Mobile Devices, Tablets & Phones News - Page 1

The latest and most important Mobile Devices, Tablets & Phones news.

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Some M4 iPad Pro buyers complain of grainy displays on their $1,000 tablets

Oliver Haslam | May 20, 2024 2:15 PM CDT

Apple's brand-new M4 iPad Pro is now on sale after months of guesses and delays in terms of its launch date. The tablet brought with it all of the high-end specs that we'd been told to expect including a powerful new M4 chip and a stunning OLED display. But according to a new report not everyone has been happy with that display since picking up their new tablets.

Some M4 iPad Pro buyers complain of grainy displays on their $1,000 tablets

The iPad Pro comes with a stunning new OLED display, the likes of which Apple has never put in a tablet before. However, a MacRumors report cites buyers across Reddit and its own forums as having issues with that new OLED display. Some say that the display is grainy, for example, and the issue seems to be most pronounced on darker backgrounds.

Some users describe the issue as if it was a photo taken in the dark with a large level of noise, but it isn't yet clear just how widespread it is. It's also unclear whether this is actually an issue as such or simply a feature of the way these new displays work. The issues don't appear to be affecting everyone to be sure, and none of the reviewers who got their hands on the iPad Pro early reported any similar issues.

Continue reading: Some M4 iPad Pro buyers complain of grainy displays on their $1,000 tablets (full post)

Apple could finally update the AirTag item tracker with improved features next year

Oliver Haslam | May 20, 2024 1:45 PM CDT

Apple's AirTag is a pretty solid item tracker as it is, but it hasn't been updated since its release back in April 2021. That means that the tracker is now more than three years old and a new report suggests that Apple is finally getting ready to release an updated model. But that isn't going to happen any time soon, it would seem, and we might have to wait another whole year.

Apple could finally update the AirTag item tracker with improved features next year

That's according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman who was writing in the weekly Power On newsletter when he suggested that mid-2025 might be the timeframe we should be looking at.

According to Gurman, the next-generation AirTag is being developed under the codename B589 within Apple. It's currently undergoing manufacturing tests with supply chain partners and the tracker is currently aiming for the middle of next year, although that could change before the updated AirTag is officially unveiled.

Continue reading: Apple could finally update the AirTag item tracker with improved features next year (full post)

Apple releases iOS 17.5.1 with a fix for a bug that causes deleted photos to reappear

Oliver Haslam | May 20, 2024 1:30 PM CDT

Apple released iOS 17.5.1 and iPadOS 17.5.1 to the public just a week ago but the company has now also released iOS 17.5.1 and iPadOS 17.5.1. The unusually quick turnaround comes because Apple needed to fix a particularly troubling bug that has been reported for the last few days and has proven to be a real source of concern for some.

Apple releases iOS 17.5.1 with a fix for a bug that causes deleted photos to reappear

That bug saw iPhone and iPad owners report that they sometimes encountered the return of previously deleted photos in the Photos app. Users reported that photos, sometimes as old as 10 years old, had made an appearance despite having previously been deleted. The photos popped up as if they had only just been taken and could potentially have been problematic for a number of reasons depending on their content. The bug could also resurface photos of people that the user did not want to see for various obvious reasons, too.

Now, Apple has released iOS 17.5.1 and iPadOS 17.5.1 to address the issue, saying that the update provides important bug fixes to address a rare issue where photos could reappear in the Photos app. The release notes say that this happened when photos had experienced a database corruption, but it isn't clear why that might happen or indeed what it actually means.

Continue reading: Apple releases iOS 17.5.1 with a fix for a bug that causes deleted photos to reappear (full post)

Apple's iPhone 16 Pro could ditch one color and add a whole new one, report claims

Oliver Haslam | May 20, 2024 1:15 PM CDT

Apple isn't expected to announce the iPhone 16 Pro or iPhone 16 Pro Max until much later this year, likely in or around September. But expectations are already starting to grow and a new report has detailed which colors we should expect to be choosing from when the big launch comes around.

