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Photo by Jemal Countess / Getty Images

James Earl Jones, the distinguished actor behind the voice of Darth Vader, has died at age 93, according to Deadline.
Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, in 1931. After managing to overcome a speech impediment, Jones went on to have a massive acting career, with credits spanning dozens of plays, TV shows, and films over several decades. He got his start on Broadway, starring in Sunrise At Campobello at the Cort Theatre in 1958 — now known as the James Earl Jones Theatre.
However, his 1977 role in the very first Star Wars left a huge mark on his audience, though he wasn’t initially credited for voicing the villain as a courtesy to David Prowse, who wore Darth Vader’s suit. While Jones is best known for his distinctive voice in the Star Wars series, he has voiced Mufasa in The Lion King (1994 and 2019). Jones also appeared in Field of Dreams, The Sandlot, Coming to America, Conan the Barbarian, and much more. He is among the small group of actors who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony — the coveted EGOT.
In 2022, Jones signed over the rights to his archival voice work to a Ukrainian AI voice startup, Respeecher, allowing the company to recreate the sound of his voice for Disney Plus’ Obi-Wan Kenobi.

Photo by Jemal Countess / Getty Images

James Earl Jones, the distinguished actor behind the voice of Darth Vader, has died at age 93, according to Deadline.

Jones was born in Arkabutla, Mississippi, in 1931. After managing to overcome a speech impediment, Jones went on to have a massive acting career, with credits spanning dozens of plays, TV shows, and films over several decades. He got his start on Broadway, starring in Sunrise At Campobello at the Cort Theatre in 1958 — now known as the James Earl Jones Theatre.

However, his 1977 role in the very first Star Wars left a huge mark on his audience, though he wasn’t initially credited for voicing the villain as a courtesy to David Prowse, who wore Darth Vader’s suit. While Jones is best known for his distinctive voice in the Star Wars series, he has voiced Mufasa in The Lion King (1994 and 2019). Jones also appeared in Field of Dreams, The Sandlot, Coming to America, Conan the Barbarian, and much more. He is among the small group of actors who have won an Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, and Tony — the coveted EGOT.

In 2022, Jones signed over the rights to his archival voice work to a Ukrainian AI voice startup, Respeecher, allowing the company to recreate the sound of his voice for Disney Plus’ Obi-Wan Kenobi.

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Apple now sells four different AirPods, all of which support USB-C charging. | Image: Apple

Alongside the new iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10, Apple announced three new versions of the AirPods during its “It’s Glowtime” event on Monday. They include the new entry-level AirPods 4 for $129, a higher-end AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (ANC) that costs $179, and a revised AirPods Max priced at $549. All three will be available on September 20th and can be preordered today.

According to Apple, the two new AirPods 4 models offer significantly improved sound over the third generation. And they have new features, like the switch to USB-C. The ANC version also gets a speaker built into the shrunken-down charging case to make Apple’s Find My tracker more effective and wireless charging that works with both Qi and Apple Watch chargers. Meanwhile, the new AirPods Max gets some new colors and also makes the move to USB-C — and not a whole lot else.
We’ve yet to test the new AirPods outside of a very brief hands-on, but we’ll publish full reviews as soon as possible. Until then, here are all the links and information you’ll need to preorder them if you feel like getting a fresh pair of AirPods right away.
Where to preorder the AirPods 4 and new AirPods Max
You can preorder the new AirPods 4 for $129 directly from Apple, while the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) can also be preordered at Apple for $179. Both will be released on September 20th.

As for the new AirPods Max, you can preorder them direct from Apple in midnight, blue, purple, orange, and starlight for $549 ahead of their release date on September 20th.

Related:

Apple now sells four different AirPods, all of which support USB-C charging. | Image: Apple

Alongside the new iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10, Apple announced three new versions of the AirPods during its “It’s Glowtime” event on Monday. They include the new entry-level AirPods 4 for $129, a higher-end AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation (ANC) that costs $179, and a revised AirPods Max priced at $549. All three will be available on September 20th and can be preordered today.

According to Apple, the two new AirPods 4 models offer significantly improved sound over the third generation. And they have new features, like the switch to USB-C. The ANC version also gets a speaker built into the shrunken-down charging case to make Apple’s Find My tracker more effective and wireless charging that works with both Qi and Apple Watch chargers. Meanwhile, the new AirPods Max gets some new colors and also makes the move to USB-C — and not a whole lot else.

