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What is CAD? – Everything you need to know about computer-aided design

Learn what CAD is how it’s used in architecture, engineering and product design.

A designer learns what is CAD looking at a design on a monitor using CAD software

(Image credit: Laurence Dutton via Getty Images)

What is CAD? you might be wondering if you’re considering a career in architecture, engineering or product design. Jobs in these areas often require skills in computer-aided design as a requisite, but what is CAD exactly, how does it work, and how do you learn it?

Since we specialise in news and reviews on a wide range of creative sectors, we’ve reviewed a lot of CAD software over the years, and we’ve spoken to users who contribute features and tutorials to the site. In this guide, we’ll provide a basic overview of everything you need to know about CAD to get started. From here, you might want to check our guide to thebest laptops for CAD and AutoCAD.

What is CAD?

(Image credit: Laurence Dutton via Getty Images)

CAD stands for computer-aided design, although you may also hear the earlier term computer-aided drafting, or a combination: computer-aided design and drafting (CADD). These might sound like quite broad concepts, and they are. CAD can refer to any use of computers to help the design process, but there are two main types: 2D CAD and 3D CAD.

CAD is used to create, modify, test and analyse or optimise design in a wide range of areas, from designing skyscrapers to tiny machine parts.

In the past, designs were drafted by hand using pencil on paper. CAD emerged in the 1960s and have shaped how designers work by replacing drawing boards, protractors and T-squares with specialist computer programs.

These programs allow users to efficiently create virtual replicas of physical artifacts to test and iterate on them and then produce electronic files for print, machining or other forms of manufacturing. These can take the form of 2D blueprints or 3D models.

What is CAD used for?

(Image credit: Kumpan Electric via Unsplash)

CAD is used in a wide range of industries, from architecture and product design to aerospace, automobile design, electrical engineering and life sciences. As a result, people entering these areas will often be expected to have CAD skills.

Within these fields, CAD tools are used for everything from concept development and creating mockups and visual prototypes to the detailed design of components, analysis and optimisation, creating guidelines and instructions, rendering and animation.

How does CAD work?

CAD programs allow designers to visualise designs, simulate performance to test them for stress, material strength and then make adjustments and iterate.

The process and workflows used vary across different industries and depend on the type of CAD used. Architects use CAD to envision real-world buildings in a virtual environment, first through conceptual sketches to detailed blueprints.

By using CAD programs, architects can experiment with designs, layouts and materials and check that their choices meet the desired aesthetics as well as practical needs for a given site.

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What are the benefits of CAD?

(Image credit: Kumpan Electric via Unsplash)

CAD has a lot of benefits compared to hand-drawing. It allows virtual prototyping, the creation of complex geometry and assemblies and precise virtual analysis of properties, tolerance and kinematics. CAD programs can also be used to create photorealistic product renders.

Since they allow users to simulate performance, CAD programs make it easier to test things and ensure components fit a project before going to production, improving efficiency and accuracy. Designs made using CAD software can also help protect products concepts by providing documentation for patent applications, and they can speed up time to market.

Using CAD software increases productivity too since programs are optimised to speed up workflows and automate repetitive tasks. Settings can be adjusted to different industry standards, and parts of drawings can be reused in others. CAD can also improve communication among team members and partners by producing neat drawings and clear documentation and databases, and CAD data can be used to extract machine codes for computer-aided manufacturing (CAM).

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What are the different types of CAD?

We have a dedicated guide to the types of CAD, but basically there are two main types of CAD: 2D and 3D.

2D CAD models are flat technical drawings providing information such as structural details and dimensions. This can include floor plans for buildings and blueprints for the manufacture or reproduction of objects.

3D CAD models provide virtual models of objects in all dimensions and can also show how they operate and fit together with other objects. These are using in mechanics, manufacturing and car design and more.

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What is the best way to learn CAD?

If you’re considering a career in a field where CAD is used, you may be wondering how long it takes to learn CAD and whether you can learn CAD on your own.

Most people learn CAD through a combination of formal online or in-person courses, tutorials, and practical exercises. If you want to learn CAD on your own for free, there are lots of tutorials online. It will probably be best to start by choosing the software program that’s most used in your industry and following online tutorials and practice projects and joining online communities dedicated to that specific program.

Experts suggest that it’s possible to learn the basics of CAD with about 20 hours of tuition and up to around 100 hours of practicing. If you don’t already have drawing skills, you may want to start there an first master the basics of 2D drawing and then 3D. You’ll also need to be familiar with basic mathematical and geometrical concepts.

If you are looking for somewhere accessible to start, TinkerCADis free and relatively simple. It runs in your browser and has built-in tutorials.

