Apple launched the first iPhone 15 years ago this week, kicking off a new chapter in the mobile revolution and cementing the preeminence of a piece of consumer hardware that would dominate Apple’s fortunes for the next decade and beyond. Notwithstanding how long some of you have been iPhone users, though, the handsets are so feature-rich now thanks to Apple’s iterative iOS releases that — unless you follow all this for a living — there must just be tons of things your iPhone can do that you don’t even realize.

What’s more, Apple doesn’t always make a big deal about heralding every single iPhone feature tucked away in new iOS releases. Some of them you either find by accident or you manage to hear about from someone or someplace else.

Scan text in photos, and hide your email

In this post, we’ll take a look at five really useful iPhone features that you might not have discovered yet — but all of which, nevertheless, are super useful. Starting with the ability to scan text in photos.

Closeup of a person taking a photo with an iPhone. Image source: Kicking Studio/Adobe

Scan photo text with your iPhone

If you’re running iOS 15, open up your camera roll. Do you see text in any of the photos you’ve taken that are now stored on your iPhone? Maybe there’s an image of a street sign, of a restaurant exterior, or any paper with words on it. You might not be aware that you can long-press on the text in that image and select it, in order to copy and paste it somewhere else.

Hide your email

Sometimes, it seems like almost every single website you visit asks for your email address at some point. Certainly, they do so if you want to stay up-to-date on news from the site. To insert a layer of privacy between you and that site, however, Apple has a feature available via iCloud+ that lets you “hide” your email from the site. In the prompt where you’d otherwise type your email, Apple should recognize and give you the option of letting the iPhone maker generate a random email address instead.

Apple then forwards that company’s emails to that randomly generated address, and then to the actual email address that Apple has on file for you.

More iPhone features

Below, we’ve also got a way for you to quickly undo something in a text field, silence spammers, and improve your FaceTime sessions. We’ll quickly run through each, starting with a quick “undo” trick.

Three fingers to undo: Shaking your iPhone to undo something is pretty well-known at this point. But did you know you can also simply tap three fingers in a text field to quickly bring up an “undo” option?

Image source: Apple

Turing on Portrait Mode during FaceTime calls: If you’re worried about how your surroundings look ahead of your next FaceTime call, fear not. You can actually use your iPhone to artfully blur the background, similar to what Portrait mode does for photos. If you want to use this feature, tap on the tile with your image during a FaceTime call. Then, you’ll see an option of four icons to press. Choose the one in the upper-left corner.

Silence any spam callers: Don’t want to keep getting bothered or interrupted by spam callers? All you need to do is open the Settings app, select “Phone,” and then “Silence Unknown Callers.”

More iPhone coverage: For more iPhone news, visit our iPhone 14 guide.

The post 5 lesser-known iPhone features you probably haven’t discovered yet appeared first on BGR.

Apple devices are durable and stay relevant for a very long time, thanks to Apple’s five-year plus software support. That said, the price tags on Apple devices can be an obstacle for those on a budget. No worries though, because there are still several great Apple deals this month that you can take advantage of.

Whether you’re looking to get a new Mac, the latest Apple Watch, an Apple iPad mini for your kid, a new pair of Apple AirPods, or you want to make your first foray into the infamous Apple ecosystem; we got you.

This article brings you a compilation of all the best deals on the most popular and latest devices on Apple’s lineup you can find right now.

Best Apple Mac Deals

Mac computers are an excellent choice if you’re searching for a new desktop computer or PC. Apple has announced two new additions to its MacBook lineup, the new MacBook Air (2022) and the 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro computers equipped with M2 chips. However, there are still great deals on the M1-equipped models of the Apple MacBook Air and Apple MacBook Pro.

Apple 14- inch MacBook Pro (2021)

Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

The new Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (2021) is a huge step up from the old Apple MacBook Pro 13-inch (2020). Apple updated its M1 chip to the greatly improved M1 Pro and M1 Max chips, which contribute to the Apple MacBook Pro’s 14-inch (2021) very impressive performance. This MacBook Pro also offers excellent battery life, a 14-inch Liquid Retina display, and a good selection of ports. It is a great laptop for creative professionals.

Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (2021)

16-inch MacBook Pro launched in late October 2021. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

In addition to its M1 Pro and M1 Max chip, 16-inch Liquid Retina display, and a better selection of ports than its predecessor, the 16-inch Apple MacBook Pro comes with an even larger screen and a better battery life of up to 21 hours (MagSafe battery-charging) than the 14-inch MacBook Pro (2021).

2021 Apple MacBook Pro (16-inch, Apple M1 Pro chip with 10‑core CPU and 16‑core GPU, 16GB RAM,…

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (2020)

Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (2020). Image source: Apple

This Apple MacBook Air (M1 2020)is highly recommended for creatives on a budget. The MacBook Air (M1, 2020) sports Apple’s in-house M1 chip that replaces the Intel processors Apple MacBooks used to run on. It has an excellent battery life of up to eighteen hours, a Magic Keyboard, and a Touch ID. The 13-inch Apple MacBook Air (M1, 2020) is a tremendous improvement on older models of MacBook Air laptops which often come across as greatly watered-down versions of their MacBook Pro counterparts.

Best Apple Watch Deals

The Apple Watch is one of the best smartwatches on the market. It is useful for fitness and health tracking, connecting with loved ones on the go, can be used to locate lost Apple devices, stream songs with Apple music, and make payments with Apple Pay, and the look is also customizable.

Apple Watch Series 7

Apple Watch Series 7 being worn on a wrist. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

The new Apple Watch Series 7 is Apple’s latest smartwatch. The Apple Watch Series 7 sports an always-on screen and good battery life. It also has a stunning design and broader case sizes, which have been changed to 41mm and 45mm from 40mm and 44mm on the Apple Watch Series 6. This design is Apple’s largest display yet, with up to 20 percent more screen area and 40%percent bezel reduction leaving the watch with a 1.7mm bezel.

The cover crystal of the Apple Watch Series 7 is 50 percent thicker and thus more crack-resistant. The smartwatch also has an IP6X rating for resisting dust entry and is water-resistant for up to 50 meters(WR50 water resistance). This Apple Watch is also capable of 33 percent faster charging than the series 6.

The device also boasts a fall detection feature during workouts and Apple’s full health sensors, including heart rate, ECG, and blood oxygen. This Apple Watch Series is one of the best apple accessories to buy.

Apple Watch Series 7 [GPS 45mm] Smart Watch w/ Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band.…

Where To Buy The Apple Watch Series 7 on contract

If you want to get the Apple Watch Series 7 but don’t want to pay for it up front, there are tons of great deals. For those living in the US, these are some of the best deals you can find right now. These carriers let you pay for the cellular model of the Apple Watch Series 7 in installments:

T-Mobile: $20.84 per month (41mm), $22.09 per month (45mm) for 24 months

AT&T: $13.89 per month (41mm), $14.73 per month (45mm) for 36 months

Apple Watch SE

Apple Watch SE. Image source: Apple

The Apple watch SE is one of the most affordable Apple watches. This Apple Watch sports an S5 chipset and a better battery life than the more expensive Apple Watch Series 6. The Apple Watch SE has 32GB of storage, Bluetooth, and Wi-Fi. It also comes in an Apple Watch SE GPS + 4G model and has a display that is over 30 percent larger than the Apple Watch Series 3 display. This Apple Watch is up to two times faster than the Apple Watch Series 3, and its S5 chip makes it more future-proof than the Series 3.

