Digital payments platform Square today announced the launch of an early access program that adds support for Apple's Tap to Pay on iPhone feature to the Square Point of Sale app.
Small businesses and independent sellers who use Square will be able to accept in-person contactless payments using an iPhone and the Square app, with no additional hardware required.
Square's Tap to Pay on iPhone feature will launch in full later this year, but an early access program is available for select sellers starting today, allowing the company to test Tap to Pay before it debuts. Square users interested in Tap to Pay can sign up to test it on the Square website.
Apple introduced Tap to Pay on iPhone back in February, with the feature designed to let NFC-compatible iPhones accept payments through Apple Pay, contactless credit and debit cards, and other digital wallets with no add-on hardware.
At the current time, Square's payment solution requires a dongle that is connected to the iPhone over Bluetooth or plugged into the phone through the Lightning port. The new solution will not require Square's typical hardware.
Stripe and Dutch payment processing company Adyen have already implemented support for Tap to Pay. As of right now, the Tap to Pay option is limited to the United States.
Apple today shared a new AirPods ad starring singer Harry Styles, following the release of his new album "Harry's House" last month.
The ad features Styles and others with colorful, silhouette-like appearances as they dance while listening to music in Spatial Audio on AirPods.
"The magical listening experience of AirPods with Spatial Audio meets Harry Styles' new album 'Harry's House," says Apple. "With dynamic head tracking, to hear sound all around, you'll hear Harry Styles like never before."
The ad draws similarities to Apple's iconic iPod ads with silhouettes of people dancing or rocking out to music from the mid-2000s.
The third-generation AirPods were released in October 2021 with a new design, Spatial Audio support, and IPX4-rated water resistance.
DJI recently announced the Mini 3 Pro, its lightest weight Pro drone that is a successor to other Mini drones that it has sold in the past. The Mini 3 Pro brings high-end camera quality, a tri-directional object avoidance system, and an expansive feature set to one of the smallest form factors that DJI offers.
I'll start this review with the disclaimer that I am by no means a drone expert, so everything I have to say is from the perspective of a casual drone user. I have a DJI Mavic Pro that I like to break out every now and then, but this is the first "Mini" drone I've experienced. As someone not accustomed to using a drone on the regular, the Mini was the perfect form factor for me.
Unlike my Mavic Pro, the Mini is small enough that I can tuck it into my backpack or pop it into a suitcase (in a protective casing, of course), and I am less worried about damaging it in travel or during flight. Like most DJI drones, it has fold-in legs and propellers that collapse down, and this is a new design for the Mini line.
The Mini 3 Pro is a 249 gram drone, but it is right at the 250 gram limit, so battery swaps (to DJI's "Plus" battery) and other accessories will bring it up over 250 grams. At 249 grams, the Mini 3 Pro is under the weight limit that requires registration with the FCC, for those who prefer not to have to do paperwork. It's supposedly safer to fly too, as sub-250g drones don't need to be registered because they aren't considered to be as risky.
Coming in under the weight limit is not a free pass to do whatever you like though, because even small drones are subjected to all FAA regulations in the United States.
In flight, the Mini 3 Pro is responsive, smooth, and basically a joy to fly, it's a much better experience than my 2016 Mavic Pro, and one of the primary reasons is the controller that can be purchased alongside it. The DJI RC has the DJI app pre-installed, and it includes a 5.5-inch display that's easy to see even in direct sunlight thanks to 700 nits brightness.
You can purchase the DJI Mini 3 Pro with no controller at all if you already own the RC-N1 (which is the controller that attaches to a smartphone like an iPhone), and that's $699. With the RC-N1, it's $759, and with the premium DJI RC controller, the drone is priced at $909. So compared to the RC-N1 cost, you're paying a $150 premium for the better controller.
I prefer the DJI RC controller because it's just so easy to pick up the drone and start flying. You don't need to attach a smartphone to the controller and get the DJI app up and running, it basically just works. It's a pleasant experience, and it's nice not having my smartphone in use. I don't think it's going to be worth the extra $150 if you're already familiar with the RC-N1 controller, the DJI iPhone app, and prefer easy access to footage, but if this is your first drone experience or you're not an RC-N1 fan, the RC is a decent buy.