Intel discontinues Unison app for connecting PCs and smartphones

Non-core asset set to be deprecated?

Intel

(Image credit: Intel)

Since Apple connected its PCs with smartphones and tablets using its MacOS and iOS operating systems to provide a seamless user experience some 10 to 15 years ago, multiple attempts have been made to replicate similar capabilities with Windows-based PCs. One such attempt is Intel’s Unison app, which was released in early 2022 and will be discontinued this June, reportsNeowin. 

“Intel Unison will soon be discontinued,” reads a statement by Intel in Apple’s AppStore,Google’s PlayStore, andMicrosoft’s Store. “The first step in its wind-down process is ending service for most platforms at the end of June 2025. Lenovo Aura platforms will retain service through 2025.” 

Intel’s Unison allows users to make phone calls, send text messages, get notifications, and transfer files and photos between Android and iOS handsets andWindows 11PCs. The app is a part of Intel’s Evo program to improve the user experience with premium Windows 11 PCs running its 12th-Gen Core processors or newer. However, the company no longer sees the app as one of its competitive advantages.

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Intel did not disclose why it decided to discontinue its Unison app. Perhaps this is a part of the company’s broader cost-cutting strategy, and if so, we could see Intel dropping support for other software efforts in the coming months. Recently, Lip-Bu Tan, Intel’s new chief executive, said that the company planned to can or spin off operations that no longer fit its core strategy, and apps like Unison barely do. While it certainly improves the user experience with Intel-based PCs, it is not an exclusive app, and maintaining a large fleet of software costs money that Intel wants to preserve for developing its core products.

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This is perhaps because Intel’s Unison is not a unique app, as multiple programs connect smartphones with Windows PCs. Microsoft offers Phone Link, and Samsung has its own version called Flow.Dellhas tried to offer its own Mobile Connect app, but it did not work flawlessly with iPhones, so it discontinued it somewhere along the line, clearing the road for Intel’s Unison and Microsoft’s Phone Link. Although Intel’s Unison could be a fine app, Microsoft’s Phone Link has better compatibility as it works with virtually all PCs running Windows 10.

Microsoft Copilot is getting a huge update that’ll make it more of a proactive AI companion

It’s ready to watch what you do and act on your behalf

Copilot April 2025 Update

(Image credit: Microsoft)

  • Microsoft has upgraded Copilot to make the AI assistant a proactive AI companion
  • Announced as part of Microsoft’s 50th Anniversary Copilot Event, these new features will start rolling out today
  • Features include chatbot memory, a research tool, and on-screen awareness to name just a few

MicrosoftCopilot is taking the leap, transforming from a mere generative AIchatbotto a full-blown AI companion. At least, that’s what Microsoft is promising in one of the most significant Copilot updates to date.

The changes, which add a wide array of new capabilities and enhance some existing ones, were announced on Friday, April 4, as part of Microsoft’sCopilot/50th Anniversary celebration.

Granted, many of these features will be familiar to those runningGoogle’sGeminiand OpenAI’sChatGPT.In fact, there’s a solid chance that some of these enhancements come directly from Microsoft’s partnership with OpenAI, which gives it access to many of the AI company’s best generative models.

Copilot is, after all, built on the foundation of OpenAI’s GPT models.

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Among the changes Copilot fans will find on Windows (and the iOS and Android apps) is, finally, a memory. The current version of Copilot onWindows 11can hold onto previous conversations, but it has no recollection of what you discussed. A new prompt asking about a recipe or a trip you were planning with Copilot’s help days or weeks ago, would draw a digital blank stare from the generative AI.

That changes with this update. As you chat it up, Copilot will (with permission, of course) collect key bits of info about you that indicate not just facts but preferences. Microsoft claims the new Copilot will build “richer user profiles.” It now has the potential to “learn who you are deeply.” While that might sound invasive, Microsoft says you can control exactly what you want Copilot to learn and retain.

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Personalization and memory are significant benefits but they might be outstripped by Copilot’s new agentic capabilities that Microsoft calls “Actions.” Where the previous Copilot might help you grab concert tickets and get a ride to the big show, or find a new apartment and even movers to help you lug your stuff from one place to the next, Copilot Actions can take a prompt about renting an apartment or booking storage and do all the legwork to make it happen. You’re just entering a prompt.

Of course, it’s not that simple. Copilot’s Action capabilities are not ubiquitous. Microsoft has a small collection of launch partners that includes, OpenTable, Priceline, Vrbo, Viator, Kayak, Expedia, TripAdvisor, Skyscanner, Booking.com, and 1-800-Flowers. It seems that, for now, Actions will only work if you want it to take actions through those apps and services.

