Category: iPhone

It’s the battle of the budge phones

Budget phones can’t shake their notorious reputation of having poor cameras. I know this very well because the majority of them falter at when it comes to capturing images in low light. However, in my experience, that’s not the case with theNothing Phone3a Pro andGooglePixel 8a.

Everyone knows that I’m a fan of thebest cheap phonesaround because of how they cost a fraction of the price. In myNothing Phone 3a Pro review, I call out how it’s super rare to find a triple camera system in a phone for under $500 — and one with a dedicated telephoto lens at that. Of course, in myPixel 8a review, I also noted how AI features can make a big difference in adding value to a camera phone.

That’s why I’m seeking out which is the worthierbest camera phonecontender with my 200 photo shootout between the Nothing Phone 3a Pro and Pixel 8a. By snapping the same set of photos, inspecting the images side-by-side on a monitor, and then grading them in the 10 categories below, we can see which device truly offers the best photos for a low price.

I’m astounded by what you get with the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, which features a 50MP main snapper, 8MP ultrawide, 50MP telephoto with 3x optical zoom, and a 50MP selfie camera. In contrast, the Pixel 8a sports a dual-camera setup that pairs a 64MP main camera with a 13MP ultrawide — and a 13MP selfie around the front.

Don’t let those specs get to your head just yet — they’re never indicative of their real-world performance.

Photo sequence：Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs Pixel 8a

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Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs Pixel 8a: Daytime

I’ll tell you this about the main cameras on both the Nothing Phone 3a Pro and the Pixel 8a: they’re nearly flagship caliber, so you can count on them to reliably capture a scene. I looked through all the snapshots above and there’s not one that has an overpowering performance, but the Pixel 8a has enough strong characteristics to win me over.

When I look at the first shot of the wooden sign, I like the stronger contrast of the Nothing Phone 3a Pro — but the Pixel 8a draws out a tiny bit more detail in the sign.

I see that, too, with the second image of the tree next to the house. Zoom into the branches and you’ll see how the Pixel 8a catches a little more definition, while also boosting the shadows.

Winner:Pixel 8a

Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs Pixel 8a: Ultrawide

Both ultrawide cameras have the same 120-degree field of view, so they have the same reach from the same exact position. However, the Pixel 8a produces the better results.

Even though both are light with the details, I like how the Pixel 8a applies a bit more sharpening and how it brightens up the photos. I can see it in the dunes in the far background in the first set of ultrawide shots, along with the wooden sign in the second set.

Winner:Pixel 8a

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Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs Pixel 8a: Colors

Colors are thankfully not too oversaturated or overpowering as they can be on some other phones. But the Pixel 8a applies just enough to make its shots pop more.

I personally like the more vibrant pinks, reds, and yellows of the Pixel 8a with the shot of the wreath. In contrast, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro looks dull.

In the second set of photos with the flower vines, the slight saturation of the Pixel 8a makes it stand out more.

Winner:Pixel 8a

Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs Pixel 8a: Dynamic range

When it comes to testing out their dynamic range, I purposely chose high-contrast scenes that have strong light that cast shadows over certain parts of the shot. This one’s another close race, with neither the Nothing Phone 3a or Pixel 8a demonstrably outperforming the other.

In the gazebo shots with the townhomes in the background, the Pixel 8a casts the slightly brighter shot, but the rocks in front of the gazebo are slightly better exposed on the Pixel.

However, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro draws the brighter image in the shots with the colorful sign in the middle. In the third set of photos of the beach homes in the background, the shadowed areas of the exterior appear evenly exposed with the two phones.

Winner: Tie

Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs Pixel 8a: Macro

Even though the Nothing Phone 3a Pro includes a dedicated macro mode, it actually relies on the main camera for it rather than the ultrawide. The Pixel 8a doesn’t offer any macro mode, so it clearly can’t match the minimum focal length of its rival.

Overall, I really like the Nothing Phone 3a Pro for close-ups because I’m able to snap photos much closer. The Nothing Phone 3a offers 3x and 6x zoom with macro photos, so it has an inherent advantage.

If you look at the first set of photos of the tree buds starting their bloom, there’s much more detail with the Nothing Phone 3a Pro, like the fuzzy sprouts around the buds.

Winner:Nothing Phone 3a Pro

Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs Pixel 8a: Panorama

Oddly enough, panoramas are a clear strength for the Nothing Phone 3a Pro — so much so that it’s not close. It’s strange because both the Nothing and Google phones utilize their main cameras for panoramas, but given how the Pixel 8a fared better in the daytime, I’m surprised by its lackluster shots here.

What’s most apparent in all the panoramas above is that there’s a lot more detail captured with the Nothing Phone 3a Pro. Just look at the red wooden railing with the first set of shots.

In the second set with the sun directly in front of me, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro has a more consistent exposure throughout the scene.

Winner:Nothing Phone 3a Pro

Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs Pixel 8a: Zoom

Due to how the Nothing Phone 3a packs a dedicated 50MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom, it enjoys an advantage with zooming. The Pixel 8a doesn’t have its own telephoto camera, so it leans on the main camera and pixel zooming for everything, with the Super Res Zoom feature cleaning up any distortion from digital zoom.