We’ve yet to test the new AirPods outside of a very brief hands-on, but we’ll publish full reviews as soon as possible. Until then, here are all the links and information you’ll need to preorder them if you feel like getting a fresh pair of AirPods right away.

Where to preorder the AirPods 4 and new AirPods Max

You can preorder the new AirPods 4 for $129 directly from Apple, while the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) can also be preordered at Apple for $179. Both will be released on September 20th.

As for the new AirPods Max, you can preorder them direct from Apple in midnight, blue, purple, orange, and starlight for $549 ahead of their release date on September 20th.

Related:

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Apple updated its lineup to include new colors and features, including sleep apnea alerts. | Image: Apple

The iPhone 16 took center stage during Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event on Monday, but it wasn’t the only new gadget to make its debut. Apple also introduced the new Apple Watch Series 10 and a black version of the existing Apple Watch Ultra 2. Both are available for preorder starting today and launch on September 20th, with the Series 10 starting at $399 and the latest Ultra 2 starting at $799.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is Apple’s thinnest wearable and comes with a new wide-angle OLED screen, which is the largest display Apple has used in a smartwatch to date. The new wearable runs on Apple’s S10 SiP (System in Package) and features a number of new capabilities, including alerts for sleep apnea, a condition in which people stop breathing while they sleep. The Apple Series 10 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will also be able to play music and podcasts using the watch’s built-in speakers, as opposed to just using it as a speakerphone for calls.
In her very brief time with the wearables, my colleague Victoria Song remarked on how much of a difference the Series 10’s larger display makes. She also praised the new black colorway for the Series 10 and Ultra 2, though, admittedly, the clasp on the latter’s new Milanese Loop can be challenging to use. We’ll share more of our thoughts in our full review, but in the meantime, here’s everything you need to know about preordering both the Series 10 and the new Ultra 2.
Where to preorder the Apple Watch Series 10
The forthcoming Apple Watch Series 10 has been redesigned with a brighter wide-angle OLED display that’s even bigger than that of the Apple Watch Ultra. Apple also says it’s the company’s fastest-charging smartwatch to date, allowing it to reach up to 80 percent capacity in just 30 minutes. The wearable is thinner overall, too, with rounder corners that make for a softer, more streamlined appearance.
The wearable comes with a few changes under the hood — most notably, a new S10 chip with a four-core neural engine. It also features new health and fitness features, including depth and temperature sensors as well as an accelerometer that detects breathing disturbances potentially related to sleep apnea. Once detected, the wearable sends alerts to the user and provides a detailed report to share with a doctor. The feature hasn’t yet received FDA approval, but Apple expects it to do so in the coming months. The wearable’s support for watchOS 11, meanwhile, introduces other fitness features, including a Training Load measurement and the ability to pause your Activity Rings.
Like previous models, Apple’s latest wearables will be available in both titanium and aluminum finishes. Depending on which you choose, you have the option of the following colors: silver, rose gold, jet black, dark gray, and a “natural” light gray shade. You can currently preorder the GPS model from Apple in the 42mm size starting at $399 or the 46mm size starting at $429. If you want to add cellular connectivity, you can preorder the 42mm and 46mm models for $499 and $529, respectively.

Where to preorder the black Apple Watch Ultra 2
The refreshed Apple Watch Ultra 2 now comes with a new “satin black” color option, marking the first time Apple has offered the wearable in more than one color. Like the Series 10, it will also support sleep apnea detection and play music and podcasts via the watch’s built-in speakers. Otherwise, it’s identical to the Ultra 2 released last year, which means it continues to cater to more athletic types than Apple’s other watches. It’s still the most rugged and long-lasting watch in Apple’s lineup, with a last-gen S9 processor and a second-gen ultra wideband chip.
The black Apple Watch Ultra 2 continues to come in one configuration — 49mm, with cellular connectivity — and will launch on September 20th with either an Ocean Band, an Alpine Loop, or a Trail Loop strap. You can preorder it from Apple starting today for $799 or with a matching titanium Milanese Loop for $899.

