Mobiles365

The number of apps built for the Apple ecosystem which try to obtain too much sensitive user information, or violate user privacy in another way, is growing exponentially year after year. 

This is according to a new report from Atlas VPN, which states that between 2020 and 2022, Apple declined almost a million apps from appearing on the App Store (958,000).

Atlas VPN based its conclusions on numbers obtained straight from Apple’s annual reports. Apparently, apple blocked 215,000 applications in 2020, and 400,000 in 2020, up by almost 100%. 

Preying on careless users

In most cases, the apps were declined access to the famed app repository due to user privacy concerns. They were often found looking to collect more data than was necessary, or sharing it with third parties without proper disclosure, or even user consent.

But sometimes, the apps would also look to damage the users financially. Apple said it prevented more than $5 billion in fraudulent transactions since 2020, and blocked millions of stolen credit cards from transacting. 

Hackers are preying on Apple users because many users fully understand the impact certain apps might have on their privacy, the researchers said. Many apps are asking for permissions they don’t really need, and users are sometimes so annoyed with the constant prompts for permissions that they just accept all. 

Consequently, they give app developers access to sensitive information even if they didn’t want to do it, regardless of whether their intentions are malicious or not.

Apps generate a treasure trove of important data that can easily be monetized by developers. Unlike Google’s Android ecosystem, which welcomes third-party app stores as well, Apple insists on its walled-garden approach, arguing that it’s the best way to protect its customers from malicious developers.

Apple also takes a 30% commission on most app purchases, Atlas VPN reminded.

• Check out the best VPNs right now

We’d heard rumors that Samsung would hold its next Galaxy Unpacked event in late July, and now that’s been confirmed, as the company accidentally posted a press release saying as much on its Australian site.

We assume accidentally, because the press release has since been removed, but at the time of writing a cached version of the press release is still accessible, as spotted by leaker @sondesix.

The press release tells us that this Samsung Galaxy Unpacked event will be held in Seoul in late July, but doesn’t provide an exact date. It also states that this is where the company will “unveil its next generation foldable devices.”

While the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 aren’t mentioned by name, that’s almost certainly what we’ll see, as they’re both widely expected to land at the next Galaxy Unpacked, and Samsung mentions "devices" plural, so we’ll see more than one foldable.

There isn’t really much else to take from the press release, beyond a vague claim that the company will “showcase technologies and experiences that will captivate worldwide audiences.” However, we can take a good guess at the exact date of Galaxy Unpacked, as a leak previously pointed to July 26, which lines up nicely with the late July timing mentioned here.

New hinges, new chipsets, and a bigger screen

We also have a good idea of what to expect from the Galaxy Z Flip 5 and Galaxy Z Fold 5, thanks to various leaks and rumors. The gist being that they’ll probably have a new hinge design that allows the two halves to sit flat when folded, plus the same chipset as the Samsung Galaxy S23 series.

There might also be camera improvements, and in the case of the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, we’ll likely see big upgrades to the cover screen, which could be 3.4 inches, compared to 1.9 inches on the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4.

Of course, while this press release is focused on foldables, it’s likely that we’ll see other things at this event too, with the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Samsung Galaxy Tab S9 lines also expected to be unveiled at this next Galaxy Unpacked.

Without any sort of formal announcement or tease, OnePlus recently revealed its next mid-range device for the US: the Nord N30 5G, a direct successor to the Nord N20 5G.

Although the new model still runs on a Snapdragon 695 chipset, the Nord N30 5G introduces a variety of hardware upgrades. The processing unit is paired up with 8GB of LPDDR4X RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. It runs on the company’s proprietary OxygenOS software which, itself, is “based on Android 13”. 

On the front is a 6.72-inch (about 170 millimeters) LCD display with Full HD Plus resolution (2400 x 1080 pixels) and a 120Hz refresh rate. Additionally, there’s a punch hole at the top center of the screen for the 16MP (megapixel) selfie lens.

Slight differences

Looking in the back, you’ll find the three-camera system led by a 108MP lens with f/1.7 aperture, backed up by a two-megapixel depth lens and a two-megapixel macro lens. Users will be able to shoot videos up to 1080p resolution (1920x1080 pixels) at 30 FPS. It is good to see the rear camera system getting an upgrade. If you read our review of the Nord N20 5G, you’ll find that while we liked the phone, the camera left a lot to be desired.

Other notable features include a 5000mAh battery supporting 50W SuperVOOC for fast charging, a fingerprint scanner on the side, and a 3.5mm headphone jack. The last entry may not seem like a big deal, but with so many smartphones nowadays eschewing a physical audio jack, we thought it was worth pointing out.

Availability

If any of this rings a bell, that's because the Nord N30 5G is nearly identical to the Nord CE 3 Lite with a few differences.  

