and cons. If it’s compatibility that you’re after, you might require the more mature Apple Pencil 1,2 or USB-C options for older iPad, Air and Mini generations.
In all of its iterations, the Apple Pencil is an elegant object, designed very much to mimic a designer pencil, even down to its circular design and carefully tapered tip (rather than, say, a stepped lip where the tup enters the pen body, as many designers have lived with perfectly well on styluses for years).
When it comes to the first version, its elegance at times slightly interferes with its practicality, though not in ways that are major problems: to stop it rolling off desks, Apple has weighted it slightly, which is quite clever, but isn’t 100% effective, since enough momentum just overcomes this and it still rolls. And there’s an end cap covering the charging plug that’s held on by magnets, which is fine when writing/drawing with it (and fun to fiddle with), but is still not too hard to pop off and lose.
The Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil Pro both feature a flat edge for magnetic charging, solving the rolling issue. There’s no magnetic cap either, so no risk of losing that.
The Logitech Crayon is designed with the classroom in mind as much as work, and it shows – it’s chunkier than the Apple Pencil, it’s squared off so it never rolls (and its cross section is roughly rectangular rather than circular), and it has a flappy plastic cover for its charging port that can’t be lost.
That plastic comes in a choice of fun/kiddy-looking orange on a grey body, or there’s a grey plastic on grey body version that’s actually quite reserved.
The Crayon also appears to be more durable than the Pencil – we’d expect to take being sat on better, or dropped, though we’ve never actually broken a Pencil this way ourselves.
Winner: Apple Pencil 2, Apple Pencil Pro, Logitech Crayon
When it comes to performance, there’s one major difference you need to know about: the Apple Pencil has pressure sensitivity, and the Logitech Crayon doesn’t. The Apple Pencil Pro also boasts added features like barrel roll which allows you to change the orientation of shaped tools, squeeze for easy switching and customisation, and even haptic feedback.
Both styluses write or draw with the same level of precision (technically speaking), and they both include tilt detection, enabling some artistic tool control in that sense. But the Crayon simply doesn’t handle pressure at all, while the Apple Pencil is great for fine-grained pressure sensitivity.
You probably know already whether this is a deal-breaker for you. If you just want to take notes on it, pressure sensitivity isn’t required (though some ink-mimicking notes apps do make use of it for a more natural look) and the Crayon is perfectly functional. If you’re planning to use a stylus for the precision application of effects in photo editing apps, then pressure sensitivity isn’t a requirement.
But for professional art, you need it. That the Crayon draws with the same level of precision as the Apple Pencil doesn’t matter if you can’t control the lines as finely, since you end up drawing so much more crudely, because that’s all the stylus is capable of.
Illustrators looking to do anything more than highly basic outlines should avoid the Crayon and go for the Apple Pencil. For everyone else, you can decide if you want the potential of making use of pressure sensitivity in the future.
Though the Crayon is larger than the Pencil, there’s not too much difference between them ergonomically. The way the Pencil’s size copies real pencils will be a boon for some, but plenty of people will equally prefer a chunker grip that they’ve become used to withWacomstyluses (though the Crayon is still only thick in one dimension, so isn’t quite the same as a big rubbery Wacom grip).
The Apple Pencil 1 has a glossy exterior, which can easily become a little slick with oils from your skin – Apple fixed this with a matte finish on all later models. The Crayon has a more matter-feeling finish, and the extra size helps you to keep a strong grip too.
For those doing fine and precise work, the Apple Pencil is more easily manipulated in tiny ways (and gets in the way of what you’re looking at a little less) so when combined with its pressure sensitivity, it becomes even more the artists’ choice.
But for those who want to be able to take notes or annotate while on the move, the extra grip of the Crayon may be more welcome – though, as we said, it’s not a huge difference. It will be more of a benefit for kids (who are, again, a key audience for the Crayon) lacking as fine motor control as adults.
Winner: Apple Pencil 2, Apple Pencil Pro
For those who want to be able to take notes or annotate while on the move, the extra grip of the Crayon may be more welcome(Image credit: Apple)
Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Charge
The older generations of Apple Pencil are famous for their slightly ridiculous charging system. With a Lightning connector under the cap, you can plug this into an iPad’s Lightning port to charge from the iPad’s battery.
The 2nd Gen Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro mitigate this stress with seamless wireless charging. Simply place the pencil on the magnetic storage strip and it’ll charge the stylus when it’s not in use. They both boast up to 12 hours of continuous use with storage and charging combined they’ll always be ready to use when you’re on the go.
The 1st Gen Logitech Crayon has a regular Lightning port on it for charging, so you can use the same cable as your iPad without any need for an adapter. The 2nd Gen boasts a USB-C charging port for pairing with newer iPad models which isn’t as seamless as Apple’s wireless charging capabilities. However, the Logitech Crayon has an off button, so you can be sure it’s not wasting battery when it’s waiting in your bag between uses, and it also powers off automatically after 30 mins of non-use.
