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When it comes to buying an Apple Watch, there are several things you should take note of, such as the different international versions, support for your preferred apps, and compatibility with other Apple devices. These days, there are even a ton of Apple Watch accessories by Apple, as well as third-party manufacturers, designed to enhance your experience. Apart from magnetic fast chargers and docks, there are also aesthetic add-ons, like watch bands, straps, and cases. However, one of the most crucial decisions you’ll have to make and one that can impact your overall cost of ownership and access to features is whether or not you should get a model with cellular support.
For its entry-level Watch model, the Apple Watch SE starts at $249 for its GPS model, while the cellular-capable one goes for $50 more at $299. On the other hand, the 42mm Apple Watch Series 10’s GPS version sells for $399, while its GPS + Cellular counterpart is $100 more expensive at the $499 mark. So, you if you’re currently in the market for your first Apple Watch (or looking to upgrade from an older, non-cellular-compatible model), you may be wondering if the extra $50 to $100 price difference is worth it. To help you decide, we’ve rounded up some critical pros and cons that you may want to consider before committing, as well as a few examples of who stands to benefit the most from this version of the Apple Watch.
Pros and cons of Apple Watches with cellular support
With an Apple Watch with cellular support, you can enjoy several iPhone features on your wrist. For example, you can use many of the iOS apps, like the maps and emergency systems. Plus, you are reachable via messages or calls, wherein you can respond in just a few taps. But while Apple Watches with cellular support have a ton of advantages, cost is definitely not one of them. Apart from being more expensive, they also have recurring fees that you need to pay to your carrier to access the benefits. Not to mention, if you’re a frequent traveler, it’s possible that roaming features won’t work in the countries you visit. Unless it’s set up with “Apple Watch For Your Kids”, it’s also limited to the same carrier as your iPhone. As for the day-to-day usage problems, we’ve mentioned before how cellular connectivity is a common reason for Apple Watch battery drain.
On the other hand, if you’re the kind of person with a dwindling attention span, you may want to take a pause before adding a cellular-compatible Apple Watch to cart. For people trying to rewire their ability to focus, having endless notifications on your wrist can have negative effects on your already overstimulated brain. Although it is possible to adjust your notification settings, you’ll need to ask yourself how much you actually need to be constantly connected if you’re going to silence them anyway.
Should you get an Apple Watch with cellular support?
As with many tech solutions, whether it is worth getting the Apple Watch cellular support depends on your lifestyle. In general, the people who benefit the most from using an Apple Watch with cellular support are those who need to be constantly reachable. Now, there are a bunch of use cases for this, particularly if you’re not a fan of having your iPhone with you at all times.
To start with, parents who use Apple Watches to keep track of their children may benefit from being able to contact them, even when phones are tucked away in bags or even left at home. In the same vein, if you are using the Apple Watch to manage your elderly parents remotely, it can help prevent harm or even save their lives with emergency features. Compared to the AirTag, which has reach limitations, an Apple Watch with cellular capabilities covers a lot more ground and is a more interactive way to be in touch.
Alternatively, Apple Watches are also perfect for athletes, who don’t want the hassle of looking at their mobile phones during training sessions. Not only can it reduce distractions, but it can double as a way to measure performance. And of course, people who work in fields that are related to emergency response, like doctors, nurses, or EMTs, can use Apple Watches with cellular data to make sure they never miss an important message.
The once-high-speed connection that reached its peak on Apple’s first music player, appears to be dead.
Technology is always moving forward, which often means old technology gets left behind. For example, NekoMichiUBC on X hasdiscoveredthat the macOS Tahoe beta lacks support for FireWire. That means that legacy devices, such as theoriginaland2nd-generationiPod, storage devices. cameras, and more won’t work with Macs running Tahoe.
It’s actually impressive that Apple has supported FireWire for so long, since Apple tends to drop old tech in a few years. Known by the standard name of IEEE 1394 (FireWire is Apple’s branding), Apple led its development in the late 1980s as a solution for devices that needed high-speed connectivity. In the 2000s, USB became popular and FireWire ports on Macs were eventually dropped, but support had been kept in macOS until Tahoe.
What to do if you have a FireWire device you want to use? Well, you don’t have to upgrade to Tahoe; your Mac is just fine running that older version of macOS. It means, though, that you can’t useTahoe’s features. It also means that any features that operate between iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and Tahoe won’t be available to you, such as Call Screening. If you have a spare Mac, you can decide not install Tahoe on it and use it when you need to use FireWire devices, like an iPod.
If you depend on those old FireWire devices daily, it’s a good idea to upgrade, especially if it’s a storage device. That FireWire hard drive has a lot of miles on it, so its chances of failure are relatively high and increasing every day. You can probably get a faster drive with a lot more storage for a lower price than what you paid for that FireWire drive (storage was much more expensive back then). Get our picks for thebest external hard drivesandSSDs. If it’s a camera, your iPhone 15 probably produces better quality photos, though using old cameras for stylistic purposes is a thing. We get it.
There’s always a chance Apple could reinstate FireWire support in Tahoe–it’s in beta and changes always happen during the cycle. There doesn’t seem to be any technical consequence to it, but Apple likes to drop old tech as part of its proper housekeeping practice. Chances are, it’s gone, so take the time to prepare yourself before Tahoe is officially released in the fall. Learn more aboutmacOS Tahoe.
After most Apple iPads, including the current iPad Pro M4, received the worst possible rating on the new EU energy label, Apple is criticizing the European Union. The criticism is justified in at least a few areas.
The Apple iPad Pro receives the worst rating from the new EU energy label. (Image source: Apple, edited)
Since June 20, all smartphones and tablets sold in the European Union have an energy label attached, which, similar to household appliances, must be displayed by all retailers and online shops. Aswe previously reported, energy labels have been issued for 603 smartphones and tablets so far, 142 of which have been awarded the highest possible rating of “A”. None of these top ratings went to Apple.
While the iPhone 16 Pro at least received a “B” rating, most iPad models only received a “G” rating – the worst rating stipulated by the EU. As the comparison of the labels between iPhone and iPad shows, the latter receives a significant deduction because it can barely survive drops and is not waterproof. The current iPad Pro gets a mediocre repairability rating of “C” – a fairly generous rating, as a look at the iFixit teardown reveals. There is also a deduction for the fact that Apple does not guarantee software updates.
So wird die Akkulaufzeit getestet, die auf dem EU-Energielabel ausgewiesen wird.