For example, the Nord CE 3 Lite comes with noise cancellation whereas the Nord N30 doesn’t. The battery on the Nord CE 3 Lite supports 67W SuperVOOC meaning its fast charging capabilities are a bit better. The Nord N30, however, does come with a few extra features not present on its cousin such as Screen Flash for better-illuminated selfies and Face Unlock allowing facial recognition on the device.

You can pre-order the Nord N30 5G right now for $299 – the exact same price point as the N20 5G – on OnePlus’ website. It will only be available in one color: Chromatic Gray. No word if there will ever be a Pastel Lime green like with Nord CE 3 Lite. We reached out to OnePlus asking if there are plans to increase the color options and for clarification on software patches. Another online report states the Nord N30 5G will get just “one major Android update.” 

This story will be updated at a later time.

• TechRadar's best OnePlus phones of 2023: all the best premium and bargain OnePlus Androids

Apple will now automatically block nudes sent over AirDrop in iOS 17, the company shared. The feature comes as a package aimed at enhancing communication safety, even as Apple makes it easier to share photos, contact details, and more among iPhone owners.

The company lists the new change under privacy in a press release it issued following WWDC 2023, noting that it was an expansion of the communication safety features it had previously billed as aimed at protecting children. Now, people who try to send explicit images either over AirDrop or by the new Contact Posters and FaceTime messages will find their images blurred by default. Based on how it currently works in the Messages app, users will be able to block the offending contact or message someone they trust for support.

According to the research cited by the UK government, 76% of girls aged 12-18 have been sent unsolicited nude images from men and boys in a practice dubbed ‘cyber-flashing’. The government notes that this is done most often by AirDrop, due to the feature’s ease of use.

“It is unacceptable that women and girls traveling on public transport, or just going about their day-to-day lives, are being subjected to this despicable practice,” UK Justice Minister Victoria Atkins said in a 2022 press release, explicitly criminalizing the practice.

Apple also introduced a new “Check In” feature for Messages, during the iOS 17 segment of its opening-day keynote at WWDC 2023. It’s a feature that streamlines the process behind the common practice of sending a “let me know when you get home” text. iPhone users will be able to quickly check in with their friends and family, automatically notifying the recipient when the sender’s home address is reached. As with the AirDrop feature, it addresses another issue that has been linked to women’s safety, in particular.

Subtle, useful changes

Though Apple’s iOS 17 can’t be accused of being ostentatious, the more subtle, everyday features are the ones that you’ll likely get the most mileage out of. Looking at the features highlighted in this story, for example, whenever I leave a social event or a family gathering, I’m often urged to text my friends and family, and notify them when I get home, so I can directly recognize the feature’s value. I, thankfully, have never been flashed via AirDrop, but I can imagine how distressing it would be, so again, appreciate Apple’s considered approach to adding this feature.

With the company making it easier to share content with other Apple devices in iOS 17, it is great that they’re also proactively addressing these issues, which sits in stark contrast to how it initially handled concerns over misuse of AirTags. Now, Apple has teamed up with Google to address stalking as well, showing a company that’s taking its social responsibilities more seriously than ever before.

iOS 17 will be made available this September to all of the best iPhones. The new privacy features can also be found on macOS Sonoma and iPadOS 17 as well.

We saw a landslide of updates, additions, and launches at WWDC 2023. Still, one of the more compelling lifestyle additions to iOS 17 is what kept me up last night.

Journal, to me, is the epitome of Apple's genius on full display, meshing everyday phone usage with wellness, creating seamless connections between apps – and perhaps, even tapping into humanity's near-desperate urge to share in our social media-driven world. 

Currently, there's been no mention of the app allowing you to share or publish your Journal entries; in fact, Apple was far more interested in reassuring us of how private and personal Journal will be thanks to end-to-end encryption and on-device processing.

In my view, though, Apple has a momentous opportunity here to completely disrupt the microblogging space; if not, at least, it might inspire somebody else to.

If the shoe fits, wear it

This new Journal app also isn't a massive surprise, with rumors abuzz since April, and journaling apps are by no means unique to app stores, whether on Apple devices or some of the other best phones and best tablets. 

Having an app like this built-in to the iPhone, however, may inspire more people to take up journaling as an outlet, which was found to reduce stress in a 2018 study from The Pennsylvania State University. Plus, the app genuinely does look unique, certainly in how it stands to capitalize on Apple's other applications and features. Journal, it seems, could finally marry the gap between pen-and-paper journaling and digital software alternatives.

In addition to logging your thoughts and activities per all forms of journalling, the app will use on-device machine learning to create personalized prompts, referring to recent activity on your iPhone from photos to workouts and location data – fantastic for those of us that struggle with writer's block. It's also a smart addition to Apple's growing health and wellness app library, offering the opportunity to add commentary to your well-being tracking.

With this wealth of features, a visually appealing aesthetic, and the current state of the social media landscape, it feels like the only thing missing is the ability to share content – even if only with friends and family, for now.

