On Thursday, Applereleased iOS 16.5 to the public with new wallpaper choices, updates to Apple News, and more. As it turns out, this update also breaks compatibility with Apple’s Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter accessory for iPhone and iPad users.
This dongle connects to an iPhone or iPad via Lightning and has a built-in USB-A port that you can use to connect a myriad of accessories to your iPhone or iPad. There’s also a built-in Lightning port for charging the iPhone or iPad. According to users who rely on this accessory, however, iOS 16.5 breaks compatibility with both of those ports.
In posts on Apple’s Support forums, Reddit, and the MacRumors forums, users say that the Lightning and USB-A ports on this accessory are rendered useless after updating to iOS 16.5. The Lightning port does not passthrough power to charge the iPhone and iPad. Connecting an accessory to the adapter via USB-A results in an error message that says the adapter requires too much power to operate.
While Apple bills this as a “camera adapter accessory,” iPhone and iPad users actually rely on it for connecting a range of USB-A products to their devices. This includes things like Ethernet adapters, digital audio converters, and more.
One affected user explains:
iPhone 13 Pro Max here hitting same issue. I’ve been using the official Apple Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter for months to send lossless Apple Music to my DAC, and it’s worked flawlessly and charged my phone at the same time. As soon as I updated to iOS 16.5 this morning, the adapter not only doesn’t communicate to the DAC at all, it doesn’t even charge my phone. When I test plugging in an iPad on a previous OS version, it communicates and charges just fine.
This has to be an issue with iOS 16.5, and I hope it’s resolved quickly – very bad look for an official Apple accessory to be rendered inoperable by a step update of iOS.
Apple support has been unable to help the affected customers. The problem is likely software-related, given that it was tied to the release of iOS 16.5. This means Apple will likely have to release iOS 16.5.1 at some point in the near future to fix compatibility with the Lightning to USB 3 Camera Adapter accessory.
Following over a month of beta testing, iOS 16.5 is now available to the general public. This update includes changes to Apple News, the addition of a new “Pride Celebration” wallpaper, and more. Head below for the full release notes with details on bug fixes, new features, and more.
What’s new in iOS 16.5?
Here are Apple’s official release notes on iOS 16.5 new features and bug fixes. The build number for today’s update is 20F66.
A new Pride Celebration wallpaper for the Lock Screen to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture
Sports tab in Apple News gives easy access to stories, scores, standings, and more, for the teams and leagues you follow
My Sports score and schedule cards in Apple News take you directly to game pages where you can find additional details about specific games
Fixes an issue where Spotlight may become unresponsive
Addresses an issue where Podcasts in CarPlay may not load content
Fixes an issue where Screen Time settings may reset or not sync across all devices
Earlier iOS 16.5 betas included the addition of a new Siri command for starting and stopping a screen recording. Apple removed this feature in subsequent iOS 16.5 betas, and it’s not included in the final version of the update.
iOS 16.5 will be the final major point-release update to iOS 16 before WWDC in June. This is where Apple will debut iOS 17 and release the first developer betas.
Apple is, however, expected to continue releasing updates to iOS 16 through the summer and likely even alongside iOS 17. iOS 16.6 is expected to enter beta testing soon.
You can update your iPhone by going to the Settings app, choosing General, then choosing Software Update.
watchOS 9.5 debuts with new Pride Celebration watch face
Alongside iOS 16.5, Apple has also released watchOS 9.5 for Apple Watch users today. The headlining change in this update is an all-new Pride Celebration watch face to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture.
What’s new in watchOS 9.5?
watchOS 9.5 is rolling out now to all users. You can update your Apple Watch by going to Settings, choosing General, then choosing Software Update. You can also install the update via the Apple Watch companion app on your iPhone.
Here are Apple’s release notes for watchOS 9.5:
watchOS 9.5 includes new features, improvements and bug fixes, including a new Pride Celebration watch face to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture.
And some more details on the new Pride Celebration watch face:
Inspired by multiple pride flags, this new watch face combines colors to represent the strength and mutual support of the LGBTQ+ movement. Mirroring the woven loops of the Sport Loop, each strand of vibrant thread contributes to the overall composition of the watch face. The colorful threads move as the Digital Crown on Apple Watch is rotated, the display is tapped, or the user’s wrist is raised.
The new Pride Celebration face included in watchOS 9.5 pairs with the similarly-designed wallpaper for iPhone users. The new wallpaper is included with iOS 16.5, which is also available starting today.
macOS Ventura 13.4 with new sports-related features
After months of beta testing, Apple has finally released macOS Ventura 13.4 to the public. The update, which is now available for macOS users, comes with new sports-related features, as well as a new system for installing beta software. Read on as we detail what’s new with macOS Ventura 13.4.
One big change coming with macOS Ventura 13.4 is the new system for installing betas that was introduced with iOS 16.4. The operating systems now asks for the Apple ID to show and download beta software updates.
macOS checks whether the account is associated with a developer or user registered in the public beta program. It then shows the beta update available for that program. With this change, regular users will no longer be able to install developer betas, for example.
macOS 13.4 full release notes
Sports feed in the sidebar of Apple News gives easy access to stories, scores, standings, and more, for the teams and leagues you follow
My Sports score and schedule cards in Apple News take you directly to game pages where you can find additional details about specific games
Resolves an issue where Auto Unlock with Apple Watch does not log you into your Mac
Fixes a Bluetooth issue where keyboards connect slowly to Mac after restarting
Addresses a VoiceOver issue with navigating to landmarks on webpages
Fixes an issue where Screen Time settings may reset or not sync across all devices
You can install macOS Ventura 13.4 by going to the Software Update menu in the System Settings app. It may take a while before the update shows up on your computer; make sure that your Mac is compatible with macOS Ventura.
The update build number is XXXXX.
OpenAI launches free ChatGPT for iPhone app with Whisper support and more
OpenAI has announced that it is releasing a dedicated iPhone app for its ChatGPT service. The app, which is available via the App Store, gives users the ability to use ChatGPT through a native app on their iPhone. The app is free to download and includes no ads. It’s currently only available in the United States, but OpenAI says availability will expand “in the coming weeks.”
ChatGPT for iPhone now available
As announced by OpenAI in a blog post, ChatGPT for iPhone will offer the same set of features as the web version of the service. This will include ChatGPT Plus support, which lets users subscribe to pay for more advanced versions of the service.
The app will also sync your ChatGPT history across all your devices, including the web. It also includes support for Whisper, OpenAI’s open-source speech-recognition system. This integration with Whisper enables voice input for the ChatGPT app on iPhone. The ChatGPT app is also completely ad-free.
As ChatGPT has gained popularity over the last six months, a number of copycat and scam apps have surfaced on the App Store. Apple has cracked down on these apps, in part by blocking apps that use “GPT” in their name. By releasing its own version of ChatGPT for iPhone, OpenAI hopes to directly control the experience of using the service on an iPhone.
Additionally, Microsoft’s Bing app for iPhone has seen a major boost in popularity since it added ChatGPT integration.
ChatGPT for iPhone is rolling out starting today to users in the United States. OpenAI availability will “expand to additional countries in the coming weeks.”
Apple competitors like Samsung have been trying to push foldable smartphones and tablets for some time. And while this is a niche market, Apple is rumored to have been experimenting with this idea internally. We don’t yet know when, or if, the company will introduce a foldable iPhone or foldable iPad – but read on as we detail what we know so far.
