MacRumors

The third-generation iPhone SE and the iPhone 12 are among Apple's lowest-cost iPhone options, starting at $429 and $599 respectively. Apple released the iPhone 12 in late 2020, and has bumped it down in price since then to make it more accessible as new iPhone models have been released. On the other hand, the third-generation iPhone SE launched in early 2022, refreshing the most affordable iPhone option in the lineup.

With just $170 between them, should you get the new, smaller, entry-level iPhone or the older, larger, standard model that has come down in price over the years? Our guide helps to answer the question of how to decide which of these two iPhones is best for you.

Differences

iPhone SE 3	iPhone 12
Smaller form factor, weighs 144 grams	Larger form factor, weighs 164 grams
Glass front and back	Ceramic Shield front and glass back
4.7-inch Retina HD LCD display	6.1-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display
625 nits max brightness (typical)	625 nits max brightness (typical) and 1,200 nits peak brightness (HDR)
1400:1 contrast ratio (typical)	2,000,000:1 contrast ratio (typical)
Home Button with Touch ID	Notch with Face ID
A15 Bionic chip	A14 Bionic chip
Single rear camera (ƒ/1.8 Main)	Dual rear cameras with 2x optical zoom range (ƒ/1.6 Main and ƒ/2.4 Ultra Wide)
Photographic Styles	Night mode
Smart HDR 4 for photos	Smart HDR 3 for photos
Front-facing 7MP FaceTime HD camera with 1080p HD video recording and Smart HDR 4	Front-facing 12MP TrueDepth camera with 4K video recording and Audio zoom, Smart HDR 3, slo-mo video support, Animoji, and Memoji
Battery life with up to 15 hours video playback	Battery life with up to 17 hours video playback
Rated IP67 water-resistant to a depth of one meter for up to 30 minutes	Rated IP68 water-resistant to a depth of six meters for up to 30 minutes
Bluetooth and U1 Ultra Wideband chip for spatial awareness	Bluetooth only
-	Supports Dolby Atmos audio playback
-	Compatible with MagSafe cases, wallets, wireless chargers, and more
Midnight, Starlight, and PRODUCT(RED) color options	Purple, Blue, Green, Black, White, and PRODUCT(RED) color options

Overall, the iPhone SE is an excellent entry-level iPhone option for just $429. In some respects, the iPhone SE is better than the iPhone 12 since it is a newer device, featuring a faster and more efficient chip, Photographic Styles, and Smart HDR 4.

For $170 more, the iPhone 12 offers a more modern design and a larger, OLED display, as well as ‌Face ID‌, an Ultra Wide camera, Night mode, considerably better front-facing and Main cameras, ‌MagSafe‌, and longer battery life. There is also the benefit of improved water resistance, the U1 chip, and Dolby Atmos audio playback, and even additional color options to choose from. All of this makes for a significant upgrade over the iPhone SE if you value these features and can afford the $170 extra, but it is worth bearing in mind that they are not essential capabilities for many users.

The main drawback of buying the iPhone 12 is its age, with the device featuring an older and less powerful chip. Some users may even value the smaller size and weight of the iPhone SE, as well as features like ‌Touch ID‌. Overall, it comes down to whether you value having a smaller, newer device, or can look past this to get the benefits of a device with ‌Face ID‌ and a larger, OLED display.

If you prefer the iPhone 12's set of features, then it is still a good option for $599, but generally most users looking for an affordable iPhone should opt for the iPhone SE since it is more future-proof and offers a similar A15 chipset as Apple's latest iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models.

It is also worth noting that the iPhone 13 mini starts at the same $599 price point as the iPhone 12 and continues to be available from Apple, but it features a smaller display at just 5.4-inches. The iPhone 13 mini is a newer device and starts with double the storage of the iPhone 12 at 128GB, so the iPhone 13 mini will be a better option for users who are considering the iPhone 12 but do not mind having a slightly smaller display.

After refusing a price hike last week from its primary chip supplier, TSMC, Apple has apparently reversed course and accepted the increase in prices set to be applied next year, according to the latest report from Economic Daily News.

