Apple’s yearly Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC) is scheduled to kick off a week from today, and signs are pointing towards a host of new software announcements – but perhaps very little in the way of new hardware.

The WWDC26 keynote will be live-streamed on Apple TV, YouTube, and Apple’s event website at 10am Pacific Time, which is 6pm here in the UK. Australian Apple fans will either have to stay up late or wake up early, as the presentation will kick off at 3am on the West Coast, or 1am on the East Coast.

With this being a software-focused showcase, we expect updates to Apple’s various operating systems across its mobile phones, tablets, computers and, most importantly, streaming devices.

That being said, Apple has surprised us with hardware announcements at WWDC in previous years. These include the Apple Vision Pro headset, updated Mac computers, and even the original HomePod, which was announced at WWDC 2017.

Ultimately, signs are pointing towards a WWDC that is putting the focus on software, which might not be such a bad thing…

What to expect…

Apple made a big statement last year with its latest batch of software updates. 2025 signalled the year of Liquid Glass, which introduced a fluid, transparent interface to everything from iPhones and iPads to Apple TV and iMacs.

Apple also standardised the naming conventions of its various product lineups. All of the version numbers were changed to align with the relevant year, signalling the launch of iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and tvOS 26.

We think, then, that it's reasonable to expect the announcement of iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and tvOS 27 on Monday.

As for what these updates will bring to the table, that is somewhat of an unknown currently. We know that Apple has made a big push for Apple Intelligence, the company’s answer to the AI revolution, in recent years, but it has ultimately fallen far behind the competition.

While Google has steamrolled ahead with Gemini on various Android phones, Apple Intelligence and Siri aren’t quite living up to the claims made by Apple during the iPhone 16 launch.

Siri hasn’t got much smarter, and Visual Intelligence hasn’t really challenged Google’s excellent Circle to Search function. Therefore, we anticipate the upcoming updates to be pretty AI and Siri-focused, as Apple scrambles to bring its software up to speed.

Elsewhere, we could see some tweaks to Liquid Glass after the lukewarm reaction to the new user interface, as well as new features coming to some of Apple’s core apps. Last year, we saw a handful of updates come to Apple Music, which included the ability to pin your favourite albums and real-time lyric translations.

What not to expect…

We’ve said it already, but we’ll reiterate: it is unlikely that this will be a hardware-heavy event. The two big products that we await are still missing in action, and it’s looking less and less likely that they will break cover at WWDC 2026.

These are the next-generation Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini, which, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman (via Engadget), have both been ready to launch for several months. In fact, Gurman claims that the upcoming hardware is already being used internally at Apple’s Cupertino headquarters.

Expected upgrades aren’t monumental; in fact, some predictions are centred around some minor chipset updates. But with the previous generations of the Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini launching in 2022 and 2020, respectively, we are willing to take any form of upgrade.

The aforementioned limitations to Apple Intelligence and Siri are reportedly responsible for the holdup with these products, but the expectation is that once Apple irons out its AI kinks, then these products should be primed to launch.

It should also not come as a surprise to hear that we probably won’t see any new iPhones during the presentations. Apple tends to save those for its annual September event – and it’s looking like it could be a big one this year.

Apple is expected to change its usual lineup by launching its first foldable device alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e, meanwhile, are expected to launch in early 2027.

We’re not ruling out new product announcements entirely; Apple could surprise us after all. But, with software being the primary focus for WWDC, we think September is a more likely time to see new Apple hardware.

MORE:

Read our full Apple iPhone 17 review

As well as our Apple TV 4K (2022) review

And check out the best smartphones here

Apple has clearly been hard at work on a new range of products, as highlighted by its week of exciting launches, which included the iPhone 17e and iPad Air M4, alongside an extensive upgrade to its Mac range.

While computers aren’t necessarily our thing, even I can’t resist the charm of the MacBook Neo, which is the shining, affordable star in Apple's new lineup. I have been gazing longingly at the MacBook Neo on Apple’s website, and so smitten by it am I that I can almost forgive Apple for not launching a new streamer during its week of new releases… almost.

Truthfully, though, I still feel a tad bitter about getting excited for a new Apple TV 4K after more than three years of waiting, only for my hopes and dreams to be quashed.

What’s frustrating is that Apple’s new strategy of appealing to those who want the high-quality hardware and access to the iOS/iPadOS/MacOS ecosystem without spending an inordinate amount of money made me think about how it could apply this ethos to its AV products. And, of course, I mean specifically the Apple TV 4K.

Maybe, though, I have been wishing for the wrong Apple TV…

Redefine the entry level…

Apple is clearly strengthening its entry-level product portfolio. A cheap, fun and plenty powerful new MacBook, and an upgrade to the affordable and talented iPhone 16e prove this. So how about it introduces an affordable new Apple TV 4K?

In this instance, I feel as though Apple should look towards Amazon for inspiration in the affordable streaming space. While Amazon offers a flagship streamer in the form of the Fire TV Cube 3rd Generation, there are plenty of streaming options that cost far less.

Take the Fire TV Stick 4K Max 2nd Generation, which snatched the Product of the Year Award away from Apple last year, and continues to be a brilliant, affordable 4K streamer. We reviewed it at £70 / $60 / AU$120, but it is often on sale for well below that.

That’s a much easier price to swallow than the Apple TV 4K’s £149 / $130 / AU$219 asking price – and it is, of course, Amazon’s most expensive streaming stick.

If Apple were looking to apply its five-star streaming tech into a device that would appeal to entry-level markets, including students or those looking for a streaming stick for their bedroom or kitchen TV, a cheaper Apple TV 4K stick could be just the ticket.

A hypothetical Apple TV 4Ke or Apple TV 4K Neo would unquestionably capture the hearts of iPhone users who want the Apple ecosystem to extend to their TVs – and any way to get Apple’s excellent picture and sound into a cheaper device would be a dream come true for me.

It would fit right in to the new affordable ecosystem that Apple is building. The brand is also injecting some fun and colour into these budget ranges – take the vibrant Citrus or Blush pink MacBook Neo – and I wouldn't be opposed to a more fun streamer.

The Google Chromecast with Google TV (may it rest in peace) also came in a selection of colours, including pink, blue, and white; so a colourful Apple TV streamer wouldn't be remarkably left-field.

Of course, Apple is still keeping tight-lipped about anything to do with its AV products, so we'll have to wait and see what the next Apple TV 4K will look like… if it ever arrives.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV 4K review

As well as our Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K Max review

And check out our picks for the best streaming devices

Apple's latest launch event has left me feeling blue, which, coincidentally, is one of the colours that the adorable-looking new MacBook Neo comes in.

While the reveals, which included the iPhone 17e, an upgraded iPad Air, and a slew of new MacBooks, all delivered some sort of appeal to me on a personal level, I really had my hopes high for at least one new AV-focused announcement.

Rumours of a new Apple TV 4K have been bubbling for months now, with speculation that a new Apple Intelligence-supporting model with an upgraded processor could be arriving towards the end of 2025.

2025, as we know, ended without a new Apple TV 4K to show for it, so you can imagine my excitement when Apple announced a barrage of launches to kick off 2026.

I've been refreshing the Apple Newsroom for days on end, hoping to see a new Apple TV 4K break cover; alas, it looks as though Apple has ended its first batch of product launches of 2026 with the (admittedly quite cool-looking) MacBook Neo.

That means no new Apple TV 4K, or any new HomePods, for that matter, will be launching this time around.

And Apple's AV lineup really could do with an update. The Apple TV 4K 2022 uses the same processor as the iPhone 13 (we've just reviewed the iPhone 17, by the way), and the HomePod Mini has dropped off our Awards list due to its age.

Speaking of which, it's been 1217 days since Apple launched the last TV 4K, 1126 days since the HomePod 2 launched, and an excruciating 1935 days since Apple revealed the HomePod Mini.

We're still waiting for new versions for all of these, and in truth, we're starting to think that we're going to be waiting for a long while to come.

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best streaming devices

As well as the best wireless speakers

And read our full iPad Air 13-inch (M3) review

I do my best to stick to 4K Blu-rays where I can, but streaming now takes up the majority of my casual viewing.

There are plenty of reasons for this; quite a lot of the shows I'm watching right now, such as the so-far excellent third season of Shrinking on Apple TV and the hilarious HBO show I Love LA which is exclusive to Sky currently, aren't available anywhere else, and I could risk serious spoilers waiting for a physical release that may never come to fruition.

Furthermore, my schedule often revolves around sporadic trips around the globe to see the latest TV, home cinema and AV releases, meaning I'm far away from my Sony A80L OLED TV and UBP-X700 4K Blu-ray player. Here is where I revert to downloading shows to my iPhone 16 Pro or iPad Air 5th Generation.

Editor's note: Please forgive our senior staff writer's humblebrag...

As mentioned in a prior Adventure in AV that I wrote back in December of last year, I've dropped Netflix Premium in favour of Apple TV, and I haven't looked back since. Since then, I've continued to dig into Apple's excellent content library, and truthfully, I've barely touched Netflix.

Apple TV has become a close ally of mine on my travels, and I've been using it a lot at home as well, which has led me to a realisation that I hadn't considered before. Simply put, Apple TV just looks fantastic regardless of what screen I'm watching on.

I've watched the likes of F1, The Studio, Shrinking, The Morning Show, Slow Horses and Knife Edge: Chasing Michelin Stars on various screens, from my iPhone's 6.3-inch display to my TV's 65-inch screen, and many other displays (OLED and LCD) in between, and the content has looked consistently great regardless.

This likely has something to do with Apple TV's higher bitrate capabilities. Whereas Netflix, Disney+ and Prime Video average between about 10 and 25 Mbps, Apple TV averages around 25 to 40 Mbps; and with more available data, we get better quality video and sound.

Better still, downloading Apple TV content to watch offline with the high-quality download setting applied is a treat. Based on experience, content doesn't appear to be as compressed compared to the likes of Netflix and Amazon Prime, which once again results in a much better picture experience.

Now, I should address the elephant in the room (or in my instance, the plane cabin). I predominantly use the Apple TV app on an Apple iPhone; therefore, I'd expect the optimisation between the software and hardware capabilities of my iPhone 16 Pro to be top-notch.

Streaming on an Android device may yield slightly different results, though I have streamed Apple TV content to the Samsung Galaxy Tab S11 Ultra (review coming soon) and didn't notice any sort of noticeable image downgrade during my viewing.

If you're jumping between screens at the same frequency as I am, then I'd once again recommend Apple TV for the best picture quality. Apple's content library has also caught up in recent years, so you'll find plenty of good shows and movies to watch as well.

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best streaming services for movies and TV

As well as the best streaming devices

And the best smartphones for movies and music

Apple has announced its first full-scale event for 2026 after a smattering of low-key product launches throughout January and February.

This event appears to differentiate itself from those previous Apple launches because the company is billing it as a “special Apple Experience” rather than its usual live events.

Taking place on the 4th of March in London, New York and Shanghai, the experience will probably feature numerous expected product launches.

The most widely anticipated product is the iPhone 17e. Its predecessor, the five-star iPhone 16e, officially turns a year old on the 19th of February, so a successor is due. There have also been rumblings of updates to the MacBook and iPad lines, with updated processors and potentially new displays in store.

That being said, we are hoping to see some upgrades in two overlooked areas in Apple's product portfolio.

We are sorely overdue for a new Apple TV 4K, with the last model launching back in 2022. That streamer remains at the top of our best streaming devices list, fending off rivals from Amazon and Google for nearly four years.

Mutterings of a new Apple TV 4K have been circulating for quite some time, and it looked as though a new model was about to launch towards the end of last year, only to be delayed.

The expected upgrades include a more up-to-date processor, which will support Apple Intelligence and slicker tvOS operation.

We are also anticipating an upgrade to the HomePod range, which has remained fairly stagnant since the HomePod 2 launched in 2023.

The HomePod Mini is our main contender for an upgrade. It has been left basically untouched since 2020 (not counting a minor colour refresh in 2024). There are also rumours surrounding Apple working on a HomePod with a screen, though these are yet to be substantiated by a full product launch.

A HomePod Mini 2 is high on our wishlist, but only time will tell if Apple will launch a successor to its pint-sized, Award-winning wi-fi speaker.

All will be revealed in just under two weeks, and you can check back here for live coverage of the latest announcements.

MORE:

Check out our picks for the best streaming devices

As well as the best wireless speakers

And read our full Apple HomePod Mini review

I have a confession to make: I actually use my phone's speakers to listen to music sometimes. I know, I know. I'm sure there's a spot reserved for me in audiophile hell, but hear me out: I think there's a time and a place.

I'm not completely mad, I don't play music through my phone in public. And nor should anyone (that's why we have a list of the best wireless headphones.) But at home, when the situation arises, I have been known to load Apple Music and blast songs straight from the phone.

And I think that’s okay. Here’s why.

A phoney speaker

Now in case you’re worried that this is the end of What Hi-Fi? as you know it, fear not. We – I included – still passionately believe you should enjoy the best sound quality you possibly can, whatever your budget. That’s why we cover the best cheap headphones and best budget speakers alongside the best audiophile headphones and best speakers for all budgets.

And in my defence, now that phones are much bigger than they were a few years ago, their speakers are becoming more capable. In our Sony Xperia 1 VI review, we comment that the phone’s speakers are “detailed and feature good stereo separation that makes a solid attempt to position sounds in relation to what is happening on screen.”

And in our iPhone 17 review, we say the device’s speakers deliver “a spacious sound, with focused vocals and enough detail given to sound effects (such as a bustling city street) to create a surprisingly immersive experience.”

Now neither of these is going to replace a dedicated speaker (of the iPhone 17's speakers, we even said “we’d refrain from using these to listen to music out loud”). And that's even more true of my ageing iPhone 12 mini. But they’ll do at a pinch. And that's exactly the kind of situation I’m talking about.

Coming clean with a dirty secret

So why, given that I work for the world’s foremost authority on sound quality and everything audiophile, am I advocating a set of speakers that would comfortably fit on your fingertip? One word: convenience.

I don’t often get the urge to clean the house, so when I do I have to act on it. If I wanted to listen to the admittedly much more rewarding sonic performance of my Ultimate Ears Wonderboom (the original model, eights years old and still going strong), I have to dig it out, power it up and pair it with my phone. At this point I usually find the battery has died and have to find the charging cable. In which time my kids have set fire to the curtains, or my desire to clean has evaporated.

But with my phone, there’s none of that. You just press play, and get on with it.

Another benefit: stick your phone in your back pocket and the music follows you wherever you go. There’s no carting the speaker around as you search for the bathroom spray, or move to vacuuming another room. I know, I should invest in one of the best multi-room systems… but cost of living. And I’ll bet even the most ardent of multi-room devotees stops short of the bathroom.

Of course, a pair of wireless headphones would do the job admirably, while also delivering a far superior sonic experience. But I need to be able to hear my kids. If my first inkling that something might be wrong is the smell of burning curtains… well, I might miss out on that dad of the year award for yet another 12 months.

There’s a saying: the best camera is the one you have on you. And sometimes – just sometimes, mind – the same can be said of speakers.

MORE:

Check out the best wireless speakers

The best Bluetooth speakers

What are open earbuds? For greater awareness

Every September, Apple launches its new iPhone family. Except that may be about to change this year...

Because, while we're still expecting to see new iPhones this September, rumours abound that the new baseline iPhone 18 model won't be among them.

So, when will we see the iPhone 18?

As we have with previous iPhones running back further than we care to remember, we've scoured the web to bring you all the rumours, leaks and news regarding the phone's release, specs, price, features, design and more. Add to these rumours our industry knowledge garnered from decades in the biz, and you've got the comprehensive guide on what to expect from the iPhone 18.

We'll be updating this article all the way up to the iPhone 18's launch, whenever that may be. So stay tuned for the latest news worth knowing.

iPhone 18: release date rumours

Possibly the biggest news concerning the iPhone 18 isn't to do with its design, specs or features, but its release date. Because while Apple is rumoured to launch some iPhones this September, the standard iPhone 18 isn't said to be among them.

Instead, it's rumoured to launch in the spring of 2027.

Why? Apple is said to be eyeing a split release strategy. September should act as the launch of the premium line of iPhones, while Apple will hold back the more affordable models until the following spring. Last spring saw the launch of the iPhone 16e, and the iPhone 18 is thought to debut alongside the iPhone 18e in the spring of 2027.

With the new foldable iPhone said to launch this September, alongside the newest iterations of the iPhone Air, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, it's understandable that the bog-standard iPhone 18 would be somewhat overshadowed in such company.

A spring launch would also make the iPhone 18e announcement more of an event, creating two iPhone launch events a year and doubling the amount of buzz. With updates becoming ever more incremental and people holding onto their devices for longer between upgrades, Apple hasn't been able to create the same kind of hype around an iPhone launch that it used to (remember the huge queues that used to form outside Apple Stores?). But two events a year would mean you were never more than six months away from a new iPhone launch.

This dual release strategy was first rumoured in May 2025, and has since been corroborated by numerous reputable sources.

iPhone 18: price predictions

Despite the rates of inflation in recent years, iPhones haven't really got more expensive. But that could be about to change.

Inflation might have subsided, but that doesn't mean everything has stopped increasing in price, just that it's getting more expensive more slowly. Coupled with US tariffs, it could point to the first significant price rise for an iPhone since the iPhone 12 in 2020.

There's also a RAM shortage currently ongoing, fuelled by the rise of RAM-hungry AI processes. As more devices need more RAM to run the latest features, RAM itself is becoming more scarce, which is pushing up prices due to the law of supply and demand.

Having said that, it's too early to predict prices with any accuracy. So far, we haven't see any leaks concerning prices from any reputable sources.

As a reminder, here's the pricing of the iPhone 17 line-up.

iPhone 18: screen speculation

If one rumour is correct, you might need sunglasses in order to operate the iPhone 18.

That's because the device will have a much brighter screen, leaker Instant Digital posted on Chinese social media site Weibo (via MacRumors). Apple's brightness requirements for the panel are said to be so high, that Chinese supplier BOE is struggling to manufacture screens for the device, according to Korean publication The Elec (though this is also partly to do with ongoing production issues that persist from the end of last year).

That means Samsung could end up manufacturing the bulk of the iPhone 18's screens.

The iPhone 17 hit a peak outdoor brightness of 3000 nits (though in more typical use it's around 1000-1600 nits). If Apple can increase this significantly, you might have to reach for the Ray-Bans.

The screen is expected to stay the same 6.27-inch size as the iPhone 17, according to Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station. They say it will have the same 120Hz refresh rate and LTPO (Low-Temperature Polycrystalline Oxide) tech as the current model, too.

iPhone 18: design rumours

While rumours concerning the design of the iPhone 18 might be thin on the ground at present, we have heard about changes to the iPhone 18 Pro.

According to leaker Ice Universe, the Dynamic Island will shrink in the iPhone 18 Pro. In a post on X, they predict it will go from a width of 20.76mm to 13.49mm, a reduction of around 35 per cent.

The Dynamic Island is the pill-shaped cutout at the top of the screen. It debuted on the iPhone 14 – replacing the notch that had featured in the same place – and shows information from other apps, allowing you to multitask.

Ice Universe has a decent track record of accurate leaks, but this one is still far from set in stone. But where the Pro model innovates, the standard iPhone often follows, so we could see the base variant shrink its Dynamic Island in a similar way. And with a lag of a few months between the Pro and standard model launching, this change could even come to the iPhone 18.

However, the leakers are split on this one. Some reckon Apple will replace the Dynamic Island with a circular cutout in the top corner of the screen, while others predict Apple will have found a way to keep the same functionality while doing away with any cutout altogether.

The iPhone 18 Pro is also said to lose the two-tone colour finish (according to leaker Instant Digital). And it could get some new finishes, with possible new colours including burgundy, coffee and purple.

iPhone 18: specs and feature leaks

Apple is expected to unveil its C2 modem chip this year, so the odds of it featuring in the iPhone 18 are high. The C2 should be more powerful than the current C1 and C1X, with mmWave 5G connectivity.

The iPhone 18 could have a new processor, too. The A20 will follow the A19 and A19 Pro of the iPhone 17 generation, though it could be exclusive to the pricier models, with the iPhone 18 being upgraded to the A19 Pro. At this stage, it's simply too early to tell.

The A20 will be more powerful and efficient thanks to TSMC's 2nm process – it's estimated to be up to 15 per cent faster than the A19 chips and 30 per cent more efficient.

The A20 should offer TSMC's Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) technology, which integrates the RAM directly onto the same wafer as the CPU, GPU and Neural Engine rather than having it adjacent. This could mean faster performance and better thermal management, with a longer battery life. But again, it could just be for the iPhone 18 Pro models for now, especially as these chips are expected to cost Apple more.

But we could see Apple launch both A20 and A20 Pro chips, with the iPhone 18 getting the former and the latter reserved for the Pro models. That's the approach Apple currently takes, kitting out the iPhone 17 with the A19 and the 17 Pro with the A19 Pro.

The only other rumour we've heard so far says that the iPhone 18 might be upgraded to 12GB of RAM, up from 8GB on the iPhone 17. Given the ubiquity of AI features, and their increasing RAM needs, we would say this one is a dead certainty.

iPhone 18: camera conjecture

The only rumour specifically relating to the iPhone 18's cameras is that the front-facer will be upgraded to 24 megapixels, from the iPhone 17's 18 megapixels. But there's more chat about the iPhone 18 Pro camera.

It's said to have a variable aperture, allowing the user to manually adjust how much light reaches the sensor, affecting the photo's lighting and depth of field. A new Samsung three-layer stacked image sensor is also rumoured, to make the camera more responsive, reduce picture noise and increase the dynamic range.

We could also be in for larger apertures on the iPhone 18 Pro's main and telephoto lenses to allow in more light during gloomy conditions.

iPhone 18: early verdict

The iPhone 18 is still probably 14 months away, so the fact we've seen any rumours so far just shows how eagerly awaited the handset is. If the screen can go as bright as is rumoured, movie fans on the go will be in for a treat. And if the iPhone 18 can make some gains in performance, battery life, sound quality and camera abilities, it will please fans all over the world.

The split launch would be a new strategy for Apple, and would be the first time a standard model iPhone hasn't launched in the autumn since the iPhone 4 in 2010. Would Apple mark such an occasion by making some major changes to the baseline model iPhone? We'll have to wait and see.

MORE:

Read our iPhone 17 review

These are the best smartphones for music and movies

The best iPhone headphones you can buy

No matter how sophisticated the engineering behind wireless headphones, their wire-free performance is inherently bound by the Bluetooth technologies they, and the smartphone (or other audio source) they are used with, support.

Sennheiser recognises this, and with its latest flagship wireless noise-cancelling over-ears, the HDB 630, has sought to improve things. How? By bundling in a clever little accessory that blesses your phone (or other audio source) with the same high-quality Bluetooth codec the headphones themselves support.

It’s a simple yet ingenious idea that pays dividends. Allow us to explain…

Features

You see, every Bluetooth-toting audio source, such as a smartphone or laptop, supports one (SBC) or more Bluetooth codecs. In the context of wireless headphone listening, these are software formats that compress and encode/decode music so that it can be efficiently transmitted wirelessly from, say, a phone to wireless headphones.

The most efficient, highest-quality codecs – aptX Lossless, aptX Adaptive and LDAC – retain the audio signal best (albeit not perfectly) during this process, allowing more of your music to be heard, but they aren’t universally supported by audio sources and headphones alike.

For example, iPhones, the audio source of choice for many people using Bluetooth headphones, only support SBC and AAC, the most basic, compressed, ‘lossy’ codecs. Android phones typically fare better on this front, although many don’t support the full codec suite. The flagship Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra in our best smartphones buying guide, for example, supports LDAC and ‘only’ standard aptX – not the superior aptX HD, Adaptive or Lossless codecs.

As for laptops and computers, Apple’s MacBooks don’t natively support aptX (like iPhones, they typically prioritise AAC) and only select Windows machines do.

Bearing in mind that both the device and headphones must support the same codec to benefit from its optimal transmission, you can understand that the scenario in which one lets the other down is common.

Finally, we get to Sennheiser’s solution. The HDB 630 bundle in a BTD 700 USB-C dongle that you simply plug into your device’s USB-C to give it aptX Adaptive superpowers.

Pop it into an iPhone 15, for example (older iPhones will need to use the Lightning-to-USB-C adaptor too), and you suddenly have a true aptX Adaptive handshake between it and the HDB 630. For audio transmission integrity, that’s far superior to the AAC one you would get between these devices otherwise.

The dongle is tiny – roughly the size of the top part of your finger – and upon being plugged in connects to the Sennheiser headphones automatically, with a solid white LED light indicating a successful connection, and a purple one displayed during music playback.

On an iPhone, the BTD 700 and HDB 630 both show as ‘Connected’ in the Bluetooth menu; on an Android phone, the dongle simply appears as a ‘USB’ device in the Bluetooth menu below the connected HDB 630.

You can check the quality of the signal path in the Sennheiser Smart Control Plus app’s settings (see the screenshot above or image below). Here, you’ll want to ensure the ‘Audio mode priority’ is set to ‘Hi-Res 24bit/96kHz’.

Sound

The dongle proves a valuable accessory. When connected to an iPhone 16 and old Samsung Galaxy S21, upgrading their respective AAC and aptX connectivity with the headphones to aptX Adaptive, the presentation gains in clarity and solidity.

It’s a good advert for the Bluetooth technology, demonstrating that higher-quality codecs do make a difference with hardware that is revealing enough to highlight them.

Indeed, the HDB 630 are such examples of capable hardware. The headway they make over Sennheiser’s former wireless flagships, the Momentum Wireless 4, somewhat take us aback during our first comparison. The HDB 630 are miles ahead when it comes to detail, dynamic expression and refinement.

These are wonderfully smooth and natural sounding headphones, full of shape and dynamism across the frequency range, and we’re no more than a song into our playlist before we begin to suspect that the Award-winning Sony WH-1000XM6’s days at the top of the leaderboard could be limited.

That song is Christine And The Queen's Mountains (we met), a piano ballad about a yearning for a past relationship that’s never coming back, and the Sennheisers pull you into Héloïse Adelaïde Letissier’s vocal longing with an incredible amount of midrange texture and dynamic attention to her inflections.

The sparse piano notes drip with harmonics, while the percussive rhythmic pattern comes through with precision and purpose. Through the Sonys, the emotional impact is still there, but the presentation is that bit flatter, the percussion and vocal delivery less shapely and dynamic within a more compressed soundstage.

It’s a similar story with Bon Iver’s S P E Y S I D E: the Sonys capture the textures of the acoustic strings and rich vocal and ably track their dynamic variety, yet the Sennheisers' more emphatically pursue their rises and falls, telling you more about how the strings are plucked. The viola gliding through the middle is thrust more into the spotlight, too.

Their bigger canvas and the more precise placement of, and greater separation between, musical elements within it make the dense production of Public Service Broadcasting’s Spitfire more easily digestible, and that commitment to space and scale never comes at the expense of musical cohesion either.

Here, precision and analysis go hand in hand with drive and vigour, making for the most informative and entertaining sound we’ve heard from wireless headphones at this price, with or without the use of the dongle.

Design & comfort

If the sceptic in you has been waiting for a ‘but’, it doesn’t come here. The HDB 630 adopt the design language of recent Sennheiser Momentums, defined by chunky, ovular earcups free of any decoration. They’re probably not far off what a primary school child would draw if given the task to draw headphones.

That may not sound particularly inspiring, and those looking for blingier headwear at this premium price range will undoubtedly be more impressed by the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 and Apple AirPods Max. But fans of discreet, minimalist design will more readily appreciate their subtly shiny matte finish and quality construction.

What arguably matters more about any headphones’ physicality is comfort levels, and the Sennheisers nail this criterion. Their grip is secure yet not too tight, the positive seal of their pleather earpads isolates well, and the aptly cushioned headband ensures that the relatively heavy (311g) headphones aren’t burdensome on the top of your head.

You won’t ever forget you’re wearing them, as you might with light, slimline over-ears like the Bose QC Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen), but they don’t feel oppressive either, even during longer wear.

While headphone manufacturers seem to be torn as to whether to deliver key functionality with buttons or gestures, Sennheiser has stuck with a touch-control affair here, the only button on the right earcup launching your phone’s voice assistant.

We wish it turned Transparency mode on/off instead, which is activated by tapping the right earcup twice, but at least the touch controls are responsive and work across a generous surface area.

We like that every touch action is signalled by a sound, and they can be turned off in the app to prevent accidental touch when, say, you’re lying down or wearing a scarf.

That single button and touch-capacitive area aside, the right earcup simply houses a 3.5mm jack and USB-C charging socket, both of which can be used for wired listening with the supplied 1.2m cables, though do note that the headphones require battery life for either method.

You have limited excuse to be caught short, however, with the HDB 630 offering a liberal 60 hours of audio playback with ANC on, reducing to 45 hours when the dongle is in the equation.

The app offers a generous suite of functionality beyond assuring you of the audio quality you’re getting, including activating on-head detection, smart pause and auto-answer call features for hands-off playback control; one of the most comprehensive parametric EQs we’ve seen for such a product; and noise cancellation adjustment.

Noise cancellation

Truth be told, there isn’t a ‘but’ to be found; the HDB 630 are a well-rounded package. That said, they aren’t class leading everywhere. Their active noise cancellation qualifies for ‘good’ rather than ‘great’ in a market where Bose and Sony are dogged in their pursuit of silence, though it should be said that the HDB 630’s physicality goes further than most designs to isolate you from the outside world in the first place.

Their ANC system certainly takes the sting out of disruptive surrounding noise, reducing the rumble of traffic and bus engine noise – those kinds of low-end frequencies are typically the most distracting in your everyday life.

Set ANC level to maximum and play music at a decent volume, and you’ll likely find yourself satisfyingly isolated.

But during a comparison, the Sony XM6 block noise slightly more effectively. You can more clearly detect revving engines through the Sennheisers, and we find that traffic whizzing by us catches our attention more.

The Sonys (and more so, the Bose QC Ultra 2) provide a more intense feeling of ‘dead air’ between the earcups, and it’s easier to switch off from the noise world while wearing them, particularly when listening to low/mid-volume piano pieces.

Price

More features, improved sound and the unique inclusion of an audio-enhancing Bluetooth dongle understandably translate to a pricier pair of headphones than the Momentum Wireless 4, which arrived in 2022 for £300 / $349.95 / AU$549.95.

Sennheiser has been much more ambitious in both designing and pricing its latest flagship wireless over-ears this time round, reflected in the HDB 630’s name and positioning within the lineup – they’re the first wireless pair to be included under the ‘Audiophile’ 600 Series umbrella – and their £400 / $500 / AU$1000 launch price.

That doesn’t put them beyond their closest rivals, mind you. In fact, they’re squarely in the firing line of the Sony WH-1000XM6 (£400 / $450 / AU$699), Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3 (£399 / $449 / AU$699) and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones (2nd Gen) (£450 / $429 / AU$649), all of which are only notably more attractively priced than the Sennheisers in Australia.

Verdict

Sennheiser has reestablished itself within the noise-cancelling headphones market with the HDB 630, moving on from its competitive Momentum model to create something bolder, more ambitious and altogether better.

They move the goalposts for wireless sound quality at this level, while going the extra mile to upgrade iPhones and other audio sources to make it easier for people to benefit from it. And they also score well enough in the design, features and noise-cancelling departments to be considered a highly attractive all-round package.

For sound-conscious folk looking for convenience and audio quality, the Sennheiser HDB 630 are serious best-of-both-world propositions.

Review published: 3rd December 2025

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Build 4
• Features 5

MORE:

Read our review of the Sony WH-1000XM6

Also consider the Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3

Check out our guide to the best wireless headphones we've tested and rated

Apple’s 'standard' iPhone has often played second fiddle to its Pro series when it comes to AV proficiency.

Brighter screens, slimmer bezels and smoother refresh rates have always been reserved for the most expensive models in the tech titan’s annual ranges – but that all changes this year.

The Apple iPhone 17 may not look like a radical departure from the five-star iPhone 16 as we take it out of its box, but the more we use it, the more it becomes apparent that this could very well be one of the most compelling iPhones that Apple has ever made.

That’s thanks to those Pro-level features that we mentioned trickling their way down the lineup and into the iPhone 17.

It may not have the daring design or beefed-up camera system of its Pro sibling, but when it comes to AV efficiency, the iPhone 17 gets the upgrades that we’ve been waiting for.

Price

The iPhone 17 starts at £799 / $799 / AU$1399, which is the same price that the iPhone 16 launched at last year.

Apple has actually doubled the starting storage capacity, though, to 256GB, and a 512GB model is also available – though it’s a surprisingly steep increase to £999 / $999 / AU$1799.

That’s the same price as the super-slender iPhone Air (starting at £999 / $999 / AU$1799), and only slightly cheaper than the iPhone 17 Pro (£1099 / $1099 / AU$1999) and iPhone 17 Pro Max (£1199 / $1199 / AU$2199).

Competition-wise, Apple is mostly contending with itself; the iPhone 16e offers an excellent AV experience wrapped in Apple’s usual top-notch design and feature set at a considerably cheaper price of £599 / $599 / AU$999. The iPhone 16 is also sticking around, though it's been reduced to £699 / $699 / $1249.

For those looking at an Android-powered alternative, the Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus is likely your best bet at £999 / $1000 / AU$1449.

Build

The iPhone 17 looks almost identical to the iPhone 16 it replaces, which is to be expected as last year’s model employed a newer design compared to its predecessor. That’s no great shame, as the iPhone 17 is a sturdy, stylish and well-built handset.

It features an aluminium frame sandwiched between a 6.3-inch OLED display (more on that in a moment) and a satin glass rear panel. The chassis remains mostly uninterrupted save for a set of volume buttons and a programmable Action Button on the left-hand side, and a lock/power button joined by the Camera Control on the right.

A USB-C port adorns the bottom edge. This can be used for charging, of course, but also data transfer and the output of audio to a pair of headphones – though you will need USB-C-equipped peripherals or an adapter for those.

