Month: September 2022

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 could be the most popular foldable phone of 2023. Here’s everything we know about it.

Models in Samsung’s Galaxy Z Flip range are the most popular foldable phones on the planet, and with good reason – they pair a folding form factor with decent specs and a relatively affordable price.

Hopefully, the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 will continue that trend, and in this article, we’ve created a wish list of what we want from the device beyond that.

But that’s not all. We’re already starting to hear rumors about what the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 might offer, so you’ll find those below, too, along with information on the phone’s possible release date and price. 

We’ll be updating this article whenever we hear anything new about the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, so check back regularly for the latest information. 

Cut to the chase

What is it? The next entry in Samsung’s foldable Z Flip line

When is it out? Probably August 2023

How much will it cost? Likely around $999.99 / £999 / AU$1,499

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 release date and price

While there’s no news yet on when the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 will be announced, we can take a good guess. We predict we’ll see it on August 9, 2023, because that’s the second Wednesday of next August, and Samsung launched the Galaxy Z Flip 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 3 on the second Wednesday in August of their respective release years.

Based on past form, there will probably then be a wait of around two weeks before it ships, so you should be able to have it in your hands in late August, if our predictions are right.

The price is harder to predict, but it’s likely to cost a similar amount to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, which starts at $999.99 / £999 / AU$1,499.

The Galaxy Z Flip 5 might have a similar price to the Z Flip 4 (Image credit: Future / Alex Walker-Todd)

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 news and leaks

One early Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 leak is a claim that it will use a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset (of the sort powering the phones in the newly released Samsung’s Galaxy S23 range). 

Given that the Galaxy Z Flip 4 uses the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1, this always looked likely – though if there’s a Plus version of the Gen 2 chipset on the horizon, then the Galaxy Z Flip 5 may end up packing that. 

Elsewhere, we’ve heard from another source that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 might have a 3.3 or 3.4-inch cover screen. That’s up from just 1.9 inches on the Galaxy Z Flip 4, so would be substantially larger. 

A Twitter leak of the Motorola Razr 2023 showed a similarly large cover display that wrapped around the camera lenses. Following that, another Galaxy Z Flip 5 leaker confirmed that Samsung’s design would be very similar. It looks like the clamshell battle will take place on the cover this year. 

We have also heard that the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 will have a new hinge design that will reduce the visibility of the seam. It’s known as a waterdrop hinge, and a second rumor about this also says the phone will be waterproof.

Lastly, a recent report suggests the Flip 5 will be offered in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB storage variants, which are the same storage options Samsung opted for on the Z Flip 4. The 128GB variant reportedly won’t benefit from UFS 4.0 speeds, though. Instead, being the cheapest option of the three, the baseline Flip 5 will stick with its predecessor’s UFS 3.1 specification.

Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5: what we want to see

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 wasn’t much of an upgrade on the Galaxy Z Flip 3, so we want to see bigger improvements from the next model, including the following things.

1. A telephoto camera

The Galaxy Z Flip 4 is lacking in cameras (Image credit: Future / Alex Walker-Todd)

A telephoto lens is a standard feature across almost all high-end phones, yet it’s a feature the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 lacks.

In fact, the Z Flip 4 only has a dual-lens camera, comprised of a 12MP primary and 12MP ultra-wide snapper, so it’s quite basic and lacking on the photography front. We want to see big upgrades here for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, with a telephoto lens added and ideally upgrades to the other cameras too.

2. Better battery life

Battery life is a problem for a lot of phones and even more so for foldables, as they tend to have smaller batteries than similarly-sized conventional handsets.

That’s presumably because the folding mechanism takes up space that could otherwise be used by a battery, but it’s a definite issue; often leading to sub-par longevity.

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4, for example, only has a 3,700mAh battery, and in our review, we noted that its output was underwhelming, so we want to see a battery boost in the Galaxy Z Flip 5.

3. A lower price

The Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 is actually one of the more affordable foldable phones, but for the specs you get – folding screen aside – it’s still fairly expensive, so we’d love to see Samsung push the price down a little further for the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5.

This probably won’t happen – especially if there are significant upgrades to the specs – but it would make the device all the more appealing.

4. A bigger cover screen

The Z Flip 4 has a tiny cover screen (Image credit: Future / Alex Walker-Todd)

While the 6.7-inch foldable main screen on the Galaxy Z Flip 4 is a decent size, the 1.9-inch cover display – which is what you can see and interact with when the main screen is folded shut – is too small to do much with.

Sure, it can show notifications and the time, but it’s too tiny to properly interact with, meaning that for most smartphone functions you have to flip the phone open. We’d like to see a bigger secondary screen on the next model, allowing you to keep the phone folded shut more often.

5. More substantial upgrades

We’ve detailed some of the upgrades we want above, but just in general we want the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 to feel like a substantial improvement on the Galaxy Z Flip 4.

The last two models have been extremely similar to each other, so it’s past time we saw some major updates – and we’ll need to for this to have a good shot at ranking among the best foldable phones.

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The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 could be the best foldable phone of 2023. Here’s everything we know about it so far.

Samsung has almost perfected the foldable phone over the last few years, and its upcoming Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 is expected to be even better than the current models in its flagship foldable range. 

We’re not expecting to see the device until quite late in 2023, so there aren’t too many rumors about just yet – but we have heard a few tidbits, and you’ll find all of those below, along with information on the phone’s possible release date and price.

We’ll also be updating this article whenever any new leaks or rumors emerge, so keep it bookmarked if you want to stay in the loop.

Plus, at the bottom of this article, you’ll find a wish list of the key things we want to see from the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, to ensure it fixes all the issues with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4.

Cut to the chase

What is it? Samsung’s next flagship foldable phone

When is it out? Probably August 2023

How much will it cost? Unknown but expect it to be very expensive

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 release date and price

There’s no word yet on when we might see the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5, but the Galaxy Z Fold 4 was announced on August 10 of 2022, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 3 was unveiled on August 11 of 2021. The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 2 was also announced in August of its release year, albeit slightly earlier on August 5.

So early to mid-August seems likely for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5. These announcements all happened on a Wednesday too, so our best guess for a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 release date is Wednesday, August 9 of 2023.

As for the price, there’s no word on that yet either, but the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 starts at $1,799 / £1,649 / AU$2,499, so a similar price is possible.

The price is likely to be similar to that of the Galaxy Z Fold 4 (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 news and leaks

There’s only been a handful of real Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 leaks so far, with the first one pointing to the foldable having a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chipset.

That would be the successor to the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 and Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 chipsets that power many of 2022’s best Android phones, including the Galaxy Z Fold 4. So either the Gen 2 (of the sort powering the Samsung’s Galaxy S23 range) or a Plus version of it always seemed likely.

The same source also suggests the phone will have a triple-lens rear camera with a 50MP main sensor. That’s exactly what the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has – with the other two sensors being a 12MP ultra-wide and a 10MP telephoto – so this might mean there aren’t many upgrades to the camera.

Secondly, the phone is apparently getting a waterdrop shape hinge, enabling the two sides of the device to lay completely flat against each other. That would improve the durability of the foldable, in theory. This has since been backed up by a second report, which adds that the phone will be waterproof.

And thirdly, a recent report suggests the Fold 5 will be offered in 256GB, 512GB and 1TB variants, which are the same storage options Samsung opted for on the Z Fold 4.

Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5: what we want to see

For Samsung to make the ultimate foldable phone there are five key things it needs to do, which we’ve highlighted below.

1. The same cameras as the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra

The Z Fold 4’s cameras are good but not great (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

The cameras on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 aren’t bad at all, but they aren’t Samsung’s best, despite it being the company’s most expensive phone. Anyone who can spare the sort of money the Z Fold 4 costs is likely to want the best of the best, and on the camera front it just doesn’t manage that.

