iFixit today took apart the iPhone AirMagSafe Battery pack, an accessory designed to work exclusively with the iPhone Air, and discovered something interesting.
The battery inside the accessory has an unusual shape, leading iFixit to conclude that it's possible that Apple is using the same battery for the iPhone Air and the iPhone Air MagSafe Battery.
iFixit compared the battery in the MagSafe Battery pack to the iPhone Air battery that Apple showed off when introducing the new device, and it does appear to be a close match if not identical.
The battery has a 12.26Wh capacity, and it is 2.72mm thick, which means it is thin enough to fit inside the 5.6mm iPhone Air.
The iPhone Air MagSafe Battery pack is only able to charge an iPhone Air to 65 percent even though it appears Apple is using the same exact battery that's in the iPhone, but that's due to energy transfer loss during wireless charging.
The iPhone Air MagSafe Battery is thicker than the iPhone Air, and iFixit speculates that the size was the minimum needed to make it a viable product. The battery inside is protected with plastic and it does not have the same titanium frame as the iPhone Air.
Apple customers in Australia and New Zealand are starting to receive their iPhone Air, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max orders, since it is already Friday, September 19 in those two countries.
Apple fans who ordered a new device will soon be sharing photos and first impressions of the new iPhone 17 models on Instagram, Reddit, the MacRumors forums, and other social networks. If you've received one of the new devices, let us know in the comments below and share pictures and your initial thoughts.
There are no Apple retail stores in New Zealand, so customers in Australia are the first to be able to pick up their new devices or make a purchase in an Apple Store. In-store stock in Australia will provide insight into what we can expect at other Apple locations around the world.
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max did sell out during the pre-order period, and online shipping estimates are now into October. We are expecting retail stores to have available supply though, so if you missed pre-ordering, you should be able to get a new iPhone from Apple or from another big box retailer like Target, Walmart, or Best Buy.
After Australia and New Zealand, sales and deliveries of the new iPhone 17 models and the other devices will begin in Asia, the Middle East, Europe, and finally, North America. Some Apple Stores worldwide are opening early at 8:00 a.m. local time to allow customers to pick up reserved devices and make walk-in purchases.
Stay tuned to MacRumors, because we'll have hands-on and unboxing videos tomorrow, plus deep dives into the design, cameras, and feature sets of the new devices.
Google today said that Gemini AI is being integrated into the Chrome browser for the Mac and PC. Chrome users in the U.S. will get the functionality first, with Gemini able to clarify complex information on any webpage.
There will be a small Gemini symbol in the upper right side of the browser that will offer options like learn about the page or explore a topic when clicked. By default, the Ask Gemini interface will answer questions about the tab that you have open.
Gemini in Chrome is able to work across multiple tabs, which is useful for comparing and summarizing information across several websites. It integrates with Google apps like Calendar, YouTube, and Maps to do things like locate a specific spot in a YouTube video or schedule meetings without leaving a webpage.
Later this month, AI Mode search will be accessible directly from the Chrome address bar with support for long, complex questions.
Gemini in Chrome will also be able to remember websites that you've visited, making it easier to search for a site that you want to revisit. Improved browsing protections are in the works as well, with Google expanding Safe Browsing to put a stop to sites using fake viruses or fake giveaways to phish for info.
In the coming months, Gemini in Chrome will get agentic capabilities, allowing the AI assistant to handle "tedious tasks" like booking a haircut or ordering groceries. You will be able to tell Chrome what needs to be accomplished, and then Gemini will act on webpages to get the task done.
Google also plans to bring Gemini to the Chrome app for iOS, with the feature coming in the near future.
Apple's new iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone Air, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, Apple Watch SE 3, and AirPods Pro 3 launch this Friday, September 19, which is either today or tomorrow depending on your time zone.
As shared by Apple CEO Tim Cook, Apple has set up "Pro" and "Air" installations in front of its Apple BKC store in Mumbai, India, to promote the launch of the devices. They almost look like 3D renders in the image, but they are actually real.