Apple updated its lineup to include new colors and features, including sleep apnea alerts. | Image: Apple

The iPhone 16 took center stage during Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” event on Monday, but it wasn’t the only new gadget to make its debut. Apple also introduced the new Apple Watch Series 10 and a black version of the existing Apple Watch Ultra 2. Both are available for preorder starting today and launch on September 20th, with the Series 10 starting at $399 and the latest Ultra 2 starting at $799.

The Apple Watch Series 10 is Apple’s thinnest wearable and comes with a new wide-angle OLED screen, which is the largest display Apple has used in a smartwatch to date. The new wearable runs on Apple’s S10 SiP (System in Package) and features a number of new capabilities, including alerts for sleep apnea, a condition in which people stop breathing while they sleep. The Apple Series 10 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 will also be able to play music and podcasts using the watch’s built-in speakers, as opposed to just using it as a speakerphone for calls.

In her very brief time with the wearables, my colleague Victoria Song remarked on how much of a difference the Series 10’s larger display makes. She also praised the new black colorway for the Series 10 and Ultra 2, though, admittedly, the clasp on the latter’s new Milanese Loop can be challenging to use. We’ll share more of our thoughts in our full review, but in the meantime, here’s everything you need to know about preordering both the Series 10 and the new Ultra 2.

Where to preorder the Apple Watch Series 10

The forthcoming Apple Watch Series 10 has been redesigned with a brighter wide-angle OLED display that’s even bigger than that of the Apple Watch Ultra. Apple also says it’s the company’s fastest-charging smartwatch to date, allowing it to reach up to 80 percent capacity in just 30 minutes. The wearable is thinner overall, too, with rounder corners that make for a softer, more streamlined appearance.

The wearable comes with a few changes under the hood — most notably, a new S10 chip with a four-core neural engine. It also features new health and fitness features, including depth and temperature sensors as well as an accelerometer that detects breathing disturbances potentially related to sleep apnea. Once detected, the wearable sends alerts to the user and provides a detailed report to share with a doctor. The feature hasn’t yet received FDA approval, but Apple expects it to do so in the coming months. The wearable’s support for watchOS 11, meanwhile, introduces other fitness features, including a Training Load measurement and the ability to pause your Activity Rings.

Like previous models, Apple’s latest wearables will be available in both titanium and aluminum finishes. Depending on which you choose, you have the option of the following colors: silver, rose gold, jet black, dark gray, and a “natural” light gray shade. You can currently preorder the GPS model from Apple in the 42mm size starting at $399 or the 46mm size starting at $429. If you want to add cellular connectivity, you can preorder the 42mm and 46mm models for $499 and $529, respectively.

Where to preorder the black Apple Watch Ultra 2

The refreshed Apple Watch Ultra 2 now comes with a new “satin black” color option, marking the first time Apple has offered the wearable in more than one color. Like the Series 10, it will also support sleep apnea detection and play music and podcasts via the watch’s built-in speakers. Otherwise, it’s identical to the Ultra 2 released last year, which means it continues to cater to more athletic types than Apple’s other watches. It’s still the most rugged and long-lasting watch in Apple’s lineup, with a last-gen S9 processor and a second-gen ultra wideband chip.

The black Apple Watch Ultra 2 continues to come in one configuration — 49mm, with cellular connectivity — and will launch on September 20th with either an Ocean Band, an Alpine Loop, or a Trail Loop strap. You can preorder it from Apple starting today for $799 or with a matching titanium Milanese Loop for $899.

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Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

Apple has revealed the launch date for iOS 18 — and it’s just days away. The update, which will add new ways to customize your iPhone’s homescreen and lockscreen, arrives on September 16th.
In iOS 18, you can freely rearrange apps and widgets on your homescreen and change their appearance. Apple is rolling out a redesigned Control Center, too, along with a new password management app and support for satellite messaging. Some other updates include new text effects in messages, a revamped Photos app, and new ways to organize your inbox in the Mail app.
However, this update doesn’t include the Apple Intelligence features coming to the iPhone 15 Pro and across the iPhone 16 lineup. The upcoming tools will help you rewrite and summarize text and generate images through the AI-powered Image Playground. Alongside a more conversational Siri, these features are going to start arriving in the iOS 18.1 public beta in October.

Apple also confirmed that macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and visionOS 2 are coming September 16th as well. While macOS Sequoia adds iPhone mirroring, watchOS 11 comes with new training features, and visionOS 2 includes an ultrawide virtual Mac display. There’s still no word on tvOS 18.