I shot all the photos above at 3x and 8x zoom to give you an idea of how they differ. The Nothing Phone 3a Pro comes in handy as a result of its optical zoom, which produces the sharper, more legible words in the first set of shots with the parking sign on the street.

In the second set with the wooden sign, the results are very close at 2x zoom, but the Nothing Phone 3a Pro pulls out more definition all around the wooden sign at 8x zoom.

Winner:Nothing Phone 3a Pro

Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs Pixel 8a: Low light

When I compared theNothing Phone 2a vs Pixel 8alast year, Google clearly won the low light category by a wide margin. This time, however, the tides have turned.

Impressively, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro beats out the Pixel 8a in every nighttime shot above. What’s important to note here is that there’s very little ambient light in the scene. With the shot of the tree in my backyard, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro’s performance stands out for its superb contrast and better detail.

In the second batch of photos, the results are no different as the Pixel 8a’s shot of the tree is underexposed and softer. This is a big change from last year and shows how much the Nothing Phone 3a Pro has improved in low light.

Winner:Nothing Phone 3a Pro

Nothing Phone 3a Pro vs Pixel 8a: Verdict

If there’s something I can say about this photo shootout, then it has to be that budget phones can confidently capture photographs. Gone are the days of fuzzy details and grainy looking low light images. That’s because the Nothing Phone 3a Pro and Pixel 8a prove you can get excellent photos in a sub-$500 package.

Technically speaking, the Pixel 8a wins more categories in this shootout. Its strengths lie in its strong main camera performance, portrait mode, and exceptional selfie camera.

On the flip side, the Nothing Phone 3a Pro is a pro at zooming, low light, panoramas, and macro photography. I favor those areas much more, which is why I’d personally pick the Nothing Phone 3a Pro over the Pixel 8a. I’m also quite impressed with the Nothing phone’sastrophotography performance.

For the value, you can’t deny that the Nothing Phone 3a Pro has more of it due to its triple camera arrangement. Of course, with a rumoredPixel 9alaunch coming up, it won’t be long before the Nothing Phone 3a Pro faces another challenge for the best low-cost camera phone crown.

This is just one of the growing companies setting up shop elsewhere to escape the US-China trade war.

(Image credit: Shutterstock)

Lenovo is moving all PC manufacturing to India over the next three years, the company announced at Tech World India 2025, and is preparing to do the same for its AI GPU servers in Pondicherry, India.

Lenovo has produced 12 million units in India and is planning to increase that to nearly 17 million to meet incoming domestic and international demand, according to aDigiTimes Asiareport detailing the news.

Although it didn’t mention tariffs, Lenovo — a Chinese-owned company with five factories in China and one in Mexico — owns 12% of the U.S. laptop market. President Trump’s 20% tariff on China and 25% tariff on Mexico will therefore impact its pricing strategy, making Lenovo laptops more expensive than the competition.

Lenovo isn’t the only company moving out of China to escape Trump’s tariffs. ASRock announced in early February that it will move manufacturing operations to Vietnam and Taiwan. HP made a similar announcement just a few days ago, saying that 90% of products bound for the U.S. will be made outside of the East Asian country by October this year. Even Dell said it’s diversifying its supply chain, meaning it will reduce its reliance on Chinese factories to make its products.

Aside from the tariffs, the White House’s export controls on the latest AI chips also force some PC parts manufacturers to move their operations. PC Partner, the manufacturer behind Zotac, Inno3D, and Manli brands and one of the largest GPU manufacturers in the world, ismoving its headquarters to Singapore, with a rumored production shift from China to Indonesia.

Other chip companies like Amkor Technology, Hana Micron, and even Intel arepouring billions of dollars into Vietnamto shift production away from China.

Trump administration’s tariffs on Chinese goods are starting to take effect in the computer industry, with some larger companies announcing investments within the U.S. to move manufacturing within its shores. This includes TSMC, which announced anadditional $100 billion in spendingon three new fabs, two advanced packaging factories, and an R&D center in its Arizona campus.

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Trump also announced during his speech to the joint session of Congress that other companies, like Apple and Oracle, are investing hundreds of billions of dollars more because they want to avoid the tariffs that he’s placed on Canada, Mexico, and China.

Moving manufacturing inside the U.S. might not be viable for smaller companies, however. So they’re moving to nations with friendlier ties to the U.S., like India, Taiwan, and Indonesia, that aren’t affected by the tariffs. These moves will likely take years, especially if a particular company does not yet have an existing facility within the region.

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So as they wait for their production facilities and supply chains to come online, companies will have no choice but to raise their prices to cover the tariffs the White House has placed on their products.

Consistent muting

Apple keyboard mute buttons, old (left) and new (right)(Image credit: Apple)

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• The Mac mute button now matches the on-screen graphics
• Keyboards for MacBooks and iPads have been updated
• It’s the first tweak to the button design since back in 1999

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Appleunveiled some shinynew MacBook Airsfor 2025 earlier this week – and as well as featuring the latest M4 chipsets inside, they also correct a keyboard oversight that’s been around since the last century.

As spotted byiCulture(viaMacRumors), the mute button on the keyboard now shows a small speaker with a strikeout line through it. Previously, the icon was just a speaker, with none of the sound waves next to it that the other volume buttons show.