Here are a few things to know about iPhone launch days:
All of the new iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods have been available to pre-order since last week, with deliveries to begin this Friday.
Apple Store pickup is temporarily unavailable, but the option should return on launch day, and there often ends up being surprise in-store availability.
The new iPhones and Apple Watches will be on display at Apple Stores on launch day.
Cook and other Apple executives, such as marketing chief Greg Joswiak and retail chief Deirdre O'Brien, typically make an appearance at Apple Fifth Avenue in New York City on launch day. It is unclear if Cook has traveled to India this time instead, given the image he shared, or if he is sticking with New York.
Stay tuned for our series of iPhone 17 and iPhone Air how-to articles, and much more.
Apple today released a new version of iOS 26 (23A345) that's available for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. Reviewers who already have a device will be able to update now, while new iPhone 17 owners will need to update when receiving their devices starting tomorrow.
The new version of iOS 26 that Apple released today appears to be limited to the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, but the iPhone 17 and iPhone Air will have a launch day update too.
All four iPhones have iOS 26 pre-installed, but they have iOS 26 23A330, and not the launch version of iOS 26 that came out on Monday. The iPhone 17 and the iPhone 17 Air will need to be updated to iOS 26 version 23A341 tomorrow.
The iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max will need to be upgraded to iOS 26 version 23A345, which is the update that Apple just released.
It's not clear what's in the new version of iOS 26 for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max.
The iPhone Air, iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max will start arriving to customers on Friday, September 19.
Over the past few months, there have been rumors about a more affordable MacBook powered by an iPhone processor launching in late 2025 or early 2026. However, it is not entirely clear yet whether the laptop will have an A18 Pro or A19 Pro chip.
In June, Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the lower-cost MacBook would be equipped with the A18 Pro, which debuted in the iPhone 16 Pro models last year. Soon after, MacRumors contributor Aaron Perris also discovered evidence that pointed towards the laptop being powered by the A18 Pro, and DigiTimes reported the same.
It is quite possible that Apple has already finalized specs for the lower-cost MacBook, so it very well might be the A18 Pro in the first-generation model.
However, in a post on Chinese social media platform Weibo last week, an account known as "Mobile Phone Chip Expert" claimed that Apple is considering using the A19 Pro chip in the lower-cost MacBook. If so, it is unclear if it would be the 6-core GPU version in the iPhone 17 Pro models, or the 5-core GPU version in the iPhone Air.
"Mobile Phone Chip Expert" was one of the sources who said at least one iPhone 17 model would be equipped with 12GB of RAM, so they have a bit of a track record.
Obviously, the A19 Pro would be faster than the A18 Pro, which has similar performance as the M1 chip. It would also be good news for RAM, as the A19 Pro has 12GB of unified memory, whereas the A18 Pro has 8GB. The entire new Mac lineup has started with at least 16GB of RAM since last year, with the only option with 8GB being the five-year-old MacBook Air with an M1 chip, which is sold exclusively by Walmart for $599.
Both the A18 Pro and A19 Pro lack Thunderbolt support, so the MacBook would likely be equipped with regular USB-C ports. They would look the same as Thunderbolt ports, but data transfer speeds would be limited to up to 10 Gbps. Plus, only a single external display would be natively supported, but DisplayLink adapters allow for more.
Kuo expects the lower-cost MacBook to have a 13-inch display, and he said potential color options for the laptop included silver, blue, pink, and yellow.
Apple often announces new Macs in October, so perhaps the lower-cost MacBook will debut next month. Otherwise, March 2026 is the next likely timeframe.
Apple is preparing to release iOS 26.0.1, according to a private account on X with a proven track record of sharing information about future iOS versions.
The update will have a build number of 23A350, or similar, the account said.