Related:

Photo by Dan Seifert / The Verge

Apple has revealed the launch date for iOS 18 — and it’s just days away. The update, which will add new ways to customize your iPhone’s homescreen and lockscreen, arrives on September 16th.

In iOS 18, you can freely rearrange apps and widgets on your homescreen and change their appearance. Apple is rolling out a redesigned Control Center, too, along with a new password management app and support for satellite messaging. Some other updates include new text effects in messages, a revamped Photos app, and new ways to organize your inbox in the Mail app.

However, this update doesn’t include the Apple Intelligence features coming to the iPhone 15 Pro and across the iPhone 16 lineup. The upcoming tools will help you rewrite and summarize text and generate images through the AI-powered Image Playground. Alongside a more conversational Siri, these features are going to start arriving in the iOS 18.1 public beta in October.

Apple also confirmed that macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and visionOS 2 are coming September 16th as well. While macOS Sequoia adds iPhone mirroring, watchOS 11 comes with new training features, and visionOS 2 includes an ultrawide virtual Mac display. There’s still no word on tvOS 18.

Related:

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Photo by Tom Warren / The Verge

AMD is saying the quiet part out loud: it’s now prioritizing AI chips ahead of flagship GPUs for gamers. The company’s just laid out a new business strategy, where it will merge its RDNA gaming graphics and CNDA data center efforts into a single universal “UDNA” that’s aimed at AI first.
In two interviews with Tom’s Hardware (you’ll definitely want to read both), AMD computing and graphics boss Jack Huynh doesn’t beat around the bush. With gaming graphics, he explains, the goal is now building scale and market share at lower price points — not the “King of the Hill” flagship GPUs that haven’t convinced enough buyers to leave Nvidia behind.
Here’s the key passage from the first interview:

Tom’s Hardware: Price point-wise, you have leadership, but you won’t go after the flagship market?
Jack Huynh: One day, we may. But my priority right now is to build scale for AMD. Because without scale right now, I can’t get the developers. If I tell developers, ‘I’m just going for 10 percent of the market share,’ they just say, ‘Jack, I wish you well, but we have to go with Nvidia.’ So, I have to show them a plan that says, ‘Hey, we can get to 40% market share with this strategy.’ Then they say, ‘I’m with you now, Jack. Now I’ll optimize on AMD.’ Once we get that, then we can go after the top.

And yet, “King of the Hill” is exactly what AMD wants to build for the AI data center, he says, because that’s where AMD already has substantial market share with its EPYC CPUs and thinks it can grow by selling the best data center GPUs, too.
“Don’t worry, I love gaming. When I present to the board, I say gaming is a strategic pillar in my strategy,” Huynh told Tom’s Hardware later in the interview.
If this sounds vaguely familiar, that’s probably because AMD is following rival Nvidia’s lead — in more ways than one.

I wrote in July that AMD is becoming an AI chip company, just like Nvidia, based on its financial reports alone, which showed that half the company’s sales are now data center products. Both companies have now accelerated their entire businesses to release new silicon architectures yearly, far faster than ever before. In the Tom’s Hardware interview about AMD’s UDNA, Huynh now reveals he wants to chase the success of Nvidia’s own universal CUDA platform as well.
While there’s reason to think a faster pace of development is good for everyone who wants any kind of chip because innovations and possibly entire GPUs will trickle down, AMD has just — unsurprisingly — revealed that it can’t produce every kind of chip at once. Nvidia, too, might possibly prioritize data center chips over gaming ones. Its next wave of GPUs is arriving later than usual, period, and there’s a substantial incentive for Nvidia to sell every graphics chip it can into a more lucrative market.
But I do like the idea of AMD leading in value-oriented GPUs again. Both because GPUs had been getting unreasonably expensive compared to their performance gains even before the AI craze and because Nvidia’s had some particularly ugliness in the $300–$400 segment that most PC gamers wind up choosing from. I want to see AMD win me away from my Nvidia 3060 Ti — if it can.

Photo by Tom Warren / The Verge

AMD is saying the quiet part out loud: it’s now prioritizing AI chips ahead of flagship GPUs for gamers. The company’s just laid out a new business strategy, where it will merge its RDNA gaming graphics and CNDA data center efforts into a single universal “UDNA” that’s aimed at AI first.