Why does this matter? Well, as you’ll notice if you’re reading this on a Mac, if you tap the mute button on an Apple keyboard, you get a speaker icon with a strikeout line through it on screen. The keyboard graphics now match the macOS visuals.

It’s not much of a change in the grand scheme of computing upgrades, but it’s nice to now have some consistency. The old mute button icon has been around since the launch of the PowerBook G3 all the way back in 1999.

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Looking good

The updated laptops bring with them a fresh color(Image credit: Apple)

Apple hasn’t said anything officially about the updated iconography, but the change has also been made on the new Magic Keyboard that comes with the refreshed7th-generation iPad Air tablet, powered by the M3 chipset.

That would indicate the new look is here to stay, and will continue to feature on Mac keyboards going forward. The next computers we’re expecting from Apple are the M5 MacBook Pros, duebefore the end of the year.

Judging by the comments in the MacRumors article above, this isn’t something that has been particularly confusing or frustrating for users – but given Apple’s usual attention to detail, it’s strange that the inconsistency has persisted.

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Our full review of the M4 MacBook Air is still in the pipeline, but we have managed to get some hands-on time with the updated laptops already – and the fresh Sky Blue color is definitely one that catches the eye.

Don’t give away your toys just yet.

Nintendo

TheNintendo Switch 2is less than a month away from itsbig reveal on April 2. Details about the new portable console are slowly trickling out, and the latest info gives some good news for collectors of the interactive action figures, the Amiibo. 

Nintendo has filed new FCC filings for what appears to be the Switch 2, which confirm a few features, as first spotted byThe Vergeon Friday. Nintendo’s new console will support Wi-Fi 6 for faster internet speeds, both USB-C ports will be able to charge the console and it will be NFC compatible, which allows it to communicate with the Amiibo toys. 

Nintendo first introduced theAmiibo in 2014 for the Wii U alongside Super Smash Bros. for Wii U as a way to transfer data between the toy and console. Eventually, support for the toys spread to the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Switch. Originally, the toy line featured Nintendo mascots, but soon non-Nintendo characters had their own Amiibo, including Sora from Kingdom Hearts, Solaire of Astora from Dark Souls and Pac-Man. 

You can see the Switch 2 was tested with an HAC game card, meaning a cartridge from the original Switch. Nintendo previously confirmed the Switch 2 would be backwards compatible.Image: FCC

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Other features confirmed for the Switch 2include:

• Backward compatibility with original Switch games 
• A slightly larger screen
• Improved graphics
• Joy-Cons that connect via magnets
• Option to use a Joy-Con as a mouse

Details such as the release date or price have yet to be confirmed, although there is speculation that the console will launch sometime over the summer and retail for $400. However, pricing may change due to recently introduced tariffs. 

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More details about the Switch will be revealed on April 2. A lucky few will be able to play with the Switch 2 before its launch at the Nintendo Switch 2 experience events taking place around the globe. 

Sound detection will be dropped on the Home Max in a few months.

What you need to know

• Google Home Max users are losing the sound detection feature in May 2025.
• The feature is available for Nest Aware subscribers, and will remain for other Home and Nest devices.
• Sound detection made it possible to receive notifications when your Home Max hears dangerous sounds.

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Google released the Home Max smart speaker back in 2017, and many are in use today. However, as the company recently communicated in an email to owners, theGoogle Home Maxis losing the sound detection feature (via9to5Google). This feature used the Home Max microphone to listen for dangerous sounds, like glass breaking or a smoke alarm ringing, and sent a push notification to the user’s smartphone.

It required aNest Aware subscription, but will be sunset for the Google Home Max on May 8, 2025. Google says that the feature will still be supported “on your other Google devices with your Nest Aware subscription.” It’s unclear why the feature is being dropped specifically from the Home Max, although the speaker is getting old.

“Starting May 8, 2025, your Google Home Max will no longer have the sound detection feature as part of yourNest Aware subscription,” the email reads. “Sound detection (which alerts you if glass breaking or a smoke/carbon monoxide alarm is heard) will still be supported on your other Google devices with your Nest Aware subscription.”

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Sound detection is useful for making sure you don’t miss important security events while you’re away from home. A notification that glass broke or that a smoke or carbon monoxide detector went off could help homeowners respond to problems quickly. It’s especially helpful for people deep into the Google Home/Nest ecosystems, as you can look into live camera feeds to respond to sound detection pings if you have them.

As of now, sound detection will still be available onGoogle Homeand Google Home mini hardware. 9to5Google points out that the Google Home Max runs an older firmware version, number 1.56.275994, than those other two models, which run 3.75.456944. This major disparity could be a reason why sound detection is being dropped.

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The Google Home Max was discontinued four years ago, but still receives updates.

The Yoga Solar’s worst enemy is the cloud, and for once we don’t mean Microsoft OneDrive.

Sustainability is near and dear to our hearts, and the Yoga Solar PC Laptop Concept showcased at this year’s Mobile World Congress expo is a fascinating look at how recent advances in solar technology and ultra-efficient processors intersect to make a laptop that is nearly self-sustaining in broad daylight.