The Watch SE comes in 40mm and 44mm models and runs watchOS 7, making it an excellent choice for tracking your health and fitness. It does this while staying on top of your messages, emails, and notifications. It also supports emergency calls, a built-in compass, and an always-on altimeter.

Apple Watch SE [GPS + Cellular 40mm] Smart Watch w/ Gold Aluminium Case with Starlight Sport Ba…

Best Apple AirPods Deals

Apple’s AirPods are the perfect wireless headphones for Apple fans. They support tech like automatic switching, spatial audio, and more.

Airpods Pro

Apple’s AirPods Pro on a table. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

Industry-leading active noise cancellation and excellent sound quality sum up the Apple Airpods pro. They instantly pair with other apple devices and support hands-free Siri. Once paired with one apple device, they’re instantly available to any other device signed in with the same Apple ID. Switching between devices is seamless and automatic. These Apple AirPods also add themselves to the Find My app as soon as they get paired to a device, which helps avoid losing them.

These wireless earbuds are quite impressive with connection range and stability. They also show extremely fast wireless connectivity and unique controls. The controls work by squeezing the sticks on the AirPods. One squeeze for play/pause, two to skip forward, three to skip back, and hold for a moment to switch between ANC mode and Transparency mode.

ANC stands for Active noise cancellation, which is useful for suppressing sounds and noises around you. Transparency mode utilizes external microphones to tune in on conversations around you without having to take out your earbuds. Another major audio is Spatial Audio, Apple’s special implementation of 3D sound, using the movement sensors in the AirPods to place sound around you.

The Apple AirPods Pro is also sweat and water-resistant. The only downside of these AirPods appears to be their not-so-great battery life of 4.5 hours per charge from the buds. They might just be Apple’s best wireless earbuds yet.

Apple AirPods Pro (Renewed)

Apple AirPods Max

Apple AirPods Max.

Apple Airpods Max is Apple’s first over-ear headphones, and they are Apple’s priciest headphones yet. The Airpods Max has great noise cancellation and highly impressive sound quality. It also offers quick pairing with other Apple products, shares audio with other AirPods, and automatically switches between devices signed in with the same Apple ID. They support hands-free Siri and the Find My app. The AirPods Max features Apple’s powerful H1 chip, nine microphones, and 40mm drivers.

They provide a superb listening experience with Spatial sound and top-notch active noise cancellation. The AirPods Max has a battery life of about 20 hours. The headband is stainless steel (with a soft-touch finish), the earcups are aluminum, and there’s a special mesh fabric when the headband actually touches your head and over the earpads.

The Apple Airpods Max comes in five colors: Silver, Pink, Space Grey, Green, and Sky Blue. All colors come with at least a two-tone finish, with the headband and earcups in different hues and meshes that complement those. The right earpad houses the only two controls: A wheel similar to the one found on an Apple Watch but larger, and another button. The wheel adjusts the volume and play/pause/skip, while the other button switches between ANC mode and transparency mode.

Apple AirPods Max - Silver

AirPods 3rd Generation

Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

The third-generation Apple AirPods were released in October 2021. These AirPods bring some of the features of the AirPods Pro to the traditional AirPods line. They feature Apple’s H1 chip, Spatial audio and are sweat and water-resistant. When fully charged, you get up to 6 hours of playtime and up to 30 hours with the MagSafe wireless charging case. They do not have noise-cancellation but shorter stems, force control, and adaptive EQ to automatically tune music to your ears. The AirPods 3 have better battery life than the Airpods Pro.

Apple AirPods (3rd Generation)

AirPods 2nd Generation

AirPods 2nd Generation. Image source: Apple

The AirPods 2 are the best value AirPods on the market. They were released in 2016 and immediately kickstarted the true wireless earbuds revolution. These wireless earbuds are powered by Apple’s H1 chip for fast wireless connectivity with Apple devices. They offer five hours of battery life from the buds per charge and up to 24 hours total listening time with the included charging case. They also possess the ability to instantly pair with your iPhone or automatically switch pairing to another of your Apple products the moment you play something on that device. These headphones support hands-free Siri, audio sharing, and the Find My feature on iPhones.You can get these AirPods with or without wireless charging.

However, these AirPods do not support Spatial Audio, ANC mode, and Transparency mode.

Apple AirPods (2nd Generation)

Best Apple iPad Deals

Like the iPhone experience but want a bigger screen from time to time? The iPad is the way to go. Check out the best iPad deals we could find below.

Apple iPad Air 5

iPad Air 5th-generation. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

The new iPad Air 5 (2022) sports a 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, P3 wide color, and an antireflective coating. The iPad Air also comes with Apple’s M1 chip, 8GB of RAM, 64GB of storage, and stereo speakers. For image capturing and video calls, it has a 12MP wide-angle primary camera on the back and a 12MP FaceTime Camera. Touch ID and Apple Pay offer secure login and payment. This iPad Air works with an Apple pencil and magic keyboard.

The Touch ID is built into the top button, allowing app sign in and secure payments with your fingerprint. The iPad Air 5 comes in five colors: Blue, Purple, Pink, Starlight, and Space grey. The 12MP Ultra Wide front camera enables Center Stage, a feature that ensures the camera automatically pans to keep you centered in the shot even as you move around. The view expands or zooms in when others leave the frame or join in. This feature makes content creation easier and more enjoyable and can also help video calls feel more natural.

The 12MP wide back camera is great for taking crisp photos and making 4k videos. Connection to drives, docks, cameras, and other devices is by means of USB-C, which has up to 2x faster transfer speeds than the previous generation. This makes sending/transfer of large files easier and faster than it’s ever been.

2022 Apple iPad Air (10.9-inch, Wi-Fi, 64GB) - Purple (5th Generation)

Apple iPad Mini 6

The stunning display on the Apple iPad Mini 2021. Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

Apple’s 6th generation compact tablet packs an 8.3-inch Liquid Retina display with True Tone, Apple’s A15 Bionic chip, and Apple pencil support Wi-Fi 6 and 5G support. There’s a 12MP wide-angle back camera and a 12MP ultra-wide camera on the front, Touch ID, and Apple Pay. The iPad Mini comes in four colors: Starlight, Purple, Space Gray, and Pink.

Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro (M1, 2021)

Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro (M1, 2021). Image source: Apple

The 2021 12.9-inch iPad Pro is Apple’s most powerful tablet yet. It has one of the best screens ever made when it comes to color accuracy, contrast, and brightness! It also packs as much power as a desktop PC with its M1 chip. The 12.9-inch Liquid Retina XDR display delivers true-to-life detail with a 1,000,000: 1 contrast ratio, making it perfect for watching your favorite movies and shows and viewing and editing HDR photos and videos. The iPad Pro also utilizes advanced display technologies such as ProMotion, True Tone, and P3 wide color.