It gives you around 7.5 hours of charge in total from a full battery – notably less than the Pencil, but it has a triple light system to let you know how charged it is, which is great extra affordance that the Pencil doesn’t have (though you can use Apple’s ‘Battery’ widget on the iPad to check the Pencil’s current levels).
Winner: Apple Pencil 2, Apple Pencil Pro
The Apple Pencil is famous for its slightly ridiculous charging system(Image credit: Apple)
Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Compatibility
The Logitech Crayon is interesting for compatibility because it works with every single iPad currently available, including the new iPad Pros that work with the 2nd-gen Apple Pencil. It also works with the 10.2-inch iPad, the previous 9.7-inch iPad model with Apple Pencil support, the current iPad mini, and the currentiPad Air.
However, there’s no support for older iPads than these, so if you have an old-designiPad Pro, the Crayon is not an option.
As for the Apple Pencil, compatibility depends on which iPad you have. In fact, the compatibility so ridiculously confusing that instead of attempting to write it out here, I’m just going to show you Apple’s own chart (below), which, let’s be honest, hardly simplifies things at all.
Winner: Logitech Crayon
Thanks, Apple… (Image credit: Apple)
The Logitech Crayon works with every single iPad currently available(Image credit: Apple)
Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Price
The original Apple Pencil costs $89, while both versions of the Logitech Crayon cost $69.95. The Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil Pro will both set you back$199
The extra money for the Apple Pencil gets you extra hours of battery life (though, as we say, because the Crayon is better at preserving battery, it’s hard to say exactly how beneficial that will be in practice), but most importantly it gets you pressure sensitivity.
For artists, there’s no question that this is worth the higher price. For everyone else, it’s a judgment call – we think the added value of the Pencil is certainly worth the price upgrade if you choose to go for it, though.
Winner: Logitech Crayon
For artists, there’s no question that the Apple Pencil is worth the higher price(Image credit: Apple)
Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Replacement tips
Both of these styluses have replaceable tips, but while the Apple Pencil comes with an extra tip, the Crayon doesn’t, so that’s another small extra value win for the Pencil.
Here’s an oddity, though: Logitech sells extra tips for the Crayon in packs of three for $14.99 in the US… but availability in other countries seems to be lacking, or non-existent. The good news is that users online report that Apple’s own replacement Pencil tips work in the Crayon, but it’s still not an ideal situation.
Apple’s tips cost $19 for a four-pack, which is fine for value, particularly since they last really well. Exactly how well they last will depend on your use, but the nice smooth glass of the iPad is quite kind on the tips, and it’s normal for them to last two years. However, using a screen protector can reduce that a lot, depending on the finish of it.
Winner: Apple Pencil (all models)
Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Storage
The Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil Pro’s magnetic storage capabilities are a natural winner over the Logitech Crayon. With easy on the go access (and the added bonus of charging and pairing) the Apple Pencil is an excellent choice for artists (or anyone that has a habit of misplacing their stylus pens).
The Logitech Crayon doesn’t have any kind of official way to handily store it on or with the iPad. Various iPad cases will have Apple Pencil storage built in, so you can buy one that fixes this oversight, but not so much with the Crayon. The storage is “knowing which pocket you put it into in your bag”.
Winner: Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil Pro
(Image credit: Apple, Logitech)
Apple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon: Conclusion
If you’re looking to do remotely serious art on your iPad, you want the Apple Pencil, there no question there. Pressure sensitivity is non-negotiable.
Beyond that, there’s not that much to choose between them. They’ll both work as well for each other at note taking or precision tool selection, though even then some apps can take advantage of the pressure sensitivity – it’s just not as much of a dealbreaker.
They both have advantages over the other when it comes to aspects such as design or charging/battery life.
The Logitech Crayon is cheaper, but we suspect most people go for the more adult-looking Apple Pencil and it’s familiar pen-like design.
Apple has published a support document outlining what to do if your Apple Watch speaker isn’t working
It follows a spate of reports about problems with the Series 10’s speakers
Customers can clean, update, or re-pair their Apple Watch, along with other steps
Following a raft of reports thatApple Watch Series 10users were having problems with their speakers,Applehas published a support document detailing how users can tackle some of the problems reported.
While the company has not officially responded to or acknowledged the speaker issues, the new document waspublished on February 13and states:
“If the microphone or speaker isn’t working as expected on yourApple Watch
Try these steps if your Apple Watch microphone or speaker isn’t working as expected. You can also use these steps if the sound is crackling, distorted, muffled, or intermittent.”
As you might expect, it features the usual slew of troubleshooting, including updates, re-pairing the watch, and cleaning. Here’s what you need to know.
How to fix your Apple Watch Series 10 speaker problems
Apple says that the first thing users should do is update their iPhone and Apple Watch software. If you’re having speaker troubles, it’s possible your issue has been solved by a software update, so this is a good starting point.
