Tag: iOS 17

Does ProMotion on the iPhone 15 consume a lot of battery?

Approximately, the iPhone 15 Pro with ProMotion activated consumes approximately 5 percent more battery, which is nothing compared to what it offers you…

Apple introduced the 120 Hz ProMotion technology with the iPhone 14 Pro range last year. This technology made its way to the iPhone 15 Pro, enhancing the user experience, making it more fluid and smooth, especially when playing games that support 120 fps.

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Apple allows iPhone 15 Pro users to reduce the refresh rate from 120 Hz to 60 Hz. Previously, there was speculation that doing so would allow the iPhone to save battery.

According to a new test, disabling 120Hz ProMotion on the iPhone 15 Pro or iPhone 15 Pro Max has a negligible impact on battery life.

What is ProMotion for and what impact does it have on the battery?

The iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max can dynamically adjust the refresh rate between 120 Hz and 1 Hz, allowing the device to save battery.

The variable refresh rate is beneficial with the Always-On display, as it rests at 1Hz, showing the time and widgets on the lock screen. And now we know, thanks to Jason Cross of Macworld, that disabling the 120 Hz refresh rate on the iPhone 15 Pro is not worth it, as it does not affect battery life.

Cross conducted tests on Geekbench 4 to see if turning on and off the 120 Hz ProMotion display affected the battery life of the flagship iPhones. There are some differences, but they are not significant enough to disable one of the most attractive features of the iPhone 15 Pro.

However, the battery of the iPhone 15 Pro would take a substantial hit if you are playing demanding games that support 120 fps. Since there are countless variables, it is challenging to conduct a scientific test on the impact of ProMotion on the iPhone’s battery life.

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Cross also mentioned that battery usage was nearly halved when ProMotion was disabled while gaming. However, real-world tests revealed that the higher refresh rate has little to no effect on battery life.

Approximately, the iPhone 15 Pro with ProMotion enabled consumes about 5 percent more battery, which is nothing compared to the functionality you get in return. Here are the best tips to stretch your battery.

Apple’s great gesture for all users with an iPhone 14

For many it is a valueless addition, but the reality is that it was one of the great leaps in security that the sector demanded. Today Apple has given us…

One of the most interesting features of iPhones is the satellite connection in case of emergency. For many, it’s seen as an added feature without value, but the reality is that it was one of the significant leaps in security that the industry demanded.

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Apple debuted the emergency SOS service via satellite with the iPhone 14 series. The feature initially launched in the USA and Canada and shortly after in other European countries such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and Ireland.

As Apple continues its satellite expansion, the company has announced today that it’s offering a full year of free service to those who own an iPhone 14.

A surprising measure affecting millions of customers

The tech giant has declared through a press release that it’s extending its free satellite coverage for a whole year for iPhone 14 users, while mentioning that the feature has saved countless lives from a grim fate:

“A year ago today, Apple’s groundbreaking Emergency SOS satellite safety service was made available on all iPhone 14 models in the United States and Canada. Now also available on the iPhone 15 lineup in 16 countries. Apple has announced today that it’s extending free access to Emergency SOS via satellite for another year for current iPhone 14 users.”

However, as you might have guessed, there’s a catch: it only applies to owners of an iPhone 14 who activated their device in a country supporting Emergency SOS via Satellite before today, November 15, 2023. If you buy the phone today, you won’t have two years of satellite connection.

Apple has also provided clear instructions on how to use the feature in case assistance is ever needed. Reliable communication with a satellite within range requires having your iPhone 14 or iPhone 15 under an open sky, and objects like trees, buildings, foliage, or any other obstruction will hinder messages from being sent or received quickly.

Under ideal conditions, iPhone 14 and iPhone 15 owners can expect messages to be sent and received within a 15-second interval. Additionally, minor details such as their location, altitude, iPhone battery level, and others are requested to make it much easier to accurately triangulate the device’s position.

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Will the iPhone 16 have a new mysterious button?