So for the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 we want the phone to match the camera configuration of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra, which based on past form probably will have the company’s best snappers.

2. No visible crease

As impressive as Samsung’s foldable screens are, the company hasn’t cracked the crease, with it being visible and something you can feel when you swipe across the display.

This isn’t a big deal and is something most people will quickly get used to, but it is an imperfection in an otherwise excellent screen, so we’d like to see Samsung successfully hide it on the Galaxy Z Fold 5.

3. A lower price

The Z Fold 4 is too expensive to ever have mainstream appeal (Image credit: Future)

The single biggest issue with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 is simply how much it costs, as this is one of the most expensive phones on the planet – almost making the iPhone 14 Pro Max look cheap by comparison.

It’s no surprise the price is high given the size of the screen and the tech involved, but if this foldable line is ever to be truly mainstream then the price needs to drop, and we hope Samsung starts decreasing it with the Galaxy Z Fold 5.

4. Faster charging

Most Samsung phones have rather slow charging, and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is no exception. It tops out at 25W wired or 15W wireless, both of which are far lower than other flagships like the 150W OnePlus 10T or the 120W Xiaomi 12 Pro.

We don’t expect or need Samsung to reach those sorts of levels of charging power, but we’d like to at least see the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 split the difference and offer around 60W-80W.

5. A bigger battery

Along with faster charging, we’d also like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 to have a bigger battery. At 4,400mAh, the one in the Galaxy Z Fold 4 is average in size at best, and actually smaller than the batteries in plenty of conventional phones.

But given that this has a huge foldable screen, it could do with a particularly big battery. So at a minimum, we want a 5,000mAh one in the Z Fold 5 – the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra has that, so it shouldn’t be too much to ask for.

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We’re starting to believe the next iPhone 15 Pro Max may go by the name iPhone 15 Ultra, and the differences don’t stop there.

Apple set off a tectonic shift in the iPhone world last year when it added a new device, and a new naming scheme to the iPhone 14 line-up, with the iPhone 14 Plus.

Originally believed to be the ‘iPhone 14 Max’ and designed to complement the sizeable iPhone 14 Pro Max – with a simpler chip, display and camera system, the 14 Plus also showed that Apple wasn’t beyond reworking its product names for better clarity.

Rumors now suggest that the company will apply a similar treatment to the top of 2023’s iPhone 15 lineup. Instead of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, it’s starting to look like we might be introduced to an ‘iPhone 15 Ultra’, set to sit above the iPhone 15 Pro. 

The naming is not out-of-character for Apple. The company just launched an extreme version of its smartwatch – loaded to the gills with features – called the Apple Watch Ultra. 

The notion of an Apple iPhone 15 Ultra makes sense to us and breaking away from the Pro in name will give Apple better justify any differences Apple decides to inject into its two most capable 2023 iPhones. It’s likely that the 15 Ultra will be more than just a bigger screen and battery, as is the case with the current iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.

That said, there’s no guarantee we’ll see an iPhone 15 Ultra at all – with one source claiming we’ll be waiting until the iPhone 16 for an Ultra model, and that it will sit above the Pro Max rather than replacing it. So you’ll find leaks and rumors about both possible phones below.

Cut to the chase

What is it? The biggest and baddest of Apple’s expected 2023 iPhones

When is it out? Likely either September 2023 or September 2024

How much will it cost? Probably even more than the iPhone 14 Pro Max

iPhone 15 Ultra release date predictions

Apple events historically happen in the first or second week of September. The company likes to make an announcement on a Tuesday or Wednesday, then start pre-sales the same Friday. The phone usually arrives in stores the Friday following.

For the iPhone 14, that event fell on September 7 (admittedly, earlier than expected), with three of the four phones going on sale over a week later, on September 16 (the iPhone 14 Plus arrived on October 7). 

In 2023, that means September 5 or 12 are likely event dates (both are Tuesdays), though the 6 and 13 are possibilities too. We could see the phone in stores as early as September 15. 

That all assumes that there is an iPhone 15 Ultra of course, but one leak suggests we won’t see the first Ultra model until 2024 – meaning it would likely launch in September 2024 as the iPhone 16 Ultra.

Apple’s current top dog: the iPhone 14 Pro Max (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

iPhone 15 Ultra price leaks

The early leaks about how Apple will price the iPhone 15 Ultra are telling. Apple may start the Ultra phone at $1,199. This would put the phone in the same pricing tier as Samsung’s current “Ultra” device, the Galaxy S23 Ultra. That phone starts at $1,199.99 / £1,249 / AU$1,949.

However, a more recent leak suggests it could be even pricier, at $1,299, likely equating to £1,429 / AU$2,249 in other regions.

The current iPhone 14 Pro Max costs $1,099 / £1,199 / AU$1,899, which itself represents a price hike outside of the US market over last year’s model. We think it’s possible that when Apple switches from ‘Pro Max’ to ‘Ultra’, or adds an Ultra above the Pro Max as the case may be, it will bump the price by $100 or $200 in the US with corresponding price hikes elsewhere.

Whatever the case, a price increase of some amount seems likely, with even Apple itself suggesting that customers could be willing to pay more.

Hopefully, that price increase will also come with more reasons to buy. The current iPhone 14 Pro Max gives you a bigger screen and battery than the standard 14 Pro, and that’s it. That’s a big bonus for $100, but if Apple is going to push the price even higher, it needs to offer more features and more hardware to justify the price.

Fortunately, one source claims that the starting capacity will be 256GB, which is double the starting size of current models, and would go some way to justifying the price.

iPhone 14 Pro Max: $1,099 / £1,199 / AU$1,899

Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra 5G: $1,199.99 / £1,149 / AU$1,849

iPhone 15 Ultra (expected): $1,199 / £1,309 / AU$2,099 – $1,299 / £1,429 / AU$2,249

iPhone 15 Ultra news, rumors and leaks

We have already heard quite a bit about the expected iPhone 15 with rumors reaching back to before the iPhone 14 series’ launch, but only recently has news of a higher-tier Apple iPhone 15 Ultra emerged. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman mentioned right after launch of the 14 line that an Ultra would be coming, and that was the first we had heard of this new possible nomenclature.

After that, we heard further confirmation from other iPhone 15 leaks, and one leaker suggested that in addition to a bigger screen and battery, the iPhone 15 Ultra could see a better camera setup than its iPhone 15 Pro sibling.

The information came across rather vague, with the leak saying that Apple was testing a much-anticipated 8K video recording feature for its next iPhone, but the leaker was unsure if this feature would be coming to the iPhone 15 Pro or just the higher-end iPhone 15 Ultra. This set off speculation that the Ultra phone could see camera improvements over the Pro.

On that front, we’ve specifically now heard that the iPhone 15 Ultra might at least have more advanced image processing skills than the iPhone 15 Pro.

Unofficial renderings showing off the iPhone 15 Ultra/iPhone 15 Pro Max have now shown up online, and there’s not much change from the iPhone 14 Pro Max: there’s a USB-C port, and a slightly shallower camera bump, and the edges of the chassis look like they’re going to be a little more curved.

Samsung’s Galaxy S22 Ultra is a step ahead of its Galaxy S22 Plus and base model Galaxy S22, and one significant improvement is the addition of a periscope-style telephoto zoom lens. Leaks suggest Apple could also use a periscope zoom on its larger Ultra device, and size requirements for such a lens would make more sense on the larger phone compared to the smaller iPhone 15 Pro that is expected next fall too.