From January 1, 2023, TSMC plans to raise the price of 8-inch chip wafers by 6 percent, while 12-inch wafers are set to increase by 3 to 5 percent. Economic Daily News previously reported that Apple wouldn't accept the price increase, but it is now saying the company has agreed to bear the cost.

TSMC's fabrication materials suppliers have been forced to drastically increase prices on the back of the global chip shortage. Other component makers and material suppliers are making similar moves in the semiconductor industry amid a wider price squeeze.

In May, Bloomberg reported that TSMC was in the process of warning its customers of a considerable price increase. This came after a hefty 20 percent price hike in 2021, which was said to be the most substantial chip price rise in a decade. Last year, it was speculated that Apple may have to raise device prices to account for substantial chip price rises.

TSMC produces A-series chips for the iPhone, iPad, and Apple silicon chips for the Mac. The foundry is expected to begin production of 3nm chips for Apple by the end of 2022. Apple's first ‌3nm‌ chip may be the M2 Pro chip for Macs, while the A17 Bionic chip in next year's iPhone 15 Pro models is also expected to be a ‌3nm‌ chip.

Apple's transition to ‌3nm‌ chips will result in further improved performance and power efficiency in upcoming Macs and iPhones, as Apple seeks to preserve its performance-per-watt lead over competitors like Intel, even if that means paying higher prices and potentially passing on the cost to consumers.

Apple today overhauled the developer account interface that developers access when logging into Apple's site, introducing a cleaner look that provides access to more information at a glance.

While the prior version of the website had a side bar for navigation, the updated site features a top navigation bar with access to program resources, email preferences, membership details, code-level support, agreements, and events.

All of the same information can be accessed by simply scrolling down, and with most of what's needed right in program resources at the top, it should be quicker and easier for developers to find the tools that they're looking for.

Program resources includes App Store Connect information and one-click access to apps and analytics, plus it has software downloads and certificates, identifiers, and profiles for testing and distributing apps.

There are quick access tools for managing an Apple developer account, receiving emails and notifications, and using Technical Support Incidents for code-level support for Apple frameworks, APIs, and tools from an Apple engineer. The site is limited to developers and requires an Apple developer account to access.

(Thanks, @alixrezax!)

In iOS 16, Apple introduced a new Apple Watch Mirroring feature that lets you see and control your Apple Watch screen from your paired iPhone. Apple Watch Mirroring is designed to make the watch experience more accessible for people with physical and motor disabilities, but it can be useful to anyone. Keep reading to learn how to use it.

With Apple Watch Mirroring in iOS 16, Apple utilizes its AirPlay wireless protocol to make Apple Watch more accessible. The addition of the new feature means you can use touch or assistive features like Voice Control, Switch Control, and more on your iPhone to interact with your Apple Watch.

To start using Apple Watch Mirroring, you'll need an Apple Watch Series 6 or later running watchOS 9, along with a paired iPhone running iOS 16. You can check if your iPhone needs updating by going to Settings -> General -> Software Update.

How to Control Apple Watch Mirroring

1. On your iPhone, launch the Settings app.
2. Scroll down and tap Accessibility.
3. Under "Physical and Motor," tap Apple Watch Mirroring.
4. Toggle on the switch next to Apple Watch Mirroring.

After you've performed the last step, a graphical representation of your Apple Watch will appear on your iPhone's screen, while a blue outline will appear around the face of your Apple Watch to indicate that mirroring is enabled.

You'll now be able to control your Apple Watch by tapping and swiping on the watch image that appears on your iPhone. You can even tap the Side button and swipe the Digital Crown to mimic the same physical actions that you would perform on your watch. When you're done using Apple Watch Mirroring, simply tap the X in the top-right corner of the Apple Watch card on your iPhone.

If you want to make Apple Watch Mirroring quicker to access, you can add it to Apple's Accessibility Shortcut menu, which, once set up, can be invoked using a triple click of the Home button or Side button.

Apple today released updated firmware for the MagSafe Charger that is designed to work with the iPhone 12 and later and the AirPods Pro 2. The new firmware is version 10M1821, up from the prior 10M229 firmware. Note that in the Settings app, you'll see a different version number than the firmware number, with the update displayed as version 255.0.0.0 (the prior firmware was 247.0.0.0).