Latest rumors on Apple’s foldable iPhone and iPad
Rumors suggest that the Cupertino-based company is internally developing prototypes of foldable iPhones and iPads, but those devices are far from seeing the light of day. Analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Ross Young reported that Apple’s first foldable product is expected to be introduced in 2025 “at the earliest.” Details about these devices remain unclear at this point.
This comes as no surprise since Apple has been following a more conservative approach in recent years. Due to the large number of devices the company ships each year, Apple would likely face several supply issues with the launch of a foldable phone at this point, since this technology is still limited and more expensive.
But what would an Apple foldable device look like? People familiar with the matter have been saying that the company has different prototypes inside its campus. One of them looks more like an iPhone that folds – an idea similar to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip. Another prototype looks more like an iPad that folds into a phone. Kuo said this year that he believes the foldable tablet will come first.
I’m positive about the foldable iPad in 2024 and expect this new model will boost shipments and improve the product mix. My latest survey indicates that the foldable iPad will feature a carbon fiber kickstand. Carbon fiber material will make the kickstand lighter and more durable.
Last year, Young claimed that Apple was in talks with its suppliers to order 20-inch displays for a foldable laptop. Of course, these are all for experimental prototypes and none of these are product designs that are about to see the light of day. Still, it’s interesting to see that although having a foldable device is not a priority for Apple, the company is not ruling out the idea for the future.
CCS Insight also predicted that Apple’s first foldable device will cost around $2,500, much more expensive than current iPhones. But at the same time, foldable devices from other companies are not cheap either. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 starts at $1,799. Google’s new Pixel Fold also comes with a price tag of $1,799.
Are foldable phones worth it?
Some people think foldable devices are nothing more than a gimmick, while others really see the potential in this technology.
Samsung has been doing a great job with its foldable phones, and these devices open up a lot of new possibilities. For some people, it’s all about making large phones fit into a pocket or purse. For others, it’s about new ways to interact with the phone when it’s folded. I had fun taking selfies with my Z Flip without having to hold it or put it on a stand.
At the same time, these devices still look more like prototypes than devices for end users. There’s still the crease where the display bends and they’re still quite fragile. These are things that Apple can change with its own foldable device.
Report rumored: Foldable iPhone pushed to 2025, Apple mulling 20-inch foldable MacBook display
As part of its broader report focused on the growth of foldable smartphone shipments for companies like Samsung, Display Supply Chain Consultants has new details on Apple’s work on a foldable iPhone.
According to DSCC analyst Ross Young, Apple has likely delayed its foldable iPhone until 2025, but it is also investigating the idea of “foldable notebooks.”
First off, based on conversations with supply chain sources, Young says that DSCC has delayed its expectations for a foldable iPhone to 2025. This represents a delay of around two years compared to previously-reported timelines of a foldable iPhone launching in 2023.
We delayed our expectations for Apple entering the foldable smartphone market by two years to 2025 after discussions with our supply chain contacts. The company does not appear to be in a hurry to enter the foldable smartphone market, and it may even take longer than that.
Perhaps more interestingly, DSCC says that Apple is now investigating the idea of a foldable notebook of some sort. The company is reportedly in discussions with suppliers about this category, and while a product is still several years away, its interest is in a 20-inch foldable of some sort.
On the other hand, we are now showing Apple in our roadmap for foldable notebooks. We hear there is interest at the largest size yet, around 20.x”. This size could create a new category for Apple and would result in a true dual use product, a notebook with a full-size keyboard when folded and for use as a monitor when not folded and used with an external keyboard. It may also allow for UHD/4K resolution or even higher at that size. The time frame is likely later than 2025 though, it could be 2026 or 2027.
Even if this product is several years away, DSCC says that this is “good news for the foldable space” in general.
For those unfamiliar, Ross Young is an analyst for Display Supply Chain Consultants. As such, his reporting is usually based on indications from the supply chain similar to analysts such as Ming-Chi Kuo. He’s proven to be extremely reliable over the past year, including being the sole analyst to report that the 2021 MacBook Pros would feature mini-LED displays with ProMotion.
While Android counterparts like Samsung have entered the foldable smartphone industry with full force, Apple has been much more reserved thus far. Samsung has developed its foldable smartphone products in public, with its most recent being the Galaxy Z Flip3. As usual, Apple’s approach has been to develop a foldable iPhone secrecy and release a product only when it’s deemed ready for the public.
Reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has predicted in the past that Apple could sell 20 million units of the first foldable iPhone, whenever it eventually comes to market.
More interesting than the foldable iPhone delay, however, is Young’s claim that Apple is working on a 20-inch foldable MacBook product of some sort. Details here are a bit sparse, but it sounds like an incredibly intriguing product — regardless of whatever form factor it ultimately ships with.
Some find the idea of a foldable MacBook or iPad much more intriguing than a foldable smartphone.
revealed a first look at the 2023 Apple Watch Pride face and band last month, and Apple officially announced them on Tuesday. While the new band won’t be available in stores until May 24, the company has confirmed that the new Pride watch face and wallpaper for iPhone are coming next week with watchOS 9.5 and iOS 16.5. Here’s a closer look at what they look like.
Apple says the new sport band is “inspired by the strength and beauty of the LGBTQ+ community.” It features the original pride flag rainbow colors, as well as black and brown to represent Black and Latin communities. Additionally, the light blue, pink, and white colors represent transgender and nonbinary individuals.
New Pride face for Apple Watch
The new Pride face for Apple Watch is inspired by the design of the new 2023 Pride band. By default, it shows an analog watch with colored pills around the display. The hands match the colors they’re currently pointing to. However, users can customize the new watch face.
There are three different styles available: Motion, Hour Marks, and Numerals. The first one is the default, getting its name because the colored pills move when the display is awake. You can also tap the screen to interact with them. This style has no complications available except for the calendar or digital time in the center.
Hour Marks and Numerals transform the watch face into one very similar to the classic Infographic, with four complications in the corners plus one in the center. As the name suggests, one of them features the numerals on the clock, while the other shows only the reference marks. In this case, the numbers and markers are displayed in the same colors as the colored pills.
Although Apple’s marketing images show the new watch face with a white background, users can change the background to black. There’s no option to change the colors of the complications.
New Pride wallpaper for iPhone
Apple has also introduced a new Pride wallpaper for iPhone that’s also based on the 2023 Pride band and watch face. However, the colored pills take up almost the entire iPhone screen. They also move when you lock and unlock the screen. On the iPhone 14 Pro, the pills get thinner in Always-on mode.
The background changes from white to black based on whether the system is set to light or dark mode. Users can change the font and add widgets to the Lock Screen, but you can only choose between gradient and white as color options.
Availability
According to Apple, iOS 16.5 and watchOS 9.5 will be released to the public next week. However, developers and public beta testers can already add the new Pride theme by installing the RC builds that were released today.
It’s worth noting that you can still buy the 2022 edition of the Apple Watch Pride band
a first look at the 2023 Apple Watch Pride face and band
Every year, Apple introduces new watch faces and bands to celebrate Pride month. Although the company is yet to announce this year’s edition of Apple Watch Pride, we now have a first look at what it will look like.
to confirm that the image showing the 2023 Apple Watch Pride face and band is legitimate. You can read the original story below.
2023 Pride Apple Watch
As shared by Aaron on Twitter, this year’s Pride Watch face will have a confetti theme with the colors of the LGBTQIA+ flag. The new watch band will follow the same theme. An interesting detail about the new watch face is that one of the hands is yellow, and presumably users will be able to change its color.
Here is your first look at the Pride 2023 Apple Watch Band and Apple Watch Face.
It’s unclear at this point how exactly these images were found, but they do indeed look legitimate based on assets that Apple uses to show new watch faces available for watchOS. If true, this suggests that the company will announce the new 2023 Apple Watch Pride band and face soon.
It’s worth noting that International Day Against Homophobia is celebrated on May 17, so that may be when Apple will make the 2023 Apple Watch Pride official.
Apple is known for standing up for LGBTQIA+ rights, and every year the company releases Apple Watch Pride bands so that members of the community can show their pride. At the same time, the company also financially supports LGBTQIA+ organizations working to bring about positive change upon diversity.
The current Apple Watch Pride Sport Loop and Pride Nike Sport Loop watch bands are still available at the Apple Online Store for $49 each. You can also find the 2022 Pride Apple Watch Sport Loop on Amazon.
announces new Pride band for 2023, matching Apple Watch face and iPhone wallpaper
Apple on May 09,2023 announced its new 2023 Pride band for Apple Watch. The new Pride Edition Sport Band features speckled rainbow-colored pills on a white background, and will be available to buy from Apple Stores starting May 24.
Alongside the band, a new Apple Watch Pride Celebration face and iPhone wallpaper will also be available next week, with a matching visual design.
Apple says the new sport band is “inspired by the strength and beauty of the LGBTQ+ community.” It features the original pride flag rainbow colors, as well as black and brown to represent Black and Latin communities. Additionally, the light blue, pink, and white colors represent transgender and nonbinary individuals.
Each Pride band is unique as the production process means the pills are offset slightly for each band during the compression molding process.
This year’s design integrates a joyful rainbow of geometric shapes on a white base, which are compression-molded into the final band. In the forming process, the base material flows around each individual shape, creating small variations in their layout. No two bands are exactly alike, reflecting the individuality of all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
The new band costs $49 and goes on sale from May 24.
The new Pride Celebration face requires watchOS 9.5 and will be available for free for all Apple Watch models, in 41 mm and 45 mm sizes. To get the new iPhone Pride wallpaper, you’ll need to be running iOS 16.5.
Apple says the new watch face and iPhone wallpaper will be available next week, implying iOS 16.5 will be released to the public next week. Both watchOS 9.5 and iOS 16.5 are currently in developer beta.
Apple has been beta testing iOS 16.5 and other software updates since March, and now it seems that these updates are about to be released to the public. Ahead of the official release next week, the company is now rolling out iOS 16.5 RC, iPadOS 16.5 RC, tvOS 16.5 RC, watchOS 9.5 RC, and macOS 13.4 RC to developers and public beta users.
A RC or Release Candidate build is usually released to developers days before its official release to the public to ensure that the software has no major bugs.
What’s new in iOS 16.5 RC?
iOS 16.5 RC will be available today to registered developers and beta testers. As the update rolls out over the air within the next hour, you’ll be able to install it by going to the Settings app, choosing General, then choosing Software Update. RC’s build number is 20F65.
As attention starts to shift to iOS 17, which will be introduced next month at WWDC, iOS 16.5 doesn’t include many notable changes.
iOS 16.5 adds new screen recording commands to Siri, which allows you to start or stop a screen recording using the virtual assistant. The update also adds a dedicated Sports tab to the Apple News app, something which has been highly requested among sports fans in the past.
iOS 16.5 RC full release notes:
A new Pride Celebration wallpaper for the Lock Screen to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture
Sports tab in Apple News gives easy access to stories, scores, standings, and more, for the teams and leagues you follow
My Sports score and schedule cards in Apple News take you directly to game pages where you can find additional details about specific games
Fixes an issue where Spotlight may become unresponsive
Addresses an issue where Podcasts in CarPlay may not load content
Fixes an issue where Screen Time settings may reset or not sync across all devices
macOS Ventura 13.4 and watchOS 9.5
One big change coming with macOS Ventura 13.4 and watchOS 9.5 is the new system for installing betas that was introduced with iOS 16.4. Both operating systems now ask for the Apple ID to show and download operating system beta updates.
The system checks whether the account is associated with a developer or user registered in the public beta program. It then shows the beta update available for that program. With this change, regular users will no longer be able to install developer betas, for example.
macOS 13.4 full release notes:
Sports feed in the sidebar of Apple News gives easy access to stories, scores, standings, and more, for the teams and leagues you follow
My Sports score and schedule cards in Apple News take you directly to game pages where you can find additional details about specific games
Resolves an issue where Auto Unlock with Apple Watch does not log you into your Mac
Fixes a Bluetooth issue where keyboards connect slowly to Mac after restarting
Addresses a VoiceOver issue with navigating to landmarks on webpages
Fixes an issue where Screen Time settings may reset or not sync across all devices
watchOS 9.5 full release notes:
watchOS 9.5 includes new features, improvements and bug fixes, including a new Pride Celebration watch face to honor the LGBTQ+ community and culture.
tvOS 16.5
For Apple TV users, tvOS 16.5 introduces a new Multiview feature for sports. Multiview allows users to watch up to four games at the same time in a split-screen interface. Start watching a game, and then within a video player, use the Add Game button to add another stream alongside it. The feature only works with games streamed by Apple through the TV app.
Along with tvOS 16.5 RC, Apple is also rolling out HomePod Software 16.5 RC. According to Apple, the updates will be released to the public next week.
Hands-on with the new Multiview feature for Apple TV sports streams
With tvOS 16.5 beta, Apple is testing a new feature for the Apple TV app on the Apple TV 4K set-top box: the ability to watch more than one game at a time.
Multiview allows users to watch up to four simultaneous streams at once. The feature is available for live sports streamed through the TV app, like MLB Friday Night Baseball and MLS Season Pass …
The feature is available when multiple sports are live at the same time on the Apple TV service — right now that means MLB Friday Night Baseball and Major League Soccer. Apple is rumored to be in talks to get rights to other sports streaming packages in the future.
I tried out Multiview last night with Saturday’s MLS games. MLS Season Pass currently schedules about six games each weekend with overlapping start times, so something like Multiview is essential if you are a fan of multiple teams playing on the same night.
To enter Multiview mode, start watching a sports stream in the normal full-screen player. When Multiview is available, a grid icon will appear in the controls toolbar above the scrubber.
Clicking this button minimises the video into a smaller floating window. Below, the UI presents a strip of other games to watch that are currently live. Select one of these games and it is added to the Multiview grid. Swipe up to remove the games strip and maximise with the streams of both games playing side-by-side.
You can see live video of both games at once, but you only hear the audio track of the video that is currently focused; the other is muted. Swipe on the Siri Remote to change which video you are hovering over to select the current audio source. Click on a video to temporarily take it full screen. When you press the Back button on the remote, the app returns to Multiview.
With Multiview, you can watch up to four games at once. When two or four games are active, a selector appears between the video preview and the games bar that lets you customize the arrangement of the grid. Switch between a symmetric grid or a layout where one video is larger than the others.
In practice, it all works well with smooth animations and intuitive gestures to control the action. For a feature that packs in as much complexity as it does, it feels simple. Frankly, it is harder to find a live game in the first place to serve as the entry point — the Apple TV app could really benefit from a dedicated Live tab to bring together everything live to watch right now, in a cohesive fashion.
As you might expect from a beta feature, I experienced a couple of minor bugs during testing. Sometimes, the audio or video of one stream would cut out altogether. Removing and re-adding the game would resolve it. Also, a wonky UI thing is that when you hover over a video, the interface suggests pressing the TV button on the remote to reveal some more options, similar to how you control Picture-in-Picture on Apple TV. However, pressing said TV button would simply close the app and take me back to the system’s home screen app grid. This seems like something that either hasn’t quite been finished yet, or leftover remnants of an earlier prototyped design.
The 16.5 beta cycle is ongoing and there’s time for these things to be fixed up before the 16.5 software update ships to customers. Apple hasn’t even confirmed if Multiview will launch with the 16.5 release; it could be pushed to a later version. It’s also not clear if this is intended as an Apple TV exclusive feature, or whether it will roll out to other platforms in the future.
Apple expands new method for installing beta updates to macOS and watchOS
Apple has introduced a new system for distributing beta software with iOS 16.4, which now checks whether the user’s Apple ID is participating in the Apple Developer Program or the Apple Beta Software Program. This system is now being expanded to the Mac and Apple Watch with macOS Ventura 13.4 and watchOS 9.5.
Apple is changing how users and developers install beta software on macOS and watchOS
As noted by 9to5Mac, both operating systems now ask for the Apple ID to show and download operating system beta updates. Just like in iOS 16.4 and later, the system checks whether the account is associated with a developer or user registered in the public beta program. It then shows the beta update available for that program.
Previously, anyone could install betas of iOS, macOS, and watchOS by having the right beta profile. But with this change, regular users will no longer be able to install developer betas, for example. Users who are not registered for the program will only have the option of installing public beta software.
According to Apple, the new system will become the only way to install beta software in the future. Here’s what the company said back in February:
Beginning with iOS & iPadOS 16.4 beta, members of the Apple Developer Program will see a new option to enable developer betas directly from Software Update in Settings. This new option will be automatically enabled on devices already enrolled in the program that update to the latest beta release.
Your iPhone or iPad must be signed in with the same Apple ID you used to enroll in the Apple Developer Program in order to see this option in Settings. In future iOS and iPadOS releases, this new setting will be the way to enable developer betas and configuration profiles will no longer grant access.
More about betas
Apple released iOS 16.5 beta 2 along with new betas of watchOS 9.5, tvOS 16.5, and macOS 13.4 on Tuesday. While iOS 16.4 introduced many new features, iOS 16.5 seems to be more focused on bug fixes. Still, the update adds new screen recording commands to Siri and a dedicated Sports tab to the Apple News app.
Right off the bat, we’d treat this rumor with skepticism. The source of the leak is @analyst941 on Twitter, who does not have an established long-term track record of accurate iOS leaks. They did, however, correctly predict certain details of the iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island ahead of its release.
The source claims to have seen various aspects of iOS 17 themselves, including the new Wallet app, the new Health app, and the revamped interface for customizing your iPhone’s wallpaper. With that knowledge, the source created a set of concepts visualizing what these new designs will look like.
This is the new grid view for Wallpapers in iOS 17.
• All new Grid-view displays 9+ wallpapers at once. • Delete wallpapers quickly within the grid-view. • Rearrange the order of wallpapers in grid-view. • Share or duplicate wallpapers by swiping up in single-view. pic.twitter.com/BUMugPKb1v
The new Wallet app is said to feature an updated interface that offers search functionality and separated tabs for your cards and your other passes, such as airline boarding passes. iOS 17 will also reportedly add a bottom navigation bar to the Wallet app, with dedicated tabs for “Cash,” “Keys, “IDs,” and “Orders.”
Someone pointed out the glyphs on the bottom were wrong, and they were. Here’s an updated version of the original image with new & more accurate glyphs… pic.twitter.com/nZYV1Lp5Fp
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has previously reported on Apple’s plans to overhaul the Wallet app with a new design and new features in iOS 17.
The new Health app will reportedly feature a revamped interface for the “Favorites” tab of the app. The new design will allegedly use smaller square-shaped tiles, allowing you to see additional metrics without having to scroll down the app.
This is the iOS 17 Health app ‘favorites redesign,’ — there will obviously be VISUAL data inside the squares — I’m just too lazy to do all that. I’m sure you get the point.
Finally, Apple is also reportedly planning to overhaul the process of changing and customizing your iPhone’s wallpaper. The source says:
All new Grid-view displays 9+ wallpapers at once.
Delete wallpapers quickly within the grid view.
Rearrange the order of wallpapers in a grid view.
Share or duplicate wallpapers by swiping up in single-view.
This is the new grid view for Wallpapers in iOS 17.
• All new Grid-view displays 9+ wallpapers at once. • Delete wallpapers quickly within the grid-view. • Rearrange the order of wallpapers in grid-view. • Share or duplicate wallpapers by swiping up in single-view. pic.twitter.com/BUMugPKb1v
The @analyst941 source shared these concepts on Twitter. Again, we’d treat the rumor with skepticism for now. Apple will officially unveil iOS 17 at WWDC in June, alongside updates to watchOS, iPadOS, macOS, and tvOS.
Report: iOS 17 sideloading features not coming to the US; Find My and Wallet app updates planned
Apple will announce its next round of software updates in less than two months, including iOS 17. We’ve heard scattered reports on what to expect from these updates, including the possibility that iOS 17 will include support for sideloading apps for the first time.
A report today, however, indicates that sideloading will only be available to iPhone users in Europe, not worldwide. iOS 17 will also reportedly include new features for Wallet and Find My.
iOS 17 sideloading features limited to the EU
The new rumors come from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who made the comments on a recent MacRumors podcast guest appearance. Bloomberg first reported on Apple’s plans to open the iPhone up to third-party app stores and sideloading back in December, saying the company was “dedicating a significant amount of resources” to the endeavor.
Apple is not enabling third-party app stores and sideloading because of a change of heart in its long-held belief that doing so will lead to security and privacy issues. Instead, it’s doing so purely to comply with looming regulations in the European Union, known as the Digital Markets Act.
As the move is being made purely in response to regulatory pressure in the European Union, Apple is doing the bare minimum to comply with those regulations. According to Gurman, this means iOS 17 sideloading will only be available in countries where the DMA is applicable – which only includes the EU.
Gurman believes Apple will implement sideloading in a way similar to what it did when it was forced to make App Store changes in response to an antitrust case in the Netherlands. In fact, Gurman suggested Apple may downplay iOS 17 sideloading to such a degree that it’s not even announced at WWDC:
I think it will be a Europe-only feature. I think that they’re not going to shoot themselves in the foot and expand this globally if they don’t have to.
If you remember, there was that change in the Netherlands around dating apps and the percentage there. And so you have to install a special profile, you have to go through some sort of hoops to do it, and it was very under the radar.
So I think they’re going to push more in that direction. I would be a bit surprised if they announced it at WWDC and made this a highlight consumer feature. I think they want to sort of downplay it as much as possible.
“They’re not gonna do anything extraneous that would further hurt their grip on the App Store,” Gurman continued. “There really going to stick to the letter of the law here.”
But still, the project has been a “major undertaking” inside Apple, Gurman said today. As he initially reported in December, the effort has required involvement from teams across the company, including legal, marketing, and the App Store team itself.
As for how Apple might implement sideloading in the European Union, Gurman speculates that the company will likely charge developers to be part of the program, and they will use some sort of configuration profile-based process. “There’ll be some sort of review process, even though these apps would be installed outside the App Store,” Gurman said.
Outside of the geo-limited sideloading features, Gurman also mentioned in today’s podcast appearance that iOS 17 will include changes to Find My and the Wallet. “I think you’ll see a bigger push on location and Find My-related changes,” he said. “In addition to Wallet and some user interface tweaks and enhancements there.”
As for the rumors about a redesigned Control Center in iOS 17, Gurman said he has nothing to share about that. It should be noted that the rumor of a redesigned Control Center comes from the same anonymous MacRumors source that Gurman recently questioned the reliability of on Twitter. “Many of the details I’ve seen from this account are not true,” he wrote in a post.
Many of the details I’ve seen from this account are not true
Back in 2019, Apple announced three new health research studies based on data collected from the iPhone and Apple Watch. To coincide with International Noise Awareness Day on April 26, the company shared updates on its Hearing Study conducted in partnership with the University of Michigan.
Apple launching three new research studies including hearing, cycle tracking, heart, and movement
Apple has announced three new health studies powered in part by the Apple Watch. Three new studies include hearing, cycle tracking, heart, and movement research. Apple is also launching a new Apple Research app for enrolling in each study.
Apple announces three groundbreaking health studies
UPDATE September 10, 2019
In Collaboration with Leading Medical Institutions, Apple to Examine Hearing, Women’s, Mobility and Heart Health
The new Research app displaying healthy study enrollment options on iPhone. Three new studies, available on the Research app later this fall, will explore new areas of medical research. Apple today announced three unprecedented medical studies, in partnership with leading academic and research institutions, that will reach more participants than has ever been possible. The studies will be available on the new Research app,1 which democratizes how medical research is conducted by bringing together academic medical institutions, healthcare organizations and the Apple products customers already make a part of their everyday life. Participants will contribute to potential medical discoveries and help create the next generation of innovative health products. The Research app will be available as a free download in the App Store later this year.
“With the Apple Heart Study, we found that we could positively impact medical research in ways that help patients today and that make contributions that will benefit future generations,” said Jeff Williams, Apple’s chief operating officer. “Today’s announcement carries our commitment to health even further by engaging with participants on a larger scale than ever before.”
A heart rate reading displayed on Apple Watch Series 5. The Apple Heart and Movement Study will look into the connection of heart health and mobility signals, like walking pace. The studies include:
Apple Women’s Health Study: In partnership with Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and the NIH’s National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS), Apple has created the first long-term study of this scale focused on menstrual cycles and gynecological conditions. This study will inform screening and risk assessment of conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), infertility, osteoporosis, pregnancy and menopausal transition. Apple Heart and Movement Study: Apple is partnering with Brigham and Women’s Hospital and the American Heart Association on a comprehensive study of how heart rate and mobility signals — like walking pace and flights of stairs climbed — relate to hospitalizations, falls, heart health and quality of life in order to promote healthy movement and improved cardiovascular health. Apple Hearing Study: Alongside the University of Michigan, Apple is examining factors that impact hearing health. The Apple Hearing Health Study is the first of its kind to collect data over time in order to understand how everyday sound exposure can impact hearing. The study data will also be shared with the World Health Organization (WHO) as a contribution toward its Make Listening Safe initiative. The new Cycle Tracking app on Apple Watch Series 5. The Apple Women’s Health Study will explore gynecological conditions on an unparalleled scale. Apple’s support of the medical research community began with the introduction of ResearchKit and CareKit, which expanded the pace and scale at which healthcare could be studied and provided. Apple used ResearchKit to create the Apple Heart Study, which was the largest study of its kind and illustrated the impact virtual, large-scale studies can have on medical research by examining atrial fibrillation to provide validation for the irregular rhythm notification feature on Apple Watch.
“Women make up half of the world’s population, yet even today there has been limited investment in studying their unique health needs,” said Michelle A. Williams, a reproductive epidemiologist and dean of the faculty at the Harvard T.H. Chan School. “This study, unprecedented in scope, will greatly advance our understanding of the biological and social determinants of women’s health, and lead to better health outcomes.”
“This is an exciting opportunity for NIEHS researchers to contribute to the study design and use the resulting data to answer novel questions, not only important to women of reproductive age, but to women of all ages,” said Dale Sandler, Ph.D., chief of the NIEHS Epidemiology Branch.
“We are excited to be working with all the study participants and with Apple to identify the features of complex human physiology that lead to different outcomes in wellness or chronic disease, and to use this information to empower individuals to maximize their own health,” said Calum MacRae, the vice chair of Scientific Innovation for the Department of Medicine at Brigham and Women’s Hospital and associate professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School.
“At the American Heart Association, we are a relentless force for a world of longer, healthier lives, and we are committed to educating and empowering people to be proactive in all areas of their heart health and general well-being,” said Nancy Brown, CEO of the American Heart Association. “We believe that emerging technology solutions that seek to provide deeper health insights offer great potential in getting us there. We are collaborating with Apple and Brigham and Women’s Hospital on the Apple Heart and Movement Study to explore the correlation between a broad range of physical activities and a person’s overall heart health to ultimately understand risks and interventions to improve health.”
“We are excited about this unique opportunity to partner with Apple to determine how everyday activities affect our hearing,” said DuBois Bowman, dean of the University of Michigan School of Public Health. “The information gleaned from this partnership will be critical for us to address the public health impact of various noise exposures on hearing loss in the United States.”
“The World Health Organization is pleased to note the announcement of the Apple Hearing Study which will contribute toward our Make Listening Safe initiative by improving our understanding of users’ listening behaviors,” said Dr. Shelly Chadha, technical officer of Prevention of Deafness and Hearing Loss at the World Health Organization. “With over a billion young people who could be at risk of hearing loss due to unsafe listening, WHO is addressing this challenge through raising awareness and setting new standards for safe listening. The knowledge gained through this study will contribute to future public health action in this field.”
Media
Images of Apple Health Studies
Available in the US only.
Apple Hearing Study
Since watchOS 6, Apple Watch users can rely on the Noise app, which measures the level of noise in the user’s environment, to warn of potential ear damage. According to the World Health Organization (WHO) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), people shouldn’t be exposed to an average annual noise level above 70 decibels (dBA).
The study, conducted in partnership between Apple and the University of Michigan, uses this data to measure the impacts of noise exposure on hearing health. In 2021, Apple shared the first insights from this study, which showed that 25% of participants experienced exposure to sound levels louder than the recommended limit at some point.
In most instances, this happened during common situations like being in traffic, working with machinery, and riding public transportation.
The most recent data show that 1 in 3 adults in the US, around 77 million people, are exposed to excessive noise levels. The states with the highest populations have the largest number of those affected by high-decibel noise. This includes California, Texas, Florida, and New York.
The highest percentage of participants exposed to noise levels that are often above 70 dBA reside in Puerto Rico (44%) and the lowest percentage reside in Washington DC (20%).
Apple shares first insights from hearing study based on iPhone and Apple Watch data
Apple launched three research studies in September 2019 that use the iPhone and Apple Watch to learn more about hearing health, women’s cycle tracking, and movement’s effect on wellbeing. A year and a half later, Apple has published what it describes as new insights gathered from the Apple Hearing Study.
The Research app allows iPhone and Apple Watch users to voluntarily participate in health studies from Apple and its research partners. This dramatically lowers the barrier for entry for participation. In turn, results can be based on much larger samples of the population than traditional studies.
The Apple Hearing Study is a partnership between Apple and the University of Michigan School of Public Health. Apple says data from the study is provided to the World Health Organization’s Make Listening Safe Initiative.
The first key insight from the Apple Hearing Study so far is that one in four participants are exposed to higher than recommended environmental sound levels:
The new insights generated leveraging this unprecedented data demonstrate that 25 percent of participants experience a daily average environmental sound exposure (which can include traffic, machinery, public transport, and so on) that is higher than the WHO recommended limit.
The Research app on iPhone includes questions that help inform researchers about overall hearing health. Based on that data, Apple learned that almost half of participants work or have worked in loud environments.
Also, nearly 50 percent of participants now work, or have previously worked, in a loud workplace. As noise exposure has shown an impact on hearing, it’s important to be aware of surroundings. Checking noise levels with the Noise app on Apple Watch can be an effective way to be more aware of sound exposure.
Apple is also sourcing volume level data from headphones, including AirPods. Based on this information from participants, the study has learned that 10% of participants are exposed to higher than recommended headphone volume levels.
Average weekly headphone exposure for one in 10 participants is higher than the WHO recommended limit. While catchy tunes can be tempting, listeners should consider listening to music and other media at the lowest enjoyable volume.
Other key insights realized from the Apple Health Study include these numbers:
1 in 10 participants have been professionally diagnosed with hearing loss
75% of those professionally diagnosed with hearing loss do not use a hearing aid or cochlear implant
1 in 5 participants experience hearing loss compared to World Health Organization standards
1 in 4 participants experience a ringing in their ears a few times a week or more
“Even during this pandemic, when many people are staying home, we’re still seeing 25 percent of our participants experiencing high environmental sound exposures,” according to Rick Neitzel, associate professor of environmental health sciences at the University of Michigan School of Public Health.
“The results of this study can improve our understanding of potentially harmful exposures, and help identify ways that people can proactively protect their hearing,”
Finally, Apple suggests a number of ways that people can positively impact their hearing health and reduce noise exposure to avoid hearing loss including this:
Access support for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community: Hearing accessibility on iOS includes several features to support people who are profoundly deaf or hard of hearing, like Sound Recognition; FaceTime, including sign language detection in Group FaceTime; sensory alerts; and Type to Siri.
The Apple Hearing Study is available in the United States through the Apple Research app for iPhone.
Here’s how to protect your ears from external noise
According to Apple and the University of Michigan, there are a few things people can do to protect themselves from loud noises. These include wearing hearing protection devices such as earplugs in noisy environments, buying quiet appliances, and taking regular breaks from noisy areas when possible.
If you own an Apple Watch, be sure to check out the Noise app for a better idea of the sound noise levels in your environment. You can also enable notifications for when you’re exposed to above-recommended levels for extended periods of time.
It’s worth noting that the Apple Hearing Study is available in the United States through the Apple Research app for iPhone.
With the Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max, our collection is finally complete. It is the biggest, heaviest, most powerful, and most feature-rich iPhone Apple has made so far, and that’s enough to make it the best-seller it was designed to become.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is the only member of Series 12 to pack the new and improved triple-camera on the back. This might be even enough to entice users who may not even be after the Max size. That is how a proper upgrade should be done – by updating every aspect possible, not just the design.
iPhone 12 mini, iPhone 12, iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 12 Pro
The iPhone 12 Pro‘s Max denomination isn’t standing just for maximum size, but for the complete set of new features. The biggest iPhone to date enjoys the most premium and durable design Apple has made, the most powerful chip with 5G support, the latest Apple camera, the LiDAR scanner, the largest speakers, the beefiest battery, and, of course, MagSafe support.
Apple iPhone 12 family
This Max version could have been even better with a 120Hz display, but, alas, this feature didn’t make the cut on Series 12. Maybe next year, who knows, but today even the most expensive iPhone can’t show more than 60fps on its screen.
We know you are eager to see the Pro Max‘s battery life and camera performance, but first things first. Let’s take a closer look through its specs, shall we?
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is an upscaled version of the iPhone 12 Pro with a bigger display and battery. It also features a larger 12MP sensor for its primary camera with the industry’s first sensor-shift image stabilization. Finally, its telephoto camera has an even longer-range lens now – 65mm f/2.2 for 2.5x optical zoom. Nice!
Finally, even if the iPhone 12 Pro Max is one of the most expensive phones today, just like the rest of the iPhone 12’s, it also comes accessory-free thanks to Apple’s latest controversial endeavor to save the planet.
Unboxing the iPhone 12 Pro Max
The Apple iPhone 12 Pro Max comes within a thin and lightweight box that contains the phone and a USB-C-to-Lightning cable.
There is no charger or EarPods inside, but you will find a SIM ejection pin and a lonely Apple sticker if you dig deeper. You better hold on to that metal pin, as it might disappear next year, too.
Alternatives
This year, you can choose between three different iPhone sizes, and we believe this will continue to be the case in the years to come. The iPhone 12 mini and iPhone 12 will successfully cater to anyone who needs a compact flagship. This has allowed the 12 Pro Max to grow bigger and better without any holdbacks.
Indeed, that year, along with the new design with better materials, the 12 Pro Max model brings an even larger screen. Its enormous size has allowed Apple to fit a better camera as well – the industry’s first-ever sensor-shift stabilization and for the first time ever on an iPhone – a longer, 65mm zoom lens.
If the Pro Max’s size is of any concern, the more reasonably-sized iPhone 12 Pro is literally the same phone, just smaller. Yes, we are well aware of the camera differences.
The normal iPhone 12 will give you a lightweight body with all the Pro’s power and screen without the telephoto camera and the LiDAR scanner. If you are not into AR apps, the lack of LiDAR won’t matter to you. As for the zoom camera – only you can decide.
Apple has this bad habit of making all previous-gen iPhones disappear from the market within a week of its latest premiere, and the iPhone 11 Pro models have suffered the same fate. But if you already own an iPhone 11 Pro Max, there is really no reason to upgrade. It’s still quite recent, and you don’t really need the LiDAR or the new glossy frame, which looks amazing only on the showroom floor. .
There is one Android phone that comes to mind when thinking in Max size, and that’s the Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G. It encompasses the best of everything Samsung has to offer. The Ultra has an even larger 6.9″ OLED with higher resolution and a much smaller cutout. It also provides enormous processing power and has a rather unique triple camera with a 108MP primary, a 12MP 5x telephoto, and a 12MP ultrawide shooter. The Note packs an S-Pen that has become a fan-favorite feature for many. The Ultra is a powerful mini-tablet in your pocket, and if you are not invested much in Apple‘s ecosystem, you may want to give it a try.
Apple iPhone 12 Pro • Apple iPhone 12 • Samsung Galaxy Note20 Ultra 5G
The verdict
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is Apple‘s mightiest iPhone on the market before. It employs the most massive iPhone screen ever. It has every new feature the company has come up with, and it’s wrapped in a premium body with a bold new design that brings a dash of nostalgia. Heck, even its outrageous price tag is a selling point for many potential customers.
The 12 Pro Max is not without its flaws. On the contrary – it’s doesn’t even bring enough worthy upgrades over the 11 Pro Max to justify a switch. Not only that, but they are cutting back some features and deliberately omitting others. No charger, no headphones, same camera quality generation after generation, no high refresh rate screen when everyone else has one, and no under-display fingerprint reader when everybody is forced to wear a mask.
Apple is certainly not a company to go with the trends. On the opposite, their success in doing things differently has turned them into a trend-setter. For any other company, any of these decisions would have led to a severe backlash. Yet, Apple’s mobile business is doing better than ever.
They’ve earned a special place in the customer’s hearts and minds by coming up with consistently polished products with great after-sales service, and of course, by supplementing all this effort with great marketing.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max is a product of the same great recipe for success. So without a doubt, millions of customers have already bought one, and millions more will get theirs in the year ahead.
Do we recommend getting it? Certainly, if you are after the large screen and you have an older iPhone. If you already have a recent device like the iPhone 11 Pro or Pro Max, there is really not much sense in upgrading.
Pros
Sumptuous design with jewelry-like attention to detail, durable and water-resistant
Excellent large OLED screen, very bright
Loud stereo speakers, outstanding audio quality
The fastest smartphone chip on the planet, 5G, too
Dependable battery life, fast charging
Apple iOS 14 is fast and easy to use, 5 years of guaranteed major updates
Very good photo and video quality across the board, day and night
LiDAR Scanner has varied applications and use cases (albeit quite niche)
MagSafe is a promising accessory concept
Cons
No charger or headphones in the box
No high refresh rate screen
iOS needs better file management
We miss TouchID as FaceID does not work with a mask on
The new camera offers the same quality as the old one
Few meaningful upgrades over iPhone 11 Pro Max and even fewer over iPhone 12 Pro
The ‘biggest camera update ever’ on an iPhone doesn’t have to come in a big iPhone, at least not a Max-sized one – the iPhone 13 Pro will do. Unlike last year, when only the 12 Pro Max got the ultimate camera system, the differences between the two Pro sizes now are simply in quantity, not in quality.
The small Pro is packing the all-new main camera with a larger sensor that shifts around for image stabilization, the same unit that’s in the Max. It’s also got the now-longer 3x tele that the Max has. The iPhone 12 Pro was crippled in these two areas last year compared to the 12 Pro Max, and we’re happy Apple has put an end to that disparity. The new ultrawide with autofocus and close-up shooting capability is also a common feature of the two Pros.
It’s not just the cameras either – the 13 Pro gets the ProMotion display too.
Other upgrades shared across the lineup make it to the 13 Pro as well. At 10%, the increase in battery capacity isn’t huge, but the adaptive refresh will do its share to improve longevity. The A15 chipset is, as always, a bit more powerful than the previous one, and perhaps excessively so when compared to non-Apples. The 20% reduction in notch size also deserves mention – more for the comedic value of the statement than for the significance of the development.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
Apple iPhone 13 Pro unboxing
The Apple unboxing experience of 2020 returns in 2021, with a twist. There’s still color-coding – black box means Pro, white is vanilla, and there’s a likeness of the phone printed on the lid in the corresponding color to the unit inside. Perhaps you’ll appreciate the satisfying way in which the paper seal tears along its dotted line, the novelty brought about by an evolution in packaging that eliminated the plastic outer sleeve.
All that comes secondary to what’s inside the flat box, and there’s not a whole lot. Other than the iPhone 13 Pro, you get a USB-C to Lightning cable, a SIM pin and an Apple sticker, and that’s it – the rest is just documentation.
Competition
So, what if you’re looking for a high-end phone that is also compact? It turns out your options aren’t all that many, and the iPhone 13 Pro might just breeze through comparisons with ease, only pulled back by its steep price.
The Galaxy S21 easily wins on that front, saving you roughly $200/€350 (from reputable retailers, possibly more if you’re adventurous). The Samsung is also tangibly lighter, so if not just size but also weight is a top priority, the iPhone loses once more.
The 13 Pro is more of a status symbol than the somewhat nondescript S21, and the Galaxy’s plastic back isn’t screaming ‘premium’ either. While each will perform splendidly as a cameraphone, the different image processing approaches aren’t quantifiable and will polarize people. Such is the case with the OS divide as well. Ultimately, it takes a special kind of person to be faced with this dilemma in the first place, but the Galaxy does have objective pros in the numbers – the ones we started with.
Another compact top-tier handset that you can get for a bit less than the 13 Pro in Europe (though not as cheap as the Galaxy), the Xperia 5 III is slimmer and lighter than the iPhone, appealing to your quest for pocketability. The Sony also boasts legacy goodies like a headphone jack and a microSD slot – you know who you are, if those put a smile on your face. Even as we write this, we realize this bout is even more theoretical than the previous one, though.
Samsung Galaxy S21 5G • Sony Xperia 5 III • Apple iPhone 13 Pro Max • Apple iPhone 13
Realistically, it’s probably one of the other iPhones you’ll be comparing the 13 Pro against, and things are pretty clear-cut there. The 13 Pro Max will get you longer battery life (longest ever on an iPhone) and a bigger display for a $100/€100 premium, which is a marginal difference when you’ve already conceded spending 13 Pro money. The iPhone 13 non-Pro, meanwhile, will save you a more meaningful $200/€250, for which you’ll have to part with both close-up photos and zoom capability, but you’ll shave 30g off your EDC.
iPhone 13 family shot: Mini • Pro Max • Pro • Vanilla
Verdict
With the newfound parity between the two Pro model sizes resulting in a shared camera system, the small Pro is suddenly in a position to be the iPhone of choice for more people than what the 12 was equipped to. While last year you had to go Max to get the ultimate cameras Apple offered, in 2021, it’s only decided by dimensions and, somewhat consequently, battery life.
13 Pro Max vs. 13 Pro
The iPhone 13 Pro may not last as long as the Max, but it’s still an upgrade over the 12 Pro, and it’s better in some ways than the main competitor across the OS divide. And when it comes to deciding between screen estate and pocketability, the latter wins in surprisingly many cases among ourselves.
With these being the only two points that set the 13 Pros apart, it also means they have common faults. Charging isn’t overly fast; even on this small battery, the excessively powerful chipset can be quick to throttle, and the 120Hz refresh rate is yet to gain universal third-party support. And for its reasonable size, the 13 Pro sure is hefty.
But most of those cons have their counterpoints. Despite the weight, the phone remains pocket-friendly and, well, thanks to the weight, it’s both sturdy and premium-feeling. The display is all kinds of great, and when HRR compatibility catches up, there’ll be nothing to complain about. iOS on the A15 is super smooth, and even if the SoC does throttle, it remains above the competition. The unsightly notch enables quick unlock and great portrait selfies and is home to half of the nice speaker setup.
It might sound like we’re making excuses for the iPhone 13 Pro‘s flaws, but it’s really doing a pretty decent job building its own defense. Unless the Max’s display and endurance make a difference to the way you use your phone, the 13 Pro is the iPhone to get this year.
Pros
Outstanding design – sturdy and water-proof.
One of few properly high-end phones that can pass for ‘compact’.
Brightest OLED screen we’ve seen, super accurate, Dolby Vision, sort of 120Hz.
Loud stereo speakers.
Unmatched performance, 5G.
Great all-round photo and video quality across all four cameras.
Cons
Stale looks, the notch should have been gone by now.
