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Apple’s Tim Cook has confirmed that the “newest member of the family” will launch on February 19
(Image credit: Apple / Tim Cook)
The possibility of an iPhone 4 SE has been circulating in theApplerumor mill for awhile – but now Apple is finally admitting thatsomethingis coming. Today, Apple’s Tim Cook shared an obscure teaser with a February 19 launch date on X (formerly Twitter).
The teasersimply reads: “Get ready to meet the newest member of the family. Wednesday, February 19.” The text is shared with a GIF of a shimmery metallic Apple logo.
The text and video don’t do much except indicate that some sort of new Apple product will be announced next week. The post on X doesn’t offer any hints as to what category the launch will even fall under, where that’s smartphones, tablets, computers, headphones or even VR headsets. (Although, the white circle behind the logo does remind me a bit of a MagSafe charger.)
But while Cook’s post doesn’t offer much insight outside of the launch date, rumors have been circulating about potential launches for several products. Apple tends to launch its more budget-friendly iPhones in the spring – though historically March has been the typical timeframe for iPhone SE launches.
With the traditional timeline for a budget iPhone quickly approaching, many are speculating that next week’s launch is theiPhone SE 4. Apple, naturally, hasn’t confirmed the rumors. Current speculation has the iPhone SE 4 expected to still have only a single camera but to potentially axe the home button like the more advanced iPhones. Of course, rumor sites were calling for the iPhone SE 4 to launch last week, so these reports shouldn’t be treated as certainties.
Another Apple product that tends to launch outside the big September event is theMacBook Air. Speculation points tothe slimmer laptop getting the M4 chip. That’s a safe guess with the M4 chip already available on theMacBook Pro, but again, Apple hasn’t offered any sort of hint at what specifically will launch on February 19.
Settlement payout from theiPhone 7 class action lawsuit against Appleare starting to roll out. Those who participated in the class action lawsuit have started to receive payments, with amounts varying based on whether you spent any money on repairing the iPhone 7 or the iPhone 7 Plus.
Some of the co-applicants in the lawsuit have started to receive around $200 as part payment from the $35 million settlement,9to5Macreported. While the payout is less than the maximum of $350 initially approved by the court, it should still feel satisfactory to the appellants.
The report does not clarify if payment terms have been revised, but it was supposed to fall between $50 and $350 for those who paid Apple to get the “audio IC” defect rectified. Those who notified Apple but didn’t pay for repairs were eligible for compensation up to $125. The actual payouts are supposed to be split judiciously between the plaintiffs and after squeezing payments for the class representatives and attorneys from the sum of $35 million.
Members of the settlement class who have yet to receive their payments can dial 1-833-633-0343 to check the status and the exact amount of the payments. You can also visit the designated contact page to find a mail-in address where you can send your queries or fill a contact form with your details to receive a call-back.
If you are unsure of whether you qualify for these payouts, we may have some bad news. That’s because the deadline to participate in the ended in July last year. If you missed the window, you are likely not eligible for the payouts, even if you own an iPhone 7 or 7 Plus — or did at some time between 2016 and 2023.
In case you are unaware why Apple had to part ways with such as high sum of $35 million, it is because of a widespread flaw found on the iPhone 7 and the iPhone 7 Plus. Often referred to as the “loop disease” or the “audio IC” defect that led to issues with the speaker and microphone on the specific iPhone models when subjected to pressure. Widespread outrage culminated in a class action lawsuit against Apple, which it decided to settle in 2024.
Despite agreeing to settle the class action for $35 million, Apple continues to deny the allegations. For the three-trillion dollar company, that is surely loose change and badgering itself with legal woes would probably cost more.
Apple product names can be quite perplexing. But here’s my decoder to help make sense of them
I loveAppleproducts. They’re sleek, they’re powerful, and in the immortal words of Steve Jobs, they “just work” (well, most of the time). But their naming strategy? It’s a wild ride.
Take the iPhone lineup, for instance. Remember when it was just “iPhone” followed by a number? Those were simpler times. Now along with theiPhone 16we recently got theiPhone 16 Pro Max, theiPhone 16 Proand theiPhone 16 Plus. Plus right now, we’re expecting the imminent appearance of theiPhone SE 4; like that cousin no-one’s quite sure how to introduce at family gatherings.
And let’s talk about those chips. The M1 made sense as a starting point. Then came M1 Pro and M1 Max – okay, still following. But then Apple threw in the M1 Ultra, which is essentially two M1 Max chips fused together. Just when you thought you had it figured out, they launched the M2 series, and now we’re deep into M3 and M4 territory, each with their own variants. It’s like a Russian nesting doll of processing power.
TheiPadfamily tree is another puzzle altogether. We’ve got theiPad Pro(in two sizes),iPad Air, iPad mini, and just… iPad. But wait – this basic / standard / entry-level iPad comes in different generations, and some older models are still sold new. Try explaining to your non-tech-savvy aunt why the 9th-generation iPad Air might actually be a better choice for her than the 10th-generation iPad Pro, depending on her needs and budget. To be honest, even your tech-savvy teenager might get lost at this point.