The ‌MagSafe‌ Charger was initially released in the fall of 2020 alongside the iPhone 12 models, and this is the third firmware update that Apple has provided.

As firmware updates are released quietly over the air, Apple does not provide release notes. We do not know what new features or bug fixes might be included in the software, but given the recent release of both the iPhone 14 models and the AirPods Pro 2, the firmware could have optimizations for these devices.

There is no clear method for updating a ‌‌MagSafe‌‌ charger's firmware, but it needs to be plugged in and connected to an Apple device for a firmware update to initiate. You can check your ‌‌MagSafe‌‌ Charger's firmware by following the instructions in our MagSafe Charger how to.

With the latest iOS 16.1 beta, Apple has tweaked the design of the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max to make it more visible on a dark background. When using a darker wallpaper or with the darker interface of Dark Mode activated, there is a light gray border around the outside of the ‌Dynamic Island‌ when the screen is dimmed or when the ‌Dynamic Island‌ is in active use.

The border does not show up on lighter color wallpapers where the ‌Dynamic Island‌'s outline is already visible, and it disappears when the iPhone is unlocked or when the ‌Dynamic Island‌ is not being used. If you play music or use an app that displays content in the ‌Dynamic Island‌, the border will show up again.

In iOS 16.0.2, there is a very faint border around the ‌Dynamic Island‌, but the iOS 16.1 beta makes it much more apparent. It is not clear why Apple has made this change, and what it ultimately adds to the ‌Dynamic Island‌ interface. For those who used dark backgrounds to make the ‌Dynamic Island‌ blend better into the screen around it, the new outline is something of a distraction.

Apple's second-generation AirPods Pro Charging Case is equipped with a set of little metal holes at the right side, with the holes designed to accommodate a lanyard. Apple does not provide a lanyard with the AirPods Pro, and is in fact selling just one on its website and in retail stores.

The Incase Lanyard is priced at $12.95, and it was designed with the AirPods Pro in mind, launching on the same day as the new earbuds. The lanyard features a thin gray strap that slides into the holes of the AirPods Pro and then loops to hold on securely.

It is a standardized lanyard design that is used for all kinds of accessories, and you're probably familiar with it if you've worn a badge or had a smartphone case with a lanyard loop available. The loop that attaches to the AirPods Pro is in turn attached to a lighter gray plastic clip, and at the end of the plastic clip, there is a longer, thicker gray braided loop that can be wrapped around the wrist or looped over a backpack or bag strap.

I like to attach my AirPods Pro to an inside zipper inside my backpack, leaving it accessible while also hiding it from view. The aforementioned clip can be used for attaching the Incase Lanyard to objects as you can loop it over and then tuck the strap into the clip's edge. The clip is tight, so it does feel secure. I have also used the wrist strap for carrying the AirPods Pro when I don't have a bag with me, and I feel that it's comfortable and secure. I appreciate the braided design, but the all gray design is boring. I wish Apple and Incase offered the Incase Lanyard in a better range of colors.

If you're using the Incase Lanyard to attach the AirPods Pro to keys, your wrist, or the outside of a bag, it is worth noting that there is no mechanism that secures the case of the AirPods Pro itself. Should the AirPods Pro 2 lid happen to pop open, your AirPods could fall out.

Incase says that the lanyard measures in at 9.25 inches long, and that felt like a good length for use as a wrist strap, if a little long. I did put effort into pulling on both sides of the plastic clip, and the lanyard feels well made and durable.

All in all, the Incase Lanyard is fine, and I have no complaints about it. It serves its purpose, and seems like it will hold up for quite some time. I do want to point out that at $13, it's not going to break the bank, but it is comparatively expensive. On Amazon.com, you can buy multi-packs of lanyards for half as much since you can use any lanyard with the skinny loop design.

How to Buy

The Incase Lanyard can be purchased from the online Apple Store for $12.95.

The iOS 16.1 beta that was released to developers today removes the erroneous Adaptive Transparency toggle that was added for the original AirPods Pro and the AirPods Max in the prior beta.