This iPad Pro (M1, 2021) is equipped with a remarkable array of speakers, with drivers in all four corners, which adjust their output depending on the device’s orientation to give the best balance and produce a solid stereo effect. The iPad Pro works perfectly with the second-generation apple pencil and the magic keyboard.

2021 Apple 12.9-inch iPad Pro (Wi‑Fi, 128GB) - Silver

Best Apple iPhone Deals

Apple iPhone SE 3rd Generation

iPhone SE 3rd Generation. Image source: Apple

The iPhone SE packs a 4.7-inch Retina HD display, dual-camera system, A15 Bionic 6-core chip, 128GB of storage, 12MP camera, and 5G support. This is all protected by a sleek, glass aluminum design. iPhone SE comes in three colors: Starlight, Midnight, and PRODUCT(RED)

The iPhone SE is now available in the Apple store. You can save between $110 and $700 when you trade in an iPhone 8 or a newer model iPhone with Apple’s trade-in program. Check this deal out here:

Apple iPhone 13

Apple iPhone 13. Image source: Apple

The iPhone 13 was released in October 2021. It has a longer battery life, improved camera hardware, a more visible screen outdoors, and a larger base storage option of 128GB compared to its predecessor, the iPhone 12. It boasts a super-fast A-15 bionic chip, 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR Display, and is water-resistant.

A new Apple iPhone feature for this year is ‘Photographic Styles.’ This allows you to fine-tune the processing carried out on your images and make it more to your taste. The five standard presets that come with this feature are: Standard, Rich Contrast, Vibrant, Warm, and Cool. There is room for you to customize within these presets by means of two sliders marked ‘Warmth’ and ‘Tone.’

Apple iPhone 13 (256 GB, Green) [Locked] + Carrier Subscription

Apple iPhone 12

Apple iPhone 12. Image source: Apple

The iPhone 12 was released in October 2021. The iPhone 12’s wide and ultra-wide 12MP front cameras will suit most of your photographic needs. It’ll shoot 4K video at 60fps and has the same A14 Bionic chip as its more expensive siblings in the same Generation.

It comes in five colors: Purple, Green, Blue, White, Black, and PRODUCT(RED).

FAQs

How do I get the best Apple deals?

• Buy certified refurbished products.

• Buy second-hand.

• Shop the previous Generation of Apple products.

• Get an education discount.

• Shop Apple deals on Macs

• Use the military and veteran discount.

• Trade-in your old device.

• Shop Apple’s back-to-school sale.

Does Apple have back-to-school deals?

Yes. Apple holds a back-to-school promotion known as the Higher Education Offer. This promotion holds yearly, and a free product (usually AirPods) is given away with qualifying purchases.

Can you negotiate with Apple?

No, you cannot negotiate with Apple store employees. Apple store employees can only apply qualified discounts (business, educational, government, etc.) and price-match competitors to a certain percentage on models with the same SKU.

When to get the best deals in Apple?

You can get the best Apple deals on huge annual sales days/ timeframes like Cyber Monday, Black Friday, and Prime Day. Regardless, it is possible to find excellent discounts on Apple products throughout the year. This article is a compilation of all the best apple deals for June 2022.

Does Apple ever go on sale?

Apple isn’t known to announce their sales. However, you can get discounts on products shopped in the Apple store and even online. A good tip is to use your Apple card and purchase Apple gift cards at stores where they are sold at discounted prices.

Will Apple give free Airpods again?

Apple offers free Airpods to Students and Teachers that bought an iPad or Macbook in its back-to-school sale. But that offer elapsed in March 2022.

Is it better to buy at Apple or Best Buy?

Neither! There’s virtually no difference in the prices of Apple products between Apple stores and Best Buy. While Best Buy always seems to have the best Apple deals, it is still just a retailer of Apple products. The only possible advantage of Best Buy would be the availability of multiple physical stores.

The post Best Apple deals for June 2022 appeared first on BGR.

Rumors that preceded WWDC 2022 said the iPhone 14 series will bring always-on functionality to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro this year. Then Apple unveiled a new Lock Screen experience for iOS 16. The new functionality lets users set up various Lock Screens that can contain multiple widgets and sync with Focus Modes. That’s on top of the different visual customizations available for the Lock Screen.

A new report from a well-known insider doubles down on the always-on functionality for the iPhone 14 Pro models, saying the new always-on displays will work with the Lock Screen widgets.

Apple’s deluge of new products

In a new edition of his Power On newsletter, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman said that Apple is about to embark “on one of the most ambitious periods of new products in its history.”

The “deluge” is coming between the fall of 2022 and the first half of 2023. The insider, often accurate with his Apple scoops, says Apple will release several products across its various product lines during this time.

It might start with the new iPhone 14 series and the always-on functionality, but Apple’s plans are much bigger than that. The company is supposedly preparing updates for everything in its lineup, including iPad, iPad Pro, Macs and MacBooks, AirPods Pro, HomePod, and Apple TV. On top of that, Apple will also release its first AR/VR headset during the period.

The iPhone 14 series will be the most important product of the bunch, however.

iOS 16 Lock Screen redesign. Image source: Apple

How the iPhone 14 Pro’s always-on display will work

Gurman says the main new feature of the iPhone 14 series is the always-on display. The functionality will be restricted to the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, however. That’s because always-on displays can consume battery life. Therefore, they’ll benefit from ProMotion displays available on Pro models.

These are displays that deliver a dynamic refresh rate. For the iPhone 14 Pro, previous reports said that ProMotion will run between 1Hz and 120Hz. The iPhone 13 Pro models only go as low as 10Hz. Last year’s Pro models aren’t expected to support the always-on functionality.

Gurman hasn’t explained the hardware requirements of the always-on experience, focusing on the way the feature will work on the iPhone 14 Pro models. The always-on display will show Lock Screen widgets just like the Apple Watch. The screen remains at low brightness and frame rate in the process.

The always-on display will also have privacy features built-in. Like the Apple Watch, it’ll prevent sensitive data from appearing on the lock screen for others to see.

Separately, code in iOS 16 beta 1 already supports claims that Apple is working on always-on functionality for the iPhone 14.

Close-up of Apple’s rumored pill-and-hole notch replacement for the iPhone 14 Pro. Image source: Front Page Tech

Other iPhone 14 features

Gurman also repeated some of the iPhone 14 claims we’ve heard so far this year. The Pro models will get an improved front-facing selfie camera that will sit inside the circular “hole-punch” display opening. The Face ID system will be placed inside the pill-shape opening.

The rear camera will also get a significant upgrade in the form of a 48-megapixel sensor. The iPhone 14 Pro will also feature thinner bezels and a faster A16 chip. Some of these features will certainly be more interesting than the always-on display functionality coming to the iPhone 14 series.

The new Pro models have codenames D73 and D74, with Gurman saying they’ll be the “big story” this year.

The regular iPhone 14 handsets will get the same A15 chip as the iPhone 13. However, the phones will come in the same two sizes as the Pro models.