I could go on, but you get the point. Basically it’s all a hot mess. So I set myself the challenge of trying to create a decoder for Apple’s product naming system. Here’s what I came up with.
Indicates a higher-end, more powerful version. Usually the most expensive model in a series.
Apple MacBook Pro 14 (M4 Pro, 2024), iPhone 16 Pro, Apple iPad Pro 11-inch (M4)
Air
Suggests a thinner, lighter, more portable version. Used to be much less powerful than the Pro versions, but the gap has narrowed in recent years.
Apple MacBook Air 13in (M3, 2024), iPad Air M2 2024
mini
Denotes a smaller, more compact version. Yes, the ‘m’ is meant to be lower case.
Mac mini M4 Pro, iPad mini (2024)
Max
Indicates the largest and/or most feature-rich version.
iPhone 16 Pro Max
Plus
Signifies a larger screen size and/or slightly enhanced features.
iPhone 16 Plus
SE
Stands for Special Edition: a more affordable version with some features of higher-end models.
iPhone SE (2022)
[Number] eg, 16
Used to denote the series that a product sits within.
iPhone 16, iPhone 15, iPhone 14
Series
With the Apple Watch specifically, the word ‘Series’ is attached to the number. Don’t ask me why.
Apple Watch Series 8
[Generation] eg, 6th generation
Indicates a version or iteration of a product.
iPad Air 13-inch (6th generation) – aka iPad Air 13-inch (2024)
[Year] eg, 2024
Alternative way of describing the generation. Sometimes Apple includes the year and the numbered generation in a product name, sometimes only one of these.
iPad Air 13-inch (2024) – aka iPad Air 13-inch (6th generation)
[Storage capacity] eg, 256GB
Fairly straightforward this one: specifies the amount of storage.
iPhone 16 Pro (256GB)
[Processor] eg, M1
Refers to the Apple-made processor inside the device.
Apple Mac Studio M2 (2023)
[M1/M2/M3/M4] Pro
More powerful version of the base M chip. More CPU and GPU cores.
MacBook Pro (M2 Pro)
[M1/M2/M3/M4] Max
Even more powerful than the “Pro” version. Highest core count, more memory bandwidth. ‘Max’ might imply ‘maximum’ but this is not actually the most powerful M-chip. That’s the Ultra, below.
MacBook Pro (M2 Max)
[M1/M2/M3/M4] Ultra
The most powerful M-series chip. Combines two M-Max chips.
Mac Studio (M2 Ultra)
This decoder, I should stress, is by no means perfect or foolproof. And it’s certainly not something that’s been approved by Apple. Because while the broad principles I’ve outlined in this table will get you some of the way, the company themselves doesn’t apply them universally across the board.
For instance, sometimes “Pro” means it’s the most powerful option (like with iPhones), but sometimes there’s an even more powerful “Max” or “Pro Max” version. Sometimes “Air” means it’s the slimmer, lighter option (MacBook Air), but the iPad Air actually sits in a middle ground between basic and Pro models.
The MacBook Air 13in (M3, 2024)
It gets even worse when it comes to Apple’s accessories. For instance, AirPods come in regular, Pro and Max varieties – but the Max is actually over-ear headphones, not pods at all. The Apple Pencil, meanwhile, has four versions that look different and charge differently, and they’re not compatible with all iPads.
The naming convention here (and I’m not making this up) begins: Apple Pencil (1st Generation), Apple Pencil (2nd Generation)… so far so good. But then suddenly it veers off into Apple Pencil (USB-C) and Apple Pencil Pro. Would you know that the third of these was the budget model, just from the name? Of course not. And you need a spreadsheet to figure out which Apple Pencil works with which iPad: the names here are no use at all.
Counting steps has become a universal way for most people to measure their daily activity – probably because it’s simple, accessible and easy to fit into daily life. But with a plethora of apps and gadgets promising accurate results, it got me thinking: are all step trackers created equal?
To put this to the test, I tracked a 10,000-step journey using four different devices, all running on different, renowned platforms. I armed myself with (a pretty retro)AppleiPhone 7 running the Apple Health app in my left trouser pocket and, in my right, one of thebest Samsung phones, the Galaxy S23 Ultra with the Samsung Health app installed. On my wrists, I sported two ofthe best running watches: the new Polar Vantage M3 smartwatch on my right and the Garmin Fenix 7 on my left. My goal was simple – to see how their step counts stacked up across a brisk 9km walk through Wellington city centre and back.
Would the fitness-focused smartwatches – which also track heart rate and other vitals – outshine the trusty smartphones that merely sat in my trouser pockets? Or would this experiment show that you don’t need fancy tech to track your steps accurately? Here’s what I discovered after using all four devices at the same time.