Sites like Twitter and Tumblr thrived in years gone by for providing people the platform to express their day-to-day thoughts, interests, and feelings, often in bite-size or multimedia posts. Much like some of the best blogging sites, the popularity of the medium has fizzled over time, and many platforms have transitioned to focusing on very specific audiences and use cases.

Whether it's nostalgia or the fact that my handwriting is too bad for pen-and-paper journaling, I miss the old days of blogging. All I could think while watching WWDC's Journal showcase was how cool it would be if someday, I could quickly pull together a shareable journal or blog entry using photos and user data visualized into beautiful graphics, express my thoughts, and then share to my Instagram story a neat little package of content. 

Apple might even make it a gated service only for those using Apple devices a la iMessage, which capitalizes on software FOMO (fear of missing out) to drive up sales – though of course, my preference would be it creates something non-exclusive. 

If you smell what The Fruit is cooking

There's a perfectly legitimate argument that what Apple is really doing here is another example of the "Sherlocking" phenomenon it's become pretty notorious for over the years, where Apple launches features that obviate the presence of popular third-party apps or add-ons, highlighted by the DoJ escalating an antitrust probe against the company following fears of anti-competitive behavior.

Personally, I love the fact Journal will integrate so seamlessly with other iOS apps and the Apple aesthetic, but it speaks to a potentially bleak future for apps such as Day One, which recently addressed the rumors of Apple Journal in a blog post.

The app's founder, Paul Mayne, highlights the news as an opportunity for Day One to differentiate itself – and interestingly enough, mentions shareable journals as one way the team hopes to do so.

This is the kind of competition we should be vying for, realistically; but Apple has ringfenced so many of its own apps in a way that makes it nigh-on impossible for anyone but them to do what they're doing with Journal. 

It's worth mentioning Apple did say it'll be offering an API for developers that will allow them to leverage Journal's personalized writing suggestions in their own apps, but it's unclear what the scope of this is as of yet.

For better or for worst, if the key features in Journal are appealing to you, you'll be hard-pressed to find it anywhere else, and despite my better judgment and fears of anti-competition, I can see an exciting future ahead for modern-day journaling if Apple gets this right.

Don't forget to check out more of the features coming to iOS 17 on your iPhone – here are 10 of the best.

We saw a landslide of updates, additions, and launches at WWDC 2023. Still, one of the more compelling lifestyle additions to iOS 17 is what kept me up last night.

Journal, to me, is the epitome of Apple's genius on full display, meshing everyday phone usage with wellness, creating seamless connections between apps – and perhaps, even tapping into humanity's near-desperate urge to share in our social media-driven world. 

Currently, there's been no mention of the app allowing you to share or publish your Journal entries; in fact, Apple was far more interested in reassuring us of how private and personal Journal will be thanks to end-to-end encryption and on-device processing.

In my view, though, Apple has a momentous opportunity here to completely disrupt the microblogging space; if not, at least, it might inspire somebody else to.

If the shoe fits, wear it

This new Journal app also isn't a massive surprise, with rumors abuzz since April, and journaling apps are by no means unique to app stores, whether on Apple devices or some of the other best phones and best tablets. 

Having an app like this built-in to the iPhone, however, may inspire more people to take up journaling as an outlet, which was found to reduce stress in a 2018 study from The Pennsylvania State University. Plus, the app genuinely does look unique, certainly in how it stands to capitalize on Apple's other applications and features. Journal, it seems, could finally marry the gap between pen-and-paper journaling and digital software alternatives.

In addition to logging your thoughts and activities per all forms of journalling, the app will use on-device machine learning to create personalized prompts, referring to recent activity on your iPhone from photos to workouts and location data – fantastic for those of us that struggle with writer's block. It's also a smart addition to Apple's growing health and wellness app library, offering the opportunity to add commentary to your well-being tracking.

With this wealth of features, a visually appealing aesthetic, and the current state of the social media landscape, it feels like the only thing missing is the ability to share content – even if only with friends and family, for now.

Sites like Twitter and Tumblr thrived in years gone by for providing people the platform to express their day-to-day thoughts, interests, and feelings, often in bite-size or multimedia posts. Much like some of the best blogging sites, the popularity of the medium has fizzled over time, and many platforms have transitioned to focusing on very specific audiences and use cases.

Whether it's nostalgia or the fact that my handwriting is too bad for pen-and-paper journaling, I miss the old days of blogging. All I could think while watching WWDC's Journal showcase was how cool it would be if someday, I could quickly pull together a shareable journal or blog entry using photos and user data visualized into beautiful graphics, express my thoughts, and then share to my Instagram story a neat little package of content. 

Apple might even make it a gated service only for those using Apple devices a la iMessage, which capitalizes on software FOMO (fear of missing out) to drive up sales – though of course, my preference would be it creates something non-exclusive. 