The next step is to clean your Apple Watch. Apple says you should check your Watch’s microphone and speaker for obstructions. Because Apple Watches are water-resistant, you can run it under “lightly running, warm, fresh water until it’s clean.” Apple Watch Series 10 speakers can be cleaned with a soft bristle brush, just don’t use cleaning liquids, sprays, or abrasives.
Apple also says you should check your Watch for water and dry it, as this can degrade speaker performance. “To check whether water is in the microphone or speaker port, place your Apple Watch microphone or speaker side down on a lint-free microfiber cloth,” the company says.
If there’s any present, you can dry it with a lint-free microfiber cloth; just don’t use heat, compressed air, or sprays. A top tip: charge your Apple Watch overnight to speed up evaporation.
Apple also offers the classic options of restarting, unpairing, and re-pairing your Apple Watch with your iPhone.
Finally, there are suggestions to check Silent Mode, Do Not Disturb, and your Watch’s sound settings in case you haven’t inadvertently silenced your Watch.
Since reporting these issues, multiple Series 10 users have confirmed they’ve been experiencing the issue. While not limited to the Series 10, the problem is more noticeable because 2024’sbest Apple Watchis the first mainstream model to offer audio playback for media through its speakers.
If you try all these steps and still have issues, it might be time to contact Apple Support or your local Apple Store.
We look at Apple Pencil 2 vs Apple Pencil 1 and the newer Apple Pencil Pro and USB-C to help you choose the best stylus.
The task of setting out to compareApplepencils is getting more complex. It’s no longer justApple Pencil2 vs Apple Pencil 1. There’s also now the newer Apple Pencil Pro vs the cheaper Apple Pencil USB-C to consider. Confused? Fear not: in this guide, we’ve compared every Apple Pencil and their compatibility to help you choose the right one for your needs (and your iPad).
If you already have an iPad, your choice will be limited to the styluses compatible with your device, although there are now more options available to most with the introduction the Apple Pencil USB-C. If you’ve not yet chosen which tablet to go for, our Apple Pencil comparison could help you make your decision. For example, digital artists may want to go for the new 2024 M4iPad Proor M2iPad Airso they can use the Apple Pencil Pro, which introduces several new features.
Features: Pressure and tilt sensitivity, Bluetooth Charging: Lightning Compatibility: 6th-10th-gen iPad, 5th-gen iPad mini, 1st and 2nd-gen iPad Pro 12.9
Of the iPads on the market today, there aren’t many that support the first Apple Pencil. The stylus lacks some of the more sophisticated features of its successor, with no magnetic charging or hover support, but it’s a great-value stylus now and there are often big deals around.
Apple Pencil 2
Features: Pressure and tilt sensitivity, Bluetooth, magnetic, iPad Pro Hover, Double Tap Charging: wireless Compatibility: 4th and 5th-gen iPad Air, 6th-gen iPad mini, pre-2024 iPad Pro 11 and 12.9.
The Apple Pencil 2 improved on the first stylus by introducing a hexagonal design and magnetic connection, which can help prevent it from getting lost. The wireless charging is more convenient than using a cable, and the Double Tap control and Hover on iPad Pro improves workflow.
Apple Pencil Pro
Features: Pressure and tilt sensitivity, Bluetooth, magnetic, iPad Pro Hover, Double Tap, Squeeze, gyroscope, haptic feedback Charging: wireless Compatibility: 2024 M4-chipped iPad Pros and M2 iPad Airs
The Apple Pencil Pro is the most advanced Apple stylus yet, featuring the advantages of the 2nd-gen Pencil plus a new new gyroscope for control of shaped pen and brush tools, a squeeze gesture to quickly change tools and haptic feedback.
Apple Pencil USB-C
Features: Bluetooth, magnetic, iPad Pro hover support, Charging: USB-C Compatibility: 10th-gen iPad, 4th, 5th and 6th-gen iPad Air, 6th-gen iPad mini, all recent iPad Pros
Released in 2023, this is the cheapest Apple Pencil and the most widely compatible, working with most recent iPads. However, it’s also the most basic, with no pressure sensitivity. That makes it more suited to note taking and browsing, but we found that it can do the job for drawing too if you’re on a budget.
The Apple Pencil 2 with Adobe Fresco(Image credit: Apple)
Compare the Apple Pencil with Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil Pro, and you’ll immediately notice the difference in price. At full price, an Apple Pencil 1st gen costs $99, Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil Pro cost $129. Meanwhile, Apple Pencil USB-C costs $79. There are hardware reasons for this, which we’ll get to later in the article. You will often be able to find small discounts at third-party retailers.
If you already have an iPad, your choice of Apple Pencil has already been made for you to an extent, as each iPad only supports one Apple Pencil, other than the more basic Apple Pencil USB-C.