My 10,000-step walk was fairly straightforward: I covered 4.5km from my home to the other side of Wellington city centre, took a short break and walked back – a total of roughly 9km. All devices were set to zero before I set off to ensure a fair comparison.
After 1.5 hours of brisk walking, I paused (read: had a sit down in a café with pastry in hand) to check the halfway point readings. These were as follows:
Halfway point results:
Apple Health app:5,003 steps
Samsung Health app:5,022 steps
Polar Vantage M3:5,276 steps
Garmin Fenix 7:5,120 steps
There were already small, but notable discrepancies between the different platforms. The step counts on the two phone apps were closely matched, with just a 19-step difference, which isn’t bad for non-fitness focused gadgets shoved in pockets. The smartwatches, however, varied more – the Polar clocked in 273 steps higher than the iPhone, while theGarminwas more middle-ground at 117 steps above the Apple count.
On the return leg, I took extra care in ensuring my pace was consistent, sticking to well-trodden paths and keeping my stride as steady as possible. By the time I got home, here’s what the final step counts looked like:
Final results:
Apple Health app:10,102 steps
Samsung Health app:10,142 steps
Polar Vantage M3:10,479 steps
Garmin Fenix 7:10,305 steps
Unsurprisingly, none of the devices reported the exact same total. However, the Apple andSamsungphone apps proved to be remarkably consistent with one another, both at the halfway point and at the end, with less than a 1% variance.
The Polar Vantage M3, meanwhile, consistently overshot the mark, adding an extra 379 steps by the end of the walk compared to the iPhone. That’s roughly a 3.8% difference – enough to slightly skew fitness goals over time, especially if you’re relying on exact data for training, assuming this is the most inaccurate by nature of being the outlier.
The Garmin Fenix 7, while slightly overcounting compared to the phones, was less dramatic than the Polar, adding just over 200 steps above the Apple tally. It seemed to strike a balance between sensitivity and accuracy, which doesn’t surprise me–Garmin has a reputation for reliability among fitness enthusiasts.
Which gadget is the most accurate?
Determining “accuracy” is tricky without knowing the true step count–a problem that plagues all step trackers. Factors like stride length,armmovement and even how a device is worn can influence readings. That said, my takeaway is this: phones are surprisingly accurate for everyday step tracking.
The Apple and Samsung apps, nestled safely in my pockets, kept pace with each other consistently, even when compared against the two top-tier smartwatches. This suggests that if you’re using your phone to track steps, you’re probably getting a solid estimate – and it won’t cost you a penny beyond the device itself.
The Polar’s higher step count could stem from its sensitivity to wrist movements, especially since it was strapped to my right wrist on my dominant arm. This might interpret extra steps during non-walking activities like turning corners or gesturing. The Garmin, on the other hand, seemed to lean more conservatively but still edged over the phone tallies.
Do you need wearables to track steps?
While the Polar and Garmin offer plenty of advanced metrics and features that go beyond step tracking – like heart rate, GPS routes and workout summaries – my walk experiment has shown that they’re not strictly necessary if your goal is simply to hit your 10,000-step target each day.
That said, smartwatches do have their perks. They’re great for those who want a more comprehensive picture of their fitness, including calorie burn, sleep tracking and VO₂ max measurements. Plus, they’re often more convenient to glance at mid-walk than pulling out a phone. There are discrepancies from unit to unit because each watch uses different algorithms and technology, but they’re generally in the right ballpart. We found similar differences betweenpremium Garmin and Apple Watches when testing them against each other during a marathon.
However, if you’re just looking to monitor your movement and improve daily activity, a smartphone app will do the job perfectly well if that’s all you intend to do. As my test proved, they’re more than up to the task, and you can save yourself hundreds of pounds in the process. You certainly don’t need to splash out on fancy gadgets to track your steps accurately – your pocket companion can do the job just as well.
Apple finallybrought Apple Maps to web browsersback in June, allowing people without iPhones or Macs to access its navigation system for the very first time. That version ofApple Mapswas a bit limited since it was still in beta, but now it’s received a usefulGoogle Maps-inspired upgrade.
Apple has added the Look Around feature to Apple Maps on the web. For those that aren’t familiar with Apple Maps, it’s basically Apple’s take onGoogle Street View— letting you view different locations from street level. Of course, it’s not available in every location, and the system isn’t quite as intuitive as what Street View has to offer.
While Google Maps lets you click specific areas, or drag the yellow Pin man onto the map to load up Street View, Apple’s system is different. So long as you’re looking at a city with Look Around support, you have to keep an eye out for a set of binoculars in the bottom left. Clicking that starts Look Around’s pop-up window that superimposes the street view onto the map.
It works much the same way as Google’s Street View, letting you spin around 360 degrees and click locations in the distance to travel there. Alternatively, you can move the large map around if you want a little more control over where you end up.