This button is a bit of a mystery, because although Instant Digital says there’s a “strong possibility” that all iPhone 16 models will have it…

Apple is renewing the design of its phones very gradually. In recent years, each generation has brought us a small improvement or change compared to the previous family. Whether it’s the Dynamic Island, the rear camera module, and so on.

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Apple introduced a new button in its iPhone lineup with the action button on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. Surprisingly, the company might have even more buttons planned, with another new button slated to land on all models of the iPhone 16.

The information comes from the leaker Instant Digital, and although we approach the claim with caution (especially because it’s too early for iPhone 16 rumors), they have accurately leaked Apple information in the past.

However, this button is a bit mysterious because, although Instant Digital says there is a “high possibility” that all iPhone 16 models will have it, they don’t specify what it will do.

Adjustments in the design for this new button

What Instant Digital does mention is that apparently, the mmWave antenna will move to the left edge of these phones to make space on the right edge for this new button.

They also say that there will be changes to the action button, which will apparently switch to a touch-sensitive design, meaning it will be flush with the phone’s side and won’t physically move when pressed but will provide haptic feedback.

Fortunately, the power and volume buttons will remain the same as before.

We had heard about this in a previous leak about the iPhone 16, where the mysterious new button was mentioned, along with the information that it would also be solid-state.

That leak also mentioned that the new button is internally known as the “Capture” button, suggesting that it might have something to do with the camera, perhaps for taking photos.

It does seem odd, however, that Apple is adding new buttons to the iPhone for two consecutive years, especially when the action button is customizable and can already be used for a variety of different functions.

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“Event recorded with an iPhone 15 Pro” … and a film crew worth hundreds of thousands of dollars

Admittedly, the event was filmed using an iPhone 15 Pro Max… with the help of a full set of professional recording equipment and studio lighting.

Last night, the Scary Fast event took place. For those who don’t know what we’re talking about, it was Apple’s pre-Halloween event where they unveiled the new M3 processors and the computers that will come with them, including both the MacBook laptops and desktop Macs.

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And while the event was incredibly interesting, featuring powerful presentations such as the new SoCs that many were anticipating, the surprise came at the end of the conference: everything had been recorded with iPhone 15 Pro phones.

Professional cameras were never used at any point. Impressive, isn’t it? We could say yes. But… does this mean that everyone could have recorded the event with their iPhone and achieve the same result? Obviously not.

The fallacy behind “recorded with an iPhone 15 Pro”

It is true that the event was filmed using an iPhone 15 Pro Max… with the help of a complete professional recording team and studio lighting. And here lies the key to all of this and the reason why you will never be able to create such an impressive video with your smartphone.

Still images and a video reveal that a large amount of professional equipment is needed (including drones, gimbals, tripods, industrial studio lighting, and other recording accessories) for iPhone recordings to have that professional look.

Apple has used similar setups, albeit much less extreme, for previous events filmed with iPhones, such as Burberry’s Spring/Summer 2014 fashion show.

It’s a good way to promote the recording quality of iPhone cameras, but it can never be a message that “ordinary people can recreate this kind of results at home.” Not without outrageously expensive equipment.

The equipment shown in the behind-the-scenes images of “Scary Fast” is quite common in large studio productions, but what Apple wants to imply with these supposed “recorded with iPhone” promotions is that anyone can do it if they buy the most powerful iPhone.

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Is the new M3 Pro chip worse than its predecessor, the M2 Pro? That’s what Apple’s own website indicates

Yesterday the new Apple processors and computers were presented. And, to everyone’s surprise, the company showed us numbers and data that make no sense.

Last night was the Scary Fast, an Apple event that surprised us all. In it, the company unveiled its new processors and new computers, both laptops and desktops. Now, it’s time to talk about the M3 Pro, the star SoC of this year.

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The new Apple M3 Pro is mass-produced using the latest 3nm technology, giving the chipset incredible performance per watt attributes while consuming less energy than competing chipsets.