Apple's iPhone 16 Pro could ditch one color and add a whole new one, report claims

The information comes via the usually well-connected supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo in a post on the X social network. According to the post, it seems that Apple is getting ready to ditch the popular blue titanium color in favor of its complete opposite - a new rose color that could be similar to the rose gold that was popular on previous devices.

In that X post, Ming-Chi Ming-Chi Kuo said that Apple is expected to offer the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max in black, white or silver, and a natural titanium finish as well as that rose color we mentioned earlier. However, it's also worth noting that we could see some of the colors change even if they have the same name given the way Apple likes to tweak finishes. We only need to look at the various different space gray finishes of iPhones past.

Continue reading: Apple's iPhone 16 Pro could ditch one color and add a whole new one, report claims (full post)

Buying an iPhone 16? These are the colors that you'll probably have to choose from

Oliver Haslam | May 20, 2024 12:45 PM CDT

If Apple sticks to a familiar pattern we can expect the company to announce a slew of new iPhones this coming September, starting with the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. Both handsets are set to go on sale alongside the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max and it's thought that they'll be powered by iOS 18, complete with a big new AI focus that is set to be announced at WWDC on June 10. Now, a new report appears to have outed the colors that iPhone 16 buyers can expect to be choosing from this fall.

Buying an iPhone 16? These are the colors that you'll probably have to choose from

Supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is normally extremely well-connected which means that it's always worth paying attention when he shares details about upcoming iPhones. Now, he's shared details about the iPhone 16 colors in a post on the X social network.

According to the post, Apple will launch the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus in black, green, pink, blue, and white. However, he does note that it's possible that the colors will have different names - as an example, he says that white could be called Starlight as has been the case previously. It's also worth remembering that it's possible that even if an iPhone has the same color name as a previous model, it could actually be a very different color when you see it in person.

Continue reading: Buying an iPhone 16? These are the colors that you'll probably have to choose from (full post)

Rumored iOS 18 AI upgrade to include notification summarization and more

Oliver Haslam | May 20, 2024 12:15 PM CDT

With Apple's WWDC event set to kick off on June 10, we're starting to hear more and more about what we can expect to be unveiled. For some time now the rumors have pointed to a big AI presence at the event, with iOS 18 in particular set to benefit from some new smarts that will be a big upgrade over what we're already familiar with. Expectations are high, and now a new report has added additional detail on what we should expect from Apple's big event.

Rumored iOS 18 AI upgrade to include notification summarization and more

The iPhone is one of the devices that is expected to benefit greatly from the new features and Apple is expected to preview iOS 18 at WWDC. That update isn't going to be released to the public until September, but WWDC will give us a flavor of what to expect while a developer beta will also be released for testing on June 10, too. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says that Apple intends to add features that will improve Siri's voice capabilities, among other things.

The Siri upgrades are set to include an improved, more conversational feel, we're told, while services like auto-summarizing of notifications will also be part of the unveiling. There's also talk of the ability to get a synopsis of news articles while voice memos will also be transcribed upon request. Gurman also believes that there will be improvements to existing features like the ability to auto-popular calendar data as well as suggestions for apps.

Continue reading: Rumored iOS 18 AI upgrade to include notification summarization and more (full post)

Apple's next budget iPhone will have Face ID and an OLED display but it could cost $499

Oliver Haslam | May 20, 2024 12:00 PM CDT

The current-gen iPhone SE has been around since 2022 and while it's a solid option for people who want to be able to get into an iPhone without spending too much money, there's no denying that it is starting to show its age. Even when the handset was released in 2022 the phone looked aged thanks to the use of a Home button and the relatively small 4.7-inch display. That's all expected to change when the iPhone SE 4 arrives and while we've been told to expect a price hike, a new report suggests that anyone concerned about a potential $500+ device need not worry too much.

Apple's next budget iPhone will have Face ID and an OLED display but it could cost $499

This is according to a new post by the X leaker Revegnus which claims that the US price of the iPhone SE 4 will see a price increase of around 10%, although there is still the possibility that the price won't increase at all. However, if it does, Apple is reportedly very keen to ensure that the price doesn't increase beyond $499.