More iPhone coverage: For more iPhone news, visit our iPhone 14 guide.

The post iPhone 14 always-on display will work with iOS 16’s new Lock Screen widgets appeared first on BGR.

I’m far from the first to say it, but on its surface, the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini definitely feel like “S” years. That’s to say, Apple has taken the iPhone 12 from last year, and refined it a little.

Dig a little deeper, however, and your opinion about the importance of the changes this year might shift. While last year’s changes were mostly related to design, this year’s heavily impact the day-to-day. In my book, that’s what matters.

The improvements are meaningful too. The iPhone 13 offers a longer battery life that should easily get most through a full day. And the camera improvements cement the iPhone 13 as offering a better camera than any of the competition.

The iPhone 13 doesn’t quite reach the heights of the iPhone 13 Pro though. Does that really matter? Well, it depends.

iPhone 13

Rating: 4.5 Stars

Apple’s iPhone 13 offers a wonderful combination of hardware and software. Better cameras, and better performance in a big update.

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BGR may receive a commission

Pros

• Great camera
• Excellent performance
• Design is excellent
• Better battery

Cons

• No ProMotion display

Buy On Amazon

iPhone 13 design

The overall look and feel of the iPhone 13 is pretty similar to last year’s iPhone 12. You’ll get the same squared-off edges and the same Lightning port on the bottom. The device is slightly thicker and heavier, but you won’t really notice.

Apple iPhone 13 Back Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

The fact that the design is so similar isn’t a bad thing. The iPhone 13 looks great. It’s got nice, glossy glass on the back, with a matte frame around the edges, and it’s available in a variety of great colors. We’re reviewing the Blue model, which is similar to last year’s blue and looks awesome.

There are a few design changes, though they don’t really make much of an impact on day-to-day life. Because the camera sensors are a little larger, Apple has had to rearrange the camera module a little — so the cameras are now diagonally aligned instead of vertically aligned. The cameras also protrude a little more from the back of the phone.

Perhaps more important is the fact that the notch is a little smaller. You’ll notice it if you really look hard, but it has almost no impact on daily life. Hopefully, Apple will find a way to eliminate the notch altogether relatively soon.

Left: iPhone 13. Right: iPhone 12 Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

The iPhone 13 feels great in the hand, though depending on how big your hands are that may change for you. I have relatively large hands and have no issue reaching the opposite side of the device when typing, though I normally swipe when using one hand. Those with smaller hands may want to consider the smaller iPhone 13 Mini.

iPhone 13 display

The iPhone 13 Pro got a major display upgrade with the addition of ProMotion. Unfortunately, the tech didn’t make it to the standard iPhone 13 though. In other words, the display on the iPhone 13 and 13 Mini is similar to last year.

That doesn’t mean the display is sub-par though. On the contrary, the display on the iPhone 13 still looks great. For the iPhone 12, Apple finally switched to OLED tech for its non-Pro devices, and you’ll still get that this time around. That means deeper black levels and higher contrast, not to mention better power efficiency.

Apple iPhone 13 Display Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

The 6.1-inch size is definitely big enough for most, though I’m excited at the rumors that Apple may ditch the Mini next year in favor of an “iPhone 14 Max.”

The screen gets more than bright enough for most. It reaches a peak brightness of 1200 nits, with a typical brightness of 800 nits. That’s up from a little over 600 nits on the iPhone 12. It’s easy to see the iPhone 13’s display in even direct sunlight, which is very helpful.

Still, as someone who’s using the iPhone 13 Pro at the same time as the iPhone 13, I can’t wait for Apple to bring ProMotion to its lower-end iPhones. Many Android phones in this price range already have fast refresh rates, though admittedly they don’t usually have the same variable refresh rate displays as the iPhone 13 Pros.

iPhone 13 performance

All four iPhone 13 devices offer Apple’s new A15 Bionic chip, and they’re the best-performing iPhones to date. In other words, in day-to-day use, they feel about as responsive as the iPhone 12 series did.

That’s a good thing. Apple seems to be far ahead of the competition when it comes to iPhone performance, and the result is that iPhones don’t start feeling slow until years after they’re released. Games load quickly, multitasking is easy, and I never had an app crash.

Generally, the A15 Bionic chip doesn’t offer huge improvements over the A14 Bionic, but Apple doesn’t need to do much to continue boasting class-leading performance. The A15 Bionic does get a 16-core Neural Engine for AI, which is up from the 8-core Neural Engine on the A14 Bionic.

Benchmark results confirm the excellent performance. Here are the results we achieved with the iPhone 13.

• GeekBench 5 CPU: 1690 single-core, 4455 multi-core
• 3DMark Wild Life: 8699

These are excellent results, and beat any Android phone we’ve ever tested. They also beat any other iPhone though improvements over the iPhone 12, which achieved 1591 in GeekBench 5’s single-core score, were modest.

The iPhone 13 gets a storage bump too. Now, the base model of the iPhone gets 128GB of storage, up from 64GB. That’s good news for those who store lots of apps and files on their device.

iPhone 13 battery and charging

One of the big improvements in the iPhone 13 comes in the form of a longer battery life. According to Apple, the battery in the device should last 1.5 hours long in average use, compared to the iPhone 12. That seems about right, but could actually end up being on the low side — most people should see a serious battery improvement.

Apple iPhone 13 Port Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

In our usage, we found that the iPhone 13 was easily able to last a full day of even relatively heavy use, with room to spare at the end. We think most should get the same results.

The device offers similar charging tech to the iPhone 12. You’ll get support for Qi wireless charging, with support for MagSafe. The device also supports fast charging at up to 20W with Apple’s charger, and while it doesn’t come close to the speeds of some Android phones, it should be fast enough for most.

iPhone 13 camera

The camera is perhaps the most important improvement to the iPhone 13. The iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Mini have the same camera system, which is comprised of a 12-megapixel main camera with an f/1.6 aperture, and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera with an f/2.4 aperture. There’s no telephoto camera here — for that, you’ll need to get an iPhone 13 Pro.

Apple iPhone 13 Camera Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

The biggest improvements come to the main camera sensor, which has gotten the same sensor-shift technology previously only available on the iPhone 12 Pro Max. That’s good news — last year, the iPhone 12 Pro Max’s camera was in a league of its own. Now, you can get the same quality no matter which iPhone 13 you buy.

In normal use, the device delivers crisp, detailed images with vibrant colors. You’ll get excellent images in well-lit environments, and in night shots, and the camera is able to easily focus on the subject in a split second.

The ultrawide camera has gotten some good improvements too. Notably, the ultrawide camera can capture better low-light images, though the differences aren’t massive. I would still recommend steering clear of the ultrawide camera for really low-light scenarios.

For iOS 15, Apple has added new “Photographic Styles,” which essentially allows you to tweak the look of images by default. The system actually uses AI to tweak how the phone processes images — so it’s not exactly a filter. It also means that you can’t change the style after you have taken the photo — though you can change Styles for future photos whenever you want.