I managed to get Look Around up and running in GoogleChromeon Windows, and it seems to be working pretty well. However, it did take me a hot minute to figure out how I was supposed to get started since Apple just expects you to know what to do. The only real downside is that Look Around is a lot more limited than Street View, which has almost the entire world covered in some shape or form.
Only select cities in the U.S., Canada, EU, U.K. and New Zealand are supported, and Apple has afull liston its website. But this won’t stop you from wandering those virtual streets in Look Around when you live elsewhere.
Whether Apple will expand Look Around in the future isn’t clear, but it has promised to improve the beta version of Apple Maps Web. Support for more features, platforms and languages will apparently happen, which hopefully means that Apple Maps will finally come to Android in some form in the near future. While loyal Android users may be appalled at the idea, it’s always better to have options beyond thetwo big Google-owned navigation apps.
Apple introduced its first object tracker all the way back in 2021. In typical Apple fashion, the company hasn’t said a word about an upgrade, but as per reliable reports, theAirTag 2 has moved to the “manufacturing tests” stagewith an added focus on privacy measures.
Now, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has shed more light on the biggest hardware upgrade destined for the second-generation AirTag. In the latest edition of hisPowerOnnewsletter, Gurman writes that the object tracker will get a more powerful UWB chip.
UWB, short for Ultra Wideband, is a short-range radio technology that enables spatial awareness. In the Apple ecosystem’s context, this tech stack allows Precision Finding to facilitate accurate distance and direction guidance for object tracking.
The purpose of Precision Finding is to offer more precise location and navigation instructions to users as they attempt to find their misplaced gadgets. In its current iteration, users get visual cues on the screen in the form of large arrows and distance estimation, alongside sound and haptic cues.
So, how good is this new UWB chip fitted inside the AirTag 2? As per Bloomberg, it will be “on par with the one introduced in the iPhone 15.” To recall, Apple equipped theiPhone 15andiPhone 16series with its second-generation Ultra Wideband chip.
The UWB fitted inside the current-genAirTag offers a range of 10 metersor roughly 30 feet. The second-gen UWB chip will reportedly triple those numbers, which means the minimum location-finding range will climb up to 30 meters.
The UWB-powered Precision Finding feature is available for the iPhone 11 and all its mainline successors to date. On the iPhone 15 and 16 series, thanks to the second-gen UWB chip, Precision Finding also allows users to find a friend nearby using the Find My app.
In addition to an improved UWB chip, Apple has reportedly tweaked the internal design and made it more difficult to tamper with the speaker assembly. That’s a thoughtful change and would dissuade bad actors from illicit activities like stalking and theft.
Back in 2022, “silent AirTags” with their speaker kit removed popped up on online platforms like Etsy and eBay. Such object trackers are much harder to find without the beeping sound produced by the onboard speaker, especially if the device is hidden well or concealed tightly.
As great as modern technology is, sometimes it can be a bit overwhelming. Smartphones today are capable of virtually endless tasks and are light-years better than mobile gadgets from a decade or two ago. Still, it’s hard not to have some nostalgia for “retro” devices like the Palm Pilot, the first Motorola Razr, or your trusty old iPod.
While doomscrolling X the other night, I saw that Quinn Nelson of Snazzy Labs hadposted a short videoabout an iPhone app called “My Classic – Retro Console” that promises to turn your iPhone into an iPod Classic. It’s a very silly idea, but at a one-time price of $3, it was cheap enough that I decided to try it for myself. After living with myiPhone 16transformed into an old-school iPod for about a day, I’m absolutely obsessed with it.
Using my iPhone like an iPod in 2024
So, what’s it like having an app turn your iPhone into an iPod? Honestly, it’s kind of amazing. The interface is almost identical to what you would see on an iPod Classic or an iPod Nano. The home screen shows options for shuffling your songs, browsing your music, seeing what’s currently playing, and a few app settings (plus an option to tip the developer).
You navigate the menu by using the virtual scroll wheel, which vibrates and clicks to mimic the feel of an actual iPod scroll wheel shockingly well. It feels fantastic for browsing artists and albums, but the real magic happens when you open the Cover Flow view, which looks just as incredible in 2024 as it did in 2007.
All of the music content in the app is pulled from your Apple Music library, including your saved albums and playlists. If you select the Shuffle Songs option, it starts playing a shuffle playlist from all the songs saved in your Apple Music library.
Objectively, this is nothing more than another interface for the Apple Music app. If you play a song from the My Classic app and switch to Apple Music, you’ll see it playing there, too. It’s not adding any new features. If anything, it’s a more limited way of interacting with Apple Music. You can’t search for songs or find music not already saved in your library.
However, that’s also why the app is so charming. Not only is the interface and iPod Classic UI executed so perfectly, but being forced to interact with my music in a simpler way has been so refreshing.