Another camera upgrade could come in the form of a new Sony sensor that apparently captures more light and is better at avoiding overexposing or underexposing shots than current smartphone cameras, even in tricky scenes where the foreground lighting is very different to the background.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max cameras (Image credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)

We’ve also heard that the Ultra might have a dual-lens front-facing camera, with the same source also saying it might only come in one shade – the same silver color as the Apple Watch Ultra.

Elsewhere there’s a reputable source claiming that the Pro models of the iPhone 15 line (presumably including the iPhone 15 Ultra) will get a USB-C port with support for data transfer speeds of up to either 20Gbps or 40Gbps, up from just 480Mbps on current iPhones. We’ve heard similar claims from multiple sources now. We’re also expecting Wi-Fi 6E support on this phone.

Of course, it’s sure to be very powerful too. Expect an A17 Bionic chipset, which a source claims might be a lot more efficient than the A16 Bionic used by the iPhone 14 Pro line, which could in turn lead to better battery life.

It might even be more powerful than the same chipset in the iPhone 15 Pro, with one source claiming the software won’t limit the chipset as much on the Ultra. The only real reason the software would limit it in the first place is to stop the phone overheating, so that also suggests the iPhone 15 Ultra might have a better cooling system.

Beyond that, we’ve also heard that the iPhone 15 Ultra might be clad in titanium, which is typically stronger and lighter than the stainless steel used by the iPhone 14 Pro Max. This claim comes from a tweet by leaker LeaksApplePro, who isn’t one of the biggest leakers but has been right before.

Another source has now said the same, so this might well be true. This second source has added that the sides will apparently be a different shape too, with them curving in to the rear of the phone, rather than being a right angle.

(Image credit: @URedditor)

More evidence of that comes from the image above, which reportedly shows an iPhone 15 Pro with brushed metal sides, which are likely titanium, and with curvier edges than current models. So while that’s a different phone, the same design changes may well come to the iPhone 15 Ultra as well.

This image additionally shows a USB-C port, adding credence to the claims that we’ll see such a port on the upcoming iPhones.

A further rumor has suggested that the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Ultra are going to have thinner bezels than their predecessors, and that all the models in the range are set to have curved edges.

Another design tweak could come in the form of solid-state power and volume buttons, which sit flush with the body of the phone and don’t physically move.

These are the best iPhones you can buy

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The Nvidia RTX 4060 may be released as soon as 2023, but what do we know about it so far?

With Nvidia’s Lovelace graphics cards out in the wild now – the RTX 4090, 4080, and 4070 Ti – we’re finally seeing what these powerful cards are capable of and so far the results have been more than impressive. But it does seem that the Nvidia RTX 4060 has been totally forgotten in the mix, at least by Nvidia itself if not the grapevine.

And while it’s not nearly enough to satiate our thirst for new information, we have gotten a taste of what to expect when the follow-up to one of the best graphics cards released in the past few years is announced.

With that said, Nvidia has revealed literally nothing about the RTX 4060 at this point, so all we really have are either rumors or conjecture based on our own expert analysis and previously known facts. And unfortunately, there was no news on the chip during Nvidia’s GTC 2022 event on September 20, 2022.

So what do we know about Nvidia’s next-gen “budget” graphics card, how do we think it will stack up against AMD’s RDNA 3, and when do we think we’ll eventually see it? Here’s everything we’ve heard and what we expect to see in the next several months.

Nvidia RTX 4060: Cut to the chase

What is it? One of Nvidia’s next graphics card

When will it be available? No news of it a release date as of now

What will it cost? Given inflation, likely slightly higher than the RTX 3060

Nvidia RTX 4060: Release date

(Image credit: Chiphell)

According to the rumor mill, most of the 4000-series is set to launch in 2023, though since it missed the January 2023 date we have no idea when it’ll launch this year. It’s pretty much a toss-up right considering that Nvidia already launched the RTX 4090, 4080, and 4070 Ti.

In fact, most likely the Nvidia RTX 4060 will be the last model to launch in 2023, just behind the 4080 and 4070 Ti models (and a possible 4070 model). According to well-known hardware leaker Greymon55, the reason for the general delay for most of the Lovelace cards is due to the excess stock of current-gen RTX 3000-series graphics cards that retailers need to burn through first, something that looks more likely with all the sales and generally lower MSRP on these cards.

Nvidia RTX 4060: Price

(Image credit: Chiphell)

Unlike its release window, there haven’t been any real rumors or reports as to the MSRP of the GeForce RTX 4060.

Thanks to recent image leaks, it’s possible that Nivida could be dropping a Founders Edition at a significantly cheaper price than its other offerings (think around the $350 price range) If it supports 1080p HD gaming then you have a card that most gamers could buy and use with their current setup. That’s especially since many have 2000-, 1600- or even 1000-series cards they’ve been itching to upgrade for years now.

In the meantime, check out the best cheap graphics cards to hold you over until we get an announcement on the Nvidia RTX 4060.

Nvidia RTX 4060: Specs

(Image credit: Chiphell)

No rumors or leaks surrounding the GeForce RTX 4060 have suggested exactly what the specs could be, but it is expected to be more power-hungry than the RTX 3070.

Thanks to some whispers from the grapevine, the RTX 4060 reportedly uses way more power than the GeForce RTX 3070, which already has a TGP of 220W. And when you look at the 50W increase between the 2060 and 3060, we get a clearer picture as to what kind of wattage potential we could see with the 4060.

This also implies that the specs are set to be much higher, if this GPU is commanding so much power in the first place.

Nvidia RTX 4060: Design

Recently, we may have gotten our first look at the RTX 4060, specifically a Founders Edition. The images, reported on by KitGuru, came from a Twitter user leaker and showcase some of the design of the card. 

The build looks more plasticky, including the white trim lining across the card and the black trim at the top where the connector is. We can also see that the fan build is very similar to the RTX 4090, 4080, 3090, and 3080 graphics cards, based on its opposite fan design.

This would be great news, as a plastic-based Founders Edition build would be much cheaper for buyers. It also makes the design leaks much more credible as it’s far less likely that someone would forge a basic-looking plastic card instead of a gorgeous metal-forged one.

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Here’s what we’ve already heard about the iPhone 15, almost a year before it’s expected to release.

Time stops for no one, and so we’re already looking towards the iPhone 15, despite the fact that the iPhone 14 has only recently been unveiled.

Already though there are quite a lot of leaks and rumors about the iPhone 15 series – including the possibility that we could see an iPhone 15 Ultra instead of an iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Yes, that’s right – pre-release information about the upcoming iPhone is already out there, this far in advance. That’s not a total surprise, as Apple leaks sometimes take place years in advance of the product launch.

To give you a (very early) idea as to how the upcoming phone – as well as its family of siblings – will look, we’ve compiled all the news, rumors and predictions here. Expect this article to see many updates between now and September 2023.

Cut to the chase

What is it? Apple’s 2023 generation of smartphones

When is it out? Likely September 2023

How much will it cost? Possible price increase over iPhone 14

iPhone 15 release date

Likely to launch in the first half of September
The shipping date will probably be a week or so later

We haven’t heard any iPhone 15 release date or launch date rumors yet, but that’s to be expected – they rarely occur more than a month before the launch event itself.

For the iPhone 14, that event fell on September 7, with three of the four phones going on sale over a week later, on September 16 (and the iPhone 14 Plus on October 7). Apple generally picks the first or second week of September for its launches, and usually opts for a Tuesday, though occasionally goes for a Wednesday event.

In 2023, that means September the 5 or 12 are quite likely (both are Tuesdays), though the 6 and 13 are possibilities too.

The entire iPhone 14 family (Image credit: Apple)

iPhone 15 price

Pricing could be similar to last year
If anything prices may rise rather than fall – other than maybe the Plus

With regards to the price, again we haven’t heard many leaks or rumors, but the iPhone 14 range presented a slight price increase over the iPhone 13 equivalents. This could be repeated in 2023 for the iPhone 15.