The system works pretty well, and it makes the iPhone camera more versatile than ever. The likes of Google and Samsung have long had their own “look” on their smartphone cameras. Now, your iPhone can recreate those looks. That said, in personal use, I stuck to the default setting. I like how the iPhone’s camera looks.

The front-facing camera looks pretty good too. It’s unchanged from last year, though it may benefit a little from better image processing and HDR.

The iPhone was already the best in the business at the video, but it’s gotten even better this year. Because of the sensor-shift tech, the stabilization tech has improved too.

Of course, the headline video feature is the new Cinematic Mode, which allows you to quickly and easily change the focus of the camera as your filming — and edit it right after you take the video. It’s fun to play with, but it doesn’t work super well in low light, and even well-lit videos don’t quite look right just yet. It reminds me a lot of the early days of Portrait Mode. Now, Portrait Mode looks awesome — but it struggled early on. I assume that Cinematic Mode will look a whole lot better in a few years. Hopefully, you’ll be able to use it at higher resolutions too — for now, it’s limited to 1,080p at 30 frames per second. And, hopefully, it’ll get better at taking video of non-human subjects.

Cinematic Mode and Photographic Styles may or may not appeal to you. Ultimately, however, whether you use them or not, the iPhone 13 has an incredible camera system. Photos and videos simply look awesome.

iPhone 13 software

Apple iPhone 13 Software Image source: Christian de Looper for BGR

The iPhone 13 gets Apple’s latest and greatest mobile operating system — iOS 15. iOS 15 adds a number of new features to the iPhone that make it more versatile than ever, and generally, it builds on what users already love about iOS. Headline features include the likes of Focus modes, which sync across your devices, however many of the biggest features that Apple announced at WDDC aren’t available at launch. They should be in future versions of iOS.

Conclusions

In my opinion, the iPhone 13 is a bigger update to the series than the iPhone 12 was. The iPhone 12 represented a major design update, and one that I’m glad has stuck around. But the iPhone 13 offers improvements where it really counts — the battery, and the camera.

It’s not really enough to warrant buying an iPhone 13 if you have an iPhone 12. But if you have an iPhone 11 or older, you may well want to get an iPhone 13 — and you’ll notice the difference.

The competition

It doesn’t make much sense to compare iPhones to Android devices these days. The iPhone 13’s biggest competition comes from Apple itself. If you have an iPhone 12, don’t bother with this year’s model. The improvements are here, but not enough to buy a whole new phone. If, however, you have an iPhone 11, and can afford a new phone, you may want to consider the iPhone 12.

If you’re trying to decide between buying an iPhone 12 and an iPhone 13, we recommend going for the newer device. It’s not that much more expensive, but the camera and battery are a little better, and worth that extra cash. For more, check out our full comparison.

It’s also important to note that we’re a little more than half way through the cycle of the iPhone 13 series — and if you want the cutting edge, some may want to wait until the iPhone 14 series, which will likely be revealed in September.

Should I buy the iPhone 13?

Yes. The iPhone 13 is an excellent phone with a great camera, long-lasting battery, and that loved iOS software experience.

The post Apple iPhone 13 review appeared first on BGR.

It happens to every single iPhone user… you are being inundated with spam texts, and you can’t handle it anymore. Indeed, it’s been an ongoing and frustrating problem for quite some time now.

For some people, it’s only gotten worse recently. What makes the issue particularly irritating is that spammers have become more clever and sophisticated with time. Spoofing not only your area code, but the prefix so it seems as if it’s a really local caller? Not cool at all, spammers.

This trick is also done with spam text messages, too, so those iMessages or texts on your iPhone originate from numbers that look eerily close to your own phone number.

This is done to trick users into thinking that the text itself is legitimate. And taking things even further, scammers are now texting unsuspecting users from their own numbers.

This issue, we should note, only impacts Verizon users, and the company claims that they’ve “made a significant effort to limit the current activity” of the scheme. But even if you’re not a Verizon subscriber, you could still probably stand to receive fewer spam texts. Here’s how to block spam text messages.

Read: Our article on How to lock any iPhone app so no one else can get in

How iPhone users can stop spam texts

Filter unknown senders

One option to limit iPhone spam texts is to filter messages from unknown senders. With this option, spam messages originating from a number not part of your contact list will go to a separate folder.

To turn this toggle on, follow the below instructions. Before doing so, we should highlight that this filter might also catch non-spam texts from companies like Uber and Door Dash. In other words, if you turn this filter on, make sure to check the “Unknown Senders” tab in the Messages app often.

1. Open the Settings app, and head to “Messages.”
2. Turn on the “Filter Unkown Senders” toggle.

Unfortunately, the same technology that allows individuals worldwide to communicate is being leveraged by scam artists looking to take advantage of unsuspecting users.

To this point, scammers sent upwards of 11.6 billion spam messages during March. The New York Times notes that this represents a 30% increase from the previous month.

Block specific senders

While there’s no bulletproof way to block spam messages, iPhone users can take steps to limit their frequency and visibility.

One thing you can do upon receiving a spam text is to block the number. This will prevent spam messages from that number in the future. Follow the below instructions to do so.

1. Tap on the spam message from the sender you want to block.
2. Next, tap on the phone number at the top of the message.
3. Tap “Info.”
4. At the bottom of the list of options, tap “Block this caller.” Then tap “Block Contact.”

The number should now be blocked and unable to send you spam messages.

Report spam texts or junk messages in Messages app

When you use iMessage, Apple’s messaging platform, you can report spam messages. If the sender is not in your contacts and has other spam criteria, Apple sometimes offers a flag that says these messages might be Junk or spam. You can just tap that, tap the Report Junk button, and tap Delete and Report Junk.

When you do this, the person sending you the message is reported to Apple, and the message is then permanently deleted from your phone.

Get rid of calls and spam texts from unknown numbers

On a somewhat related note, there’s also a way to silence incoming calls from numbers not in your address book. The calls will still go through but will go straight to voicemail instead. Incidentally, phone calls from numbers you’ve previously texted with will be able to go through.

Go to Settings > Phone and toggle the Silence Unknown Callers option to turn this feature on.

How to block calls and spam text messages using your carrier

In the U.S., virtually all major carriers offer apps and services that can alert you to spam/unsolicited calls and messages. Some of these are free spam calls and text blockers, and others require a subscription.

AT&T Call Protect:

• 24/7 Automatic Fraud Call Blocking: Detects and blocks calls from likely fraudsters before your phone even rings
• Block Spam Risk labeled calls (in-app feature): Block or send to voicemail calls identified as Spam Risk
• Send Unknown Callers to voicemail (in-app feature): Send callers, not in your contact list to voicemail.
• Get a heads up on potential nuisance calls*: See warnings of telemarketers, nonprofits, surveys, account services, and private or political callers.
• Personal Block List: Add individual unwanted callers to your block list from the app or with Siri shortcuts.
• Report Spam Calls: Help identify suspected spam and likely fraud calls from the app or with Siri shortcuts. Your reports help everyone.

AT&T Call Protect Plus:

• Caller ID*: Gives you incoming caller details.
• Custom Call Controls: Block or send entire Categories (Telemarketer, Account Services, etc.) of callers to voicemail.
• Reverse Number Lookup: This Shows caller details when you enter a U.S. number. Up to 200 queries per user within a 24-hour period.