It makes me focus more on my music library without being distracted by new releases or other recommended playlists. I’ve found myself listening to saved albums I’ve not played in months because, in the regular Apple Music app, I typically listen to recommended playlists or new albums. I don’t know if that’s good or bad, but my music selections using My Classic have been different.
Want to use this app to turn your iPhone into an old-school iPod? Thankfully, it’s easy to do and only costs $3. TheMy Classic appinitially presents itself as a Game Boy simulator, but it takes just a couple of taps to activate the iPod interface. Here’s what you need to do:
Open the App Store on your iPhone and search for My Classic – Retro Console.
Pay for the app and wait for it to download.
Select theSettingbutton.
SelectDevice.
SelectMy Classic.
A wonderful blast of tech nostalgia
In addition to the incredible execution of the My Classic app and the way it makes you listen to music, there’s also an undeniable nostalgia factor at play here.
I grew up with a 3rd-generation iPod Nano. I received it as a Christmas gift one year from my parents, and for many years later (until I lost it), that iPod Nano was a gadget I used nearly every single day. The interface of the My Classic app is exactly like the one used on my old Nano, so using the application has felt like teleporting back in time. It has brought back memories of me sitting at the computer with my cousin and syncing songs from our iTunes accounts to our respective iPods. Or playingThe Sims Bowling on car rides to school. Not to mention discovering artists like Green Day and Switchfoot for the first time.
My iPod Nano went through a lot with me, and being able to bring back that experience to my iPhone is really something special. Maybe I’m feeling particularly nostalgic because of the holiday season, but this is one of the coolest mobile apps I’ve used this year — and one I think I’ll keep on my iPhone for a while to come.
Tesla has launched a new app for Apple Watch with digital key functionality. The app was just announced yesterday, alongside Tesla’s 2024 Holiday Update. Use your Apple Watch as your phone key You can also view battery charge, open frunk & turn on climate control What’s New In This Version: ● Pair your watch as a key and use your favorite Tesla App functions on Apple Watch ● Watch and save Dashcam and Sentry Mode clips at Security > Dashcam Viewer
The Tesla app for iPhone allows users to directly communicate with their vehicles and energy products. Features include: ● Check charging progress in real time and start or stop charging ● Heat or cool your car before driving – even if it’s in a garage ● Lock or unlock from afar ● Locate your vehicle with directions or track its movement ● Send an address from your favorite apps to start navigation in your car ● Allow your passengers to quickly control media ● Flash lights or honk the horn to find your vehicle when parked ● Vent or close the panoramic roof ● Summon your vehicle out of your garage or a tight parking space (for vehicles with Autopilot) ● Update your vehicle software from wherever you are ● Engage with Powerwall: monitor how much energy is stored from solar, used by your home, or exported to the grid ● Download your solar production and battery usage data
Here’s how it looks:
（Image from: 9to5Mac）
Tesla for Apple Watch requires watchOS 11. That means these models are supported:
With a slightly smaller design, improved sound and Apple’s powerful H2 chip features, the Apple AirPods 4 are a worthy upgrade. But what really makes them special is the noise canceling in the step-up ANC model.
AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation
Pros
Same H2 chip found in AirPods Pro 2
More compact design
Active noise canceling that works
Improved sound
Excellent voice-calling performance
Personalized spatial audio
Case has wireless charging and speaker for Find My
The AirPods 4 are, unsurprisingly, the fourth generation of Apple’s original true-wireless earbuds that feature an open design, which means they don’t have silicone ear tips like the AirPods Pro 2. A lot of people still don’t like having ear tips jammed in their ears and find open earbuds more comfortable, and the AirPods 4 are made for those folks. Not only do they feature a slightly smaller design and better sound than their predecessor, but they’re equipped with Apple’s H2 chip that improves overall performance and powers new features.
In a first for Apple, the AirPods 4 comes in two versions: a $129 entry-level model and a $179 step-up model with active noise canceling. ANC is a rare feature for open earbuds because it typically doesn’t work with an open design — at least not with the few noise-canceling open earbuds I’ve tried, including Samsung’s new Galaxy Buds 3.
The AirPods 4 replace both the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 in the lineup that also includes the AirPods Pro 2 and the updated AirPods Max with USB-C. And in terms of their design, the AirPods 4 are sort of a cross between the AirPods 2 and 3; they’re slightly smaller than the AirPods 3 but also slightly larger than the AirPods 2. That said, at 4.3 grams per bud, they weigh the same as the AirPods 3.
AirPods 4 design improvements
Apple is hoping the new design is a better fit for a wider range of ears. They did fit my ears slightly better than the AirPods 3, though I sometimes had to adjust the angle of the buds to get a really secure fit. Like a lot of people, one of my ears is slightly different than the other, and I got a marginally better fit with my right ear than my left.
I never got a great fit from the AirPods 2 or AirPods 3 (I had trouble keeping them in my ears when I ran with them), but these do fit my ears the best of the three, and I did find them very comfortable to wear. However, I get a slightly more secure fit from the AirPods Pro 2.