For context, while there are four members of the iPhone 14 family, here are the prices for the cheapest, and most expensive, options:

iPhone 14 128GB: $799 / £849 / AU$1,399

iPhone 14 Pro Max 1TB: $1,599 / £1,749 / AU$2,769 

So that’s the full scope of the current range’s pricing, though obviously there are many devices and storage choices between those points.

As for the iPhone 15 line, one price rumor points to the iPhone 15 Ultra – a new phone that could land in place of an iPhone 15 Pro Max – starting at $1,199 (likely around £1,309 / AU$2,099 based on Apple’s typical pricing) at best.

The iPhone 14 Pro Max starts at $1,099 / £1,199 / AU$1,899, so if accurate the next model would be at least $100 more expensive.

That’s believable, especially as Apple has suggested people are willing to spend enormous amounts on a phone.

However, the iPhone 15 Plus might be cheaper than the iPhone 14 Plus according to a leak. This change would be because the iPhone 14 Plus isn’t selling brilliantly. For reference, the iPhone 14 Plus starts at $899 / £949 / AU$1,579.

iPhone 15 design and display

Every model might have a Dynamic Island
One or more models might have a titanium frame

A big iPhone 14 Pro feature is that ‘Dynamic Island’, a fancy marketing name for the ‘punch-hole’ front-facing camera that Apple is using, and a leak suggests that the non-Pro iPhone 15 models could get this too.

We’ve also more recently heard from multiple sources that every iPhone 15 model will get the Dynamic Island – but that the standard phone and the iPhone 15 Plus will be stuck with a 60Hz screen still.

Contradicting that Dynamic Island claim, though, is the belief from some that the iPhone 15 series could use under-display cameras, that sit below the phone screen to ensure no display space is taken up. However, at TechRadar, we’re not too sure about this one.

The iPhone 14 Pro’s Dynamic Island. (Image credit: TechRadar)

As for the design, one source claims that at least some iPhone 15 models might have titanium sides. They added that the sides might curve towards the back of the phone on the iPhone 15 line, rather than being a right angle like with the iPhone 14.

These curved sides are still being decided on by Apple though according to another source, so there’s a chance they won’t happen.

That said, a leaked photo has now emerged showing those curved sides, along with a brushed metal (likely titanium) finish on what’s reportedly an iPhone 15 Pro, so there’s a good chance these changes will happen. There’s also a USB-C port – more on which further down.

(Image credit: @URedditor)

Another rumor suggests that all four iPhone 15 models are going to get slightly curved edges – so we might be heading back to the iPhone 11 look – while the Pro and Pro Max (or Ultra) phones will have thinner bezels too. Meanwhile, the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus are apparently getting a new camera bump.

Also on the design front, the iPhone 15 Pro – and likely also Ultra – could get solid-state volume and power buttons that don’t physically move.

Some unofficial renders based on case specifications have emerged online too, and you can see one of them below. If these are accurate, then the Pro models are going to come with thinner display bezels, edges that are more curved, and bigger camera bumps compared with the phones that came before them.

The iPhone 15 Pro might look like this (Image credit: 9to5Mac)

Further renders showing off the iPhone 15 Plus and the iPhone 15 Pro Max have since emerged as well, showing the same design changes: USB-C, more rounded edges, and the addition of the Dynamic Island on the less expensive models.

It looks as though the dimensions of the iPhone 15 handsets are going to be more or less the same as their iPhone 14 equivalents, although there are reportedly going to be some slight variations in the size of the camera bumps.

iPhone 15 camera and battery

The top model could have a periscope camera
We might see all four phones equipped with a 48MP main sensor

On the camera front, we’ve heard that the Pro models might come with periscope cameras that should improve the telephoto zoom capabilities.

That said, a big leaker suggests that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will actually be called the iPhone 15 Ultra – following on from Apple’s adoption of this suffix elsewhere – and will bring extra features over the iPhone 15 Pro.

A key example listed is in the camera department, as while the iPhone 15 Pro is apparently expected to retain the telephoto zoom lens of the 14 Pro, the iPhone 15 Ultra is rumored to get a periscope lens for even further zooming, likely around 5x. So we might only see the very top phone get a periscope snapper.

We’ve actually heard this quite a few times now, from various sources, making it sound very likely – though whether the phone with the periscope camera will be called the Ultra or the Pro Max is less clear.

That’s not the only possible camera upgrade though, with another source saying a new Sony sensor will be used by the iPhone 15 line, one that’s state-of-the-art, captures more light than current sensors, and avoids overexposing or underexposing shots.

Plus, all four models might have a 48MP main sensor according to analyst Jeff Pu (via 9to5Mac), which would be an upgrade for the cheapest two.

We haven’t heard anything about the battery yet, but in terms of charging, one report suggests Apple is working on a reverse wireless charging feature, which could let you use your iPhone to wirelessly charge other gadgets, such as an Apple Watch.

Leaks surrounding this feature have existed for years, so don’t get your hopes up, but it’s a possible inclusion.

iPhone 15 specs and features

An A17 Bionic chipset for the Pro models and an A16 Bionic for the others
All four phones might get USB-C

When it comes to the core specs of the iPhone 15, there’s some things we’re almost certain of. For example, one report says that Apple is working on the 3nm A17 Bionic chip for the iPhone 15. Given that the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max use the A16 Bionic, and that 17 is one higher than 16, we could have guessed this anyway.

One report goes into more detail though, saying that the A17 Bionic should be more efficient than the A16 Bionic, which would likely lead to improved battery life.

However, the iPhone 14 used the older A15 Bionic chip, also seen in the iPhone 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max, and another report suggests that this new trend – of the non-Pro phones using the older chipsets – may well continue. That’s a claim we’ve heard multiple times, so in other words the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus might use an A16 Bionic.

Sticking with chipsets, it seems likely that Qualcomm will be supplying the 5G modem again. The Snapdragon X70 looks certain to get picked, offering improved performance from the Snapdragon X65 in the iPhone 14.

As for the other specs, we’ve heard predictions that the Pro models are going to make the jump to 8GB of RAM with the iPhone 15. Another difference between the Pro and non-Pro models could be support for Wi-Fi 6E in the case of the Pro models.

We might also see a USB-C port on every iPhone 15 model. The EU has told Apple that it has to add USB-C charging ports to iPhones from 2024, but lots of fans believe that Apple will adopt the charging standard earlier, in 2023 instead – and at least one leak points in that direction.

More recently we’ve heard another reputable source say the entire iPhone 15 line will get USB-C, but they added that only the Pro models will offer upgraded data transfer speeds. This has now been stated by multiple sources.

These two phones could apparently have data transfer speeds of either 20Gbps or 40Gbps, while the standard iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Max would reportedly be stuck with the same 480Mbps speeds as the current models.

We’ve also now seen a photo, which you’ll find in the design section of this article, showing an iPhone with a USB-C port, so the addition of one is looking ever more likely. But Apple could restrict the accessories that can connect via USB-C.

Saying that, some fans are hoping that Apple doesn’t ditch its own Lightning port any time soon, even suggesting that the company could unveil a totally portless iPhone first.

That’s looking unlikely though as Apple has now confirmed that it will switch to USB-C – at least in Europe, though the company hasn’t said whether it will make the change globally. Nor has it said which model will be the first iPhone to get USB-C, so it might not be the iPhone 15.

These are the best iPhones you can buy

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We put two big noise-cancelling earbuds head to head, to help you choose.

If you’re looking at elite earbuds today, the question of AirPods Pro 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II might come up – especially if active noise cancellation is a priority. 