Now see this

The update is also making Copilot on Windows and mobile apps more aware. While the current version can look at photos and screenshots uploaded to the AI, the new version can use your mobile phone camera to see what you’re seeing (it’ll look at photos or live video).

Perhaps more interesting is that the Copilot’s Windows app will be able to see onscreen activity within apps. It’ll finally live up to its name, acting as a copilot on file management, Windows settings, and working on projects. It’s the kind of system awarenessApple’s been promising fromApple Intelligenceand Siri for almost a year but has yet to deliver. It’ll be interesting to see if what Microsoft delivers here with Copilot is as good as they’re advertising.

The new Pages capabilities can take disparate project files and organize them into a single Canvas. But Pages appears to be more than an organizer, it can help you brainstorm ideas and then alter and incorporate them into your own projects.

Go deep

(Image credit: Microsoft)

If Pages isn’t getting your project there, you might appreciate the new Deep Research. I know, everyone is calling the research portion of their generative AI platforms “Deep [something]”. This one appears to work similarly in that it can help you accomplish multi-step research, acting as a sort of very intelligent research assistant.

Copilot is even delving into podcasts. Similar to what we’ve seen withSpotify generative AI podcastsandGoogle NotebookLM, it can generate podcasts based on topics of interest or other discussions you’ve had with the AI. Microsoft claims the podcast can play even as you continue to feed Copilot new prompts. It sounds a bit confusing, but also powerful and intriguing.

(Image credit: Microsoft)

There’s also a shopping update, turning Copilot into a proactive personal shopper that can watch for deals, do product research, and even handle purchasing.

Finally, Copilot is takingBingSearch in what might best be described as aGoogle AI Overviewsdirection, but in a subtle and maybe more palatable way. From the looks of things, Bing search results will offer the option to take a generative deep dive inside traditional search results. It looks pretty good in the demo video, but we’re anxious to see how it works on live Bing search results.

Not all of these updates will show up at once across Windows, iOS, and Android, but many are starting to roll out today. If you already haveWindows 11running Copilot, you may want to download the latest update and give your Copilot a radical AI Companion upgrade.

Intel announces 18A process node has entered risk production — crucial milestone comes as company ramps to Panther Lake chips

Five nodes in four years is nearly accomplished.

Intel Vision 2025

Intel’s Kevin O’Buckley, Senior Vice President of Foundry Services, announces progress on the company’s 18A process node on stage at the Vision 2025 conference.

At its Vision 2025 conference, Intel announced today that it has entered risk production of its 18A process node, a crucial production milestone signifying that the node is now in the early stages of low-volume test manufacturing runs.

Intel’s Kevin O’Buckley, the Senior Vice President of Foundry Services, made the announcement as Intel nears the full completion of its “five nodes in four years” (5N4Y) plan, which was originally set in motion by ex-CEO Pat Gelsinger as part of the company’s quest to retake the semiconductor crown from rival TSMC. The conference also marks the first time thatnew CEO Lip-Bu Tanhas taken to the stage as the new leader of Intel.

Intel originally announced itsfour-year planin June 2021, and despitecanceling high volume manufacturing of the 20A nodeas a cost-cutting measure, Intel is on the cusp of reaching the finish line with its 18A node. Notably, Intel’s 5N4Y plan hinged on the process nodes beingavailablefor production rather than actively being in the final high volume manufacturing (HVM) stage.

“Risk production, while it sounds scary, is actually an industry standard terminology, and the importance of risk production is we’ve gotten the technology to a point where we’re freezing it,” O’Buckley explained. “Our customers have validated that, ‘Yep, 18 A is good enough for my product.’ And we have to now do the ‘risk’ part, which is to scale it from making hundreds of units per day to thousands, tens of thousands, and then hundreds of thousands. So risk production [..] is scaling our manufacturing up and ensuring that we can meet not just the capabilities of the technology, but the capabilities at scale.”

Risk production is one of many steps on the long road to fielding a new process node and indicates that the company believes the node is nearly ready for HVM. Intel has already produced plenty of 18A test chips/shuttles, typically wherein multiple different designs are prototyped on a single wafer.

In contrast, risk production consists of pressing wafers full of a single chip design into low-volume manufacturing as the company tweaks its manufacturing flow and qualifies the node and Process Design Kit (PDK) in real-world production runs. Intel will then scale production up to higher levels in the second half of the year. This step of bringing up a semiconductor process comes after the R&D, design, and prototyping stages of development.

There is some ‘risk’ to risk production, though, as yields and functionality (parametric yields, etc.) can be sub-par as the company refines its manufacturing techniques and optimizes its tooling as it works up the learning curve. As such, customers typically use risk production to manufacture qualification or engineering samples, and the customers aren’t given as stringent yield targets/guarantees as they are with nodes fully qualified for HVM.