However, despite these improvements, we have observed in the specification comparison with the M2 Pro that Apple has reduced certain features in some aspects, especially in the number of performance cores and memory bandwidth.

Fewer cores and less bandwidth in the M3 Pro: What happened?

A variant of the M2 Pro with a 12-core CPU and a 19-core GPU offers better specifications than the M3 Pro, at least on paper. On one hand, the latest chipset features an 18-core GPU, one core less than the M2 Pro, but that’s not all that has been downgraded.

Apple may have maintained the number of CPU cores in both chipsets, but their configuration has been slightly altered. While the M2 Pro has eight performance cores and four efficiency cores, the M3 Pro actually has fewer performance cores, with six of them, along with six efficiency cores.

This reduction in performance cores could be one of the reasons why, during the Apple event, the marketing slides only showed a 10% difference between the M2 Pro and the M3 Pro.

It’s possible that Apple intentionally lowered the performance budget of the latest SoC to offer more in terms of battery life, although we’ll have to wait for more tests to provide a more definitive answer. We have also noticed that the memory bandwidth of the M3 Pro is 25% lower than that of the M2 Pro.

The previous specification comparison reveals that the M3 Pro has a memory bandwidth of 150GB/s, whereas the M2 Pro has a memory bandwidth of 200GB/s.

How much this reduction influences real-world usage will be determined once official performance tests arrive. If Apple has deliberately reduced the capabilities of its latest SoC, it could be to improve the battery life of the new 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models.

Unfortunately, there’s no way to confirm it, so we’ll have to wait for the tests to surface, and as always, we will keep you informed.

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A month later, Apple acknowledges the serious issue with its iPhone 15 wireless charging: Is there a solution?

Apple said the issue will be addressed in a software update coming later this year. Since the note was published hours after…

In Apple, they have the habit of not acknowledging the faults and errors of their devices until well after some time has passed. Whether it’s because they are ready to announce a solution or because they are working on it. In today’s case, it seems to be the second option.

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In an internal memo published by MacRumors, Tim Cook’s company states that “charging an iPhone 15, iPhone 15 Plus, iPhone 15 Pro, or iPhone 15 Pro Max with a ‘small number’ of wireless phone chargers built into certain recent models of BMW and Toyota Supra can temporarily disable the device’s NFC capabilities.”

The note does not provide a specific reason for the issue, which was first reported earlier this month. In an iPhone, the NFC chip activates functions such as Apple Pay and digital car keys.

Indeed, this error could be serious for certain users

The affected users might receive an error message stating “Could not set up Apple Pay” in the Wallet app, even if they have already set up Apple Pay.

Apple stated that the issue will be addressed in a software update set to arrive later this year. Since the note was published hours after iOS 17.1 was released today, it seems the fix will require a subsequent update, such as iOS 17.1.1 or iOS 17.2.

In the meantime, Apple advises affected customers to stop using wireless charging in the car.

Affected customers report that the iPhone enters a data recovery mode with a white screen, and the NFC chip is no longer functional after restarting the device.

Customers cannot fix the problem themselves, so it’s necessary to visit an Apple Store or an Apple Authorized Service Provider. Therefore, the issue is indeed quite frustrating.

Apple states that technicians can attempt to reset the NFC chip on an affected iPhone using a software tool that is part of the Apple Service Toolkit 2. If this step doesn’t resolve the problem, Apple advises technicians to initiate a hardware repair.

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What costs more to manufacture: the Apple A17 Pro or the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2?

The A17 Pro is Apple’s first 3nm SoC only found in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max and is mass produced with the architecture…

The war between Android and iOS has many aspects, primarily the SoC (System on Chip) used in these devices. Apple has opted for its own chips, while in the Android realm, Qualcomm reigns as the king. Today, we compare the manufacturing costs of these chips.

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The A17 Pro is Apple’s first 3nm SoC, exclusively featured in the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 15 Pro Max. It is mass-produced using TSMC’s next-generation architecture, the Taiwanese manufacturer.