In response to the introduction of the EU Energy Label, Apple has published a44-page document explaining its own test methodology and criticizing the European Union’s specifications. According to Apple, the test results would have been sufficient to give the iPhone 16 Pro a better rating by one level in the areas of energy efficiency and drop resistance, but to account for ambiguities in the test specifications, Apple downgraded itself by one notch in each case.
This demonstrates one of the problems with the EU Energy Label: all tests are carried out by the product manufacturers themselves and are only checked by the EU in individual cases. Apple’s main criticism is that the specifications are sometimes vague and open to different interepretations, which in turn leads to different test methodologies and thus different ratings between manufacturers. This is not atypical for the EU, as these are only “preliminary” specifications that will be updated as soon as sufficient data and feedback from manufacturers is available.
Furthremore, Apple argues that some of the specifications are so vague that they barely make sense. For example, the rating of how well a product survives drops can be “overstated” by up to three levels depending on how the test parameters are interpreted. The EU requires a drop onto a steel plate, but does not provide any information on the degree of hardness or surface texture, which can influence the results significantly. Furthermore, only five drops are required, which, according to Apple, is too little for obtaining reliable results.
Right now, the13-inch MacBook Air M4comfortably sits at the top of ourbest laptopslist. And with good reason. It’s $100 cheaper than its predecessors yet packs impressive power, a sharp webcam and long battery life in an elegant chassis. If you likemacOSand need a reliable laptop that’s easy to travel with, this is the notebook to get.
Since I review thebest Windows laptopsandbest MacBooks, I like to use machines featuring those respective operating systems. For work and gaming, I preferWindows 11, but for leisure, I prefer a MacBook since it pairs nicely with my Apple devices like theiPhone 16 Pro MaxandiPad Pro M4. For the latter, my go-to machine is the 13-inch MacBook Air M4.
Here are my pros and cons after using the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 for the past three months.
At home, I have a16-inch MacBook Pro M4 Prothat I reviewed late last year. While that laptop has a gorgeous 16-inch display, a roomy keyboard, plenty of ports and delivers excellent performance, I don’t use it as my daily driver because it’s too big and heavy. When I’m at home or on the road, I want to use something lightweight, hence the 13-inch MacBook Air M4.
At 11.9 x 8.4 x 0.4 inches and 2.7 pounds, the MacBook Air M4 lives up to its “Air” moniker since it’s so thin and light. When I’m home and want to quickly send some messages or browse the internet, using this laptop is more convenient than its bulkier 16-inch sibling.
Similarly, I can almost forget the laptop is in my backpack when I take it on the road. That’s important since I travel to many press events. Having a thin and light computer that doesn’t literally weigh me down is crucial.
Speaking of design, I’m still a fan of the MacBook Air’s nondescript design, which is something all modern MacBooks share. Aside from the iconic Apple logo on the back, the laptop is free of embellishments, which is perfect for me.
Plenty of power and battery life
The 13-inch MacBook Air M4 I have features an M4 chip, 16GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. Thanks to that, it delivers plenty of performance for my everyday workload, which consists of usingGooglefor browsing the web and word processing.
Since I mostly use the MacBook Air M4 at home, I don’t often have dozens of open tabs like I do when working on articles. But if I’m on a work trip, I know this laptop has more than enough power to handle whatever I throw at it. I might say otherwise if I were editing videos (which this machine is quite capable of), but since I’m a writer, that’s not a concern. That said, editing photos in GIMP is a breeze on this laptop.
The M4 chip doesn’t just deliver excellent performance. Since this chip is so efficient, this MacBook Air has stellar battery life. In our battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over Wi-Fi with the display set to 150 nits of brightness, the laptop endured for nearly 15 hours. For my purposes, which involve web surfing and watchingYouTubevideos, I generally have to charge the laptop every two or three days, which is pretty great.
YouTube is my main source of entertainment outside of gaming, and I watch plenty of it on the MacBook Air M4. Doing so is pretty enjoyable thanks to the bright and colorful 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display. Yes, things look better on the iPad Pro M4 OLED’s panel, but the MacBook Air M4 still delivers excellent image quality.
In our lab testing, the 13-inch MacBook Air M4’s screen reached 470 nits of brightness when displaying HDR content. That’s close to the marketed 500 nits of brightness, which is awesome. The level of brightness hits the sweet spot of being vivid but not overbearing. Because of that, I never feel much (or any) eye strain even after hours of use.
The four-speaker sound system also helps all the YouTube videos I watch sound great. That said, this isn’t an ideal device for listening to music since the bass is kind of disappointing. But when it comes to podcasts and similar videos, the speakers do a solid job.
MacBook Air M4: Cons
Minimal game support compared to PC
Apple has been making great strides with gaming since the company began releasing M-series computers. Games likeBaldur’s Gate 3andResident Evil 4, which have been optimized for Apple silicon, look and run like a dream on current Macs.Cyberpunk 2077 is also coming to Macs, which proves that game companies are starting to view Macs as a viable platform.
That said, despite Apple’s admittedly laudable gaming efforts, I won’t ditch my gaming PC for a Mac any time soon. For instance, the majority of games on my Steam account aren’t available or won’t run well on Macs. M4 Macs have more than enough power to run graphically demanding games, but that doesn’t mean much if you can’t play some of the biggest titles on Macs. I seriously doubtGrand Theft Auto VIwill be available for Macs at launch (though I’d love to be wrong).
I know that I can play Windows games on a Mac through software like Parallels. While that’s great, some games won’t always work as intended. Plus, I don’t like the idea of using third-party software to run games. Native support is always best, but that’s sadly lacking for many of thebest PC games.
Not a lot of ports
Though I prefer using a 13-inch MacBook Air M4 over a 16-inch MacBook Pro M4, the latter has a greater number of ports.
While I can minimize this issue by connecting to one of thebest wireless miceandbest wireless keyboards, I’d need to purchase a USB dock with an HDMI port if I want to connect the Air M4 to my monitor. This isn’t a problem with a MacBook Pro, which does have an HDMI port.
The minimal port selection isn’t a huge problem since I mostly use the MacBook Air M4 as a laptop instead of a replacement PC. I also appreciate that it has MagSafe charging, so I don’t have to use up one of those USB-C ports. Still, I wouldn’t mind more ports if I ever need them.
My favorite MacBook
The MacBook Pro is Apple’s premium laptop and certainly one of my favorites. That said, the humble 13-inch MacBook Air M4 is my go-to choice since it better fits my lifestyle.