Both Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II and AirPods Pro 2 feature among the best noise-cancelling earbuds, and offer some of the best sound-stopping power you can get today. But each of them offers a bunch of features that the other doesn’t, and can now be found for very similar prices a lot of the time, so the differences are important and useful to know.

You can read our in-depth AirPods Pro 2 review or Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II review if you want to get really in-depth with either of them, but here we’ll run you through everything you need to know about two of the best wireless earbuds available today before buying.

AirPods Pro 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II: price and release date

Bose has shaved a lot of weight from the design here, though they’re still bigger than AirPods Pro 2. (Image credit: Simon Lucas / Future)

The Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II were released on September 29, 2022. They’re officially priced at $299 / £279 / AU$429 – however, because the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds have now been released at a similarly premium price, the price of the Earbuds II has fallen a lot. You’ll still find them officially listed for the price above, but in practice they’re regularly available for $199 / £199 / AU$300. It’s worth looking at any Bose promo codes to bring the price down, too.

AirPods Pro 2 originally launched on September 23, 2022, though a newer version with USB-C charging instead of Lightning replaced this model on September 22, 2023. There were no meaningful other changes to the model for most users (they also add special lossless support for Apple Vision Pro, but that’s not exactly a mainstream bonus feature…). 

Officially, AirPods Pro 2 cost $249 / £229 / AU$399 – but again, they regularly available with discounts, bringing them down to more like $189 / £199 / AU$350. 

It means that if you’re buying smart, there’s very little price difference between the two earbuds now.

AirPods Pro 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II: features

AirPods Pro 2 don’t look much different on the outside – but those stems can now alter volume. (Image credit: TechRadar)

First and foremost, both of these earbuds offer active noise cancelling, to nobody’s surprise. They also both offer a hear-through transparency mode for when you need clear sound of what’s around you. And they both offer a mode that’s a smart mix of these two. In the Bose, this is ‘Aware Mode with ActiveSense’, a smarter transparency mode that responds instantly to sudden sounds to protect your hearing. In AirPods Pro 2, it’s called ‘Adaptive Transparency’, which claims to dynamically reduces heavy noise, with readings of your environment taken 48,000 times per second.

Both sets of earbuds also feature touch-based controls that you can use to change sound modes, play/pause music, and change volume. On AirPods, this is done by squeezing or swiping the sticks, and the squeeze part works if you have gloves on, which is useful. On Bose, it’s all touch/swiping control, which means they need your skin in contact.

Neither set of earbuds supports higher-res music streaming – Bose has said it would add aptX/Snapdragon Sound in an update to its buds, but this still hasn’t appeared.

And lastly in terms of things the buds share, the AirPods and Bose both promise the same six-hour battery life from the earbuds, though Bose promises 24 hours of further use from the case, while Apple promises 30 hours (ie, one extra charge).

The AirPods offer more flexibility in how you charge them, though – they offer USB-C, Qi wireless charging, Apple’s MagSafe wireless charging, and can even be charged from the Apple Watch’s mini wireless charger. The Bose can only be charged by USB-C.

As with all AirPods models, AirPods Pro 2 are crammed with smart features that are basically all only available if you use an iPhone and (ideally) all other Apple devices. For a start, the AirPods will auto-switch between your devices if you move from one to another and need to listen to something, with no effort from you, which is really useful. The Bose lack any feature like this, because they don’t support multi-point Bluetooth pairing (and the newer Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds do not add this).

The AirPods also offer instant pairing with Apple devices, and perhaps most reassuringly they have clever support for Apple’s Find My network in the earbuds and the case. It means that if you drop one somewhere, you can be informed of where it is whenever someone with an iPhone passes near it. And the case has an ultra-wideband chip that means your iPhone can literally point you towards it if it’s lost. The case also has a speaker in, so you can tell it to make noise to aid locating it. The Bose earbuds lack any of this.

You can also share audio from one pair of AirPods to another pair – not a commonly used feature, but potentially useful when travelling to share watching a movie on an iPad. Again, the Bose lack a similar feature.

Finally for Apple-exclusive features, the AirPods support head-tracked spatial audio (including a way to personalize this to your head, to make it extra precise), which makes it feel like you’re listening to surround-sound speaker system rather than having music pumped right into your ears. It’s incredibly effective, especially with Dolby Atmos music or movies, and is absolutely a selling point of these buds if you watch movies on your iPhone or iPad a lot while traveling. There’s no spatial audio support on the Bose, although this is feature that the latest Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds do include – and it’s quite something.

So that’s a lot of checks in the AirPods column… though only if you have Apple gear to use with them, of course. However, the Bose earbuds have important features too, and these work on both iOS and Android.

For a start, they calibrate both sound and noise-cancellation to the unique shape of every individual ear. This ‘CustomTune’ sound calibration is activated each time the QuietComfort Earbuds II are taken from their charging case and positioned in the wearer’s ears. A proprietary tone will play and a mic inside the earbud assesses the ear canal’s acoustic response. The information is used to tailor both audio and noise-cancellation performance in under half a second, according to the company. It then adjusts the frequency response to match the terrain of your ears, with one internal and three external microphones listening for external sounds for the ANC to process. The idea is to add extra detail to songs, and to ensure that the noise cancellation is as effective as possible without disrupting the music quality. While AirPods have some sound adjustment, Bose’s is at a higher level.

You can also create custom sound modes for the Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II, which is a feature we love. So, if you use them in the office, maybe you don’t want the noise-cancellation at full power, because you want colleagues to be able to get your attention – but you still want the general background din reduced so you can concentrate. You can create a mode just for this, where you choose the level of ANC power. And these modes can be cycled through from the buds, so there’s no hassle in choosing them. AirPods don’t offer any simple modes other than the Transparency and Adaptive Transparency modes mentioned further up.

You can also easily adjust the Bose’s EQ from the app, and they’ll remember these settings if you switch devices; the AirPods have no equivalent EQ settings. The Bose also have a nice feature called SelfVoice, which lets you hear yourself in your own ears, so you don’t end up shouting because you’re not sure how clearly your voice is coming through.

AirPods Pro 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II: Audio performance

AirPods Pro 2 now boast double the ANC power of their predecessors, which is a huge claim. (Image credit: TechRadar)

These are extremely impressive earbuds when it comes to both sound quality and active noise cancellation.

Both earbuds deliver tons of detail in the music and have a great balance, offering rich and deep bass, well-expressed mids, and clarity through the treble. In our AirPods Pro 2 review, we praised them for “a clear ability to separate out different elements in the music, a strong ability to reproduce bass, a crispness in voice especially, and all combined with excellent Spatial Audio playback.”

In our Bose review, we said they’re “beautifully balanced and you can pick up an exceedingly high amount of detail that wasn’t possible in the older buds. This is particularly evident when it comes to the low end, where bassy elements like kick drums and double bass get a pretty good amount of attention. For example, when listening to Miles Davis or John Coltrane you can pick out the double bass among the piano (mids) and the saxophone or cymbals. Bass drums when listening to the blues, pop or rock don’t get drowned out, with pretty much every instrument holding its own against the vocals. And at no point did the vocals get drowned out by the instruments.”

We’d say it’s basically a draw for music quality – you’ll be happy with whichever you get.

For active noise cancellation, we would say the Bose have a marginal edge. They’re basically best-in-class (the new Bose Ultra Earbuds are arguably a little better, but the difference is small enough that we don’t think it’s a reason to upgrade on its own) and are able to block a little more across the frequencies than AirPods Pro 2.

But let’s be clear: the AirPods are no slouch in this department at all and are absolutely up on the noise-stopping podium with the Bose. They’re just not the gold medal winner.