If you smell what The Fruit is cooking

There's a perfectly legitimate argument that what Apple is really doing here is another example of the "Sherlocking" phenomenon it's become pretty notorious for over the years, where Apple launches features that obviate the presence of popular third-party apps or add-ons, highlighted by the DoJ escalating an antitrust probe against the company following fears of anti-competitive behavior.

Personally, I love the fact Journal will integrate so seamlessly with other iOS apps and the Apple aesthetic, but it speaks to a potentially bleak future for apps such as Day One, which recently addressed the rumors of Apple Journal in a blog post.

The app's founder, Paul Mayne, highlights the news as an opportunity for Day One to differentiate itself – and interestingly enough, mentions shareable journals as one way the team hopes to do so.

This is the kind of competition we should be vying for, realistically; but Apple has ringfenced so many of its own apps in a way that makes it nigh-on impossible for anyone but them to do what they're doing with Journal. 

It's worth mentioning Apple did say it'll be offering an API for developers that will allow them to leverage Journal's personalized writing suggestions in their own apps, but it's unclear what the scope of this is as of yet.

For better or for worst, if the key features in Journal are appealing to you, you'll be hard-pressed to find it anywhere else, and despite my better judgment and fears of anti-competition, I can see an exciting future ahead for modern-day journaling if Apple gets this right.

Don't forget to check out more of the features coming to iOS 17 on your iPhone – here are 10 of the best.

Not everything at WWDC 2023 is new, as Apple has also taken the opportunity to honor some of the best existing apps and games on the App Store, with its 2023 Apple Design Awards.

Twelve downloads have been honored in all, with an even split between apps and games, and Apple has further divided the winners into categories. First up, there’s ‘Inclusivity’, with winners in this category supporting “people from a diversity of backgrounds, abilities, and languages.”

The app winner here is Universe — Website Builder by Universe Exploration Company, which takes the complexity out of website building, so it’s accessible to everyone. The winning game meanwhile is stitch from Lykke Studios, which is a casual embroidery-based puzzle game, with cross-generational appeal.

The next category is ‘Delight and Fun’, which is fairly self-explanatory, but Apple has focused on experiences that are “enhanced by Apple technologies.”

The winning app here probably needs no introduction – it’s Duolingo. This is a language learning app that has been around for a long time, and seemingly almost everyone has at least dabbled in it.

The winning game is Afterplace by Evan Kice, which is an indie role-playing game with intuitive one-handed controls, making it ideal for playing on mobile.

Next we come to the ‘Interaction’ category, which awards things that “deliver intuitive interfaces and effortless controls that are perfectly tailored to their platform.”

The winning app here is Flighty by Flighty LLC. This provides flight maps, airport navigation, and delay forecasting, and it integrates Apple Maps, Siri Shortcuts, and Live Activities.

The winning game is Railbound by Afterburn. This is a puzzle game that requires you to organize train tracks, and Apple notes that it has a very simple onboarding process.

The next category is ‘Social Impact’, which is another fairly self-explanatory one. The winning app here is Headspace, which has long been a leader in the meditation app space.

The winning game is Endling by HandyGames, and this is a side-scroller that sees you guide a fox through an environment scarred by human influences and environmental disasters.

Next up is ‘Visuals and Graphics’, for which Apple honored the app Any Distance, by a developer of the same name. This is a fitness-focused social network and activity tracker, complete with in-app collectable medals.

The winning game here is Resident Evil Village from Capcom, which is a Mac horror game (as well as being available on Windows and consoles).

Finally, we come to the ‘Innovation’ category, which finds winners in SwingVision: A.I. Tennis App by SwingVision – a tennis coaching app with video tracking capabilities – and Marvel Snap by Second Dinner – a simple yet surprisingly deep collectible card game.

There’s a wealth of high-quality apps and games available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac, so these winners faced stiff competition and are likely all worth downloading if they sound appealing. But for more great options check out our guides to the best iPhone apps, the best iPhone games, the best iPad apps, and the best iPad games.

Several new renders of the Nothing Phone (2) have leaked online showcasing what the upcoming mid-range smartphone may look like at launch.

The images come from industry insider OnLeaks who then shared his findings with news site Smartprix. According to the breakdown, the Nothing Phone (2) will look similar to the first model with some slight changes to make it more ergonomic and aesthetically pleasing. The front and back of the phone are said to have a slight curve to them. Paired up with a rounder frame, the redesign is claimed to provide “a more comfortable grip” as well as adding a “touch of elegance to the overall look of the device.” 

The more notable changes, however, are on the back. The signature Nothing glyph is now segmented into six individual pieces instead of a continuous line. Smartprix claims this configuration will allow users to “create custom lighting… around the wireless charging area” for a personalized touch. 