That’s right, you didn’t misread.Lenovohas designed a laptop that runs on the power of the sun. This was no pie-in-the-sky idea or bold claim, either. Lenovo brought the laptop toMWC 2025and proudly displayed a fully realized model.

While it’s not the first solar-powered laptop we’ve ever seen (RIP Sol), it is an impressive revival of that concept that seems all the more fitting as companies chase down ways to minimize carbon footprints and bolster battery efficiency beyond making sure your devices come in recyclable boxes.

With that in mind, how could wenotaward the Yoga Solar laptop our Laptop Laurel award for the best concept of MWC 2025?

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MWC 2025 Best Concept: Lenovo Yoga Solar

Thanks to the 84 solar cells in the Yoga’s top panel lid, just 20 minutes of charging in direct sunlight allows the Yoga Solar to charge enough battery power for 1 hour of video playback. Lenovo is reporting a 24.3% conversion rate on the Yoga Solar’s back-contact solar cells, which can absorb light from any source above 0.3 watts.

Combined with anIntel CoreUltra “Lunar Lake” chipset, those 84 solar cells create a laptop that might never need to charge at an outlet. The Yoga Solar concept laptop already has a spec sheet, though it is naturally a bit vague, listingIntelCore Ultra processors, integrated Intel Graphics, up to 32GB of memory, up to 1TB of SSD storage, and a 14-inch OLED display panel.

But the Yoga Solar doesn’t just sound cool from a sustainability perspective, it also looks fantastic.

Lenovo’s Yoga series is often the more stylish, premium Lenovo consumer laptop, and the Solar concept is no different. Thanks to a gloss panel over the 84 solar cells, the Yoga Solar looks sleek and modern, even with solar panels on the lid.

Many tradeshow concepts exist just to prove a design point and push boundaries, but they won’t ever make it into the world. While it may be a few years before we see a full production version of the Yoga Solar, Lenovo does have a history of bringing various concept laptops to life.

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The ThinkBook Plus Gen 6 debuted as a concept laptop atMWC 2023, but the rollable laptop is shipping later this year. Lenovo’s MagicBay system was aCES 2024 concept, but some of the accessories have already hit the shelves.

With a little luck, Lenovo will eventually bring the Yoga Solar to full production. Strap MIL-STD rating on this laptop and you may have one of the most impressive bits of travel tech on the market.

More importantly, it may kickstart a sustainability trend in tech that benefits the user just as much as it does the environment.

 Apple has launched its first in-house C1 modem with the iPhone 16e, marking a major step toward modem independence. The C1 modem focuses on power efficiency, laying the groundwork for a future where Apple fully controls its modem technology.

Apple has long been known for itspush toward self-reliance, designing everything from its A-series and M-series chips to its own operating systems. Yet despite the efforts, there was still one crucial component the company had to source from elsewhere: cellular modems.

That has changeda few days agowith the debut of the Apple C1 modem, launched as part of the iPhone 16e in late February 2025.

This development marks a major shift in the mobile device industry, setting the stage for a potential breakup between Apple and Qualcomm, a company that has dominated the modem business for years.

But how did Apple get here? And what does this mean for both companies and the smartphone industry as a whole?

Let’s break it down.

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The road to Apple’s in-house modem

Apple’s journey toward developing its own modem began in 2019 when itacquiredIntel’s smartphone modem division for $1 billion.

This acquisition was a crucial first step in Apple’s push to reduce its reliance on Qualcomm. Intel had been struggling to develop competitive 5G modem technology, and Apple saw an opportunity to take over the project and develop its own solution.

The deal gave Apple access to critical wireless connectivity patents, a team of over 2,200 engineers, and existing modem designs that could serve as a foundation for its new modem development. And yet, Apple eventually realized that designing a high-performance, power-efficient 5G modem was far more challenging than anticipated, with the company’s engineers encountering numerous issues related to power consumption, network stability, and compatibility with global carrier standards.

Initial prototypes failed to match the performance of Qualcomm’s leading modems, causing significant delays. Apple had originally aimed to release its own modem by 2023, but the setbacks forced the company to extend its existing agreements with Qualcomm multiple times.

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The breakthrough: Apple C1 modem (2025)

After years of development, Apple’s C1 modem was finally introduced in February 2025, making the affordable iPhone 16e the company’s first device to feature an in-house cellular modem.

The modem represents Apple’s push toward total hardware and software integration. While the C1 modem does not set new industry benchmarks for raw speed, it has been highly optimized for power efficiency, reportedly consuming 20 to 25% less power than Qualcomm’s modems powering the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup as a result.

This improvement leads to a better battery life, with the iPhone 16eachievingup to 53 minutes better runtime during continuous 5G usage compared to devices using Qualcomm modems.

However, the launch of the C1 modem does not mean Apple is fully independent from Qualcomm just yet. Due a long-termagreement, Apple will continue using Qualcomm modems in its premium iPhone models until at least 2027.

This phased approach allows Apple to fine-tune its modem technology without downgrading the experience for its main user base.

If any major issues arise with the C1 modem in the iPhone 16e, Apple has plenty of time to refine its design before transitioning all iPhones to its in-house solution.

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What this means for Apple

Apple’s ability to design its own modem gives it greater control over both hardware and software. By integrating its modem with its proprietary chipsets, Apple can optimize performance and efficiency in ways that third-party solutions don’t allow.