It’s lighter than even a 14-inch MacBook Pro and more portable than the 15-inch MacBook Air. And though I wish it had more ports, it has plenty of power for my needs, along with a phenomenal display and long-lasting battery life.
While it’s more of an iterative update, it’s my preferred MacBook and the best MacBook for most people. I don’t think I’ll switch to another laptop for everyday use anytime soon.
Need the best noise-cancelling earbuds? Look no further
(Image credit: Bose)
Our expert audio team has picked all of the best noise-cancelling earbuds for this guide after testing and evaluating hundreds of thebest wireless earbuds. They assessed each pair and judged them on audio quality, comfort, and features, selecting only the top performers after hours of in-depth, hands-on comparisons.
Every pair of noise-cancelling earbuds this guide has also been tested in real-world settings to ensure their noise-blocking tech works effectively in all kinds of environments, with comparisons against their peers to make our testing as fair as possible. We also check the battery life in real life as well, to make sure they’ve living up to their claims.
This guide includes a range of the best noise-cancelling earbuds, covering everything from budget-friendly options to high-end models that rival thebest noise-cancelling headphones. While there’s some crossover with ourbest earbudsguide, this list assumes that the most important thing to you is noise cancellation, so we’ve slightly re-prioritised how we choose which is the best.
We currently rate the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds as the best options, but here’s something important to note: in June 2025,Bose announced a a new 2nd Generation version of these earbuds, with promised improvements to their noise cancellation skills, and wireless charging will new be included as standard. At the time of updating this guide, Bose hadn’t announced a specific release date for the new earbuds – only “summer 2025” – and we haven’t tested the new earbuds yet, so while we happily recommend the original Ultra Earbuds still, this is something to keep in mind.
The best noise-cancelling earbuds you can buy today
The best noise-cancelling earbuds overall
1. Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds
The best noise-cancelling earbuds overall
Specifications
Acoustic design:Closed
Weight:6.24g per earbud
Frequency response:Not specified
Drivers:10mm
Battery life:6 hours (buds) 24 hours total (with case)
Reasons to buy
+Excellent head-tracked spatial audio +Lossless audio codec support +Still the best noise-cancelling in earbuds
Reasons to avoid
-Case cannot charge wirelessly unless you buy a cover -Physically very similar to the previous model
BUY THEM IF
✅ Noise cancellation really matters to you:These buds are at the top of the ANC game as it stands right now.
✅ You want ultimate immersion:ANC wraps you in a bubble of silence, but add Bose’s Immersive Audio and you’ve got a cinematic experience.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌You want wireless charging:Bose makers you pay more for a cover to put over the case that adds this. Weird.
❌You’re on a budget:These buds have had a significant price reduction since launch, and are seeing huge sales season discounts, but they’re still expensive.
The Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are our best overall noise-cancelling earbuds thanks to their stellar ANC and immersive sound. These buds are the ultimate travel companion, offering a “bubble of silence” to block out distractions, whether you’re on a noisy flight or a bustling commute.
Bose has always done ANC remarkably well, and the most recent QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds are the most effective on the market. These buds are even more of an attractive proposition since Bose addressed some issues in its July 2024 update, introducing multi-point connectivity (this was lacking at launch), which makes it easier to switch between two devices.
Battery life clocks in at 6 hours per charge (24 hours with the case), which isn’t the best on the market but will do for most people’s use. Oddly, you need to buy an accessory for the case if you want to add wireless charging.
Sound performance isn’t as audiophile-grade as options from rivals likeSony, but it is enhanced over previous Bose buds with Immersive Audio technology, which delivers head-tracked spatial sound across devices, supported by aptX Adaptive. While some competitors may offer better dynamic detail, these earbuds provide a lively and balanced audio experience, which we found deeply enjoyable during our testing.
The design of the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds closely mirrors their predecessors, with a lighter build and upgraded silicone bands, which we found gave us a better fit as we reviewed them. At the discounted price of around $220/£199 we’ve spotted recently, these earbuds are a smart investment if ANC is your top priority.
Bose has announced that the QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds 2nd Gen are coming in “summer 2025”, which promise more reactive active noise cancellation, and wireless charging will now be built-into the case as standard. We haven’t tested them yet, and they’re set to launch at $299 – so assuming you can buy these for the kind of discounted price mentioned above (or perhaps even cheaper), we’re happy still recommending these as our top choice for now.
Battery life :ANC off: 9 hours (buds) 36 hours (case); ANC on: 7 hours (buds) 37 hours (case)
Reasons to buy
+Great all-rounders +Excellent battery life +Solid noise cancellation
Reasons to avoid
-No wearing detection -Sound is fun but not fantastic -Stem design not for everyone
BUY THEM IF
✅ You like the long stem design:Many buds have a stem these days but these are on the longer side.
✅ You want all-rounder buds for less:Few buds tick the boxes for comfy design, good ANC, solid sound and great battery life for under $100/£100.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌You need ANC that places you in a cocoon of silence:ANC is good here, but it doesn’t deliver that almost eerie silence you get from higher-end buds.
❌You want compact buds:The stem design literally stands out and the mirror finish does draw attention to the buds, rivals are more subtle.
If you’re on a budget the EarFun Air Pro 3 earbuds are our top recommendation. The ANC doesn’t deliver the cocoon of silence you’d expect from higher-end options, but we thought it was good – especially considering the price. It’s capable of reducing low-end sounds pretty effectively, including traffic noise, so it makes it much easier to hear what you’re listening to. Other features include an impressive 45 hours of battery life in total, including the case, as well as multipoint pairing, which we found worked well.
The Earfun Air Pro 3 come with some good audio specs. And, while these noise-cancelling earbuds might not win awards in sound quality, those specs deliver an audio performance that is great for the price, although not perfect.
Design-wise, they look a little boring with long stems. When you first pick up these buds you’ll notice they feel plasticky – by which I mean: cheap – but that’s kind of good news as they’re also incredibly light at 52g for both buds and case. We often find the lighter the buds, the comfier the fit, but that’s not always the case.
The Earfun Air Pro 3 buds are accomplished, especially considering their price. Amid a sea of similarly-priced efforts onAmazon, they stand out thanks to their superior design and solid audio chops, showing a high level of competence and excellent value.