After updating last week, AirPods Pro and AirPods Max owners running the AirPods firmware beta found an "Adaptive Transparency" toggle in the AirPods settings, and it was initially assumed that Apple had brought the Adaptive Transparency feature of the AirPods Pro 2 to older AirPods models.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman yesterday said that the Adaptive Transparency option was actually a bug, which Apple has now confirmed by removing the setting in the current beta. It was decidedly curious that Apple opted to bring a major AirPods Pro 2 feature to the original AirPods Pro, so it makes sense that it was a mistake and that the setting was accidentally made visible on devices that do not support it.

Adaptive Transparency is an AirPods Pro 2-exclusive feature that is enabled by the new H2 chip in the device. It is designed to allow the ‌AirPods Pro‌ to quiet loud sounds, such as sirens, construction work, or loud speakers at a concert without blocking out all noise.

Apple today seeded the fourth beta of iOS 16.1 to developers for testing purposes, with the beta coming one week after the release of the third iOS 16.1 beta. The iOS 16.1 beta is also joined by the fifth beta of iPadOS 16.1, which is on a slightly different schedule as Apple started testing it prior to the launch of iOS 16.

Registered developers can download the iOS 16‌ and iPadOS 16 profiles from the Apple Developer Center, and once installed, the betas will be available over the air.

iOS 16.1 introduces support for Live Activities, the interactive notification feature that lets you keep an eye on things happening in real time right from the Lock Screen and, on the iPhone 14 Pro, the Dynamic Island.

Live Activities cannot be used at the current time as developers still need to update their apps to add support, but it will be available when iOS 16.1 launches. Developers have access to an ActivityKit API to begin getting their apps ready.

The update also introduces a new Clean Energy Charging feature in the United States that is designed to selectively charge when lower carbon emission electricity is available, plus it lays the groundwork for Matter, a new smart home standard that Apple plans to begin supporting this fall.

Matter will allow for interoperability between smart devices from different companies, and Apple, Google, Samsung, Amazon, and others are working on support.

On the iPad, iPadOS 16 will expand the Stage Manager feature to the 2018 and 2020 iPad Pro models, and it is no longer limited to the M1 ‌iPad Pro‌ and ‌M1‌ iPad Air. The beta removes the external display function of ‌Stage Manager‌, and this feature will return in a later beta. External display support will remain limited to the ‌M1‌ ‌iPad‌ models even though older ‌iPad Pro‌ models are now able to use ‌Stage Manager‌.

During the beta, Apple tweaked the design of the battery status bar icon, adding a visual indication of charge level. It also changed the battery font, updated the Lock Screen charging indicator, and fixed a copy and paste bug.

Other new features in the update include a deletable Wallet app, changes to the Lock Screen customizing interface, and more, with details available in our iOS 16.1 feature guide.

Apple today seeded the tenth beta of macOS 13 Ventura, the next-generation version of the Mac operating system that's set to launch this fall. The tenth beta comes one week after Apple provided the ninth beta to developers.

Registered developers can download the beta through the Apple Developer Center and once the appropriate profile is installed, betas will be available through the Software Update mechanism in System Preferences.

macOS Ventura introduces Stage Manager, a new feature that lets Mac users focus on a task while keeping other apps at the ready for easy swapping between tasks. The update adds Continuity Camera, which is designed to let you use the iPhone as a webcam for your Mac. It supports Center Stage, Desk View (for showing off your desk), and Studio Light.

Handoff is now available for FaceTime so you can transfer calls between iPhone, iPad, and Mac at will, and Messages supports features for marking an iMessage as unread, unsending an iMessage, and marking as unread. SharePlay also now works in the Messages app.

The Mail app supports scheduling and undoing emails for up to 10 seconds after they're sent, and there are now Weather and Clock apps that are available on the Mac. System Preferences has been renamed System Settings, and it features an iOS-like design.

Safari supports Shared Tab Groups and Apple is working on Passkeys, a next-generation credential that replaces the password. There are updates to Spotlight, Photo Library has new features, and Metal 3 is included in macOS Ventura for better graphics in games.

For everything new in macOS Ventura, we have a dedicated roundup that goes through all of the features. macOS Ventura is set to see a public release in October.

Billionaire Elon Musk has once again reversed course in the ongoing Twitter acquisition saga, today sending a letter to Twitter proposing a purchase at the original price, reports Bloomberg.