Back to that display, which has grown by 0.2 inches since last year, thanks to the new slimmer bezel surrounding the screen.

It still includes the Dynamic Island, which houses the front camera and Face ID array (which is used for biometric authentication for unlocking the phone and validating payments via Apple Pay), and can display information from currently used apps, such as the music you’re playing or show the next direction from a navigation app.

Furthermore, Apple has introduced a new Ceramic Shield 2 coating for the display, which is reportedly three times more effective at resisting scratches and is bonded to the display at an atomic level, ensuring it will withstand the test of time.

We’ve taken the iPhone 17 through multiple airports and on various day trips, and the display remains free of any nicks or blemishes. Apple has also implemented a new seven-layer anti-reflectivity coating for improved outdoor visibility, too.

Durability gets another boost with the inclusion of IP68 water and dust resistance, allowing the iPhone to be submerged in water up to one metre for 30 minutes.

There are five colours to choose from: Black, White, Lavender, Sage and Mist Blue. Our handset is Lavender, which is a soothing shade of pastel purple. The Mist Blue and Sage hues are the other two that have caught our eye.

Features

We’ve already touched on that new 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, but it’s harbouring plenty more upgrades that make it even better for AV duties.

It features a 2622 x 1206 resolution and a pixel density of 460ppi, which is slightly higher than the iPhone 16.

A more noticeable difference for those coming from older non-Pro iPhones will be the inclusion of ProMotion. Apple’s variable refresh rate panel technology, which allows the display to adapt from 1Hz to 120Hz depending on the content you’re viewing, finally makes its way to the standard iPhone, and it makes all the difference when it comes to swiping, scrolling and gaming.

The display can also reach a new peak brightness of 3000 nits and a minimum brightness of just 1 nit. The combination of 1 nit and 1Hz allows the iPhone 17 to access the Always On Display feature that has also previously been reserved for the Pro-level handsets.

We’re very pleased to see that the iPhone 17 includes these features, but we do have to recognise that much cheaper Android handsets have had these for many years. Better late than never, we suppose.

Regardless, the iPhone 17’s display also features HDR support in the Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10 and HLG formats, which means that all streaming services should look their best regardless of their preferred format.

Audio is boosted by the inclusion of Dolby Atmos, which is supported over the built-in stereo speakers (comprising the earpiece and bottom-firing loudspeaker) and via headphones (wired and wireless). Apple’s Spatial Audio format is also included, though you’ll need a supported pair of AirPods or Beats headphones to access it.

The iPhone 17 is powered by Apple’s latest A19 chip, which flies through the iOS 26 operating system at ludicrous speeds without missing a beat.

Day-to-day performance is silky smooth, and thanks to the improved power efficiency of this new processor, we find that battery life is excellent. We’ve hammered the iPhone 17’s battery with long travel days with plenty of video watching and music streaming, and it comfortably makes it through a day of use under these conditions.

Apple’s newest iteration of the iPhone operating system features the Liquid Glass design language with semi-transparent elements and new icons throughout, as well as a handful of new AI-powered attributes.

Apple made some pretty big promises last year with the iPhone 16 series and its Apple Intelligence system, and yet we’re still left with a fairly weak set of AI features.

Image generation, auto translation, writing tools and a supposedly upgraded Siri voice assistant are joined by Visual Intelligence, which can be used to search for information based on items or surroundings captured via the iPhone’s cameras.

It’s a welcome new addition, but Samsung’s Galaxy AI suite has had all of these features for longer, and they feel better integrated into the One UI software.

The iPhone 16's actual camera system is also new. Apple has implemented a new 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera, which features four times the resolution of the iPhone 16’s ultrawide lens, and it's backed up by the same 48MP main lens as its predecessor, with a “2x optical-quality telephoto” mode for improved zoomed photography.

The front camera also gets an upgrade, with a new square sensor that allows for wider shots without having to awkwardly spin the handset to a landscape orientation. The iPhone will recognise when four or more people enter the viewfinder, and will adjust the aspect ratio of the shot to ensure that everyone is visible in the photograph – clever.

In our experience, the iPhone 17 delivers wonderfully sharp, natural and richly coloured pictures. We’ve used it to capture snaps during a morning of sightseeing in Copenhagen and an evening out at Wembley to watch England v Wales, and it continued to produce sharp and colourful shots in a range of lighting conditions.

Picture

Picture performance is paramount for us, and Apple has a perfect track record to uphold. Thankfully, Apple maintains that with the iPhone 17, which is an unquestionable slam dunk when it comes to watching movies and TV shows.

Starting with Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning: Part One on Netflix in Dolby Vision, the iPhone 17 delivers a picture that’s characteristically similar to its predecessor, though it has a handful of obvious improvements.

The enhanced brightness is felt here, with a touch more punch to the iPhone 17’s image, and contrast seems to get a boost in accordance with the brighter display.

This results in an image that’s even more solid and three-dimensional than with the iPhone 16, making the iPhone 17’s picture the more striking of the two.

As expected with the slight increase in resolution, the iPhone 17 also seems to be a little bit sharper. We’ll stress it’s not game-changing, but the newer of the two handsets packs in a touch more detail and outlines of subjects look a smidge cleaner too.

That boost in detail levels is felt with everything from the texture of the suits worn by Ethan Hunt and his associates to the skin textures of each character in the various close-up shots within this sequence.

Despite the boost in brightness and added sharpness, the iPhone 17 manages to look slightly more natural than its predecessor, thanks to how its display handles colours.

Switching to an episode from the fourth season of The Morning Show on Apple TV+, we find that the colours are rich and punchy when needed – the beaming yellow of a New York taxi cab on a dimly-lit street, for example – but they’re slightly more nuanced when it comes to capturing subtle variations in skin tones and hair colours.

This results in a deeply engaging and nicely balanced image. It’s natural where required, yet it’s not afraid to introduce some punch and pop, all without straying into looking overcooked.

We round out our picture testing with Civil War on Amazon Prime Video to assess how the phone handles dark details. The sequence in which the intrepid photographers drive through a forest fire at night looks spectacular on the iPhone 17, which provides deep blacks that contrast with the vibrant, intense flames effectively.

As the film progresses to the climactic battle in Washington, DC, we find that the new iPhone adds a bit more depth to shadows. However, it seems to dig up roughly the same amount of detail from the darkest parts of the scene as the iPhone 16.

This sequence as a whole provides a smorgasbord of shots that lean into the strengths of the iPhone 17’s screen. Tracer rounds arc through the night sky in an eye-catching display of contrast, while the soldiers sprinting through the battleground to duck behind cover prove that the iPhone can handle motion with ease.

We should stress that it’s not worlds apart from the outgoing iPhone 16, but the culmination of all of these subtle picture improvements makes for a sharper, richer and overall better image.

Sound

Apple tends to gloss over the audio performance of its iPhones, presumably because it hopes you’ll pick up a new pair of AirPods and be done with it. Even so, it makes some of the best-sounding smartphones on the market. The iPhone 17 continues this trend, so we’ll sing its praises even if Apple won’t.

Hooking up a pair of wired headphones via a USB-C to 3.5mm adapter and loading up Tidal, we’re met with a rich, spacious and well-organised arrangement. Sabrina Carpenter’s crooning vocals on Don’t Worry I’ll Make You Worry sound crisp and natural, with enough detail to pick up subtle inflections in her voice.

As the chorus builds into a harmony, we’re treated to a warm, rich and smooth sound. This is underpinned by an acoustic guitar riff that sounds wonderfully textured, and timing is pin-sharp, too.

Compared to the iPhone 16, the 17 sounds slightly punchier with a more definite start to each note, though it’s quite a subtle difference.

Moving on to Kiss The Ring from Hans Zimmer’s Dune: Part Two soundtrack, the iPhone delivers a bold, punchy performance with thunderous bass and an impressive show of dynamics. The crescendo of the track bursts to life with immense scale, allowing each component of the track to shine without getting lost in the drama.

Switching to the built-in speakers, we’d refrain from using these to listen to music out loud, but they’re a solid option to catch up on a show or a light spot of movie watching.

Heading back to Apple TV+ to watch more of The Morning Show, we find that the iPhone creates a spacious sound, with focused vocals and enough detail given to sound effects (such as a bustling city street) to create a surprisingly immersive experience.

Cranking the volume up to its maximum can make the iPhone 17 sound slightly strained and a bit cluttered, but knocking it back a couple of notches results in a solid balance between volume and detail.

Verdict

The iPhone 17 is a prime example of not judging a book by its cover. It may look very similar to its predecessor, but firing up that glorious new display proves that it's more than just an iterative update over the excellent iPhone 16.

Long-awaited features such as 120Hz variable refresh rates and an always-on display mode are no longer the sole preserve of Pro-series devices, and they’re backed up with a picture and sound performance that seriously impresses.

We’ll echo what we said at the start of this review in saying that this is undeniably one of the most compelling iPhones that Apple has ever made, as it packs in a lot of the most valuable AV features and specs at a price that undercuts its Pro siblings.

SCORES

• Picture 5
• Sound 5
• Features 5

MORE:

Read our review of the Apple iPhone 16

Also consider the Apple iPhone 16e

Read our Samsung Galaxy S25 Plus review

These are the best smartphones for music and movies

Sennheiser is no stranger to wireless headphones – its Momentum 4 Wireless over-ears are strong contenders thanks to a pleasing combination of comfort, features and sound quality for the price.

But now the brand is aiming its sights higher, with the launch of the first wireless model in the long-running HD 600 audiophile wired headphones range.

The Sennheiser HDB 630 are positioned as the brand's "first high-res audiophile wireless product" and aims to combine the "unmatched audiophile precision" of the audiophile HD6 range with the portable convenience of the Momentum wireless range.

In a bid to ensure that everyone can enjoy hi-res audio on these new wireless headphones anywhere, Sennheiser includes a BTD 700 USB-C Bluetooth transmitter in the box, which grants hi-res streaming to smartphones and tablets that don't natively support the higher-quality aptX HD codecs.

This tiny dongle device lets you stream music at up to 24-bit/96kHz quality using the aptX Adaptive codec, which offers higher resolution and greater data transfer than the standard Bluetooth codec found on, say, an iPhone.

Sennheiser says: "With only an estimated 16% of smartphone hardware supporting native wireless high-res sound, the included dongle brings this capability to 80% of smartphone models in an instant through their USB Type-C port."

This transmitter also adapts according to your environment – for instance, scaling the resolution down if you're in a congested area to ensure the Bluetooth connection remains stable with minimal dropouts.

The aim for the HDB 630 is not just to deliver a higher-resolution sound quality for audiophiles on the move – we are promised twice the resolution of the five-star Momentum 4 – but also to ensure that connectivity is stable in all situations, including multipoint Bluetooth connections.

The 42mm drivers feature a "refined" acoustic design that balances the headphones' compact form with ample air flow behind the transducer. The headphones have undergone "pure audiophile tuning" to deliver a smoother response in the upper midrange and lower treble areas, with a claimed frequency range of 6Hz to 40kHz.

Listeners can also enjoy the full 24-bit/96kHz resolution in lossless quality by opting for a wired connection, with USB-C and 3.5mm audio cables included in the box.

Adaptive ANC is on board and aims to "block out distractions while preserving clarity and dynamics".

Battery life is claimed to be an impressive 45 hours with full hi-res streaming and ANC turned on. This extends to 60 hours if ANC is turned off and listening with non-hi-res codecs.

Sennheiser also offers detailed parametric EQ and crossfeed functions within the Smart Control Plus app, which lets you fine-tune the HDB 630's sound quality even further to your liking.

The standard five-band equaliser allows for changes within a fixed range; the new Parametric Equalizer offers far greater adjustments that allow for those audiophiles who really enjoy tweaking the sound quality to sculpt their preferred frequency curve. It even includes A/B comparisons to compare and analyse the changes you've made – which is a useful touch. After a future update, users will also be able to share their own tailored EQ presets via QR code with fellow Sennheiser fans.

The crossfeed setting is inspired by the brand's flagship HE 1 headphones, and digitally blends the left and right channels – when dealing with classic mono recordings or "hard-panned mixes", for instance – for a more "speaker-like" presentation that might be easier on the ears.

The HDB 630 are a closed design and takes ergonomic design inspirations from the Moment 4 Wireless, with earcups that are supposedly less prone to fingerprint marks. The adjustable headband is made of a "Japanese Protein Leatherette" material that aims to be comfortable and durable over long listening periods.

Sennheiser's Senior Product Manager, Wee Hong Kuan, says: “We set out to deliver a compelling option for audiophiles who want to keep the same level of quality they’re used to with their wired headphones while enabling them to enjoy it everywhere, and out of the box, the HDB 630 brings a truly unique combination of fidelity and customization.”

The Sennheiser HDB 630 headphones will cost £399.90 / $499.95 / €499.90. Pre-orders are now open, with global shipping starting from 21st October.

That's a step up from the Momentum 4's £300 / $349.95 / AU$549.95 launch price, and the new "audiophile" wireless cans will see competition from five-star premium rivals such as the Sony WH-1000XM6 and Bowers & Wilkins Px7 S3.

MORE:

Read our Sennheiser Momentum 4 wireless review

Inside the Sennheiser factory: assembling audiophile headphones and listening to £60k electrostatics

Best Sennheiser headphones 2025: 7 brilliant options tested by our team

Streaming services have become needlessly complex over the past couple of years. First, there's the sheer volume of options on the market.

Then there's the fact that most have a new confusing tier system that locks features behind pay walls with little to no warning; I'm looking at you, Amazon Prime Video.

With the likes of Netflix, Disney Plus, Prime Video and Paramount Plus all vying for your monthly direct debit, it can be hard to know which service is the best one to go for.

Even the big UK broadcasters are throwing their hats in the ring, as I found out when a Channel 4+ advert kindly spoiled the episode of The Great British Bake Off that I was watching – rude.

With crucial AV features including 4K, HDR, and Dolby Atmos now being locked behind the "premium" subscription tiers, I'm starting to get rather frustrated with the whole streaming business, and I'm willing to bet that it's not just me either.

That's why I've been evaluating which services to keep and which ones I'm better off without, and it's reminded me of one overlooked service that hasn't fallen victim to the modern streaming woes.

Ironically, this service is backed by one of the largest and most influential technology firms in the world.

Yes, I'm talking about Apple TV+, a service that many consider to be closed off and not worth their money compared to the likes of Netflix, which features enough content to spark a 45-minute debate about what to watch every single time the app is opened without fail.

Now, I can't dispute that Apple's content library seems like a bit of a letdown on paper, but Apple TV+ is the epitome of "quality over quantity" in my books. It's also improved hugely over the years since its launch, meaning there are plenty of shows and films to choose from.

Its content library includes the likes of Severance, which I've been told to watch more times than I can bear to count (It's on my list), as well as Slow Horses, Silo, The Morning Show, Shrinking and The Studio.

The final one is one of the smartest, best-produced, and funniest shows I've seen in a very long time – hence why it just won a record-breaking 13 Emmy Awards in its first season.

And because it's Apple, which happens to make quite a lot of money selling iPhones, Macs and AirPods, if you weren't aware, the production values of these shows are second to none.

I've watched these shows on everything from my Sony A80L OLED TV to my iPhone 16, and they look glorious on practically every screen thanks to their slick production.

Best of all, Apple hasn't succumbed to this subscription tier system nonsense. It's £9.99 / $12.99 / AU$15.99 per month, with ad-free viewing in 4K with Dolby Vision HDR and Dolby Atmos audio – simple.

Now, that has risen in price since it launched in 2019, when it was £4.99 / $4.99 / AU$7.99. However, compared to Netflix's egregious price hikes, which means a plan with those same features is now £18.99 / $24.99 / AU$28.99 per month, I'm willing to cut Apple some slack.

If you're tired of Netflix and Disney Plus, and have been resisting the temptation to check out some of the shows I've mentioned above, I'd highly recommend ditching those services for a month and seeing what you think of Apple TV+.

Best-case scenario, you'll find a great new series to get invested in. Worst case, you'll save yourself some cash this month and can resubscribe to those services at any time.

MORE:

Read our full Apple TV+ review

And check out our Apple TV 4K (2022) review

As well as our picks for the best streaming devices

Apple debuted its latest take on the iPhone at last night's "Awe Dropping" event, and I have mixed feelings about it.

The iPhone Air is unquestionably a marvel of engineering, measuring in at just 5.6mm and weighing a mere 165g, making it the antithesis of the bulky Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra that currently occupies my pocket.

Its slender profile, sleek lines, and integrated camera bar make it the most un-iPhone looking iPhone in recent memory, but I'm warming up to the design. In reality, design is what it's all about with this phone, as its futuristic build is its unique selling point.

Despite that, Apple is touting Pro-level iPhone specs here, with the latest A19 Pro chipset, which can also be found in the new iPhone 17 Pro Max. The paper-thin chassis reportedly won't impact battery life either, with Apple claiming an impressive 27 hours of video playback on a single charge.

So, maybe this isn't the form-over-function device I have been bracing myself for since the rumours of a super-slim iPhone began circulating. Well, there is one catch, and it's one that I'm not willing to live with.

The iPhone Air only sports a mono speaker, which is located in the earpiece at the top of the handset and doesn't get any backup from a bottom-mounted loudspeaker like the one you'll find on the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro.

Apple, understandably, didn't shout about this downgrade during its livestreamed event. This is likely because this drawback makes the iPhone Air the first iPhone to not feature a stereo speaker system since the iPhone 6S, which was released a decade ago.

Now, this might not be a dealbreaker to everyone, but as someone who uses their phone's speakers more than they perhaps should, it's not a compromise I'm willing to make.

While I never commit the cardinal sin of blasting music from my phone's speakers, I use them to watch the occasional TV episode, and more frequently to watch TikToks, Instagram Reels and YouTube videos.

While these aren't the cinephile-quality tasks that we usually judge phones on, they're the real-life day-to-day functions that I use my phone for, and I'm willing to bet that's the case with plenty of other people out there.

I'd rather avoid thin-sounding mono audio if possible, so my hopes aren't all that high for the iPhone Air's loudspeaker performance.

I'm also confused as to how Apple will achieve Dolby Atmos audio from a mono speaker, as the recent batch of iPhones have all supported the immersive audio format from their earpiece and loudspeaker combination system, and they've been fairly effective at doing so.

Now, I have to give Apple some credit here, as in the grand scheme of things, this is a fairly modest downgrade. The rest of this slender phone's specifications are pretty impressive, but I'll need to get the phone in hand to figure out how it deals with movies and music.

For now, I'm hesitant to get too excited about it, as this audio-related drawback is pushing me towards the cheaper iPhone 17.

MORE:

Read the full Apple iPhone Air reveal news here

Here's our full iPhone 16 review

As well as our picks for the best iPhones

I've covered every iPhone launch since the original back in 2007, so when it comes to Apple announcements, I'm well versed in sifting the genuinely exciting from the pr guff. And while the iPhone 17 had plenty of the latter, it also had a fair amount of the former, especially when it comes to the screen.

In fact, it's the first phone in recent years that's tempting me to upgrade from my ageing iPhone 12 mini from 2020.

Here's why.

Biggie smalls

The iPhone mini variant is long since retired, of course. It only lasted two iterations before it was replaced by the iPhone 14 Plus in 2022. Apple had decided that people didn't want small phones, and replaced it with a 6.7-inch monster.

But I didn't want such a gargantuan phone. That's why I've stuck with the mini ever since. It does everything I need it to, at a size that fits easily in a pocket. It'll even get the latest iOS 26 operating system. So why upgrade to the iPhone 17?

I can see a few reasons. Firstly, the 120Hz refresh rate. Many would say it's about time Apple gave its base level iPhone a higher refresh rate, and they have a point. Even mid-range Samsung phones now have 120Hz – double the rate of the iPhone 16 – so Apple couldn't really not make the upgrade.

This should mean less blurring during fast-moving content like games, sports and movies. Which is ideal for anyone who enjoys watching or gaming on the go (that's me).

It's an always-on display, too, so you don't need to wake it in order to see certain information like the time. Given that my iPhone sits on a MagSafe charger acting like a bedside clock, this is a feature I would get a lot of use from.

And then there's the size. The 6.3-inch screen is marginally bigger than the iPhone 16's, and a big jump up from the 12 mini's 5.4 inches. But if you're going to go big, you may as well go that bit bigger, right?

The trickle down effect

None of this is new tech, by the way. It was all available in last year's iPhone 16 Pro. (Though interestingly, the iPhone 17 actually has a higher peak brightness outdoors – 3000 nits to 2000 nits – than the 16 Pro.) But it now comes in a more affordable package, one that's more within my means.

Bigger, brighter, with a higher refresh rate and a massive leap on from what I'm currently using, the iPhone 17's screen could finally convince me to put my hand in my pocket. And that's certainly not pr guff.

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I'm a big fan of Apple's Pro iPhones.

I've owned every Pro model from the last few years, and I think the iPhone 17 Pro looks awesome. If I'm honest, I think Apple had me the moment I saw that new Cosmic Orange finish.

But for me, the really important aspects of a phone are the picture and sound quality. I primarily use my phone for watching movies and listening to music on the go, after all, and I suspect that if you're a regular What Hi-Fi? reader, it's the same for you, too.

That's why, this year, I think the standard iPhone 17 could be the best iPhone to buy, rather than the Pro model.

You see, the iPhone 17's screen is a massive upgrade on the iPhone 16's. It's bigger, for starters, up to 6.3 inches from the previous model's 6.1 inches.

It's finally got a 120Hz refresh rate, too, which might not have much of a bearing on movies, but does make a huge difference to the general fluidity and responsiveness of the display, and I don't think I could live with a phone without 120Hz after living with the Pros that have it.

That refresh rate is variable, too, thanks to Apple's ProMotion tech, which is essentially VRR for phones. Again, not something that matters to movies, but it makes a big difference to games that support it and extends battery life by reducing the refresh rate when all those extra frames aren't needed.

More importantly for movies on the move, though, is that peak brightness has been increased from 2000 nits on the iPhone 16 to 3000 nits.

That's specifically for when you're using the phone outdoors, and it's exactly what you need if you find yourself occasionally watching a TV show or, more regularly in my case, the football or F1 while on the bus or in a pub garden.

What's most interesting is that, on paper at least, the iPhone 17's display is identical to that of the iPhone 17 Pro. I can't remember the last time the standard iPhone and Pro model had the same display specs.

I'm starting to think, then, that the iPhone 17 could be the sweet spot in the new range if, like me, you're a content consumer rather than a content creator.

There's a big difference in price, after all – £300 between the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro in the UK.

On the other hand, there is an even bigger version of the Pro – the 6.9-inch iPhone 17 Pro Max – and you can't beat size when it comes to cinema, even if it is portable cinema.

And have I mentioned that I really like the Cosmic Orange finish?

MORE:

Here's the news on the iPhone 17 and 17 Pro, and their massive new batteries

One more thing: where are the new HomePods?

AirPods Pro 3 launch with "breakthrough audio performance", improved ANC and longer battery life

Apple has officially unveiled the much rumoured iPhone 17 series at its September "Awe Dropping" event.

It has launched a quartet of new smartphones, with the standard model, Pro and Pro Max models being joined by a super-slender new device.

We're focusing on the standard iPhone 17, as well as the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max; however, you can find everything iPhone Air-related here.

These new devices take the baton from the five-star iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, with upgrades to the internal components, design and, most importantly, displays.

In true Apple fashion, the company hasn't shouted from the rooftops about the new AV capabilities of these phones, instead opting to focus on cameras, AI and the new A19 processors.

That being said, we're experts at reading between the lines to decipher what new upgrades are coming to these iPhones to make them even better portable devices for movies and music.

iPhone 17

Apple gave the base model iPhone a fairly substantial upgrade last year with the iPhone 16, so we're not surprised to find that the iPhone 17 is a fairly modest update in comparison. It looks almost identical to the model it's replacing on the outside, but Apple has thankfully made some under-the-hood improvements.

While the 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display remains the same size as the iPhone 16, it features thinner bezels. It finally gets Apple's ProMotion display tech too, which allows for an adaptive 1Hz to 120Hz refresh rate; something that has been previously reserved for the Pro-series iPhones.

Furthermore, this display is considerably brighter at 3000 nits. The iPhone 16's peak of 2000 nits is considerably lower.

Audio-wise, Apple is keeping things simple with Dolby Atmos support over the phone's stereo speakers, as well as via Bluetooth headphones, including the newly announced AirPods Pro 3.

Inside the iPhone is the new A19 processor, which is developed in-house at Apple and is set to enhance day-to-day performance, improve battery life and support Apple's growing AI suite.

Apple Intelligence has been a bit of a bust until now, but the company promises that the iPhone 17 will usher in a new era of AI features.

Charging and battery life are also hugely upgraded on the iPhone 17, with a claimed eight hours more battery life compared to the 16 when it comes to video playback. Furthermore, just 20 minutes of wired charging will supposedly top the battery up by a staggering 50 per cent.

Software-wise, the iPhone 17 is running Apple's latest iOS 26 operating system, which redesigns the software with a new Liquid Glass look, complete with transparent elements and a new look for all icons and user interface elements.

The camera also gets a boost with a new 48MP main lens that promises crisp and detailed pictures, and it's paired with a 48MP ultra-wide lens, which widens the shots without scaling back picture quality, according to Apple.

Selfies also get a boost with a front-facing centre stage camera that utilises a new sensor that lets you hold onto the device in a portrait orientation to take landscape-style selfies.

Elsewhere, you'll find a tougher Ceramic Shield 2 coating for three times better scratch resistance, and Apple now bonds this coating to the display glass at an atomic level. There's also a new seven-layer anti-reflectivity coating on the display glass, which should reduce pesky glare.

Interestingly, Apple won't be offering a Plus variant of its standard iPhone this year, leaving the iPhone Air with its 6.5-inch display to fill in this role. However, it is bumping the base storage up to 256GB.

The iPhone 17 is available in five finishes – White, Black, Sage, Misty Blue and Lavender – and it launches on the 19th of September, starting at £799 / $799 / AU$1399.

iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max

Apple has also uncovered its expected duo of Pro-series iPhones.

We'll start with the smaller of the two devices, which appears to be quite different from its processor. The Award-winning iPhone 16 Pro served up a stellar picture experience with its 6.3-inch OLED display, and the iPhone 17 Pro appears to carry that forward with a similarly specced display.

This year, the size remains the same, and it continues to support Dolby Vision HDR. Apple's ProMotion adaptive refresh rate technology also returns, which allows the display to adapt from 1Hz to 120Hz.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max scales up to a 6.9-inch display; however, the rest of the display specifications remain the same as the standard-sized iPhone 17 Pro.

Both devices feature an all-new aluminium unibody design, which is a interesting walk back on the titanium frames that Apple has championed for the last two generations of Pro-level iPhones.

According to Apple, this is all due to heat dissipation, which should result in better battery life and performance. The rear glass has also been swapped out for the new Ceramic Shield 2 material, which makes it more durable. Apple claims that this strategy has worked, as it allows for 39 hours of video playback on a single charge.

However, in a confusing twist made by Apple, that figure only relates to the eSIM-only models, with the traditional SIM-tray style devices dropping two hours of battery life.

The new design also incorporates a new "extended plateau" design, which is a raised bar that houses the camera system, which is comprised of three 48MP lenses, including an improved telephoto lens for even better zoom performance. This camera array allows users to record video in Dolby Vision HDR up to 120fps.

Inside the Pro and Pro Max is the new A19 Pro processor, which is set to allow for slicker day-to-day operation, AI interactions, and gaming performance. Base storage has also been increased to 256GB, with a new 2TB model available for those wanting to store unwieldy amounts of photos, music and movies.

The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max launch on the 19th of September, and come in three new shades: Silver, Deep Blue and Cosmic Orange. Pricing starts at £1099 / $1099 / AU$1999 for the 17 Pro, and £1199 / $1199 / AU$2199.

MORE:

Read our full iPhone 16 review

As well as our iPhone 16e review

And check out our picks for the best iPhones

It's official: the AirPods Pro 3 are finally here.

Apple has unveiled the next generation of its flagship wireless earbuds at its 'Awe dropping' event today, 9th September. The new AirPods Pro 3 succeed the five-star AirPods Pro 2, after three long years since they first launched.

We are promised "breakthrough audio performance", a refined design that promises better fit than before, longer battery life, and improved ANC that promises to be twice as effective as that on the Pro 2.

Apple says the AirPods Pro 3 promise a considerable step up in sound quality, including "breathtaking spatial listening". We are promised a sound that "brings vocals into stunning focus", along with transformed bass response, and a widened soundstage.

The Pro 3 feature a "custom multi-port acoustic architecture, which precisely controls the airflow that carries sound into the ear.”

In terms of active noise-cancelling, Apple is taking aim at Bose in wanting to offer the world's best ANC performance, with ultra-low noise mics and advanced computational audio claiming double the ANC quality as on the AirPods Pro 2.

Apple says the Pro 3 are four times as effective at eliminating noise compared with the original AirPods Pro.

We also get new foam-infused eartips to improve passive noise isolation.

Battery life has been extended, too. A single charge with ANC turned on gives you eight hours of battery life, up from six hours on the previous generation. This expands to 10 hours on a single charge when in transparency mode, which is especially useful for those using the AirPods as hearing aids.

The wireless earbuds themselves have been redesigned and reshaped to be better-fitting. Over 10,000 3D ear cans were analysed to optimise the fit, making them smaller than before.

The Pro are set to be the "most stable and best-fitting" AirPods ever, claims Apple, and they now come with five different sizes of eartips to help, including a new XXS size.

Water- and sweat-resistance has been updated to an IP57 rating, and there is a small sensor in the earbuds that senses your heart rate during workouts. The hotly anticipated live translation feature powered by Apple Intelligence has been introduced in the Pro 3, too.

The AirPods Pro 3 are available for pre-order now, with global shipping from 19th September. Most importantly, the price has remained the same at $249. Even better for those in the UK, the AirPods Pro 3 are going to cost lower than before, at £219.

The outgoing AirPods Pro 2 cost £229 / £249 / AU£399 at launch, so the new Pro 3's price being so competitive while its rivals are closer to £300/$300 is quite impressive.

MORE:

Read our full AirPods Pro 2 review

Our guide to the best wireless earbuds you can buy right now

Apple is gunning for Bose with the AirPods Pro 3, and I’m here for that battle

I'm hyped about the AirPods Pro 3 for 6 key reasons – starting with their price

The hour is finally upon us, after months of pre-launch rumours and an entire day summarising them in this very live blog, Apple’s fabled “Awe Dropping” event has finally started.

And on hand as promised, What Hi-Fi?'s team audio-visual experts are feverishly covering all the announcements to come out of it relevant to our hi-fi and home cinema aficionado readership live.

Keep track of all the news in the feed below and make sure to get involved with the conversation, dropping any questions you have for the team in the comments section. We’ll do our absolute best to get them answered ASAP.

Quick links

• Everything we expect from the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro
• All the latest AirPods Pro 3 rumours
• What we hope to see from the Apple HomePod Mini 2
• These are the current industry rumblings about the Apple AirPods Max 2
• Will there be a new Apple TV 4K 2025? Here’s a summary of the current rumours

What to expect from the iPhone 17

Apple events always come with some chaos factor. This has been part of the firm’s DNA since the Steve Jobs era, with the deceased co-founder and former CEO famously always having “one more thing” to show off at the firm’s launch events.

So, even with the sea of pre-event rumours and our knowledge of the firm’s previous release strategies to go off, we’re not ruling out at least one or two surprises coming out of the event. However, there are a few products we’re particularly convinced will appear.

The biggest is the firm’s newest iPhone 17 line of smartphones. Outside of rare exceptions, Apple has launched its new handsets in the same September window for as long as we’ve been covering them and we can’t see that changing this year, especially given current industry rumblings.

Why is that a big deal? Because if you jump to our best phones for music and movie fans you’ll see a lot of Apple handsets in the list.

Why? Because they tend to offer the best audio and picture quality year-on-year. That was certainly the case with the iPhone 16 Pro when we reviewed it, with its audio in particular making it the most musically minded options for serious fans who don’t fancy investing in a portable player.

However, the two biggest rumours we’ve heard relevant to our audience, don’t actually discuss the new handsets’ expected audio upgrades.

Instead they forecast potential price increases across the range. There are also growing rumours about a potential new foldable iPhone, sometimes referred to as the iPhone 17 Air to take on the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and for movie fans’ attention.

The AirPods Pro 3

The second product most Apple-watchers are predicting is a new set of AirPods Pro 3 wireless earbuds.

This move would make sense with Apple having launched the AirPods 4 with ANC alongside the iPhone 16 last September and its current AirPods Pro 2 are getting a little long in the tooth.

However, while many rumour mills are suggesting its a done deal with the AirPods Pro 3, be warned there are some naysayers with a strong track record predicting Apple release strategies saying they won’t appear at the event.

Analyst Jeff Pu suggests they may not come in 2025 at all, suggesting the firm may do a dedicated launch in 2026 for them.

Regardless of if they appear at the event, one thing the experts at What Hi-Fi? are confident of is that they will be an evolution, rather than rethinking, of the firm’s Pro earbuds line.

As our deputy editor Andy Madden, said earlier this year, we’re expecting a similar design with reworked internals, including a modernised wireless chipset, USB C charging and improved “digital ANC” – not a completely rethought product.

Will that be enough to compete in the increasingly accomplished market which has seen amazing new sets, including the five-star Technics EAH-AZ100 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen) launch in the past year?

We won’t know until the AirPods Pro 3 are actually unveiled and we get a chance to hear them. But considering Apple’s strong track-record in the market we can’t help but get a little excited to see new premium AirPods try.

What about the Apple HomePod Mini 2?

Cards on the table, many of the audio team at What Hi-Fi? want to see a new HomePod Mini as much as the rest of you – the original is a cute unit that fits the bill when it comes to feeding the need for more small, great sound audio hardware to help get people into hi-fi.