It is likely that iOS 26.0.1 will fix a camera-related bug on the new iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro models. In his iPhone Air review, CNN Underscored's Henry T. Casey said some of the photos he took with the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Max at a concert contained "small blacked-out portions" and "white squiggles."
A spokesperson for Apple told Casey that this issue can happen in "very rare cases when an LED light display is extremely bright and shining directly into the camera." Apple has identified a fix and will be releasing it in an "upcoming software update," the spokesperson said, and hopefully that proves to be iOS 26.0.1.
It is unclear if iOS 26.0.1 will include any other bug fixes or enhancements.
It is also not known when Apple plans to release iOS 26.0.1, but given the new iPhones launch tomorrow, getting the fix out is likely an urgent priority.
watchOS 26.0.1 was already released for the Apple Watch Ultra 3, enabling satellite connectivity in Mexico.
In iOS 26, you can use AirPods 4, AirPods Pro 2, or AirPods Pro 3 as a wireless microphone with supported camera apps. Think of it as turning your AirPods into a lapel mic – you get professional-quality audio capture as well as the freedom to move around during recording. Here's how it works.
Setting Up AirPods as Your Camera Microphone
Using AirPods as a microphone in iOS 26 requires just a few quick steps through Control Center. Make sure your AirPods are connected to your iPhone or iPad before you begin. Note that using AirPods as a camera microphone isn't available in all countries or regions.
With your AirPods in your ears, open the Camera app.
Switch to Video mode in the Camera app.
Open Control Center by swiping down from the upper-right corner of the screen.
Tap Camera Controls at the top.
Under "Audio & Video," tap Input, then select your AirPods from the pop-up menu. (Note: You might also see Same as System as an option.)
Mic Mode Options
From the same Camera Controls screen, you can also choose from four different microphone modes to suit your recording environment:
Automatic: Lets your device choose the optimal setting.
Standard: Default audio processing.
Voice Isolation: Reduces background noise and emphasizes speech.
Wide Spectrum: Captures a fuller range of ambient sounds.
Start Your Recording
When you're ready, press the stem on your AirPods to begin recording video. You now have hands-free control over your recording session while your AirPods capture the audio. When you're done, press your AirPods stem again to end the shoot.
Amazon this week has low prices on nearly every Wi-Fi model of the iPad mini 7, starting at $399.00 for the 128GB Wi-Fi tablet, down from $499.00. You'll also find a few deals on cellular models during this sale.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
You can also get the 256GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $499.00 and the 512GB Wi-Fi iPad mini 7 for $699.00, both $100 discounts and available in all colors. In total, these sales are solid second-best prices on the iPad mini 7, coming in just about $20 higher when compared to the all-time low prices we saw during Prime Day over the summer.
Deals on cellular models are a bit rarer on Amazon, with one color of the 128GB cellular iPad mini 7 on sale for $549.00 and a few colors of the 256GB cellular iPad mini 7 on sale for $649.00, both $100 off.
You can also pair a new iPad mini with the Apple Pencil Pro for $99.00 on sale right now on Amazon, down from $129.00.
Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
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Apple's AirPods Pro 3 offer the first redesign of the popular earbuds and add dedicated fitness features, but how do they compare to the previous generations and should you upgrade?
The AirPods Pro were introduced in 2019 as a high-end version of AirPods, offering a new design, touch-sensitive controls, and active noise cancellation (ANC). The second-generation improved ANC and introduced the H2 chip, Precision Finding, and much more. Apple refreshed it with USB-C a year later. This year, Apple debuted the third generation, featuring a new design and heart-rate monitoring. Each generation has added better sound quality and a range of new features.
The second-generation AirPods Pro have now been discontinued by Apple, but they can still be found for reduced prices at third-party resellers and second-hand. As such, some customers may be weighing up whether to purchase second-generation AirPods Pro for a reduced price or the third-generation version.