The original Apple Pencil is supported by the 9th and 10th-gen iPads, the 5th-gen iPad mini and the 2019 iPad Air. It was also supported by previous iPads, including the iPad 9.7-inch (2018), iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2017), iPad Pro 10.5-inch (2017), iPad Pro 9.7-inch (2016), and iPad Pro 12.9-inch (2015).
The Apple Pencil 2 is supported by the 4th and 5th-generation iPad Air (2020 and 2022), the 6th-gen iPad mini (2021) and both 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pros made between 2018 and 2022.
Apple Pencil Pro is only compatible with the M4 iPad Pros and M2 iPad Airs released in 2024, while the Apple Pencil USB-C is compatible with most iPads.
The lowest price you can pay for an iPad together with an Apple Pencil (without any discount) is is $429 for the 10.2-inch iPad 9 plus Apple Pencil 1st gen. For the most advanced combo of the new iPad Pro with Apple Pencil Pro, you’re looking at an investment of at least $1,129.
Winner: TheApple Pencil USB-Ceasily wins on both price and the broadest compatibility, making it potentially useful if you have more than one iPad.
Apple Pencil comparison: design & ergonomics
(Image credit: Apple)
The Apple Pencils are all fairly similar in design but different enough that you can tell them apart. Aside from the slightly smaller Apple Pencil USB-C, they’re all 8.9mm in diameter, measure between 6.5 and 6.9 inches in length and weigh around 20g (0.73 ounces).
We’ve found this to be ergonomically optimal for most people’s hands. Some tablet styluses can be small and fiddly, but these are pretty much perfectly pitched. Though some users, particularly those who are accustomed toWacomtablets, may prefer a thicker stylus. If that’s you, there are sleeves you can buy to make the Apple Pencil feel thicker.
The original Apple Pencil is rounded while later models all have flat edges, which stops them from rolling away. It’s a relatively small point, but the smooth and circular barrel of the original Pencil may have been aesthetically lovely, but anyone who uses one probably has to pick it up off the floor now and again, even with the weighting system built-in to try to prevent this. Our post onhow to avoid losing your Apple Pencilhas proved surprisingly popular over the years.
The original Apple Pencil has a glossy plastic finish in the style ofAirPods. The Pencil 2 and others have a matte finish that’s much more resistant to grease and fingerprints. It feels like a real wooden pencil, which makes it that much more pleasant to use. Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil Pro both qualify for free engraving if you buy them online from Apple directly.
Winner: We prefer the design ofApple Pencil 2andApple Pencil Prosince they’re less easy to lose compared to the first stylus, while they’re slightly larger and more practical than the USB-C device.
Apple Pencil comparison: Performance
The good news is that the first-gen and second-gen Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro (but NOT the Apple Pencil USB-C) are all comparable when it comes to drawing performance. All three have pressure sensitivity. Apple doesn’t state the level of pressure sensitivity in any model, which is a little frustrating, but none of these have ever felt lacking for finessed and nuanced artwork, so we can live with a bit of ambiguity. All three also provide tilt and rotation detection while drawing, and when combined with the good pressure detection, they’re very versatile for different brush strokes and applications.
They also sample at the same rate, meaning they have the same low-latency performance… except you do actually get guaranteed lower latency from the time you move your hand to the time you see the results on-screen when using Apple Pencil 2 or Apple Pencil Pro with a compatible iPad Pro because of the iPad Pro’s 120Hz screen (meaning that it refreshes the display 120 times per second), not because of anything the Apple Pencil does (other iPads have a 60Hz screen).
The improvements in Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil Pro are not so much in drawing performance itself but in the additional features they add to help streamline workflows and make them more convenient to use. First, the Apple Pencil 2 introduced a double-tap feature. This can be customised, enabling users to double-tap the flat edge to switch between current tool and eraser, switch between current tool and the last-used tool or show the colour palette (or do nothing, if you prefer).
Some individual apps can make different uses of this feature: the art app Procreate and audio editor Ferrite both offer other handy functions using the double-tap gesture. The second-gen Pencil also introduced the hover function for iPad Pros, allowing users to preview their actions, showing you exactly where your stylus will touch down.
The Apple Pencil Pro takes these advances and adds more: a squeeze gesture for quick tool, colour, and other changes, a rotating barrel for precise control of pen and brush tools and customisable haptic feedback to let you know that you activated a feature. The more affordable Apple Pencil USB-C is much more basic and doesn’t even have pressure sensitivity. However, that doesn’t completely rule it out for drawing.
Our reviewer found that even without pressure sensitivity, it was possible to achieve a comparable result with the Apple Pencil USB-C by using the edge of the stylus like you would a traditional pencil. We also found it possible to achieve line variation by using the eraser/brush interchangeably and using different brushes and sizes. Pressure sensitivity does allow more flow and expression in your mark-making, but the USB-C is certainly a workable option for drawing if you’re on a budget.