The Mini 3 Pro has the same general build quality as other DJI drones, and it is crafted from a lightweight plastic material, but it doesn't feel cheap even though it was built to fit into the sub 250 gram category. It comes with extra propellers and there are a ton of built-in safety measures, but it's still possible to crash. My test unit had a minor encounter with a tree, but luckily survived with just a couple scuffed propellers. There is a gimbal cover, and it pops right on and off, so it's easy to pack up the drone when you're done flying.
You can get DJI Care for the Mini 3 Pro, and if you're new to drones or a not so great flyer like I am, it's worthwhile. It's basically AppleCare for drones, and it's priced at $79 for a year or $125 for two years. You can get three fixes if you break or lose your drone, with a $65 replacement fee for damage and a $235 replacement fee for a flyaway (only usable once).
As for camera quality, there's a 1/1.3-inch sensor with an f/1.7 aperture, and video and photo quality is top notch. It records up to 4K 60fps video and can capture 48-megapixel RAW or JPG images, which is a notable improvement over the Mini 2, which was limited to 4K 30fps video. I've shared some photos and videos in the review to give you an idea of what you can expect, and in my experience, I got crisp, high-quality video with vivid colors even when the lighting outside was not the greatest. It's not up to par with some of the higher-end drones like the Mavic 3, as it doesn't have the micro four thirds sensor.
The DJI Mini 3 Pro is supposed to last for up to 34 minutes on a single charge (extra batteries can be purchased), but that metric is with no wind and there's not often zero wind at all. I didn't get 34 minutes, and I think 25 to 30 minutes of battery life on average is more realistic. The Mini 3 Pro is super quiet, so if that's a concern, this is the drone to get.
Moving on to software, the Mini 3 Pro is a "Pro" drone because it has safety and flight features are typically reserved for higher-end DJI drones, and that's the main reason you might want to shell out extra for the Mini 3 Pro over the more affordable Mini 2. Drones are expensive and when I fly I have constant anxiety about crashing into trees and other objects, or flying too far away. All of the DJI drones are fairly good about preventing you from destroying them, but the Mini 3 Pro goes a little above and beyond.
It includes forward, backward, and downward tri-directional dual-vision obstacle sensing, and for the most part, this safety feature did indeed keep me from flying into any trees. When near an object, the drone wouldn't get too close, but it is worth noting that it's not entirely foolproof because there are blindspots at the sides that can cause trouble.
The Mini 3 Pro is using DJI's Advanced Pilot Systems 4.0 technology, which is the latest software. DJI promises a stable feed at up to 12km, and I don't know if it was all the trees around or my location, but I couldn't make it to that distance before I lost connectivity and the drone had to safely bring itself home. Luckily, the Mini 3 Pro's Return to Home safety features let it come right back to its starting point if it can't communicate with the controller.
DJI's multitude of safety features, modes, and sensors result in a safer flying experience, but reading through everything available and the shortcomings is essential, so make sure to download the manual and look it over thoroughly if you pick up the Mini 3 Pro. Some of the vision systems, for example, do not work over highly reflective surfaces, water, in drastic lighting changes, or over super dark or bright conditions, so you need to know the ins and outs of the drone to keep it safe.
There are a lot of fun little features that the Mini 3 Pro supports, and these weren't available with the Mini 2. They're useful for social media videos and capturing sports and other action. There are three modes, Cine, Normal, and Sport, along with several different photo and video options.
Cine adopts a lower flight speed (13mph) and dulls the sensitivity of the flight for less choppy video, while Sport mode, which is the fastest mode, ups the maximum speed to over 35mph. Normal is in between and allows for flight speeds up to 22mph. Notably, Sport mode does not support object avoidance, so it should be used with caution. The various video options are outlined below.
FocusTrack: ActiveTrack 4.0 - There are two ActiveTrack modes. Trace follows a subject (moving or stationary) at a constant distance and altitude, angled toward the subject. Parallel is the same, but follows from the side.
FocusTrack: Point of Interest 3.0 - You can set a subject and then the drone will track it in a circle based on a set radius and flight speed. This mode disables obstacle avoidance, so use with caution. As with Spotlight, distance, altitude, and framing can be adjusted.
FocusTrack: Spotlight 2.0 - You can set the camera to lock on a specific subject, and the drone will keep it in the field of view. You can still manually control the Mini 3 Pro, circling the subject, changing distance from the subject, and adjusting altitude. It works with both stationary and moving objects, so it's fun for recording sports.