Additionally, the LED camera flash has been upgraded to a dual setup, enabling “improved lighting capabilities”. In our review of the Nothing Phone (1), we found the cameras “serve up nice quality shots [when it’s bright out] but the system struggles in the dark”. So the Phone (2) may sport better low-light photography – at least, that's the hope.

The design shown in the leak is “based on live pictures of a testing stage unit”, meaning that the final product may look a little different. For example, the SIM tray is on the right edge of the phone instead of on the bottom as seen on the Phone (1). The renders show the bottom edge only housing a USB Type-C port and a speaker grille; there's no 3.5mm headphone jack though, as is par for the course with Nothing.

Falling in line

Looking at the leaks in their entirety, they all do seem plausible with what we know about the Nothing Phone (2). 

The company recently confirmed the display will measure 6.7 inches, up 0.15 inches from the older model. A bigger size means more weight, which can result in hand fatigue after repeated usage. This could also explain why the developers are making ergonomic design changes as a way to mitigate this problem. The pill-like video indicator shown in the leaks was actually first revealed in early May on Nothing’s official Twitter account.

As with any other leaks, take this information with a grain of salt. Apart from a few other minor things, not much else is known about the Nothing Phone (2). We’ll just have to wait until the model releases later this summer to learn more. The launch date will probably be around July to coincide with the one-year anniversary of the Nothing Phone (1). 

Until then, be sure to check out TechRadar's coverage of the Nothing Phone (2) such as the recent confirmation that the smartphone will be powered by the Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 mobile platform.

• TechRadar's best cheap phones 2023: top budget smartphones in the US

Indian cybersecurity company CloudSEK has revealed what is describes as the “concerning discovery of widespread malware infection” in the Google Play Store affecting millions of Android users across the globe.

In a press release, the company announced the identification of 193 applications on the Play Store that are infected with the Android.Spy.SpinOk SDK, 43 of which are still at large on the Android app store.

CloudSEK reckons that these have amassed more than five million downloads. The security firm also estimates that 30 million users in total have been affected by the bad apps it has found. These are in addition to other similar apps previously identified by DrWeb.

Android apps affected with malware

Topping the list of the affected apps with the most installs is HexaPop Link 2248, followed by Macaron Match, Macaron Boom, Jelly Connect, Tiler Master, Crazy Magic Ball, Bitcoin Master, Happy 2048, and Mega Win Slots. Of these apps, three are developed by CM Studio and two by Zhinuo Technology Co., Ltd.

The majority of the apps, according to the report, belong to the casual gaming category, which are often downloaded and used briefly before being left to reside on a user’s device indefinitely.

Credited with initially sounding the alarm about apps infected with the malicious SDK, DrWeb explains it has the ability to collect information on local Android files which is then transferred to the threat actors. Users’ clipboards are also affected, potentially exposing passwords and other sensitive information.

CloudSEK is advising Android users to download protective measures like antivirus software from trusted providers to monitor and flag potential threats. Of a similar nature, smartphone users are being urged to maintain vigilance when browsing their device’s app store, and to look out for potential red flags.

Google did not immediately respond to TechRadar Pro’s request for comment on the measures it takes to monitor the Play Store for malware.

• Protect yourself with the best endpoint protection and best firewalls

One of the biggest upgrades likely to be offered by the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro is the chipset. We fully expect Google to replace the Tensor G2 found in the Pixel 7 series with a new Tensor G3, and now that chipset has leaked in full.

Thanks to “a source inside Google”, Android Authority has revealed pretty much all the details of this chipset, so if this leak is accurate, we now have a very good insight into both the chipset itself and what that means for the Pixel 8.

First up, the Tensor G3 will apparently use 2022 ARMv9 cores, which are more modern than those found in the Tensor G2. The arrangement of the cores is supposedly changing too, with a single powerful Cortex X3 core being joined by four Cortex-A715 cores and four little Cortex-A510 ones.

Having a mix of cores like that is typical, as it allows for a balance between power and energy consumption.

In any case, that mix brings the Tensor G3 in line with the likes of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 found in the Samsung Galaxy S23 series and other Android flagships, as that also uses a Cortex X3 – though the mix of other cores differs slightly (the arrangement of nine total cores on the G3 isn't so conventional). It’s also a big upgrade on the Cortex X1 found in the Tensor G2.

Better graphics, AI, and video

So you can expect a lot more power this year, and the Tensor G3 will also apparently have a new Arm Immortalis-G715 GPU, which will enable ray tracing.

Plus, the chipset will supposedly support 8K video recording, though the author of the Android Authority article speculates that this feature won’t be supported by the Pixel 8 series itself – as Pixels already struggle with heat management when recording in 4K.

We’ll likely also see improvements to AI, thanks to a new TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) that runs at 1.1GHz, up from 1GHz on the Tensor G2. That might not sound like much of an upgrade, but bear in mind that the original Tensor’s TPU also ran at 1GHz, and yet Google claimed the Tensor G2’s offered a 60% performance improvement for camera and speech tasks, despite not having a higher clock speed.