Winner: The first-gen Apple Pencil, second-gen Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro offer an equally good drawing experience, but theApple Pencil Prois the clear winner when it comes to improved productivity and more precise control.
Apple Pencil comparison: Storage and charging
The Apple Pencil Pro, Apple Pencil 2 and Apple Pencil USB-C all have the edge over the first Apple Pencil when it comes to storage – quite literally. They attach magnetically to the side of the iPad, which can prevent them from getting lost. The Apple Pencil 2 and Pro also charge wirelessly while they’re attached. It’s hard to overstate how much more usable this makes them.
Not only does it mean they’re always to hand – if you’ve got your iPad within reach, you’ve got your Pencil within reach – but they top up their charge so they’re ready to go at a moment’s notice, so you can get straight to work when you want to before you lose your thread.
For the Apple Pencil 1st gen, there’s no official storage solution directly on devices. It will attach magnetically to some covers, but not with a very strong grip. Apple made some iPad sleeves that include a storage section for the Pencil, which work well enough, but were very large and unwieldy overall. There are third party cases and folios too, of course, but you’ll have to see if there are any that suit you.
The original Apple Pencil is also more annoying to keep charged. It has a male Lightning connector on the end (covered with a cap that can get lost, though it stays on fairly well), which can be plugged into your iPad’s Lightning port to charge (this is also how you pair it with the iPad). The strange, long shape this forms is the very definition of inelegance, and also leaves the Pencil prone to getting knocked and snapping its connector. However, it can charge quite quickly: about 15 seconds of charge time can get you around 30 minutes of use.
The Pencil 1st gen does come with a charging adapter in the box, though: a converter, so that you can use a normal Lightning cable to charge the Pencil. As long you’re diligent about plugging it in regularly, this would be a much better way to go about it.
Apple doesn’t give battery quotes for the Pencil models, but talked of the 1st-gen version offering around 12 hours. The others appear to be around the same. They do fairly well holding their charge when not in use, which is important for the first-gen and the USB-C stylus since they’re less convenient to charge. The 2nd-gen Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro haven’t had any problems lasting for long drawing sessions for us, but battery life is also less important, because they can be more easily topped up during the day simply by popping them back on the edge of the tablet when you stop for a break.
Winner:Apple Pencil 2andApple Pencil Pro.
Apple Pencil comparison: Tips
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple Pencil models use the same kind of tip, which is fairly hard, and taps firmly against the glass of the iPad. Depending on what kind of stylus you’re used to, you may find this a bit of an adjustment: it’s distinctly harder and louder than other models.
It’s not a problem in any way, but the difference from softer plastic tips or drawing surfaces is quite noticeable. You’d have to try one in an Apple Store to see if you majorly dislike it, but we doubt it would be a dealbreaker.
This hardness does make the tips highly durable. Don’t expect to see much, if any, sign of wear within a year or so, unless you’re trying to use it to make fire. The 1st-gen Apple Pencil comes with a replacement tip in the box, further guaranteeing longevity from a single purchase. The Apple Pencil 2 does not come with a replacement tip, which seems a bit cheap of Apple, but then you won’t be needing one for a long time, as we mentioned. You can buy a replacement pack of tips from Apple: four for $19.
Apple Pencil comparison: Which should you buy?
(Image credit: Apple)
When it comes down to it, you need to consider which Apple Pencil to go for as part of your decision of which iPad to choose because you’ll need a stylus that’s compatible with your tablet. Only the Apple Pencil USB-C is compatible across most of the iPad range, and it’s the least appealing option for those that want to use their stylus for drawing.
If you’re a professional digital artist, or hope to become one, then the ideal combination for the best drawing experience possible on an iPad is to go for the M4 iPad Pro with the Apple Pencil Pro. They were made to work together, and the new stylus’ extra features combined with the responsive display of the iPad Pro makes for a seamless workflow. If you’re on a tighter budget or you can’t justify paying the price of the new iPad Pro, then the M2 iPad Air with Apple Pencil Pro would be the next best alternative. You may notice some lag since the Air has a slower screen, but the tablet has more than enough power for drawing software.
If you already have an older iPad Pro or Air, then the decision is clear: the second-gen Apple Pencil is the stylus for you. If you have the entry-level iPad and you plan to draw on your tablet, then the first-gen Apple Pencil is your stylus. We would only recommend the cross-compatible Apple Pencil USB-C for those who want a stylus more for note-taking and as an aid for browsing than for drawing.
Is Apple Pencil good for digital drawing?
For digital drawing, you can’t really do better – as ourbest tablets with a stylusguide shows, in which it beats dedicated drawing tablets from the likes of Wacom. It’s that good. It could be that the original pencil (which came out in 2015) is a better shout for you. It all depends on which iPad you have as different generations are compatible with different iterations of the Apple Pencil. Also see our comparison ofApple Pencil vs Logitech Crayon.