Musk originally offered to buy Twitter for $44 billion in April ($54.20 per share), a deal that Twitter ultimately accepted. Musk in May put the takeover "temporarily on hold" because of a dispute over the number of fake or spam accounts that Twitter claimed to have. Twitter said that fake accounts represented less than five percent of users, but Musk was not convinced.

In July, Musk decided he no longer wanted to buy Twitter and attempted to call off the purchase, claiming that Twitter did not comply with its contractual obligations and that he was not provided with the relevant business information that he requested.

Twitter in turn filed a lawsuit to force Musk to go on with the sale, accusing him of trashing the company, disrupting its operations, and destroying stockholder value. Musk's decision to offer to continue on with the purchase comes ahead of a trial that was set to begin on October 17. With Musk once again on board, it is probable that the acquisition will go through, provided he does not change his mind again.

The Connectivity Standards Alliance and its members that include Apple, Google, Amazon, Samsung, and other smart home manufacturers, today announced the official launch of the Matter 1.0 smart home accessory standard.

Companies that have agreed to support Matter now have all of the resources that they need to begin implementing Matter into their platforms, so we could see Apple integrating Matter into HomeKit very soon. In fact, iOS 16.1 is already laying the groundwork for Matter, so Matter could be announced with the launch of the update.

"What started as a mission to unravel the complexities of connectivity has resulted in Matter, a single, global IP-based protocol that will fundamentally change the IoT," said Tobin Richardson, President and CEO of the Connectivity Standards Alliance. "This release is the first step on a journey our community and the industry are taking to make the IoT more simple, secure, and valuable no matter who you are or where you live. With global support from companies large and small, today's Matter 1.0 release is more than a milestone for our organization and our members; it is a celebration of what is possible."

With the Matter 1.0 launch, authorized test labs are now available for product certification, tools are available, and the open-source reference design SDK is complete. Alliance members with devices that have already been deployed and with plans to update their products with Matter support can do so as soon as their products are certified.

Matter is an internet of things standard that is designed to improve interoperability of smart devices between brands, so ‌HomeKit‌ devices can work with other smart home devices from Google, Amazon, and others. Matter works over Wi-Fi and Thread, with Wi-Fi allowing smart home devices to communicate with the cloud and Thread offering an energy efficient and reliable mesh network in the home.

The Connectivity Standards Alliance says that the first release of Matter will support a variety of smart home products such as lighting, HVAC controls, window coverings, safety and security sensors, door locks, media devices, controllers, and bridges.

Cydia parent company SaurikIT, LLC has filed an appeal with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit after U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers dismissed the company's antitrust lawsuit against Apple last month, according to court documents. SaurikIT had voluntarily asked for the case to be dismissed so the appeal process could begin at the higher court.

SaurikIT sued Apple in late 2020, alleging that the company has an illegal monopoly over iOS app distribution given that the App Store is the only authorized marketplace where users can download apps on the iPhone and iPad. The complaint also alleged that Apple has "consistently tried to snuff out alternative app stores," including Cydia.

Cydia launched in early 2008, months before Apple's own App Store. The app allows users who "jailbreak" their iPhone or iPad to install apps outside of the App Store, as well as themes and tweaks that customize the look and functionality of iOS. For example, long before Apple introduced the Control Center on the iPhone, there was a tweak available on Cydia called SBSettings that offered similar functionality.

The lawsuit alleged that Cydia was the "the App Store before the App Store" and the "first comprehensive solution" for expanding the iPhone's capabilities, although it's worth noting that another unofficial App Store known as Installer launched prior to Cydia.

SaurikIT is owned by Jay Freeman, who is one of several developers and companies who have sued Apple for alleged anticompetitive behavior in relation to the App Store over the past few years, with others including Fortnite creator Epic Games, streaming music service Spotify, FlickType keyboard app creator Kosta Eleftheriou, and more.

Apple has repeatedly denied that the App Store is a monopoly given that it faces competition from the Google Play store on Android devices. Apple has also repeatedly touted the privacy and security benefits of the App Store, arguing that third-party app stores on the iPhone could expose users to fraud, malware, and other risks.

A bug is alerting some second-generation AirPods Pro users to "replace" their battery soon, according to various online reports.