However, some customers are willing to assume those risks to get the payoff of gaining significant time-to-market advantages through early access to the node, which then allows them to adjust and perfect their designs before competitors even begin production.

Intel hasn’t yet specified if the 18A risk production is for its own Panther Lake processors, which it says will arrive on schedule later this year, or if the production runs are for its external foundry customers. However, Panther Lake, Intel’s first 18A processors, will enter mass production later this year. As such, the Panther Lake chips are likely the risk production subject; this schedule generally aligns with our expectations for a typical risk production-to-HVM timeline for Intel.

Although Intel pioneered several new technologies on its cancelled 20A node, the 18A (1.8nm) chips will be the first productized chips with bothPowerVia backside power deliveryandRibbonFETgate-all-around (GAA) transistors. PowerVia provides optimized power routing to improve performance and transistor density, and RibbonFET also provides better transistor density along with faster transistor switching, but in a smaller area.

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Intel also continues to work on its broaderfoundry roadmap, which includes the follow-on 14A node, Intel’s first to utilize High-NA EUV lithography. Numerous node extensions to other nodes will further expand Intel Foundry Services’ portfolio to a broader range of applications.

These developments come during turbulence at Intel Foundry as the company adjusts to changing macroeconomic factors. Intel recentlydelayed the build-out of its Ohio operations until 2030, for example. However, the announcement of 18A risk production mirrors the positive reports that Intel is running itsfirst 18A wafers through its Arizona fabs.

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We expect to learn much more about Intel’s future plans at its Foundry Direct Connect event in late April.

Microsoft Copilot+ PCs with Snapdragon just got a key upgrade as AMD and Intel models play catch-up

AMD Ryzen AI 300 series and Intel Core Ultra 200V PCs are getting Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator.

Copilot+ features arriving on x86 PCs

(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsofthas announced that severalWindows 11Copilot+ AI features aregraduatingfrom Snapdragon X exclusivity toAMD Ryzen AI 300 seriesandIntel Core Ultra 200VPCs. On Monday it began its expanded roll-out of features like Live Captions, Cocreator, Restyle Image, and Image Creator – so they will be available on modern AMD and Intel systems, as well as PCs packingQualcomm Snapdragon X(SDX) series processors.

Live Captions will also translate from 27 languages into Simplified Chinese(Image credit: Microsoft)

One of the most welcome additions to Windows 11 for those embraced by the expanded Copilot+ feature compatibility is probably Live Captions. Microsoft says that this feature “offers real-time translations in English for audio and video content during virtual meetings, podcasts, or video playback.” This feature, which Microsoft claims can live translate from 40 languages to English, has been around a while for SDX PCs, and is “coming soon” for those with a Ryzen AI 300 or Ultra 200V PC.

Another new Copilot+ addition which Microsoft characterizes as an accessibility feature is rolling out to Qualcomm SDX machines soon. Voice Access delivers better descriptive and flexible language interaction with Windows. AMD and Intel system owners with NPUs will have to wait until “later this year” for this one, though.

Cocreator in Paint is now ready for modern AMD and Intel processor owners. Here, Microsoft’s AI can help you create imagery from prompts or analyzing and improving on your badly drawn scrawl.

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(Image credit: Microsoft)

With Copilot+ smarts introduced to Microsoft’s Photos app, Windows 11 users with the requisite AMD and Intel chips get two ‘AI’ features to play with. Restyle Image is an AI-driven photo-filter style feature which can make existing works look something like an oil painting, sketch, or so on. Image Creator does what it says from your simple, or complex, text prompts.

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Give your idle NPU something to do(Image credit: Future)

March non-security preview release update is required, for now

Microsoft says to make sure you switch on ‘Get the latest updates as soon as they’re available’ in your updates control panel. If you are eager to try some of the features outlined above, that unfortunately means opting to install the March non-securitypreview release. You must also ensure the host apps (Paint, Photos etc) are up-to-date via the Microsoft Store. Remember, the expanded feature rollout availability will also vary based on your location and language selection.

Considering x86 PCs withNPU-packing processors have been available for months, Microsoft has been rather tardy in breaking its most attractive Copilot+ features out from their Qualcomm-only rut. According to our editor-in-chief, you all haven’t been missing much, though. Not long after launch, the Copilot+ featureswere judgedto be “a bad joke.” Moreover, the much heralded Recall feature remainsin (re)developmentafter all the security and privacy concerns that were raised.