AirPods Pro 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II: design & fit

Despite being smaller than their precessor, the Bose are much chunkier than the AirPods. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Bose has shrunk the size of the QuietComfort Earbuds II by around a third over the model they replace, and at 6.2g each they’re also much lighter. However, they’re still fairly bulky compared to the AirPods, and as you can see in the picture above, they not only fit in your ear, but have a stability fin on top that sits against your ear to provide a double level of fitness security. 

There are three different ear tips and three different stability bands delivering nine different fitting options for each earbud, so you can find the best, and most solid, fit for you. That’s great for peace of mind, and they certainly feel solid when they’re in your ear with all this… but some on team TechRadar also find it to be a bit much for a pair of daily-wear earbuds.

The AirPods weight 5.2g, and while 1g doesn’t sound like much of a difference, it means the Bose are 20% heavier. It also means the AirPods don’t need any extra stability to stay in your ears, so some will absolutely find them more comfortable – especially those with smaller ears. 

This size difference also translates to the case of these devices. The Bose package is quite a hefty thing to slip into your trouser pockets, and you’ll both feel and see it there. The svelte, small AirPods case slips way more discreetly into jeans or a jacket pocket. Obviously, this is less of a problem if you use a bag anyway.

The stick design of the AirPods continues to be mildly divisive, but one benefit it has is moving their center of gravity closer to your head, which also held keep them secure in your ear. Apple provides four sizes of in-ear tip, and you’ll be prompted to take a ‘fit check’ test via your iPhone when get them, to ensure you’re using the best size that will stay secure and keep the noise cancellation working its best.

Both earbuds offer IPX4 water resistance, so they should be fine against light sweat and inclement weather.

AirPods Pro 2 vs Bose QuietComfort Earbuds II: conclusion

The Bose are probably better for Android or cross-platform people, but the AirPods offer better value for Apple-heads. (Image credit: TechRadar)

Really, this battle primarily comes down to what your phone and laptop preferences are. If you’re deeply invested in Apple, the extra features of the AirPods Pro 2 – especially the auto-switching, spatial audio and reassuring Find My AirPods abilities – make them the best-value buy of the two. A slight step down in noise-stopping power is easily worth it for the slick other additions.

However, if you need more flexibility between different systems, the Bose will perhaps stand out more. They don’t offer any kind of auto-switching between devices, but you can still pair them easily with different platforms, and use the Bose app on either Android or iPhone to unlock their full power and customizability.

The one wrinkle to that simple formula is the size. If you want something that’s smaller and more discreet in your pocket, or that’s generally smaller and lighter in the ears, you may prefer the AirPods anyway. As long as you’ve got an iPhone to set them up and make the most of their features, you can still pair AirPods with a Windows laptop if you need to.

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iOS 16 delivered a redesign to the lock screen, improved privacy features and big updates to Messages, like undo send.

Apple unveiled iOS 16 – the latest operating system for iPhone and the successor to iOS 15 – at WWDC 2022 back in June last year, but the update didn’t actually arrive until September 12, where it coincided with the release of the iPhone 14 line. 

Now out in the wild as iOS 16.4 in 2023 – having been through four subsequent updates since its September debut – the software release brings improvements to many apps, with lock screen widgets, better privacy features, improved phone calls and new fonts, colors and emojis chief among the newly arrived features. 

Below, we’ve rounded up everything you need to know about iOS 16.4, from its compatible iPhones to biggest new features. We’ve also included a timeline of updates, too, so you can track when particular features became available. For a look into the future, check out our guide to iOS 17, which is expected to be the next major iOS overhaul.

iOS 16.4: Cut to the chase

What is it? The latest iteration of iOS 16

When did it come out? March 27, 2023

How much does it cost? It’s free

Which phones are supported? iPhone 8 and newer

iOS 16 Latest Updates

March 27, 2022 – iOS 16.4 is out, bringing clearer phone calls, HomeKit tweaks and push notifications from web apps.

January 23, 2022 – iOS 16.3 is out, with Advanced Data Protection, Security Keys, new wallpapers, and support for the HomePod 2.

December 13, 2022 – iOS 16.2 is out, bringing Freeform and security features.

October 24, 2022 – iOS 16.1 is out, bringing refinements and Live Activities.

September 12, 2022 – iOS 16 is available for anyone with an iPhone 8 and above.

September 7, 2022: Apple’s ‘Far Out’ event confirmed that iOS 16 arrives on September 12, alongside the iPhone 14 series and more. 

July 11, 2022: The public beta is available to download for anyone with an iPhone 8 and above. 

June 14, 2022: Will lossless audio come to the AirPods Pro 2? The technological groundwork ought to be in iOS 16, and so far, no one has stumbled across any evidence of it.

June 13, 2022: In an exclusive interview with TechRadar, Apple’s Craig Federighi and VP of Design Alan Dye take us inside Apple’s remake of the Lock Screen – an “act of love,” Federighi said. 

June 11, 2022: iOS 16 will be a bumper release this time, with many improvements to features across the operating system, on a scale arguably not seen since iOS 8. Here are the 7 best new features in iOS 16.

June 7, 2022: Support for the Nintendo Switch Pro Controller and Joy-Cons have been discovered in the latest iOS 16 developer beta. With a public beta near, you can soon try Nintendo’s controllers on your iPhone for yourself.

June 7: Which phones support iOS 16? TechRadar has a complete list of phones compatible with the new OS.

June 7: iOS 16 will bring fundamental changes to the Messages app. Editing and deleting messages after you sent them is now a thing — meaning autocorrect is now dead.

May 30:  As we get nearer to WWDC, rumors suggest iOS 16 will get a few significant new features, including improvements to your iPhone’s lock screen. It could be the most radical iPhone update in years.

May 15: It’s increasingly sounding like iOS 16 will include new apps and major changes, with the latest leak pointing to new ways of interacting with widgets, and even some new Apple apps.

iOS 16.4 release date

Apple confirmed iOS 16’s September 12 release date at its ‘Far Out‘ event on September 7, 2022, where it also announced the iPhone 14, Apple Watch Series 8, Apple Watch Ultra and AirPods Pro 2. 

iOS 16.4 became available to download on March 27, 2023, following three separate iterative updates to the new OS. 

iOS 16 Features

(Image credit: TechRadar)

There are all sorts of new and improved features on iOS 16, and we’ve detailed the key ones below.

Customizable lock screens

(Image credit: Apple)

With iOS 16, you’re able to customize your lock screen by tapping in any area to change the text font and colors.

Complications (which are essentially widgets) can also be enabled here, a feature lifted from the Apple Watch. You’re able to add three of these to your lock screen, while the Now Playing screen has been moved towards the bottom for easier access with your thumb.

You’re not limited to just one lock screen, either. Similar to creating a watch face on your Apple Watch, you can swipe between different lock screens, so you can have access to different widgets based on your needs.

Focus

Tim Cook on stage at WWDC  (Image credit: Apple)

Focus mode also got some updates, many of which tie into the lock screen, as the lock screen that’s shown can automatically be switched based on the Focus profile you have.

For example, a ‘Meeting’ focus profile could make your lock screen change wallpaper and offer a row of widgets showing details of that event.

You can also use ‘Focus Filters’ to block out tabs in Safari, accounts in Mail, events in Calendar, and more, to help you manage your workflow. We’ve made a comprehensive guide of how to set up Do Not Disturb and Focus mode to help get you started.

Notifications

(Image credit: Apple)

Notifications have also been improved with ‘Live Activities’, which are essentially pinned widget-like notifications that allow you to check the score of a game, track the progress of a food delivery, and more.

Notifications have a new design, too, aimed at making them visually pop, and they also feature new animations, rolling in from the bottom of the lock screen so they’re easy to see at a glance while staying out of the way.