From left to right: the AirPods 2, AirPods 3 and AirPods 4 buds with their corresponding cases above them.
Everybody’s ears are different, of course, so I asked some of my colleagues, including some who had small ears, how they felt about the new design compared to the AirPods 3’s design (you can see some of their reactions in my companion review video). They all preferred the design of the AirPods 4 and most of them got a secure fit. Basically, the design does seem to be an improvement, but like with any earbuds, I can’t guarantee they’ll fit everybody’s ears equally well.
AirPods 4’s upgraded sound quality
To be clear, both new AirPods 4 have the same design, same sound quality and same voice-calling performance. And they both have Apple’s H2 chip with Bluetooth 5.3. That’s the same chip found in the AirPods Pro 2.
Apple has upgraded both buds with a new acoustic architecture and amp. Also, it’s slightly changed the angle of how the drivers are pointed into your ears, which is supposed to improve sound quality. The combo of the new drivers and the upgraded H2 chip’s processing power for Apple’s Adaptive EQ — a feature that optimizes audio quality on the fly as the position of the buds changes ever so slightly in your ears — gives the AirPods 4 better sound than the AirPods 3. And needless to say, because these are open earbuds, the sound does have an open quality to it.
The AirPods 4 feature a new acoustic architecture.
Overall, the sound is a little cleaner (improved treble), and you get a bit more bass, so there’s a touch more depth and fullness to whatever you’re listening to. They’re still a notch below the AirPods Pro 2’s, but they’re close, and these are easily among the best-sounding open earbuds out there. You’re still not going to get as much bass as you do with the AirPods Pro 2, but the gap has narrowed. I didn’t feel as if I was making much of a sound quality sacrifice compared with the AirPods Pro 2, at least when I was listening in a quiet room.
Like the AirPods Pro 2, both AirPods 4 models are equipped with 5GHz radios (as opposed to 2.4GHz). That not only helps improve the Bluetooth connection reliability with Apple devices but allows for lossless audio withApple’s Vision Pro headset, as well as low-latency gaming audio with recent iPhones, iPads and Macs running the latest versions of their respective operating systems. Wireless streaming of lossless audio over Bluetooth is available only for the Vision Pro because the buds have to be right next to your audio source device for a glitch-free listening experience (the headset sits on your head right next to the buds).
Of course, if you’re in a noisy environment, these buds do still let sound into your ears, which impacts sound quality. But things get interesting with the addition of noise canceling, so let’s get into that key difference between the two models and what you get with entry-level AirPods 4 versus the AirPods 4 ANC.
The AirPods 4 are rated for up to 5 hours of battery life with noise canceling off.
AirPods 4 ANC’s added features
The ANC version of the AirPods 4 is $50 more than the regular model, but you also get more than just noise-canceling for the money. For instance, while the charging cases are the same size and look nearly identical, the step-up ANC model’s case is equipped with a BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) chip and has a speaker integrated into it like the case for the AirPods Pro 2. The entry-level model’s case has neither of these features (the entry-level AirPods 4 use a less sophisticated version of FindMy that can track the buds but not the case and play a sound through the buds).
That speaker emits a sonar-like noise when you use the Find My feature with proximity finding, making it easier to locate the case if it gets hidden behind something or stuck in your couch cushions. Also, the entry-level model’s case doesn’t have wireless charging, while the ANC model’s case does. Note that neither model has the more advanced Precision Finding of the AirPods Pro 2, which have a U1 chip in their case.
The AirPods 4 charging case is a little bit smaller than the AirPods 3’s charging case, but there’s one other difference: There’s no longer a physical button on the AirPods 4’s charging case for activating Bluetooth and pairing it with non-Apple devices. Instead, you now double-tap on the front of the case near the LED to initiate pairing and double-tap three times to initiate a reset. Both the buds themselves and case have an IP54 rating, which means they’re splash-proof and dust- and sweat-resistant.
Surprisingly effective noise canceling
I was really impressed with the noise canceling. The reality is that it’s not that great compared with what you get with the AirPods Pro 2 and top noise-canceling earbuds like theBose QuietComfort Ultra Earbudsor theSony WF-1000XM5. But that it works at all and is reasonably effective is kind of wild because, as I said, noise canceling and open earbuds usually aren’t a good mix.
For instance, Samsung says its Galaxy Buds 3 have noise canceling, but I couldn’t really hear a difference when I turned the noise canceling on. But with the new AirPods, you really hear the difference. You feel it kick on and muffle the ambient sound around to a certain degree — enough to enable you to hear your music better in noisy environments.
The AirPods 4’s noise canceling is more adept at tamping down low frequencies and was able to cut down the engine noise level by about 40% when I wore them on a plane. And they were also somewhat effective when I wore them on the streets of Wellington and on the subway. I’d say the noise canceling is a little less than half as good as what you get with the AirPods Pro, which also provide some passive noise isolation with their ear tips. But again, that the noise canceling worked as well as it did seems like a major technological feat. Not even Bose, a leader in noise-canceling technology, tried it with itsUltra Open Earbuds.