So the AI improvements with the Tensor G3 could be big, but we don’t have any numbers yet.

Good news for photos and storage, but less so for the modem

Other changes with the Tensor G3 apparently include a new digital signal processor (DSP), which could benefit photography, and UFS 4.0 storage support, which is far faster and more efficient than the USF 3.1 supported by the Tensor G2, and would bring it in line with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

The chipset will also apparently support new security technologies, and will be 64-bit only, meaning there are no 32-bit libraries or capabilities on board. This will likely improve performance, though the Pixel 7 already removed support for 32-bit apps, so it probably won’t have as big an impact as you might think.

Finally, the Tensor G3 will apparently use an Exynos Modem 5300 – just like the Tensor G2 – though supposedly a slightly different version of it. This is the one less than positive bit of news here, as that modem was known for having thermal and power consumption problems, so it seems odd that Google wouldn't have considered an alternative module in light of such known issues.

Still, that aside this sounds like a hefty upgrade, more so than the move from G1 to G2. Tensor chipsets have never competed directly with the top Snapdragon and Apple's A-series chipsets in terms of raw horsepower, with AI instead being their focus, but this year we might see a Tensor that comes a lot closer on the power front, while still pushing ahead with AI too. We should find out in or around October, when the Pixel 8 line launches.

One of the biggest upgrades likely to be offered by the Google Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro is the chipset. We fully expect Google to replace the Tensor G2 found in the Pixel 7 series with a new Tensor G3, and now that chipset has leaked in full.

Thanks to “a source inside Google”, Android Authority has revealed pretty much all the details of this chipset, so if this leak is accurate, we now have a very good insight into both the chipset itself and what that means for the Pixel 8.

First up, the Tensor G3 will apparently use 2022 ARMv9 cores, which are more modern than those found in the Tensor G2. The arrangement of the cores is supposedly changing too, with a single powerful Cortex X3 core being joined by four Cortex-A715 cores and four little Cortex-A510 ones.

Having a mix of cores like that is typical, as it allows for a balance between power and energy consumption.

In any case, that mix brings the Tensor G3 in line with the likes of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 found in the Samsung Galaxy S23 series and other Android flagships, as that also uses a Cortex X3 – though the mix of other cores differs slightly (the arrangement of nine total cores on the G3 isn't so conventional). It’s also a big upgrade on the Cortex X1 found in the Tensor G2.

Better graphics, AI, and video

So you can expect a lot more power this year, and the Tensor G3 will also apparently have a new Arm Immortalis-G715 GPU, which will enable ray tracing.

Plus, the chipset will supposedly support 8K video recording, though the author of the Android Authority article speculates that this feature won’t be supported by the Pixel 8 series itself – as Pixels already struggle with heat management when recording in 4K.

We’ll likely also see improvements to AI, thanks to a new TPU (Tensor Processing Unit) that runs at 1.1GHz, up from 1GHz on the Tensor G2. That might not sound like much of an upgrade, but bear in mind that the original Tensor’s TPU also ran at 1GHz, and yet Google claimed the Tensor G2’s offered a 60% performance improvement for camera and speech tasks, despite not having a higher clock speed.

So the AI improvements with the Tensor G3 could be big, but we don’t have any numbers yet.

Good news for photos and storage, but less so for the modem

Other changes with the Tensor G3 apparently include a new digital signal processor (DSP), which could benefit photography, and UFS 4.0 storage support, which is far faster and more efficient than the USF 3.1 supported by the Tensor G2, and would bring it in line with the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra.

The chipset will also apparently support new security technologies, and will be 64-bit only, meaning there are no 32-bit libraries or capabilities on board. This will likely improve performance, though the Pixel 7 already removed support for 32-bit apps, so it probably won’t have as big an impact as you might think.

Finally, the Tensor G3 will apparently use an Exynos Modem 5300 – just like the Tensor G2 – though supposedly a slightly different version of it. This is the one less than positive bit of news here, as that modem was known for having thermal and power consumption problems, so it seems odd that Google wouldn't have considered an alternative module in light of such known issues.

Still, that aside this sounds like a hefty upgrade, more so than the move from G1 to G2. Tensor chipsets have never competed directly with the top Snapdragon and Apple's A-series chipsets in terms of raw horsepower, with AI instead being their focus, but this year we might see a Tensor that comes a lot closer on the power front, while still pushing ahead with AI too. We should find out in or around October, when the Pixel 8 line launches.

Apple's World Wide Developers Conference has just begun, but our day of keynote speeches and major announcements is over, and what a day it was. Apple CEO Tim Cook started by saying it would be one of Apple's biggest days ever, and it's hard to dispute that claim based on what we've seen.