Naturally, the enhancements brought by the latest SoC compared to the A16 Bionic justify its higher cost. But how much more expensive is it? Let’s find out.

The Apple chip is much cheaper than what they are selling it for

Well, according to the latest estimates, there is a 27% increase in the cost. But that’s not the surprising part; even Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, announced in 2022, is more expensive than Apple’s latest and best chip for the iPhone.

In previous estimates, Nikkei media stated that manufacturing the A16 Bionic cost Apple $110, and the A17 Pro had a slightly higher price tag, at $130 each.

It’s noteworthy that, despite being manufactured using TSMC’s 3nm process and facing performance issues, Apple managed to produce these chips for only $20 more for the latest version. It’s possible that the tech giant was able to reduce this cost by increasing shipping volumes.

Considering the high demand for the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max after their launch, this only makes things easier for Apple when it comes to ordering more shipments of the A17 Pro.

What’s most interesting about these estimates is that the estimated price of the A17 Pro, $130, remains cheaper than the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2, for which Qualcomm’s partners pay $160 per unit to use it in their flagship devices.

It’s important to note that the A17 Pro is exclusively used in Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max and is not sold to any other company. In comparison, the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 is sold to Qualcomm’s partners and is found in millions of Android smartphones.

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Apple wants to update your iPhone… even before you take it out of the box

Apple could update its iPhones while they are still in their original packaging and in stores. Apple has developed a "similar proprietary device…

Indeed, few things are more tedious than updating the phone once we take it out of the box. This is inseparable from the mobile sector since all devices require updates throughout their lifespan, especially in the beginning.

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Indeed, Apple aims to put an end to this with its own technology, according to certain reports that came out this weekend. In the future, Apple could update its iPhones while they are still in their original packaging and in stores.

According to Mark Gurman from Bloomberg, Apple has developed a “proprietary device resembling a pad” for this purpose.

An Apple employee could place an iPhone on top of this device, which would turn it on, update its software, and turn it off again wirelessly. All of this without the need to open the package.

Apple plans to start rolling out this feature in its stores before the end of 2023

This system could simplify the often cumbersome process of setting up a new phone. By eliminating the need (often necessary) to update the iPhone right after unboxing and turning it on, one more step before using the new phone would be eliminated.

Gurman also shared other details about Apple’s upcoming devices. For instance, he explained that Apple is planning to launch a cheaper version of its Vision Pro headset, which would have an iPhone processor inside (instead of a Mac-grade chip) and would do away with the external display. It would also have fewer external cameras and sensors.

The report also mentions new Macs. Gurman states that the upcoming high-end MacBook Pro models, featuring 14 and 16-inch displays and Apple M3 Pro and M3 Max chips, are nearing mass production and could be released in the first quarter of 2023.

New MacBook Air models with 13 and 15-inch displays and Apple M3 chips are also expected to arrive, possibly between spring and summer next year. And this is, so far, all we know about Apple’s upcoming moves.

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The iPhone 15 was released a month ago, and we already have news about the highly anticipated iPhone 16: screen, cameras, and more

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max could be substantial upgrades to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. This is what we know.

A month ago, Apple introduced their new family of phones: the iPhone 15. Since then, we haven’t stopped talking about them in this house, and we will continue to do so for the rest of the year… not to mention that we are gradually starting to discuss the upcoming release: the iPhone 16.

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And it’s interesting because we’ve heard about the upcoming iPhone 16, which is peculiar considering we don’t expect them until almost a year from now. But a reputable analyst has shared some detailed predictions about these phones, giving us an idea of what we can expect.

According to Jeff Pu of Haitong International Securities, in a note to investors seen by 9to5Mac, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max could be substantial upgrades from the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

New cameras and larger screens

On one hand, both phones will apparently feature a new 48 MP ultra-wide camera, compared to the current models’ 12 MP.

And both will apparently have screens that are 0.2 inches larger than their predecessors, measuring 6.1 and 6.7 inches.