This follows the same approach Apple took with its transition from Intel processors to its M-series chips in Macs, leading to better battery life and faster performance.

Financially, moving away from Qualcomm modems could save Apple billions in licensing fees, increasing its profit margins. Although the transition will take time, long-term benefits are set to be significant enough.

Apple is expected to continue refining its modem technology, with future versions likely to be built on TSMC’s advanced 3nm process, improving both efficiency and connectivity.

Beyond iPhones, Apple’s modem technology may come to iPads, Macs, and even Apple Watches. This would further reduce reliance on external suppliers and give Apple full control over wireless connectivity across its entire product lineup.

What this means for Qualcomm

Losing Apple as a customer is most likely going to be a major financial hit for Qualcomm, as Apple’s orders make up a significant share of Qualcomm’s modem business profits. While Qualcomm will continue providing its modem IP to Apple until 2027, it must prepare for the eventual loss of this revenue stream.

To offset this, Qualcomm is expected to focus on expanding its presence in the Android market, automotive sector, and IoT connectivity. However, competition in these areas is growing, particularly from MediaTek and other chipmakers.

If Apple does indeed fully transitions away from Qualcomm modems, Qualcomm will need to adapt its business strategy to stay competitive.

Another potential concern is legal battles. Apple and Qualcomm have a history of lawsuits over modem patents, and if Apple stops licensing Qualcomm’s technology in the future, another dispute may come fairly soon.

What’s next?

The Apple C1 modem is just the first step. While C1 is not yet as fast or widely used as Qualcomm’s modems, it lays the groundwork for future products and innovation. With rumors about C2 andeven C3now out there, we’ll have to wait and see what happens.

Source(s)

Apple Newsroom,Bloomberg,Geekerwan on YouTube

Apple’s latest tablet closes the gap further, but should you still go Pro?

(Image credit: Apple)

Afterweeks of speculation,stoked by Tim Cook himselfearlier in the week, Apple hasannounced a refresh of its iPad Air, a year after it shook things up with a new 13-inch size option.

With the iPad Pronot expected to get a new version until the M5 chipset launches, buyers eager for a new Apple tablet right away have a simple choice to make: iPad Air M3 or iPad Pro M4?

We’ve outlined the key differences between the two below, so you can make an informed decision.

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iPad Air M3 vs iPad Pro M4: Specs

	iPad Air M3	iPad Pro M4
Price	$599 (11-inch) | $799 (13-inch)	$999 (11-inch) | $1299 (13-inch)
Display	11-inch Liquid Retina display (2360 x 1640) | 13-inch Liquid Retina display (2372 x 2048)	11-inch Tandem OLED (2420 x 1668 pixels) | 13-inch Tandem OLED (2752 x 2064 pixels), ProMotion support
Rated brightness	500 nits (11-inch) | 600 nits (13-inch)	1000 nits (SDR) | 1600 nits (HDR)
Rear camera	12MP main (ƒ/1.8)	12MP main (ƒ/1.8)
Front camera	12MP (f/2.0)	12MP (f/2.0)
Chipset	Apple M3	Apple M4
Storage	128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB	256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB
Battery	28.93 wH (11-inch) | 36.59 wH (13-inch)	31.29 wH (11-inch) | 38.99 wH (13-inch)
Size	9.74 x 7.02 x 0.24 inches (11-inch) | 11.04 x 8.46 x 0.24 inches (13-inch)	9.83 x 6.99 x 0.21 inches (11-inch) | 11.09 x 8.48 x 0.2 inches (13-inch)
Weight	1.01 pounds (11-inch) | 1.36 pounds (13-inch)	0.98 pounds (11-inch) | 1.28 pounds (13-inch)
Colors	Blue, Purple, Starlight, Space Gray	Silver, Space Black

iPad Air M3 vs iPad Pro M4: Price

This category is really straightforward. TheiPad Air M3is significantly cheaper than the iPad Pro M4.

The 11-inch iPad Air M3 starts at $599, while the 13-inch version costs $799. Both can be upgraded with cellular connectivity and up to 1TB of storage, meaning prices can rise to up to $1,249 for the smaller version and $1,449 for the larger model.

Those prices spiral quickly, but not as fast as they do with theiPad Pro M4. The 11-inch model starts at $999, with the 13-inch version beginning at $1,299. Extra costs can take things even higher, not only with the same cellular data option as before, but with up to 2TB of total storage, and a nano-texture glass option for models of 1TB or over.

The upshot of this is that you can pay up to $2,299 for the 11-inch version, or $2,599 for the larger model.

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iPad Air M3 vs iPad Pro M4: Design and display

In terms of look, there’s not a great deal of difference between the two tablets at a glance, which is hardly surprising when the two share the same screen size. Both are sleek-looking tablets with extremely thin bezels and a front-facing camera placed on the wider edge, for easier use in landscape mode.

That said, the iPad Pro is thinner: it’s 0.21 inches thick for the 11-inch version and 0.2 inches thick for the 13-inch model, compared to 0.24 inches for both iPad Airs. It’s also lighter, weighing either 0.98 or 1.28 pounds, compared to the iPad Air’s 1.01 and 1.36 pounds.