The different AirPods Pro generations many of their features, so should you consider buying or sticking with the second-generation AirPods Pro to save money? This breakdown also serves as a way to see all the differences that the new AirPods Pro bring to the table.
AirPods Pro (2019)
AirPods Pro 2 (Lightning, 2022)
AirPods Pro 2 (USB-C, 2023)
AirPods Pro 3 (2025)
Optical IR sensors for in-ear detection
Skin-detect sensors for in-ear detection
Skin-detect sensors for in-ear detection
Skin-detect sensors for in-ear detection
Refined earbud design
Silicone ear tips
Silicone ear tips
Silicone ear tips
Silicone/foam ear tips
Three ear tips (S, M, and L)
Four ear tips (XS, S, M, and L)
Four ear tips (XS, S, M, and L)
Five ear tips (XXS, XS, S, M, and L)
Force sensor controls
Force sensors and touch controls for volume adjustment
Force sensors and touch controls for volume adjustment
Force sensors and touch controls for volume adjustment
Mechanical pairing button
Mechanical pairing button
Mechanical pairing button
Capacitive pairing button
Lanyard loop
Lanyard loop
Lanyard loop
IPX4 sweat and water resistant earbuds
IPX4 sweat and water resistant earbuds
IP54 dust, sweat, and water resistant earbuds and charging case
IP57 dust, sweat, and water resistant earbuds and charging case
H1 chip
H2 chip
H2 chip
H2 chip
Bluetooth 5.0
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3
Bluetooth 5.3
2.4GHz connectivity
2.4GHz connectivity
2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivity
2.4GHz and 5GHz connectivity
Lossless audio with Vision Pro
Lossless audio with Vision Pro
U1 chip in charging case
U1 chip in charging case
U2 chip in charging case
Precision Finding
Precision Finding
Precision Finding (1.5x further)
Active Noise Cancellation
Active Noise Cancellation (2x stronger)
Active Noise Cancellation (2x stronger)
Active Noise Cancellation (4x stronger)
Transparency
Transparency and Adaptive Transparency
Transparency and Adaptive Transparency
Transparency and Adaptive Transparency
Hearing Test
Hearing Test
Hearing Test
Hearing Aid
Hearing Aid
Hearing Aid
Automatic Conversation Boost
Automatic Conversation Boost
Automatic Conversation Boost
Hearing Protection
Hearing Protection
Hearing Protection
Live Translation
Live Translation
Live Translation
Heart rate sensing during workouts
Lightning port
Lightning port
USB-C port
USB-C port
Compatible with Apple Watch charger
Compatible with Apple Watch charger
Compatible with Apple Watch charger
Up to 4.5 hours of listening time with ANC enabled
Up to 6 hours of listening time with ANC enabled
Up to 6 hours of listening time with ANC enabled
Up to 8 hours of listening time with ANC enabled
24 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging case
30 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging case
30 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging case
24 hours of total listening time with ANC using charging case
Overall, the AirPods Pro 3 offer a relatively significant upgrade over the previous generation with valuable enhancements across the board, such as better fit, longer battery life, and improved dust and water resistance. Users who heavily use their AirPods Pro may be able to justify upgrading to the third-generation model due to the wide range of improvements, but this will not be the case for all existing users.
Those who recently purchased the AirPods Pro 2 may not be able to justify upgrading to the AirPods Pro 3 at the current time, unless they particularly want features like enhanced ANC and heart-rate monitoring, or hope for a better fit. The AirPods Pro 2 continue to get new features such as Live Translation and share the same chip as the AirPods Pro 3; they are still a solid device in 2025.
Users who purchased their AirPods Pro in 2022 or earlier will almost certainly see more of a reason to upgrade, especially if the batteries in their existing device have significantly degraded and they want to transition to USB-C. First-generation AirPods Pro users, in particular, should consider upgrading. These customers will certainly benefit from the plethora of refinements that the third-generation model offers.