The reasons for the iPhone SE to get more expensive for this fourth generation are pretty obvious. The rumors currently have the handset coming with a large 6.1-inch OLED display while Face ID is also thought to be part of the spec sheet. Both of those things will cost Apple more to produce than the Touch ID and LCD display combination that is currently in use.

Continue reading: Apple's next budget iPhone will have Face ID and an OLED display but it could cost $499 (full post)

Spring 2025 tipped to finally see the launch of the next-gen iPhone SE

Oliver Haslam | May 18, 2024 11:15 AM CDT

While we expect that Apple will release the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max later this year, we don't expect there to be any more new iPhones before the end of the year. That means that the iPhone SE won't be updated in 2024, but a new report suggests that we won't have to wait another whole year for the updated iPhone SE to arrive.

Spring 2025 tipped to finally see the launch of the next-gen iPhone SE

We've been told to expect an updated iPhone SE with a new design for some time now, and it had been thought that the launch would coincide with the arrival of Apple's first in-house 5G modem. That's so far proven difficult for Apple to manage, but we're now being told that 2025 will be the year that Apple finally brings the iPhone SE 4 to market.

That's according to a report by The Information which claims that Apple intends to launch the handset next year while matching previous rumors that Apple intends to ditch the Home button and Touch ID, finally, and replace the current model with a design that closely matches that of the iPhone 14.

Continue reading: Spring 2025 tipped to finally see the launch of the next-gen iPhone SE (full post)

Buying an iPhone 15 just got cheaper if you have an old model to trade in

Oliver Haslam | May 18, 2024 11:00 AM CDT

As we reach the halfway mark between the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro going on sale and them being replaced by their 2024 counterparts, Apple has started to incentivize people to pick up a new handset now rather than wait for the new hotness to arrive later this year.

Buying an iPhone 15 just got cheaper if you have an old model to trade in

As part of the drive to improve new iPhone sales Apple has started to offer more trade-in value for those who are buying one of its latest handsets and choosing to hand over their old device. The increases apply to the iPhone SE and iPhone 13 or newer and it's important to remember that the discount only applies when you buy one of the iPhone 15 family of devices. Also of note, the increased value is only available to buyers in the United States and Canada.

In terms of figures, the current trade-in prices available in the United States include iPhone SE (3rd generation) up to $160, iPhone 13 mini up to $270, iPhone 13 up to $300, iPhone 13 Pro up to $370, iPhone 13 Pro Max up to $450, iPhone 14 up to $370, iPhone 14 Plus up to $420, iPhone 14 Pro up to $520, iPhone 14 Pro Max up to $630.

Continue reading: Buying an iPhone 15 just got cheaper if you have an old model to trade in (full post)

Don't expect an iPhone 17 Plus as Apple gets ready to ditch its big mid-range model

Oliver Haslam | May 18, 2024 10:28 AM CDT

If you're a fan of Apple's big phones but don't want to have to pay the big money to get your hands on something like the iPhone 15 Pro Max, the Plus handsets are always the best way to go. But while we expect there to be an iPhone 16 Plus launched later this year, a new report suggests that it will be the last of the family and be replaced by something new entirely.

Don't expect an iPhone 17 Plus as Apple gets ready to ditch its big mid-range model

Apple started offering a Plus model with the iPhone 14 Plus, replacing the iPhone 13 mini with something very different, and the iPhone 15 Plus carried that on last year. The iPhone 15 Plus has all the same features and specifications as the iPhone 15 but with a larger 6.7-inch display, just like the iPhone 15 Pro Max. But a new report by The Information suggests that Apple isn't happy with the demand for the Plus models and will choose to ditch them entirely when the iPhone 17 ships in the fall of 2025.

That report says that Apple will replace the iPhone 16 Plus with a new iPhone 17 model that will have a slightly smaller display but be thinner and more expensive than the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It's possible that this is the Ultra device that was tipped to be part of the iPhone 15 lineup but ultimately didn't materialize.

Continue reading: Don't expect an iPhone 17 Plus as Apple gets ready to ditch its big mid-range model (full post)