But, from what we’ve seen in the pre-release rumours and based on our conversations with our sources, it’s not clear cut if a HomePod Mini 2 will launch later today.

This leaves us slightly nervous as analysts have already made numerous predictions about the units prediction, only to subsequently be proven wrong. The biggest was when, usually on the money, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo wrongly predicted the unit would launch in the second half of 2024. Fool us once etc…

If it does appear, which some optimists still hope it will, there are numerous rumours about what upgrades it will have doing the rounds.

The only consistent ones are generally common sense, promising upgrades to a newer chipset (the same seen in the current generation Apple Watch), better WiFi 6E connectivity and the smattering of Apple Intelligence AI upgrades pretty much every new tech from the firm gets.

While we’d personally like to see some audio upgrades, given Apple’s tendency to keep information on things like the drivers used and nitty gritty of its designs under wraps we’re going to reserve judgment on any changes here until we actually see and hear one.

Meet the team covering the Apple launch

What about the AirPods Max 2?

The AirPods Max 2 have been rumoured for quite a while now, with Apple clearly happy to take its time releasing a truly second generation pair of premium, wireless, over-ear headphones.

The closest it has come was last year when it gave the original generation a minor spruce, adding USB C charging. Though often referred to as Max 2, these are technically just the originals modified, with Apple still referring to them as AirPods Max on its store.

For the actual, true second generation information is thin on the ground. Even the most optimistic reports we’ve seen suggest next year, or even 2027, as the most likely launch date for a true successor to the AirPods Max. We’re not expecting to see them at today’s event, as a result.

Will there be a new Apple TV?

The Apple TV 4K (3rd Gen) has long been the streaming box the What Hi-Fi? team recommends for buyers looking for the best movie and audio quality possible.

The reason why is simple, it offers superior performance that’s a cut above any of the, admittedly usually cheaper, Amazon, Roku or Google rivals we’ve tested it against.

But, it is getting a little old, which is why, despite rumours suggesting a new Apple TV won’t appear at the event, some of the team remain hopeful an upgrade will appear soon.

Sadly, concrete rumours about what specific upgrades a new box would bring remain vague at best, with the only semi-regular one being it will have an integrated camera and upgraded chipset.

We’d also expect some upgrades to its WiFi connectivity and potentially support for the newly announced Dolby Vision 2 / Max HDR standard, given Apple track record in the space.

But, like a lot of the pre-event rumours we’ll only know the precise details when and if Apple unveils a new Apple TV 4K 2025.

2 things we want, but 100 per cent won’t see tonight

We all have things we want in life that may never happen and right now there are two bits of Apple tech that fall into that category for the What Hi-Fi? Team.

The first comes from our TV and AV editor, Tom Parsons. Specifically, he’s been calling for Apple to make a proper Dolby Atmos soundbar for many moons now. And to be fair to him, while there are no rumours whatsoever indicating this is in the works, it makes sense.

Apple’s current HomePod 2 speakers have a stereo home cinema mode that lets two of them work in tandem with the Apple TV 4K to great effect. We even penned a feature detailing how well the setup works when we first reviewed the HomePod 2 at launch.

But, a proper dedicated soundbar focussed on delivering a home cinema experience first and foremost would be awesome – especially if it targeted the same top of the line, industry leading space currently ruled by the KEF XIO we tested earlier this year.

The second is one myself and senior staff writer, Lewis Empson, have long discussed: an actual Apple TV.

Apple has a strong track record with display tech, especially OLED, with its tandem OLED tech winning a What Hi-Fi? Award and being a key reason the current Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4) is the best tablet available for movie fans. So it would be great to see it take the same know how and use it to make a proper TV.

Sadly, like the Apple soundbar Tom wants, there are no rumours, even the vague kind, suggesting this is planned or even on the firm’s radar. At this rate we’re more likely to see a car or pair of glasses with Apple’s branding first.

Will we see the hotly rumoured HomePod with a screen?

Words by What Hi-Fi? contributor Esat Dedezade

If you’ve been anxiously refreshing this page all day to see if any new snippets may have leaked ahead of the Apple event, you will have noticed our previous speculation on the potential reveal of a new HomePod Mini 2.

Well, there’s plenty more hopium where that came from. What about an ultra-surprising, One More Thing reveal of the – wait for it – Apple HomePod with a screen?!

That’s right, the Apple rumour mill has long teased us with secretive whispers of a screen-toting HomePod smart speaker to rival the likes of the Amazon Echo Show 10 and co.

The possibilities are endless. You could see the weather at a glance! Your photos could be displayed for all the world to see.

Visible prices on your ill-advised crypto meme coins could be but a voice command away. But before you praise the Cupertino engineers for the graciousness, bear in mind that when we last covered this rumour, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman (who has a very reliable track record when it comes to Apple news and rumours), stated that the HomePod with screen could “... finally hit the market by the end of this year at the earliest…”

And if that doesn’t fill you with much confidence, he also stated that it remains “up in the air.”Now, are we going to sit here and categorically state that we definitely won’t see a HomePod with a screen make a surprise appearance tonight?

No. There’d be no fun in that.But as with most Apple rumours, it’s best to tentatively manage expectations and be happy with whatever ‘magical’ items do grace the stage. Not long to go now, at least…

The AirPods Pro 3 could be a damp squib if this rumour comes true

Words by What Hi-Fi? contributor, Joe Svetlik

Ever since the AirPods Pro 2 became the first Apple earbuds to earn five stars from us, our expectations have been high. All of a sudden, Apple could compete with the best wireless earbuds around!

Watch out, Sony and Bose! But earlier today I had my expectations dashed from a great height courtesy of Apple analyst Mark Gurman.

Why? He posted that the AirPods Pro 3 won’t feature any major upgrades to either noise cancellation nor sound quality.

Instead, we’ll get heart rate tracking courtesy of LED optical sensors. It’s thought to work just like the feature already found on the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 (which are also made by Apple).

Talk about disappointing.

The AirPods Pro 2 have very good sound quality and noise cancellation, even compared to more recent rival pairs. But they’re three years old now. The fiercely competitive world of wireless earbuds has moved on, and will only keep advancing.

If Apple keeps these buds on the shelves for three years – as it did with both previous models of AirPods Pro – they will be sorely lacking quite soon.

All hope is not lost. Previous rumours said the AirPods Pro 3 would have “much better” ANC than their predecessors.

And Gurman himself has said he expects a new H3 chip to feature, which could bring some modest upgrades to both sound and ANC.

But considering that Bose overhauled the ANC for its recent QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds (2nd Gen), and that Sony’s much anticipated WF-1000XM6 are said to be launching soon (probably with some serious improvements to core areas), I can’t see this move as anything other than a step backwards by Apple.

It could prove to be wrong, of course. But Gurman has a solid track record of Apple predictions. And it’s unlikely he would go on record just 24 hours before the launch with a statement he wasn’t 100 per cent sure about.We can but hope…

Our senior staff writer's hot take on our chances of seeing a new Apple TV 4K

Words by What Hi-Fi? senior staff writer, Lewis Empson

Will we see the Apple TV 4K (2025) today? I’m setting myself up for disappointment with today’s Apple Event.

My fingers are still crossed for a new 4K streamer, after Apple has left its previous model to gather dust for the last three years.The current version, that being the Apple TV 4K (2022), is still an exceptional streamer, and one that I’ve endorsed countless times.

I’ve even called it “comfortably the best streamer on the market”, which is a sentiment I stand by, and the Google TV Streamer did little to challenge its title.

That being said, a new model is at the top of my wishlist, and there have been plenty of rumours hinting towards a new model for many months now.

Reports of a new model with an updated processor sound logical to me, as the current model uses the same A15 Bionic processor that launched on the iPhone 13 series – for reference, we’re about to see the unveiling of the iPhone 17 series.

A speedier processor that’s compatible with Apple Intelligence would be a nice start, and that will likely carry some under-the-hood picture and sound improvements too.

The big question surrounds the recent announcement of Dolby Vision 2 and Dolby Vision 2 Max. Will Apple be the first to adopt the new HDR standard with the new version of its streamer? It’s certainly championed Dolby Vision on its iPhones, iPads and MacBooks, so it would make sense for the company to introduce the latest version to its streamers.

I’ve already gotten ahead of myself here, as the likelihood that Apple will disrupt its iPhone and AirPods showcase to give the Apple TV 4K any airtime is, realistically, very low.

There are mutterings of another Apple Event slated for later in the year involving iPads and Macs, which could be a better fit for the Apple TV 4K. As for now, I’m beginning to come to terms with the fact that a new Apple TV 4K being revealed in the next few hours is very unlikely (but not impossible).

Apple's event livestream is up and running with the firm playing a pre-made video showing off all its current hardware, including the HomePod and AirPods. We're hoping to get a look at the fabled AirPods Pro 3 nice and early in the keynote, so keep watching this space!

And the big man, Apple CEO Tim Cook has taken charge, doing an opening speech focussed on selling Apple's "design" focussed philosophy. He's also already confirmed there will be new AirPods related news as well iPhones as expected. Here's hoping we don't have to wait much longer for more details.

"AirPods are the best and most popular headphones in the world."

"The deliver a magical musical experience."

"Today we're building on our innovations in audio technology with the next generation of AirPods Pro"

Three quotes direct from Tim Cook.

Tim Cook has handed over to Apple VP hardware an engineering Kate Bergeron to tell us more.

Custom new acoustic architecture, designed for wider sound stage and better bass response.

New improved ANC with foam infused eartips for better isolation -- 2x better than the Pro 2 and 4x better than the original Pro earbuds according to her.

Apple claims they have "the best ANC of any in-ear headphones".

There's also Live Translation, powered by Apple intelligence. It can apparently be turned on with a simple hand gesture using their capacitive controls.

Improved fit is also a focus for the new earbuds -- they did 100k hours of "research" on ear shapes to improve their shape and new tip sizes (five to be precise). IP57 water resistance has also been confirmed for gym goers.

Apple Senior Director Julz Arney, has taken the keynote over to talk about the AirPods Pro 3's fitness features. These included in ear heartbeat tracking.

With just the AirPods Pro 3 you can track over 50 workouts as well as things like calories burned -- cool, but we'd like more about audio improvements...

And we have Kate back... Longer battery life, from six up to eight hours listening with ANC on. 10 hours with transparency.

So in summary:

New tip options.

8 hours listening with ANC (two hours more than the Pro 2).

$249 price tag available from September 19.

"World's best ANC" and improved "exceptional sound" -- sadly no details other than minor bits about better bass response and a wider sound stage.

IP57 water resistance certification and onboard fitness and heartrate tracking.

And if you're wondering what the "new" design, that took over 100,000 hours of research to make looks like, this is it...

We've now moved on to learn more about the Apple Watch, though once again the focus appears to be on fitness and health tracking.

Apple VP Stan Ng has taken stage to talk about Apple Watch Series 11, its "thinnest to date". Apparently atomic bonding techniques with the glass and metal make it 2x more scratch resistant. 5G connectivity has also been added. Watch OS26 is also included, which seems to have a new UI design and AI focus like its iOS counterpart. And as expected, loads and loads and loads of health tracking features.

We've now moved on to a new Apple Watch SE 3. There are still no updates on any audio improvements for it.

We all love health stuff, but here's some more pictures of the AirPods Pro 3. Do you think that looks like the result of 100,000 hours of research to improve the design?

Other than that we're back to a new Apple Watch Ultra. Swish, but still very fitness focussed.

All the new models set to launch on September 19. We are back to CEO Tim Cook, which hints we're about to get the big reveal...

Apparently iPhone set a new standard for the whole industry and "today we're raising the bar once again."

Four new models of the iPhone 17 have been confirmed. At first glance, they all look very iPhone-like.

More details incoming from Apple VP, Kaiann Drannce. Five colours; lavender, mist blue, black and sage.

All models, inculding the base iPhone 17 will have Promotion (120Hz / VRR).

3000 nits peak maximum brightness on the base model as well.

Ceramic Shield 2, which is 3x more scratch resistant is also included.

Seven layer anti-reflective coating is on board too -- nice for movie fans.

Also, A19 chipset with an upgraded Promotion engine and improved 16-core neural engine and more memory bandwidth for AI workloads. Also 2 performance and 4 efficiency cores and a five core GPU for graphics intensive tasks. Cool, but mostly for gamers. We're not getting any information on audio or home cinema improvements outside of the anti-reflective tone.

There's a promise of "all day battery" and much longer video playback, even with Promotion. 10 mins of charging also apparently gives you 10 hours of video playback. Useful for long train rides and plane rides!

Two lens main camera -- 48MP Fusion Ultrawide main and 12MP secondary macro on the base iPhone 17.

Apparently Apple fans took 500bn selfies last year. So they've made the front camera better, with a wider field of view and square sensor that's "twice the size" of the iPhone 16's front camera. This is cool, but again we're keen to learn more about audio upgrades and if the screen has been upgraded to feature things like better HDR support -- though the biggie, Dolby Vision 2/Max almost certainly won't appear on phones until next year at the earliest.

Seeing as it was only unveiled at IFA last week and we still don't know the names of which TVs will have it.

Apparently the front camera is called "Centre Stage".

The 6.3-inch, display with Promotion and a 3000nit peak brightness are the big news for home cinema fans. Hopefully we'll get to put it through its paces soon -- the iPhone 16 remains one of the best for mobile movie viewing at its level, based on our testing.

So, the iPhone Air is here, but it doesn't look like it's a foldable. Just really thin at 5.6mm...

Same Promotion screen tech and 3000nit peak brightness as the iPhone 17. But it's thinner and lighter.

Cool, but not as nice as the iPhone/iPad Mini hybrid pre-event rumours suggested for movie fans.

Even with the new A19 Pro chipset. 6-cores and "the fastest CPU in any smartphone", at least according to Apple.

The 5-core GPU also has a more AI, because that's what we need in our lives right now (3x the compute power, letting the Air offer Macbook level computing in a phone according to Apple).

There's also a new Apple wireless modem and chipset with WiFi 7 connectivity called the C1X.

No word on battery level, but Apple's calling it its most energy efficient iPhone to date.

Now onto camera tech...

48MP Fusion camera system onboard that "looks like a single sensor" setup -- even by Apple's admission.

Oh it's eSIM only! Apparently to improve battery... specifically helping it apparently offer "all day battery life".

There are also new add ons for the Air, including a magsafe battery pack which lets it offer over 40 hours of video playback.

There's also a magsafe rear case and bumper case for it.

Tim Cook is back and here to talk about the iPhone 17 Pro -- the follow up to the premium iPhone 16 Pro we've tested and recommend to premium buyers looking for a great handset for movies and music.

There's a new design and same A19 Pro seen on the Air. Here's a couple of pics!

Apple's describing it as the most powerful iPhone ever, helped by a new more thermally efficient design. The Thermal Management system has a vapour chamber designed to move heat away from the core components.

20x more efficient metal alloy for better thermals too. So all-in-all hopefully it doesn't overhear, even when binging Slow Horses.

40 per cent better performance than the 16 Pro is being quoted, which is great for gamers. But still no word on the AV bits we care about. Fingers crossed they come soon...

Nope, they're talking about a more rugged Ceramic Shield back and Ceramic Shield 2 front.

But the anti-reflective coating mentioned earlier for the iPhone 17 is confirmed.

It's also eSIM only.

Battery life is quoted as 39 hours of video playback. So enough for a trip to Australia

And we're back to camera specifications. On the front there;s an 18MP Centre Stage with a wider field of view and same atypical square design.

Three 48MP sensors on the back, all Fusion.

So if you want to MAKE movies, that's a bonus as we've also spotted Dolby Vision 4K recording, like past iPhones on the promotional material.

We've started getting our full news stories out for the AirPods Pro 3. But as an added bonus our senior staff writer has also penned a hot take detailing why these may be the Apple earbuds that tempt him away from his much loved Sony and B&W sets...

Here's our full news story on the Apple AirPods 3 Pro, detailing all the changes and new features!

Read the full story: AirPods Pro 3 launch with "breakthrough audio performance", improved ANC and longer battery life

So in summary, here are all of the iPhone 17 Pro's confirmed specifications...

And here's pricing for the new iPhones.

And that's a wrap! We've had the AirPods Pro 3 and iPhone 17 line of handsets (including the confusingly named new iPhone 17 Air). But no new HomePods or Apple TV hardware as expected. Stay tuned as we're typing up our full news stories and opening impressions and will drop them here ASAP!

Apple AirPods Pro 3

Starting off our summary of the event are the AirPods Pro 3. These were expected to appear at the event thanks to a steady stream of rumours in the run up to the show. And as expected by our team, including Apple soothsayer / deputy editor, Andy Madden, they are an evolution rather than revolution for the firm's Pro series of earbuds.

Key upgrades include new tip options (five to be precise), improved ANC, a tweak design based off "100,000 hours of research" designed to let them offer a better fit and seal and enhanced audio and ANC performance.

Read the full story: AirPods Pro 3 launch with "breakthrough audio performance", improved ANC and longer battery life

Despite not being a "huge" upgrade, the changes look very positive and have led to a positive opening reaction from many of our headphone and earbud reviewers. These include senior staff writer, Harry McKerrell, who penned a feature detailing why the AirPods Pro 3 are tempting him away from established rivals, where past Apple earbuds failed to.

Read the full story: I've never owned a pair of AirPods – but the AirPods Pro 3 could be about to change all that

All the details on the iPhone 17

As was expected and is the norm, Apple used its September event to unveil its latest smartphones. In this specific instance the new iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max and Air.

That's four new handsets.

The biggest changes to the base iPhone 17 are the addition of Apple's ProMotion 120Hz/VRR screen technology as well as upgraded silicon and a new 3000 nits peak brightness.

Above it the 17's Pro siblings come with more advanced, four sensor camera setups, more premium designs, larger batteries and a more powerful A19 Pro chipset. Not much word on audio upgrades on any of them, but Apple often keeps quiet on any changes its made here during its events.

Based on our experience reviewing new iPhones, were we directly compare old and new models, trust us when we say, that doesn't mean Apple hasn't made improvements.

Read the full story: Apple officially announces the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro with brighter OLED displays and massive battery life upgrades

The iPhone 17 Air was one of the bigger surprises of the event. Though rumours suggested one with the new naming would appear, the general consensus was that it would be a foldable, similar in kind to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7. Instead it's a thinner, admittedly very sleek variant of the 17.

Read the full story: The Apple iPhone Air promises the firm's advanced screen and audio tech in a thinner body

What wasn't at the event?

Despite lifting the lid on quite a lot of new hardware there were a few notable no shows at Apple's latest event.

The first was the Apple HomePod Mini 2 many of the What Hi-Fi? team have been hoping to see for well over a year, with the five-star original beginning to look a little long in the tooth.

After yet another year of disappointment at its absence, our senior staff writer, Harry McKerrell penned an oped detailing why he wants to see the Mini 2 appear sooner rather than later.

This includes a wishlist of some much need connectivity and general quality of life upgrades alongside the always welcome sonic improvements we look for...

Read the full story: Apple's 2025 event gave us some massive reveals – but there's one still one launch I'm gutted wasn't there...

Our TV and AV expert's hot take

Yes, we admit, for AV fanatics Apple's iPhone 17 line didn't have quite as much "meat" on the bones as we'd like when it came to cool new stuff to make movies sing.

But, as noted by our TV and AV editor, Tom Parsons, who has reviewed iPhones since they first became a thing, that doesn't mean they won't still be excellent, or feature some surprise upgrades Apple didn't mention during the event.

As we know having compared multiple new iPhone models to their predecessors over the years, Apple loves to surprise us... On top of that, based on our experience with the 16 line, even if the base 17 isn't a huge upgrade, it would still be a fantastic handset for movie watching given the current state of the market and upgrades Apple has mentioned already.

Read the full story: The iPhone 17 Pro looks great, but the standard iPhone 17's screen upgrades mean it’s probably all a cinephile needs

Sometimes incremental improvements are all you need

Tom wasn't alone with his believe that despite not changing loads, the iPhone 17's screen upgrades COULD still be a big deal, if they work in the real world when we get one into our viewing rooms. So much so that regular contributor, Joe Svetlik, has already started considering a potential upgrade...

Read the full story: The iPhone 17's 120Hz screen could finally convince me it's time to upgrade

Another no show for the new Apple TV 4K

One other key no show at this year's iPhone event was the hotly anticipated new Apple TV 4K many home cinema fans, including our senior staff writer, Lewis Empson, have been waiting for. And if you're like him, while the lack of a new model isn't surprising, it's still incredibly disappointing

Read the full story: Apple dodges upgrading its Apple TV 4K streamer yet again – I'm not surprised, but I am losing patience

Apple made some big claims about the new AirPods Pro 3's ANC

ANC is an area Apple has a good, but not the best track record at. In fact, if you talked to most pundits they'd probably rightly or wrongly think of Bose first when asked about the tech. But that didn't stop it making some big claims about the new AirPods Pro 3's ANC powers. Tim Cook went so far as to describe them as the "best ANC in-ear headphones" when it comes to ANC performance. Of course we'll check that claim when we review them. But should rivals be worried about Apple's bold claims? Here's what our deputy editor, Andy Madden, has to say on the topic as our resident wireless earbuds expert.

Read the full story: Apple is gunning for Bose with the AirPods Pro 3, and I’m here for that battle

Mark your calendar – Apple has officially announced its annual September launch event for Tuesday 9th September at 10AM Pacific Time (6PM BST / 3AM AEST the following day).

The event will stream live from the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park in Cupertino, combining in-person attendance with global broadcast access.

The event's “Awe dropping” strap provides very little to go on (beyond Apple’s usual hype, at least), though there’s little doubt that the new iPhone 17 series will be the star of the show.

Apple's autumn events have consistently served as the main platform for iPhone reveals since 2011, and this year's smartphone lineup is expected to include the standard iPhone 17 alongside the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max models.

Oh, and let’s not forget the rumoured iPhone 17 Air, described in various reports as Apple's thinnest iOS device to date, though nothing has been confirmed by the tech giant to date.

Beyond the shiny new handsets, we could potentially see the long-awaited next-generation flagship wireless earbuds, the AirPods Pro 3, make an appearance, alongside an updated HomePod Mini 2. Naturally, this is all hopeful speculation on our part, but there’s no harm in that – we look forward to finding out if any of these products are confirmed in two weeks.

The Apple Watch lineup also typically receives updates during September's launch event, with industry experts anticipating the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3.

Various reports have suggested potential new health monitoring features and processing improvements, though nothing has been officially confirmed.

And, well, that’s all we know for now. We’ve circled the date, and will keep an ear to the door of the incessant Apple rumour mill to bring you any more news or rumours in the run-up to the big day. Stay tuned.

MORE:

iPhone 17: price predictions, spec rumours and all the features we expect to see

iPhone 17 Air preview: everything we know so far about Apple's impossibly thin phone

AirPods Pro 3: everything we know so far and 5 features we want from Apple's next flagship wireless earbuds

When it comes to music streaming, Apple Music is my weapon of choice. Cheaper than Spotify, it features a much nicer interface and, most importantly, provides greatly improved audio quality with access to Dolby Atmos.

That's why I've stuck with it for more than 12 months now, despite being a serial switcher of streaming services. Overall, I have very few complaints as I find the service is constantly improving; there is one feature, however, that I wish Apple would borrow from Spotify.

Now, I should preface all this by saying that I am deep into the Apple ecosystem. I have an iPhone, iPad, Apple TV 4K and an Apple Watch, and generally speaking, I'm a huge fan of how everything is interconnected.

That being said, I feel as though I am hitting a roadblock when it comes to controlling my music on multiple devices. For example, I often use my iPad or Apple TV 4K to stream music, but sometimes I need to skip or pause the track, often when I'm busy doing something else.

This is where I often think of whipping my phone out to pause, or tapping my watch to skip to the next track instead of rummaging around for my Apple TV remote – only then to remember that Apple Music doesn't sync playback across all my devices.

In times like this, I am reminded why Spotify Connect is truly one of the best music streaming features around.

The synced cross-platform playback that shows universal media controls on the Spotify app, regardless of which device you're streaming on, is something I wish every music streaming app had, especially Apple Music.

The ability to play music on my streaming device, wireless speaker or even my PlayStation 5 and pause, skip or adjust the volume using my phone makes things so simple and easy.

Considering Apple puts such an emphasis on its connected ecosystem, I'm surprised that AirPlay hasn't seen progression similar to Spotify Connect. Admittedly, it is capable of streaming video, which is a huge bonus, but controlling AirPlay still feels a bit clunky compared to the slick and cohesive experience of swapping tracks on Spotify Connect.

Apple Music is set to get a handful of upgrades with the upcoming iOS 26 update coming to iPhones and iPads very soon, but no such feature was mentioned at WWDC earlier this year.

Spotify still remains on the back foot due to the lack of high-resolution music streaming, but when it comes to a slick wireless streaming experience, it takes the upper hand compared with Apple Music.

MORE:

Read our full Apple Music review

And check out our picks for the best music streaming services

As well as our list of the best wireless speakers

We're only about three weeks away from the iPhone 17 launch. Traditionally, price is one of the last nuggets of information to leak, and while Apple is pretty good at keeping its marketing materials under wraps until the big reveal, there's enough information to make a reasonable prediction.

Spoiler: it's not good news.

We're most probably looking at a price rise, which would be the first significant one for an iPhone – not including the SE range – since the iPhone 12. Here's why.

Raising the barrier to entry

Rumours are, of course, far from gospel. We've seen some wildly inaccurate ones over the years. But when a lot of them say the same thing, including some reputable sources with a good track record of being on the money, it's worth taking note.

That's what's happening now. While the list of those predicting a price rise does include some randoms on Weibo, it also encompasses market analysts like Counterpoint Research, accurate leakers like Instant Digital and established media like the The Wall Street Journal.

The most common one regarding price is that Apple will drop the 128GB model of iPhone Pro, starting the 17 Pro at 256GB. This would raise the starting price to £1099 / $1099 / AU$1999.

While not technically a price rise – you would pay the same for a 256GB iPhone 16 Pro today – it would still raise the barrier to entry.

Apple has previous with this. It did the same with the iPhone 15 Pro Max in 2023. So such a move seems likely for the iPhone 17 Pro. After all, who's buying a 128GB phone nowadays, especially one as well-specced as a Pro Max? Even with cloud storage, 128GB really is a paltry amount.

But there's potentially bad news for even those considering a non-Pro model of iPhone. Another rumour posits a $50 price rise across the range. Which would be the first 'proper' price rise since the iPhone 12 in 2020.

Brace yourselves, as we can see this coming to pass.

All rise?

It's worth noting that while the core iPhone range hasn't really increased in price since the iPhone 12, Apple is by no means a stranger to price rises.

Last year's iPad Pro M4 launched at £50 / $200 / AU$200 more than the model it replaced, though it did add an OLED screen. Prices for Apple's AirPods have stayed in line in recent years, but the price of Apple's more affordable iPhones have crept up.

The first iPhone SE launched in 2016 at £399 / $399, which stayed the same for the second-gen model in 2020. This increased to £429 / $429 for the third-gen SE in 2022. But this year's iPhone 16e raised it to £599 / $599 / AU$999.

That's hardly budget by most standards. But then with the levels of inflation we've seen in recent years, the definition of 'budget' has changed. Everything has become more expensive. Really, it's amazing we've not seen a similar increase to the core iPhone range.

2020 was a long time ago, after all. Boris Johnson was Prime Minister, Netflix's Tiger King was the talk of the town, and everyone was struggling to adjust to the 'new normal'. It was like a different world.

Apple is also rumoured to introduce a new iPhone 17 Air model in September. Any change to the existing lineup will come with significant research and development costs, which again, suggests a price rise is on the cards.

Certain of uncertainty

Then there's the shadow of US tariffs that loom large over any discussion of price.

To say the situation is a little confusing would be understating it. Apple has recently invested over $500 billion into the US in a bid to avoid tariffs. CEO Tim Cook even presented President Trump with a little statue.

Even if the plan works and Apple doesn't have to pay the tariffs, it's unlikely to just suck up that hit of a half billion dollars. Sonos recently announced it would rise prices on some products later this year, due to tariffs hitting its production hubs of Vietnam and Malaysia. So all tech companies are feeling the effects.

But with tariffs being repeatedly paused and changed, the only certainty businesses have is uncertainty. Which is something they really don't like.

Prepare to pay more

It's been a good run. The fact that the base level iPhone has remained at £799 / $799 since the days of Bad Boys For Life lighting up the box office is really quite staggering.

But all the signs are there. Global economic turmoil, price rises elsewhere, plus Apple's own recent product history all point to the iPhone 17 costing more than its predecessor.

We'll find out for sure next month.

MORE:

Check out all the iPhone 17 rumours

What we know so far about Apple's rumoured folding iPhone

And the best smartphones around

A couple of days ago, I was doing some housekeeping on my iPhone 15 Plus, namely catching up on the 120 app updates I’d been putting off for the past week (does anyone else do this?) when something on the Apple App Store caught my eye.

It was an advert to watch the trailer for F1 The Movie on the Apple TV app. Now, normally, I tend to stay away from trailers – especially anything longer than around a minute. The modern trailer gives away so much of the plot, there’s hardly any point going to the cinema. But that’s a rant for another day.

The interesting thing about the F1 film trailer was that it was being advertised as a ‘haptic trailer’. That’s right, Apple has used the Taptic Engine within its iPhones (the components that create haptic feedback) to showcase the movie by adding vibrations to run in time with the on-screen action, and add an extra dimension to your viewing experience.

So, I decided to take it for a spin. Did it rev my engine enough to venture out to the local multiplex, or did it leave me feeling as deflated as a punctured Pirelli?

Start your (Taptic) Engines

To watch the F1 The Movie haptic trailer, all you need is an iPhone running iOS 18.4 or later and, of course, the Apple TV app installed too.

Before I pressed play, I was slightly concerned it was going to feel like a gimmick, but to be honest, I was really impressed.

After all, as my colleague and Senior Staff Writer Lewis Empson pointed out to me, Sony has offered a similar kind of feature on some of its older Xperia smartphones called Dynamic Vibration, which, according to Sony, adds “synchronized vibration when you watch videos or listen to music on your device”.

Whether it could handle this trailer in the same manner, I’m not sure, as it feels as though Apple has mapped the action to the taptic engine with superb precision.

As Brad Pitt’s car engine is fired up in the pit lane, there’s the initial high rev, and the Taptic Engine jumps into action as the car’s engine barks into life. There’s a nice dynamic contrast between the short, sharp vibration as Pitt’s character selects a gear and the prolonged vibration from the tyres as his car screeches out of the pit garage onto the pit lane.

And it’s when the action moves out onto the track that I think this brings the experience into its own. The speed of the haptics, the speed of the car and the driver’s eye view, combined with the fact you’re watching and holding the phone in landscape, like a steering wheel, in my opinion at least, make it feel really engaging.

The iPhone and the way you hold it in landscape is the perfect way to showcase a feature designed to work with a movie where there’s a lot of driving action. Some elements leave you feeling as if you’re about to play an F1 racing game on a PS5 or Xbox.

The speed of the Taptic Engine's response, the variations in intensity and its ability to match up with the action perfectly kept me glued to my screen.

A good example of this is the brief clip where Brad Pitt is weaving his way through traffic. You get a fantastic sense of speed from the power of the vibrations, while the slight feeling of judder under braking adds a different but believable sensation.

What really impressed me was the speed and precision of the haptic effects. Any delay and it would feel like the physical version of lip-sync errors when you’re watching TV, when the sound doesn’t match up to actors’ voices.

In this case, it would be a delay between the vibrations and the on-screen action, but the vibrations always seem to hit their mark here. They seem to start and stop with impressive precision – I’d be interested to know exactly how Apple went about implementing the tech to work in such a slick way.

One small observation is that I’m sure that wearing headphones (in this case a pair of Sony WH-1000XM6) helps lock you in even more. Using just the iPhone’s speakers, I don’t think you’re drawn in quite as much.

So, did it make me want to rush out and see the film? It certainly made me feel excited about it, so in that respect, I suppose it’s job done. The big question is, would I want to watch the whole two hours and thirty-six minutes with my iPhone and fingers vibrating? Probably not.

I don’t think consuming content and getting haptic feedback from a smartphone is going to be the next big thing or change how we consume movies, but as a marketing exercise, it fits the brief pretty perfectly from where I’m standing.

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I've been reviewing TVs for 18 years, and there's one model I recommend over and over again

The Technics hi-fi system I use every day – and wholeheartedly recommend – is back down to a great price

The 10 most valuable records sold on Discogs last month

Step away from your favourite streaming service, push the cumbersome and costly vinyl revival to one side, and forget your feelings for the comeback of CDs (and cassette tapes?) for one moment, because the best music format ever conceived, in my opinion, is the MiniDisc.

Back in 1992 – shoehorned in a timeline between CDs overtaking vinyl sales and the introduction of MP3 – Sony perfected portable audio two whole decades before digital downloads and streaming dominated the market.

The MiniDisc – or 'MD' for short – was a bold leap: a 64mm magneto-optical disc encased in a protective caddy. Capable of holding up to 80 minutes of CD-rivalling sound in something smaller than a square stack of sticky notes, I was smitten.

Emanating from Japan, the Sony MiniDisc used ATRAC (Adaptive Transform Acoustic Coding), a compression algorithm that shaved data to fit digital audio into a compact form without sacrificing too much fidelity.

To my young ears, it was magic – digital clarity without the bulk of CDs, plus the ability to record, edit, and rearrange tracks like a cassette, but with precision and speed.

Indeed, you could make digital mixtapes, and boy, was it liberating – manually entering playlist names and track titles with a jog dial so they would appear on an LCD display during playback.

You haven’t lived until you’ve found a live recording of a Reading Irish Centre drum and bass rave on LimeWire and ripped it to one of Sony’s sexy little musical Post-it notes... believe me.