AirPods Max’s USB-C lossless update arrives today – here’s how to check you’ve got the update

Updated today, with iOS 18.4

AirPods Max in green on green background

(Image credit: Future)

  • AirPods Max USB-C’s lossless update is available now
  • You’ll need iOS 18.4 to get the update to your Max
  • Instructions for checking the update are below

Applehas announced that the lossless audio update to AirPods Max with USB-C launches today,alongside the release of iOS 18.4 for iPhone.

Apple revealed that the AirPods Max update with lossless and latency-free Personalized Spatial Audio was coming previously, but without an exact date – and here it is.

This is the first totally lossless audio support ever for a pair of AirPods, and it provides 24-bit 48 kHz lossless support over USB-C, with a promise that this also brings the latency down to effectively zero, making it great for audio production or gaming.

(The original AirPods Max were lossless-ish, with support for cabled connections, but via an active cable that took analog signal, converted it to digital, then converted it back to analog in the headphones, so too much conversion to betrulylossless.)

Apple says you can connect to a Mac, iPhone or iPad to get lossless audio, but we’ll check whether it works with all other USB-C sources too.

Apple has also finally launched its own 3.5mm to USB-C cable, too, to enable the AirPods Max with USB-C to work with analogue audio output (making them work with airplane entertainment systems at last).

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How to make sure you’ve got the update

AirPods updates should be automatic, thoughApple recently explained for the first time how to kick AirPods updates into gear if you need to.

You’ll need iOS 18.4 on your iPhone, and then follow these steps:

  • Put your AirPods Max in Bluetooth range of your iPhone, iPad or Mac, which must be connected to Wi-Fi
  • Put your AirPods Max on to charge
  • Wait 30 minutes
  • Check if you have the new update

To check if you have the update, put your AirPods on, open the Settings app, tap on your AirPods Max, then scroll to the bottom and check to see if Version reads ‘7E99’.

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AirPods Max with USB-C still rank among thebest wireless headphonesdespite their age, thanks to strong sound quality (even at their high price) and tons of unique features for Apple users, including Personalized Spatial Audio, auto-switching between Apple devices, and Find My support.

We actually had to remove them from our list of thebest travel headphonessince the USB-C version arrived, though, due to their lack of wired input for airplane journeys. This update means we might finally add them back in.

Garmin’s new subscription is causing chaos: Here are the six features behind the new paywall

Garmin Connect+

To say thatGarminhas upset its users with its new subscription service would be putting it mildly. The company recently announcedGarmin Connect+, a new paid premium tier of its Connect appthat features some shiny new paywalled features, including AI-powered insights and a performance dashboard for all of thebest Garminwatches.

It hasn’t gone down well.Thousands of furious Garmin fans have taken to Reddit over the news, demanding customers take a stand.

The uproar has been so intense that you might have actually missed what the subscription entails, so if you’re at least a little bit curious or you’d happily give the free trial a go, here’s what you get from Garmin Connect Plus for $6.99 / £6.99 / AU$12 per month or $69.99 / £69.99 / AU$120 annually.

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1. Active Intelligence

(Image credit: Garmin)

Garmin Connect+ gets you AI-powered training insights. Garmin says you’ll get personalized suggestions based on health and activity data. Previews showcase friendly summaries about your sleep, battery, and more. As you’d expect from AI, the insights will reportedly get better over time. Here’s an example:

You fell 1 hour and 23 minutes short of your sleep need, but you still managed to charge your battery 57 points. You’re ready for exercise today, but balance it with rest to avoid bottoming out.

2. Performance Dashboard

(Image credit: Garmin)

Connect+ features a comprehensive view of training data, available on the website, that lets you compare your fitness and health data over time. Showcased examples include your running duration comparison, time in power zones, average pace, and distance over time.

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3. Live Activity

(Image credit: Garmin)

Your smartphone will now give you real-time heart rate, pace, reps and videos for your indoor workouts (such as strength and yoga) when paired with a compatible smartwatch.

4. Exclusive Coaching Guidance

(Image credit: Garmin)

As you use Garmin Run Coach or Garmin Cycling Coach, you’ll get expert guidance from coaches, including educational content and videos.

5. Enhanced Livetrack

(Image credit: Garmin)

Starting an activity on a compatible device will now notify your friends and family via text, and you can create a personalized LiveTrack profile page for people to follow.

This seems to have changed the existing text feature for Garmin users, and we’ve got some concerns that this might have pushed some of the existing LiveTrack features behind a paywall. We’ve reached out to Garmin to confirm.

6. Social features

(Image credit: Garmin)

Finally, social features include exclusive badges, some of them worth an increased amount of points, and badge challenges that you can use to personalize your profile.

Not a lot?

The Garmin Connect+ subscription isn’t enormously expensive, but it’s not cheap either. As you can see, you don’t get an enormous amount for your money, and Garmin hasn’t exactly been forthcoming on the details about these features – this is really all the information we have right now.