In two interviews with Tom’s Hardware (you’ll definitely want to read both), AMD computing and graphics boss Jack Huynh doesn’t beat around the bush. With gaming graphics, he explains, the goal is now building scale and market share at lower price points — not the “King of the Hill” flagship GPUs that haven’t convinced enough buyers to leave Nvidia behind.

Here’s the key passage from the first interview:

Tom’s Hardware: Price point-wise, you have leadership, but you won’t go after the flagship market?

Jack Huynh: One day, we may. But my priority right now is to build scale for AMD. Because without scale right now, I can’t get the developers. If I tell developers, ‘I’m just going for 10 percent of the market share,’ they just say, ‘Jack, I wish you well, but we have to go with Nvidia.’ So, I have to show them a plan that says, ‘Hey, we can get to 40% market share with this strategy.’ Then they say, ‘I’m with you now, Jack. Now I’ll optimize on AMD.’ Once we get that, then we can go after the top.

And yet, “King of the Hill” is exactly what AMD wants to build for the AI data center, he says, because that’s where AMD already has substantial market share with its EPYC CPUs and thinks it can grow by selling the best data center GPUs, too.

“Don’t worry, I love gaming. When I present to the board, I say gaming is a strategic pillar in my strategy,” Huynh told Tom’s Hardware later in the interview.

If this sounds vaguely familiar, that’s probably because AMD is following rival Nvidia’s lead — in more ways than one.

I wrote in July that AMD is becoming an AI chip company, just like Nvidia, based on its financial reports alone, which showed that half the company’s sales are now data center products. Both companies have now accelerated their entire businesses to release new silicon architectures yearly, far faster than ever before. In the Tom’s Hardware interview about AMD’s UDNA, Huynh now reveals he wants to chase the success of Nvidia’s own universal CUDA platform as well.

While there’s reason to think a faster pace of development is good for everyone who wants any kind of chip because innovations and possibly entire GPUs will trickle down, AMD has just — unsurprisingly — revealed that it can’t produce every kind of chip at once. Nvidia, too, might possibly prioritize data center chips over gaming ones. Its next wave of GPUs is arriving later than usual, period, and there’s a substantial incentive for Nvidia to sell every graphics chip it can into a more lucrative market.

But I do like the idea of AMD leading in value-oriented GPUs again. Both because GPUs had been getting unreasonably expensive compared to their performance gains even before the AI craze and because Nvidia’s had some particularly ugliness in the $300–$400 segment that most PC gamers wind up choosing from. I want to see AMD win me away from my Nvidia 3060 Ti — if it can.

Read More 

Beats’ new iPhone 16 cases feature a microfiber-lined interior and will come in four colors. | Image: Beats

Beats, Apple’s other headphone brand, just announced its first collection of smartphone cases designed for the Apple 16 lineup, with full compatibility with the new Camera Control button.

The $49 hardshell polycarbonate cases feature “flexible sidewalls” to help absorb some of the impact when dropped and a microfiber lining to protect an iPhone’s finish. According to Beats, the outer surface of each case has been treated with a “glossy scratch-resistant coating,” a feature that potentially comes in response to Apple’s problematic — and now discontinued — microtwill FineWoven cases, which were prone to scratches.
Available to order today through Apple’s website in midnight black, summit stone, riptide blue, and sunset purple colorways, the new Beats cases use a “sapphire crystal coupled to a conductive layer” to translate finger presses and swipe gestures to the iPhone 16’s Camera Control button. They also include an additional ring of magnets for a more secure connection to MagSafe and Qi2 wireless chargers and accessories.

Related:

Beats’ new iPhone 16 cases feature a microfiber-lined interior and will come in four colors. | Image: Beats

Beats, Apple’s other headphone brand, just announced its first collection of smartphone cases designed for the Apple 16 lineup, with full compatibility with the new Camera Control button.

The $49 hardshell polycarbonate cases feature “flexible sidewalls” to help absorb some of the impact when dropped and a microfiber lining to protect an iPhone’s finish. According to Beats, the outer surface of each case has been treated with a “glossy scratch-resistant coating,” a feature that potentially comes in response to Apple’s problematic — and now discontinued — microtwill FineWoven cases, which were prone to scratches.