Although the two share screen sizes and look, the underlying panel technology is very different. While the 2024 iPad Pro was the first Apple tablet to adopt OLED screen technology, the iPad Air persists with an LCD Liquid Retina panel.

The upshot of this is that the Pro model will offer better picture quality with unbeatable contrast thanks to perfect blacks and brighter brights. On top of that, while the Pro models adopt 120Hz ProMotion displays for smoother animations, the new Airs are still stuck at 60Hz, which is a big drawback.

There’s one other important design detail that will become apparent as you use it; While the iPad Pro now uses FaceID for unlocking, the iPad Air persists with TouchID via a fingerprint reader built into the power button.

iPad Air M3 vs iPad Pro M4: Performance

(Image credit: Apple)

Despite early predictions that the iPad Air might match the iPad Pro with the use of the latest M4 chipset, Apple has decided to merely reduce the gap rather than eliminate it completely.

The M2 chipset has been upgraded to M3 which should give it a decent boost — Apple says it will be 2x faster than the M1 iPad Air and 3.5 faster than the model with the A14 Bionic — but will still leave it lagging behind the Pro models.

While it’s not a perfect point of reference, ourcomplete set of M-series MacBook benchmarksshould give you a rough idea of what to expect in terms of performance. In single-core testing, MacBook Pros scored 2,589 when powered by M2, 3,138 for M3 and 3,807 for M4. The difference is greater in multi-core testing: 9,630 for M2, 12,018 for M3 and 15,114 for M4.

In day-to-day use, the difference may not be all that noticeable — especially as both iPads support Apple Intelligence — but if you want peak performance and comparative futureproofing, the iPad Pro is the way to go.

iPad Air M3 vs iPad Pro M4: Camera

This is probably the least important category of all, as few people use tablets for photography.

Nonetheless, there isn’t much between the two. Both have two 12MP cameras, one on the front and one on the back. The former has a f/2.0 aperture, while the latter has a f/1.8 one.

The only real difference is that the iPad Pro version has a TrueDepth camera, which means it supports FaceID. iPad Air users will stick with TouchID via the fingerprint sensor on the power button.

iPad Air M3 vs iPad Pro M4: Battery life

(Image credit: Apple)

It looks like the iPad Pro will have the edge here, once again. The iPad Air has a 28.93 or 36.59wH cell, compared to the iPad Pro’s 31.29 or 38.99wH battery capacity.

How that will manifest itself in terms of hours and minutes away from the charger will have to wait for our full testing, but the iPad Air has its work cut out. In our tests, the 2024 iPad Pro went a massive 13 hours and 13 minutes, comfortably beating the M2 iPad Air’s ten hours and 39 minutes.

iPad Air M3 vs iPad Pro M4: Verdict

In a result that should surprise nobody, the tablet with a starting price of $999 comfortably beats the one that’s just $599.

But the question is whether the differences really add up to $400 worth of value, and many would argue not. M4 power and FaceID is certainly nice, but other than the 120Hz OLED screen, most of the advantages the iPad Pro has won’t leave Air owners feeling too jealous.

In short, if you want the best, most future proof and sleekest-looking Apple tablet around, feel free to splurge on the M4 iPad Pro. But most users will be just fine with the brand-new M3 iPad Air.

A much easier way to keep track of beta tests?

(Image credit: Shutterstock/Hopix Art)

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• Sony has announced Beta Program at PlayStation
• It provides a “centralized place” to keep track of PS5 and PC tests
• Tests may include PS5 and PC games as well as upcoming console features

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Sonyhas announced a new initiative named Beta Program at PlayStation, which aims to offer a convenient hub to keep track of any and all pre-release tests forupcoming gameson PS5 and PC as well as new features.

The accompanyingPlayStation Blog posthas all the details, with SIE senior director of content communications Sid Shuman describing the initiative as “an easy, centralized place for you to register your interest in a range of future PlayStation betas.”

It doesn’t sound too dissimilar to the Xbox Insider program for Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, Xbox One and PC which allows users to register interest in a range of tests for new games and features.

The post continues: “A single registration for Beta Program at PlayStation will allow you to express interest in gaining beta access to test participating games for the PS5 console and PC, new PS5 console features, PlayStation App features, and even user experience features on PlayStation.com.

“You only need to sign up once to express interest in these various betas, and if you receive an invitation to a specific beta, it’s up to you to decide whether you’d like to participate or not.”

You can sign up for Beta Program at PlayStation over at itsdedicated landing page, the only requirements being that you have a valid PlayStation Network account, live in a supported region and are at or above the legal age requirements for your region.

Additionally, it’s worth noting that signing up for Beta Program at PlayStation doesn’t necessarily guarantee entries into any and all game and feature tests. This seems to be more of a way to collect those tests in one handy sign-up place instead of having to trawl through separate blog posts or emails.

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Here are the requirements:

• Players must have a valid account for PlayStation Network in good standing with a current email address. Accounts with restrictions or violations may not be eligible for participation.
• Players must live in the region where Beta Program at PlayStation is available.
• Players must meet the legal age requirement for their region.

