The Morning After: Our verdict on the iPhone 16e

First up, an apology. In Tuesday’s publication, I laid out methods to watch (and what to anticipate from) Amazon’s Alexa press occasion. However apart from unveiling what Alexa+ shall be able to, there was no foolish {hardware} and no upgraded Echos, however . We realized Alexa+ shall be included with an Amazon Prime subscription, and the corporate may also supply the improved digital assistant individually, for $20 per thirty days. In the intervening time, Prime prices $15 per thirty days within the US. In order that's bizarre.

In the meantime, Apple’s new entry-level iPhone, the 16e, launches on-line and in shops as we speak. The $599 cellphone is arguably $100 too expensive, but it surely packs a processor that may ship Apple Intelligence to the plenty. It has a beautiful display, with a notch — if not a Dynamic Island — and an extended battery life. Because of that A18 chip, it’s as highly effective as iPhones, which price a number of hundred {dollars} extra.

This can be a cellphone for individuals who don’t improve yearly (or two). Should you’re coming from an older iPhone, say an iPhone 11 (like my mother), you’ll be handled to a brighter display, improved picture processing and, heck, 5G. Apple says the newer course of will make sure the 16e is 80 % sooner than the iPhone 11. You will see the distinction. Oh, and also you get an motion button.

Our largest concern is the single-camera state of affairs. It’s a fantastic digital camera, however we already miss the flexibility of optical zoom that goes past the digital cropping that the iPhone 16e makes use of. Take a look at our full evaluation proper right here. And for those who’re OK not staying with an iPhone, we’re shifting into the mid-range smartphone season — so keep tuned.

— Mat Smith

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What to expect from Samsung, Nothing, Xiaomi and more at MWC 2025

Nothing’s new gadgets may be the headline grabbers.

Nothing

The world’s largest smartphone occasion (after iPhone launches, let’s be actual) returns to Barcelona. Whereas it’s now not the heyday of Cell World Congress, smartphone challengers from China like to reveal technically achieved gadgets, and we’re anticipating delights from the likes of Xiaomi, Honor, Huawei et al. Besides perhaps not Oppo — it’s performed its factor already.

At MWC 2022, Nothing’s Carl Pei confirmed off a prototype of the corporate’s first handset, the Nothing Cellphone 1. It seems prefer it’s able to reveal its third-gen cellphone, with the corporate’s regular drip-drip of specs, options and hyperbole already in motion. Nothing already revealed the design of 1 cellphone, the 3a Professional, in a virtually 11-minute video. Notably, an enormous ole digital camera bump to accommodate a periscope telephoto lens.

Xiaomi can also be teasing some heady digital camera {hardware}: Its 15 Extremely shall be a images powerhouse, rumored to pack a 1-inch essential sensor and 200-megapixel periscope telephoto lens.

Will Samsung exhibit the slimline ? Maybe. It may additionally be time to disclose an replace to its A-series mid-range gadgets. Maybe the corporate will do each.

Continue reading.

Sony cuts the price of PS VR2 to $400

Add the worth of your PS5 too.

Sony is completely lowering the worth of the PlayStation VR2. Beginning in March, the headset will price $400, down from $500. It nonetheless prices greater than the Meta Quest 3S, a standalone headset, however is clearly able to a richer graphic expertise. That mentioned, the place are the AAA video games? Even Sony’s personal PS VR2 web site struggles to supply something significantly thrilling.

Continue reading.

You’re by no means discovering these misplaced wi-fi earbuds

It’s time to let go.

I’ve misplaced my . Wherever I set them down, I recall pondering, “you’re going to remorse not placing them again into the charging case.” And I used to be proper. Two weeks on, I’ve the charging case, open and prepared, however the buds have been translocated to a different dimension. I attempted Apple’s Discover My app, which says they’re someplace in my condo.

That doesn’t assist me sufficient. I take advantage of them for exercises, so I checked jacket pockets, health club shorts, the toilet, home windows, the edges of my sofa and even my inside ear canal. However no.

I’ve held out hope for 2 weeks, but it surely’s time for me to let go. Thankfully, I work here, so I’ve three standby choices for health club listening. However they didn’t match in addition to the Beats Match Professional. I’ll maintain onto the charging case, simply in case they magically seem in my detergent field or some other place utterly arbitrary, however mentally, I do know I’ll by no means discover them once more.

Goodbye, my waxy, sweaty buds of pleasure.

This text initially appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/normal/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-121514554.html?src=rss

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