How do Apple Pencils charge?
Apple Pencils don’t all charge in the same way. The 1st-gen Apple Pencil and Apple Pencil USB-C have to be plugged in: the former has a built-in male Lightning stem hiding under the end cap. You can plug it directly into a Lightning-equipped iPad or use a double reverse adapter to charge via Lightning cable. The Apple Pencil USB-C has to be charged via – you guessed it – a USB-C cable.
The 2nd-Gen Pencil and Apple Pencil Pro are much more convenient because they charge when stuck onto the flat edge of supported iPads magnetically, keeping your pencil close at hand and preventing it from getting lost.
These are the smartphones with the best phone battery life based on our tests
If you had asked me a few years ago what I considered to be the weakness of modern smartphones compared to older phones, I’d have said the battery. When you look at phones from before modern smartphones, the batteries would last days compared to hours of smartphones.
However, we have seen some amazing progress when it comes to modern smartphone battery longevity. There are now smartphones that don’t need to be charged throughout the day and can happily run without issue for more than 16 hours. And the figures to be the case throughout 2025, as the latest top-of-the-line silicon includes power management features among its top benefits.
So far we’ve tested two devices that run onQualcomm’sSnapdragon 8 Elitechipset. Both of those phones — theAsus ROG Phone 9 Proand theOnePlus 13— finish first and second on our list of long-lasting phones. With more Snapdragon 8 Elite-powered phones on the way, we expect the top of our best phone battery life list to get very crowded very soon.
For a phone to even be considered for inclusion on our list of long-lasting devices, it needs to hold a charge for at least 14 hours while surfing the web. Even then, you may not make the cut as the Motorola Razr Plus 2024turned in a time of 14 hours and 10 minutes and just missed cracking the top 15. That’s still pretty impressive, given that the Razr is a foldable device, and those phones have traditionally struggled with battery life.
The test numbers we use in the above chart reflect the results we got when testing each phone at their default setting for a display’s refresh rate. Often, that means a phone can adjust that rate during our test. We believe that using the default setting is the best way to get comparable results, but since we also test at different refresh rate settings to see what impact that can have on battery life, we’ll note in the write-ups below when phones produced significantly different results after adjusting the refresh rate on their displays.
We’ve also adjusted the times of some recently released phones as we’ve had a chance to run additional battery tests on them. The numbers in our battery life rankings reflect averages calculated from multiple tests.
Best phone battery life at a glance (hours:minutes)
Asuscontinues to set the battery life standard with its ROG phones. The latest entry, the ROG Phone 9 Pro pushes things out even further, with the phone posting an average time of 20 hours and 34 minutes on our battery test. That time came with the phone’s display set to an adaptive refresh rate. Locking the screen at its highest refresh rate — 165Hz — did put a hit on battery life, cutting the ROG Phone’s performance by nearly 6 hours. But even that 15-hour, 41-minute time would have put the ROG Phone 9 Pro in 10th place on our best phone battery life list.
Yes, the big battery inside the ROG Phone 9 Pro helps provide multi-day battery life. But the 5,800 mAh power pack has some help from the power-efficientSnapdragon 8 Elitechip running the show. This chipset figures to power a lot of top Android phones coming out in the next year, so the ROG Phone 9 Pro’s battery performance is an exciting preview of what to expect even if you’re not necessarily inclined to get a gaming phone.
On the charging front, support fot 65W means you can top off the ROG Phone 9 Pro’s battery quickly. In our tests, we got a drained phone to a 74% charge after 30 minutes. Combine that charging speed with the epic battery life, and you’ll never need to worry about a gaming session cut short.
2. OnePlus 13 (19:45)
The first major flagship phone released in 2025 also delivers impressive battery life, as the OnePlus 13 approaches the 20-hour mark on our battery test. Certainly, the 6,000 mAh power pack plays a big role in that longevity, but like the Asus ROG Phone 9 Pro, the OnePlus flagship reaps the benefits of the Snapdragon 8 Elite and its more efficient performance.
You’ll also get blazing fast charging speeds — 80W in in the U.S. and 100W in other parts of the world. Using an 80W charger in our testing, we got a drained OnePlus 13 up to a 92% charge after 30 minutes. Wireless charging is fast, too, with the OnePlus 13 supporting 50W wireless speeds.
3. Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro (18:48)
The Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro has been surpassed by its successor, even if the older phone’s 18 hour, 48 minute time on our test still impresses. If you can find the phone at a discount, the ROG Phone 8 Pro is still a good gaming option when you don’t want battery life concerns interrupting your gameplay.
While the ROG Phone 9 Pro made a big lead ahead of the ROG Phone 8 Pro’s time, this model improved on its successor by just 16 minutes on our test. Of course, the ROG Phone 8 Pro did that with a smaller battery than its predecessor, making its result look even more impressive.