A new MacBook Air has just arrived alongside a new Mac Studio

(Image: © Apple)

AppleCEOTim Cookchanneled his inner Phil Collins this week by posting “There’s something in the Air” as a teaser. Yesterday we saw the arrival of anew iPad Air M3 tablet with a refreshed Magic Keyboard, and now Apple has followed that up by launching a new MacBook Air M4 and Mac Studio.

First, a recap of yesterday’s news. That new iPad Air comes in 11-inch or 13-inch sizes, both of which cost the same as before. You can pre-order the 11-inch model for $599 / £599 / AU$999 or the 13-inch version for $799 / £799 / AU$1,349 ahead of a March 12 delivery, in your choice of Blue, Purple, Starlight, or Space Gray color options.

Apple also quietly updated the base iPad, doubling the base storage but keeping the A16 chip. This means it won’t get Apple Intelligence – an odd decision, considering how much Apple has been promoting its AI features.

Fortunately for MacBook Air fans, that wasn’t the end of the news. Apple has now also announced a new MacBook Air M4 model (complete with a slight price cut from last year) and a Mac Studio, which it’s calling “the most powerful Mac ever”. Here’s all the latest news and reaction in another big day for Apple…

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6 March 2025 at 05:38

Game time

The evolution of gaming on the Mac is moving along quite well, especially as our Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff saw a demo of Cyberpunk 2077 running on the ultra-powerfulnew Mac Studio.

For folks who want a Mac, let’s say specifically or mostly for gaming, the case could be made for a machine with the best chip and a hefty amount of RAM to ensure everything runs smoothly. We’ve seen a steady stream of AAA titles become available for all M-series, and while they do run well on theMacBook Airand even theMini, it’s likely the Mac Studio will deliver the best of the best experience.

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6 March 2025 at 04:40

Making big comparisons

There’s some interesting choice of comparisons in Apple’s press release about the M4 MacBook Air. Note how often it’s compared to an Intel MacBook Air, even though such a thing hasn’t been sold since 2020.

• Spreadsheet calculation performance in Microsoft Excel is up to 4.7x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air, and up to 1.6x faster than the 13-inch MacBook Air with M1.
• Video editing in iMovie is up to 8x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air, and up to 2x faster than the 13-inch MacBook Air with M1.
• Photo editing in Adobe Photoshop is up to 3.6x faster than the fastest Intel-based MacBook Air, and up to 2x faster than the 13-inch MacBook Air with M1.
• Web browsing is up to 60 percent faster when compared to a PC laptop with an Intel Core Ultra 7 processor, and more demanding tasks get up to 2x faster performance.

Cynics will possibly say that Apple is just trying to offer the biggest possible comparison numbers – but I think it’s probably a lot more deliberate than that. Apple knows alotabout people’s buying behavior and how often they update, and I’m guessing that it’s got strong data saying that people who bought Intel MacBook Airs or MacBook Pros are starting to now look to replace them. It’s making the case for what a huge update the MacBook Air will be to these people specifically.

6 March 2025 at 03:19

The color of hue

The Blue Sky MacBook Air is an interesting one, in that it takes this laptop further towards meeting the iPad Air, which has been available in lovely pastel hues for a while. If this takes off, will we get pink and green MacBook Air models? I’d beverytempted by the latter, and I could see Apple releasing them later in the year, to tempt people to buy one for the holiday season.

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6 March 2025 at 02:12

“It’s perhaps a little odd that the Mac Studio uses the M4 Max, but the M3 Ultra – and not an M4 Ultra. There are three obvious potential reasons why:

• The M4 Ultra might just produce too much heat for the Mac Studio’s thermal design to handle compared to the M3 Max
• The M4 Ultra would be two M4 Max chips Frankensteined together, and perhaps Apple thinks it will struggle to make enough M4 Max chips to meet supply if it has to use two of them per M4 Ultra model sold
• The Mac Pro is perhaps about to be upgraded as well, and the M4 Ultra is being saved for that (perhaps partly connected to the reason above – maybe Apple would struggle to produce enough Ultra chips for both machines)

Of course, there could be any other marketing or logistical reason, but it remains one of the more surprising foibles of the new machines.”

6 March 2025 at 00:34

Alongside debuting the MacBook Air with M4, Apple removed the MacBook Air with M3 for sale, as we expected with a new generation, but also removed the MacBook Air with M2, which was the entry point to the lineup.

The 13-inch MacBook with M4 at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699 fills that entry-level spot. Arguably, that will get Apple’s latest chipset in the hands of more folks at a more affordable price. In the United States, with an educational discount, the MacBook Air is just $899 with the M4 chip, 16GB of RAM, and 256GB of storage.

Even so, while Apple is no longer selling the M2- or M3-powered MacBook Air, there is a good chance that third-party retailers will still offer it until stock runs out. Remember, you can still find the M1 MacBook Air at Walmart for a pretty unbeatable value.

5 March 2025 at 23:38

Early thoughts on the MacBook Air M4

The editor is very familiar with the MacBook Air series and Apple’s M4 chip, having done in-depth tests of both. And he reckons the new M4 version looks very promising, on paper.

“It’s good to see the 13-inch MacBook Air M4 launch at $999, the original price of the M1 MacBook Air. That’s incredible value for money considering the premium design and build quality” he said.