You can read our full breakdown of all the WWDC 2023 news, and here we have our Live Blog recording the most important moments and our gut reactions as they happened. You can read the full rundown from our arrival at One Infinite Loop to our hands-on with the new products. 

There wasn't a corner of Apple's world that wasn't explored at WWDC 2023, and some new additions were made. Starting with new voice mail features for iOS 17, a new name for macOS 14, video conferencing for tvOS 17, widgets and wallpapers for iPadOS 17, and full screen app updates on watchOS 10. Even if we hadn't gotten one more thing, for that alone we would have been thankful. 

The biggest news, of course, came at the very end when Tim Cook finally revealed the Apple VR headset, the Apple Vision Pro. We also got our first glimpse of the underpinning OS, the new Vision OS. 

Of course, those weren't the only big hardware announcements. We also got a new Mac Pro with Apple's M2 chips inside, finally completing the switchover from Intel to Apple silicon. We also got the big-screen 15-inch MacBook Air that we anticipated, as well as an update to the Mac Studio compact pro desktop.  

Check out all of our updates below and read our in-depth hands-on look at all of the new products. We were on the ground as it happened, so you can read our live thoughts and verdicts below. 

Good morning and welcome to our WWDC 2023 live blog. We'll be sharing all the last-minute rumors and news around all things Apple ahead of the event, then bringing you every announcement as it happens from 10am PT today. 

What will Apple tell us?

Here's a little secret: in the run-up to the big event, Apple will send invites to a series of post-keynote briefings. While Apple doesn't reveal the subject matter for any of those meetings prior to the end of what is expected to be a 90-minute keynote, we do use the number of meetings to glean potential topics.

Rarely do we have one meeting. In fact, three-to-five briefings are typical, with one usually per platform. What I'll be watching for are any extra meetings, ones that don't seem to align with macOS, iOS, or iPadOS (typical briefing candidates).

I also pay attention to the length of these background briefings. Long ones are usually for the big platforms (iOS). Short ones are for the second-tier players (maybe tvOS). Will I have a meeting about xrOS? 

I have no idea. Sadly, even once I know, I can't really tell you anything about them. But what I learn in those meetings will inform my reporting on all things WWDC 2023.

So, let's talk about what Apple is expected to unveil today. 

The big story is likely to be around the company's first proper foray into virtual reality. We don't know for sure what the Apple VR headset will be called, but the name Apple Reality Pro has been widely shared. And we also have quite a bit of info about what it might be like. 

For instance, the rumors suggest it will be expensive - maybe as much as $3,000 (£2,200 / AU$4,400) – and that it will support both VR and mixed reality. We also think it may ship without controllers, that it could have super-high-res displays and that it could well run on an Apple M2 chip of some kind.

We've pulled together everything we know about it so far in our Apple VR headset hub. 

Of course any new Apple mixed-reality headset will need a new operating system too - and that's also expected to launch at WWDC 2023. 

According to the likes of Bloomberg's well-connected Mark Gurman, Apple has settled on the name xrOS, rather than Reality OS as it was originally known. Gurman has also stated that it "will have many of the same features as an iPhone and iPad but in a 3D environment", and that it will include mixed-reality versions of stock Apple apps such as Safari, Photos, Mail, Messages and Calendar.

Whether or not xrOS does arrive at WWDC 2023 today, we can certainly expect updates to all of Apple's other operating systems. 

For instance, watchOS 10 is almost certain to be announced at the event. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman - yes, him again - has tipped the software found in all of the best Apple Watches to be one of the stars of the show at WWDC 2023, and with good reason. 

Ahead of the event, we've pulled together a list of the four features watchOS 10 needs (and one it needs to ditch). Let's see how many of them Apple gives us, eh?

One software update we're definitely expecting from Apple today concerns Siri, its occasionally helpful digital assistant. 

Siri has been tipped to get a major update at WWDC, with AI enhancements to Apple's assistant among the improvements rumored over the past few weeks. The most recent leak suggests that it could also get a more minor change concerning its wake word, with users able to say simply "Siri" rather than "Hey Siri". 

With rivals such as Microsoft and Google now firmly invested in AI, it may need to make bigger changes than that to impress us, though. SiriGPT, anyone?

Look, we're all hyped for what Apple has planned for its WWDC keynote later today, but if you're planning on getting really excited, you can get Apple Music’s Power Up 2023 playlist which has a special WWDC 2023 angle, including Dua Lipa's Dance the Night and Diplo and Lily Rose's Sad in the Summer. 

As it's on Apple Music, many of the tracks are in Dolby Atmos as well. I have to admit, Apple's music choices for its events don't always align with my own musical tastes, but our audio expert Becky Scarrott has cast her critical eye over the playlist and gives it the thumbs up, and she knows a good tune when she hears it.

Speaking of music, it’s not just Macs, iPhones and so on that we’re hoping will get a software upgrade today: it’s AirPods too. New versions of iOS tend to be the delivery method for upgrades to what AirPods can do – in 2022, iOS 16 brought Personalized Spatial Audio to Apple’s buds, for example.