The best mid-range noise-cancelling earbuds
3. Nothing Ear (a)
The best mid-range noise-cancelling earbuds
Specifications
Acoustic design:Closed
Weight:4.8g per earbud
Frequency response:Not stated (other than 5000Hz range)
Drivers:11mm custom
Battery life:Buds: 5.5hrs (9.5hrs without ANC) Total with case: 24.5hrs (42.5hrs without ANC)
Reasons to buy
+Fun, zealous, expansive sound +Vastly improved active noise cancellation +Smaller, more pocketable case
Reasons to avoid
-No wireless charging support -No flagship sound profile curation
BUY THEM IF
✅ You want good-value ANC and sound:The noise cancelling and audio quality here is fantastic. You will find better, but would have to pay significantly more.
✅ Style matters to you:The whole Nothing brand is incredibly cool and these earbuds are the most stylish.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌You want great spatial audio:That’s not here. You’d have to look at rivals, but most would charge much more for that audio wizardry.
❌Your inner ear is small:We got a good fit with the small ear tips but the design may not suit those with a tiny concha (aka ear-well).
The Nothing Ear (a) pack in some seriously impressive ANC all for a great value, mid-range price. They’re our top pick if you want to nix ambient sounds and you’re willing to pay more than budget prices for that luxury.
We know that Nothing buds all look quite similar. Which, admittedly isn’t a problem because that look is cool, stylish and bound to get attention. But don’t be fooled by the Nothing Ear (a), they’ve had some major improvements. The most notable is noise cancellation. You can choose from High, Mid, Low, and Adaptive profiles. In our review, we wrote: “High is very good: the hairdryer we used for testing was largely nixed.” You’ll find even better ANC out there, but you’ll have to pay high-end prices to notice a serious step up. In terms of other features, you’ll also find clear calls, some basic EQ settings and profiles, reliable on-ear controls. Bluetooth v5.3 and LDAC support for hi-res audio.
In our review, we commented that, when paired with a Sony smartphone, LDAC files are “delivered with expanse and pinpoint accuracy when it comes to the placement of each sonic article.” Even regular lossy files, the kind you’d find on Spotify, perform well here, delivering a sound we described as “fun and zealous”. Again, you’ll find better sound out there, but you’d have to pay over twice as much.
Looks-wise, Nothing buds have always been distinctive thanks to a transparent stem design. With the Nothing Ear (a) you get a smaller form factor that’s even easier to carry in a pocket. During testing, we found these buds incredibly comfortable to wear and they come with a choice of small, medium and large silicone tips. The only thing we will say is that if you have very, very small ears the design might be a bit big in your concha (that’s your ear well), so if you can it would make sense to try before you buy.
All in all, these are a seriously impressive pair of buds, especially considering their mid-range price. You get great sound, a slick design and ANC that really impressed us. You’d have to pay big bucks to find buds that seriously improve on all of these points. Which is why this is our top mid-range recommendation for most people.
The best noise-cancelling earbuds for Apple
4. Apple AirPods Pro 2
The best noise-cancelling earbuds for Apple
Specifications
Acoustic design:Closed
Weight:5.3g
Frequency response:Not listed
Drivers:Custom Apple design
Battery life :6 hours (earbuds) 30 hours (charging case)
Reasons to buy
+Astounding noise-stopping power +Very good sound quality, too +Small and very lightweight
Reasons to avoid
-Average battery life -No aptX or LDAC support
BUY THEM IF
✅ You want great sound:The AirPods Pro 2 sound brilliantandshut out the real world so well.
✅ You’ve got all manner of Apple things:If you’ve got an iPad, Apple TV, Apple Watch or similar, then you’ll really get the benefit of these buds.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌You want to save money:Not the most expensive buds, but you can find cheaper options that do similar – but, crucially, not better.
❌You don’t have an iPhone:If you’re in the Android world, you won’t get as much benefit from these earbuds.
The AirPods Pro 2 might not be as accomplished as the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds at the top of our list in terms of ANC, but they’re not far off. We found the noise-cancelling to be so good in the Pro 2 buds it was almost eerie. As with other ANC buds, there’s a transparency mode on offer for conversations, and that’s now been upgraded so it adapts to your conversations, making them sound more natural. Features-wise, these buds have a lot to offer, but you’ll get the most from them – like ‘Find My’ features – if you have an iPhone.
During our testing, we found the audio performance to be stunning, offering up a rich sound regardless of genre and a wide and expansive soundstage, which is thanks to new drivers and amplifiers. Personalized Spatial Audio is a bonus here, where a scan of your face and ears can be used to re-calibrate the sound performance of the AirPods Pro 2.
Design-wise, they look similar to the Pro model that came before them. Expect the clean lines and solid build qualityAppleis famous for, and slightly smaller stems that protrude from your ears. We enjoyed wearing them and liked the addition from volume control in the stems.
Of course, the AirPods Pro 2 work best with an iPhone at least, and even more Apple gear ideally. If that’s you, these are among the most impressive noise-cancelling earbuds you can buy today and are well worth the price tag – especially because much of the competition has become more expensive than these. Grab them on their semi-regular discounts to under $199/£199 and they’re a bargain.
In iOS 18, AirPods Pro 2 got updated with some useful new features, including improved voice isolation for calls, and the ability to respond to Siri prompts, such as incoming calls, by nodding or shaking your head. At Apple’sSeptember 2024 showcase, the company unveiled some further changes that have now arrived on the AirPods Pro 2, including new health features. The most notable is a hearing test, which Apple says could help diagnose potential issues, and a new hearing aid mode approved by the FDA. It’s worth noting also thatAirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellationare now available for $179 / £179 / AU$299, so you no longer have to go Pro to get ANC.
-High price -Removing eartips is a fuss -Key features require a newer Galaxy phone
BUY THEM IF
✅ You own a Samsung Galaxy smartphone:These buds give you a bunch of special features, including spatial audio and remarkable hi-res audio.
✅ You’re after top ANC:It may not beat the best of the bunch, but there’s some seriously mighty noise cancellation performance at work here.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌You’re on a budget:These earbuds are high-end and although they’re worth it, there are cheaper rivals.
❌You own an iPhone:You’d need to be looking to earbuds that offer a dedicated app for iOS.
If you own aSamsungphone and want great noise cancellation, the Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are for you. An update on the previous Buds 2 Pro (which they replace in this guide), these Samsung buds bring you great audio quality, a premium (but familiar) design and truly impressive ANC – there’s certainly a lot to like.