It wasn’t all DIY, and it wasn’t all Sony. Just as rival brands produced blank cassette tapes and CDs, the likes of TDK, JVC, Sharp and Maxell soon got in on the act. Pre-recorded MiniDisc albums were released by the world’s biggest artists, including Michael Jackson, Madonna, Mariah Carey, Massive Attack, and other acts that didn’t start with ‘M’.

A MiniDisc’s tiny footprint also made it a retailer’s and record store owner’s dream. Why pay for all that prime commercial real estate to house a considerable record collection when a tobacco booth would be enough to stock pretty much every major release going, along with the odd under-the-counter bootleg?

The real fun, though, was the kit. Not only was there an exciting new hi-fi separate to add to your stack, but the personal players came in all shapes, sizes and colours, allowing you to express individuality with something that would fit in your back pocket. Car stereo head units? You bet, and you could be brand agnostic, too.

I remember religiously saving my Saturday job money and persuading my dad to take out a hire purchase agreement at Reading's B&B Hi-Fi for the most beautiful royal blue Sony MZ-R50 you’ve ever seen.

Sitting behind glass at the main counter, it was a moment akin to the 1994 Fender Stratocaster scene in Wayne’s World 2, just with less hair. Thanks, Dad.

A couple of years later, my sister, living in Tokyo at the time, picked up a stunning silver Panasonic SJ-MJ75 complete with Japanese packaging (which instantly makes anything cooler). Not only was it half the size of the Sony, barely bigger than a MiniDisc itself, but even in today’s money, I can’t get over how featherweight this thing was.

At 86g, we’re talking half the weight of an iPhone 15, thanks to the magnesium body. Its showpiece was an in-line remote control which you could toggle between backlit and transparent. In 1997, this felt like witchcraft. Cheers, Sis.

It’s no surprise that from there, my MiniDisc world quickly grew. I bankrupted myself for a second time in my teens, adding a Technics SJ-HD501 deck to my Technics SC-81 Mini System, complete with faux wood veneer sides for that extra touch of class.

My Vauxhall Nova was treated first to an Alpine MDA-7763J bought second-hand from a rather rugged-looking chap on a notorious Basingstoke housing estate. It broke soon after. I didn’t go back.

I then bankrupted myself for a third time, switching it for a brand spanking new Pioneer MEH-9100R (see above video), complete with organic OEL display, auto flap front panel, and moving racing car graphics for cool people only.

A MiniDisc hoarder’s best friend was a digital optical cable (TOSLINK). Crucial because it enabled high-quality, lossless digital audio transfer between devices, like from a PC’s sound card to a MiniDisc recorder.

This preserved the original sound quality without degradation, unlike analogue connections, which could introduce noise or signal loss. It was especially important for home decks and professional recorders to ensure accurate recordings and playback, leveraging MiniDisc’s digital format.

MiniDisc’s brilliance lay in its versatility and charm. Unlike CDs, which skipped at the slightest jolt, MiniDiscs were robust, with anti-shock buffers that made them perfect for on-the-go listening. The discs were rewritable, letting me record over old mixes without the permanence of CD-Rs or the hiss of cassettes.

The discs, with their colourful cases and mechanical shutters, felt like miniature treasures, and the format fostered creativity, too. Recording live gigs or radio broadcasts was a breeze, and editing tracks on the fly felt like wielding a studio console. Japanese journalists continued to swear by the format as solid-state recorders until the 2010s.

Yet, for all its brilliance, the MiniDisc stumbled. Its decline began almost as soon as it arrived, rooted in timing, cost, and competition. In 1992, the MiniDisc was expensive — players cost hundreds, and blank discs were £5–10 each, a tough sell when CDs were cheaper and cassettes dirt-cheap.

The real blow came in 1998 with the MP3 revolution. The Diamond Rio PMP300, one of the first portable MP3 players, hit the market, and by 2001, Apple’s iPod redefined portable audio.

MP3s were free (if you pirated them), infinitely shareable, and didn’t require physical media. I resisted at first. MP3 players looked hideous, and iPods were heavy, plus the decision fatigue of 1,000 songs in my pocket only served to reduce satisfaction.

While Sony and Sharp pushed MiniDisc hard in Japan (where it thrived into the 2000s), Western support waned, and UK retailers like HMV prioritised MP3 players. Hi-MD’s 2004 launch was a valiant effort, but it was too late – hard drives and flash memory were cheaper and more convenient.

By 2011, Sony ceased MiniDisc player production, and in 2013, the last blank discs rolled off the production line.

Collectors still trade discs on eBay, and Japan’s niche market keeps the format alive. Independent labels and artists continue producing limited-run MiniDiscs for collectors, often announced on Bandcamp or during MiniDisc Day events, but in truth, a revival on the scale of CDs, cassette tapes, and vinyl isn’t on the cards.

MiniDisc’s failure wasn’t about quality – it was about ecosystem and timing. Sony’s obsession with proprietary tech alienated users, and the format couldn’t compete with the convenience of file-based audio.

Despite its demise, the MiniDisc left an indelible mark. It bridged analogue and digital, teaching us that audio could be portable, editable, and high-quality. It paved the way for modern streaming and playlist culture – every Spotify mix owes a debt to the MiniDisc’s track-editing wizardry.

Having been there, done that, and bought the T-shirt (yes, I own one), my life was richer for the experience.

MORE:

When MiniDisc took on the mighty cassette: What Hi-Fi? magazine, January 1993

13 heroic tech failures, from Betamax to HD DVD

That Was Then... Apple iPod review

Apple's annual Worldwide Developer Conference, or WWDC as it is more commonly known, took place last night, and it was certainly eventful.

The tech titan announced that it would be unifying its entire product offering with a consistent software approach across everything from iPhones to Apple TV 4K, and even the Apple Watch.

Current version numbers have been scrapped, meaning every product runs a new "26" version of their respective operating system; for example we now have iOS 26, iPadOS 26 and tvOS 26.

The biggest change, however, is the introduction of "Liquid Glass", a design ethos that spans all of Apple's hardware. It refines the user experience with a new translucent look, features slicker transitions, and aims for a more immersive experience overall.

While there were plenty of other interesting announcements, including upgrades to Apple Intelligence and a new gaming hub on iPhone, the presentation was unquestionably light on AV, music and home cinema announcements.

We had hoped to see more updates for the Apple TV 4K, HomePod range, AirPods lineup and Apple's services, but that didn't appear to be Apple's priority.

With our WWDC 2025 wishlist now in tatters, here are the things we were hoping to see revealed last night, but ultimately didn't get:

1. Any new hardware

Apple doesn't always announce new products at WWDC, but when it does, it does so in style. It took WWDC 2023 as an opportunity to launch Apple Vision Pro, while WWDC 2022 saw a flashy, upgraded MacBook Air make a debut.

Unfortunately, there was no mention of any new hardware at WWDC 2025, which is a shame, as a couple of key AV products are long overdue for an update.

The HomePod Mini is the first that springs to mind, as it's fast approaching its fifth anniversary; that's practically geriatric by Apple standards. While the existing Mini is a gem of a smart speaker – not to mention a four-time What Hi-Fi? Award-winner – it would be nice to see a refreshed model with even better performance, and maybe even a few new colours.

The other key Apple product that could do with a refresh is the Apple TV 4K, which is coming up on three years old. Once again, the existing Apple TV 4K is a great streamer, in fact, it's the best streaming device on the market, but we wouldn't say no to an update.

As evidenced by the upgrade from the second generation to the third generation model, the picture and sound performance tends to improve every time, even if there doesn't appear to be many changes on paper. We can only dream of what a fourth-generation model could offer, though rumours suggest that one is on the way.

Rumours and speculation are never enough for us, though, and Apple didn't even drop a crumb of evidence that a new HomePod or Apple TV 4K is on the way.

2. Big changes to Apple Music and Apple TV+

Apple's services were also sidelined at this event, aside from a few minor changes coming to Apple Music.

Lyrics translation is coming with iOS 26, meaning you can sing along to your favourite international pop hits without putting hundreds of hours into Duolingo. AutoMix is set to transition your current track into the next seamlessly, and you'll also be able to pin your favourite tracks, playlists and artists to the top of the Apple Music app for easy access.

That's about it, not counting the new "Liquid Glass" look to the app, which will presumably be locked to Apple devices.

It would have been nice to see some highly requested features, such as a button to download your full music library, or even higher quality streaming to match the likes of Qobuz and Tidal.

Apple TV+ didn't receive much attention either, though there are some nice poster-style artwork options for Apple's original programming. We would have liked to see a proper watchlist feature separated from the Up Next section, and a bigger design refresh wouldn't have gone amiss either, especially after Amazon Prime Video and Netflix's recent updates.

3. The big tvOS update

Ahead of last night's livestream, there were murmurs of a revolutionary tvOS update that would see the biggest shift in design and functionality since it launched in 2015.

While rumours should always be taken with a liberal pinch of salt, we couldn't help but be a bit disappointed when we found out that this design upgrade was merely a few transparent elements and a profile selection screen.

tvOS 26 looks remarkably similar to the currently available tvOS 18, and there aren't that many new features or usability tweaks to show for it either, aside from the ability to set an AirPlay-enabled wireless speaker as your permanent default audio output.

The good news is, of course, that tvOS is one of the best (if not the best) streaming-based operating services around, so we're not angry, just disappointed.

MORE:

Apple announces iOS 26 with a new "Liquid Glass" design and an upgraded Apple Music app

Read our full Apple iPhone 16e review

As well as our Apple AirPods Pro 2 review

September has become synonymous with new iPhone launches – and this year’s announcement could see the arrival of an entirely new model.

Rumours are rife that Apple is preparing to launch a new ultra-thin iPhone, much as Samsung has done with its new Galaxy S25 Edge.

So just how thin could it be? And what compromises might Apple have to make to achieve it? We’ve combed through all the latest speculation and summed it up for you below.

• iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: which should you buy?
• The iPhone 16e's downgrades are in all the right places if movies on the move are your priority
• iPad Air M3 vs iPad Pro M4: what's the difference?

iPhone 17 Air: Release date speculation

Until the iPhone 17 Air (a pretty solid prediction for what it will be called given the use of the ‘Air’ name in Apple’s other products) is officially announced, any suggested release date is purely speculation. Having said that, you can practically set your watch by Apple’s iPhone launch schedule, so we can at least attempt to narrow it down somewhat.

Five of the past six iPhone launch events have happened in the first half of September (between the 7th and 14th), with only 2020’s iPhone 12 coming later due to disruption caused by the Covid pandemic that swept the world in that year.

With reports suggesting that Apple will start to split its launches across two periods, and with this being a new entry into the iPhone range, it could be that the Air model is held back for 2026 – but the expectation is that this new spring window will be for cheaper models such as the iPhone 16e.

iPhone 17 Air: Price predictions

It’s fair to assume that the Air would slot into the iPhone range in the same way that the iPad Air and MacBook Air fit into their respective product line-ups: right in the middle.

That will leave the iPhone Pro (and its larger Max variant) at the top of the range, with the Air coming in slightly cheaper, and the standard iPhone remaining as the most affordable option of the most recent generation. A cheaper 17e model would be unlikely to appear until further down the line (possibly as part of the aforementioned spring release).

In terms of actual prices, specific numbers would be pure speculation right now, particularly given the uncertainty caused by recent tariff changes in the US. Donald Trump has recently threatened to charge Apple a 25 per cent tariff on any iPhones sold in the US that are made outside the country (Apple has recently shifted production of the majority of its US-bound phones from China to India).

When the iPhone 16 launched last year, prices were generally the same as they were for the iPhone 15 (in Australia they actually went down), but it wouldn’t be a surprise to see them rise this time round.

As a rough guide, here are the prices for the current iPhone range:

iPhone 17 Air: Design and build

The Air name implies lack of weight rather than thinness, but ever since Steve Jobs unveiled the original MacBook Air by removing it from a manila envelope the main selling point of Apple’s Air products has been just how impossibly skinny they are.

Various rumours have the iPhone 17 Air pegged to measure between 5mm and 6.25mm thick, but, with a camera bump expected to be part of the design, chances are it won’t be a uniform thinness from top to bottom.

Wherever in that spectrum it might land, it would still be the thinnest iPhone ever made, a title that’s currently held by the 6.9mm iPhone 6, and around 2mm thinner than the current iPhone 16 Pro (above).

The iPhone 6 was released more than a decade ago, though, and handsets have increased in size since then as manufacturers have had to find space for bigger screens, more capable cameras, and higher-capacity batteries to power them.

It seems inevitable that some compromises will have to be made to achieve such a slimline chassis. The suggestion is that a titanium-aluminium alloy will be used to keep the weight down to around 145g.

iPhone 17 Air: Display

There are some minor disagreements when it comes to the rumoured size of the iPhone 17 Air’s screen, with some saying it will be a 6.6-inch OLED and others suggesting it will come in at a slightly larger 6.7-inches.

The former would put it in between the current iPhone Pro Max and the standard iPhone (above). This works in terms of its position in the range – but, with such a small margin between the two, either would seem equally plausible.

What most reports do agree on is that it will have 120Hz ProMotion display technology and offer an always-on mode, with a Dynamic Island to house the Face ID sensors. Some analysts, however, disagree on whether that will remain unchanged from the iPhone 16 range.

Jeff Pu has suggested that the Dynamic Island could be made smaller on the Pro Max, but Ming-Chi Kuo believes that it will remain “largely unchanged” across the entire iPhone 17 line-up.

There have also been some speculative suggestions that the iPhone 17 Air could use an entirely new screen technology in order to achieve the necessary thinness. Back in October 2024, DigiTimes reported that Apple would be one of the first companies to buy screens that use TDDI technology, which combines the touch and display layers. Sounds ideal for a new super-thin iPhone, right?

iPhone 17 Air: Specs and features

Each new iPhone generation comes with a new chip to power it – and the iPhone 17 Air is expected to be no different.

Apple will introduce its new, more powerful A19 processors with the iPhone 17 range and as usual it will comprise two different chips: the A19 and A19 Pro. The iPhone 17 Air is expected to pair 8GB of RAM with the standard A19, which makes sense for a couple of reasons.

First, the Pro version of the chip tends to be reserved for the Pro version of the phone (the clue’s in the name), and with the slim chassis meaning there is less room for the battery – one leak suggests it will have a capacity of just 2800mAh – a less power-hungry chip would be required to make it last as long as possible between charges.

That might sound paltry – for context the battery inside the new 6.7-inch Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge, which measures 5.8mm thick, is 3900mAh and lasts about a day – but there are multiple reports that Apple will use a new type of higher-density silicon-anode battery technology to make it last longer than the raw numbers would suggest.

There is a suggestion that a case with a built-in battery will also be available, but surely even the most ardent Apple fan wouldn’t buy a phone that’s USP is thinness and then make it fatter with a case.

The iPhone 17 Air could also see a couple of changes in terms of connectivity. For starters it’s expected to ditch the physical SIM tray in favour of an eSIM. That might seem like a minor change but it will help to free up more crucial space within the chassis, while it could also be the only model in the iPhone 17 range to use Apple’s own C1 modem, which is currently found only in the 16e (above).

iPhone 17 Air: Cameras

The biggest compromise looks to be made when it comes to the iPhone 17 Air’s camera.

Smartphone buyers have grown accustomed to handsets with multiple lenses crammed onto the back, but a recent video posted on X by known leaker Majin Bu shows just a single camera on the back of the iPhone 17 Air.

Most Apple tipsters expect this single camera to be a 48MP job, the same as you currently get on the iPhone 16 Pro, with a 24MP one on the front.

iPhone 17 Air: Early verdict

We’re still a little way away from the expected reveal of the iPhone 17 Air, but with every new leak a clearer picture of what it could look like is starting to appear.

While the exact dimensions won’t be known for certain until it is made official at Apple HQ, it seems certain that we’ll be shown the thinnest iPhone ever made. But will it come at the expense of its camera capabilities and battery life?

We should know for sure in early September.

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The Apple TV 4K could see its biggest software update yet with the introduction of tvOS 19. The streamer is getting its first big user-interface overhaul since the platform launched, according to a report.

Apple is set to hold its annual WWDC (Worldwide Developer Conference) on the 9th of June, where we will presumably see the next iteration of Apple's software ecosystem, which includes iOS, iPadOS and, most relevant here, tvOS.

Despite the conference not happening for another two weeks, an early report from a reputable Apple insider could hint at what we can expect from tvOS 19.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who has correctly predicted numerous Apple launches in the past, including the iPad Pro M4 release, says that the new version of Apple’s smart TV user interface will see a major design overhaul, which will reportedly be influenced by its Vision Pro mixed reality headset.

Gurman states that “the new look is slicker and more modern.” The development name “solarium“ could suggest a “more translucent, glass-like interface, potentially featuring depth effects and adaptation to ambient lighting or other environmental cues,” according to FlatpanelsHD.

Notably, this will be the Apple TV's first operating system overhaul since tvOS launched on the 2015 Apple TV HD.

And it's not just tvOS that is supposedly getting a design overhaul; we could also see these changes reflected on Apple's iPhone and iPad operating systems.

Keep in mind that these claims are pre-release, and that they should be taken with a pinch of scepticism. As we know, nothing is official until Apple makes the announcement itself, and a lot can change behind the scenes between now and WWDC.

This news comes hot on the heels of Google's Android TV 16 announcement, which appears to be a modest upgrade over the existing version of Google TV with a minor design change at its core.

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Read our full Apple TV 4K (2022) review

As well as our Google TV Streamer review

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The iPhone 16e marks quite the departure from Apple’s previous budget phones.

The last iPhone SE, which came out during the reign of the iPhone 13 series, had a smaller, lower-resolution screen than all of the ‘proper’ iPhones and was the only one without HDR. It had a shorter battery life, too.

It was still good for the money, but the iPhone SE rather gave off my-first-iPhone vibes, and it was a serious downgrade if watching movies was a priority.

The iPhone 16e is very different. It has an HDR OLED display that’s the same size as that of the iPhone 16, and with an identical pixel density. And battery life is, in fact, better than the iPhone 16’s.

Sacrifices have been made, of course, but they’re in all the right places if your priorities align with ours – and the performance bears that out.

Price

iPhone 16e prices start at £599 / $599 / AU$999. That gets you 128GB of internal storage, but 256GB (£699 / $699 / AU$1199) and 512GB (£899 / $899 / AU$1549) versions are also available.

Each version of the iPhone 16e is £200 / $200 / AU$400) cheaper than the equivalent iPhone 16.

That pricing is rather unusual, in that it sits below the cheapest premium phones from other brands (there’s no Samsung Galaxy S25 at this level, for example) but doesn’t drift into the genuine cheap smartphone category in which you will find the Award-winning Sony Xperia 10 VI (£349 in the UK but not available in the US or Australia).

Design

The 16e is immediately recognisable as a modern iPhone, but there are some obvious design differences between it and the standard iPhone 16.

The most obvious of these is the camera. We’re so used now to seeing bug-eye arrays of lenses on the back of our phones that the iPhone 16e’s single lens makes the rear of the phone look a bit naked.

That rear is glass, like the iPhone 16’s, but it isn’t ‘colour-infused’. In fact, the iPhone 16e isn’t available in any colours: you can only choose between black and white.

The phone’s surround is aluminium, again like the iPhone 16’s, but the finish is light silver regardless of whether the main body is black or white.

All told, our white sample looks really crisp and smart, and certainly far from cheap.

The front of the phone features Ceramic Shield technology, though seemingly of an older design than is used on the iPhone 16. The IP68 rating remains, however, and means the iPhone 16e is waterproof down to 1m for up to 30 minutes.

Given that the iPhone 16e’s screen is almost identical in size to that of the iPhone 16, it’s little surprise that the two phones are almost identical in terms of overall dimensions. The 16e is around a millimetre less tall than the 16 and a gnat’s whisker less wide, and there’s just 3g of difference in weight. Depth is an identical, and very svelte, 7.8mm.

Features

The iPhone 16e’s screen is a 6.1-inch OLED affair with a resolution of 2532 x 1170. That’s actually a few pixels shy of the iPhone 16’s 2556 x 1179 thanks to the slightly different profile of the phones’ corners, but side-by-side, the screens appear identical in size.

Pixel density is the same 460ppi (pixels per inch) and, like its more premium siblings, the iPhone 16e supports all four major HDR formats: HLG, HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision.

However, while the 16e has the same claimed contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1 as the other iPhone 16 models, its peak brightness is lower: 1200 nits in HDR compared with 1600 nits for the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro.

Also, unlike the other iPhone 16 models, the 16e isn’t able to further boost brightness in very bright, outdoor lighting. This is definitely something to bear in mind, and we’ll come back to it in the picture section.

The iPhone 16e’s screen also differs from those of the other iPhone 16 models in that it has an old-school notch rather than the Dynamic Island. Truthfully, while the Dynamic Island occasionally presents some neat contextual touches, such as teeny tiny album artwork when playing music, it doesn’t feel essential, and it’s no less intrusive than a notch when watching movies.

Powering the iPhone 16e is the same A18 chip that you’ll find in the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, but while it has the same number of CPU cores (six) and Neural Engine cores (12), the iPhone 16e has four GPU cores compared with the iPhone 16’s five and 16 Pro’s six.

That ‘missing’ GPU core makes the iPhone 16e slightly less powerful when it comes to intense graphical challenges, but it has no trouble with any of the games we throw at it during testing. You’ll likely only feel the difference in games and apps that appear in the coming years, so how much this deficiency matters to you will really depend on how long you tend to keep your phones.

In day-to-day use, it’s the CPU that matters most, so it’s little surprise that we find the iPhone 16e performs just as snappily as the iPhone 16 when navigating the OS and switching apps.

As mentioned, the biggest, most obvious downgrade for the iPhone 16e is to the camera system, but it’s surprising how little difference this makes for much of the time.

While the 16e does without the 16’s 12MP ultrawide camera, it has the same 48MP ‘Fusion’ main camera, and most of the daylight shots we take using both phones during testing are exceptionally alike.

The iPhone 16 pulls out a little more shadow detail, but for general contrast, sharpness, detail and colours, all of the photos could have been taken by either phone.

The subjects of portrait shots are a little more softly defined by the iPhone 16e than the iPhone 16, which uses its ultrawide camera for increased depth recognition, but they still look lovely.

But it’s nighttime shots that are most different, with the 16e digging up way less information than the iPhone 16. It’s still more than good enough to document all of the sordid details of a night out, but if you’re serious about dark photography, the iPhone 16e might not be for you.

Ditto if you’re into snapping insects or flowers: without that Ultra Wide lens, the iPhone 16e doesn’t have a proper macro photography mode.

Picture

We start our picture testing with Alex Garland’s excellent Civil War in Dolby Vision from the Apple TV app, and the results are very much in line with what we’ve come to expect from Apple’s smartphones.

The picture is beautifully sharp, detailed and vibrant, just as this film is supposed to be. In the hugely tense scene in which the team of journalists crosses the path of an unhinged, racist militia member (played to chilling perfection by Jesse Plemons), the iPhone 16e does a great job of crisply defining the terrified characters against the lush, bright landscape behind them, and of revealing their fear and shock in the close-ups of their faces.

The red of the militiaman’s bizarre glasses is brilliantly vivid, and while it’s true that there’s a little red oversaturation in general when compared against the iPhone 16, the small amount of extra rosiness the iPhone 16e occasionally adds to skin tones isn’t unpleasant and never looks unnatural.

Switching to Alien: Romulus, again in Dolby Vision via the Apple TV app, we find to our surprise that the iPhone 16e is actually a little more strident in the depth of its blacks than the iPhone 16 is.

That makes for an even more solid and contrasty appearance, but it does come at a cost to shadow detail. When watching in a dimly lit room, the iPhone 16e still digs up plenty of picture information from the dark corridors of the Renaissance space station, but in a bright room, it can be a little hard to keep up with all of the action.

The iPhone 16’s ability to tap into greater brightness reserves allows it to punch through more ambient light, too, so if you regularly watch movies in very bright conditions, it’s marginally worth spending the extra money on the ‘proper’ iPhone.

In most conditions, though, the iPhone 16e is pretty much a match for its more expensive sibling, which means it delivers a really satisfying cinematic experience in a very portable package.

Sound

Apple barely talks about audio quality with any of its phones or tablets, yet it produces some of the best-sounding examples of those devices – and the iPhone 16e is no exception.

Using a pair of quality headphones (whether wireless or wired via a USB-C adapter), the sound is more or less identical to that of the iPhone 16. Which is to say rich and warm but not coloured, brilliantly punchy and rhythmic, and terrifically detailed and dynamic.

A couple of times during testing, for example with Trials of the Past by SBTRKT and Speaking Gently by Badbadnotgood, we get the faintest sense that the iPhone 16e is hitting the leading edge of notes a little more crisply than the iPhone 16 but that the latter has a little more volume to those notes, but we are talking exceptionally slim margins.

It’s a different story with the integrated speakers, which have definitely been downgraded for the iPhone 16e. The budget phone doesn’t go as loud as its more expensive siblings, and it’s significantly less weighty.

But while the iPhone 16e sounds a little lightweight compared to the best phones, it’s also detailed, energetic and fairly spacious, so it will more than do in a pinch.

Verdict

The iPhone 16e is a very different proposition to Apple’s SE phones of old. This is a phone that delivers most of the iPhone 16 ownership experience, particularly where picture and sound quality are concerned, for a healthy chunk of change less.

If you’re more than just a point-and-shoot photographer or you regularly watch movies in very bright sunlight, the iPhone 16 or 16 Pro are worth the extra outlay, but for most people, the iPhone 16e feels like all the phone they will need.

SCORES

• Picture 5
• Sound 5
• Features 5

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A foldable iPhone called, it figures, the 'iPhone Fold' is the rumour that will not die, but maybe with good cause. Because while the device has been rumoured for the best part of a decade, now there are signs it could finally launch soon. This September, in fact, alongside members of the iPhone 18 family (though not, curiously, the iPhone 18 itself).

So what rumours are currently circulating? And how could Apple's first foldable stand out from the likes of the Samsung Galaxy Z TriFold and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold?

One report goes into detail on the latter, spelling out how Apple could take the lead in the foldables war.

Here's everything we know so far.

iPhone Fold: design rumours

Foldable phones come in two varieties: 'standard' foldables that open like a paperback book, and flip phones (like those from the early 2000s) that open like a make-up mirror. Samsung makes both: the Galaxy Z Fold 7 is the former, and the Z Flip 7 the latter.

Apple's iPhone Fold has been linked to both designs in the past, which doesn't help clarify which form factor the device will actually take. Early rumours said it would be a flip phone, while more recent rumblings concern a more standard foldable design.

We would expect the latter, as it would allow for a larger screen. Flip phones typically have smaller screens, whereas more standard foldables often open up to offer a display of around 7-8 inches across the diagonal. That's the equivalent of a small tablet like the iPad Mini.

(Indeed, one render via AppleInsider shows a more square form factor when unfolded, similar to the iPad Mini.)

With Apple's mobile OLED screens among the best in the business, we would expect it to use a standard foldable design in order to maximise screen real estate.

As for where that leaves the iPad Mini, it's anyone's guess...

iPhone Fold: launch rumours

A foldable iPhone has been rumoured for years, with many potential launch windows mooted. But recently more credible sources have been weighing in, with a consensus – of sorts – emerging.

If they're right, the iPhone Fold could launch as soon as this September.

Analyst Jeff Pu predicts (via 9to5Mac) that the foldable iPhone will launch in 2026 alongside a foldable iPad. This backed up a previous report by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

Pu and Gurman are two of the most reliable Apple analysts around. While some others predict we won't see Apple's foldable(s) until 2027, the fact that these two agree suggests we might see Apple enter the foldables arena sooner rather than later.

Respected tipster Momentary Digital says that Samsung is expected to begin mass production of its foldable screen – for use in the iPhone Fold – in May, which would suggest a September launch is on the cards.

It could play havoc with the usual iPhone launch schedule. A recent report says that Apple might split its future iPhone launches across two separate release windows – so the Fold, Pros and Air in the autumn, and lower-end models (non-Pros and iPhone 'e' variant like the recent iPhone 17e) the following spring.

That's in order to give the foldable more prominence at the launch event without the more affordable phones being lost in the sea of announcements.

The foldable iPhone could be updated annually, making it a permanent member of the iPhone family. Korean news site ET News reports that the foldable will sit above the Pro and Pro Max in the annual iPhone lineup – meaning it could be higher-specced that most rumours have said. And even more expensive.

iPhone Fold: screen speculation

But we don't have to rely on intuition as to what size screen Apple will use. There's a very high likelihood the screen pictured above will feature in the iPhone Fold.

The display in question is made by Samsung Display, a major supplier of iPhone screens. It's the firm's first crease-free foldable display, and was shown off at trade show CES 2026 (as spotted by SamMobile).

At the show, Samsung showed the screen side by side with that of the Z Fold 7, the firm's latest foldable. The Z Fold 7 earned four stars from us, and while we commented that you can see its screen crease at certain angles and especially with a bright light above, we added that it's "it’s genuinely invisible during normal, face-on viewing."

With this latest foldable screen, the crease promises to be genuinely invisible all of the time. Which would improve the viewing experience no end.

This was supported by previous reports from Business Koreaand Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Gurman notes that the iPhone Fold will have a "much higher-quality hinge", echoing earlier reports that mentioned an amorphous alloy (metallic glass) hinge that's not only stronger, but able to go flatter when open too.

Leaker Setsuna Digital posted speculation on the hinge on Chinese social network Weibo. They support previous claims that Apple will use 'Liquid Metal' for the component, which is described as an "amorphous alloy" or "metallic glass." It's claimed to be 2.5 times tougher than an aluminium alloy, and be extremely resistant to bending, deformation and depression.

Leaker Fixed Focus Digital also commented that it's commonly thought within the industry that the iPhone Fold "may have a flatness exceeding that of many currently available domestically produced foldable screen models." Which suggests Apple has nailed the hinge.

So it seems Apple has addressed the two problems with early foldables: a visible screen crease, and flaky hinge that even snapped in some cases. Apple is unlikely to risk the reputational damage either of these issues would cause, hence the multiple delays to the iPhone Fold. Sometimes it pays not to be first to market.

There's more to go on. One of the most well-respected Apple analysts around, Ming-Chi Kuo, shared his predictions in a March 2025 blog post on what an iPhone Fold will look like.

He reckons the device will have a "book-like" design, with a 5.5-inch exterior screen and a 7.8-inch display once opened up.

That external screen would be smaller than that of the iPhone 17 (which is 6.3 inches), and than those of rivals the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 (6.5 inches) and Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold (6.4 inches). Its folded out screen would also be marginally smaller than the Z Fold 7's (8 inches) and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold's (also 8 inches).

We would expect a foldable iPhone to have the same 120Hz ProMotion display technology as the iPhone 17 family. This gives those phones double the maximum refresh rate of the 60Hz iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, meaning less blur during fast-moving games and movies.

iPhone Fold: potential specs

Lately, more details on the potential specs of the iPhone Fold have started to emerge.

In his extensive blog post, seasoned Apple watcher Ming-Chi Kuo predicts the foldable will be a "true AI-driven phone". Given the direction of travel in recent years across the smartphone sector as a whole, that's hardly surprising – even the entry-level iPhone 16e has artificial intelligence smarts.

"Multimodal functionality and cross-app integration are the trends in AI device use cases," he notes. "Larger screens enhance the AI experience, enabling scenarios like chatting with a chatbot about travel plans while viewing a full map app simultaneously."

Apple is keen to avoid a bulky device, and will reuse some of the technologies and techniques it used in 2025's year's ultra-thin iPhone Air, according to Mark Gurman. Which would mean Apple's own compact C1 modem (also used in the iPhone 16e), no SIM card tray and high-density battery tech.

Kuo agrees that it will be a slim device. He reckons it will measure between 9mm and 9.5mm thick when folded, and between 4.5mm and 4.8mm when unfolded. That would make it a little thicker than the 8mm iPhone 17 when folded, but noticeably slimmer when unfolded. It would also make it much slimmer than the iPhone Air (5.6mm) when unfolded, and comparable to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, which is 8.9mm thick when folded and 4.2mm when unfolded.

In terms of power, we can expect Apple's top processor at the time (presumably the A20, or A20 Pro if Apple launches two variants of the A20). And the battery is rumoured to be a whopping 5500mAh (according to Fixed Focus Digital). That would be the biggest battery of any iPhone ever – the iPhone 17 Pro Max only has a 5088mAh, making it the first Apple handset with a 5000mAh+ battery capacity. Though with two screens to power (one of which will be nearly 8 inches in size), the Fold will need all the battery capacity it can get.

It sounds like a very futuristic device, but in one regard it could take a bit of a step backwards. Kuo speculates that it will feature Touch ID on the side button instead of Face ID. He says Apple could leave out facial recognition tech because of space constraints within the device – if it can't slim down the front-facing TrueDepth camera module, it will leave it out altogether.

iPhone Fold: price rumours

The bad news is, it's going to cost you. Predictions vary, but they all agree on that.

Kuo pegs the price at around $2000 to $2500, while an analyst from Barclays Bank reckons it will cost $2300 (via MacRumors) and leaker Momentary Digital says between $2100 and $2300. Gurman's guess? "Around $2000" which he then refined in September 2025 to "at least $2000."

For reference, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 costs £1799 / $1700 / AU$2899, and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold £1749 / $1799 / AU$2699. So if these rumours bear fruit, Apple's foldable would be pricier than its rivals.

Then that's hardly surprising. Apple's devices are premium through and through. Even its "budget" iPhone 16e starts at £599 / $599 / AU$999.

But would people really be willing to pay twice the price of an iPhone 17 Pro Max for a foldable iPhone? Some would, certainly, but in order to appeal beyond just the Apple diehards, the firm has to execute the phone brilliantly. It's certainly had long enough to work on it.

iPhone Fold: early verdict

There are a lot of moving parts to this story, so a lot can change. Indeed, a lot already has – this device was first mooted years ago, when foldables were in their infancy.

But the rumours are gathering pace, and with the most renowned industry watchers predicting a September 2026 launch, an iPhone Fold could become real pretty soon.

Apple's rivals have a big head start, with Samsung, Google and OnePlus already producing solid foldable phones that have reviewed well. So Apple has a big challenge on its hands.

To succeed, it will have to make a compelling case for foldables, convincing more than just early adopters that the device is a must-have, not just a nice-to-have. But for us fans of movies on the move, a fold-out big screen – sprinkled with a bit of Apple magic – could make it the phone we've been waiting for.

We'll update this article as more rumours emerge.

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Apple will announce its new iPhone 17 range later today, and once again the Pro models will take top billing. The slimline iPhone 17 Air might dominate the headlines, but the Pro and Pro Max are for serious iPhone users.

We're expecting new camera tech and new colours. The Pro Max is rumoured to have the biggest battery of any iPhone ever, while the Pro is said to come with a higher entry-level storage capacity than the 16 Pro (and presumably a higher starting price).

We'll be updating our Apple event 2025 live hub throughout the launch so you can stay up on the latest news as it breaks. Until then, read on to see what the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max should offer.

• iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: which should you buy?
• The iPhone 16e's downgrades are in all the right places if movies on the move are your priority
• iPad Air M3 vs iPad Pro M4: what's the difference?

iPhone 17 Pro: release date speculation

Apple's 'Awe dropping' event takes place today, 9th September. While it hasn't confirmed this will launch the iPhone 17 range, it's a safe bet, seeing as early September is well within Apple's usual iPhone launch timeframe.

For proof, take a look at when previous iPhones launched.

• iPhone 11: 10th September 2019
• iPhone 12: 13th October 2020
• iPhone 13: 14th September 2021
• iPhone 14: 7th September 2022
• iPhone 15: 12th September 2023
• iPhone 16: 9th September 2024

Previous launch patterns suggest that we should expect pre-orders to open shortly after the announcement, with retail availability following roughly a week later.

This could be the last year with the current iPhone launch schedule. One recent report says that Apple might split future iPhone launches across two separate release windows – retaining the traditional autumn schedule for Pro models while shifting standard models to the following spring.

This would take effect from 2026, possibly the same year that the foldable iPhone launches (here's everything we know so far about Apple's folding iPhone).

iPhone 17 Pro: price predictions

The recent bout of US tariffs is causing chaos across many industries, including electronics, and that makes it very hard indeed to predict pricing for the next iPhone.

That means that past prices are not the general guide that they usually are.

We can simply say that the iPhone 16 range launched at similar prices to the iPhone 15 before it, so we're hoping the same for the iPhone 17 Pro and its siblings, but we're not holding our breath.

Still, for context, the prices for the current iPhone 16 range are below:

More and more analysts are predicting a price rise for the iPhone 17. The consensus seems to be around £50 / $50 higher than the iPhone 16, which would mean a starting price of £849 / $849 for a 128GB iPhone 17.

But the Pro models could see a bigger price hike. One leaker predicts Apple will replace the 128GB entry-level storage capacity with 256GB, which could be used to justify a price rise, or to soften its blow.

Fellow US tech firm Sonos recently announced it will raise its prices later in the year. With inflation still biting and tariffs coming into effect, all the signs point to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max costing more than their current equivalents.

iPhone 17 Pro: design and build

While most smartphones tend to look the same – there's only so much you can do with a slab of glass and some cameras on the back, after all – there may be a few tweaks in line for the iPhone 17 Pro.

One of the latest rumours points to a potential change in materials, marking a departure from the titanium frame used in the iPhone 15 Pro and 16 Pro models (and the stainless steel used in earlier Pro iPhones).

According to The Information's Wayne Ma, the iPhone 17 Pro will feature a new part-aluminium, part-glass design that could improve durability while still enabling wireless charging.

The top portion could reportedly be aluminium for improved durability, while the bottom section would be glass in order to support wireless charging functionality. It's an interesting concept, though time will tell if the rumours are accurate.

The camera module, meanwhile, is expected to see a significant redesign too. Multiple sources, including MacRumors, report that the iPhone 17 Pro could adopt a large rectangular camera bump spanning nearly the entire width of the device – similar to Google's Pixel phones. A recent render from Majin Bu (above) shows how this design might look.

Majin Bu also reports that Apple will likely introduce a new Sky Blue colour for the iPhone 17 Pro models, similar to the recently introduced MacBook Air M4.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman (below), the camera bump will also be the same colour as the rest of the device, rather than featuring a two-tone design as seen in some early renders.

As for the actual colours, MacRumors reports that the 17 Pro handsets will come in grey, dark blue and orange, alongside the black and white of the iPhone 16 Pro models.

iPhone 17 Pro: display

The iPhone 17 Pro is expected to retain the same 6.3-inch display size introduced by the iPhone 16 Pro, but with some notable improvements to the screen technology.

Reports from Instant Digital (via MacRumors) indicate that the iPhone 17 Pro's display will feature a new anti-reflective coating, significantly increasing its scratch resistance compared with previous models, as well as improving visibility in direct sunlight.

Elsewhere, the standard 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate is expected to return, though PhoneArena reports that the display could achieve higher peak brightness levels, potentially by using Samsung Display's M14 panels, which can apparently reach up to 3000 nits.

Interestingly, MacRumors also indicates that the ProMotion technology will no longer be exclusive to Pro models, with all iPhone 17 models expected to feature 120Hz displays, thanks to the adoption of LTPO OLED technology across the entire 17 series lineup.

Lastly, a smaller and less intrusive Dynamic Island could also make an appearance. Analyst Jeff Pu says (via MacRumors) that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will reportedly have a narrower Dynamic Island thanks to the Face ID system using a smaller "metalens".

Instead of being curved like a traditional lens, the newest version is apparently thin and flat enough to be able to focus light more precisely. That would mark the first change to the Dynamic Island since it was introduced in 2022.

In classic Apple rumour-mill fashion, however, another well-respected Apple analyst believes that the Dynamic Island will remain "largely unchanged".

iPhone 17 pro: specs, features, OS, and battery life

Surprise, surprise, the iPhone 17 Pro will feature the most powerful iPhone processor to date. According to multiple reports from sources including MacRumors and Tom's Guide, the iPhone 17 Pro will be powered by Apple's next-gen A19 Pro chip, which is expected to be manufactured using TSMC's newer third-generation 3nm process.

This should deliver improved performance and power efficiency over the current A18 Pro silicon, though it looks as though Apple will need to wait until the iPhone 18 in 2026 for TSMC's more advanced 2nm process.

Memory is also rumoured to receive a significant boost. Multiple sources suggest that the iPhone 17 Pro could feature 12GB of RAM, up from the 8GB found in the iPhone 16 Pro models. MacRumors reports that this additional memory would particularly benefit the Apple Intelligence features while improving multitasking performance as AI capabilities continue to expand.

Another notable improvement could be thermal management.

Reports from the above two sources indicate the iPhone 17 Pro will incorporate vapour chamber cooling technology, which disperses heat more efficiently across a larger surface area to prevent thermal throttling and maintain stable performance during demanding tasks such as gaming.

This would address occasional overheating issues reported with some previous models under heavy loads.

All iPhone 17 models are also expected to feature a Wi-Fi 7 chip designed by Apple rather than Broadcom, marking another step in Apple's transition to in-house component design.

However, MacRumors notes that the 5G modem in the iPhone 17 Pro models will still come from Qualcomm, as Apple's in-house modem development appears to be progressing at a slower rate than expected.

As for the operating system, it will come as no surprise to hear that iOS 26, which was unveiled at Apple's WWDC in June, will be landing on the next-gen iPhones.

Apple Intelligence will, also unsurprisingly, continue to be a major focus, with Tom's Guide reporting that iOS 26 will bring expanded AI capabilities, building on the foundation established with iOS 18.

Lastly, on the battery front, we could see improvements in longevity thanks to the more efficient A19 Pro processor, along with a rumoured larger battery capacity.

PhoneArena reports that the iPhone 17 Pro could house a 3700mAh battery, while the Pro Max variant might reach 4700mAh, which would be slightly bigger than the respective models in the iPhone 16 range.

But a more recent rumour says the iPhone 17 Pro Max's battery could be 5000mAh – the largest of any iPhone so far (the iPhone 16 Pro Max's battery is 4685mAh capacity).

iPhone 17 Pro: camera

The iPhone 17 Pro's camera system looks set for one of its most significant upgrades in recent years. According to MacRumors and PhoneArena, all three rear cameras on the iPhone 17 Pro are expected to feature 48MP sensors, including an upgraded telephoto lens that would replace the current 12-megapixel telephoto camera.

This would make the iPhone 17 Pro the first iPhone with three 48MP lenses, though there are conflicting reports about how this might affect zoom capabilities.

Some sources, such as Tom's Guide, suggest the telephoto camera may shift from the current 5x optical zoom to a 3.5x (85mm equivalent) zoom, which could be better optimised for portrait photography.

Leaker Setsuna Digital calls the iPhone 17 Pro Max's telephoto camera the most powerful yet. They didn't specify what this will entail, but it's certainly exciting.

A more powerful telephoto camera should mean not only better zoom capabilities, but also better portraits and more stable video recording.

The front-facing camera is also due for a substantial improvement, according to the rumour mill. Multiple sources report that all iPhone 17 models will feature a new 24MP selfie camera – a significant upgrade from the 12MP front camera found in the iPhone 16 range. This should provide noticeably improved image quality for selfies and FaceTime calls, along with greater flexibility for cropping.

Additional camera features also reportedly include new shooting modes. Jon Prosser of Front Page Tech, as reported by The Shortcut, claims that the iPhone 17 Pro models will feature a new dual-capture mode that would allow users to record video simultaneously with both front and rear cameras.

There's also speculation from multiple sources that 8K video recording – a feature reportedly tested but not implemented on the iPhone 16 Pro – could finally debut with the iPhone 17 Pro, taking advantage of the higher-resolution sensors.

iPhone 17 Pro: early verdict

The rumours suggest that the iPhone 17 Pro is shaping up to be a more substantial upgrade than the iPhone 16 Pro was on its predecessor.

The potential combination of a trio of 48MP cameras, improved display technology and faster innards makes for a tempting proposition – assuming they all come to fruition. And the 17 Pro Max's bigger battery could make it a real warhorse of a phone.

Stay tuned, we'll bring you all the details as soon as they're official.

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These are the best smartphones for music and movies

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Samsung’s latest flagship smartphone has an AV ace up its sleeve. That’s right, the Galaxy S25 Ultra might look like an iterative update over its predecessor, but Samsung’s decision to put a spotlight on picture performance means that it immediately resonates with us, especially considering how its competitors have approached AV features in the past year.

Apple’s last batch of iPhones impressed, but picture and sound features were glossed over entirely in favour of AI features, while Sony opted to walk back on its movie-first approach by swapping out the 4K 21:9 display on the Xperia 1 VI for a more conventional screen. Samsung isn’t quite going for the completely dedicated AV angle that we’d like to see, but considering the wider smartphone market, we’ll take what we can get.

Now that we have the S25 Ultra in hand, does it live up to its promises? And more importantly, does it live up to our expectations?

Price

At £1249 / $1300 / AU$2199, there’s no getting away from the fact that the S25 Ultra is a pricey handset. It’s flanked by the iPhone 16 Pro (£1199 / $1199 / AU$2149) and Sony Xperia 1 VI (£1299 / $1700 approx / AU$2500), sitting squarely in the middle of these rivals.

That price will get you the 256GB model; however, there are larger storage options, including 512GB (£1349 / $1420 / AU$2349) and 1TB (£1549 / $1660 / AU$2749) for those who require more space for photos, music and apps.

There are also seven finishes to pick from, all of which look rather dashing and have slightly pretentious names; Titanium Black, Titanium Whitesilver, Titanium Grey and Titanium Silverblue are widely available, whereas Titanium Jadegreen, Titanium Jetblack and Titanium Pinkgold are exclusive to Samsung’s official store.

Build

While the genetic similarities to its predecessor are strong from a distance, the S25 Ultra features a design upgrade that makes it look slightly smarter and fit more comfortably in the hand. The titanium frame sandwiched between two layers of glass returns, though the edges have been rounded out this year, meaning the device doesn’t dig into our hands in the same way the S24 Ultra’s boxy corners did.

Much like the S24 Ultra, the new handset sticks with a flat screen, marking an end to Samsung’s curved displays that melted over the frames of its smartphones of old – well, the mid to late 2010s. Speaking of which, the display on the S25 Ultra has grown by 0.1 inches, leaving us with a 6.9-inch screen – this is due to Samsung shrinking the bezels of this phone by 15 per cent.

On the rear of the handset, you’ll find a smooth, matte glass rear panel; our review unit is the Titanium Silverblue finish, and we think it looks rather suave. The scattered cluster of cameras and sensors also adorn the rear panel, this year with a contrasting ring around each sensor. It’s still not our favourite smartphone design, especially compared to the sleek iPhone 16 Pro, though it's a bit more interesting than the mundane Xperia 1 VI.

Turning to the edges of the phone, you’ll find the left edge unobstructed, while the right-hand side features the power and volume controls. There’s a USB-C charging socket, SIM tray, downward-firing speaker and the S-Pen on the bottom of the phone, which is an identical set-up to the S24 Ultra.

Ultimately, the S25 Ultra certainly looks a lot like its predecessor. However, there is enough here to make it feel like a new generation, unlike the Apple iPhone 16 Pro, which looks practically identical to its previous iteration.

Features

As this is Samsung’s premier handset, there is an expectedly exhaustive list of features, as was the case with the Galaxy S24 Ultra.

Inside the phone, you’ll find the Qualcomm Snapdragon Elite for Galaxy processor backed by 12GB of RAM. As expected, this powerful combination ensures the phone is super responsive. That "for Galaxy" suffix hints towards the processor being an exclusive variant made by Qualcomm for Samsung, with a slightly higher clock speed.

The phone flies through the One UI 7 operating system, which runs on top of Android 15. It's worth noting that Samsung is promising seven years of software and security upgrades, so this phone should (theoretically) continue to receive updates through to 2032.

A major part of this device's software is the Galaxy AI system, which encompasses a wide array of AI tools and features. All the favourites from the S24 Ultra return, including the incredibly useful Circle to Search with Google, Generative Edit photo editing suite, Live Translation tools and Chat Assist feature, which can tweak the tone of your messages and emails for different scenarios. Samsung has upgraded this feature, however, by including a new on-device large language model (LLM), which will reportedly make the generative fill tools in the photo editor more reliable and accurate.

As for the AV features, the S25 Ultra sports a 6.9-inch Dynamic AMOLED display with a variable refresh rate of 1Hz to 120Hz and a Quad HD+ resolution. This expansive and vivid screen is a joy to interact with thanks to the high refresh rate, while the claimed 2600 nits brightness – the same as last year's model – is plenty for indoor and outdoor visibility. Samsung has also included its impressive glare-reducing screen coating on this device, and it is reportedly even more effective than last year's model. In practice, we have no issues viewing the screen in a range of lighting conditions.

The biggest new AV upgrade is Samsung's new ProScaler feature, which is inspired by the company's flagship 4K and 8K TVs. It can reportedly improve image scaling quality by 40 per cent, meaning lower-resolution content streamed from the device will appear sharper and more detailed. In our minds, implementing a system to bring content up to the specification of the screen is a genius move by Samsung, as the mobile versions of our favourite services tend to be capped at 1080p. As we’ll come to find out in the picture section of this review, the ProScaler feature works wonders on a wide variety of streaming services.

As for the other AV features on this device, it supports HDR10 and HDR10+; the latter has had a recent boost as Disney Plus has agreed to support the format on a selection of its content, while the likes of Amazon Prime Video, YouTube and Paramount Plus already support it. Dolby Atmos audio is also on board via the speakers and headphones, though Samsung's new Eclipsa Audio immersive format is, unfortunately, not supported. As expected, there is no headphone jack, so you will need to rely on a USB-C DAC or wireless audio peripherals; the 25 Ultra features Bluetooth 5.3 with the LE and A2DP codecs supported for the latter.

This latest Ultra device carries forth many of the staple features of past Galaxy phones. The S Pen returns for scribbling down notes, and the quadruple-stack camera system is back, too. Unfortunately, the S Pen gets a downgrade this year, as Samsung has stripped it of its Bluetooth capabilities, meaning you can no longer conduct air actions to remotely conduct functions on your device, nor can you use it as a remote camera shutter.

Camera-wise, Samsung has carried three of the lenses over from the S24 Ultra – the 200MP main sensor, 50MP telephoto lens, and 10MP secondary telephoto camera – but has upgraded the ultrawide lens to 50MP from 12MP. In practice, the S25 Ultra produces exceptional pictures, with crisp, vibrant colours, and the range of lens options to capture different scenarios is greatly appreciated.

Finally, the S25 Ultra has the same 5000mAh battery as its predecessor. Much like the S24 Ultra, we’ve struggled to completely drain this handset in a single day, even with heavy usage.

Picture

With a new picture-enhancing feature being a headlining aspect of this smartphone, our expectations regarding how it handles on-the-go movie watching are understandably high. We also need to remember that the last Samsung Galaxy smartphone that we reviewed, the Z Fold 6, delivered a five-star AV experience, so the heat is on for the S25 Ultra.

So, does it deliver the goods in the picture department? Simply put, yes, it does. We have no qualms with stating that this is one of the most impressive smartphone displays we’ve seen in a long while, especially considering how tough the competition has been. This is clearly in part due to the excellent ProScaler feature, which proves that when given the right attention, an AV feature on a phone can truly be the standout aspect.

We watch a range of content, including John Wick: Chapter 4, The Batman, and 1917 on Amazon Prime Video and Netflix, with the Sony Xperia 1 VI on hand as a benchmark device.

The S25 Ultra wastes no time in showing us how capable its display is, with the John Wick scene in which Caine is recruited by the villainous Marquis Vincent Bisset de Gramont having an abundance of sharp details. This sequence takes place in a lavish palace interior, with each intricate fixture, chandelier and intricately etched pillar realised in impressively clear and crisp detail. Close-up shots of the characters reveal plenty of texture to skin and clothing, too.

What’s most striking about this picture is how solid and three-dimensional it appears. Actors in the foreground of the shot are clearly separated from the background, and the sense of space is truly impressive. This is an area where Sony has previously excelled, but we’re inclined to say that Samsung isn’t far behind. Moreover, the picture doesn’t seem overly etched or too bold. A scene taking place on the rooftop of the Osaka hotel looks fantastic, as the cherry blossom tree on the left-hand side of the shot is oozing with detail and three-dimensional depth.

Sticking with John Wick, we approve of how the S25 Ultra handles colours. For reference, we’ve opted for the natural screen mode, which can be found in the display settings, as the vivid mode that’s enabled as standard is a bit too poppy for our liking. Once that adjustment is made, the S25 Ultra delivers rich, bold colours that don’t stray into the realm of over-enthusiastic, and a range of skin tones all look healthy and natural too.

Switching to The Batman, we can study how this handset approaches dark details, as this grimy and murky movie is mostly played out under the cover of night. The consensus is that the S25 Ultra makes a strong effort, with a decent separation between the titular hero’s suit and the pitch black alleyway that he steps out of before dismantling a group of thugs at a train station. Furthermore, the henchmen’s all-black outfits have plenty of tangible detail (for instance, the clear separation between a black jacket over a black shirt).

We switch to Peep Show to see how the S25 Ultra handles older, lower-resolution content, and we’re pleased to say that the handset makes a solid attempt at cleaning up the image, boosting brightness and adding a touch of depth. It’s not perfect as there is still a touch of fuzz around the edges of subjects on screen, but it’s certainly an admirable effort nonetheless.

Rounding things out with 1917, here is where we come across an issue with the display that’s hard to ignore but thankfully doesn’t present itself too often. A panning shot through an outdoor barn structure that tracks an overhead dogfight is presented with a lot more judder than we tend to prefer, to the extent that we even tweak the motion settings to see if the adaptive refresh rate is causing this.

Unfortunately, regardless of whether it's turned on or off, the wooden slats of the barn seem to flicker quite noticeably – we check if this happens on the Xperia 1 VI and iPhone 16 and can confirm it’s also an issue on these devices, though it's more pronounced on the S25 Ultra. Furthermore, while motion itself is mostly well handled, it can look slightly oversmoothed at times.

Motion snags aside, the S25 Ultra’s fantastic detail levels, rich colours, and superb contrast are comparable to the five-star Samsung S95D OLED TV.

Sound

The audio performance of the S25 Ultra might not be quite as impressive as its picture credentials, but we still deem it to be a solid effort from Samsung overall. As we’ve established, the device supports Dolby Atmos via its stereo speakers (comprising the earpiece and downward-firing loudspeaker) and headphones (wired and wireless).

Starting with headphone audio, we plug a pair of wired cans into the device with the help of a USB-C to 3.5mm headphone jack adapter, and listen to a range of tracks on Tidal, including Taylor Swift’s The 1, Kendrick Lamar and SZA’s Luther, Charli XCX’s Sympathy Is A Knife and Fleetwood Mac’s Landslide.

There is plenty to praise here; the Samsung delivers a crisp and detailed audio performance with a focus on delivering clear vocals. Larger dynamic shifts, such as the electronic beat drop of Charli XCX and Ariana Grande’s Sympathy Is A Knife, are presented well, with an appreciated punch. The handset also delivers a spacious and open performance, with a clear sense of space established, especially with Dolby Atmos tracks.

However, we are left wanting more by way of low-level dynamics. The S25 Ultra just misses the emotive qualities of The 1 and Landslide, presenting the tracks more matter-of-factly rather than highlighting the subtle aspects, which is something we praised the iPhone 16 Pro for achieving. Furthermore, we’re not convinced that the S25 Ultra nails timing completely, as both the competing Apple and Sony smartphones have stronger and more precise rhythmic drives.

Ultimately, the S25 Ultra is still a good device for streaming music on the go, however, its Apple and Sony competitors are more talented at capturing the subtleties in the tracks we test.

Switching to the loudspeakers, this is where the Samsung hits its sonic stride. We’re certainly not endorsing blasting music directly from your phone’s speakers – Bluetooth speakers were invented for a reason – but they’re ideal for a spot of movie or TV watching.

The sheer size of the device means we get an impressive sense of stereo separation and, while Dolby Atmos understandably isn’t delivered in the same way we see in the world of home cinema, the S25 Ultra tracks the sound of cars rushing past the Batmobile in The Batman’s epic chase sequence to impressive effect by smartphone standards.

Verdict

Samsung’s new flagship handset is simply begging to be taken on a long-haul flight or lengthy train journey. Its big, bold screen, rich colours and crisp details liken it to a pocketable OLED TV, making it a great companion for portable movie watching. And, while we wish its musical performance had a touch more in the way of low-level dynamics, its clear and spacious sound should appease those looking to take their music library on the go.

SCORES

• Picture 5
• Sound 4
• Features 5

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The best smartphones for music and movies

Hardly anyone upgrades their smartphone every year any more. Thanks to a combination of rising prices and mostly negligible improvements, an annual upgrade is now a luxury that few can afford. It's far more likely that anyone looking to upgrade is rocking a smartphone that is perhaps three, four or five years old.

If that's you, you're in the right place. Here, we run you through your current options, and help you decide which iPhone is right for you. Spoiler alert: it might not be the latest or most expensive model...

Screen

The screens on today's iPhones are stunning, but they haven't actually evolved all that much in recent years. The last really big change was the introduction of OLED technology on all models – but that came with the iPhone 12 range all the way back in 2020.

In terms of pure hardware then, the only differences between the screens on the iPhone 12 and iPhone 16 are a slight bump in brightness, and a higher resolution (but the same pixel density) thanks to the introduction of the Dynamic Island (though the iPhone 16e sticks with the old cutout design).

Of course in use it's a different story, as our reviews have shown. Apple rarely talks up improvements in picture quality, but they are there, albeit slight. To really notice the difference, you will want to jump at least a couple of generations of iPhone.

But if you look closely, you can see the improvements from one generation to the next. In our review, we note that iPhone 16 produces "a rich and three-dimensional image that is deeply engaging.

"The opening scene of 1917 shows us crisp details in clothing, skin and environmental textures, with a tangible grain to the rough fabric of the soldier’s uniforms and the gritty dirt lining the walls of the trenches through which they weave. Much like the iPhone 16 Pro that sits above it in the lineup, the iPhone 16 also manages to skilfully draw our eye to the focal point of the image while retaining an excellent amount of detail and solidity to objects in the background."

The Pro models have the Pro Motion display which ups the refresh rate to 120Hz and allows for the always-on capabilities, so you can use your phone as a bedside clock, for example. This is rumoured to become a feature on all models of iPhone 17, not just the Pros.

HDR used to be reserved for just the Pro models, but it has been standard on all variants since the iPhone 12.

The recent Pros also have slightly larger screens than the non-Pros – the iPhone 16 Pro's screen is 6.3 inches to the standard iPhone 16's 6.1 inches, while the Pro Max is 6.9 inches to the 16 Plus' 6.7 inches. Which will help make the picture more immersive.

Sound

As with picture quality, Apple doesn't talk up any sonic improvements from one generation of iPhone to the next. But they are there, if you know what to listen out for.

The iPhone 16 is "easily one of the best-sounding smartphones we've heard," we note in our review. Its sound is "rich, detailed and engaging" regardless of what it's playing.

It is particularly impressive with low-level dynamics. Even the speakers aren't half bad – though we would always listen through headphones if possible.

There have been small improvements in each model. For example, we found the iPhone 15 Pro Max's treble is a little smoother and cleaner than the 14 Pro Max's, while the overall audio is "a little weightier and more full-bodied, too".

Features

The biggest feature to come to the iPhone in recent years is Apple Intelligence, Apple's suite of artificial intelligence skills. This can help you compose text messages and emails, let you interact with Siri in a more natural and conversational way, edit photos, prioritise notifications and more.

It hasn't been a complete success story. Apple had to pause its news summaries after they started presenting false information as if it was from trusted sources such as the BBC and The New York Times. But the technology is still in its infancy, and will only get more sophisticated.

It arrived with the iPhone 16 range (though it wasn't available at launch). It is also available on the iPhone 16e, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Another neat feature is Camera Control, a button that lets you open the camera without having to wake the phone first. It's on the iPhone 16 range, but not iPhone 16e or earlier models.

USB-C has replaced the older Lightning port for charging, as mandated by a change in EU law. Every iPhone since the iPhone 15 range has USB-C, while the 14 and earlier feature Lightning ports.

Prefer to charge wirelessly? That feature is available on every model since the iPhone 8, though the speeds will vary. The earlier models support only 7.5W Qi wireless charging, but every handset since the iPhone 12 supports MagSafe magnetic charging at either 15W or 25W with a compatible charger (all except the iPhone 16e, which is stuck with no MagSafe and the same wireless charging speed as the iPhone 8, disappointingly).

Every iPhone since the iPhone 13 starts at 128GB storage (previously the base level was 64GB), but only the Pro models from the 13 Pro onwards go up to 1TB.

Lastly, power. Generally speaking, the newer the iPhone, the beefier the processor. Even though the iPhone 16e has some compromises, power isn't one of them – it has the same A18 chip as the iPhone 16.

Cameras

The camera has always been one of the main differentiators between the standard iPhone models and the Pros. The Pro Max used to have a better camera than the Pro, but for the iPhone 16 range, Apple brought camera parity to the Pro models.

The Pros offer an extra telephoto lens over the non-Pros. This lets you zoom in at up to 5x without losing any detail in the image, as you do with a digital lens.

The telephoto has been a staple of the pricier models since the iPhone 7 Plus. In recent years the optical zoom has increased, and more shooting modes have been added, including Night mode, Night mode portraits, Spatial photos and Apple ProRAW.

Price and availability

Apple no longer sells any iPhones earlier than 2023's iPhone 15 range, and of those, it sells only the 15 and 15 Plus. But you can find the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, and iPhone 14 range and earlier at other retailers.

The cheapest iPhone Apple sells is the iPhone 16e, which starts at £599. That's £100 cheaper than the iPhone 15, and £200 cheaper than the iPhone 15 Plus and iPhone 16.

The iPhone 16 Plus starts at £899, the 16 Pro £999 and the 16 Pro Max £1199.

Of course you can also spread the cost over years with a contract. Check the best prices below for recent iPhones both SIM free and on contract.

Verdict

While it's true that you get what you pay for, there's no point paying for features you're not going to use. If you just want an iPhone for the basics, and maybe the odd bit of movie watching and music listening on the go, you could save a small fortune by hunting out an earlier model from the iPhone 15 or even iPhone 14 families.

We wouldn't advise going any earlier than that, as Apple isn't likely to support those handsets with software and security updates for much longer.

Of the latest iPhones, the 16e is worth investigating if you want AI and don't mind the more basic camera and lack of MagSafe charging. But if you want the ultimate in movies and music from an iPhone, the 16 Pro and Pro Max are where it's at.

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Check out the best smartphones for music and movies

The world moves very quickly these days. Our younger readers will scarcely believe it, but there was a time when not everyone in the world carried an Apple or Samsung smartphone in their pocket. In those hazy bygone days, Netflix used to send you actual DVDs, Manchester United weren’t a bottom-half football club, and practically every pair of headphones was connected using the humble wire. How times have changed.

While wireless earbuds and their over-ear counterparts have come to dominate the ever-expanding headphone market, wires have refused to go away entirely. SoundMagic is one of a few companies committed to still flying the flag for Team Wired, though its latest pair of in-ear headphones – the E80D – are nothing if not up with the times. Using a direct USB-C connector in place of the more traditional 3.5mm, the E80D are built to slot straight into almost any modern smartphone (such as the iPhone 16, Sony Xperia 10 VI and Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra), computer or audio device. For budget-conscious wired wearers who refuse to be left completely in the Dark Ages, they’re a tantalising prospect.

Price

With the E80D retailing at £39 / $44 / AU$66, you won’t find many cheaper in-ear headphones from reputable or established brands. One of their main alternatives comes from SoundMagic’s own stable in the shape of the Award-winning E11C which, at the time of writing, cost around £40 / $45 / AU$60. Those extremely talented alternatives have been around for a few years now and, more importantly, use a traditional 3.5mm connection rather than USB-C.

Build & design

The E80D are a pair of SoundMagic headphones through and through, and that’s a good thing. The brand behind the E11C hasn’t strayed too far from its winning formula with its latest set of in-ears, and while that USB-C connector is the stand-out novelty, handling our test sample’s cable, earpieces and in-line remote tells us that we’re on reassuringly familiar ground.

It’s good ground to be on. While a pair of budget buds at this level could have been as tactile and durable as the cheap tat you might get for free on a tour of a middling art gallery, there’s sufficient robustness and quality here to make us feel, if not overawed, then relatively pleased. The earpieces themselves are constructed using a smooth and solid aluminium housing, while the “precision” cable hints at some long-lasting durability as we bend and pull it to test its credentials. That cable comes with a three-button in-line remote for controlling playback volume, playing or pausing tracks and accepting incoming calls, the latter of which is facilitated by the E80D’s built-in microphone.

The E80D come equipped with three pairs of bowl-shaped silicone eartips available in small, medium and large sizes, as well as a set of medium-sized double-flange silicone buds which grant a little added security if you want a slightly more anchored fit. We spend most of our listening time with the standard silicone ear tips due to their pleasing blend of comfort and fit, and while some may judge the tip material to be a little hard at the front edge and lacking the pliability of costlier alternatives, we generally experienced little discomfort or insecurity during listening sessions over an hour in length.

Call quality

As you might expect, the SoundMagic E80D don’t exactly go big on features – there are no noise cancelling or spatial capabilities to be found – but their in-line microphone does allow for hands-free voice calling. That’s a handy boon, even if the performance of the budget headphones doesn’t exactly blow us away: voices come across as somewhat rounded off, muffled and a little lacking in personality or expression, while external sounds from nearby traffic, for instance, can often intrude on your conversation. You’ll still be able to have a comprehensible dialogue using the E80D, but maybe switch to your phone’s built-in microphone if you want a more polished performance.

Sound

Equipped with a set of dynamic 10mm neodymium drivers and capable of handling hi-res audio files up to 24-bit/96kHz, the E80D seek to deliver “premium sound quality” without a massive outlay, promising a performance that balances “strong bass, soaring highs, and clear mids”. That’s a lot of promise for something at this low price.

We use a variety of sources to perform our testing, plugging that USB-C connector into any amenable slot, from a standard iPhone 15 to a Samsung Galaxy S22+, as well as a variety of compatible laptops. Wherever the SoundMagic buds go and whatever they play, we recognise the same clarity and cohesion that is so evident with the brand’s Award-winning E11C counterparts – tracks have a sense of sparkle about them as the E11C’s clean, balanced approach allows separate musical strands to shine across a pleasingly neat soundfield.

The amount of information the SoundMagic in-ears are capable of retrieving is striking given their modest price. Vital timbres are uncovered keenly and clearly, granting the crunching guitar on Alice In Chains’ Lesson Learned enough bite to put a salivating Rottweiler in the shade, whereas the birth and decay of each haunting piano keystroke on Radiohead’s Codex are tracked with near-forensic insight. Perhaps what impresses us most is the body and substance the E80D provide – not content with mere sketches, they endeavour to fill in your tunes’ all-important shades and hues.

Do note that you’ll have to move higher up the price ladder if you want headphones with a greater knack for dynamics. While the E80D’s rendition of Radiohead’s Codex is unquestionably enjoyable and evidences much of what they do so well, it also hints at the headphones’ relative limitations. Capturing the subtle decay of each keystroke is no mean feat, but we’d prefer to see more dynamic differentiation between every touch of the keys. The SoundMagic are slightly flattened dynamically, and while we’re not expecting Everest peaks and Mariana Trench troughs for this kind of money, more premium wired alternatives will grant you a keener feeling of differentiation between each note to more readily bring out the track’s emotive character.

The E80D are certainly rhythmically capable, even if costlier alternatives will again eclipse their capabilities. A perfect pair of performers will grip onto the carefree spark of Sabrina Carpenter’s Espresso while expressing the tune’s bouncy, playful sense of sway – the E80D manage to get the core feeling of the track, but they could do with a touch more propulsive snap to push the peppy tune along at a full canter. The E80D can “move it up, down, left and right”, even if they could do with a little more of the track’s titular caffeinated beverage to put more pep in their step. Still, it’s an admirable effort from a likeable pair of budget in-ears that still communicates the spirit of Carpenter’s signature bop.

Perhaps the E80D’s greatest trump card, aside from their clean, detailed sound, is their sense of finesse, providing a musical picture that lives and breathes rather than lying flat and lifeless. Pearl Jam’s Wreckage opens with an appropriately lean, textured acoustic guitar that’s soon joined by deep, forceful drum kicks and tinkling piano motifs floating in the upper reaches, all before Eddie Vedder’s distinguished pipes take centre stage and rising supporting vocals soar above. This is an attempt at genuine sonic curation, and it gives a great song a far more tangible sense of structure.

Verdict

SoundMagic E80D’s USB-C connection offers undeniable convenience for most modern smartphone users, but it’s their strong sonic performance that gives them their true value. With capabilities belying their cost, these wired in-ears are far better than their modest outlay would suggest.

First reviewed: February 2025

SCORES

• Sound 5
• Build 4
• Comfort 3

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The cheapest iPhone isn't actually all that cheap. Apple's iPhone 16e is a step change from the SE line that came before it – the compromises are slighter, but the price tag much higher.

So how does it fare against the full-fat iPhone 16? Should you pay more for the 16, or save some cash with the 16e?

We've reviewed both, so can help guide you to the best iPhone for you. If you're torn between the two handsets, read on, and we'll help you decide.

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: price

The iPhone 16e might be the cheapest iPhone available, but it's no one's idea of budget. It starts at £599 / $599 / AU$999 for the 128GB version, while the next level up – the 256GB model – is £699 / $699 / AU$1199. Prices top out at £899 / $899 / AU$1549 for the fully specced 512GB offering.

Still, it is cheaper than the iPhone 16. That starts at £799 / $799 / AU$1399 for the base 128GB model. The 256GB option costs £899 / $899 / AU$1599, and prices rise to £1099 / $1099 / AU$1949 for the top-specced 512GB version.

So, the 16e is £200 / $200 / AU$400 cheaper than the iPhone 16 at all capacities.

** Winner: Apple iPhone 16e **

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: design and display

At first glance, the two phones look very similar, but there are some differences between them.

The rear camera setups are a big giveaway. The iPhone 16e sports a single lens, while the iPhone 16 has a dual-cam setup.

The iPhone 16e also comes in just two matte finishes (black and white), while the iPhone 16 offers a more extensive colour palette with ultramarine, teal, and pink alongside the same white and black finishes of the 16e. Snazzy.

Both devices feature Ceramic Shield front protection, along with IP68 water resistance. And while both phones incorporate the handy customisable Action Button for shortcut shenanigans, only the iPhone 16 includes the additional Camera Control button – a potential boon to sway keen photographers.

Round the front, the iPhone 16 features Apple’s distinctive Dynamic Island – an interactive display element that houses the front camera system – while the iPhone 16e retains the more traditional notch design of older iPhone generations.

Both devices use this area to house their TrueDepth camera systems for Face ID functionality.

As for the screens themselves, OLED is the weapon of choice across the board, bringing with it the punchy colours and inky blacks that OLED fans love. It's worth noting however that the 6.06in iPhone 16e’s screen has lower brightness capabilities, offering 800 nits typical maximum brightness compared to the 6.12in iPhone 16's 1000 nits, and 1200 nits peak brightness for HDR content versus the iPhone 16's 1600 nits.

Both displays can, however, dim down to just one nit for comfortable viewing in dark environments.

** Winner: Apple iPhone 16 **

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: camera

So far the differences have been (relatively) minimal, but it’s the camera setup that marks one of the largest differences, and may be the deciding factor in your decision.

The iPhone 16e has a single 48MP main camera, offering 1x and 2x optical zoom options. But the iPhone 16's dual-camera arrangement is more powerful and versatile.

The 16's main sensor is joined by a 12MP ultra-wide camera, unlocking a broader range of zoom options from 0.5x to 2x. This might not mean much if you're a casual snapper, but it could be a sorely missed feature if you're into squeezing the most out of your compositions.

The iPhone 16 also edges ahead with sensor-shift optical image stabilisation, while the 16e uses standard optical stabilisation – a big difference if you’re into shooting in dim light.

In our iPhone 16e review, we found its camera mostly very similar to the iPhone 16's – during daytime shooting, at least. In low-light shots, the 16e digs up way less detail than the 16.

"It's still more than good enough to document all of the sordid details of a night out, but if you're serious about dark photography, the iPhone 16e might not be for you," we noted.

Portrait photography on the iPhone 16 is also more advanced, offering Focus and Depth Control options compared to the 16e's more basic Portrait mode with purely Depth Control.

The iPhone 16 also offers macro photography capabilities, Spatial photos and videos, Cinematic mode for 4K Dolby Vision recording at 30 fps, and Action mode for stabilised video capture.

It's the all-round more sophisticated camera.

** Winner: Apple iPhone 16 **

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: features

Both handsets pack the mighty power of Apple's A18 chip, along with a six-core CPU and 12-core Neural Engine. But the iPhone 16e has a four-core GPU configuration compared to the more powerful five-core GPU in the iPhone 16.

Not that it makes much difference. While the 16e is theoretically slightly less well-equipped for gaming, we don't notice it in practice. During our testing, it handled all the games we threw at it with no problems.

As games and apps become more graphically challenging, cracks could start to show. But that's a problem for future you, and maybe not even then, depending on how long you plan on keeping your phone.

The iPhone 16e debuts Apple's first in-house designed C1 modem, marking a departure from the Qualcomm Snapdragon X75 modem found in the iPhone 16 – a sign of things to come in future iPhone models, no doubt.

As for charging, while both phones support wireless charging, the iPhone 16e is limited to Qi charging at up to 7.5W. The iPhone 16, meanwhile, offers Qi2 wireless charging up to 15W, and supports MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W when paired with a 30W adapter or higher.

The absence of MagSafe compatibility on the 16e means it won't work with the ecosystem of MagSafe accessories, including cases, wallets, and wireless chargers that have become popular with iPhone users. That was quite a surprise, and not a good one.

Battery performance presents an interesting twist, at least, with Apple claiming the iPhone 16e actually outperforms its pricier sibling. The company states the 16e can deliver up to 26 hours of video playback, compared to 22 hours on the standard iPhone 16 model.

This could be due to a combination of slightly less power and Apple’s optimised homegrown modem.

** Winner: Apple iPhone 16 **

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: picture

The 16e really isn't much of a downgrade at all in terms of the picture. During our testing, we watch Civil War in Dolby Vision, and find the picture "beautifully sharp, detailed and vibrant."

It does tend to oversaturate a little in parts compared to the iPhone 16, but never so much that it looks unnatural. The 16e's black depth is actually a little greater than the standard iPhone 16's – this makes for an even more solid and contrasty picture, although it does sacrifice some dark detail.

In dimly-lit conditions, the 16e presents plenty of detail, but it's harder to make it out in brighter conditions (like direct sunshine), especially when compared to the iPhone 16.

The 16's greater brightness shines through more ambient light as well. If you regularly watch movies on your phone outside, this could be a dealbreaker. But if you don't often see sunny conditions (i.e. you live in Britain), the 16e is pretty much a direct match for its pricier sibling.

In our review, we described the iPhone 16's picture as rich, three-dimensional and deeply engaging. It's full of texture and detail – which really adds to the sense of realism – while colours are balanced yet engaging.

Motion poses it no problems, and while the iPhone 16 Pro is brighter, the 16 still delivers plenty in this regard. The 16e is very similar indeed, just lacking a bit of brightness.

** Winner: Apple iPhone 16 **

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: sound

Sonically, these two phones are nigh-on identical. Over headphones, they sound rich and warm, punchy and rhythmic, dynamic and full of detail.

On a couple of occasions, the 16e seems to be hitting the leading edge of notes a little more crisply than the iPhone 16. Those notes have a little more volume played through the iPhone 16, but only a little.

The 16e's built-in speaker is a definite downgrade on that found on the iPhone 16. It's nowhere near as loud, nor as weighty, though it does retain a decent level of detail and energy. But be honest – how often do you use your phone's speaker for anything other than video calls?

In our review, we described the iPhone 16 as "easily one of the best-sounding smartphones we’ve heard." It's rich, detailed and engaging, with plenty of energy, great timing and deep bass.

Low-level dynamics are seriously impressive, with plenty of tonal variation, while the built-in speakers are more than fine for watching movies. True, they're somewhat lacking in the dynamics department, but they're never less than clear and detailed.

** Winner: Apple iPhone 16 **

iPhone 16e vs iPhone 16: verdict

This is a funny one: the iPhone 16 wins every round apart from price, yet the 16e could well suit you better. How so?

Just because the 16e isn't as good as the 16 in most departments, that doesn't mean it's not still brilliant. Its picture retains most of the positives of its pricier sibling's, it handles games with aplomb and sonically speaking, it's virtually indistinguishable from the 16.

In other words, its compromises are in all the right places, especially if movies and music are your priority. The 16 might be the better performer (especially in the camera department), but the 16e is stunning for the money.

MORE:

Read our full iPhone 16 review

And our iPhone 16e review

The iPhone 16e's downgrades are in all the right places if, like me, movies on the move are your priority

The iPhone 16e (essentially the new iPhone SE) has just been announced, and while Apple's entry-level phones rarely get me that excited, this one has really grabbed my attention. That's because my priority when it comes to phones is how they perform with movies, and with the iPhone 16e it seems that other elements have been downgraded so that the screen can remain very similar to the five-star iPhone 16's.

Using Apple's own iPhone comparison tool, the downgrades from iPhone 16 to iPhone 16e stand out clearly: it's available in fewer colours, it has a far less fancy camera system, and it lacks the Dynamic Island and MagSafe compatibility. Those things are nice to have, sure, but I reckon I can live without them if I need to.

And the similarities are plain to see, too: it's got the same A18 chip with Apple Intelligence support, the same storage capacity options, it's almost exactly the same size and weight, and – most importantly – it's got what appears on paper to be a near-identical 'Super Retina XDR' display.

So, we're talking about a 6.1-inch affair (plenty big enough for movies on the train or bus) with a pixel density of 460ppi (the same as not only the iPhone 16 but also the iPhone 16 Pro), a claimed contrast ratio of 2,000,000:1, True Tone and Wide Colour certifications, and support for all four of the HDR formats used for movies and TV, including Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

In fact, the only way in which the iPhone 16e's screen is a downgrade on the iPhone 16's is brightness, with SDR and HDR being rated by Apple to 800 and 1200 nits respectively rather than 1000 and 1600 nits.

Now, that drop in brightness could prove significant, but it's slight enough that I think in most conditions it won't make a huge difference. Only viewing in very bright sunlight should be obviously hampered.

We swooned over the picture quality of the iPhone 16, describing it in our review as having "a rich and three-dimensional image that is deeply engaging".

We went on to say that "the iPhone also presents colours in a balanced yet engaging fashion", and is "adept with motion as fighter jets tear down the runway of an aircraft carrier and shoot off into the sky".

On paper, at least, there's no obvious reason that the new iPhone 16e can't deliver very similar picture quality (there are no audio downgrades in the spec sheet, either). Given the significant cost saving (£200 / $200 / AU$400 upfront or £8.34 / £8.34 per month) compared with the iPhone 16, I can see the iPhone 16e being a smash hit with those who, like me, consider movies on the move to be a much bigger priority than photography.

We will, of course, need to get the new Apple handset in for complete, comparative testing before we pass judgement, but I've got high hopes and intend to be among the first in the queue to get one.

MORE:

Here's everything you need to know about the new iPhone 16e

Here are the best smartphones you can buy right now

Apple has unveiled its latest addition to the iPhone 16 family, with an overhauled entry-level offering which serves as the new starting point for the latest iPhone generation. It's called the iPhone 16e, which picks up where the iPhone SE leaves off – and it's all about serving up the latest iPhone features at a more affordable price tag.

The 16e features much of what we liked about the standard iPhone 16, including a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with support for HDR – presumably the Dolby Vision variety, as is the case with every iPhone since the X in 2018.

Apple quotes a resolution of 2532x1170, a pixel density of 460ppi, and a peak brightness of 1200 nits for HDR content (800 nits typical brightness for everything else). Furthermore, it features trimmed-down bezels for an edge-to-edge style display and Apple has even resurrected the notch; sorry, no Synamic Island here.

Apple has also stuffed its latest A18 chipset inside, which we found to be a performance champion on the five-star iPhone 16. It also has an exclusive debut chip from Apple, in the form of the C1; which is the company's first in-house designed cellular modem. We're not yet sure how this will affect the phone's 5G performance, however, Apple is promising enhanced power efficiency and "fast and reliable 5G cellular connectivity".

Elsewhere, the iPhone 16e sports a single 48MP camera, though it features a clever 2-in-1 functionality with an integrated 2x telephoto lens for improved zoomed photography. You'll also find a USB-C socket for charging and wired audio connectivity, the Action Button which can be remapped to fulfil a variety of shortcuts or functions, and Face ID for biometric authentication for unlocking the device or completing purchases.

The iPhone 16e runs the latest version of Apple's operating system – iOS 18 – with all of the key software features found on the standard iPhone 16. This means that Apple Intelligence is also on board, with a range of AI-powered photo editing, typing and search tools included.

There are, however, a couple of surprising Apple-centric omissions. MagSafe is absent, so it won't work with any of your magnetic accessories, and Camera Control (which made its debut on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro) is also nowhere to be found.

The design appears to be a fusion of the iPhone 14 and the iPhone 16, with the flat metal rails and notch of the 14 complimenting the matte glass rear and slightly softer tapered edges of the 16. Apple is only offering this handset in two finishes: black and white. It's set to be on sale on 28th February, with pre-orders available now. Pricing for the new iPhone 16e is as follows:

• 128GB: £599 / $599 / AU$999
• 256GB: £699 / $699 / AU$1199
• 512GB: £899 / $899 / AU$1549

MORE:

Read our full Apple iPhone 16 review

As well as our Apple iPhone 16 Pro review

And check out our picks for the best iPhone

After months of speculation that peaked last week with a teaser post on X, Apple has finally unveiled its next iPhone.

However, while pre-release rumours suggested it would be called the iPhone SE 4, proving its spirit animal is a cat for yet another year, Apple chose to call it the iPhone 16e instead.

And on paper, it looks pretty interesting for tech heads. Highlights include a new design that looks like a halfway house between the iPhone 14 and the current generation iPhone 16, with an upgraded A18 chipset that adds a host of Apple Intelligence upgrades and a swish-looking 6.1-inch OLED screen.

So why aren’t I breaking out the confetti? Two reasons. First, because it only unveiled the new iPhone 16e.

Despite rumours to the contrary, the little disc graphic on the teaser invite and announcement had me hoping for at least one surprise alongside the new smartphone – ideally a new HomePod Mini 2 wireless speaker.

Second, because Apple has once again made no mention of any sonic upgrades, or discussed audio quality in general in its announcement. Instead, it focussed purely on the camera and AI features. Cool, yes. But not really what gets me and the team at What Hi-Fi? up in the morning.

As a result, I have some big questions about the 16e’s audio and if it can live up to Apple’s strong track record of delivering excellent-sounding smartphones for serious music fans – a list currently headlined by the iPhone 16 Pro, which not only secured a perfect five-star rating from our testers, but also earned a What Hi-Fi? Award for its stellar sound quality last year.

First is the question around its actual hardware. Pre-release rumours suggested the phone would be heavily based on the iPhone 14 rather than iPhone 16. So we don’t know what specific circuitry, DAC etc it’s actually using.

If it is the iPhone 14 it's based on, that’s not necessarily a deal breaker given its £599 / $599 starting price. The iPhone 14 still sounds a lot better than many Android phones. We know that as we put it head to head with many of the recent mid-range handsets we've reviewed.

But, it’s nowhere near the level of the iPhone 16 Pro – which is one of the best-sounding handsets we’ve reviewed. So there could be a big difference in audio performance between the 16e and base 16 family of phones at a technical level.

Second, as we’ve said before, tuning plays a huge part in audio performance. So even if we had a full specifications sheet for the iPhone 16e, it wouldn’t tell us the whole story.

We’ve heard huge differences in audio quality between phones in the same family before and that means there could, and almost certainly will be differences between the 16e and other 16-series iPhones, even if they have similar hardware at their core.

That’s why we always run handsets through comparative testing, seeing directly how their sound performs when we review them using uniform test headphones and test tracks and sources.

Hopefully we’ll get to do the same with the iPhone 16e in the near future and answer my questions about its audio performance.

MORE:

These are the best portable music players

We rate the best phones for music and movies

Our picks of the best tablets for cinema fans

Apple has officially unveiled its latest iPhone, and it's not quite what we expected. While rumours pointed toward an iPhone SE4, we instead got the iPhone 16e which now serves as Apple's entry-level model for the latest iPhone generation.

It's got big shoes to fill, as the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro scored top marks for picture and sound, so an affordable entry into the line that could bring this impressive performance down in price is certainly cause for excitement.

So, now we know that the iPhone 16e is official, will it take the budget smartphone market by storm? And more importantly, where are new AirPods and HomePods?

• Shop iPhone on the Apple Store
• Shop AirPods on the Apple Store
• Shop HomePod on the Apple Store

What we’re expecting from the iPhone SE 4

The iPhone SE 4 is the main item most analysts expect to appear today. There’s been a steady stream of rumours about Apple planning to launch a new mid-range handset ahead of the fabled iPhone 17 line of handsets arrival later in the year. The latest rumours suggest, like past SE-series phones, the SE 4 will be an upgraded version of one of Apple’s older flagships. Specifically, it’s expected to be a modified version of the 2022 iPhone 14 (picture above).

This suggests it will be larger than past SE phones, measuring in at around 6.1-inches. The only other big upgrades of note we’re taking seriously included in the pre–event leaks suggest it will have an OLED panel and feature the same A18 chipset seen in the iPhone 16 range of phones. The latter has an overt focus on Apple intelligence (AI), which focusses on improving things like picture processing and general performance.

If done well the move to OLED will be good news for people that watch TV shows, or even YouTube on their phone. Music fans may be disappointed at the lack of obvious audio improvements, but it's important to remember the iPhone 14 was a great portable music player, by phone standards. So it will hopefully still be competitive, especially if it’s priced competitively.

Will there be new HomePods?

There are lots of conflicting rumours circling about Apple’s speaker plans this year. Some people suggest a reworked HomePod 3 is set to debut, but not until much later in the year. The latest credible report came from Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes it will launch between July and September – in the same window as the rumoured iPhone 17 line of phones. Details about any audio improvements are thin on the ground, though there’s a growing chorus of “leaks” suggesting the new wireless speaker will feature a touch screen interface.

Some rumours suggest an upgraded HomePod Mini is also in the works, which would make sense as the original launched all the way back in 2021, and while we stand by our reviewers’ five-star rating, is getting a little long in the tooth. We haven’t seen any credible reports about what hardware upgrades the rumoured new model will include. However, even if it does arrive this year, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has suggested it will be between September and November at the earliest.

What about a new Apple TV?

The Apple TV 4K (2022) remains the best media streamer we’ve tested, despite its age. But we’ve recently seen early rumblings Apple may launch an upgraded version of the streamer this year. The latest rumours suggest it’ll also be a very different beast to the current Apple TV featuring new circuitry, updated wireless connectivity and an integrated web camera for Facetime calls. Sadly, like the HomePods above, the same rumours peg the fabled upgrade with a late 2025 release, making it very unlikely we’ll see a new Apple TV today.

Apple Intelligence

As well as hardware there’s a strong chance Apple could have some AI, software related news at the launch. If the rumours are right and the A18, Apple-Intelligence-ready chipset is used on the SE 4 this would make sense. AI is a hot topic for all tech companies including Apple, which has been rolling a steady stream of AI features including ChatGPT integration, voice to text, auto image manipulation, notification summaries and more. But it’s yet to do anything audio related specifically, outside of its hearing test functionality on the AirPods. So we’re not expecting much at the event, given the lack of new hardware. But Apple has surprised us in the past…

Apple AirPods Pro 3

The Apple AirPods Pro 3 is another key product we’ve been waiting for a while now. The AirPods Pro 2 launched in September 2022, so a new model coming this year would make sense – most companies, Apple included, launch new flagship earbuds every two to three years.

Details about the fabled new AirPods Pro remain thin on the ground however. The only recent hint we’ve seen came from a US Patent and Trademark Office filing featuring several revisions to the Pro’s design. However, filings like this are quite common and don’t mean any of the changes or technologies included will actually be used.

Outside of this, commonly rumoured upgrades include minor upgrades to the buds chipset, and optimisations designed to improve ANC and audio quality, rather than a complete redesign.

Does size matter?

The team at What Hi-Fi? have covered iPhones since the first generation model. And as a result we all have a lot of hot takes on the line’s development, including What Hi-Fi? contributor, Esat Dedezade who isn’t enamoured at the prospect of the SE going up in size.

Apple 'HomePad'?

Will the AirPods Max 2 arrive?

There has been a long wait for the AirPods Max 2 since their launch announcement in September, but it looks like we will have to hold out for even longer. We have not heard any of the mutterings that would be expected when a product is launched, so it seems unlikely at this point. Of course they could completely flip the script and announce them anyway but we shall see.

The original Max had a modest upgrade last year when Apple added new colour options and USB C connectivity. When the proper AirPods Max 2 arrive, most rumours currently suggest they will include an upgraded processor compared to the AirPods Max. However, given the modest refresh last year, and lack of credible rumours, as well as the ongoing popularity of the current AirPods Max, we can’t see a new model arriving any time soon.

Top tip: don’t discount the older Apple products

We’re expecting and hoping Apple will unveil its new products soon. But ahead of that we have one top tip: don’t automatically feel the need to go for the new products.

Apple hardware retains its value for a long time and rarely gets significant discounts – outside of when it's about to be retired. With that in mind we’d strongly recommend keeping an eye on the prices of older AirPods, HomePods and Apple TVs whenever new models come out.

While we’re not expecting many of these today, on the off chance Apple does unveil new speakers, earbuds or streamers we’ve attached deals blocks below. Each automatically trawls online storefronts to find the best prices currently available.

The iPhone 16e is here!

Surprise! There isn't actually an iPhone SE 4. Instead there's an iPhone 16e. However, outside of this the phone is roughly in line with pre-event rumours. Key details include:

• A new design that looks like an iPhone 14 and 16 mashed together
• The use of a new A18 chipset with Apple Intelligence (AI gubbins)
• 48MP rear camera
• A 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with OLED display with HDR support
• USB-C charging
• $599 starting price

No new HomePod, no AirPods Pro – and so we wait

Well, while we digest the news about the new iPhone 16e – the new addition to the family that Apple CEO Tim Cook teased for today's launch – it's worth noting that there wasn't any sight of any HomePod or AirPods-related announcements. Perhaps that's to be expected, but that just means we'll be keeping an eye on the rumour mill as we wait for news of the next AirPods Pro wireless earbuds or the next-gen HomePod speaker that are meant to be launching at some point later this year.

If you're keen to see what's been revealed or suggested so far, check out our guide to all the rumours and leaks about the purported Apple HomePod with a screen, as well as our wishlist of what we want from the Apple AirPods Pro 3.

MORE DETAILS ON THE IPHONE 16E REVEALS ITS AV CAPABILITIES

It's official, Apple's latest smartphone is an affordable entry into its iPhone 16 family, and now we have more details about how this new entry-level model stacks up to its siblings in terms of AV specs.

We know it sports a 6.1-inch OLED display with a resolution of 2532x1170 and a pixel density of 460ppi. Peak brightness is 800 nits for typical use, or it can reportedly reach 1200 nits for HDR content; speaking of HDR, the iPhone 16e supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+.

Audio-wise, it should come as no surprise that the iPhone 16e features Apple Spatial Audio with Dolby Atmos, with Bluetooth 5.3 for wireless audio connectivity. It also sports a USB-C socket which allows for wired audio connectivity, meaning it should also play nice with portable DACs.

The iPhone 16e launch is great, but where's my new HomePod?

Another Apple launch event, another lack of any new HomePods. Apple, as you might have figured out by now, launched the affordably priced iPhone 16e, and while we're very happy about its arrival, it's hard not to think: "Is that it?". The affordable iPhone 16e is all well and good, but where's my new HomePod, Apple? A sequel to the Mini or an update to the mainline model are both well overdue, especially when Apple is set to integrate its latest Apple Intelligence software into its new iPhone models.

Apple has announced a surprise launch event on 19th February where it will introduce “the newest member of the family" to its fans.

Current rumblings and betting odds say this will be the hotly anticipated iPhone SE 4 – there has been a steady stream of rumours about a new SE handset for years.

And, of course, I would be happy to see a new iPhone SE – especially if some of those rumours are true.

These suggest it will be a complete departure from the iPhone SE 3, featuring an edge-to-edge OLED display and the company’s latest A18 chipset and circuitry inside.

If Apple hasn’t rocked the boat too hard and sticks to the formula that has made recent iPhones, including the iPhone 16 Pro, one of our go-to recommendations for music fans, then the SE could be a great-value portable music player for buyers on a budget. Or, indeed, those who don’t want to invest in a dedicated player such as the Sony and Astell & Kern devices in our best portable music player buying guide.

But, showing how spoiled I am after nearly two decades covering Apple launches, having seen the invitation I can’t suppress my wish for “one more thing” at the event. Those surprise late additions were a hugely anticipated feature at Apple's launch events when former CEO and co-founder Steve Jobs was at the helm.

Specifically, I’d like to see it launch a proper Apple TV. An OLED Apple TV to be precise. This won't be a surprise for regular What Hi-Fi? readers. What Hi-Fi? TV and AV editor Tom Parsons and I have long made no secret of our wish for Apple to make an actual television to complete its home cinema offering.

After all, Apple has all the ingredients that it needs to make a fantastic OLED TV readily to hand.

It already uses OLED panels to great effect in its phones, tablets, desktop computers and MacBook laptops.

The Apple iPad Pro 13-inch (M4)’s tandem OLED display – which from what we have seen works using a similar idea to the fourth-generation OLED panel technology about to feature on the LG G5, Panasonic Z95A and Philips OLED910 – was a big reason it earned a top five-star rating from our reviewers.

Tandem OLED is a screen technology that stacks two OLED layers together in a bid to boost brightness and generally improve picture quality. And in our time with it in our test rooms it performed so well that we gave the technology our Innovation of the Year trophy at last year’s What Hi-Fi? Awards. Add to this Apple's strong presence in the creative professional space, where it tunes its screens with an overt focus on things such as colour accuracy, and it seems to be in a prime spot to make an amazing looking OLED TV.

And then there is audio. Apple’s HomePod 2 wireless speaker is another top product to which our reviewers have awarded a five-star rating. A big reason for that, of course, is the natural, solid and energetic sound it produces when playing music. But it is also partly because, when two HomePods are put in a stereo configuration and connected to an Apple TV streamer, they prove to be an incredibly competent home cinema package, delivering spacious and three-dimensional audio, particularly with Dolby Atmos.

Finally we come to apps and content. Jump to our best media streamers buying guide and you’ll see the Apple TV 4K at the very top of the list. This is because it provides stellar HDR performance, a complete portfolio of all the streaming apps you will need and a wonderfully easy to navigate user interface.

Imagine how awesome a TV combining these three strengths would be. I have…

MORE:

These are the best OLED TVs we have reviewed

We rate the best tablets for music and movies

These are the best wireless speakers money can buy

New reports suggest that Apple's upcoming affordable iPhone – which has tentatively been dubbed the iPhone SE 4 – could launch later this week. It is set to join the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro in Apple's current iPhone lineup and will replace the nearly three-year-old 3rd Generation iPhone SE, which launched in March 2022.

This new rumour comes from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who has delivered many reliable Apple leaks before; so we are inclined to believe this rumour, though we should remind you to take any rumour or leak with a pinch of salt. If Gurman's prediction is true, we could expect to see the new affordable iPhone before the end of the week – though we're not anticipating a full live-streamed Apple event akin to the annual September launch.

Instead, Gurman suggests that we could see a more tame unveiling on Apple's website, which will be more in line with the quiet launch of the iPad Mini 7th Generation. According to the Bloomberg report, we could expect to see the new iPhone go on sale later this month, with stock of the current model supposedly drying up at some Apple retailers. We have attempted to verify this, though a quick look at Apple's website shows that the SE 3rd Generation is still available at many of its locations here in the UK.

We eagerly await the release of the iPhone SE 4 for a multitude of reasons – especially as rumours point to this iteration of the smartphone being a major departure from the previous two generations. It's reportedly set to drop the iPhone 8 chassis and adopt an iPhone 14-style look with slimmer bezels and a notch. As part of this upgrade, Apple is rumoured to be incorporating a 6.1-inch OLED display, which should make this affordable iPhone a much better device for on-the-go movie watching.

Furthermore, Apple has been on its A-game regarding audio performance lately; in fact, we called the iPhone 16 "easily one of the best-sounding smartphones we’ve heard". If this supposed new SE 4 follows in the footsteps of its flagship siblings, then we could be in for a treat. We are also eager to pit this rumoured new iPhone against our current favourite budget handset, the Sony Xperia 10 VI. It took home the coveted Product of the Year title at our most recent Awards thanks to its superb AV performance and excellent value – so could this new iPhone SE pose a genuine threat?

Other rumours (courtesy of Tom's Guide) suggest that the new SE will swap Touch ID for Face ID, support Apple Intelligence (Apple's AI feature suite) thanks to the A17 Pro chip, and ditch the Lightning port in favour of USB-C. There are also reports that it will stick to having just one camera, though that is expected to jump from 12MP to 48MP.

Of course, we are most intrigued by the picture and sound capabilities of this prospective iPhone, so stay tuned to see if this affordable Apple handset materialises later this week.

MORE:

Read our full iPhone 16 Pro review

iPhone 16 vs Samsung Galaxy S25: how do they compare?

Check out our list of the best iPhones

We're just a few short hours away from the iPhone 17 launch. To stay up to speed on all the latest developments, check out our Apple event 2025 live hub. Or read on to see what all the leaks and rumours have been saying over the last year or so.

It's a lot. From the camera specs and screen changes to design tweaks and even what colours to expect, we've heard them all. And we've sifted through them to bring you only the most relevant – and likely – predictions.

We're expecting a new, ultra thin model – dubbed the iPhone 17 Air – to join the standard, Pro and Pro Max models. All four handsets are expected to get 120Hz ProMotion screens, and the Pro and Pro Max are rumoured to feature a new 48-megapixel telephoto camera.

Apple is also rumoured to be increasing the base level of iPhone 17 Pro from 128GB to 256GB. Though it could mean a price rise.

We could even see the AirPods Pro 3 debut alongside the new iPhones. After all, the AirPods Pro 2 launched alongside the iPhone 14 in 2022, so the timing would be consistent. And Apple announced the AirPods 4 with ANC at the iPhone 16 event last year, so it's clearly no stranger to letting its new smartphones share the limelight.

Apple's 'Awe dropping' event kicks off at 10AM Pacific Time (6PM BST / 3AM AEST on Wednesday). We'll update this page once all the details are official – in the meantime, read on for what to expect.

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iPhone 17 release date rumours

Apple's 'Awe Dropping' event takes place on 9th September 2025, and you can bet it will launch the iPhone 17. How can we be so sure? Check out when every recent iPhone was announced.

• iPhone 11: 10th September 2019
• iPhone 12: 13th October 2020
• iPhone 13: 14th September 2021
• iPhone 14: 7th September 2022
• iPhone 15: 12th September 2023
• iPhone 16: 9th September 2024

The event kicks off at 10AM Pacific Time (6PM BST / 3AM AEST on Wednesday).

This could be the last year with the current iPhone launch schedule. One recent report says that Apple might split future iPhone launches across two separate release windows – retaining the traditional autumn schedule for Pro models while shifting standard models to the following spring.

This would take effect from 2026, possibly the same year that the foldable iPhone launches (here's everything we know so far about Apple's folding iPhone).

iPhone 17 price hearsay

The nature of inflation means that devices like phones usually get more expensive. But in the last couple of years, we've seen much more modest price rises than previously.

In some cases, prices have remained the same, or even fallen, meaning a new model launches for less than its inferior predecessor.

The iPhone 16 range costs broadly the same as the iPhone 15 before it.

For context, Apple's latest iPad Pro launched at £50 / $200 / AU$200 more than the model it replaces, though admittedly it did add an OLED screen to the offering.

But the AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation launched at the same price as the AirPods 3, and that's despite adding ANC. So Apple's prices don't always go up.

Running counter to that, the iPhone 16e replaced the iPhone SE as Apple's cheapest iPhone. But with a starting price of £599 / $599 / AU$999, it's not exactly budget. Which suggests Apple has given up on the cheap phone market.

Prices are notoriously tricky to predict, especially for a new variant like the iPhone 17 Air.

The recent tariff uncertainty has prompted some Apple analysts to forecast a price rise. Smartphones were supposed to be among the devices exempt from tariffs, but then President Trump backtracked and threatened tariffs of "at least" 25 per cent on any iPhone made outside America.

According to Counterpoint Research, this will spell a price rise. Leaker @Jukanlosreve specifies that this will mean a $50 (£40 / AU$75) price hike compared to the iPhone 16 models.

More RAM has been rumoured for the iPhone 17 range (more on this later), but with 12GB RAM modules costing 50 per cent more than 8GB ones, a price rise could be on the cards.

Couple that with the rumour that Apple will bin off the 128GB variant of iPhone 17 Pro models in favour of 256GB, and we would say a higher starting price is looking increasingly likely.

iPhone 17 range shakeup?

One of the biggest rumours concerning the iPhone 17 is the range make-up.

Before the iPhone 16 even launched, there was talk of the Plus model being replaced by a new 'Air' or 'Slim' variant.

As the name suggests, this would be slimmer than the current Plus, but also have other points of difference, like a different screen size and camera arrangement.

According to analyst Ming-Chi Kuo (who has a decent track record when it comes to these things), the iPhone 17 Air will measure just 5.5mm at its thinnest point, approaching the svelte dimensions of Apple's 5.1mm iPad Pro M4.

This remarkable thinness isn't merely an engineering achievement – Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests it could serve as a crucial testing ground for technologies destined for future foldable Apple devices.

According to a leak from Korea (via MacRumors) the Air's battery is about half a thick as the iPhone 17 Pro's. Which would certainly help slim down the device.

Here's how the iPhone 17 Air might look, with a render created by Front Page Tech.

The pursuit of such a slim profile has led Apple to make several significant design decisions, Gurman says: the frame will use a unique titanium-aluminium blend, with a higher proportion of aluminium than seen in current Pro models.

Physical SIM functionality will be replaced entirely by eSIM technology, while audio output will rely on a single speaker at the top rather than the dual-speaker configuration found in current iPhones.

If this is true, it could impact sound quality, so consider our interest piqued.

One more design compromise – the USB-C port on the bottom might not be centred, but rather be situated closer to the rear of the device than the front. That's in order to accommodate display components within the enclosure, according to a dummy model seen by AppleTrack.

That's a fairly minor change in the grand scheme of things. But unsightly to those with an eye for design, as it would mess up the pleasing symmetry of the device's bottom edge. We can't imagine Steve Jobs ever countenancing it.

In leaker Majin Bu's photos (via GSMArena) of a dummy iPhone 17 Air, the handset certainly looks slim, but the camera lens juts out quite a bit from the top half. Which could turn some people off.

The iPhone 17 Air also thought to feature a black camera bar across the width of its back panel.

And speaking on the Recycle Bin podcast, tipster Jon Prosser speculated that the iPhone 17 Air could have a 6.7-inch screen – bigger than the 6.55 inches previously rumoured (though this was rounded up to 6.6 inches).

6.7 inches would be the same size as the screen on the iPhone 16 Plus – which would make sense, seeing as the 17 Air is said to replace the 16 Plus in Apple's line-up.

Apple is said to be using high-density battery cells in the iPhone 17 Air in order to cram more battery power into a slimmer frame. That's according to Ming-Chi Kuo.

iPhone 17 screen speculation

There's talk of Apple increasing the screen size of the standard iPhone model to bring it in line with the Pro.

Currently, the iPhone 16 has a 6.1-inch screen, compared to the iPhone 16 Pro's 6.3-incher.

With the rumoured iPhone 17 Air replacing the Plus model, that would leave the iPhone 17 range as follows:

• iPhone 17: 6.3 inches
• iPhone 17 Air/Slim: 6.6/6.7 inches
• iPhone 17 Pro: 6.3 inches
• iPhone 17 Pro Max: 6.9 inches

But that's not the only screen change being mooted.

Apple is also said to bring 120Hz refresh rates to every iPhone in the line-up (including the rumoured iPhone 17 Air). This is a pretty big deal, given that its so-called ProMotion displays are currently exclusive to the Pro models.

But according to display analyst Ross Young (via MacRumors), 120Hz will soon be standard across the board.

This was also mooted by a leaker on Weibo(via MacRumors) who said this would be enabled by Samsung's M14 OLED display panel (which is currently only used in Apple's iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max).

Not only would 120Hz refresh rates mean better handling of more frantic action, with less slowdown, it would also allow every iPhone 17 model to scale down to the more power efficient refresh rate of just 1Hz, extending battery life while also allowing for always-on displays to show information while the handset is locked (again, this feature is currently limited to the Pro models).

Samsung's M14 panel is also 30 per cent brighter than the M13 that came before it.

However, one leaker has poured cold water on our expectations. Someone calling themselves Digital Chat Station posted on Weibo that you should "lower your expectations appropriately", which suggests that either the standard and Air will only have 90Hz screens (still up from the 60Hz of the standard iPhone 16) or that they will have 120Hz displays but that these will lack the energy-efficient ProMotion tech of the Pro models.

That would mean fewer gains in battery life. But another screen technology could help out in this area.

Low-Dielectric TEE (Transmission Electrically Enhanced) apparently "improves battery efficiency, maximises display durability, and enhances overall performance compared to existing display technologies" according to the person who posted about it.

It's said to be new technology about very little is known, so file this under 'maybe' for now.

The iPhone 17 is also said to have an anti-reflective screen that's more scratch-resistant than Apple's current Ceramic Shield, according to a rumour on Chinese social network Weibo.

A smaller Dynamic Island could also be in store. Analyst Jeff Pu says (via MacRumors) that the iPhone 17 Pro Max will have a "much narrowed [sic] Dynamic Island" thanks to the Face ID system using a smaller "metalens".

Instead of being curved like a traditional lens, this would be thin and flat and be able to focus light more precisely. It would be the first change to the Dynamic Island since it was introduced in 2022.

However, another well-respected analyst thinks the Dynamic Island will remain "largely unchanged".

iPhone 17 design rumours

The iPhone 17 is said to feature some significant design changes compared to its predecessor.

One of the biggest – and most puzzling – design changes mentioned is ditching the Pro models' titanium build in favour of aluminium across the board. That's according to The Information, which notes that "the back of the Pro and Pro Max models will feature a new part-aluminium, part-glass design.

"The top of the back will comprise a larger rectangular camera bump made of aluminium rather than traditional 3D glass. The bottom half will remain glass to accommodate wireless charging."

Why is this puzzling? Apple only introduced titanium in 2023, on the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.

Apple marketed titanium as strong yet light, and a more premium option than the stainless steel previously used. (It hasn't used aluminium for a premium iPhone since the iPhone X in 2017.)

As such, this rumour has been met with some skepticism.

The iPhone 17 Pro could have the same horizontal camera bar on the rear as the iPhone 17 Air, according to this render from Front Page Tech.

But another leak contradicts that, showing the camera bar split into two distinct sections. Mark Gurman reckons the bar will be the same colour as the rest of the iPhone too, whereas previously it was thought to be a different shade in order to stand out.

According to leaker Majin Bu, the camera bar will mean the Apple logo sits lower on the back of the iPhone 17 Pro model than on the iPhone 16 range.

The iPhone 17's battery could be easier to remove, thanks to a different type of adhesive. According to MacRumors, that would make the batteries easier to swap, extending the life of your iPhone.

According to these CADs (computer-aided designs) shared by reputable leaker Sonny Dickson, the iPhone 17 will have a very similar design to the iPhone 16, with only the Air, Pro and Pro Max getting the horizontal camera bar.

Though the standard iPhone 17 model would still get plenty of other improvements, like the 120Hz always-on screen and possibly some new colour schemes.

The iPhone 17 Air will have the same dimensions as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, apart from being slimmer, according to leaker Ice Universe.

"The iPhone 17 Air is 5.5mm thick, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max is 8.725mm thick," they wrote on Weibo.

That would make the 17 Pro Max quite a bit thicker than the 16 Pro Max.

We should also have some new colours with this year's model. Rumours say – via MacRumors – that the iPhone 17 Air will come in a new light blue, similar to the M4 MacBook Air that launched earlier this year, while the 17 Pro could come in a nice shade of orange. We know Apple is trying to cosy up to Trump but this seems ridiculous...

iPhone 17 specs and features leaks

Apple usually gives its new iPhones a new processor, and the iPhone 17 should be no different.

The range-topping iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are expected to feature Apple's A19 Pro chip, while the iPhone 17 and 17 Air/Slim are thought to feature the standard A19.

This is in keeping with the iPhone 16 range, which was the first to feature different versions of the same chip in the Pro and non-Pro models.

TSMC's upcoming N3P technology is thought to feature. This is said to offer better efficiency and increased transistor density.

More RAM is also thought to be in the offing. Analyst Jeff Pu has previously said that the Pro models will have 12GB RAM, and the non-Pros 8GB.

However, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo reckons that only the Pro Max will have 12GB, with the rest featuring 8GB. In a more recent blog post, he expanded this prediction to include the iPhone 17 Air as well.

Apple doesn't reveal how much RAM each iPhone features, so it's down to teardowns and online sleuths to reveal it.

The iPhone 17 Air, in particular, is expected to feature at least 8GB of RAM to support Apple Intelligence's AI features, despite its slim profile.

However, the thin design necessitates some compromises – notably, the device will completely eliminate the physical SIM tray in favour of eSIM technology, which could affect its availability in certain markets.

Other new features are said to include an Apple-designed 5G modem (only in the Slim/Air variant), and an Apple custom Wi-Fi 7 chip.

The iPhone 17 range is also expected to gain vapour chamber cooling (via 9to5Mac). This is a more effective method of passive cooling to squeeze the maximum possible performance out of the phone.

Opinion is split whether this will be exclusive to the Pro Max, or available on all models.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is also said to have a 5000mAh battery – larger than any iPhone that has come before it. The 16 Pro Max has a 4685mAh battery.

Google's Gemini AI assistant could arrive as part of the iPhone 17. Google's CEO Sundar Pichai has reportedly been talking to his Apple counterpart Tim Cook about having Gemini built into the next iPhone, and hopes to have a deal in place by the launch, Bloomberg reports.

But Apple's own Siri AI has reportedly been shunted back to 2026, according to Bloomberg.

We could see faster charging speeds. 91Mobiles spotted that Apple has submitted regulatory filings in Taiwan for two new MagSafe chargers supporting the Qi 2.2 standard. This would step up the maximum charging speed from 25W to 50W, meaning greater efficiency and less heat generation, and even better alignment when snapped into place using their magnets. Wins all round.

iPhone 17 camera conjecture

The camera is always one of the main selling points of any iPhone, and the iPhone 17's could be the best yet, with a comprehensive update across the range expected.

The top-end iPhone 17 Pro Max is rumoured to be the first iPhone with three 48-megapixel rear cameras: wide, ultrawide and tetraprism telephoto.

It's also said to feature the "strongest telephoto camera yet", which could make for better zoom capabilities, better portraits and more stable video recording.

The iPhone 17 Air, given its svelte nature, is expected to have just a single rear camera, to allow it to be much thinner than its stablemates.

One model in the range is also said to have a mechanical aperture, to vary the amount of light allowed in to the sensor.

This would allow for shallow depth of field shots, and make it a much more versatile camera.

However, The Information doesn't reveal which model this would be, though it would make sense to be the 17 Pro Max, with the highest-end model getting the most advanced features.

The 5x telephoto zoom lens is thought to remain exclusive to the Pro models in the iPhone 17 range.

Every phone in the family is said to have a 24-megapixel front-facing camera – double the resolution of the iPhone 16's 12-megapixel selfie-taker.

The iPhone 17 is also rumoured to gain 8K video recording, according to a source on Weibo (via GSMArena).

Some Android phones allow 8K video recording, but this would be the first iPhone with the feature.

iPhone 17 early verdict

Even before the iPhone 16 broke cover, the 17 was said to be the first significant upgrade to the iPhone in years. If these rumours are true, that definitely looks to be the case.

As ever, Apple won't be short of competition, with Google, Samsung and a host of Chinese competitors vying for your hard-earned. But with a price rise looking more likely by the day, Apple will have to deliver even more from the iPhone 17.

We'll keep updating this page regularly with all the latest leaks, rumours and news, so make sure you check back for the latest.

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Apple’s iPhone launches have become somewhat formulaic in recent years. The shiny new model is revealed, we hear about how powerful the new processor and camera are, and the phrase “best iPhone yet” is usually thrown in there for good measure. Picture and sound performance, on the contrary, is relegated to the footnotes or is sometimes absent altogether.

While we yearn for a segment in Apple’s yearly livestream to dig deeper into new features that enhance the movie and music capabilities of the latest iPhone handset, we’re also ready to accept that megapixels and app loading times are a bigger draw, even though each iPhone generation traditionally tends to feature a better AV experience than its predecessor. 

2024 marks the year of the iPhone 16 series which, despite the name, is the 18th generation of iPhones. We have the iPhone 16 Pro specifically on hand today and, as expected, it's quicker and features a better camera than the iPhone 15 Pro; but how does it handle movies and music?

Price

iPhone prices have been somewhat unstable in recent years, and it usually heavily depends on which region you’re situated in as to whether you’ll be paying more, less or the same as the previous generation handset. Thankfully, this year it actually looks like good news all around, as the iPhone 16 Pro costs £999 / $999 / AU$1799 – the same as the 15 Pro in the UK and US, and AU$50 cheaper in Australia.

That will get you the base storage option with a frustratingly stingy 128GB capacity; though you can spec it up to 1TB for a less wallet-friendly £1499 / $1499 / AU$2699. Apple does offer a larger screen alternative with the iPhone 16 Pro Max (which starts at £1199 / $1199 / AU$2149), as well as two cheaper models in the form of the iPhone 16 (£799 / $799 / AU$1399) and iPhone 16 Plus (£899 / $899 / AU$1599).

The iPhone 16 Pro occupies an unusual position in the smartphone market, as other manufacturers tend to position their flagship devices to contend with the Pro Max variant. The Galaxy S24 Ultra launched at £1249 / $1299 / AU$2199, whereas the Sony Xperia 1 VI retails for £1299 / $1700 approx / AU$2500 – both are more expensive. 

The Xperia 5 V (which launched last year) is a closer comparison at £849, or the recently released Google Pixel 9 Pro (which we’re yet to review) might be the most like-for-like comparison at £999 / $999 / AU$1699. 

Build

Apple claims to have given the iPhone 16 Pro a “stunning new design”... are we missing something? The 16 Pro looks nearly identical to the 15 Pro, which in turn looked very similar to the previous generations of iPhones stretching back to 2020’s iPhone 12 series. Apple has clearly found a formula that works though, as this handset looks and feels exquisite, even if it’s not exactly revolutionary. 

The build once again combines glass and titanium, to create a rigid and premium feel in the hand. Apple has swapped brushed ‘aerospace-grade’ titanium for a polished effect, which makes the side rails slightly shinier; as a result, you’ll likely see more fingerprints on your phone depending on the finish you opt for. 

Speaking of finishes, there are four to choose from: Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium and, new for this year, Desert Titanium. We have a white model on hand, and approve of its smart and clean styling, though you might want to opt for the new gold hue if you want people to know you’ve splashed out on the latest device.

Admittedly, there are a few new design cues to signal that this is indeed a new iPhone. The 16 Pro sports a slightly larger screen than last year’s device – 6.3 inches up from 6.1, the Pro Max reaches a colossal 6.9 inches up from 6.7 – and the bezels around the display have shrunk even further. 

It’s not totally borderless, and the dynamic island still floats across the top edge (which can be intrusive for watching video), but Apple has done an excellent job of shaving the bezels down to achieve a sleek and minimalist look, which makes the 16 Pro feel even more futuristic than its predecessor. The display is also coated with Apple’s Ceramic Shield material, which makes it reportedly twice as durable as the glass on other smartphones.

The second and more obvious design difference that gives this new model away is the Camera Control button. Last year’s iPhone 15 Pro got the remappable Action Button, and this year it’s joined by Camera Control, which is a combination camera shortcut and capture button. If you gently depress the button with a half click, you can access a selection of camera controls. To interact with these, you just swipe your finger across the sapphire crystal-coated surface, which feels fairly intuitive for the default zoom function and a bit clunky for anything else.

We wish it was slightly lower on the side of the device, as we have to crane our finger awkwardly around the edge of the frame to reach the button – something that would be negated if the Camera Control button was shifted a few millimetres to the right, and physically pushing down on the side of the device can make lining up shots trickier, as we’ve snapped our fair share of wonky pictures with this iPhone. 

Features

We’ll get this out of the way first: Apple Intelligence is not available on the iPhone 16 Pro yet. It’s plastered across the marketing for this device, and all over Apple’s website too, but when we hold down the lock button expecting to interface with this new AI system, we’re instead met with the same Siri interface we’ve seen from the previous generation of iPhones. AI features are expected to go live in a forthcoming update, but they’re absent so far – note that availability will vary by region when it does launch, with EU regions especially being affected. 

Having Apple Intelligence missing at launch feels like an unusual misstep from Apple. We rarely see an iPhone launch without one of its tentpole features. Bear in mind that the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max will also gain access to this feature when it launches, so if you’re on the previous generation device, you shouldn’t feel the need to upgrade immediately. 

The triple camera arrangement on the rear of the device should also be familiar to anyone with previous generation iPhones, as the 48MP main sensor and 12MP telephoto lenses return, while the ultrawide camera gets a bump up to 48MP this year. In practice, the iPhone 16 Pro is an excellent smartphone for photography, as it produces crisp and detailed images with rich colours, and the versatility of the different lenses is appreciated. That being said, it can be overshadowed by the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra, which also produces high-quality pictures and features an additional telephoto lens for zoomed photography.

Internally, the 16 Pro is a step up over the already powerful 15 Pro, with the A18 Pro processor powering the device alongside 8GB of RAM. In practice, the phone flies through the iOS 18 operating system and isn’t challenged by having multiple heavy-duty apps running. Furthermore, we anticipate that it will be supported by Apple for at least five years of software upgrades. As was the case with last year’s model, the 16 Pro’s powerful GPU is capable of delivering console-quality titles elsewhere seen on the Xbox Series X and PS5, including Resident Evil 8: Village, Death Stranding: Director’s Cut, and Assassin’s Creed: Mirage. 

Moving onto the AV-oriented features of the 16 Pro, we get to the display. It’s a nearly identical affair to the 15 Pro it replaces, albeit slightly larger as we’ve previously mentioned. It’s a 6.3-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display, with a variable refresh rate from 1Hz to 120Hz – Apple calls this ProMotion and it can also be found on the iPad Pro M4. It supports HDR in the HDR10, HDR10+ and Dolby Vision formats too, and has a resolution of 1206 x 2622 pixels and a pixel density of 460ppi. 

ProMotion remains a key asset of the Pro-series iPhones, as it makes navigating the iOS 18 operating system a dream; animations flow and swiping between home screen pages feels incredibly smooth. It also features a broad brightness range from one nit to 2000 nits peak brightness. You may wonder why the display would need to reach such a low brightness, but Apple pairs it with the 1Hz refresh rate for the always-on display feature to minimise battery usage. We’re well aware that a large portion of the Android phone market has had 120Hz and always-on displays for quite some time, so Apple is slightly behind the curve, but they’re nice features to have nonetheless.

As for sound, the iPhone 16 Pro is slightly more limited than its Android counterparts. It features a stereo speaker set-up that combines the earpiece and bottom-firing loudspeaker, and there’s no headphone jack (as to be expected) though you can hook USB-C earbuds up or wired cans via an adapter. Wireless audio utilises Bluetooth 5.3 in the A2DP and LE codecs, and Dolby Atmos is supported on both the loudspeakers and over headphones. 

Finally, Apple quotes a higher battery capacity on this new iPhone, with a larger 3582mAh cell that can reportedly last for 27 hours of consistent video playback. We find that it comfortably lasts us through some intensive video and audio testing at high brightness with an impressively small drop in battery percentage. 

Apple also sells an upgraded MagSafe wireless charger that is compatible with this device. It supports 25W wireless charging, though wired charging still maxes out at 20W with a supported USB-C fast charger. Apple claims that you can reach 50 per cent battery in just 30 minutes over wired charging, which should be useful if you need to juice your phone up in a pinch – just remember that the 20W power adapter is not included in the box. 

Picture

As has been the case for practically every generation of iPhone we’ve seen, the latest model performs better than its predecessor, even if Apple doesn’t make any grand claims of potent AV upgrades. We fire up content in Dolby Vision on Netflix, and content from our Apple TV library too – and the bottom line is that this iPhone delivers a balanced, sharp and bright image that looks stunning regardless of the content we throw at it.

Starting with Top Gun: Maverick in Dolby Vision on Netflix, we’re met with a warm, rich and engaging image. The edges of fighter jets are crisp and well-defined, leading to a pleasingly three-dimensional presentation, and details of the jets are retained even when submerged in shadows. The setting sun that bathes this sequence in golden light is reproduced to great effect, and the times that we do see the sun in all its glory, we’re treated to bright highlights and plenty of detail retained in the surrounding clouds.

While the picture as a whole is rich and punchy, it’s also expertly balanced, and there is a palpable subtlety to be found. As evidenced by 1917 in HDR10 (also on Netflix), clothing textures have a subtle gradation of colour throughout that isn’t visible on equivalent handsets, such as the Sony Xperia 1 VI. The dirt that forms the trenches is packed with detail, with defined rocks and rubble adding texture without looking either mushy or over-etched. 

Furthermore, the iPhone is excellent at identifying the focal point of the image, ensuring our focus is drawn to Lance Corporals Blake and Schofield. It still retains a crisp three-dimensionality with other elements of the picture, like a tree in the background, but it ensures that they are firmly in the background – which further enhances the depth of the image. 

Top that off with inky blacks courtesy of the OLED display and impressive motion handling of speeding jets and motorbikes in Top Gun, and the iPhone 16 Pro proves itself a formidable portable movie-watching machine. With dark content such as Drive’s opening sequence, we see plenty of detail retained in the darkest part of the image – the side of the titular Driver’s face and ear are still visible even when he’s mostly covered by shadows; notably, this has tripped up other smartphones which are heavier handed where dark details and contrast are concerned. 

Sound

Apple has settled on a signature sound with its iPhones, however, that doesn’t mean that it doesn’t innovate with each iteration. Put simply, the iPhone 16 Pro is easily the best-sounding phone we’ve heard all year.

Starting with the headphone performance, we plug a pair of wired headphones into the 16 Pro using the same USB-C to 3.5mm jack adapter we use for all smartphone reviews and find that Apple has refined its sound to be even more inviting than before. We listen to a range of tracks on Tidal from the likes of Tool, Taylor Swift, James Blake and Bon Iver, and find the warm, smooth and dynamic sound that we’ve come to expect from iPhones to be present. However, this year it digs out even more detail.

Each strike of the piano in Taylor Swift’s The 1 sounds delicate yet crisp and impactful, while the rhythmic plucking in Tool’s Invincible is bursting with texture and detail. Stepping up to Fred Again’s Places To Be, the iPhone doesn’t even think about stumbling over the pacey electronic beat – ensuring that the dance track is buzzing with energy and timed perfectly. 

Apple does lock some of its premier audio features behind its AirPods line of wireless earphones, such as Spatial Audio, so you may find extra value if you’re already deep into the famed Apple ecosystem; however, you’ll still find an abundance of audio excellence if you have a pair of wired cans or non-Apple earbuds. 

Unplugging our headphones and reverting to the stereo loudspeaker system, we find it to be a more than acceptable experience for a spot of movie watching. Returning to Top Gun: Maverick, we’re met with a clean and punchy sound from these speakers, that manage to inject energy into Kenny Loggins’ iconic Danger Zone track while also making an admirable attempt at tracking the sound of the jets as they roar down the aircraft carrier and into the sky. These speakers carry some genuine weight behind them and are surprisingly dynamic too, though we wouldn’t count on them to replace a quality Bluetooth speaker if you do want to play your music out loud.

Verdict

The iPhone 16 Pro is an easy handset to recommend if you want a flagship Apple smartphone, and that’s not just because it has completely replaced the excellent iPhone 15 Pro. It’s a formidable smartphone for watching movies, and it’s equally impressive when it comes to music too. Ultimately, it comes down to subtlety – something other manufacturers seem to overlook in favour of chasing the brightest screens or longest list of audio features. Apple’s attention to detail is practically unrivalled, and that enhances every aspect of the 16 Pro’s AV experience in a meaningful way.

Review published: October 2023. Review updated: November 2024.

SCORES

• Picture 5
• Sound 5
• Features 5

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Apple's shiny new iPhone 16 lineup has arrived, and, surprise surprise, they're the best, most magical iPhones yet. At least, that's the theory. With all manner of new features (including new hardware changes) to dive into, you may be tempted to head straight to the Apple online store and check out the pre-order details.

But wait! Which iPhone 16 model should you get? Is the base iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Plus enough? Or should you splurge and treat yourself to the iPhone 16 Pro or Pro Max? 

We've compared the features and specs of both ranges side by side, so you can see what's new, to help you make an informed decision about which model you should have your eye on. Read on for all the details. 

iPhone 16 vs 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max: price

The iPhone 16 starts at £799 / $799 / AU$1399 for the 128GB version, while the larger iPhone 16 Plus begins at £899 / $899 / AU$1599.

As expected, the Pro models come with a premium price tag. The iPhone 16 Pro starts at £999 / $999 /AU$1799, while the Pro Max begins at £1199 / $1199 / AU$2149. Both Pro models offer storage options up to a whopping 1TB.

While the Pro models offer more advanced features (more on that below), the standard iPhone 16 provides better value for those who don't need all the bells and whistles.

**Winner: iPhone 16**

iPhone 16 vs 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max: design and display

At first glance, both the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro models share a similar design language, but there are some notable differences.

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus come in 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch sizes respectively, featuring OLED displays with the Dynamic Island. They're available in five colours: black, white, pink, teal, and ultramarine.

The Pro models, however, take things up a notch. The iPhone 16 Pro sports a 6.3-inch display, while the Pro Max boasts a massive 6.9-inch screen – the largest ever on an iPhone. Both Pro models feature Super Retina XDR displays with ProMotion technology, offering refresh rates up to 120Hz for smoother scrolling and animations.

In terms of materials, the Pro models are crafted from durable titanium and are available in black, natural, white, and desert titanium finishes. The standard models stick with the tried-and-true aluminium and glass construction.

All models now feature the Action button, replacing the mute switch, and introduce the new Camera Control button for enhanced photography options.

While both ranges offer excellent displays and build quality, the Pro models edge ahead with their ProMotion displays and premium materials.

**Winner: iPhone 16 Pro models**

iPhone 16 vs 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max: camera

The camera systems are where the Pro models shine, though that's not to say that the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus are shabby in the imaging department.

A standout feature across all the iPhone 16 models is the new Camera Control button, which changes how you can interact with the iPhone's camera. In short, it's a versatile, multi-function control that enhances the photography and videography experience by combining a tactile switch, a high-precision force sensor, and a capacitive sensor, allowing for various interactions. 

Using it, you can quickly launch the camera app, take photos, and start video recording with simple clicks, and it also supports touch gestures, letting you quickly adjust settings like zoom, exposure, or depth of field, by sliding your finger along the button itself. This intuitive control method should make it easier than ever to capture the perfect shot without fumbling with on-screen controls.

As for the cameras themselves, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus feature a dual-camera system with a 48MP main sensor and a 12MP ultra-wide lens. The main camera now offers a 2x optical-quality zoom, effectively giving users two focal lengths in one, serving up more flexibility in the process.

The Pro models, however, take iPhone photography to loftier heights – both the 16 Pro and Pro Max feature a triple-camera system. There's a main 48MP camera with a faster quad-pixel sensor, which promises to capture stunning detail in various lighting conditions (though we'll have to confirm this in our full review). 

Complementing this is a new 48MP ultra-wide camera, offering expansive landscapes and group shots with, again, potentially more clarity. The Pro models also feature a 5x telephoto lens, letting you get closer to subjects without compromising image quality.

On the video front, there are some pretty major differences. The Pro models can, for a start, capture 4K120 fps video in Dolby Vision – a smartphone first. This allows for incredibly smooth, high-resolution slow-motion footage with professional-grade colour grading. They also offer advanced features like ProRAW photography for maximum editing flexibility, ProRes video recording for cinema-quality footage, and a new macro mode for the ultra-wide camera, enabling stunning close-up shots.

Both ranges benefit from next-generation Photographic Styles and can capture spatial photos and videos for viewing on Apple Vision Pro. However, the Pro models offer more flexibility and higher-quality output for serious photographers and videographers. Whether or not these new imaging features are worth the substantial bump in the asking price, is up to you.

**Winner: iPhone 16 Pro models**

iPhone 16 vs 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max: features, specs and battery life

Beneath the hood of both iPhone 16 ranges (standard and Pro), you'll find Apple's absurdly powerful new A18 processor series. The standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus feature the A18 chip, which offers impressive performance gains over its predecessor. Apple claims it has up to 30% faster CPU performance and 40% faster GPU performance compared to the A16 Bionic, which itself was no slouch.

The Pro models, however, are equipped with the more powerful A18 Pro chip, which is at the time of writing, the most powerful smartphone processor around. Built on a 3nm process, the A18 Pro boasts a 6-core CPU that's 15% faster than the A17 Pro, with two performance cores and four efficiency cores. Its desktop-class five-core GPU is up to 40% faster than that of the A17 Pro, offering significant improvements for graphics-intensive tasks. You don't have to be a spec fiend to appreciate the sheer firepower on offer here – though whether or not it's worth paying extra for, is up to you.

Battery life has also seen improvements across both ranges. Apple claims a "big boost in battery life" for the standard iPhone 16 models, thanks to the efficient A18 chip and a re-engineered internal design that allows for a larger battery and better heat dissipation. The Pro models, particularly the iPhone 16 Pro Max, are said to offer "the best battery life on iPhone ever," though specific figures aren't provided. We know that the batteries have increased in size at least, though the specific figures remain a mystery. In short, the Pro range offers more juice per charge.

On the AI front, both ranges also support the new Apple Intelligence features, including improved writing tools, smarter Siri, and upcoming additions like Image Playground and Genmoji creation. However, the Pro models' more powerful A18 Pro chip may enable faster processing of these AI tasks.

In terms of storage, the standard iPhone 16 models offer options up to 512GB, while the Pro models go up to a massive 1TB, catering to users with more demanding storage needs.

All models now feature the Action button and the new Camera Control button, enhancing user interaction and photography capabilities. However, the Pro models use these controls to offer more advanced camera features, such as ProRAW capture and ProRes video recording. With all that said, the Pro and Pro Max are the clear winners here.

**Winner: iPhone 16 Pro models**

iPhone 16 vs 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max: early verdict

Both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro variants offer significant upgrades over the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro predecessors, with Apple Intelligence features, improved cameras, and the promise of enhanced performance across the board.

The standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus phones provide an excellent balance of features and value, offering many of the headline capabilities at a more accessible price point. They're ideal for users who want a powerful, capable smartphone without breaking the bank.

The iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max, however, continue to push the boundaries of what's possible in a smartphone. With their more advanced camera systems, ProMotion displays, and the powerhouse A18 Pro chip, they're geared towards power users, photography enthusiasts, and professionals who demand the absolute best.

Ultimately, the choice between the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro will come down to your specific needs and budget. Both could deliver exceptional experiences (on paper, at least), but the Pro models appear to justify their higher price tags with additional premium features and capabilities.

We'll update this comparison once we've had the chance to put all the new iPhone models through our rigorous testing process, so watch this space.

MORE: 

iPhone 16 hands-on review

iPhone 16 Pro: price, release date and more

AirPods 4 hands-on review

Apple's latest iPhone has arrived, bringing with it a host of new features and improvements. The iPhone 16 boasts the new A18 chip, a redesigned camera system with a dedicated Capture Control button, and the promise of Apple Intelligence features. But how does it stack up against its predecessor, the iPhone 15? And will it deliver any upgrade to sound and picture performance?

We've dug into the details to compare the features and specs of both phones, so you can see what's new, and decide whether you think it's worth upgrading. 

We've been hands-on with the new iPhone 16 in California, and this comparison is based on our first impressions and all the specs and new features. Wondering whether to hit the iPhone 16 pre-order button? Read on for all the answers...

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: price

Apple has stuck to the pricing structure of the iPhone 15 for the iPhone 16. 

The base 128GB iPhone 16 starts at £799 / $799 / AU$1399, which mirrors the launch price of the iPhone 15. The fact that the prices haven't gone up is a win in our books. As for the larger iPhone 16 Plus, it can be yours from £899 / $899 / AU$1599.

But the iPhone 15, now a year old, has also seen a price drop. It now starts at £699 / $699 / AU$1249, making it the clear winner for your wallet.

**Winner: iPhone 15**

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: design

At first glance, the iPhone 16 looks rather similar to its predecessor. It retains the 6.1-inch display and the overall form factor of the iPhone 15. However, there are some notable changes.

The iPhone 16 introduces a new Capture Control button, a dedicated physical control for the camera. This button not only lets you instantly fire open the camera app, but it can also be used as a shutter button. It's touch-sensitive too, letting you adjust various camera features by sliding your finger along it. While Sony Xperia handsets have had dedicated camera buttons for a while, the touch-sensitive aspect makes the iPhone 16's implementation particularly appealing. 

The iPhone 16 also inherits the Action button from last year's Pro models, replacing the mute switch. This customisable button can also be set to perform various quick actions.

Round the back, the camera layout has also been tweaked, with the lenses now aligned vertically. This change enables spatial video capture (a feature previously exclusive to Pro models), letting deep-pocketed tech fans lucky enough to own an Apple Vision Pro headset relive their special, spatial moments, in glorious 3D.

Colour options for the iPhone 16 are ultramarine, teal green, pink, white, and black, offering a fresh palette compared to the iPhone 15's selection. Overall, while the iPhone 15 remains a handsome device, the new additions to the iPhone 16 give it a clear edge.

**Winner: iPhone 16**

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: camera

Both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 feature a dual-camera system, but the iPhone 16 brings some relatively significant upgrades to the table.

The main camera on the iPhone 16 has been bumped up to 48MP, for a start – a substantial increase from the 12MP sensor on the iPhone 15. This should serve up more detailed photos, and it also enables a 2x telephoto zoom by cropping the centre of the sensor, which is a handy option for most people looking to squeeze out more flexibility from their iPhone camera.

The ultrawide camera on the iPhone 16 has also seen improvements, with the addition of autofocus enabling macro photography – a feature previously reserved for Pro models.

And let's not forget the new Capture Control button on the iPhone 16, which we covered above in the design section. The extra control it offers for keen smartphone shutterbugs is hard to ignore, and we could see it being a massive hit with power users. 

While the iPhone 15's camera system is still capable, the upgrades on the iPhone 16 make it the winner in this category – on paper at least.

**Winner: iPhone 16**

iPhone 15 vs iPhone 14: display and picture quality

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 15 both feature 6.1-inch OLED displays. However, the iPhone 16 boasts a peak brightness of 2,000 nits – double that of the iPhone 15. This should make for better visibility in bright sunlight, with the potential to enhance HDR content (though we'll need to wait for our review to verify this).

Another benefit of the iPhone 16 is Apple's latest-generation Ceramic Shield, which is 50% tougher than the first generation and promises to be twice as tough as the glass on any other smartphone. Good news for clumsy users, then.

The iPhone 16 is still rocking a relatively archaic 60Hz refresh rate, which is disappointing on paper, rather than the smoother 120Hz found on Pro models and the best Android phones. Boo. Both phones support HDR10, Dolby Vision, and HLG. 

Again, the iPhone 16 takes this round, due to its improved brightness.

**Winner: iPhone 16 **

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: specs and features

The iPhone 16 brings several new features beyond the ones unlocked by its aforementioned fancy new physical buttons. Its most notable update lies, somewhat unsurprisingly, with Apple Intelligence – Apple's AI answer to the likes of Google Gemini and the general clamour for AI in everything. 

At the heart of the iPhone 16 is Apple's shiny new A18 chip, which helps power all the fancy AI tricks. Built on a new 3nm process, it boasts a six-core CPU with two performance cores and four efficiency cores. Apple claims it's up to 30% faster than the A16 Bionic in the iPhone 15, with a desktop-class five-core GPU that is up to 40% faster. Even if you're not a silicon spec enthusiast, the size of the claimed jump in performance is hard to ignore. 

Apple Intelligence features, set to roll out in December, promise to bring a smarter Siri, text summarisation, writing assistance, and generative image creation to the iPhone 16. These features require at least 8GB of RAM, which Apple has since confirmed the iPhone 16 has (up from 6GB in the basic iPhone 15). 

The iPhone 16 also boasts improved thermal management, allowing for better-sustained performance in demanding tasks like gaming. This means that some games previously exclusive to Pro models can now run on the standard iPhone 16.

The new Capture Control button, by the way, isn't just for photography. It also enables Visual Intelligence features, allowing you to point the iPhone 16 at objects or scenes, to get instant information or search results.

While the iPhone 15 is no slouch, the new features and improved performance of the iPhone 16 give it a clear advantage once again – especially as Apple has confirmed that battery life has also improved (without mentioning how much larger the battery is, or specific figures, natch).

**Winner: iPhone 16**

iPhone 16 vs iPhone 15: early verdict

While we haven't had the opportunity to fully review the iPhone 16 yet, the specifications and features suggest it's a fairly meaningful upgrade over the iPhone 15.

The new A18 chip, improved cameras, and the promise of Apple Intelligence features make the iPhone 16 an enticing proposition. The addition of the Capture Control and Action buttons also promises to enhance the user experience and offer enough of a breath of fresh air to warrant an upgrade for some people.

However, the iPhone 15 remains a capable and, crucially, more affordable option. Its A16 Bionic chip is still powerful, its cameras are competent, and it offers the core iPhone experience at a lower price point.

For those seeking the latest features and future-proofing, the iPhone 16 looks to be the better choice. We'll update this comparison once we've had the chance to put the iPhone 16 through our rigorous testing process, so stay tuned for our full review.

MORE:

First impressions: iPhone 16 review

iPhone 16 Pro: price, release date and more

Apple launches new AirPods Max with minor upgrades – and one big omission

Apple’s hotly anticipated September “Glowtime” event has come and gone, and it brought with it a wealth of new hardware announcements.

Highlights include the company’s new line of Apple Intelligence (AI) focussed iPhone 16 handsets, new AirPods 4 earbuds and a very modest update to its existing Apple AirPods Max over-ears.

But did it do enough to keep audio and hi-fi enthusiasts excited? Here’s what our team of hi-fi and home cinema experts had to say on the topic.

The AirPods 4

The AirPods 4 are the latest wireless earbuds from Apple, and according to the tech giant a massive sonic upgrade on their predecessors. 

This is great, but they've been met with cautious curiosity as much as excitement by the What Hi-Fi? team. One key reasons is the arrival of an AirPods 4 with ANC variant, which aims to let them deliver advanced active noise cancellation, despite featuring a tipless design. 

If the buds succeed, this would potentially give them a unique position in the wireless earbuds market, which is why they caught the eye of our hi-fi and audio editor, Kashfia Kabir.

Despite this our staff writers were slightly less enamoured with them for two reasons. First was Lewis Empson, who has continuing misgivings about a different feature, previously limited to the AirPods Pro 2, coming down to the AirPods 4.

Fellow staff writer Harry McKerrell was also on the fence, arguing the AirPods 4 don't deliver one key change we've wanted from Apple AirPods. Specifically, an affordable option.

The AirPods Max 2024

Ahead of the event there were a number of rumours suggesting Apple would launch a next-generation upgrade to its five-star, Award-winning AirPods Max over-ear headphones. Sadly, come the event what it actually brought to the table was a very modest spruce, which left some, our editor-in-chief (me) included, a little disappointed.

The iPhone 16

Like most September Apple events, the iPhone was the focus of most of the keynote. This year the new iPhone 16 line was unveiled with an overt focus on how they're the first handsets "built around Apple Intelligence" – its version of AI. While there were plenty of robust discussions about how the tech will improve camera performance, recommendations and more, Apple was oddly silent on a few areas the What Hi-Fi? team care about, much to the chagrin of contributor, Joe Svetlik. 

Despite the lack of any formal announcements about AV improvements, some members of the team remain hopeful, including deputy editor Andy Madden, who pointed out we won't know the full story until we get them in for testing.

The no shows

While Apple unveiled a lot of new hardware at the event, there were a few noticeable absences and devices we'd really been hoping to see alongside the new iPhones and AirPods, especially for our home cinema editor, Tom Parsons.

MORE:

These are the best AirPods we’ve reviewed

We rate the best ANC headphones

Our picks of the best smartphones for music and movies

If, like us, you're disheartened by Apple not announcing any new picture or sound features for the iPhone 16 or iPhone 16 Pro, then this might help to soothe the pain. While the iPhone 16 appears to be a rehash of the 15 in many ways, we still think that deep down there could be some upgrades under the hood. 

Why do we believe this to be the case? Simple, Apple never talks about picture and sound upgrades at these events. If we're being totally honest, very few smartphone manufacturers go into great depth at these keynotes, so seeing Apple dodge how the new iPhones handle picture and sound is no great surprise. Instead, camera quality and new processors tend to hog the limelight as that's what Apple (and its comrades in the smartphone field) deem to be the most exciting features nowadays. 

That being said, we often find that Apple smartphones and tablets tend to improve year-on-year in the areas we're interested in, even if Apple doesn't make that particularly clear. Read our iPhone 15 Pro Max review and you'll see that we clearly state "each new iPhone generally does include undocumented audio-visual improvements and has clearly been tuned to deliver the best picture and sound possible". 

This was also the case with the iPhone 14 Pro Max before it, which was a minimal upgrade from its predecessor (Dynamic Island aside) on paper, but a boost in brightness meant that the 14 Pro Max trumped the 13 Pro Max in both picture and sound.

We could go on, but it's clear that a trend has been established, which leads us to believe that the iPhone 16 series could be another unsung upgrade. Apple didn't make a song or dance about the iPhone 16's display during the "It's Glowtime" event, instead, it just quoted a 2000 nit brightness figure and briskly moved on; but we're eager to see it in hand to judge whether it's more of an upgrade than Apple is willing to let on. 

MORE:

iPhone 16: everything you need to know

Read our iPhone 15 Pro Max review

And check out our picks for the best iPhones

Apple’s hotly anticipated September 2024 launch event has come and gone and it brought with it a wealth of exciting new hardware.

Highlights include the new iPhone 16 line of smartphones, which are the first to feature Apple Intelligence, which aims to offer a wealth of AI powered upgrades and new AirPods 4 earbuds – which Apple claims will offer significant sonic improvements on their predecessor.

But,, there were a few key omissions and hotly desired bits of rumoured Apple tech that didn’t make an appearance. 

Here are the three biggest that the What Hi-Fi? team wanted, but didn't get to see.

The AirPods Max 2 

The AirPods Max did get a tepid upgrade at the Apple event. But this was limited to a selection of new colour options (blue, purple and orange) and upgrade to use USB C, rather than Lightning port charging on the AirPods Max, not a holistic, next-generation upgrade.

The updated model also has exactly the same name and is not being marketed by Apple as a new model. So for the team at What Hi-Fi? it's fair to say the long awaited, hotly anticipated, next-generation AirPods Max 2 were a no show at the Glowtime event. While we all agree this is a massive shame, the move isn't terribly surprising. 

The AirPods Max remain a top seller from Apple and staple sight in our best wireless headphones guide, thanks to their still excellent audio quality. So it makes sense Apple hasn't bother putting a lot of effort creating a proper upgrade to them yet. 

An actual Apple TV

This is one of the more out there items on the What Hi-Fi? home cinema team’s wishlist. 

There haven’t been any concrete, or even semi-legitimate rumours suggesting an actual TV is on Apple’s device roadmap. So the fact it didn't appear, or even get mentioned at the event isn't a huge surprise.

But we’ve chronicled many times before why we think it should be. Most recently our editor (me) wrote a feature reiterating why. 

The short version is that there are three reasons. First, Apple’s really good at display tech. Take its latest 13-inch iPad Pro (M4) as an example. Apple describes the device as a “home cinema in your hand” and based on our experience reviewing it we generally agree with that description. 

The device features a tandem OLED display that looks incredible, especially with HDR content where its higher than average peak brightness leads to a wonderful picture full of contrast. 

Thanks to its strong record in making Mac Pro desktops and MacBook Pro laptops, which both are marketed at creative professionals, it also has a great handle on how to deliver accurate colours.

Second, it also has an ideal app ecosystem and platform to build it round thanks to its current Apple TV 4K box and Apple TV+ streaming service.

Third and finally, it already has an ecosystem of great audio products to complete its home cinema offering. The AirPods Max offer Spatial Audio when connected to an Apple TV, which based on our testing delivers a wonderfully immersive surround-sound experience. 

If you have two HomePod 2 wireless speakers you can also set them up in a stereo arrangement – an arrangement that yielded surprisingly great results when we tested it just after the speaker launched. So a move to complete the portfolio and make an actual TV just makes sense. 

An Apple soundbar 

Talking of audio, the other item we often wish for is an Apple soundbar.  There were some semi-legitimate rumours about Apple potentially working on a soundbar all the way back in 2020, but they’ve gone quiet since then.

Despite the radio silence at the launch event we still think the move makes perfect sense. The HomePod 2 speakers sound great, but for movie watching, even with two paired, we all agree they could be made even better with a solid soundbar acting as the central channel. 

The only thing our team remains divided on what the soundbar should be called. The current front runners are HomeBar, AirBar and iBar (there’s a reason we’re not in marketing). 

MORE:

These are the best Apple AirPods we’ve tested

We rate the best Dolby Atmos soundbars

Our picks of the best OLED TVs

There was a time when we thought that the Apple HomePod had taken a permanent dirt nap. Apple discontinued the original HomePod (released in early 2018) despite its popularity and inescapable quality, yet two years after its supposed death, the Californian company decided to surprise and delight us all with the unveiling of the long-awaited sequel. The Apple HomePod 2 was glorious, and it made us hungry for more. 

More hasn’t arrived, though. We've gone through another Apple September launch event which gave us the AirPods 4, the iPhone 16 and the iPhone 16 Pro, yet not a hint of any new HomePods. The second-gen HomePod currently sits alongside the even older HomePod Mini, and while they’re both five-star products that still slot well into the iOS ecosystem, it seems utterly strange that Apple has been so reluctant to give us a sequel. Perhaps there’s more money in the wireless earbuds market, an arena in which Apple are so unbelievably dominant, or perhaps the decision-makers at the top don’t feel that a new release is worth the trouble when the current models are still performing well.

The thing is, while both HomePods are great products, they’re not entirely perfect, with the ravages of time only opening the door for imperfections to become issues. Rivals are taking smart speakers extremely seriously – Amazon seems to pump out multiple models a year, whereas Sonos impressed us hugely with its Sonos Era 300 and Sonos Era 100 smart speakers. JBL’s having a go too, and while its Authentics 300 and Authetics 500 weren’t perfect, they were feature-packed, versatile and thoroughly modern performers. 

Apple needs to get back into the smart speaker space before it gets left behind or, worse, its devoted customers are saddled with products that are built for a given ecosystem but which aren’t keeping up with their competitors. The HomePod 2 doesn't offer Siri control for the likes of Spotify and Tidal, for instance, while the HomePod Mini doesn’t have the sort of comprehensive control app that we’d expect from a company such as Apple. The Amazon Echo Dot (5th gen) isn’t as impressive sonically, but it’s a more amenable app and inescapably smarter AI assistant Alexa can make the Mini, sound aside, look a little primitive.

There’s always room to improve your products’ sound, too. Even if Apple did a sterling job with both the HomePod 2 and the HomePod Mini, there’s no question that internal tweaks could take their sound to the next level. We loved the omnidirectionally of the second-gen model, though we felt that rivals such as the Audio Pro C10 MKII gave more sonic punch and impetus for projecting sound further into a room. Also, what about bringing in support for Hi-Res Lossless (anything over 24-bit/48kHz)? It’s worth considering.

External Design tweaks could also bring the HomePod, especially the hypothetical mainline third-gen model, up to date. We keep hearing rumours that the new unit will have its own 7-inch screen, though Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has previously speculated that this particular debutante won’t make its bow until 2025. It’s also unclear as to whether that will act as a sequel to the HomePod 2 or, running parallel to the likes of the Google Nest Hub and Amazon Echo Show lines, would be a separate product altogether. 

Either way, the wait for a new HomePod has gone on for far too long. It’s been roughly two years since we’ve had a new iteration of either of Apple’s popular smart speakers, and that just feels like an excessively long gap, particularly when you consider how keen its rivals have been to dominate this ever-growing sector. The HomePods are superb, but it may be a little complacent of Apple to assume that they’ll always be top dog, even if it’s tough for its faithful users to jump ship and plug into an entirely new ecosystem. New headphones are all well and good, but a new HomePod would see Apple reassert its authority in a sector that’s only becoming increasingly competitive and sought-after as time goes on. 

MORE: 

Apple iPhone 16 launch event: AirPods 4 are official, AirPods Max, AirPods Pro 2 get updated

Read our Apple HomePod 2 review

And our HomePod Mini review

These are the best smart speakers worth talking to 

Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 16 series of smartphones, with a quartet of new handsets offering a handful of upgrades over last year's iPhone 15 roster. The new lineup was announced at the "It's Glowtime" event and, say it with us now, they're the best iPhones yet (according to Apple). 

As we've come to expect, there are two versions of the iPhone 16 and two further size options to choose from. We have the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, and after the iPhone 15's fairly radical redesign, the 16 series is more focused on under-the-hood upgrades.

The new devices come with Apple's latest processor; the A18 on the standard iPhone 16 and the A18 Pro on the Pro and Pro Max devices, and these new chips are the key to Apple's new AI tools. Apple Intelligence, as the company has wittily named it, is Apple's answer to Google's blossoming Gemini artificial intelligence system, meaning it will introduce smart text formatting, advanced photo editing, on-device image generation and a smarter Siri assistant. Unfortunately, Apple Intelligence won't be launching alongside the release of the iPhone 16, with Apple touting it to be a free software upgrade later down the line. 

Both devices are expected to launch with iOS 18 too, which includes deeper home and lock screen customisation, a redesigned control centre, general updates to Apple's iOS apps across the board and a reduced latency game mode which makes Bluetooth controllers and AirPods more responsive. 

As for new picture and sound upgrades, Apple is playing coy as it often does, but we are hopeful for upgrades in these key areas. The iPhone 15 introduced a 2000 nit display which was brighter than its predecessor, and it supported Dolby Vision, and the iPhone 16 appears to feature the same specs. The 16 and 16 Plus also come in the same 6.1- and 6.7-inch screen sizes as the 15 series, with all models in the new range sporting the OLED displays. 

The Pro and Pro Max once again bring the ProMotion display technology into the mix, which is Apple's term for high refresh rate mobile displays. While we're still waiting for this to trickle down to the standard models, Apple is firmly of the opinion that its standard models are better served by 60Hz displays while the Pro models have a variable refresh rate of 10Hz to 120Hz. 

As for exterior upgrades, the standard model sports a vertically stacked dual camera stack that reminds us of the iPhone 11, alongside a new camera control button for quick launching and interacting with the camera app. Furthermore, it gets the action button first introduced on the iPhone 15 Pro Max which can be customised to launch apps or use control centre tools. 

Speaking of the camera, Apple has carried the 48MP main sensors from the 15 series and paired it with an upgraded ultrawide lens and a larger aperture for better low-light performance and autofocus. The Pro models get a higher resolution 48MP ultrawide and a 12MP telephoto zoom lens, alongside the 48MP main shooter of the standard 16 model. 

Despite Apple claiming them to have a "stunning new design", the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max look practically identical to their predecessors. They do, however, feature a larger display (6.3- and 6.9 inches respectively) with the thinnest borders on an iPhone yet, and a familiar titanium frame as seen on the 15 Pro. It's touted to have "the best iPhone battery life ever" too, with all models in the new range reportedly getting prolonged battery life. 

The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus come in three bold new colours – blue, teal and pink – alongside the returning black and white, while the 16 Pro and Pro Max come in four colours: black titanium, white titanium, natural titanium and desert sand titanium. Pricing is as follows for the new models:

• iPhone 16: £799 / $799 / AU$1399 
• iPhone 16 Plus: £899 / $899 / AU$1599
• iPhone 16 Pro: £999 / $999 / AU$1799
• iPhone 16 Pro Max: £1099 / $1099 / AU$2149 

MORE:

iPhone 16: everything you need to know

And iPhone 16 Pro: price, release date and more

Read our full iPhone 15 Pro Max review

Happy iPhone 16 launch day! That’s right, Apple’s annual product extravaganza has just finished and we've got all the news hot off the press.

In the build-up to this year’s ‘Glowtime’ event, the internet was awash with rumours, not just about its new iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro. And, while new iPhones have indeed landed, it's been a big(ish) night for Apple’s AirPods with the introduction of a brand new model and updates to two of its other models.

You can read all about the key announcements as they happened via our live blog below. And, we've also included links to all our relevant product preview pages if you want to read about the announcements in greater depth.

Apple iPhone 16 event: key announcements

• iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro: more powerful processors, new screen sizes and a new camera button design
• AirPods 4: new, more comfortable design, new acoustic architecture, $129/£129
• AirPods 4 with ANC: new variant with active noise-cancelling, $179/£179

Greetings! Andy Madden here, kick-starting What Hi-Fi's coverage of today’s Apple 'Glowtime' event. It looks set to be a busy day dominated by iPhone announcements, but I’m expecting big news on the AirPods front too, with the potential for a refresh of its entire line! Also, there’s always the potential for Apple to throw an AV curveball, which we’ll be keeping an eye on. So, without further ado…

AirPods Max 2 looking more likely?

While the much-rumoured AirPods 4 seem almost certain to be unveiled at today's Apple event, in the past 24 hours, the odds of the AirPods Max 2 appearing have shortened considerably.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, who many consider to be an authority on Apple, claims they will be on the agenda with "better noise cancellation, adaptive audio & USB-C". Given the original AirPods Max went on sale back in December 2020, this won't come as a surprise to many. The market has moved on a long way and despite still being excellent wireless headphones, Apple now has several key rivals to contend with from the likes of Bose, Bowers & Wilkins and Focal.

We'd expect a new chip would be needed to boost the ANC of the headphones but whether Apple would tinker with the physical appearance of the headphones? We're not so sure. Head over to our AirPods Max review to see just how highly we rate these five-star headphones.

What will AirPods 4 look like?

The current AirPods 3 launched back in September 2021 and were quite the redesign compared to the AirPods 2 that went before them. We also found they offered a jump in sound quality compared to the second-gen model. Will the AirPods 4 change things?

We haven't seen much in terms of redesign rumours but you'd have to think at the very least we'll see a new processor for the buds. The introduction of the H2 chip from the AirPods Pro 2 could bring improvements to battery life, sound quality and ease of use, but could Apple go the whole hog and introduce noise-cancelling?

Surely, Apple will still want some separation between any new AirPods and its premium ANC earbuds?

R.I.P. AirPods 2 hello AirPods Lite?

New, cheap AirPods have been rumoured for some time now, but Apple seems to have been more than happy to keep the 2nd-Gen AirPods ticking over. If you thought the AirPods Max were old, these earbuds are positively prehistoric and launched back in 2019.

Not only are they a little long in the tooth, but they also feel expensive compared to some of the best cheap wireless earbuds we've tested in recent times. Industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes Apple is trying to hit the $99 mark for its cheapest AirPods which would be quite the story.

Besides price, the other big question is could Apple redesign new cheap AirPods so they look (and sound) more like the AirPods 3? The AirPods (2019) didn't offer the most secure first for a lot of users, so a revamped design might be a welcome change.

The Apple store is down!

I repeat, the Apple store is down! You know it's Apple event day when you click to buy something and you're greeted with words: ‘Be right back. We’re making changes to the Apple Store. Check back soon.’ We all know what that means...

iPhone 16 rumours overview...

The Internet is awash with iPhone 16 rumours and expectations, so we'll run you through some of the key ones...

Unsurprisingly, all fingers are pointing towards four models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. It's rumoured Apple's A18 chip will be the big talking point and that the iPhone 16 Pro models could have bigger screens than the non-Pros, with the iPhone 16 Pro screen rumoured to be 6.3 inches (up from 6.1 inches) and the iPhone 16 Pro Max measuring 6.9 inches (up from 6.7 inches).

We could wave goodbye to traditional push buttons with new capacitive buttons making an appearance for the first time.

The iPhone 16 Pro’s camera zoom is expected to increase to 5x (up from 3x on the 15 Pro), while the iPhone 16 Pro Max’s ultrawide camera is expected to increase to 48MP (from 12MP). The vertical rear camera on the non-Pro models is rumoured to be able to record spatial video, compatible with Apple Vision Pro.

And finally, it's expected that AI features (dubbed Apple Intelligence) won’t be available at launch but should come with iOS 18.1 in October.

Will the pricing be right?

While it's fair to say price hikes won't be out of the equation for any of the new products unveiled tonight, Apple's pricing hasn't fluctuated too wildly in the past couple of years.

For example, Apple managed to keep the prices of the iPhone 15 and AirPods Pro 2 down when they both launched. And in another recent post from Mark Gurman on 'X' he states he expects the 16 Pro starting price to be the same $999 as the iPhone 15 Pro.

In the UK, the iPhone 15 Pro starts at £999, and in Australia it’s AU$1749. If Gurman is on the money, we would expect international pricing to remain the same too.

Could we see a new Apple TV 4K or HomePod?

While there's been plenty of internet chatter about new iPhones and AirPods, what haven't we heard about? The Apple TV 4k is comfortably the best streamer we've tested and the hardware isn't missing anything tech-spec-wise. Apple could supercharge the user experience with the addition of Apple Intelligence but we think it's unlikely to unveil a brand new streaming box today.

The same goes for the Apple HomePod. We've written about a rumoured version of the wireless speaker with a screen, but that was earlier in the year and everything seems to have gone quiet on that front. Again, with all the other announcements that look set to happen today, we doubt there'll be space to squeeze in a HomePod announcement. But you never know...

Your 5 minute warning!

There's still time to make a quick cup of coffee before all the Apple festivities get underway. If you haven't been following all the news and rumours in the build-up to the event, we're expecting big things in the worlds of iPhone and AirPods and more...

Join us for the ride!

AirPods news is coming!

So, we're up and running at the Apple event. First up is the new Apple Watch Series 10 which isn't huge news in the world of What Hi-Fi? but during Tim Cook's intro video, he confirmed big AirPods news is on the way. Ready yourselves!

AirPods 4 are official!

Powered by Apple's H2 chip, the new AirPods 4 come in two flavours - one with one without active noise-cancelling. They use Apple's H2 chip and also claim improved sound quality with a new audio architecture. 

Apple claims to have refined their design to create the “most comfortable AirPods ever”. They new models include personalised spatial audio which voice isolation will help remove background noise.

The AirPods 4 get a new wireless USB-C charging case (Apple's smallest ever) and total battery life of a claimed 30 hours. The standard AirPods 4 cost $129 while the ANC version costs $179. Both models start shipping September 20th.

AirPods Max get a minor upgrade

AirPods Max get a minor update with USB-C charging, new finishes and personalised spatial audio. Pricing remains the same at $549 and they start shipping on the 20th September.

AirPods Pro 2 are getting an update!

AirPods Pro 2 are getting a surprise update which includes a wealth of health upgrades including Hearing Protection, Hearing Test and a Hearing Aid feature.

iPhone 16 arrives with new finishes!

Here it is, folks. The iPhone 16 is official and available in five new finishes: blue, pink, teal, white and black. Powered by a new A18 chip, iPhone 16 uses a 2000 nits 60Hz OLED display and is available in 6.1in and 6.7in sizes. The design now includes a bigger battery and new camera button functionality for preparing the camera and taking pictures.

Don't forget the iPhone 16 Pro

Of course, there are also Pro and Pro Max versions of the iPhone 16. These handsets use a more powerful A18 Pro chipset, and feature an 'Always on', OLED ProMotion display (in 6.3- and 6.9-inch sizes) and the new camera button functionality of the non-Pro models. The range comes in black titanium, natural titanium, desert sand titanium and white titanium finishes. Good news - pricing for both models appears to be identical to their predecessors, starting at $999 for the Pro and $1199 for the Pro Max.

So, now you've had a few minutes to digest Apple's announcements, how do we feel? Do we think two variants of AirPods 4 is a good thing? How will the ANC fair on Apple's open earbuds? Will they sound better than the AirPods 3? We'll report back just as soon as we get our hands on a review sample.

And what about the AirPods Max? Their refresh is mild to say the least. New colours is nice and all that, but isn't it time we had a new version with some interesting new features? At least they can charge via USB-C now... 

Like clockwork, another Apple Event is here and those eagerly anticipating brand-new iPhones and AirPods don't have long to wait. According to Apple, it's "Glowtime", with the iPhone 16 launch set for later today. AirPods are also expected to get some attention, with new entry and mid-level models and, according to some last-minute rumours, maybe even an update to the high-end AirPods Max over-ear cans.

We're counting down the hours now, and if you're catching up on all of the current rumours and leaks for products that we expect to see announced, including the AirPods 4, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro, AirPods Max 2 and AirPods Lite. Of course, Apple could well surprise us, so you can find out more about what we expect and hope to see at today's event, as well as how and where to watch it. 

Apple Event 2024: where and when to watch

Apple kindly livestreams its yearly presentations, and it often does so in a fairly sleek fashion – expect plenty of sweeping shots of the Apple Park in Cupertino, as well as some questionable transitions and attempts at humour. You can find the livestream on YouTube (as seen above) or on Apple's event page. Apple usually streams its events on the Apple TV app as well, which you can access with an iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple TV 4K.  

It's expected to kick off at 6PM here in the UK, 10AM PT / 1PM ET for those in the United States, or 3AM ACT for those tuning in from Australia. Apple usually posts the recorded versions of its livestreams on its official YouTube channel too, meaning you can still watch the full event even if you're not able to tune in live.

What to expect: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro and AirPods

As is the case with these annual events, we're anticipating new iPhones to be unveiled on the 9th of September. Apple's strategy has been fairly consistent for the last few years here, with a four-strong lineup of devices consisting of two standard models and two Pro models. 

We expect these new models to be the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, although that is subject to change. Apple has amended the iPhone lineup in recent years – swapping the compact iPhone 13 Mini for a larger iPhone 14 Plus and subsequently the iPhone 15 Plus – however, it seems to have settled on the current lineup according to various leaks and rumours that have already circulated. 

We don't anticipate Apple straying too far from its formula, and the iPhone 16 series isn't slated to be a radical departure from the 15 series it is replacing. Expect 60Hz displays, aluminium frames and dual cameras on the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus, and 120Hz ProMotion screens, titanium frames and a triple camera arrangement on the Pro and Pro Max.

As always, Apple hints at what's to come with the artwork for these events, and this time it looks like AI – and no, this isn't artificial intelligence. In true Apple fashion, it has created "Apple Intelligence" which it says places a greater emphasis on privacy and security, while adding a plethora of useful-looking features to the iPhone. Apple already demonstrated the new features at WWDC earlier this year, but we can expect to see advanced photo editing, custom picture and emoji tools, smart writing suggestions and editing, and a more powerful Siri assistant on the iPhone 16 models. 

Furthermore, Apple's current AirPods roster is overdue an update; an issue we expect to see rectified in the upcoming Apple Event. While we believe the AirPods Pro 2 will remain in place (they were only recently updated to feature a USB-C case and are less than two years old), the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 could be up for renewal. The second-generation AirPods are about to reach their fifth birthday, while the third-gen wireless earbuds are almost three years old.

We've heard mutterings of new AirPods models for some time now, with new entry-level and mid-tier buds reportedly releasing sometime this year. Rumours which circulated in March of this year suggest that Apple will bring noise cancelling and the Find-My speaker feature to the AirPods 4, while the AirPods 2 will be replaced by a cheaper AirPods Lite (or perhaps AirPods SE) model. 

Contrary to the previous suggestion that fans of the over-ear AirPods Max will have to wait for an upgrade, a last-minute rumour suggests that we could see a second-generation version of these headphones. Reports from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggest that the new models could feature USB-C charging, better noise cancellation (which was already a highlight of the current-generation cans) and adaptive audio.  

Bonus: what we'd like to see

While this event will likely be dedicated to the iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods, we would also be very receptive to seeing our favourite Apple gadget get an upgrade. We deemed the Apple TV 4K (2022) to be "comfortably the best streamer", but now that it's over two years old, we think now would be the perfect time to update it. 

We're not willing to bet the house on a new Apple streamer being unveiled on the 9th of September, but we can always dream. Bringing Apple Intelligence to the media streamer (akin to how Gemini has been implemented into the Google TV Streamer) and upgrading the already excellent picture and sound quality would be a surefire way to win us over, so our fingers are crossed. 

MORE:

Everything you need to know about the iPhone 16 before the Apple Event

And the iPhone 16 Pro: price and release date rumours

As well as our picks for the best iPhones

Want to know how to connect two AirPods to your iPhone at the same time? You’re in the right place.

Gone are the days of sharing a single pair of earbuds to listen to music with a friend, destroying the stereo experience and immersion of your favourite tunes. Today, Apple's handy audio-sharing feature allows you to connect two pairs of AirPods (or other compatible headphones) to a single iPhone or iPad, letting you and a friend enjoy the same audio in full, glorious stereo. It’s not complicated either. Honest. Here's how to do it in five straightforward steps:

How to connect two pairs of AirPods to your iPhone

1. Pair the first set of AirPods

To begin, connect the first pair of AirPods to your iPhone or iPad. If you've already set them up, this should be as simple as putting them in your ears. If you're having trouble connecting, a quick reset should resolve any issues.

2. Access the Control Center

With your first pair of AirPods connected, swipe down from the top-right corner of your iPhone or iPad's screen to bring up the Control Center. This menu is where you'll find the audio-sharing options.

3. Tap the audio-sharing button

In the Control Center, locate the AirPlay icon. Tap it, and you'll see the option to Share Audio. Select this to proceed to the next step.

4. Bring the second pair of AirPods close to your device

Now for the key part — if you're using a second pair of AirPods or AirPods Pro, keep them in their case and bring them close to your iPhone or iPad. For AirPods Max, simply hold them near your device. If you're using compatible Beats headphones, put them into pairing mode before bringing them close to your device.

5. Confirm the connection

When your device detects the second pair of headphones, you'll see a pop-up. Tap Share Audio once more, and you're all set.

Once connected, both you and your listening partner can adjust your volume levels individually via the Control Center or directly on your AirPods, ensuring a personalised listening experience.

6. Sayonara

When you're ready to disconnect, simply swipe down to reveal the Control Center, tap the AirPlay icon, and deselect the pair of headphones you wish to disconnect.

And that’s all there is to it. It’s a particularly useful feature for watching films on long journeys, sharing podcast recommendations, or listening to music together — all without, crucially, compromising on sound quality or personal space.

Compatible devices and headphones

Before you dive into the steps above, it's also worth checking if your devices are compatible with Apple’s audio-sharing feature. For starters, audio-sharing only works on the following devices running iOS 13 or later:

• iPhone 8 and newer models
• iPad Pro (2nd generation 12.9-inch and newer)
• iPad Pro 11-inch
• iPad Pro 10.5-inch
• iPad Air (3rd generation and newer)
• iPad mini (5th generation and newer)
• iPad (5th generation and newer)
• iPod touch (7th generation)

As for headphones, the following models support audio sharing:

• AirPods (all generations)
• AirPods Pro (all generations)
• AirPods Max
• Beats Solo Pro
• Beats Studio3 Wireless
• Beats Solo3 Wireless
• Powerbeats Pro
• Powerbeats3 Wireless
• BeatsX
• Beats Flex
• Beats Fit Pro

If you've got one of the devices above, you're ready to rock. Enjoy sharing your tunes with your trusted partner of choice, without compromising on sound quality.

MORE: 

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