Available to order today through Apple’s website in midnight black, summit stone, riptide blue, and sunset purple colorways, the new Beats cases use a “sapphire crystal coupled to a conductive layer” to translate finger presses and swipe gestures to the iPhone 16’s Camera Control button. They also include an additional ring of magnets for a more secure connection to MagSafe and Qi2 wireless chargers and accessories.

Related:

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A group of people on a film set staring towards the camera. | HBO

HBO’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, is no stranger to building doomed cinematic universes, but the network seems game to poke fun at the messy business of it all with Armando Iannucci, Sam Mendes, and Jon Brown’s new series, The Franchise.
Set in a world where the fictional superhero movie Tecto: Eye of the Storm is deep into production, The Franchise follows as the film’s crew tries to survive the experience of working on a project that seems destined to fail. Between dealing with temperamental actors and fire scares, things are difficult enough for production workers Daniel (Himesh Patel) and Dag (Lolly Adefope).
But as studio executives drop in to give notes with clash with the director’s vision, the vibe on set becomes even more dysfunctional, and the trailer makes Tecto seem like the sort of film that winds up being eclipsed by its behind-the-scenes drama. The Franchise also stars Aya Cash, Jessica Hynes, Billy Magnussen, Darren Goldstein, Isaac Powell, Richard E. Grant, and Daniel Brühl. The show hits HBO on October 6th.

A group of people on a film set staring towards the camera. | HBO

HBO’s parent company, Warner Bros. Discovery, is no stranger to building doomed cinematic universes, but the network seems game to poke fun at the messy business of it all with Armando Iannucci, Sam Mendes, and Jon Brown’s new series, The Franchise.

Set in a world where the fictional superhero movie Tecto: Eye of the Storm is deep into production, The Franchise follows as the film’s crew tries to survive the experience of working on a project that seems destined to fail. Between dealing with temperamental actors and fire scares, things are difficult enough for production workers Daniel (Himesh Patel) and Dag (Lolly Adefope).

But as studio executives drop in to give notes with clash with the director’s vision, the vibe on set becomes even more dysfunctional, and the trailer makes Tecto seem like the sort of film that winds up being eclipsed by its behind-the-scenes drama. The Franchise also stars Aya Cash, Jessica Hynes, Billy Magnussen, Darren Goldstein, Isaac Powell, Richard E. Grant, and Daniel Brühl. The show hits HBO on October 6th.

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Image: Apple

Apple released a new, more powerful version of the MagSafe charger during its September iPhone 16 event today. The puck will be compatible with all iPhones and any Qi2 device, but only the new iPhone 16 models are listed as supporting the fastest 25W wireless charging rate.
That’s a higher maximum rate than the phones offered by Samsung and Google right now — the Galaxy S24 series maxes out at 15W, while Google’s Pixel 9 phones range from 15W–23W when using the second-generation Google Pixel Stand. (Pixel 9 models can only manage 12W charging on standard Qi chargers.)

For faster wireless charging up to 25W — up to 50 percent battery in around 30 minutes for iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro when paired with the 30W USB‑C Power Adapter (sold separately).
For fast wireless charging up to 15W for iPhone 12 or later with MagSafe when paired with the 20W USB‑C Power Adapter (sold separately).
For wireless charging up to 7.5W for iPhone 8 or later with Qi when paired with the 20W USB‑C Power Adapter (sold separately).

Apple is asking for $39 for the 1m version of the charger and $49 for the 2m one. The new phones don’t come with chargers, so you’ll need to buy this separately and add a 30W USB-C power supply to support the highest rate, as noted above.
According to the product page for the new charger, every iPhone from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone 16 line is supported, as are all AirPods with wireless charging capabilities.

Related:

Image: Apple

Apple released a new, more powerful version of the MagSafe charger during its September iPhone 16 event today. The puck will be compatible with all iPhones and any Qi2 device, but only the new iPhone 16 models are listed as supporting the fastest 25W wireless charging rate.

That’s a higher maximum rate than the phones offered by Samsung and Google right now — the Galaxy S24 series maxes out at 15W, while Google’s Pixel 9 phones range from 15W–23W when using the second-generation Google Pixel Stand. (Pixel 9 models can only manage 12W charging on standard Qi chargers.)