Let’s start with that impressive ANC. In our review of the Buds 3 Pro we commented that these buds are very effective and “throw a blanket over whatever background noise is going on when you’re trying to listen to music.” We also noted that the audio on offer here is among some of the best we’ve ever heard from a pair of wireless buds and what some would consider an optimal sound signature: “The Buds have a V-shaped sound, which means that both the bass and treble are elevated and distinct, while the mids are just a little stepped back.” The result is a wide soundstage that feels rich and full of energy.
The newer Buds 3 Pro also improve on the slightly disappointing battery of their predecessors. This time round you’ll get six hours of battery from the buds themselves, 30 hours with their case, and longer with ANC off. It’s not a huge increase, but it’s something. Samsung has also added some AI-powered features here for Samsung phones, including adaptive ANC (we didn’t think this added much during our testing), a feature which restores crackling voice in poor-quality calls, and live audio translation.
The design of the Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro is similar to AirPods, but with a more angular design we thought looked Toblerone-like during our testing. At 5.4g per bud, they’re lightweight and we found them comfortable to wear. Although switching out the tips to get the best fit was a frustrating process that seemed much more fiddly than it needed to be.
The Samsung Galaxy Buds 3 Pro are the best value for those with a Samsung device. If you don’t have one, there are better options higher up this list.
The best value noise cancelling earbuds
6. JLab Go Pop ANC
The best noise-cancelling earbuds under $30/£30
Specifications
Acoustic Design:Closed
Weight:4.1g (per bud)
Frequency Response:20Hz-20kHz
Drivers:10mm dynamic
Battery Life:24+ hours total (with case), 7 hours per bud (ANC on)
Reasons to buy
+Incredible low price +Solid ANC +Impressive bass and treble
Reasons to avoid
-A little cheap looking -Mids not super-rich -Color options aren’t the prettiest
BUY THEM IF
✅ You want ANC on a budget:Cheap buds often don’t come with ANC, but not only is it here, it’s solid too.
✅You want small, light buds:These buds are tiny and feel light and comfortable to wear. If you’re sick of bulky options, these could be ideal.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌You want audiophile-grade sound:They sound amazing for the price, but these buds aren’t going to impress audiophiles, you’ll have to spend much more.
❌You want stylish buds:It’s not that they look bad, just a little cheap and plasticky. Although some may love that there are different colors on offer.
In our JLab Go Pop ANC review we commented that these cheap and cheerful buds “have all the hallmarks of an instant budget favorite”, packing in everything you could want from a pair of true wireless earbuds and giving them a $30/£30 price tag.
The sound quality is solid. It’s not mind-blowing, we commented in our review this is likely due to a narrow soundstage and you shouldn’t expect audiophile-grade codes or support at this price. But the audio on offer is still enjoyable, which we said was “thanks to energetic bass and treble output.” We also commended these buds for their punchy bass and lack of tinniness, even when you push them to the highest volumes.
These buds are a great choice if you want a light and comfortable fit – especially if you’ve tried bulky buds for you before and they felt irritating or fell out. There’s also a IP55 water-resistance rating, which means they’ll be fine with some minor splashes and sweaty workouts. To look at, these buds aren’t ugly but they’re not stylish either. In our review, we wrote: “these are a little cheap-looking across the board, from bud to charging case, but they aren’t off-putting by any means.”
Features-wise, you’re getting a lot for budget buds, most notably ANC. In our review, we commented that you won’t experience the close to silence experience that more expensive buds offer, but most distracting sounds will be dulled. With ANC on you can expect 7 hours of battery life from the buds, which is up to the standard of most true wireless earbuds these days. If you’ve got the charging case with you, expect 24 hours in total. In short, the JLab Go Pop ANC are excellent value. Not only do they pack in the essentials, like a comfy fit and good sound, they bring you features that you’d normally have to pay double, even triple the price for, like a companion app, EQ presets, customizable touch controls and, of course, solid ANC.
The best noise-cancelling earbuds for sound
7. Bowers & Wilkins Pi8
The best noise-cancelling earbuds for sound
Specifications
Acoustic Design:Closed
Weight:7g per earbud
Frequency Response:Not listed
Drivers:12mm carbon cone
Battery Life:6.5 hrs (buds), up to 20hr total
Reasons to buy
+Incredible levels of detail and dynamism +Good comfort for larger buds +Effective ANC
Reasons to avoid
-Lacks ear-tip or fit tests -No head-tracked spatial audio -Battery life can still be beaten
BUY THEM IF
✅ Top sound is your priority:These buds do a lot of things well, but they’re hands down the best pick if you’re after the best possible audio performance in a wireless design.
✅You’ve struggled to find buds that fit in the past:We highly rated the fit here, no twisting or jamming them into your ears, just high comfort and good consideration for weight distribution.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌You love being able to control everything from your ear:You do get on-ear controls here, but you have to choose whether you want to change the volume or the ANC profiles, you can’t have both.
❌ You want to listen for hours on end:The battery life here isn’t bad, but plenty of rivals now pack in much more power, like the JBL Live Beam 3at #10.
All of the earbuds in this guide offer strong ANC and sound quality – otherwise they wouldn’t be here – but the Bowers & Wilkins Pi8 buds are among the best wireless earbuds we’ve tested for sheer sonic performance, and the noise cancellation, features and fit all score highly too.
To add some context, the Pi8 buds are the latest version of B&W’s flagship buds. Previous versions performed well, but with niggles; this time, B&W has nailed it. It’s redesigned the buds to look sleek and stylish and, more importantly, to fit incredibly well. They sit snugly with well-distributed weight and real design consideration behind them.
Now, onto the two things that matter most: sound and ANC. If sound is your top priority, these are the buds to beat. They deliver an impressively high level of detail and dynamism across genres. Turning on ANC doesn’t degrade the audio quality either – it stays feeling like it’s from a renowned hi-fi brand. Thanks to the improved fit and seal, the ANC is also very strong – not far off the best we’ve tested, with near-silence that only a few rivals can top.
Beyond that, you get premium features here too, including something very unusualy: the case doubles as an audio re-transmitter so you can plug the earbuds into wired audio sources (meaning you can use them with in-flight entertainment systems, or locked-down work laptops).
There are on-ear controls, but note you’ll have to choose between being able to switch ANC profiles or having on-ear volume controls when setting them up, which is annoying. All in all, these are a seriously accomplished pair of earbuds. One of the best for ANC and our top pick if you want both excellent noise cancellationandoutstanding sound.