Verizon Call Filter:

• Identify suspected spam calls with alerts.
• Automatically block spam based on their risk level and send them to voicemail (Call Filter automatically blocks high-risk callers)
• Report phone numbers as spam.
• Use filters to block other unwanted callers, such as robocalls.
• Adjust spam filter settings any time, e.g., filter unknown senders.
• For added security, upgrade to Call Filter Plus*. Features such as Caller ID and blocking entire area codes give you even more control over incoming calls.

T-Mobile Scam Shield

• Scam Block – Our network will automatically block calls from likely scammers when you turn it on, helping to keep them off your phone entirely.
• Scam Reporting – Help identify suspicious callers or fraudsters and prevent their calls from being received by you—or others—in the future.
• Caller ID – See who’s calling before you answer.
• Allow list – Calls from numbers on your Allow list will never be blocked by our network and always ring your phone.

Premium features such as:

• Personal Number Blocking – Block specific numbers and contacts as soon as they hit the T-Mobile network.
• Category Manager – Tired of telemarketers? Or survey calls? We’ll identify and block call types you don’t want to see anymore.
• Reverse Number Lookup – Not sure who a number belongs to? We’ll do a reverse phone number lookup and show you anything about who is calling.
• Voicemail to Text – Get text messages containing readouts of blocked calls sent to voicemail.

If you use Google Fi as your carrier, Google offers a bunch of options built-in to your subscription plan and available in the Google Fi app.

Our favorite third-party apps for call and spam blocking

Robokiller spam call & text blocking app for iOS

While there are tons of great third-party apps to help filter messages and calls on iOS and Android, our favorite is RoboKiller for $4.99/mo and Nomorobo for $1.99/mo. They have access to your call lists and contact, but these two are reputable, and we use them here ourselves. If you’re going to install an app like this, make sure it’s one you trust due to the sensitive nature of the access involved and know what information they request and share. If you’re asking if RoboKiller blocks texts, the answer is yes! These apps offer phone call and text message blocking and integrate into Apple’s Messages app.

Bonus spam texts message blocking tips

Report the spammer to your carrier

This isn’t going to halt all incoming spam texts and calls immediately, but it benefits others, and if everyone reported these messages, there would be fewer spammers. Here’s how you can do it.

Take the original spam text and forward it, so it’s reported to your carrier. If you’re on AT&T, Verizon, T-Mobile, or Sprint, use this number: 7726 (SPAM).

File a complaint with the FTC

Under U.S. law, sending unsolicited text messages of a commercial nature without your consent is illegal. The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) oversees a complaint assistant you can use here to report spammers and scam texts and calls.

What are Robotexts?

A robotext is similar to a spam text message, but it’s an automated text message rather than a robocall. Sometimes robotexts are part of a larger play by spammers and scammers, hoping to reel you in so you provide some personal information that can later be used in a spam onslaught.

Some of these texts can lead to higher cell phone bills, identity theft, and even malware installed on your phone.

What’s the reason I’m suddenly getting spam texts and calls?

Spammers use any trick in the book to reach as many phone numbers as possible. They purchase lists of numbers available on the dark web and use software to automatically create and generate lists of numbers. Changing your number won’t prevent spam texts and calls because of this.

Should I reply to spam messages and robotexts?

The answer is no unless you signed up for a specific service that you’re trying to cancel. Usually, if you reply with “STOP,” it can unsubscribe you from the messaging list with reputable businesses and vendors.

Suppose you reply “STOP” to a scam text. In that case, it can actually notify the sender that this is a valid number and a person is replying, giving them more of an opportunity to try and scam or phish your information. Additionally, since the number is valid, it can be added to more spam lists and increase your spam texts and calls.

Thanks for reading, and we hope this guide helps!

FAQs

Does iPhone have a spam blocker?

You can set up an app that lets you filter and detect spam calls. Go to Settings, then Phone. Select “Call Blocking & Identification”. Under “Allow These Apps To Block Calls And Provide Caller ID”, turn the app on or off.

What happens if I open a spam text on my iPhone?

You have nothing to worry about if you open a spam text. The only time to worry is if you’ve entered any information into the website the spam text led you to.

How do I remove my number from spam lists?

You can do this by dialing 1-888-382-1222 from the phone you want to remove. By the next day, your number will be off the Registry.

How do I block spam texts on my iPhone without a phone number?

Go to Settings, then Messages. Turn on Filter Unknown Senders to filter iMessages. A new tab for Unknown Senders will appear in Messages but you won’t get notifications for these iMessages.

How do I know if my phone is hacked?

If you notice that there have been texts or calls from your phone that you didn’t make, then it’s possible your phone may be hacked.

Can Apple check if my iPhone is hacked?

According to Apple, you will be notified via an iMessage or email when Apple detects that a user has been targeted by state-sponsored hacking. A Threat Notification will be displayed when the user signs into Apple ID.

Does resetting an iPhone delete hackers?

Yes, it does. If you restore your system to its original factory settings, any back door hackers established into your device will be wiped out. However, restoring your phone to a backup where the back doors were already installed could preserve the hacker’s way into the device.

Does airplane mode block hackers?

This is only a temporary solution as hackers can’t have access to your device while it isn’t connected to Wi-Fi or cellular networks.

The post How to block spam texts on your iPhone appeared first on BGR.

Just when we thought Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness couldn’t have any more surprises left for fans, Marvel and Disney delivered a huge, unexpected revelation via the Disney Plus release. Doctor Strange 2 has a different placement on the chronological MCU timeline than we expected, one that makes little sense. At the same time, it’s not entirely irrational, which we’ll explain.

However, you should know that big spoilers follow below. You should watch Multiverse of Madness on Disney Plus before going further.

Doctor Strange 2 MCU timeline expectations

Before the Multiverse of Madness premiere, we saw all sorts of reports about the movie, including stories that tackled the official MCU timeline. That’s a very big detail for the MCU, as each film and TV show is part of this vast universe. Therefore, the chronological timeline helps us understand the events better.

It also makes rewatching the MCU more interesting. And if you’ve just started with the MCU movies, then a chronological approach can be very satisfying.

On top of that, Multiverse of Madness follows the events in Spider-Man: No Way Home. Like Doctor Strange 2, No Way Home was a multiverse adventure, the fallout of which is addressed in Multiverse of Madness.

Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) and Wanda (Elizabeth Olsen) talking about Avengers and the multiverse. Image source: Marvel Studios

It was only in early April that Fandango interviewed Sam Raimi, the Doctor Strange 2 director. That interview contained a detail about Doctor Strange 2’s placement on the MCU timeline. The report said the movie “picks up roughly a few months after the events of Spider-Man: No Way Home.”

The new Disney Plus timeline reveal

Unfortunately for fans, No Way Home isn’t streaming on Disney Plus. Sony and Disney did ink a deal to bring the Spider-Man titles to Disney Plus, but it’ll take time for that to happen.