Entry-level AirPods 4 vs. AirPods 4 with ANC feature comparison
I want to clarify what features the entry-level model has — and doesn’t have — because Apple’s introduced some new features with iOS 18 and there’s a bit of confusion about which model does what.
Both models have personalized spatial audio (with head tracking) for music, movies and now games that have been updated by the developer to support it. There’s also quick pairing and auto switching for Apple devices, as well as always-on Siri, so you just have to say the wake word to issue voice commands.
The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation have a few extra features, including Conversation Awareness and Adaptive Audio.
Also, both models have new force sensors in the stems with pinch controls to control playback, though apparently noswipe controls for volumethat are available with the AirPods Pro 2. And last but not least, the H2 chip allows for Siri Interactions, which are gesture controls that give you the option to nod or shake your head to dismiss or answer calls or engage with or dismiss notifications and messages. You nod your head for yes and shake your head for no.
The two features you get with the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are Conversation Awareness and Adaptive Audio because those features require noise canceling and transparency modes.
The AirPods 4 with ANC have the AirPods 2 Pro’s extra microphones to enable those modes. When Conversation Awareness is activated (if you talk to yourself a lot, it’s probably best to turn it off), as soon as you speak, your music pauses and transparency mode kicks in so you can have a conservation. Sony pioneered the feature with its Speak-To-Chat option, and now Apple’s Airpods Pro 2 and the AirPods 4 ANC have it.
The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancelling have a speaker in their case and wireless charging, two features missing from the entry-level model. Both AirPods 4 models have USB-C charging.
AirPods 4 voice-calling performance and battery life
Apple is also touting a new Voice Isolation feature that’s part of iOS 18 and helps with call quality. Both buds have the feature and so do the Airpods Pro 2. It basically helps callers hear your voice better while reducing background noise.
I did some test calls and callers said they could hear my voice well with almost no background noise, which is impressive. The AirPods have always delivered one of the best voice-calling experiences and the AirPods 4 don’t disappoint. It’s right up there with my voice-calling experience with Samsung’s Galaxy Buds 3 andBuds 3 Pro, which also deliver top voice-calling performance.
One thing that’s a tad disappointing, though, is that Apple wasn’t able to improve on battery life, and it’s actually slightly worse than the AirPods 3’s battery life. You can get up to 5 hours of battery life with noise-canceling off and 4 hours with it on. The case gives you an additional 25 hours with ANC off and 16 hours with it on.
AirPods 4 final analysis
In the end, the way to look at these two earbuds is that the standard AirPods 4 are slightly smaller versions of the AirPods 3 with better sound quality and the benefits of the more powerful H2 chip going forward. The AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation are essentially the AirPods Pro 2 with an open earbud design. However, only the AirPods Pro 2 — and not the AirPods 4 — are getting Apple’s new hearing-aid feature, so take that into account before buying these if that’s something you’re interested in.
If you’re looking for basic AirPods, the standard AirPods 4 certainly have their appeal and should cost closer to $100 during flash sales, especially around the holidays. They may not be quite as cheap or as small as the AirPods 2, but they sound a lot better and have a lot more features.
Ultimately, however, the AirPods 4 ANC are simply more special. As I said, they’re the first open buds I’ve tried to have active noise canceling that actually works. That makes them the first noise-canceling earbuds for people who don’t like having ear tips jammed in their ears. That’s pretty cool and worth the extra $50 if you can afford it.
Can you take your iPhone swimming? Here’s what those IP67, IP68 and IPX8 water-resistance ratings really mean.
If you’ve ever spilled a drink on your phone, or accidentally dropped it in the toilet, you’ll know that water resistance can mean the difference between a quick wipe with a towel or an expensive trip to buy a new phone. While waterproofing used to be something found only on beefy, rubber-sealed phones designed for construction workers or downhill mountain bikers, water resistance has become pretty much the norm in all today’s phones, including theiPhone 16 Pro, Pixel 9 Pro andGalaxy S24 Ultra. Even Google’saffordable Pixel 8Ais water resistant.
Not all phones can withstand a dunk in water though, and some shouldn’t be near liquid at all. Almost no phones should be taken swimming in a pool, and ocean swimming is still out of the question, unless you’re using a water-tight case of some kind. If you’ve shopped for a phone recently, you’ll have come across terms like “water resistant,” as well as the now common IP67, IP68 and IPX8 ratings. But what do those ratings really mean and, crucially, how waterproof is your expensive new phone?
Let’s break down the jargon and find out.
What do IP67, IP68 and IPX8 mean?
Ingress protection ratings (also known as international protection ratings) are a standard set forth by theInternational Electrotechnical Commission. According to the organization, the codes are designed as a “system for classifying the degrees of protection provided by the enclosures of electrical equipment.”