If you've been interested in purchasing the AirPods Pro for a while, now is still a good time to pick up the second-generation model for a hefty discount. Likewise, it is worth bearing in mind that the AirPods Pro are among the most-commonly discounted Apple products, so check out our Apple Deals Roundup for significant savings.
Taiwan's Commercial Times this week reported that Apple's Vision Pro headset will be updated next year with Apple's R2 chip. The report said the chip — along with A20 chips for iPhones, and M6 chips for Macs — will be fabricated with TSMC's latest 2nm process.
The current Apple Vision Pro is equipped with Apple's M2 chip, which serves as the device's main processor, along with an R1 chip for input processing.
M2 delivers unparalleled standalone performance, while the brand-new R1 chip processes input from 12 cameras, five sensors, and six microphones to ensure that content feels like it is appearing right in front of the user's eyes, in real time. R1 streams new images to the displays within 12 milliseconds — 8x faster than the blink of an eye.
By moving to a 2nm process — the R1 chip is likely 3nm — the R2 chip would have even better performance for input processing.
According to previous rumors, the Apple Vision Pro will be updated as soon as this year, with an M4 chip or M5 chip, a new head strap that improves comfort, and potentially a Space Black color option. This report is the first to mention an R2 chip for a future model, but it is unclear if the 2026 timeframe for that upgrade is accurate.
Tom's Guide this week published the results of its iPhone Air vs. iPhone 17 vs. iPhone 17 Pro vs. iPhone 17 Pro Max battery life test, which involves continuous web browsing over 5G. Each model was set to 150 nits of display brightness.
Here is how long each iPhone model lasted on a full charge:
iPhone Air: 12 hours and 2 minutes
iPhone 17: 12 hours and 47 minutes
iPhone 17 Pro: 15 hours and 32 minutes
iPhone 17 Pro Max: 17 hours and 54 minutes
For this specific usage, the highest-end iPhone 17 Pro Max lasted 48.5% (nearly 1.5×) longer than the ultra-thin iPhone Air.
The results are similar to Apple's figures, which show the Pro Max offering up to 44.5% longer battery life than the Air for offline video playback.
Here are Apple's offline video playback figures for each model:
iPhone Air: Up to 27 hours
iPhone 17: Up to 30 hours
iPhone 17 Pro: Up to 33 hours
iPhone 17 Pro Max: Up to 39 hours
Of course, most people are not using their iPhones to browse the web or watch videos for an entire day or two nonstop, without using the device for any other purpose. So, these battery life tests do not reflect typical real-world usage. Still, they help to set expectations, and plenty of additional tests will follow over the coming days.
WhatsApp has rolled out a new feature on iPhone that lets you set reminder alerts for specific messages that you want to come back to later.
Available in version 25.25.74 of WhatsApp, the feature allows you to long press on any message in a conversation thread and select a new "Remind me" option in the popup menu. You can then choose between 2 hours, 8 hours, and 24 hours, or set a custom duration after which you will be alerted about it.
The new feature is useful for keeping track of important details that might otherwise get lost in busy chats. It's also a simple way to make sure you don't forget to reply to a message at a later time. Here's how to set your first message reminder in WhatsApp:
How to Set a Message Reminder in WhatsApp
Open a WhatsApp conversation thread and long press on a message bubble that you want to be reminded about later.
Tap More... in the popup menu.
Select Remind Me.
Select in 2 hours, in 8 hours, in 24 hours, or choose Custom to set a more specific reminder time and date.
A bell symbol appears in the corner of the message bubble to indicate a reminder has been set. When the reminder alert comes through as a notification, depending on your message preview settings you may see the message content, the conversation in which it's located, and a preview of any accompanying media.
The ability to schedule a reminder about a message should be a lot more convenient and foolproof than, say, starring a message or taking a screenshot of it and hoping you'll remember to come back to it.
How to Cancel a WhatsApp Message Reminder
If you want to cancel a reminder that you've set, simply long press a message showing the bell symbol, tap More... then choose Cancel Reminder.