As such, it’s possible we’ll get more detailed insight about some of these features over the coming days and weeks.

On paper, Garmin Connect+ looks pretty thin, and while that’s not the main reason people are objecting to its rollout, I have to imagine that it’s a factor.

I took hundreds of photos of thousands of orchids to compare the Galaxy S25 Ultra, iPhone 16 Pro, and the best camera phones. The results shocked me

The best camera phones versus Spring

Orchids and flowers from the New York Botanical Garden

I carry the best camera phones with me every day, but sometimes, a special event provides an opportunity to compare. The New York Botanical Garden in New York City is hosting its annual orchid show, so I brought my favorite camera phones and my own dedicated camera to see how these phones perform.

I used theApple iPhone 16 Pro,Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra, andOnePlus 13to take hundreds of photos – more than 300 samples each – of the thousands of blooms to see how they managed to capture these perfect spring memories, and the results shocked me!

Why? Because the OnePlus 13 held its own against both of the top contenders and my Fujifilm X-T5. I was surprised by how buggy the Apple iPhone 16 Pro camera has become and how inconsistent the color accuracy on the Galaxy S25 Ultra can be. While I wouldn’t call the OnePlus 13 my clear winner, you can see the results below, and the competition is tight.

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How I judge the best camera phones

This photo was taken with the OnePlus 13

This photo was taken with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

This photo was taken with the Fujifilm X-T5

To judge these images, I look for color accuracy and lighting foremost. I want to see the natural colors of the flowers. Then I want fine details. Finally, I expect a dreamy, blurred bokeh background that looks natural and isolates my subject without distraction.

What surprised me most on this trip was how much the camera software matters. As expected,Samsungoffers the most camera options, though some features require additional software and downloads. I was disappointed that the OnePlus 13 offered very little control – I couldn’t force the camera to shoot at its highest 50MP resolution using the native app.

The Apple iPhone 16 Pro, however, was the worst of all. Its Camera app crashed often, especially if I used the new Camera Control button to open it. It also had trouble focusing on the proper subject.

I also brought along my dedicated camera, aFujifilm X-T5, with a 23mm f/2 lens. That’s the exact same specs you’ll find on Fujifilm’s incredibly popularFujifilm X100VI, and I wanted to see how today’s best camera phones compared to today’s hottest point-and-shoot camera performance.

The Fujifilm has impeccable color accuracy and soft bokeh, so it offers a great comparison to see which smartphones produce images that look like a real camera.

A focus on focus with phalaenopsis and dancing lady orchids

This is my ideal shot, with the moth orchid in focus and the dancing lady orchids floating in and out of the focal plane

Taken with Fujifilm X-T5 w/ 23mm f/2 lens

The iPhone 16 Pro could only focus using its macro camera, which produced terrible color results

The Galaxy S25 Ultra produced nice results with dreamy looking dancing lady orchids, but the image is underexposed

The OnePlus 13 crafted the superior photo, with more of the moth orchid and dancing lady orchids in focus

The first photo is my reference shot, taken with my Fujifilm X-T5. The colors are perfect, with bright white on the moth orchid, crisp yellow on the dancing lady orchids, and a pleasant royal blue on the background wall.

The iPhone 16 Pro had immediate problems with this shot. When I used the main photo mode, the camera app was unable to focus on the moth orchid alone. I allowed the iPhone to turn on macro, which reduced the resolution, and I got this terrible shot with too-warm colors and a seemingly narrow aperture that brought most of the flowers into focus instead of just a few.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra was more accurate with its color, though the image looks underexposed, considering the wealth of natural light in the Botanical Garden. The focal plane is also a bit narrow for my taste, and it was hard to bring all of the moth orchids into focus.

The OnePlus 13 created the best photo among all the camera phones, with excellent color, bright details and lighting, and the right focus on the flowers I want. It’s the lowest resolution of the bunch, though, so printing later may be problematic.

  • Best Photo:OnePlus 13

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Finding drama, not detail, in a mysore clockvine

Taken with Fujifilm X-T5 w/ 23mm f/2 lens

The iPhone photo lacks some detail, but produces the most pleasant bokeh results and accurate colors

The Galaxy S25 Ultra captured plenty of detail, but the image is underexposed and looks a bit warm compared to the real thing

The OnePlus 13 forced this capture as a Macro image, which means the background blur is mostly absent

While the iPhone 16 Pro doesn’t capture the most detail in this shot, sometimes detail isn’t exactly the point. I wanted accurate colors, enough detail to see the fine strands in the filaments, and a little bit of blur on the background buds to make the clockvine stand out.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra and OnePlus 13 had trouble focusing on just the clockvine, so I let those phones default to macro mode. This was a big mistake, as you can see. The colors and details may be there, but there is no blur to the background, and everything seems flat.