Like the ROG Phone 9 Pro, you get a 65W charger with the ROG Phone 8 Pro, and charging results were similar — 71% on a drained phone after 30 minutes of charging. By 50 minutes, the phone was completely charged. So you’re never really out of the game with this long-lasting phone from Asus at your side.
4. OnePlus 12R (18:08)
TheOnePlus 13Ris on its way, but for now, the OnePlus 12R delivers the best battery life of any midrange model. If you need to squeeze even more battery life out of the phone, you can adjust its refresh rate, as that produced a result a few minutes shy of the Asus ROG Phone 8 Pro’s pace, which was the standard back when we tested the 12R last year.
A chunky 5,500 mAh battery helps this phone last throughout the day and then some on a single charge, but credit should also go to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset, which powers many of the other devices on our best phone battery life list.
The Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 may be an older chipset, especially with Snapdragon 8 Elite phones now emerging, but that’s what allows OnePlus to offer the 12R at such a low price, particularly in the U.S. You can buy a $499 model with 128GB of storage in the U.S., while the OnePlus 12R starts at $599 for 256GB of storage in other parts of the world.
Even with that lower price, the OnePlus 12R doesn’t skimp on OnePlus’ trademark fast-charging. With 80W wired charging speeds in the U.S., we got the phone to a 96% charge after 30 minutes. Don’t expect wireless charging, though.
5. iPhone 16 Pro Max (17:17)
Additional testing dropped the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s average time from its high of 18:06 to 17:17, but don’t be disappointed by that. This is still the longest-lasting phone Apple has ever offered.
The iPhone 16 Pro Max not only features a larger battery, but the A18 Pro silicon running the show exhibits excellent energy efficiency. TheiPhone 16 Proalso runs on an A18 Pro chipset, and it just missed making our list even though it has a much smaller battery than the Pro Max.
Despite reports that 45W charging might be possible the iPhone 16 Pro Max is limited to 30W charging speeds, which helps it get to a respectable if not overwhelming 55% charge after 30 minutes.
6. OnePlus 12 (17:05)
The OnePlus 12 gives way to the OnePlus 13, not only as the latest flagship phone from the phone maker but also in terms of battery life. It may finish 2.5 hours behind its successor on our battery test, but the OnePlus 12’s time of 17-plus hours is nothing to readily dismiss — this is a long-lasting phone that makes the most of its 5,400 mAh battery and Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset. Curiously, locking the display’s refresh rate at 120Hz adds another half-hour or so to the test result, instead of the default adaptive setting.
Unlike the OnePlus 12R and 13R, the OnePlus 12 offers wireless charging, which makes its welcome return to OnePlus’ flagships. Wired charging supports 80W speeds in the U.S., compared to 50W wireless speeds.
7. Asus Zenfone 11 Ultra (17:01)
At this point, it would be a surprise if Asusdidn’tproduce a long-lasting phone. The Zenfone 11 Ultra joins the last two ROG Phones in dominating our battery life rankings. In the case of the Zenfone 11 Ultra, the phone average just over 17 hours on our battery test with its 6.78-inch display set to an automatic refresh rate. In some test runs, the Zenfone got very close to the 18-hour mark, so count on all-day battery with this device.
Even better, the Zenfone 11 Ultra’s appeal goes beyond endurance and gaming, as Asus has equipped the phone with an especially bright and colorful display. We appreciate how a 6-axis gimbal boosts the stability of the phone’s 50MP main camera, even if we wish that the photo-processing capabilities were a little more refined. You can enjoy 65W wired charging, too, though you will need to provide your own charger to take full advantage of that feature.
8. Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra (16:45)
Meet the longest-lasting Samsung flagship phone we’ve ever tested — at least until the Snapdragon 8 Elite-poweredGalaxy S25models arrive later this month. The Galaxy S24 Ultra finished 15 minutes shy of the 17-hour mark, beating out last year’s flagship phone from Motorola by nearly an hour. While the Galaxy S24 Ultra finished 2.5 hours ahead of the best performing iPhone 15 model, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has since come along to take the S24 Ultra’s long-lasting flagship crown.
Samsung didn’t increase the battery size in the Galaxy S24 Ultra — it remains at 5,000 mAh. So we have to credit the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 chipset powering the phone for its excellent efficiency. It’s also worth noting we recorded that time with the S24 Ultra’s adaptive refresh rate turned on, so the Qualcomm chipset does a great job managing power.
Charging speeds remain at 45W, but we managed to get a 71% charge after 30 minutes using a 45W USB-C charger. Samsung doesn’t include such a charger with its phone, so if you want top charging speeds, you’ll need to pick up this accessory on your own.
9. iPhone 16 Plus (16:29)
The iPhone 15 Plus wowed us last year by offering 14 hours and 14 minutes of battery life — exceeding the performance of the iPhone 15 Pro Max in the process. While the iPhone 16 Plus finished behind the iPhone 16 Pro Max, it did gain a considerable boost to its longevity over its predecessor.