And you can choose to view notifications in an expanded list view, a stacked view, or a hidden view.

Messages

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple has added several new features to Messages. ‘Undo send’ has arrived for one, allowing you to delete a message for up to 15 minutes after you’ve sent it – for example, if you realize you’ve sent it to the wrong person. Similarly, you can also edit messages in the first 15 minutes. Note though that this only works for iPhone to iPhone messages.

SharePlay is also now available on the app, so you can play a movie in Disney Plus for example, and share it with someone via Messages.

Dictation has also been improved, as it now lets users move fluidly between voice and touch inputs, so you can type to add text or move the cursor without having to stop Dictation.

Clearer cellular phone calls

(Image credit: Apple)

Perhaps the biggest quality-of-life upgrade to come with iOS 16.4 was Voice Isolation for cellular calls, which helps reduce ambient noise during your phone calls.

This feature was already available on apps like WhatsApp or FaceTime, which you’ve probably noticed tend to sound better than cellular calls. But with iOS 16.4, it finally came to cellular calls – to access it, you’ll just need to swipe down the top-right of the screen (to access the Control Center), tapping Mic Mode, then Voice Isolation.

Apple has also confirmed that Voice Isolation is compatible with every iPhone model released alongside or after the iPhone SE (2020), which means most of the best iPhones benefit, too.

Accessibility

Hinted at by Apple in May, 2022, several new accessibility features have since arrived on iOS 16, such as door detection, which helps you locate doors, read signs around them, and get instructions for opening them.

There’s also the option to view live captions in a FaceTime call, control your Apple Watch from your iPhone, hang up phone calls with Siri, and more.

Live text has seen improvements as well – you can copy and paste text in video, alongside being able to copy and translate text.

An improved Podcasts app

(Image credit: Apple)

If you mainly feed your podcast habit in Apple’s default Podcasts app rather than third-party ones, you’ll see several small improvements to the overall experience in iOS 16.4.

Firstly, it’s now easier to find shows that are part of wider channels or networks. When you follow a show that’s part of a channel (for example, a network that produces multiple shows, like Bloomberg or the BBC), you’re able to see it in a new dedicated Channels section in your podcast Library.

This is handy, given that many podcasts are now part of wider networks that produce several shows around similar themes. When you tap on a channel, you’ll see the shows you follow at the top, plus any subscription options that are available for that network.

Wallet

(Image credit: Apple)

Wallet has seen privacy improvements, with in-app ID verification being enabled for third-party apps.

Tap to pay on iPhone also arrived with iOS 16, removing the need for any point of sale terminals. Plus, you can view receipts and track orders directly from Wallet.

There’s also Apple Pay Later, which splits purchases into four interest-free payments spread over six weeks, and Order Tracking, which lets you see the latest information on your Apple Pay orders.

Apple Books animations

(Image credit: Apple)

This one’s strictly for fans of the Apple Books app, so a little niche. But if that’s you, Apple brought back a strangely satisfying animation to the app with iOS 16.4 – the ‘curl’ page-turn effect.

For some reason, this animation – which mimics a page being turned over – was removed in iOS 16 as it first appeared. But if you’ve missed seeing your digital pages turning in the Books app, you’ll be happy to see that effect return when you upgrade to iOS 16.4.

Maps

(Image credit: Apple)

Maps now finally enables you to store recent trips in the app, and you can send them from a Mac or iPad device.

You can also add multiple stops on a route, and while on a journey you can ask Siri to add another destination, hands-free, in case another errand pops up, while ‘Look Around’, Apple’s take on Google Street View, is being opened up to third-party apps.

Plus, you can see transit fares, and – without leaving Maps – you can add transit cards to Wallet, replenish your card, and see low balances.

Sports

iOS 16 saw a big push on sports, with Apple News getting a new My Sports section to let you view schedules, standings and scores for your favorite teams. 

Live updates for sporting events can also be added to the lock screen, so if you’re not able to tune in you’ll still be kept up to date with the score.

Family Sharing

(Image credit: Apple)

Apple’s Family Sharing feature enables you and your family to share an account, for example to view photos and videos, and so that parents can approve purchases made by minors.

In iOS 16, it’s easier for parents to set age-appropriate restrictions on content, and parents or guardians can respond to Screen Time requests in Messages.

A quick start feature for iPad lest you sync settings that you’ve configured on your iPhone to an iPad simply by moving your phone close to the tablet, and there’s also a Family Checklist feature, making it easier for you to be confident that all of the content on an iPhone is secure and child-safe.

The ability to share photos and videos over iCloud was widely requested, and iCloud Shared Photo Library now allows up to six people to share a library. Users can send photos to the Shared Library using a new toggle in the Camera app, and receive intelligent suggestions to share photos that include other users of a shared library.

Safety Check

(Image credit: Apple)

A new privacy tool called Safety Check has been introduced to help those at risk from violence or harassment by partners.

Users can quickly revoke all access to Messages and other accounts that they’ve granted to a partner, and an emergency reset feature helps users to easily sign out of iCloud on all their other devices, reset privacy permissions, and limit messaging to just the device in their hand. Users can also stop sharing their location with this tool.

It also lets you generally check and manage which people and apps you’ve given access to your information.

Home App is redesigned

(Image credit: Apple)

In conjunction with the new Matter smart home standard, the Home app was redesigned to make it easier to manage your smart appliances and rooms.

You’re now able to see all your rooms in a single view, alongside categories for lights, climate, security and more. You can tap on a category to see more detailed status information, and view up to four security cameras at once.

You can also add smart home widgets to the lock screen, allowing you to view the status of your home at a glance, and quickly access smart home controls.

Spatial Audio

You can use your iPhone’s TrueDepth Camera to create a personal Spatial Audio profile for your AirPods Pro or AirPods Max, for what Apple calls “an even more precise and immersive listening experience.”

Fitness

(Image credit: Future)

Apple’s Fitness app is now available to all iPhone users, even if they don’t have an Apple Watch to help them track their fitness. The app will use the motion sensors of your iPhone along with step and distance tracking, and workouts from third-party apps, to help you achieve your daily Move goal and estimate your calorie burn.

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This year’s best Labor Day mattress sales from from Saatva, Nectar, DreamCloud, GhostBed and more

Looking for the Labor Day mattress sales? You’re a bit early but hey, we salute your eagerness. Labor Day is still a few weeks away and the official Labor Day sales are unlikely to really get going until a couple of weeks before the main event. However that doesn’t mean you can’t save money on one of the best mattresses right now.

Mattress sales are pretty much a constant thing for most sleep brands, so the chances are that if you have a mattress in mind, you should be able to snag a discount on it today. Right now there are deals available from brands including Saatva, Nectar, DreamCloud and Cocoon by Sealy, and in many cases we’d predict that the deals they’ll be running on Labor Day will be close to, if not the same as, the deals they have now.

We’ve listed some of the top current deals for you, and as we get closer to Labor Day itself we’ll be updating this page with the best bargains as soon as we find them, so whether you’re after the best memory foam mattress, the best hybrid mattress or simply the best king size mattress, you should be able to find a fine discount. We’ve also included some handy info about the Labor Day mattress sales so that you can get properly prepared for the main event; for now, though, let’s get to the best mattress discounts available today.