The bug seems to trigger battery replacement notifications from the Find My app on nearby devices when the battery of the AirPods Pro earbuds or MagSafe Charging Case is low. The second-generation AirPods Pro feature enhanced ‌Find My‌ functionality thanks to a U1 chip for Precision Finding and transmit their battery levels at all times, so it seems likely that the alert relates to these new features.

The notifications urge the user to "replace the battery on... soon," even though it is not possible to replace AirPods batteries and the device simply needs to be recharged. Users experiencing the bug may not be immediately aware that it relates to their AirPods Pro, since the item is referred to in notifications as simply "left," "right," or "Case," leading to somewhat incoherent alerts.

The notifications seems similar to that used for the AirTag when its CR2032 battery is almost depleted and needs to be replaced, so it seems that the system is conflating the two products. One theory suggests that Apple used much of the ‌AirTag‌'s firmware for the ‌MagSafe‌ Charging Case, causing identical alerts even where they do not make sense.

Users have complained about the bug on the MacRumors forums and Reddit, but it is not clear how widespread the issue is. While Apple has not yet acknowledged the bug, it will likely be resolved via a software update in due course.

Thanks, Isaac!

Amazon today introduced a new all-time low price on the 2019 AirPods 2 with Wired Charging Case, available for $79.00, down from $129.00. The headphones are in stock and ready to ship today, with a delivery estimate between October 6 - 9.

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.

This price beats the previous record low price by about $10, and that previous best-ever price is one we haven't seen since last Black Friday. We don't know how sales will go this holiday shopping season, but right now this is a great chance to get a pair of AirPods at an ultra-low entry-level price.

This is the version of the AirPods 2 that comes with a Wired Charging Case, made to be used with an Apple Lightning Cable. Apple discontinued the AirPods 2 with Wireless Charging Case with the launch of the AirPods 3.

We track sales for every model of the AirPods in our Best AirPods Deals guide, so be sure to bookmark that page while you shop around for the wireless headphones.

Update: This deal has expired.

The popular email client Spark today announced a significant redesign for its Mac app, introducing new features to make it easier for users to manage their emails, reduce distractions, and have a more streamlined emailing workflow.

Spark on the Mac now has an entirely new design that maintains the same elements as before, such as a unified inbox, but with new additional features. Now, the new design introduces bundles for different email categories such as newsletters and notifications. Emails can now be marked as "done" rather than unread in the new Smart Inbox as part of Spark's goal to rethink how people interact with emails.

Spark is also introducing a new feature called Gatekeeper, which automatically scans all incoming emails from new senders and displays them as cards at the top of the inbox. Users can now choose to accept the incoming email from the sender or block the sender entirely.

Unlike before, Spark is moving to a new subscription-based model. The free version of Spark now includes the same features as before, along with the unified inbox, the new smart inbox, and the updated design. Spark Premium users will gain access to addtional new features, including Gatekeeper, a new Home Screen that helps users take a break from emails, muting threads, and more.

For new individual users, Spark Premium will cost $59.99 for an annual subscription, which is the equivalent of $4.99 per month. The monthly subscription will cost $7.99 for individual users. Existing users of Spark will get a lifetime 30% discount on an annual subscription, while the monthly price remains at $7.99. For the first time, Spark is now available on Windows.

Gamevice today announced that it is now accepting pre-orders for its latest gaming controller, the Gamevice Flex, which is designed to accommodate iPhones with cases of all sizes so there is no need to remove the case to play.

The two sides of the Flex pull apart so that an iPhone can be placed in the middle, and then it closes around the sides of the iPhone for a secure fit. There is a built-in Lightning port for the iPhone version that allows for a connection to the Gamevice app.

Gamevice designed the Flex with an Xbox controller layout, so it will be familiar to Xbox fans, plus the company says it has been created with enhanced ergonomics for more comfortable gameplay sessions. There are full-sized joysticks, hall effect triggers, a headphone jack, and a built-in Lightning connector for charging the iPhone though a passthrough USB-C port.

iPhone users can play any game that supports gaming controllers with the Gamevice Flex.

The Gamevice Flex is available for pre-order as of today and it will launch on October 25. Preorders come with a free one-month Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription.