Reviews - page 8

Apple’s newest MagSafe Charger offers faster wireless charging than its predecessor when used with an iPhone 16. However, it does not live up to Apple’s claim of powering up the newest iOS handsets as quickly as a USB-C cable.

I tested the new power puck with an iPhone 16 to see how fast it can charge, and how warm it makes the handset. Here’s what I found out.

AirPods 4 bring professional-grade features to Apple’s non-Pro earbuds. Fairly good active noise cancellation sits at the top of the list of additions, which is a surprise because the earbuds lack foam ear tips.

Apple did tweak the design to make them more comfortable and secure. And the company improved the audio quality, too. Especially the bass. How does all this play out in real-world testing? Read our hands-on AirPods 4 review to find out.

If you snatched up an iPhone 16 or 16 Pro — congrats! Now it’s time to consider how you’ll protect it. New iPhones aren’t fragile, and plenty of people go caseless to show off their handset’s sleek lines and cool color. But imagine how bummed you’ll be if you drop it and break it. Fortunately, there are already plenty of protective new cases to choose from.

 After all, case-makers anticipate the new iPhone every year, and they bring the variety. You could go minimal with a thin case that works well with iPhone 16’s sleek design. You might seek extreme impact resistance for the most damaging drops. Or maybe you’d pick a luxurious leather that only looks better with age. For those looking for durable yet stylish protection, brands like Spigen offer a variety of well-crafted options.

We rounded up the best options you can buy right now — in addition to cases by Apple and its subsidiary Beats — with prices starting at less than $20, below.

John Gruber’s three keys to internet success are:

1. A fussy way to make coffee
2. A clicky keyboard
3. A SodaStream

I’m no longer 12 years old, so I’ll skip No. 3, but I’m so deep into Nos. 1 and 2 that it more than makes up for my aversion to carbonated drinks. The keyboard is the majestic Filco Majestouch 2. And the fussy coffee method is the AeroPress.

The iPhone 16 Pro is a much-refined iPhone. All the features that make the it pro have been improved. The cameras are better, faster and higher-resolution. The screens are bigger, the bezels smaller, the chips faster. Even Siri works better!

But the bright colors of the iPhone 16 are swaying a lot of people back to the entry-level models, and I don’t blame them. The iPhone 16 Pro is for those who want the top 10%, the uncompromising best-of-the-best — if you can live with a gray phone.

This year, the best gets a little better all around. Keep reading or watch the video.

I’d like to save you between $200 and $400. It’s easy: Don’t assume you must buy an iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max to get an excellent handset. The more-affordable iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are both brilliant.

Traditionally, customers choose the basic iPhone because they’re willing to forgo cutting-edge features to get a cheaper device. But the gap between iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus versus the Pro versions proves quite narrow. My time reviewing Apple’s latest iPhones shows that if you go with a “regular” iPhone this year, you will give up less than you think in exchange for significant savings.

I find going to the mall for an Apple Store sales event exciting yet brutally soul-sapping, even when a preorder makes pick-up relatively easy. But it’s well worth it when it results in the excellent new Apple Watch Series 10 on my wrist. I actually couldn’t wait to write this Apple Watch Series 10 review.

Larger, thinner, lighter and more lushly curvaceous than predecessors, the 10th anniversary Apple Watch is, technically, a redesign. But it feels like a bunch of iterative improvements more than a huge overhaul. And yet those small changes simply add up to great — with only a couple of small caveats.

Rather than Apple Watch Ultra 3, we got the Ultra 2 in a “satin black” titanium finish. This might be more disappointing if early reviewers weren’t raving about the new color.

“It looks sick as hell,” said The Verge reviewer.

The charging station’s compact design makes it one of the smaller MagSafe-compatible docks I’ve seen that supports 15W fast charging. Measuring just 3.07 x 2.36 x 2.36 inches, it’s small enough for travel if you have space in your bag or for keeping your workspace tidy because it doesn’t take up much space. The charger’s build quality is top-notch, featuring a tilting top charging panel for MagSafe iPhones that adjusts up to 70 degrees for a better viewing angle. This flexibility allows me to easily see notifications or watch videos while my device charges. It’s great for Standby mode, too. If you’d like to know more about similar charging solutions, check out this review.

Early reviews for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus say the base handsets close the gap between them and the Pro models. With the new Action and Camera Control buttons, the powerful new A18 chip, camera improvements and the promise of upcoming Apple Intelligence functionality, users with older models have plenty of reason to upgrade from older models (especially iPhone Series 14 and older). Read our iPhone 16 review roundup to find out more.

As Apple Watch celebrates its 10th anniversary, Series 10 has arrived with a suite of refinements rather than revolutionary changes, our Apple Watch 10 review roundup found. And that’s despite the fact that a redesign took place to make the wearable larger yet slimmer. Let’s dive into what reviewers say this latest iteration brings to the table, including a larger display, faster charging and sleep apnea detection.

The first reviews of Apple AirPods 4 are in to answer the question, how well does active noise cancellation work without foam ear tips? The consensus: pretty well.

Early reviewers of the new wireless earbuds also had plenty to say about fit, sound quality and more.

Zagg offers an array of excellent accessories for Apple devices. Its Denali case for the latest iPad Pro models is not one of them. The case protects the tablet from drops of 6.5 feet and includes a snap-on screen protector and kickstand, but a couple of significant design problems make this a product to walk away from.

I (unfortunately) tested the Denali with my 13-inch iPad Pro so I’m well familiar with its issues.

There’s no better way to charge your new iPhone 16 than with MagSafe. Pick the right charger and it’s as fast as a cable. And even when it’s a bit slower, it’s certainly the simplest and most convenient option. And, let’s face it, plugging in a cable is nowhere near as satisfying as that snap you hear when slapping a MagSafe accessory onto the back of your iPhone.

If you’ll be experiencing MagSafe for the first time with iPhone 16, it’s time to stock up on cables, charging stations and battery packs. Here are the best available right now.

The ProtoArc XK01 Tri-Fold Bluetooth Keyboard is ready to make your business trips more productive. It’s full size, with a numpad and function keys, too. But it folds down to fit easily in a briefcase.

It’s available solo, or with a travel mouse, or as the centerpiece of a bundle with the mouse plus a USB-C hub and multi-port wall charger.

I fully tested the folding keyboard with my 13-inch iPad Pro, plus the other components, too.

WaterField Designs’ X-Air Duffel is a carry-on duffel bag that solves many problems for frequent fliers. High-quality components and an incredibly well-thought-out design make it one of the best under-seat luggage options around — especially for anybody who tends to carry a lot of Apple gear.

Meticulously crafted, with loads of luxurious details, it’s roomy enough to hold a couple of days’ worth of clothing. And yet it’s still small enough to cram under most airlines’ seats. Dedicated compartments safely hold your MacBook, iPad and other devices, keeping them well organized for in-flight use.

The Pressure-Reducing Comfort Head Strap for Apple Vision Pro by Annapro is an absolute must-have game-changing accessory. It makes using the headset in its default mixed-reality mode far more engaging and comfortable, as it lets you use the device without Apple’s peripheral-blinding Light Seal. It also enables more people to use the more comfortable Solo Knit band, so it’s incredibly easy to put on and take off.

Annapro’s head strap makes the Vision Pro less like putting on ski goggles and more like putting on big glasses. It’s a small change that has radically impacted how I think about the device. And at a highly affordable $39.99, it’s a no-brainer accessory that every Vision Pro owner should pick up … all 200 of them.

Keep reading or watch our video review.

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The Zagg Crystal Palace solves a vexing problem for iPad users: you want to show off your gorgeous iPad but you need to protect it too. That’s why most of this folio case is transparent. Nevertheless, it provides 6.5 feet of drop protection.

It also acts as a stand, and there’s a useful Apple Pencil holder.

Zagg’s case offers plenty of great features, but an unfortunate design flaw in the cover flap makes it hard for me to recommend this product.

If your family owns several devices, it is important to own a good charging solution to ensure you can quickly and simultaneously top up everything. I typically relied on power bricks — despite them not being the best for the job. But then I switched to the Acefast Z4 218W power station, a sleek-looking, four-in-one charging station that pumps out plenty of power.

Read my Acefast Z4 218W power station review to learn why this capable accessory deserves a spot on your desk, thanks to an ideal mix of style and substance.

After years of waiting, there’s finally a travel hub that can handle a USB-C external display. And the EZQuest USB-C Slim Gen 2 Hub Adapter 6-in-1 can charge a computer while connecting it to up to four other accessories. Plus it’s small enough to go anywhere.

I tested the hub and am really quite pleased, though it does get a bit warmer than I like.

ESR’s Rebound Magnetic Keyboard Case 360 includes a protective case for an iPad as well as a keyboard and trackpad. It offers typing with the tablet in portrait or landscape, a trick Apple’s own case/keyboard can’t match. You also can use the case when you leave the keyboard behind.

I tested it with my 13-inch iPad Pro. Here are my hands-on impressions.

New Apple TV+ action comedy The Instigators is getting a bad rap. The action-comedy about a Boston heist gone wrong, which stars Matt Damon and Casey Affleck, currently achieves a lackluster 41% critics’ score on Rotten Tomatoes. But those critics are missing the point. The Instigators is an unpretentious buddy film that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

The critics who panned the movie apparently don’t know how to sit back and enjoy a fun flick. (The Instigators’ audience score sits at a much higher 71%.) Here are three reasons you should give this underappreciated action-comedy a stream on Apple TV+.

Mageasy Lift Standing & Folding Folio iPad Case folds into a stand that raises your tablet screen up closer to eye level. It’s a trick that really helps it stand out from the competition (see what I did there?).

It can also be folded into other shapes to provide a range of viewing angles. And when on the go, the case wraps completely around the iPad to protect it.

I tested the Lift with my 2024 iPad Pro.

You can find plenty of multiport GaN chargers to help charge your Apple devices on the go. But things get a bit complicated if you want a power brick that can fast charge multiple MacBooks at once. Chargeasap solved this problem with its Zeus 280W power adapter, which the company calls the “world’s first and smallest 280W charger.”

So, what makes the Zeus 280W special? For starters, it can fast charge two 16-inch MacBook Pros at once, a feat that only a few other power bricks can match. Our review will help you decide if this 280W powerhouse is worth buying instead of other GaN chargers.

EarFun launched its new flagship Air Pro 4 active noise-canceling (ANC) wireless earbuds Monday, calling them “the world’s first Auracast-supported earbuds under $100.” And the new buds run true to form for EarFun. They’re great-sounding, well-equipped earbuds that present an excellent value at a list price of $90. And EarFun Air Pro 4 present an even better value with the launch discount (see below).