+Assertive, balanced and convincing sound +Extensive specification +Great comfort and ergonomics +Look and feel the money’s worth
Reasons to avoid
-Distinct difference between ‘ANC on’ and ‘ANC off’ sound -Battery life is ‘good’ rather than ‘great’ -Can be bettered for noise-cancellation
BUY THEM IF
✅You’re a multitasker:There’s world-first triple-device multipoint connectivity here, which is super convenient and ideal if you like to move between devices as you work.
✅ You want top sound:Packed with features, yes, but the audio quality is also excellent with an assertive and balanced sound.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌ You want long-lasting buds:The battery life here isn’t bad, but it’s nothing special. And it’s disappointing for long flights, listening all day at work or into the night.
❌ You want the best ANC:Noise-cancelling here is very capable (it’s why these buds are in this guide), but you can do better if you want near-silence.
The Technics EAH-AZ100 were released in 2025 and are an update on Technics’ much lauded EAH-AZ80 buds that came before them. They look, feel and sound premium with solid ANC, but it’s their features that earn them a place in this guide.
We’ve got triple-point connectivity here, allowing you to seamlessly connect to three devices at once, extra voice enhancement tech for calls and a ‘magnetic fluid’ driver that Technics says results in better low-frequency response and less distortion throughout the frequency range. The buds use Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless and there’s compatibility for SBC, AAC, LDAC and LC3 codecs – something for everyone. You should get a solid 7 to 8 hours of playback time from the buds themselves, with a decent one-and-a-half further charges. The buds also work with Qi-certified charging pads, too.
The Technics EAH-AZ100 may be our top pick for features, but they also look excellent and comfort is impressive, thanks to a smaller and lighter design on previous models. They sounded engaging, exciting and thoroughly musical during our testing, more than capable of giving the high-end buds a run for their money. The EAH-AZ100s are, of course, on this list because they offer good ANC, which isn’t best-in-class, but is impressive.
However, although ANC here is solid, we’d recommend you keep it switched off if you want the best quality audio. Yes, this is a shame, but for some reason the beautifully-handled low frequencies lose substance, which is why we didn’t award these buds the full five out of five stars in our review. Otherwise, however, you’re getting top-tier sound, a shopping list of features and great comfort.
The best noise-cancelling earbuds for sports
Bose
9. Beats Powerbeats Pro 2
The best noise-cancelling earbuds for sports
Specifications
Acoustic design:Closed
Weight:7g
Frequency response:Not stated
Drivers:9.5mm dual-layer driver
Battery life (on-board):Up to 10 hrs (buds), up to 45hr total
Reasons to buy
+Stuffed with features +Very secure, light and comfortable +Heart-rate tracking +Head-tracked spatial audio
Reasons to avoid
-Not the most sonically agile -Sound suffers with ANC off -Bulky case -Only IPX4 splash-proof
BUY THEM IF
✅ You want extremely secure earbuds:Into dancing? Gymnastics? Or just really intense workouts? These buds aren’t going anywhere.
✅ You want heart rate monitoring:If you’re not already keeping tabs on your ticker with a smartwatch or smart ring, these will do the job.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌Sound quality is a top priority:These buds don’t sound bad, not at all. But their audio doesn’t match the high standard of their features or design.
❌You want an open-ear design:They maylooklike one of the many pairs of open-ear models dominating the market right now, but the buds fit firmly in your canals.
We’ve reluctantly swapped out theBeats Fit Pro– our longtime “best for sports” pick – for the newer Beats Powerbeats Pro 2. And we say reluctantly because the Fit Pro are still an excellent choice, especially if you want a simple, secure in-ear design. But when it comes to high-intensity workouts – running, dancing, even gymnastics – the Powerbeats Pro 2 take the lead.
Why? They won’t budge once fitted and they come packed with some seriously impressive features, including head-tracked spatial audio, excellent battery life and a built-in heart rate monitor – which we found to be both accurate and genuinely useful. Now, if you’re already tracking your heart rate with a smartwatch or smart ring, you might not need this feature. But if you’re just looking for fitness-focused heart rate tracking without the commitment of 24/7 monitoring, it’s a great addition.
Stability is another major win. The Fit Pro are still rock solid, but the Powerbeats Pro 2 go a step further thanks to their in-ear fit and over-ear hook. In other words, these earbuds aren’t going anywhere. They also come in a few fun colors, which is always a nice bonus.
Sound-wise? They’re good, but not quite as premium as their features and design might suggest. The audio is energetic – almost too much at times – occasionally veering into tinniness. Of course, there’s active noise cancellation (ANC), otherwise they wouldn’t have made this list. It works well, but interestingly, turning it off makes the audio suffer even more.
The Powerbeats Pro 2 aren’t cheap, but if you’re going to take full advantage of their standout features – ANC, heart rate tracking, and rock-solid stability – they’re well worth the investment. Especially if you’ve never quite found earbuds that stay put during workouts.
The best noise-cancelling earbuds for battery life
10. JBL Live Beam 3
The best noise-cancelling earbuds for battery life
Specifications
Acoustic design:Closed
Weight:5g per earbud
Frequency response:20 Hz – 40 kHz
Drivers:10mm dynamic
Battery life (on-board):Up to 12 hrs (buds), up to 48hr total
Reasons to buy
+Excellent battery life +Screen is fun and can be useful +Audio quality is strong
Reasons to avoid
-Somewhat weak spatial audio profiles -ANC is good, but beaten by class-leaders
BUY THEM IF
✅ You need long, reliable listening:The battery life here is truly exceptional at 48 hours in total, and up to 12 hours from the buds alone.
✅ You like cutting-edge tech:It has a cool screen on it, that you can put your own images onto, and with some useful controls! Do your friends have that? No. Exactly.
DON’T BUY THEM IF
❌You want top spatial audio:Spatial audio is here, but we weren’t impressed by the experience. You’ll find better elsewhere.
❌You don’t like the feel of in-ears:If you’re not sure in-ears are for you there are better options. These buds tend to sit further into your canal than rivals.
Many earbuds pack in great ANC, but that often leads to a big reduction in battery life. This is hard to avoid given how much power is needed to nix noise effectively, so if you’re looking for something that leans further towards the battery end of the balance, the JBL Live Beam 3 are our top choice. You’ll get long listening sessions, or just won’t have to worry about charging your buds as often.
The JBL Live Beam 3 boast a seriously impressive 12 hours of battery from the earbuds alone or 10 hours with ANC. The case then delivers three further charges, meaning total playback time is up to a best-in-class 48 hours. That’s impossible to beat, especially with good ANC, sound and design as well. In terms of additional features, you’ll also get great call handling, six EQ presets or the option to create your own, and strong noise cancellation. Adaptive ANC is on-board, which adjusts the level of cancellation based on your surroundings. There’s also a feature called Auto Compensation, which adjusts audio based on your ear canal. If you switch off Adaptive ANC, you get a slider offering seven different levels of noise-nixing power.