Apple has been in discussions with suppliers in Taiwan about potentially building a test production hub in the country for its rumored foldable iPhone, reports Nikkei Asia.
According to the outlet's sources, Apple is interested in building a mini pilot line that would "verify the equipment and fine-tune the parameters and manufacturing steps" for making its foldable iPhone, which is expected to launch next year.
In another step toward manufacturing independence from China, Apple's long-term plan reportedly involves replicating the pilot line in India where it plans to mass produce the new flagship smartphone and ensure a smooth rollout. The initial proposal is seemingly not without its hurdles, however. From the report:
Apple suppliers have eyed a plot of land in a northern Taiwanese city for the mooted pilot line, two of the people said, but added that the plan is not yet finalized and subject to changes. They also pointed to existing challenges in Taiwan, such as the island's limited land and labor resources for iPhone production, even for a pilot line, which would need roughly a thousand operators, they said.
Apple has told several suppliers that it expects the introduction of a foldable model to spur demand for iPhones overall, including non-foldable ones. Nikkei's sources suggest Apple is aiming to produce about 95 million iPhones in its next lineup coming in 2026 – a 10% increase in total phone shipments from 2025 – and the company believes that introducing a long-awaited folding model would help achieve that goal.
Multiple sources have now confirmed that Apple is planning to release its first foldable iPhone in 2026, with the device coming as part of the iPhone 18 lineup. For example, industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says Apple plans to release a foldable iPhone next year, followed by a foldable iPad in 2028.
Kuo has outlined a book-style foldable iPhone with an approximately 7.8-inch inner display and 5.5-inch outer screen, priced between $2,000 and $2,500. Apple is expected to skip Face ID authentication and instead use Touch ID integrated into the side button to save internal space in the folded design. Apple has already used side button-integrated Touch ID for the iPad Air and iPad mini, so the design choice is not unprecedented.
Camera-wise, the foldable iPhone is expected to include a dual-lens rear camera, with a front-facing camera for both folded and unfolded states, according to Kuo.
iOS 26 includes a new Home app feature called Adaptive Temperature, which is designed to adjust the thermostat automatically when you leave the house or arrive back home.
Adaptive Temperature can be turned on by opening up the Home app, selecting a thermostat, opening up the settings, and then tapping on Adaptive Temperature. With permission, Adaptive Temperature can switch between temperature modes (Cool/Heat/Auto/Off) as needed, predict user arrival based on daily schedule to adjust temperature, and change the temperature based on room occupancy if occupancy sensors are available.
According to Apple, Adaptive Temperature relies on Activity History to determine whether someone is home. The thermostat will adjust temperature based on a "home" state, which is when someone is in the house, and an "away" state, which is when no one is home. There's also an "extended away" state that further tweaks the temperature if no one is home for longer than 24 hours, or if every member of the home is a certain distance away.
The Activity History feature in the Home app does not specifically log when someone leaves or arrives home, but it does keep track of when the home's activity state changes. Turning off location sharing with the Home app will prevent Activity History from using a device's location to trigger Adaptive Temperature.
It's not yet clear if Adaptive Temperature is working, or if thermostat makers need to release software updates to enable the feature. On Reddit, several users have been unable to find the Adaptive Temperature setting for their HomeKit or Matter-compatible thermostats.
With watchOS 26, the Apple Watch Series 9 and later and the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and later support Hypertension Notifications to give Apple Watch wearers a heads up when chronic high blood pressure is detected.
Apple this week provided more insight into how the feature works. There are no new health sensors in the watch, which is why it's available for older devices. The Apple Watch analyzes data collected from the heart sensor, using a new algorithm to see if there are signs of hypertension.
Hypertension alerts require 30 days of data, and the data collection starts when Hypertension Notifications are set up with the Health app on the iPhone. If hypertension is identified within the last 30 days of heart data, you'll get a notification.