“And from my time using the M4 chip in the latest MacBook Pros, and last year’s iPad Pro, I’m pretty confident that it will be a great performer,” he added. We’ll give you our official verdict on where it sits in our guide to thebest laptopssoon once we’ve done some benchmarking and real-world testing, of course.

5 March 2025 at 23:13

I’ve decided… the new Sky Blue looks like a winner

At first, I was a bit surprised that Apple had replaced Space Grey with its new Sky Blue color option for the MacBook Air M4. I always thought Space Grey was a bit of a default option and maybe Apple’s most popular hue (though I have no data to back this up).

But after looking at the available photos of the new color, I’ve decided it’s probably the one I’d go for. Space Grey is a bit serious for what is an entry-level laptop and metallic blue color looks like a nice compromise between going too iMac and keeping things safe and dull.

The color-matched MagSafe charging cables are nice, too. I’ll reserve final judgement until I see it in the flesh, mind…

5 March 2025 at 22:40

That MacBook Air M4 price drop…

Here’s some confirmation of that unexpected, but very welcome, MacBook Air price cut with international pricing.

The 13-inch model starts at $999 / £999 / AU$1,699, which is a drop from the MacBook Air M3’s tag of $1,099 / £1,099 / AU$1,799. If you want a bigger screen, the 15-inch version starts at $1,199 / £1,199 / AU$2,099, which is again a drop from last year’s starting tag of $1,299 / £1,399 / AU$2,199.

That new M4 chip brings more power in the form of a 10-core CPU and up to a 10-core GPU. You can also upgrade the laptop to 32GB of unified memory, though the base model starts at 16GB RAM.

All in all, getting those upgrades for less money than last year is likely to make the new MacBook Air very popular indeed. Still a but surprised that Apple dropped the Space Grey version for the new Sky Blue shade, though…

5 March 2025 at 22:11

And just for good measure… a new Mac Studio

Well, this is turning into quite a day for Mac fans. Apple has also just announced a new Mac Studio, which it’s billing as “the most powerful Mac ever”.

It seems that Apple still wants to make sure this relatively compact desktop offering is still overclocked. It offers a range of ports, with the two USB-Cs now being a Thunderbolt 5 flavor, but the real change is under the hood.

The Mac Studio comes with the M4 Max, which is already well-reviewed, and a brand-new M3 Ultra. And while it’s not an “M4 Ultra,” it’s the most powerful one in the lineup, essentially fusing two M3 Max chips.

You can pre-order the Mac Studio from today with prices starting at $1,999 (we’ll follow up with international pricing shortly).

5 March 2025 at 22:01

The MacBook Air M4 is here!

So it’s finally here – Apple hasjust announced the new MacBook Air M4. Alongside that new M4 chip, Apple has upgraded its 12MP FaceTime camera with some Center Stage powers – it also now has two Thunderbolt 4 ports, a boost from last year’s Thunderbolt 3 ones.

And wait, there’s also a new color. Apple has replaced the Space Gray option (which I always thought that was the most popular) with Sky Blue, which it’s offering alongside Midnight, Starlight and Silver.

Pre-orders for the MacBook Air M4 open today ahead of shipping on March 12 – the 13-inch model starts at $999 and the 15-inch one starts at $1,599. Impressively, that looks like a $100 price cut from last year. More news on the promising entry-level laptop and its international pricing when we get it…

5 March 2025 at 21:35

This time yesterday…

Yesterday’s iPad Air M3 announcement took place at 9am ET / 2pm GMT. Could Apple repeat that trick today for the M4 MacBook Air?

It’s by no means certain – Apple’s launch process seems much more scattergun and unpredictable these days. But I’ll certainly be keeping a close eye on my inbox andApple’s newsroomas the clock ticks closer to that time…

5 March 2025 at 20:30

The end of Apple’s 64GB era

An interesting footnote from yesterday’s launches, as spotted byMacRumors– Apple no longer offers any iPhones or iPads with 64GB storage options.

That’s because theiPhone 16eandnew base iPad A16have replaced the last two models that offered what today seems a pretty measly 64GB of base storage.

Of course, many will see 128GB as too little storage in this day-and-age, but we can expect the MacBook Air M4 to go beyond that if it arrives today. The current M3 model offers 512GB, 1TB and 2TB options, albeit for the usual hefty Apple premium…

5 March 2025 at 19:52

What to expect from the M4 MacBook Air

It’s been a long wait for a MacBook Air M4, with the MacBook Pro, iMac, and Mac Mini all getting Apple’s latest silicon before the entry-level laptop. But what can we expect if it does indeed arrive today?

On the performance front, someleaked benchmarks last monthshowed that the M4 Air could be only slightly behind theM4 MacBook Proin terms of performance and efficiency. Naturally, this will also come down to how you spec the laptop and we won’t know for sure how it performs until we test it, but the Geekbench hints are promising.

Aside from that new M4 chip, the next MacBook Air is also expect to get an improved LCD display (sadly anOLEDpanel is still a few years away), a better webcam, and stronger support forconnecting multiple monitors.

As someone who’s running an aging MacBook Pro from mid-2018, I’m definitely keeping a close eye on the new Air to see if it offers better value than a new Pro.