However, we do know that the action in No Way Home starts right after the events in Far From Home. As we already explained, the MCU’s second Spider-Man movie takes place between June 20th, 2024 and July 10th, 2024.

But most of the action in No Way Home takes place in the fall of 2024. Specifically, it’s sometime after Halloween 2024. But it’s before the events of Hawkeye, which takes place around Christmas 2024, or several weeks after No Way Home. The end of No Way Home actually shows us Peter Parker (Tom Holland) swinging over the Rockefeller Center’s Christmas tree in a snowy New York.

This brings us to the Doctor Strange 2 Disney Plus release, which gives us the following MCU timeline. As you can see, Disney places the events in Multiverse of Madness between Eternals and Hawkeye.

Doctor Strange 2 on the MCU timeline, according to Disney Plus. Image source: Disney Plus

And we know that some of the action in Eternals takes place in October, before Halloween. No Way Home would sit after Eternals in the timeline above.

It doesn’t make sense, but it’s not a plot hole

Considering everything, we expected the events in Doctor Strange 2 to happen in early 2025, at least a couple of months after the early November events in No Way Home. The Disney Plus listing says that’s not the case.

But the timeline change isn’t a plot hole. Doctor Strange 2 happening before Hawkeye still makes sense. It’s still roughly a few months after No Way Home. Or, at least one month after the events in the MCU’s last Spider-Man movie.

Maybe Disney made a mistake with the Disney Plus listing. Perhaps it’ll move Doctor Strange 2 after Hawkeye on the MCU timeline.

The screenshot above also tells us that Moon Knight and Ms. Marvel take place after Hawkeye. And we actually have a more precise timeline for the Ms. Marvel TV show. The events in the new Marvel series happen in the fall of 2025.

More Marvel coverage: For more MCU news, visit our Marvel guide.

The post Doctor Strange 2 isn’t where we expected it to be on the MCU timeline appeared first on BGR.

Amazon’s massive Prime Day 2022 sales event is just a few weeks away. That means there will soon be an avalanche of unbelievable deals on anything and everything you can think of. In fact, there are already some outstanding early Prime Day deals available right now — including free money from Amazon! But Prime Day isn’t the only game in town this summer. The huge Discover Samsung event you’ve been waiting for is now underway, and it’s packed full of terrific deals on popular Samsung devices.

From Galaxy phones and tablets to headphones, kitchen appliances, and stunning Samsung smart TVs. It’s all on sale right now in Samsung’s online store!

Discover Samsung is the company’s biggest event of the year, and we’re going to highlight our favorite deals for you right here.

Discover Samsung event: Best smartphone & tablet deals

Anyone in search of a new Galaxy smartphone has come to the right place. During the big Discover Samsung event of June 2022, there are some seriously impressive deals on the latest Samsung Galaxy phones.

First up, you can get a Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G with free Galaxy Buds Live for as low as $599.99 with a trade-in. You can even trade in an old smartphone with a cracked screen and still get a credit up to $800. Plus, you’ll get 30% off when you also buy a Galaxy Tab S8 series tablet.

Speaking of Galaxy S8 Tablets, Samsung is offering free $200 Galaxy Buds Pro with the purchase of any S8 series tablet.

And if you think those deals are impressive, wait until you see Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 3 offer.

Between now and the end of the Discover Samsung event, you can buy a new Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G with free Galaxy Watch 4 for the same low price of $599.99 with a trade-in. That means you’ll get a trade-in credit of up to $1,200!

And last but not least, you’ll get a free memory upgrade and a trade-in credit of up to $1,000 when you buy a Galaxy S22 Ultra or a Galaxy S22/S22+. That means you can score a Galaxy S22 256GB starting at $99.99 or a Galaxy S22 Ultra 256GB for $199.99.

Here’s a recap of those five great deals:

• Galaxy Z Flip 3 5G with free Galaxy Buds Live: $599.99+ with trade-in
• Galaxy Z Fold 3 5G with free Galaxy Watch 4: $599+ with trade-in
• Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra & free memory upgrade: $199.99+ with trade-in
• Galaxy S22/S22+ & free memory upgrade: $99.99+ with trade-in
• Galaxy S8 Series Tablet & free Galaxy Buds Pro: $149.99+

More great Samsung deals

The deals listed above are terrific for anyone in search of a new smartphone or tablet. Of course, that’s just the tip of the iceberg in the Discover Samsung summer sales event.

There are also fantastic deals available on Samsung TVs, kitchen appliances, smartwatches, laptops, and more. Here are five additional deals that we love:

• Galaxy Watch 4: Save $70 and get an extra charger free
• Samsung The Frame 4K smart TV: Prices start at just $459.99, save up to $1,000
• Galaxy Chromebook, 256GB, 8GB RAM, Fiesta Red: $649.00 (save $350)
• Bespoke AirDresser Clothing Care System: $1,149.00 (save $450)
• Bespoke 4-Door French Door Refrigerator: $2,499.00 (save $1,300)

Do you want to see more of the deep discounts from the big Discover Samsung event? Start shopping now because this Samsung mega-sale is set to end on Sunday, June 26.

Go here to see this month’s best deals online!

The post Discover Samsung event: 10 deals you need to see to believe appeared first on BGR.

With WWDC 2022 now firmly in the rearview mirror, developers have been busy getting their hands dirty with iOS 16. The second beta of iOS 16 dropped just this week and, as is typically the case, developers are fast discovering all sorts of cool and nifty features Apple didn’t have time to cover during its keynote address.

As a prime example, iOS 16 will make it easier for users to bypass annoying CAPTCHAs and verify their identity using their Apple ID instead.

Autofill your CVV when using a credit card online

Another iOS 16 feature Apple didn’t have time to cover involves the ability to autofill your CVV number when using your credit card online. As it stands now, most people who use credit cards online are familiar with how autofill works.

If you have a credit card number saved, you can simply enter in the CVV (the 3-digit number on the back) and the rest of your credit card information will populate. Adding the CVV isn’t exactly a headache, but sometimes people don’t have it memorized.

With iOS 16, you can now have the CVV saved automatically when using your credit card.

To get this to work, you’ll have to make sure that iCloud Keychain is toggled on. This tip first came to light via Mark Gurman who notes that “Apple had been reluctant to store that [information] previously.”

We’re not sure what prompted Apple to change its mind, but some suggest there may have been some regulatory hurdles that prevented Apple from doing this sooner. Either way, we’re definitely not complaining.

If you have the iOS 16 beta, you can access this by opening up the Settings app. From there, go to Safari> Autofill> Saved Credit Cards.

Other iOS 16 features

Apple with iOS 16 and macOS Ventura is really trying to reduce any type of online friction. To this end, one iOS 16 feature Apple did mention during its keynote is passkeys, a new feature that will make it easy to sign in to websites and apps without typing in a password.

One of the benefits of passkeys is that it relies upon a unique key that can only be unlocked via FaceID. As a result, Apple is all but making it impossible for malicious websites to steal sensitive login information.

Apple notes:

Passkeys introduce a new sign-in method that is end-to-end encrypted and safe from phishing and data leaks. This makes passkeys stronger than all common two-factor authentication types. 