Specifically, the new model posts a 2 hour-plus gain in our battery test, which is pretty impressive for a phone that already held out a long time on a charge. Credit is likely split between the improved power efficiency of the A18 chipset inside the iPhone 16 Plus and the fact that Apple equipped the phone with a bigger battery. (Just how big, Apple hasn’t said, but expect that information to come out, once people get a chance to teardown the phone.)
As for charging, you’re looking at regaining 55% in 30 minutes, which matches the charging results we recorded with Apple’s more expensive Pro models.
10. Samsung Galaxy S24 Plus (15:58)
The Galaxy S24 Plus lasts about an hour less than the slightly larger Galaxy S24 Ultra on a charge, though if you turn off the adaptive refresh rate on the Plus, you wind up with Ultra-like longevity. Even finishing just shy of 16 hours with the adaptive refresh rate turned on is an excellentresult for a phone with a 4,900 mAh battery and a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 processor. (At least in North America — S24 Plus models in the rest of the world use Exynos 2400 silicon.)
Charging speeds haven’t changed from the Galaxy S23 Plus, as the S24 Plus charges at 45W wired. With a compatible charger, we got a drained Galaxy S24 Plus to a 72% charge in 30 minutes, similar to what we saw with the S24 Ultra.
11. Moto G Stylus 5G 2024 (15:01)
Motorola’s G series phones have a strong reputation for lasting a long-time on a charge. The best of the bunch from this year’s batch of G series updates is the Moto G Stylus. It lasted a little more than 15 hours on our test, and that was with the 6.7-inch display’s refresh rate alternating between 60Hz and 120Hz. Turn off that default feature, and you can push that average time to 15 hours and 55 minutes.
The Moto G Stylus 5G (2024) gives you more than just a massive battery and fast 30W charging speeds. It comes with a built-in stylus that’s useful for scribbling notes or sketching on the phone’s display. The Moto G Stylus may lack some processing muscle and its cameras are passable at best, but for less than $400, you get a bright display, a stylish design and all the battery life you could ask for.
12. CMF Phone 1 (14:47)
There’s a lot about the CMF Phone 1 from Nothing that will take you by surprise, whether it’s the low price or the handset’s modular design that lets you attach different cases and accessories to its back. But high on the list of welcome surprises is just how long this phone can last on a charge.
In our testing, the CMF Phone 1 was able to scroll the web continuously for 14 hours and 47 minutes. It achieved that average with its display locked on the default High setting, which supports a 120Hz refresh rate. Go with the Standard setting that turns off the faster refresh rate, and you can squeeze more batter life out of the CMF Phone 1, as we managed to get results that topped 15 hours.
Nothing includes support for 33W wired charging, which helps a drained phone get up to 62% capacity after 30 minutes. All this comes in a phone that costs less than $300 — a very good bargain for a long-lasting device with more than a few tricks up its sleeve.
13. Moto G 5G 2024 (14:36)
One of the least expensive entries on our best phone battery life list, the Moto G 5G (2024) proves once again that Motorola’s G series of budget phones can be counted on to last a while on a charge. In this case, the latest edition of the Moto G 5G lasted more than 14.5 hours — and that time was recorded with the phone’s 6.6-inch display set to its automatic refresh rate that can scale up to 120Hz.
A fast-refreshing display and long battery life underscore the value of the Moto G 5G, which costs just $199. You’ll make some trade-offs for that price — mostly in processor speed and photo quality — but longevity isn’t something you need to worry about sacrificing.
14. Nothing Phone 2a (14:28)
With the arrival of the CMF Phone 1, theNothing Phone2a is no longer Nothing’s least expensive option nor its longest-lasting device. And yet, the Nothing Phone 2a is still a battery champion, thanks to the tandem of a 5,000 mAh power pack and a MediaTek Dimensity 7200 Pro chipset that helped it turn in a time of 14 hours and 28 minutes on our battery testing. Turning of the default adaptive refresh rate, and going with the High setting improves the time to 15 hours.
Fast-charging is something you typically don’t find on cheaper phones, and yet the Nothing Phone 2a can charge at 45W with a wired connection. For less than $350, that’s an impressive set of power management features.
15. iPhone 15 Plus (14:14)
The iPhone 16 phones may offer Apple’s latest and greatest hardware, but don’t overlook the iPhone 15 Plus from a year ago if you’re in the market for an Apple phone but don’t want to pay top dollar. The iPhone 15 Plus lasted longer than both the newer iPhone 16 Pro (just barely) and theiPhone 16on our battery test, and it’s available for the same $799 that Apple charges for the iPhone 16. Not bad if you want a bigger screen and don’t mind missing out on Apple Intelligence features.
Charging speeds are less impressive, though you could say that about most iPhones. A half-hour of charging refilled the phones battery to just 39%.