Labor Day mattress sales 2022: quick links

Editor’s choice – Saatva Exclusive offer: 15% off orders over $1,000Budget pick – Nectar: 33% off all mattressesAmerisleep: $450 off any mattress with promo code AS450Avocado: Save up to $400 on green and vegan mattressesAwara: $400 off any mattressBear Mattress: 30% off sitewide + $400 of free sleep accessoriesBirch Living: 20% off mattresses + 2 free eco-rest pillowsBrooklyn Bedding: 25% off sitewide with code SUMMER25Cocoon by Sealy: save 35% on cooling mattresses + free pillows and sheetsDreamCloud: 40% off hybrid mattressesGhostbed: 50% off the GhostBed Luxe + 35% off other bedsHelix: 20% off sitewide + 2 free pillowsLayla: save up to $200 on mattresses + two free pillowsNolah: 30% off mattresses + two free pillowsTempur-Pedic: save up to $1,139 on Tempur Cloud mattresses

The best early Labor Day mattress sales

Labor Day mattress sales 2023: FAQs

When do Labor Day mattress sales 2023 start?

Labor Day 2023 falls on 4 September, but we usually see promotions kicking off up to three weeks ahead of the holiday itself. These were typically marketed as early Labor Day mattress sale offers or pre-Labor Day mattress sales, but you’ll find that in the vast majority of cases, the exact same discounts ran through to Labor Day itself. In a handful of cases, a manufacturer or brand dropped a higher discount on Labor Day itself, but this is more typical of a flash sale that we normally see just before the best Black Friday mattress deals arrive in late November.

Is Labor Day a good time to buy a mattress?

Major holidays are typically a very good time to buy a mattress, and Labor Day is no exception. It’s one of the last big shopping events to occur before Black Friday and is known for featuring steep markdowns and generous freebie offers. It’s not uncommon to find some of the best deals of the year during Labor Day mattress sales.

However, keep in mind that we are in the middle of a cost of living crisis this year and inflation is affecting the mattress world just as badly as it is other sectors, so while there will be deals and discounts, the actual price of mattresses has in many cases risen over the summer. 

We’ll be focusing on the best mattress sale offers here, and will explain how they compare to the deals and prices we see most months from these brands.

(Image credit: Getty)

Labor Day mattress sales: Price history

In last year’s Labor Day mattress sales, there were hundreds of deals to choose between, with big offers from popular sleep brands including Nectar, Purple and Tempur-Pedic competing with discounts from heavyweight retailers including Mattress Firm, Macy’s and Bed, Bath and Beyond. We searched through them all, and rounded up the very best Labor Day mattress sales to help you bag the biggest bargain.

The best Labor Day mattress sale came from Nectar. With $200 off every Nectar mattress – plus $499-worth of free gifts added to your order (luxury pillows, a mattress protector and sheet set) it was a tough offer to beat, dropping the price of a queen size from $999 to $799. As all Nectar mattresses come with a year’s risk-free trial and forever warranty, no other Labor Day mattress deal came close to this for value for money. 

If you had a little more to spend, or preferred an innerspring mattress, we also recommended buying the luxury hybrid Saatva Classic in the Labor Day mattress sales. Saatva offered between $200 and $500 off off when you spent over $1,000, however we had an exclusive discount that knocked $375 off, which brought the price of a queen size down to $1,395. As we explain in our Saatva Classic mattress review, that hybrid is exceptional value for a handcrafted luxury bed anyway – especially with a discount. 

In short, there were plenty of Labor Day mattress deals to browse, whether you were looking for the cushioning support of memory foam, the bounce of springs, a cooling hybrid option, or an ultra-durable and sustainable choice like organic latex.

5 tips for buying a mattress in the Labor Day sales

Buying a mattress online is probably easier than you think, if you’ve never done it before – and it’s likely cheaper too. Increased competition online has led to lower prices for consumers. Plus, many brands have been able to save money by choosing not to have physical stores and have instead invested in better quality materials, so you often get more for your cash when you buy online too. 

To help you find exactly the right mattress, all the top brands now offer long, risk-free sleep trials so you can test them properly (and safely) by sleeping on them in your own home.

(Image credit: Cocoon by Sealy)

Most of them come with free deliveries and returns, too – all of which makes buying online an easier, quicker and more reliable way of ending up with the right mattress than spending five minutes testing one in a showroom.

Here are five things to look for when buying a mattress online:

1. Choose a mattress with at least a 60-night trial
The only way to know whether a mattress is right is to sleep on it. That’s why most top brands now offer a risk-free trial, and promise to collect the mattress and give you a full refund if you don’t like it (as long as it isn’t damaged).

We’ve made sure all the mattresses in our Memorial Day mattress sale round-up come with at least a 60-night trial – the majority come with 100-nights, and some, such as Nectar, give you an entire year to decide whether you like it.

2. Check for free returns
As part of the risk-free trial, most brands offer a full refund and free returns if you decide the mattress isn’t right for you. However, some do charge a fee for collection, around $75, so check the policy first.  

3. Read third-party T&Cs
We usually recommend buying your mattress directly from the manufacturer so that you can make the most of generous sleep trial and warranties. You’re more likely to get a better deal from the manufacturer too, with competitive discounts and free gifts often added to your order. 

However, sometimes a third-party retailer can run a deal that makes it slightly cheaper than buying through the manufacturer. If you’re looking for the cheapest price possible, this can be a good way to get it – however bear in mind that you may not receive the same trial or warranty benefits if you buy from a retailer such as Amazon, so always read the T&Cs carefully first.

4. Ensure it’s the right size with the elbow test
Do the elbow test to work out what size mattress you need. Lie back with your hands behind your head. If you share a bed, your elbows should be able to extend without touching your side of the bed or your partner’s elbow; if you don’t share a bed, your elbows should be able to extend without touch either side of the bed.

5. Try a new mattress for three weeks
It can take up to 21 days for your body to adjust to a new mattress. So even if it isn’t comfortable initially and you wake up with aches and pains, stick with it – particularly if your body is used to sleeping on a much older mattress. If after three weeks you still don’t like it, then you know it’s because it isn’t right, rather than because your body still hasn’t readjusted from sleeping on a less supportive or different mattress.

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Disney Plus Day as a promotion has been kept somewhat “Under the Sea” in 2023, but the amazing $1.99 deal is still back with some great new titles arriving on the service.

Disney has made far less of a fuss about Disney Plus Day this year. In fact, there hasn’t really been any specific mention of “Disney Plus Day” at all. Thankfully, there’s still just as much to get excited about, even without all the bells and whistles of the last two years. And we’ve got all the details on the latest Disney Plus deal and new releases landing to coincide with it right here.

In the past, Disney Plus Day has either fallen on the anniversary of Disney Plus’ launch in November, or, like last year, leading into the annual D23 Expo in California. 

While no mention of a “Disney Plus Day” campaign this year, there’s still a blockbuster September to get excited about, with a huge discount on the Disney Plus price to boot. Find out everything you need to know below.

Disney Plus Day deal

Is there be a Disney Plus Day deal?

Keep in mind the $1.99 rate is only applicable for your first three months. Thereafter, your Disney Plus membership will auto-renew at the current monthly rate in your region e.g. $7.99 (With Ads in the US) / £7.99 / €8.99 / CA$11.99 a month.

Find out what the Disney Plus deal price is where you are!

Disney Plus Day date

Disney Plus Day date: when does it usually take place?

Last year’s Disney Plus Day took place on September 8, while the first of its kind fell on November 12 in 2021. This year’s more lowkey event kicks off on September 6.

Disney Plus Day releases

Disney Plus Day releases: what is arriving in 2023?

While no big Disney Plus Day announcement to speak of, Disney Plus is certainly delivering on the goods to make that $1.99 all the more tempting.

Movies

The Little MermaidElemental (September 13)No One Will Save You (September 22)

(Image credit: Disney)

TV shows

I Am GrootWelcome to Wrexham season 2 (September 13)The Kardashians season 4 (September 28)Loki season 2 (October 6)

Specials

Lang Lang Plays Disney (September 15)

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