MasterShots - In MasterShots, you can set the drone to keep a subject at the center of the frame while the drone pulls off different flight maneuvers to create a cinematic video.
QuickShots - There are several QuickShot shooting modes that have different effects. With Dronie, the drone flies backwards and then flies upward while the camera is locked on the subject. Rocket causes the drone to fly up with the camera pointing down, Circle sends the drone in a circle around the subject, and Helix goes up and around the subject in a spiral pattern. There's also a Boomerang mode that causes the drone to fly around the subject in an up and down pattern, and Asteroid causes the drone to fly backward and then upward, taking several photos and then returning to the starting point.
Hyperlapse - Hyperlapse creates various timelapse videos, there are a few modes like Circle (sends the drone in a circle), Course Lock (to fix a direction), and Waypoint, which takes photos on a flight path of pre-set waypoints.
True Vertical Shooting - The Mini 3 Pro supports vertical shots with a gimbal that rotates 90 degrees, so you can do Panoramic vertical videos.
Bottom Line
If you want a feature rich drone that is not overly expensive, has a raft of safety features and a ton of different shooting modes, the Mini 3 Pro is worth checking out. It's relatively durable, easy to fly, and comes in under the 250 gram weight limit so it is not subject to some of the same registration restrictions as bigger drones.
The RC Controller is a great flight addition and a solid alternative to the iPhone-compatible controller, and the safety features and improved camera capabilities are nice to have over the Mini 2.
How to Buy
The Mini 3 Pro can be purchased from the DJI website. The drone alone is $669, and the bundle with the DJI RC-N1 (iPhone) controller is $759. The mini 3 Pro with DJI RC is $909. There are also various Fly More kits with additional batteries and other accessories that can be purchased alongside the drone.
As of now, Mini 3 Pro orders will deliver at the end of June at the earliest, but it will take until August for the more affordable versions with no RC controller to be available.
Note: DJI provided MacRumors with a Mini 3 Pro and accessories for the purpose of this review. The Mini 3 Pro was returned to DJI at the conclusion of the review. No other compensation was received.
Amazon today introduced a new all-time low price on the 45mm Cellular Apple Watch Series 7, now available for $410.00, down from $529.00. The new sale arrives amid ongoing all-time low deals across the GPS and Cellular Apple Watch Series 7 lineup, which we recently covered.
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 deal is available only in the Midnight Aluminum Case with Midnight Sport Band, and only Amazon has this price. At $119 off, this is the lowest price we've ever seen on the 45mm Cellular version of the Apple Watch Series 7.
In regards to other sales, you can currently get the 41mm GPS Apple Watch Series 7 for $329.00 and the 45mm GPS model for $359.00, and both sales represent $70 off original prices. Our full Deals Roundup has more information on the latest Apple-related sales and bargains.
TrendForce said the iPhone 14 Pro models will be upgraded to a faster and more power efficient type of RAM known as LPDDR5, while the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Max models are expected to stick with LPDDR4X.
If the report proves to be accurate, the iPhone 14 lineup would compare as follows:
iPhone 13 mini: 4GB (LPDDR4X)
iPhone 13: 4GB (LPDDR4X)
iPhone 13 Pro: 6GB (LPDDR4X)
iPhone 13 Pro Max: 6GB (LPDDR4X)
iPhone 14: 6GB (LPDDR4X)
iPhone 14 Max: 6GB (LPDDR4X)
iPhone 14 Pro: 6GB (LPDDR5)
iPhone 14 Pro Max: 6GB (LPDDR5)
The report lines up with information shared by Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who also claimed that all four iPhone 14 models would be equipped with 6GB of RAM and that iPhone 14 Pro models would be upgraded to LPDDR5.
TrendForce also suggests that iPhone 14 Pro models may start with 256GB of storage, compared to 128GB for iPhone 13 Pro models, but the chart says the storage capacities are "TBD," so this information appears to be less certain.
As previously rumored, two features expected to be exclusive to iPhone 14 Pro models are an upgraded 48-megapixel rear camera lens and an A16 chip. The standard iPhone 14 models are expected to stick with an A15 chip.
As widely rumored as well, no iPhone 14 mini is expected this year. Instead, Apple is planning to launch 6.1-inch iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Max and iPhone 14 Pro Max models. The devices will likely be announced at Apple's usual September event, barring any significant supply chain disruptions.
Amazon has solid discounts across a collection of Apple accessories today, including the MagSafe Battery Pack, MagSafe Charger, and AirTags.
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.
First is the AirTag 4-Pack, which is available for $89.00, down from $99.00. We've seen these down to around $85 in the past, but Amazon's price today is among the best discounts we've seen in the past few months and the lowest price you'll find online this week for the AirTag 4-Pack.
Moving to MagSafe accessories, you can get the MagSafe Battery Pack for $79.99, down from $99.00. This is the best price so far in 2022 and overall a second-best price on this accessory.
Next, Amazon has the MagSafe Charger for $34.00, down from $39.00. This is a second-best price, but still one of the best deals we've seen so far in 2022.
A bug that caused the Apple Music app to install itself directly into the dock when downloaded from the App Store has been fixed in the latest iOS developer beta.
Appearing early last month and later acknowledge by Apple, the unintended bug would make the Apple Music app drop straight into the Dock without user permission, sometimes even replacing other first and third-party apps located there.
iOS devices running iOS 15.4.1 are affected, and we were also able to get Apple Music to install itself over another app in the iOS 15.5 beta.
iOS 15.6 Beta 2 fixes the music bug when re-downloading Apple Music it would replace your music app in the dock. pic.twitter.com/ggYleWFBnq
— Aaron Zollo (@zollotech) June 1, 2022
However, as spotted by Aaron Zollo, Apple appears to have fixed the bug in iOS 15.6 Beta 2, suggesting the issue will be resolved for all users when iOS 15.6 is officially released.
Blizzard's newest Diablo game, Diablo Immortal, is now available on iPhone and iPad. Fans of the Diablo universe enjoyed an early rollout in some regions, but Blizzard has confirmed that the game should be freely available to play for everyone from today.
First announced in 2018, Diablo Immortal is a full-fledged action RPG that's been developed from the ground up for mobile devices.
Diablo Immortal players can choose from six Diablo classes including Barbarian, Crusader, Demon Hunter, Monk, Necromancer, and Wizard, and then journey through various zones and the city of Westmarch.
Familiar Diablo characters, such as Deckard Cain, are present in the storyline, and players can complete an expansive quest to collect the shattered pieces of the Worldstone before the forces of the Burning Hells can gather. The questline takes place between the events of Diablo II and Diablo III.
Players share a world with others and can team up with up to eight people to take on group challenges and fight raid bosses. Up to 150 people can form a clan to earn clan achievements, and the game supports cross-play and cross-progression on PC and mobile.
There's also a faction-based PvP system where players can work together to fight in an ongoing war. The top player on the server earns the Eternal Crown and becomes the leader of the Immortals, forced to defend their reign across a series of modes.
Diablo Immortal is a free-to-play title with Blizzard monetizing the game through in-app purchases, though the company says the "core game experience" will always be free. The game can be downloaded from the App Store. More information about the game can be found on Blizzard's website.
Global smartphone shipments are expected to decline 3.5 percent to 1.31 billion units in 2022, according to IDC's latest Worldwide Quarterly Mobile Phone Tracker forecast. Because of increasing challenges with supply and demand, IDC is significantly reducing its forecast for 2022, which previously predicted 1.6 percent growth.
IDC believes Apple will be the "least impacted vendor" because of its control over its supply chain and because iPhone customers are in the higher-priced segment and are not as impacted by macroeconomic issues like inflation.
Weakening demand, inflation, supply chain constraints, and geo-political tensions are impacting all smartphone vendors, resulting in cutbacks. Even major smartphone manufacturers like Samsung and Apple have cut orders. IDC says that it expects the challenges to ease by the end of the year, barring any new setbacks. The 2023 market is expected to recover with 5 percent growth.
Semiconductor supply issues are also expected to ease in the second half of 2022.
"The ongoing semiconductor supply issues will ease up in the second half of 2022. On the SoC side, 4G SoC supply has been tight, but the market continues to shift towards 5G SoCs," said Phil Solis, research director in IDC's Enabling Technologies and Semiconductors team. "The bigger problem has been the tight supply of components such as PMICs, display drivers, and discrete Wi-Fi chips. Capacity is being increased for these semiconductors that are made in higher process nodes and newer versions of Wi-Fi chips are being made with newer process nodes. At the same time, demand is dropping. Combined, these supply and demand changes will put the market more in equilibrium."
Apple in the second fiscal quarter of 2022 had difficulty meeting demand for the current iPhone, iPad, and Mac models because of supply constraints, and the company said in April that it expects those issues to continue into the third fiscal quarter. At the current time, the Mac and iPad appear much more affected by supply chain issues than the iPhone.
Recent rumors have suggested that the iPhone 14 Max is several weeks behind schedule compared to the other iPhone 14 models due to supply chain issues, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said that Apple has the situation under control and suppliers are going to be able to work overtime to watch up. Whether or not these supply issues result in delays or fewer iPhones available for purchase in September remains to be seen.
The App Store prevented 1.6 million risky and untrustworthy apps from defrauding users in 2021, according to new fraud analysis data shared today by Apple. Apple says that the App Store stopped "nearly $1.5 billion in fraudulent transactions" during the year.
Apple rejected more than 34,000 apps for hidden features, and more than 157,000 that were spam or copycat apps. 343,000 apps were rejected for various privacy violations. Over 800,000 fraudulent developer accounts were terminated.
More than 170 million fraudulent customer accounts were deactivated, and 118 million attempted fraudulent account creations were rejected. 155,000 nefarious apps that attempted to skirt the App Review process by altering functionality or concept after approval were rejected or removed from the App Store. 63,500 illegitimate apps on pirate storefronts were blocked by Apple, and more than 3.3 million apps distributed illicitly through the Enterprise Developer Program were blocked.
Apple says that the App Review team helped more than 107,000 developers get their apps on the App Store in 2021, and 835,000 problematic new apps and 805,000 app updates were rejected or removed from the App Store for issues like bugs.
As for ratings and review fraud, Apple detected and blocked more than 94 million reviews and over 170 million ratings for failing to meet moderation standards. 610,000 additional reviews were removed after publication due to customer concern submissions and human evaluation.
Apple stopped over 3.3 million stolen credit and debit cards from being used to make potentially fraudulent purchases, and 600,000 accounts were banned from further App Store transactions.
Apple says that it plans to continue to work to detect fraudulent activity and accounts and prevent financial crimes in order to keep the App Store a "safe and trusted place for users to find and download apps."
Apple today seeded the second public betas of iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6, with the software updates coming two weeks after Apple seeded the first public betas of iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6.
The iOS and iPadOS 15.6 betas can be downloaded over the air after the proper profile from Apple's public beta testing website has been installed on an iPhone or iPad.
There were no new features found in the developer betas of iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6, suggesting that this is a minor update primarily focusing on bug fixes. Apple has also provided no release info at this time.
iOS 15.6 and iPadOS 15.6 are likely to be some of the last updates to iOS 15 and iPadOS 15 as Apple starts transitioning to the next-generation updates, iOS 16 and iPadOS 16, both of which will be unveiled in June at WWDC.
Apple today seeded the second beta of an upcoming macOS Monterey 12.5 update to its public beta testing group, with the update coming one day after Apple provided the beta to developers.
Public beta testers can download the macOS Monterey 12.5 update from the Software Update section of the System Preferences app after installing the proper profile from Apple's beta software website.
There's no word yet on what new features or changes might be included in macOS Monterey 12.5, and nothing new was found in the first developer beta. Apple has provided no details on this time, so we may need to wait for release to find out what bug fixes or minor changes might be included.
macOS Monterey 12.5 is likely to be one of the final updates to the macOS Monterey operating system as Apple begins its transition to the next-generation version of macOS.
It's been a month since we last tracked a notable deal on the AirPods Max, but today Amazon has discounted the high-end headphones to $449.99, down from $549.00. This is one of the best deals we've seen in 2022 on the AirPods Max, and overall it's a second-best price.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Only Silver and Space Gray are available at $449.99, and you won't see this deal price until you reach the checkout screen and an automatic coupon worth $29.01 is applied to your order.
Note: You won't see the deal price until checkout.
If you're shopping for other AirPods models, you can also get the AirPods 2 for $99.99, the AirPods 3 for $149.99, and the AirPods Pro for $179.99. All of these sales are available on Amazon today.
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.
YouTube today announced the launch of a new syncing feature that allows an iOS or Android device to connect to a TV that has the YouTube app, allowing the connected device to be used for commenting, liking videos, and more.
According to YouTube, people were already using the mobile app to engage with YouTube videos watched on TV sets, and the company decided to take advantage of that to improve the YouTube experience on the TV.
When watching YouTube on TV, users can open up the mobile YouTube app and then tap on "Connect" to sync the device to the TV. Using the feature requires being logged in to the same YouTube account on both the TV and the device that it is connecting to.
After connecting, the YouTube video being watched on the TV can be interacted with on the device, offering access to comments, likes, video descriptions, sharing tools, and channel membership options like donations. This adds to already available functionality that previously let the mobile YouTube app be used for playing, pausing, rewinding, and fast forwarding on the TV.
Brynn Evans, YouTube on TV head of design, told The Verge that remotes offer a poor experience for interaction with content on the TV. "The remote's clunky, every remote's different, there's a million different buttons. They're all bad," she said.
The feature is rolling out starting today, and TVs or set-top boxes must be updated to the latest version of the YouTube app.
Google today announced the launch of a Google TV app that's designed for iOS devices, with the aim of helping iPhone and iPad owners to create watchlists, get content recommendations, rate movies, and more. iOS users previously had access to the Play Movies and TV app, and those who had that installed will see it update automatically to the revamped Google TV app.
iPhone and iPad users who have a Google TV or another Android TV OS device can use their iOS device as a remote control. Just click on the remote button in the app and then connect to the TV to control the TV with the phone and access Google Assistant. The feature allows users to take advantage of the phone's keyboard for typing in passwords and search terms.
With Google TV, users can input information on the streaming services they subscribe to and get recommendations for shows and movies to watch based on interests and past viewing habits. Shows can be saved to a Watchlist that is able to sync across devices signed into a Google account.
TV shows and movies can be liked or disliked, and using these features affects the recommendation algorithm. A Highlights tab provides a daily news feed of reviews, news, and more about TV shows and movies that will interest each user.
The app supports all movies and shows purchased or rented with a Google account, so the content can be watched on an iPhone or iPad while on the go.
WWDC will be an online affair again this year, with the exception of some lucky developers invited to Apple Park, but there will still be opportunities for developers to connect with each other during Apple's weeklong developers conference.
Apple today shared a new "Beyond WWDC" page listing community-led events that will be hosted during or after WWDC, which runs from June 6 through June 10.
For example, the page highlights WWDC Community Week, a community-run event that helps developers to connect with fellow developers at watch parties, mentorship labs, community talks, a hackathon, and more. Other events include Office Hours, the Underdog Devs WWDC22 Watch Party, #iOSDevHappyHour IRL, try! Swift DUB DUB, DubDub Series, WWDC.playground, Extended Tokyo 2022, Devpass WWDC22 Special, and more.
In addition, the WWDC 2022 hashflag has also gone live on Twitter for the #WWDC22 hashtag. A hashflag is a small icon that appears next to hashtags in tweets, with the WWDC 2022 hashflag consisting of Apple's Swift icon in a circle outlined with rainbow colors.
The AirPods Pro 2 may feature largely the same design as the current model, contrary to rumors of a "stemless" design, according to new findings based on purported leaked images shared by MacRumors last year.
Last year, MacRumors shared images that allegedly reveal the second-generation AirPods Pro – seemingly showing a design with very few changes. Now, new to-scale 3D comparisons based on MacRumors' images by Apple concept graphic designer Ian Zelbo provide further evidence that the second-generation AirPods Pro will not have a so-called "stemless" design.
It is apparent from last year's images that the alleged second-generation AirPods Pro earbuds do not feature downward-facing IR sensors to detect when they are in a user's ears, but the latest 3D comparisons seen by MacRumors actively suggest that the new AirPods Pro will feature skin-detect sensors.
Alleged second-generation AirPods Pro
Apple's skin-detect sensors debuted in the third-generation AirPods, providing a more accurate way to discern if the earbuds are actually in a user's ears as opposed to in a pocket or on a table. The sensors work by detecting water content in the wearer's skin, which ensures that it does not mistake other surfaces for flesh.
Instead of skin-detect sensors in each earbud, the current AirPods Pro use dual optical sensors to detect if they are in a user's ear. While they effectively perform the same function, the optical sensors can simply tell when they are against a surface or covered up, rather than specifically against skin. This means that if you put an AirPods Pro earbud in a pocket or on a surface, it may erroneously resume playback. This is why Apple switched to skin-detect sensors for greater accuracy, with the added benefit of only needing a single, slightly larger central sensor per earbud.