For faster wireless charging up to 25W — up to 50 percent battery in around 30 minutes for iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro when paired with the 30W USB‑C Power Adapter (sold separately).

For fast wireless charging up to 15W for iPhone 12 or later with MagSafe when paired with the 20W USB‑C Power Adapter (sold separately).

For wireless charging up to 7.5W for iPhone 8 or later with Qi when paired with the 20W USB‑C Power Adapter (sold separately).

Apple is asking for $39 for the 1m version of the charger and $49 for the 2m one. The new phones don’t come with chargers, so you’ll need to buy this separately and add a 30W USB-C power supply to support the highest rate, as noted above.

According to the product page for the new charger, every iPhone from the iPhone 8 to the iPhone 16 line is supported, as are all AirPods with wireless charging capabilities.

Related:

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The colors are good this year. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are official, with Action Buttons inherited from the 15 Pro and a new look for the camera bump. We’ve just gotten some hands-on time with them in Cupertino, California, following the announcement, and the great news is that color is back, baby: they look great.
The rear cameras are now stacked vertically on a smaller pill-shaped camera bump. This arrangement is better suited for capturing spatial video, lest we all forget about the Vision Pro. It’s also just a fresh look for the regular iPhone, and Apple likes to throw one in every few years to shake things up.

Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge
Camera bump goes sideways.

They come with the same size screens as their predecessors: a 6.1-inch display on the iPhone 16 and a 6.7-inch display on the 16 Plus. Other than the once-again vertical lenses, the design hasn’t changed much — but the 16s do come in a few new and more vivid colors. They’re much more saturated than the washed-out colors of the 15 series, with vibrant new ultramarine, teal, and pink options joining white and black.
But these non-Pro iPhone 16 models also get an all-new feature: the “camera control” that acts as a dedicated shutter button and a way to change various settings both in the Camera app and elsewhere. The new button comes alongside some other camera upgrades to the 16, which now has the “equivalent” of four lenses despite only having two lenses.

There are other updates that are less obviously visual, too. The iPhone 16 also comes with the new A18 chip, which is supposedly 30 percent faster than last year’s model, and is supposedly more rugged and less prone to scratching or shattering. That’s all good news, though the new chip will matter most when Apple Intelligence arrives, which may not be until 2025. A new “glowed-up” Siri is a centerpiece of Apple’s suite of AI features, but it’s one that most people will have to wait a little bit longer for.
The 16 and 16 Plus will be available next week starting at $799. Will the new buttons make them worth the upgrade? That’s what I’m going to find out as soon as I can get my hands on them for longer than an afternoon.

Related:

The colors are good this year. | Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are official, with Action Buttons inherited from the 15 Pro and a new look for the camera bump. We’ve just gotten some hands-on time with them in Cupertino, California, following the announcement, and the great news is that color is back, baby: they look great.

The rear cameras are now stacked vertically on a smaller pill-shaped camera bump. This arrangement is better suited for capturing spatial video, lest we all forget about the Vision Pro. It’s also just a fresh look for the regular iPhone, and Apple likes to throw one in every few years to shake things up.

Photo: Allison Johnson / The Verge
Camera bump goes sideways.

They come with the same size screens as their predecessors: a 6.1-inch display on the iPhone 16 and a 6.7-inch display on the 16 Plus. Other than the once-again vertical lenses, the design hasn’t changed much — but the 16s do come in a few new and more vivid colors. They’re much more saturated than the washed-out colors of the 15 series, with vibrant new ultramarine, teal, and pink options joining white and black.

But these non-Pro iPhone 16 models also get an all-new feature: the “camera control” that acts as a dedicated shutter button and a way to change various settings both in the Camera app and elsewhere. The new button comes alongside some other camera upgrades to the 16, which now has the “equivalent” of four lenses despite only having two lenses.

There are other updates that are less obviously visual, too. The iPhone 16 also comes with the new A18 chip, which is supposedly 30 percent faster than last year’s model, and is supposedly more rugged and less prone to scratching or shattering. That’s all good news, though the new chip will matter most when Apple Intelligence arrives, which may not be until 2025. A new “glowed-up” Siri is a centerpiece of Apple’s suite of AI features, but it’s one that most people will have to wait a little bit longer for.