Use a compatible smartphone and fire up a track from Qobuz or Apple Music and you can take advantage of Sony’s LDAC tech for higher-quality Bluetooth. These tracks are beautifully replayed. That doesn’t mean other tracks don’t sound impressive here too. In our review, we wrote: “Want big, exuberant sound that knows when to deliver large, but also when to pull back just a little, allowing the detail to shine through? That’s the sonic recipe the JBL Beam 3 present.”
The earbuds fit securely and snugly. Our reviewer has small ears and found them easy to wear, although it is worth mentioning that they do sit quite far into your ear canal – maybe avoid these if you’re already a little unsure as to whether you want in-ears or not. The other major design point is that the case has a screen on it, which surprisingly doesn’t drain the battery. You can access some basic features here, like putting a photo on the screen or using it as a flashlight. It’s not as smart as say a smartwatch, but it’s a cool addition.
More noise-cancelling earbuds we’ve tested
AKG N5:With good audio, a solid feature set and an in-case USB-C dongle, it’s easy to see why we awarded these buds 4 out of 5 stars in ourAKG N5 review.However, they don’t quite make the cut for this guide because they’ve got a disappointing battery life as well as several design issues we just couldn’t look past considering the price.
Apple AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation:More affordable than the AirPods Pro 2, and they have the same H2 chip powering them, but with an open-ear design instead of an in-ear some. Some will prefer this, but it means the sound and ANC aren’t atquitethe same high standard. In ourAirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation review, we said these are the best open earbuds for Apple fans – but we generally much prefer the AirPods Pro 2, which usually cost only a small amount more than these, but are better in most ways..
Creative Zen AirSXFI:As you’ll find in ourCreative Zen AirSXFI review, these buds boast exceptional stamina, lasting up to 39 hours. But the poor spatial audio and ambient profiles really let them down.
Earfun Air 2 NC:Look, they’re good. You’ve got some impressive ANC here for the price. But the design and ‘theater mode’ isn’t great, and they’re not the most detailed listen. If you’re on a budget, however, read ourEarfun Air 2 NC reviewand have at them.
Edifier Stax Spirit S10:If you’re looking for excellent sound, you’ll find it from these buds. However, the ANC isn’t great – soo they don’t deserve a spot in this guide. Do take a look at ourEdifier Stax Spirit S10 reviewthough if audio is your only priority.
Google Pixel Buds Pro 2:Battery life is good and they’re small and cute, but otherwise these Google buds were pretty disappointing all round. Read ourGoogle Pixel Buds Pro 2 reviewto find out why.
LGxboom Buds:We were very impressed with the bass output on off from these buds when we we tested them for ourLG xboom Buds review. But they’re not as sleek and aesthetically pleasing as rivals, with a sound we enjoyed but that needed a fair bit of tweaking too.
Noble FoKus Rex5:These earbuds really are one of a kind. They sound great, ANC is top and they’re finished to a very high standard. But they’re incredibly and expensive and they’re also just very,verygreen. If that’s your thing, take a look at our fullNoble FoKus Rex5 review.
OnePlus Buds Pro 3:In ourOnePlus Buds Pro 3 reviewyou’ll learn we enjoyed testing these buds, they deliver great sound and have impressive battery life. But they’re not quite good enough to beat the best buds in this guide.
Viaim RecDot:Here’s a different proposition from Viaim, buds packed with AI features that can record and transcribe, making meetings infinitely easier. Sound quality is good too, but as far as ANC goes they’re a little disappointing. Although they don’t beat the rivals in this list, we definitely recommend you take a closer look at ourViaim RecDot review,because if you want buds for productivity, transcription and meetings, it doesn’t get better than this.
If there’s one feature everyone wanted to see in CarPlay, it’s video playback. Of course, watching videos while driving isn’t safe. While parked, though, there’s no reason you shouldn’t be able to use your vehicle’s big screen to watch movies and shows.
Thankfully, according toApple’s developer websitefor CarPlay (via9To5Mac), the company is relenting. It’ll offer AirPlay video through CarPlay when not driving as part ofiOS 26, which sounds like something iOS users have longed for since Apple’s phone operating system was first announced.
The first significant catch is that the vehicle must be in park for the feature to work. That makes sense, as Apple wouldn’t want to encourage drivers towatch videos while driving. It’s a catch for sure, but it’s also one we fully expected to roll out with the feature.
How long until someone figures out a way around this limitation through nefarious means remains to be seen, but it’ll probably happen.
There’s another big catch. Each automaker will control whether its vehicle supports the video feature.
“AirPlay video in the car enables people to watch their favorite videos from iPhone right on their CarPlay display when they aren’t driving. Integrate support for CarPlay with AirPlay video to enable this feature in your car,” reads the description on Apple’s website.
So, for example, ifHyundaidecides it doesn’t want the AirPlay video enabled, then there’s nothing an owner can do to get around that.
Still, the new icons and addition of CarPlay video support are exciting for people who rely on Apple’s car interface. There’s also CarPlay Ultra coming, which will be built directly into cars and let you monitor all of the key gauges, as well as control the climate and radio.
Apple revealedmacOS Tahoe 26during its big keynote atWWDC 2025, and it will now be the final major update for Intel-based Macs.
DuringApple’s Platforms State of the Unionevent, it announced that macOS Tahoe will be the final release for Intel Macs. When macOS 27 arrives next year, only Macs with Apple Silicon, its M-series chips, will get the update.
This was inevitable, as every annual macOS update has older Macs drop off, and they’re all packed with Intel chips. This is across all of Apple’s PCs, including MacBook, iMac, Mac mini, Mac Pro and Mac Studio.
“If you’ve not done so already, now is a great time to help your users migrate to the Apple Silicon versions of your apps,” Apple’s Senior Director of Developer Relations, Matthew Firlik, told developers.
Many Intel Macs are already getting left behind with macOS Tahoe, such as the2020 MacBook Airand2020 MacBook Prowith two Thunderbolt 3 ports. But there are still a few that are getting support (more on this later).
However, these Macs don’t get the full breadth of features as those with Apple Silicon. As the Cupertino tech giant states in the small print, only Macs with M1 or later get access to all the latestApple Intelligence features.