Another iOS 16 feature worth mentioning is the ability to see your WiFi network password. This is a welcome feature that is long overdue. In short, iOS 16 will allow users to see WiFi passwords for saved networks.

This will make it easier to share WiFi passwords with non-iPhone users. It will also make it easier to enter WiFi password information on devices like smart TVs and video game consoles.

More iPhone coverage: For more iPhone news, visit our iPhone 14 guide.

The post This new iOS 16 feature is so useful, but no one knows about it appeared first on BGR.

It’s pretty incredible how long iPhones last when you consider smartphones made by manufacturers other than Apple. We know people who are still using the same iPhone model they bought five years ago. That’s incredible! But there are some newer features these folks are missing. And there’s a $17 wireless charging case for the iPhone 7 and other models that solves part of the problem.

Wireless charging case for iPhone 7

Meanwhile, rival smartphones from other brands often don’t last that long at all. There are definitely exceptions to the rule if you’re willing to spend over $1,000 for a flagship Android phone. But the best you can typically hope for is two or three years. After that, things inevitably start to go wrong and your phone slows down. Then, you need to spend hundreds or even over $1,000 for a new phone.

Personally, I’d much rather buy a new case for $17 than a whole new phone for $700.

Wireless charging case for iPhone 7, 6s, 6

You really do get so much bang for your buck when you buy an iPhone. That said, there is a pretty significant downside to waiting so long between upgrades: you miss out on so many awesome new features that Apple introduces each year.

Some of those features are impossible to get on older iPhone models, such as big camera upgrades. But other big updates can actually make their way to older iPhones courtesy of special accessories.

One good example is wireless charging, which is an awesome convenience feature that Apple finally added to its iPhone lineup beginning with the iPhone 8. If you have an older iPhone model though, you can still get wireless charging on your phone thanks to an awesome and affordable accessory called the Antye ultra-slim wireless charging case.

You might be jealous of some of the new features available on recent iPhone models like the iPhone 12. That said, there’s really no reason to spend up to $1,500 on a new iPhone if your older model is still working fine.

Apple’s iOS software is so smooth that even 4 and 5-year-old iPhone models are still faster than most mid-range Android phones, which is pretty incredible. And like we said above, you can actually add some newer features to your old iPhone pretty easily.

Wireless charging case for iPhone 7

Wireless charging case for iPhone 7 Plus

Wireless charging case for iPhone 6/6s

Wireless charging case for iPhone 6/6s Plus

If you have an iPhone 6/6s, iPhone 6/6s Plus, iPhone 7, or iPhone 7 Plus, the Antye ultra-slim wireless charging case for iPhones lets you add wireless charging and drop protection to your handset.

And right now, every single size is on sale on Amazon for just $16.99. At that price, you really can’t go wrong!

Antye charging case fast facts

This is definitely our favorite wireless charging case for older iPhone models that don’t ship with the feature. Here are some key takeaways to keep in mind if you’re considering this neat case:

• Each case has a built-in Qi wireless charging receiver module chip that is compatible with any standard wireless charger
• The case connects to the Lightning port on the bottom of your compatible iPhone model
• Just place your phone on a wireless charging pad or stand and watch it recharge
• Never fuss with cables or connectors again
• The case is made of durable plastic that adds grips to your phone, prevents scuffs and scratches, and protects your phone from damage due to accidental drops
• All cases are backed by Antye’s 12-month warranty and no-hassle replacement policy

Wireless charging case for iPhone 7

Wireless charging case for iPhone 7 Plus

Wireless charging case for iPhone 6/6s

Wireless charging case for iPhone 6/6s Plus

Go here to see this month’s best deals online!

The post You can add wireless charging to your old iPhone for $17 appeared first on BGR.

The Galaxy Z Fold 4 is Samsung’s next flagship phone, and the foldable will introduce several significant improvements over its predecessor. And, if new leaks are accurate, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will start at double the storage compared to its predecessor, or 512GB of built-in memory. The flash upgrade is welcome on a flagship device that will most certainly lack support for microSD storage expansion. That also means the most expensive Fold 4 model will go up to 1TB in storage space.

But it’s not all good news, as storage upgrades don’t come cheap.

Galaxy Z Fold 4 storage leaks

If you thought the Galaxy Z Fold 4 series will not deliver a major product update, the wave of Fold 4 leaks should have made you change your mind by now. According to reports from trusted sources, the new foldable will be lighter and thinner than its predecessor.

Not only that, but the handset will get an update to the aspect ratio, which will make it easier to use when folded. Moreover, the hinge crease might be milder than before.

More importantly, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 will deliver a big camera update that should address criticisms regarding the Fold 3’s camera. Also important are the Fold 4 specs, with a recent report indicating that the new Samsung handset will feature the latest Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 processor. That’s good news to anyone familiar with the Galaxy S22 performance debacle.

Galaxy Z Fold 4 storage options leaked in Korea. Image source: handphone.or.kr

But that recently leaked specs sheet indicated the Fold 4 will come in two storage configurations: 256GB and 512GB. That’s in line with the previous model and a logical move for Samsung. That 256GB entry-level tier is double what you get on most smartphones. And that tier would let Samsung keep in place last year’s price, but that’s just speculation.

A new finding from Korea indicates that Samsung will make 512GB and 1TB versions of the Galaxy Z Fold 4. That’s according to a website that seems to be run by the Korea Association for ICT Promotion.

According to Redditors, that’s a website that manages information about lost cellphones in Korea. But the database also includes a hidden search service for smartphone model numbers, including unreleased devices.

What about the price?

The listings on the website only show two storage tiers for the Galaxy Z Fold 4: 512GB and 1TB. While some of the Fold 4 models in the list do not have storage designators, there is no entry for a 256GB model.

We’re just speculating for the time being, but if the information in this database is accurate, then Samsung might double the storage on its next-gen foldable flagship.

On the other hand, the 256GB storage tier is critical. That’s the kind of storage space you should expect from the cheapest Fold 4 model. Put differently, a bump to 512GB might also help Samsung justify a price increase for the new Fold 4.

Galaxy Z Fold 4 design render: Foldable screen (top), cover screen and camera details (bottom). Image source: @OnLeaks and Smartprix

One of the best things about the Galaxy Z Fold 3 is that the entry price dropped. The phone starts at $1,799, and that’s before all the crazy deals come in. Samsung did its best to lower the cost, offering buyers plenty of sales and the ability to trade in multiple gadgets.

Nobody could blame Samsung for keeping that entry price in place or raising it, given the larger economic context. But it’ll be interesting to see if Samsung is ready to sell a 512GB Galaxy Z Fold 4 for $1,799. This would essentially give buyers a free storage upgrade.

Again, we’re assuming there’s no 256GB version of the Fold 4. But there’s no proof that Samsung dropped the 256GB tier for the Fold line.

Samsung will unveil the Fold 4 on August 10th, according to a leaker. We should learn more details about the new foldable’s storage options well before then.

The post Samsung might give the Galaxy Z Fold 4 a major storage upgrade appeared first on BGR.