Third-generation AirPods with skin-detect sensors
Zelbo's scaled comparisons confirm that the alleged second-generation AirPods Pro images show skin-detect sensors that are the exact same size and orientation as on the third-generation AirPods. On the current-generation AirPods Pro, the main IR sensor is part of a long, thin black oblong that also contains a grille of the same shape. The new skin-detect sensor cutout believed to be present on the second-generation AirPods Pro, like the third-generation AirPods, features a shorter, noticeably thicker oblong with a circular grille.
This small but crucial detail may suggest that the images are more credible than previously thought – making it more likely that the second-generation AirPods Pro will feature no major redesign. In fact, Zelbo's findings suggest that the new earbud's design is identical to the current-generation AirPods Pro beyond the skin-detect sensor cutout, with no changes to the length of the stem or the shape of the earbud's in-ear portion.
First-generation AirPods Pro with IR sensors
Rumors have rallied around the idea of the second-generation AirPods Pro switching to a "stemless" design, but upon closer inspection, reputable sources have not explicitly stated that this is set to occur. For example, Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes that the second-generation AirPods Pro will feature a "new form factor design," presumably due to knowledge of some kind of retooling, but has not specifically said that they will feature a stemless design.
In October 2020, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that Apple was aiming to make the second-generation AirPods Pro earbuds more compact by eliminating the short stem that currently extends from the bottom, and was reportedly testing a design with "a more rounded shape that fills more of a user's a ear," making them closer in style to Samsung's Galaxy Buds and designs from the likes of Amazon and Google. Yet Gurman said that Apple was facing problems integrating the AirPods Pro's hardware, including antennas and microphones, into a much smaller casing, which "could result in a less ambitious design when the product is finalized."
Alleged second-generation AirPods Pro charging case rear
Kuo has also seemingly supported other aspects depicted in MacRumors' second-generation AirPods Pro images, potentially increasing their credibility. Earlier this year, Kuo explained that the second-generation AirPods Pro will feature a charging case that users can trigger a sound from to highlight its location, allowing the earbuds and the case to be located separately. This directly lines up with the speaker holes visible on the charging case seen in MacRumors' images. It seems likely that this sound-emitting charging case will integrate into the Find My app, similar to how users can currently emit a sound from their individual AirPods inside the case to help locate them.
It is therefore by no means certain based on information from Kuo, Gurman, and MacRumors that the second-generation AirPods Pro will feature a stemless design. Indeed, there is now seemingly mounting evidence to the contrary.
Apple's Beats Studio Buds, which share a large amount of technology with the AirPods Pro, have a wholly in-ear design and do not feature "stems" at all. The fact that the Beats Studio Buds offer a "stemless" design does not necessarily indicate that the AirPods Pro will follow; Apple often seeks to find ways to differentiate its Beats and AirPods product lines. Apple has also established a distinctive and easily identifiable visual brand for AirPods with the "stem" design and use of white plastic, and it is questionable if the company is ready to deviate from that yet, not to mention the impact of removing the stem on the implementation of force sensor controls and beam-forming microphones.
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This discount does not require any coupon code and will be applied automatically in the cart. Additionally, it will exclude items that are already marked down, and you can only get 40 percent off up to ten items.
Note: The 40% discount will be applied in the cart.
There are a variety of power banks on sale at Mophie, including the Snap+ Juice Pack Mini, which is compatible with iPhone 12 and 13 MagSafe and is down to $29.97, from $49.95. There are regular portable batteries as well, including the Powerstation XXL ($35.97), Powerstation Ultra ($47.97), and more.
There are plenty of other accessories on sale during this event, including car mounts, Apple Watch chargers, iPhone battery cases, screen protectors, and audio equipment. You can head to ZAGG's website to browse the full sale across all of its brands before the sale ends later tonight. Be sure to visit our full Deals Roundup to shop for even more Apple-related products and accessories.
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.
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.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Alleged second-generation AirPods Pro
Third-generation AirPods with skin-detect sensors
First-generation AirPods Pro with IR sensors
Alleged second-generation AirPods Pro charging case rear
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with ZAGG. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