  • Best Photo:Apple iPhone 16 Pro

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Tuning into the blues and hues of a jade vine

Taken with Fujifilm X-T5 w/ 23mm f/2 lens

The iPhone 16 Pro did the best job capturing the real color of this jade vine

The Galaxy S25 Ultra rendered this jade vine a bit flat, though it was easier to see the details in the petals.

This OnePlus 13 image has bad color reproduction, rendering the flowers more green than they were in reality

Taken with the OnePlus 13

This was purely a test of color to see which camera phone could properly render the remarkable hue of this jade vine in bloom. The flowers are shimmering and almost metallic in color, a blue-green that will test the limits of what you consider blue or green (and you canIs My Blue Your Blueif you want to see your blue-green boundary).

The iPhone 16 Pro may lack the detail of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, but the iPhone produced colors that were true to life, while the Galaxy phone struggled to recreate the real thing. Usually, Galaxy phones oversaturate colors, but here, the jade vine looks a bit duller.

The OnePlus 13 simply flubbed this shot. It got the colors wrong. This is a problem with the OnePlus 13. When it works, it produces photos that look spectacular. When it goes wrong, it goes very wrong, and it makes you wonder if you accidentally switched to a different phone.

  • Best Photo:Apple iPhone 16 Pro

The big problem with macro on smartphones

This is a 50MP image from the Galaxy S25 Ultra main camera. The colors are inaccurate and too warm, though the background has a pleasant blur

This is a ‘macro’ image from the Galaxy S25 Ultra. The color is good, but the image is mostly in focus, with little pleasant background blur.

Taken with Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra

Macro photography is when you get very close to a subject, and smartphones today will all try to switch to a macro mode when you are trying to shoot close up. Whenever possible, you should turn off this macro mode because it will ruin your photo.

First of all, macro is usually handled by the ultra-wide camera, not the main camera. That means it uses a much smaller sensor, which ironically means it cannot capture the same high level of detail. On the iPhone and Galaxy phones, your macro photos will be around 12MP even if your camera is set to shoot at 48MP or 50MP, respectively.

Worst of all, it’s clear that these phone makers don’t take macro photos very seriously. When the camera shoots in macro mode, you can see an obvious shift in quality, both in terms of resolution and color accuracy. Here are some examples below.

This is from the main camera on the iPhone 16 Pro. The color is slightly warmer, but the background is nicely blurred to isolate the orchids in front.

This is a ‘macro’ image from the iPhone 16 Pro. The color is fine but the background is so jumbled and distracting that it’s impossible to appreciate my subject.

Taken with Apple iPhone 16 Pro

The OnePlus 13 does a better job with its macro mode. You can see here that the color remains consistent, and the only thing that shifts is the focal plane and the details in the image. Still, the photo from Macro mode is unpleasant, with a noisy and distracting background, while the main camera image is much nicer, with a pleasant background bokeh blur.

This is an image from the OnePlus 13 main camera in Photo mode. The background is pleasantly blurred, and the colors are consistent.

This is an image from the OnePlus 13 in ‘macro’ mode. The color is good, but the background is noisy and distracting.

Taken with OnePlus 13

  • Best Macro Photo:OnePlus 13

Which phone is the best? All of them (but they all have issues)

Which of these camera phones is the best? The Apple iPhone 16 Pro produced images that looked closes to my Fujifilm X-T5 camera, with color that was true to life and a depth of field that made photos look like they were taken by a real camera.

However, the iPhone 16 Pro was buggy. The Camera app crashed often, especially when I tried opening the camera through the newCamera Controlbutton. Also, Apple offers far fewer camera control options and shooting modes than the other phone makers. It also had trouble focusing on a subject as close to the lens as the other camera phones without switching to the dreaded Macro mode.

The Galaxy S25 Ultra produced results that looked fantastic, most of the time. It did a much better job focusing and capturing details than the other two cameras, but it had a very hard time producing accurate colors. Shooting thousands of orchids, the Galaxy S25 Ultra often blew out the red portions of flowers so that all detail was lost. It tended to render images warmer than reality, and the difference between image quality when you switch modes can be vast.

The OnePlus 13 was pleasantly surprising. It shot images that had plenty of colorful pop, and photos were mostly accurate – until things went wrong. That’s the big problem with the OnePlus 13. I’d call it the best camera phone, but things go wrong too often and the results can be terrible, with colors that are simply inaccurate. I also wish there was a way to force the camera to produce high-resolution images, instead of only 12MP shots.

In the end, I’d have to recommend the iPhone for its more consistent photos and better color accuracy, even if the app has problems. If I could trust the OnePlus 13 with more consistent results or take advantage of the full resolution of the camera, it would be my favorite, but for now, the iPhone remains the camera phone to beat.

Best Overall:Apple iPhone 16 Pro

‘Hey Siri, vacuum my kitchen’ is now possible as Apple Home just got support for robot vacuums

A long time coming

Roborock Qrevo Slim robot vacuum in its dock
  • Apple Home now supports select Matter-enabled robot vacuums
  • Assuming your vacuum is supported, you could soon be saying, ‘Siri, vacuum the kitchen’
  • It’s been a long time coming, as support was originally promised by the end of 2024

If you’ve been dreaming about one day saying, ‘Hey Siri, have the vacuum clean the living room and the kitchen,’Apple’s answering your prayers. Well, at least if you have one of the eligiblerobot vacuum cleaners.

WithiOS 18.4– Apple’s latest software, which is rolling out right now alongside iPadOS 18.4, macOS Sequoia 15.4, tvOS 18.4, and HomePods software – Apple Home can now play nice and control eligible Matter-compatible robot vacuums fromRoborock, iRobot, andEcovacs.

It’s been a long time coming, to say the least.

Apple first promised that support for these smart home cleaners would arrive by the end of 2024, but it took a little bit longer – four months exactly. Still, the support is here with the latest release.

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(Image credit: Apple)

So what does this mean? Well, if you have a supported model from those three brands, you can add your robot vacuum to your Apple Home and control it right from there or even integrate it into an existing automation.

That latter means you could set up a routine to have your vacuum cleaner start up a session when you leave the house on Wednesdays to ensure that when you return, the floor is clean.

Additionally, withinApple Homeor via Siri from really any Apple device, you’ll be able to ask the robot vacuum to clean a specific room or ask for it’s status. Now, you may need to update your robot vacuum cleaner. Roborock announced many firmware updates today that will enable the models to work with Apple Home when they roll out in early April 2025. Those include the Roborock S8 MaxV Ultra, Saros Z70, Saros 10, Saros 10R, Qrevo Curv, Qrevo Edge, and Qrevo Master.

Models from Ecovacs andiRobotwill likely require software updates as well, and we’ll update you when we hear more about those. Regardless of whether an update is required, it’s excellent to see Apple make good on its promise of rolling out robot vacuum support to Apple Home, and it really will bolster the smart home offering.

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Of course, we’re all stillwaiting on the AI-infused Siri as part of Apple Intelligence, which could make smart home control even better, but that’s set to arrive ‘in the coming year.’ That’ll likely need to arrive before thesmart home display– aka a HomePod with a screen – that I and many others dream of, if it ever arrives.

Microsoft moves to passwordless future for its more than 1 billion users

No more having to change your password just because you forgot it.

The new Microsoft screen to nudge you into using a passkey.(Image credit: Microsoft)

Microsoft wants its more than one billion users to stop using passwords to log into their Microsoft accounts.

This doesn’t mean that Microsoft will remove any kind of security when trying to log into an account. Instead, it’s looking for more of its users to use passkeys.

Passkeys are a more secure way of logging into accounts thatAppleandGooglehave already begun using since 2023. Microsoft plans to have an updated sign-in and sign-up page for these passkeys for its more than one billion users starting at the end of April, according to a new post on theMicrosoft Entra blog.

Microsoft laid out its plans to use passkeys back inMay 2024. The company eventually wants users to need only an email to sign up and sign on for a Microsoft account, with the passkey handling security.

The new sign-in page Microsoft users will see to use their passkey.(Image credit: Microsoft)
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What is a passkey?

A passkey is a secure way to log in to an account without using a password. Instead, the passkey uses two unique keys, known as a cryptographic key pair. One is stored on a device like a smartphone while the other is stored on the website you would login on. Both need to be used in order to access a site.

What’s important with the passkey is that the device user either uses biometrics or a PIN because when a user tries to sign onto the site, the device will need to use either for authentication. As the whole verification process is done electronically, all a person needs to do is enter the PIN, use a fingerprint, or just look at their phone for Face ID to verify who they are for the site.

The strength of passkeys is that they help diminish the effectiveness of phishing. If someone receives a phishing email that links to a website that looks just like a Microsoft login page, the user won’t have a password to enter. The bad actors also can’t replicate the key.

Passkeys are tied to a device, but they can be synced between multiple devices. This means changing a phone is no big deal as the passkeys just transfer to the new device.

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BothAppleandGooglebegan the implementation of passkeys in their respective mobile operating systems back in 2023. While these three tech giants made the jump to passkeys, others have yet to make the jump.