Apple says that the feature is designed for users who are 22 years or older, not pregnant, and have not been diagnosed with hypertension. Apple Watch owners who do not meet that criteria should not enable the feature.
Apple Watch users who receive a hypertension alert will be prompted to create a Blood Pressure Log and check their blood pressure using a third-party blood pressure measurement device for a 7-day period. Apple will also suggest getting in contact with a healthcare professional.
The Blood Pressure Log option will send daily alerts reminding users to perform a check in the morning and the evening, and it includes options for adding date, time, systolic, and diastolic pressure. Logging blood pressure can be done for a 7-day period to detect hypertension, or for a 4-week period to better monitor existing hypertension.
Apple warns that not all people with hypertension will receive a notification, and the feature is not meant to diagnose, treat, or aid in the management of hypertension.
It's been two days since iOS 26 was released, and Apple's new Liquid Glass design is even more divisive than expected.
Any major design change can create controversy as people get used to the new look, but the MacRumors forums, Reddit, Apple Support Communities, and social media sites seem to feature more criticism than praise as people discuss the update.
Complaints
There are a long list of complaints about Liquid Glass, from the impact on readability to lag caused by animations. Here are some of the main critiques:
Animations run slow, and the interface feels sluggish on older iPhones.
The constantly changing colors, shapes, and shading are distracting.
The effects are too subtle for the system overhead costs.
Some People Like It
On the MacRumors forums, complaints about Liquid Glass are interspersed with responses from people who have been using it during beta, and the consensus is "you'll get used to it."
It does always take time to get used to a new look, and Liquid Glass will become less jarring as people become accustomed to the new animations and the behavior of buttons and other interface elements.
Not everyone hates Liquid Glass, and there are also many positive comments from people who prefer the new design. Some of that sentiment:
Everyone remembers iOS 7, because it was the first big design change that Apple made to iOS. Apple did away with skeuomorphism in favor of a "flat" design, and it was not a change that people were prepared for. A lot of the comments shared when iOS 7 came out mirror the comments we're seeing now about Liquid Glass.
Despite the complaints about iOS 7, Apple stuck with it. There were ongoing refinements to fix bugs and to tweak the overall design, but Apple didn't reverse course. Design updates in iOS 8, iOS 9, and iOS 10 didn't change the fundamentals, but it got better and better, and people got used to it.
Liquid Glass could follow the same path. Apple will make updates and optimizations, but it's probably going to inform the next decade of software releases. In discussion threads on Liquid Glass, you'll see a lot of comments from people recalling iOS 7 and reminding us all that we've been here before.
Tone Down Liquid Glass
If you're having a hard time adjusting to the Liquid Glass design, there is no opt out, but you can toggle on Reduce Transparency.
You can also increase your display contrast, and the two settings together will eliminate most of the translucency that was introduced with Liquid Glass.
Chime In
What do you love or hate about Liquid Glass? Let us know in the comments.
Apple today released a new update for Safari Technology Preview, the experimental browser that was first introduced in March 2016. Apple designed Safari Technology Preview to allow users to test features that are planned for future release versions of the Safari browser.
Safari Technology Preview 228 includes fixes and updates for Accessibility, CSS, DOM, Editing, Forms, JavaScript, Media, PDF, Rendering, SVG, Service Worker, Web API, Web Extensions, Web Inspector, WebGPU, and WebRTC.
The current Safari Technology Preview release is compatible with machines running macOS Sequoia and macOS Tahoe, the newest version of macOS that launched earlier this week.
The Safari Technology Preview update is available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences or System Settings to anyone who has downloaded the browser from Apple’s website. Complete release notes for the update are available on the Safari Technology Preview website.
Apple’s aim with Safari Technology Preview is to gather feedback from developers and users on its browser development process. Safari Technology Preview can run side-by-side with the existing Safari browser and while it is designed for developers, it does not require a developer account to download and use.
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