It’s important to note that just because Intel Macs will stop getting support for macOS updates doesn’t mean they’ll be useless, as they will still get security updates.
Macs ending support in 2027
(Image credit: Apple)
Apple is dropping 7 Macs in the move to macOS Tahoe, meaning they’ll be stuck inmacOS Sequoialimbo. If you’ve got these PCs and want to get further updates, you’ll want to think about grabbing one of thebest MacBooksor others as an upgrade.
And, well, judging from the power that these chips deliver, and how MacBooks are some of thebest laptopsaround, it isn’t surprising for Apple to leave Intel behind.
Apple iPad users will soon be able to purchase original spare parts and tools for repairing their tablet directly from Apple, as the tech giant has now just added the first iPad models to its self-service repair program.
Apple will soon sell iPad replacement parts directly to consumers. (Image source: iFixit)
Apple has been offering spare parts for the iPhone and Mac since 2022, which end users can order directly from theApple Self Service Repair Store. The online shop also provides access to the tools required to carry out repairs, which can be purchased or rented depending on the tool. Repair manuals and diagnostic tools are designed to further simplify repairs.
The repair program is finally being expanded to include the Apple iPad, starting with the iPad Air with Apple M2 and newer, the current iPad Pro with Apple M4, the iPad mini with A17 Pro, and the iPad with Apple A16. Some of the most important components, such as the battery, display, cameras, and USB-C ports, are expected to be available at launch. These iPad replacement parts are not currently available in the Self Service Repair Store, but it shouldn’t be long before the range is expanded as announced.
As the iFixit teardown video (embedded below) reveals, Apple has made improvements to newer models such as the iPad Pro with Apple M4 that make repairs a little easier. However, it is still necessary to separate the display, which is glued to the housing, from the frame, which can easily damage the panel. Aside from the effort and the risk of damaging components, Apple’s Self Service Repair Store has one major drawback: high costs. While the prices for the new iPad replacement parts are not yet known, Apple sometimes charges more for a spare part for the iPhone than the repair would cost in the Apple Store.
Apple Pay joins PayPal and your standard credit or debit card as forms of payment for your PS5.
PlayStation
As first reported by9to5Mac, PS5 users now have a direct way to buy games in the PlayStation store with Apple Pay. When you purchase a game on your PS5 with Apple Pay, you’ll be shown a QR code that you can scan with your iPhone or iPad to complete the transaction from there.
Previously, PS5 users had to go through the console’s browser or the PlayStation App on iOS to buy games with Apple Pay. The latest update is a simple quality of life upgrade for PS5 owners since most already have a credit card tied to their PlayStation account. However, Apple Card owners can more easily take advantage of their 2 percent cash back on Apple Pay purchases when buying PS5 games.
Besides using a traditional card on file, Apple Pay joins PayPal as an alternative payment method. The Apple Pay compatibility on the PS5 was made possible through aniOS 18update that allows users to buy things on third-party browsers like Chrome and Firefox with a unique QR code. This change lays the groundwork for more Apple Pay implementation with other browsers and devices, including support for the PS4 in a later software update, as indicated by9to5Mac.
For many in the tech arena, the iPhone has been, and likely always will be, the gold standard for handheld mobile devices. The smartphones were the very definition of “game changer” when they debuted in 2007, and they have continued to evolve into some of the most technologically advanced devices on the consumer electronics scene in the years since.
These days, the iPhone has become such an advanced piece of tech that it tends to have lots of features and functions installed that many users don’t even know about. With the list of hidden iPhone features only seeming to get longer with every new iteration of IOS, it’s likely that some users will never fully grasp what their devices are actually capable of. Even as Apple continues to build new functions into the iPhone, a few have been around for a while now, though you still may not know about them.
For example, did you know that your iPhone has a barometer built into it? Apple’s iPhones have boasted a built-in barometer since the device’s sixth generation. As for why the Apple design team began incorporating barometers into the smartphones, it’s likely because a barometer can help provide the device with better readings for vertical location, which greatly improves the iPhone’s GPS capabilities. So, how exactly does a barometer aid in that particular endeavor?
If you are wholly unfamiliar with what a barometer does, the devices are designed to measure atmospheric pressure, which is sometimes called barometric pressure, hence the name. The devices have long been utilized by scientists and meteorologists, as changes in atmospheric pressure tend to coincide with changes in the weather. Historically, those devices have functioned with the aid of mercury, as the metal fluid is directly impacted by the amount of pressure in the air, though fluid-less aneroid barometers have also been utilized regularly.
Don’t worry, you don’t have a tube of mercury or an aneroid chamber built into your iPhone. Barometers went digital long ago, and the readings taken from digital sensors built into your iPhone are far more accurate and immediate than those taken by the old school instruments. If you’re curious how they take readings, the barometer is one of the reasons there are vents in the bottom of your iPhone, as the design feature allows air to enter the device for readings.
As for what the barometer in your iPhone is measuring, it, in part, uses the change in pressure to chart the device’s change in elevation, since air pressure can shift dramatically the higher or lower you are in the world. The barometer in your iPhone may be so sensitive that the readings shift by moving from the first floor of a home to the second. Readings from the barometer can also be used by certain weather and health-monitoring apps if you give permission for them to access that information.
Now that you know your iPhone has a barometer and is regularly charting the changes in atmospheric pressure depending on where you are in the world, you might be wondering how you can access this information. Unfortunately, it does not appear that you can directly access the information on your iPhone yourself. In fact, searching “barometer” on your device will produce exactly zero results.
That means you’ll need to visit ye old App Store and download a third-party feature if you want to tap into the barometric potential of your iPhone. As a reminder, the barometer did not debut in the iPhone until the sixth generation models made it to market. So, if you’re using an iPhone 5 or earlier, you will not be able to access the info because, well, there just won’t be any info to access. The good news is that, assuming you are using a barometer-equipped iPhone, there are several third-party apps to choose from in the App Store.
Among the higher-rated free apps you’ll find are the Barometer & Altimeter & Thermo from ExaMobile S.A. and My Altitude from Dayana Networks Ltd., which each boast a 4.8 stars out of 5 rating with more than 8,000 and more than 25,000 user reviews, respectively. The apps offer many of the same free features, with each offering in-app upgrades at a cost, meaning that the differences are primarily aesthetic. But if you’re interested, My Altitude does allow users to utilize barometric readings from NOAA instead of those taken directly by your iPhone, though there’s no guarantee of which numbers will be more accurate.