Compact as it may be, the ‘small’ 13 Pro weighs a lot.
120Hz refresh rate not widely available in third-party apps at launch.
Battery life not up to the Max’s standard.
The chipset is prone to heavy throttling under max load.
The fast charging isn’t very fast and the charger is not bundled.
iOS (with its limitations) remains a love it or leave it affair.
One small reduction of the notch, one giant leap for the iPhone! That’s the best description for the most minor iPhone upgrade yet – the Apple iPhone 13. But even if it won’t make iPhone 12 owners line up for the new model, like it or not, the iPhone 13 is still one of the most powerful smartphones on the market and a bestseller in the making.
The notorious notch, first introduced back with the iPhone X in 2017, spread in mere months across the entire smartphone industry, possibly faster than any other feature so far. It has since evolved into droplets, punch holes, or gone thanks to pop-up or under-screen selfies. But for the first time in four years, Apple has shrunk its size, albeit not by much, and the process of getting rid of it has finally begun. The predictions for the iPhone 14 are already running wild.
It is wrong to focus on just the notch size with iPhone 13. This standard 13 model has a 6.1″ Super Retina XDR OLED screen with Dolby Vision, now with higher brightness, the most powerful mobile chip to date – the Apple A15 Bionic, and three nicely capable 12MP cameras – two at the back and one at the front. Apple has used a new, larger sensor for the main camera and has the sensor-shift stabilization from last year’s 12 Pro Max has trickled down across the entire iPhone 13 lineup.
Other tweaks include doubled base storage, a larger battery, and a couple of exclusive software tricks for the camera like Cinematic mode and Photographic Styles.
And that’s it – a brighter screen with a smaller cutout, a faster chipset, more storage, more battery, and an improved sensor on the main camera. Not the upgrade iPhone 12 users have been hoping for, but a massive one for anyone using an older-gen iPhone.
Disclaimer. We can not guarantee that the information on this page is 100% correct.
The biggest letdown has to be the missing ProMotion support – the 120Hz refresh rate is exclusive to the Pro models this year, and we guess the base models will have to wait a year or two before they are allowed to have it. The ultrawide camera autofocus upgrade is also exclusive to the Pro series, which is not great, but it’s what Apple usually does, so not surprising either.
With the ongoing chip crisis, among other production problems due to the pandemic and lack of resources, the iPhone 13 devices will face various delays with production and shipping, but doesn’t this happen every year? Oh, well…
Unboxing the iPhone 13
There is not a whole lot to unbox with the iPhone 13 as Apple has expelled everything but the USB cable from the iPhone retail boxes with the goal of reducing electronic waste, the extra profit being just a bonus. This year it has gone even greener by ditching the plastic wrapping – wherever wrapping was needed, Apple has used paper stickers.
So, inside this thin and lightweight box, you will find the iPhone 13 and a USB-C to Lightning cable.
Apple has still not switched to USB-C on the iPhones for various reasons, most of them being accessories compatibility and electronic waste. The EU Commission is pressing for such change, so we are either seeing the last of Lightning-capable iPhones or, knowing Apple, the last of the iPhones with any sort of USB ports.
The small paper compartment contains some paperwork, the SIM-ejection pin and one Apple sticker.
Alternatives
The Apple iPhone 13 is obviously a very minor upgrade over the iPhone 12, and we cannot think of a single reason why any iPhone 12 user should jump on it.
But the iPhone 13 is also one of the best current smartphones on the market for its beautiful design, increased durability, powerful hardware, superb speakers, and excellent camera experience day and night. And for such a compact device, the battery life turned out pretty good, too.
Of course, there are plenty of offers on the market, and the competition within Apple’s own series is already tough enough. Let’s say you are using an older model iPhone, should you get this €900 iPhone 13 or another iPhone?
Well, the iPhone 12 is now at least €100-150 cheaper than the iPhone 13, while carriers are pushing even bigger promotions as they are getting ready to replace the older model with the new one. And it’s pretty much the same device with a slightly bigger notch and a missing Cinematic video mode. We can’t blame anyone that would skip these features and get the iPhone 12 at a large discount instead.
The iPhone 11 is also still on sale, and it’s now cheaper at about €500-€550. It is one particularly powerful smartphone that’s great for gaming, plus it is also a dual-glass IP68-rated device. It has a 6.1″ LCD screen and a familiar 12MP dual-camera, supports Face ID, and its 12MP selfie shooter is really good, too. Not to mention that battery life is great, too.
You can, of course, get the €800 iPhone 13 mini if you want the most compact yet most powerful iPhone, which is identical to the iPhone 13, but smaller. Or, if you want to get the best compact iPhone right now, the €1150 iPhone 13 Pro will offer you a 120Hz display, more powerful graphics and much better ultrawide and telephoto cameras. It is a significant update over the iPhone 12 Pro and will surely get the most attention. We guess most people will get it for the versatile photography skills with the added autofocus on the ultrawide and its 3x zoom lens, so you should consider it, too.
Apple iPhone 12 • Apple iPhone 11 • Apple iPhone 13 Pro
And if you are into Android phones of similar size and capabilities like the iPhone 13, you may want to explore the Samsung Galaxy S21 5G, or the Asus Zenfone 8, or maybe the Realme GT 5G. These are all not-so-large phones with 120Hz OLEDs, powerful processors, and great cameras, plus they are all cheaper! The Realme GT is not water-resistant, but it’s quite affordable, so it’s worth mentioning.
The Apple iPhone 13 is a very capable smartphone – it has one of the fastest chipsets and one of the best camera kits – that’s why it is ideal for photography and video capturing on the go, great for bloggers and vloggers on a budget. It also does a brilliant job at streaming your favorite shows and playing demanding games. Its speakers are surprisingly nice, too.
The iPhone 13 is a premium-looking smartphone with great all-around protection. But it’s not just the good looks; it’s also built to last with that Ceramic Shield and sapphire covers for the lenses.
There is also another thing that seems to be an iPhone-exclusive – the promised 5 years of major updates. That’s a whole lot more than any Android device can offer, but also understandable since Apple makes a limited number of phones and has full control over every aspect of them.
The iPhone 13 is not a perfect smartphone – the notch is still huge as Apple doesn’t want to resurrect the Touch ID yet, the 120Hz display is exclusive to the more expensive Pro model, and it just won’t allow for faster than 25W charging, though the last one could be somewhat responsible for the longer battery lifespan of the iPhones.
There are also controversial aspects that will never change – the aim towards a port-less phone, the minimalistic retail bundle that reduces electronic waste, the iOS-specific file manager, among other controversial Apple policies.
But there are two undeniable facts – no iPhone is a bad phone, on the contrary – every iPhone is designed to excel at a wide variety of tasks, and it does. And secondly, no review will make a decided Apple user to reconsider their iPhone purchase/upgrade because of that. So, go get your new iPhone and enjoy it, it is yet another good one, in case you needed to hear it from us.
Pros
Outstanding design – sturdy and water-proofed.
Bright OLED screen, HDR10, Dolby Vision.
Dependable battery life.
Loud stereo speakers, excellent output.
Unmatched performance, 5G.
Great all-round photo and video quality across all three cameras.
Cons
Minor upgrade over iPhone 12.
No 120Hz refresh rate.
The notch is still an eyesore even if smaller.
The fast charging isn’t very fast and the charger is not bundled.
iOS (with its limitations) remains a love it or leave it affair.