A better processor and much more speed

Additionally, it is said that both phones will be equipped with an A18 Bionic chipset, although the RAM capacities will remain at 8 GB, similar to this year’s models.

Pu also claims that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will have a new Snapdragon X75 modem, capable of 5G speeds of up to 7.5 Gbps, and they will be compatible with Wi-Fi 7, allowing Wi-Fi speeds of up to 46 Gbps.

It’s likely that these speeds won’t be reached with current cellular and internet service providers, but this means you could potentially get higher speeds than what current iPhones are capable of, both on 5G and Wi-Fi.

Finally, regarding these phones, Pu states that the iPhone 16 Pro will feature the 5x optical zoom camera, which is currently exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro Max. He explains that this is due to the slightly larger size of the phone, as there apparently wasn’t enough space for this camera in the iPhone 15 Pro.

However, don’t expect any improvement in the zoom of the iPhone 16 Pro Max, as both Pro models will have the same 12 MP 5x optical zoom camera as the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

More RAM for the iPhone 16?

Pu also made some predictions about the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, stating that these two phones will have only a dual-lens rear camera, and there won’t be any update to the ultra-wide-angle lens, meaning it will remain at 12 MP and lack the macro mode featured in the latest Pro models.

The main camera is not mentioned, but given that it received a significant update to 48 MP this year, substantial changes are not to be expected either.

Pu does point out that the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will feature an A17 Pro chipset, similar to the current Pro models. This was expected, as Apple has been accustomed to equipping standard models with the same chipset as the previous year’s Pro models.

However, they assure that they will receive a RAM upgrade, going from 6 GB to 8 GB, and they will be updated to Wi-Fi 6e. Nevertheless, they will still lag behind the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max in terms of WiFi speed if the latter are compatible with WiFi 7, and they won’t match the Pro models in 5G speed either, according to Pu, as there seemingly won’t be any changes to the 5G modem.

It’s worth noting that many of these details have been mentioned before, by Pu and others, but there are some new details, including data speeds and RAM amounts.

However, it’s also very early to know information about the iPhone 16, so we’ll take this with a good dose of skepticism. The details could be inaccurate, and even if Apple takes them into account, everything could change.

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If you have a BMW and an iPhone 15, we have very bad news for you

Some iPhone 15 owners have discovered that the wireless charging stations found in BMWs would be destroying the NFC chips…

Bad news keeps coming to Apple and its newly released iPhone 15. The most anticipated phone of the year seems to have overheating issues, and to make matters worse, BMW’s wireless charging is reportedly burning its NFC chip.

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The issue, originally reported by MacRumors, has been mentioned by BMW car owners who reported catastrophic failures of the iPhone 15’s NFC chip after placing it on the cars’ wireless charging station.

So far, this problem has been confined to BMW owners, but it could potentially be an issue with any wireless surface, as Apple has not yet identified the cause of the problem.

A fatal flaw that necessitates a phone replacement

Users have reported receiving an error message: “Apple Pay could not be set up” in the Wallet app. The only way to fix this issue is by taking it to the Apple Store and exchanging it for a new one, as it appears that the NFC chip becomes truly unusable.

At the time of writing this article, the main affected models have been the titanium iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max with the latest A17 Pro chip. But some users have reported that standard iPhone 15 and 15 Plus models might also face similar issues when wirelessly charged through BMW’s surface charging system.

Apple and BMW have not yet released a statement clarifying the problem, but a faulty NFC chip in an iPhone can prevent users from using Apple Pay, cards or tickets stored in Apple Wallet, and even a vehicle’s digital key.

It’s all problems for Apple

The news comes after iPhone 15 Pro owners reported unusual heating issues with their devices.

Apple has acknowledged the problem, citing “increased background activity in the first few days after setup,” an “unspecified bug in iOS 17 affecting some users,” and certain third-party apps that are “overloading the system” as possible issues.

The good news is that Apple is working on a software update that should fix the problem. But for now, it’s probably a good idea to avoid charging your new iPhone through BMW’s wireless technology until the reported issue is resolved.

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