The 16 and 16 Plus will be available next week starting at $799. Will the new buttons make them worth the upgrade? That’s what I’m going to find out as soon as I can get my hands on them for longer than an afternoon.

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It’s quite light on the wrist. I was surprised.

Now that Apple’s Glowtime event is over, we’ve gotten to spend some time with the Apple Watch Series 10.
This is the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, but the Series 10 isn’t that different from what you already know. It looks a lot like prior Apple Watch models, but it has an updated design that makes the whole package thinner while expanding the screen sizes to 42mm and 46mm, up from 41mm and 45mm on the Series 9. That said, even though the sizes have crept larger since the Series 7, both the 42mm and 46mm don’t feel chunky when you wear them. Apple says the new display is 40 percent brighter and that its always-on mode will now refresh once every second, up from once every minute on older devices.

The jet black Series 10 has a quite fetching glossy finish.

I ran around trying on every iteration of Series 10 I could get my mitts on. And as much as it’s tempting to eye-roll a bigger, thinner display, it really makes a difference once you slip one one. I’ve been wearing the Ultra 2 as my daily driver for a year and the difference in weight was massive. The titanium models also look slick, particularly the new rose gold color.
Speaking of colors, yes, the all-black Ultra 2 is quite fetching. As is the jet black model for the regular Series 10. This is 100 percent the smartwatch Batman would buy himself. The new clasp on the black Ultra 2 Milanese loop is a little tricky to use, however.

It’s the black Ultra 2 y’all have been clamoring for.

I got to see a short demo of the sleep apnea feature — which isn’t available yet but will come via an over-the-air update once Apple gets FDA clearance. Basically, you’ll be able to see whether your have elevated or not elevated breathing disturbances. Unlike other sleep apnea features I’ve tried, this uses the accelerometer instead of SpO2 sensors — convenient given that Apple’s currently in the middle of a patent battle with Masimo.

Apple has also updated the watch with a new processor, a depth gauge, and the ability to detect signs of sleep apnea. It’ll be available in black, silver, and rose gold aluminum starting at $399 and in slate, gold, and natural titanium starting at $699.
We’ll be getting review units soon, and you can bet we’ll be putting all of the watches through their paces.
Photography by Victoria Song / The Verge

It’s quite light on the wrist. I was surprised.

Now that Apple’s Glowtime event is over, we’ve gotten to spend some time with the Apple Watch Series 10.

This is the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch, but the Series 10 isn’t that different from what you already know. It looks a lot like prior Apple Watch models, but it has an updated design that makes the whole package thinner while expanding the screen sizes to 42mm and 46mm, up from 41mm and 45mm on the Series 9. That said, even though the sizes have crept larger since the Series 7, both the 42mm and 46mm don’t feel chunky when you wear them. Apple says the new display is 40 percent brighter and that its always-on mode will now refresh once every second, up from once every minute on older devices.

The jet black Series 10 has a quite fetching glossy finish.

I ran around trying on every iteration of Series 10 I could get my mitts on. And as much as it’s tempting to eye-roll a bigger, thinner display, it really makes a difference once you slip one one. I’ve been wearing the Ultra 2 as my daily driver for a year and the difference in weight was massive. The titanium models also look slick, particularly the new rose gold color.

Speaking of colors, yes, the all-black Ultra 2 is quite fetching. As is the jet black model for the regular Series 10. This is 100 percent the smartwatch Batman would buy himself. The new clasp on the black Ultra 2 Milanese loop is a little tricky to use, however.

It’s the black Ultra 2 y’all have been clamoring for.

I got to see a short demo of the sleep apnea feature — which isn’t available yet but will come via an over-the-air update once Apple gets FDA clearance. Basically, you’ll be able to see whether your have elevated or not elevated breathing disturbances. Unlike other sleep apnea features I’ve tried, this uses the accelerometer instead of SpO2 sensors — convenient given that Apple’s currently in the middle of a patent battle with Masimo.

Apple has also updated the watch with a new processor, a depth gauge, and the ability to detect signs of sleep apnea. It’ll be available in black, silver, and rose gold aluminum starting at $399 and in slate, gold, and natural titanium starting at $699.

We’ll be getting review units soon, and you can bet we’ll be putting all of the watches through their paces.

Photography by Victoria Song / The Verge

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