The first number in the rating code represents the amount of protection provided against the entry of foreign solid objects, such as sand or dust. These protection levels range from a low of 0 to a high of 6.
The second number represents the degree of protection against the entry of moisture or liquid, with protection levels ranging from a low of 0 to a high of 8.
Nothing’s earbuds are IPX4 rated, which is enough to keep them safe from sweat during your workouts.
Sometimes you’ll see an IP rating with a number replaced with an X, such as IPX8. In this instance, a company hasn’t provided testing details so the rating number is replaced with an X. An IPX8-rated device can survive being submerged in water then, but it hasn’t officially been rated for any protection from dust or other particles.
For an 8 on the IP rating, the IEC demands a device can withstand being submerged inat least1 meter of water for 30 minutes. Beyond that, it’s up to the manufacturer. The S24 Ultra can be submerged in up to 1.5 meters of water for 30 minutes, while Apple says the iPhone 16 Pro is safe in up to6meters of water for up to 30 minutes. So while any phone with an IP68 rating will have had to hit that 1 meter-30 minute minimum threshold, it’s important to check the fine print and see exactly what your phone offers.
For further details on all the IP ratings, you can see charts at the end of this article outlining the protection levels set by the IEC.
The iPhone 12 Pro Max can be submerged in water up to 6 meters deep for up to 30 minutes at a time.
While the iPhone 16 Pro’s advertised 6 meters of water-resistance might make it seem like you can slip one into your swim shorts and hit the pool, you’d be well advised to leave it out of the water. The IP rating is tested in controlled conditions — in water with no movement. Moving your phone in the water will add more water pressure, making it more likely that water could find its way inside and do irreparable damage to your phone.
The IP tests are also done usingfreshwater; most pools will have additional chemicals such as chlorine, which could make a difference to your phone’s resistance. And you should absolutely keep your phone out of the sea: Salt water could cause a lot of trouble, including degrading the metal parts in your charging port.
Even if your phone has the top IP68 resistance rating, it’s good practice to treat the feature as a backup in case of emergencies. Your phone is not designed to go snorkeling, so don’t try using the camera to snag pictures of starfish or whatever. Nor should you try to recordTikTokvideos of yourself jumping off the high dive into the deep end. It’s there for accidents like spilling a drink or emergencies like making a call in the pouring rain.
The OnePlus Nord 2 does not have any stated resistance to water — keep phones like this extra safe when you’re around liquids.
My phone doesn’t have an IP rating. Can it get wet?
In order for a company to advertise that their product has an IP rating at all, it needs to have undergone strict tests to ensure it meets the requirements. These tests can be timely and costly, so it’s understandable that some companies simply don’t want to spend the cash, particularly when it comes to budget-focused models.
Some phones instead use terms like “water-repellent” or “water-resistant” without an official IP rating. These handsets may make use of methods like rubberized seals or water-repellent nano coating to keep moisture at bay. While these phones may well survive an accidental dunking, it’s worth keeping them safe from being fully submerged in water. But you shouldn’t need to worry too much about taking calls in the rain.
If your phone makes no mention of water resistance, then it’s best to assume that it has none and you should take as much care as you can around liquids.
Solid protection
IP Code
Protection
Object size
0
No protection
N/A
1
Protection from contact with any large surface of the body, such as the back of a hand. but no protection against deliberate contact with a body part, such as a finger
Less than 50mm
2
Protection from fingers or similar objects
Less than 12.5mm
3
Protection from tools, thick wires or similar objects
Less than 2.5mm
4
Protection from most wires, screws or similar objects
Less than 1mm
5
Partial protection from contact with harmful dust
N/A
6
Protection from contact with harmful dust
N/A
Moisture protection
IP code
Protection
Test duration
Usage
0
No protection
N/A
N/A
1
Protection against vertically dripping water
10 mins
Light rain
2
Protection against vertically dripping water when device is tilted at an angle up to 15 degrees
10 mins
Light rain
3
Protection against direct sprays of water when device is tilted at an angle up to 60 degrees
5 mins
Rain and spraying
4
Protection from sprays and splashing of water in all directions
5 mins
Rain, spraying and splashing
5
Protection from low-pressure water projected from a nozzle with a 6.3mm diameter opening in any direction
3 mins from a distance of 3 meters
Rain, splashing and direct contact with most kitchen and bathroom faucets
6
Protection from water projected in powerful jets from a nozzle with a 12.5mm diameter opening in any direction
3 mins from a distance of 3 meters
Rain, splashing, direct contact with kitchen and bathroom faucets, outdoor use in rough sea conditions
7
Protected from immersion in water with a depth of up to 1 meter (or 3.3 feet) for up to 30 mins
30 mins
Rain, splashing and accidental submersion
8
Protected from immersion in water with a depth of more than 1 meter (manufacturer must specify exact depth)
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