There haven’t been any rumors of new features coming to AirPods Pro 2, AirPods Max and the rest… but that doesn’t mean Apple’s been resting on its laurels. We’re hoping that there could be a handful of new features coming, because there are certainly things that the best wireless earbuds from other manufacturers do better than AirPods.

So we’ve made a little list of 6 things we hope Apple adds to AirPods in iOS 17 – they’re all realistic technologically, so we’ll see if we get lucky.

One piece of hardware to keep your eyes open for at WWDC is a 15-inch MacBook Air (2023). There have been lots of rumors about this over the last couple of years, but recently there's been enough to smoke to feel like something's got to be burning in the Cupertino factories.

Different members of the TechRadar team have different feelings about the idea of a 15-inch MacBook Air, but judging by how good the MacBook Air (M2, 2022) and MacBook Air (M1, 2020) were, it could be the best laptop ever made.

Supposedly, this model has been spotted in testing software results, using an Apple M2 chip, which suggests that we won't see a total refresh of the MacBook Air line-up, since the 13-inch model already uses that chip.

Outside of the VR headset that may or may not exist (but probably does), the star of the WWDC show will be iOS 17. It’s the heart of Apple’s most popular product, and the changes made there will also bleed into iPadOS 17, so it’s doubly important – and apparently is set to be a bigger update than expected.

A major area for updates seems to be the Lock screen, which is set for more customization options, and apparently will also enable the phone to function like a smart display (which we’re sure is a feature made with the iPad’s larger screen in mind too).

There have also been leaks of supposed new looks for apps, and also a rumor that not all iPhones that support iOS 16 will get it, so some older phones could be left behind – though Apple usually supplies security updates for these devices, so they don’t become obsolete right away.

One of the interesting questions for today’s keynote is whether it’ll be all pre-recorded, as recent events have been, or whether there’ll be some kind of live element. You might think there’s no reason not to just have it all recorded – but depending on exactly what Apple’s mixed-reality headset can do, it might be more impressive to have someone on-stage demoing it, with a screen behind showing what they’re seeing in real time.

That would really set it apart from Meta’s presentations about the Metaverse that tend to show just the ‘potential’ for what can be done – which is why people are so suspicious of the idea of these headsets taking off with the wider world. We need to see that mind-blowing stuff is a real possibility, and a live demo is the way to show that – it’s what worked for the original iPhone.

Of course, keep in mind that in practice, the iPhone’s software apparently completely fell apart if you did anything other than the exact things Steve Jobs did in the exact order he did them. So it’s not like a live demo means there’s no smoke and mirrors…

US Editor-in-Chief, Lance Ulanoff, will be attending WWDC in person, and has shared his thoughts on what we can expect:

The star of the show

Apple’s decision to launch a major new product category during WWDC threatens to completely overshadow anything else the iPhone giant launches today.

Remember, this is a developer event. Unlike an iPhone launch where press like me might get to sit dead center in the audience, Apple typically puts media off to the side, reserving prime seating for its developers.

The question is, how much will developers care about the Reality Pro headset and xrOS? Their investments are deep in iOS, iPadOS, and macOS. They’ll want to learn about all the new ways they can leverage the platforms to enhance their apps and third-party products.

Virtual Reality, AR, and mixed reality are exciting and important, but still niche compared to iOS17. That update will impact at least 1 billion iPhone owners.

I’m still not certain if Apple will start off this keynote in typical fashion with data points about the state of the iPhone, Mac, iPad, and, especially app market, or will Apple CEO Tim Cook spend the first section on xrOS and the headset? I suspect, though, that the big reveal will be in the last 30 minutes of what should be a 2-hour keynote.

Doing so will at least give all of Apple’s crucial platforms their due and satisfy all the developers. Otherwise, Apple risks losing the WWDC plot.

Is Apple about to announce some new Macs at WWDC? Rumors suggest it is, and the latest rumor suggests that there will be a new Mac Studio, powered by the as-yet-unlaunched M2 Ultra chip.

These new rumors make it even more believable that we're getting a new Mac Studio.

The Mac Studio, in case you don't know, is like a super-sized Mac mini. It debuted last year with the ultra-powerful M1 Max and M1 Ultra chips, so if the rumors are true, it makes sense for a similar model to launch with the M2 Max and M2 Ultra.

Apple's CEO, Tim Cook, has upped the hype levels by tweeting that this year's WWDC will be one of Apple's "best ever".

With rumors suggesting the keynote could be an epic three hours-long, we may be in for an avalanche of new announcements from Apple. Not long until we find out...

One of the biggest questions regarding WWDC 2023 is whether or not Apple will show off a VR/AR headset. The rumors suggest it's likely, but Apple is keeping tight-lipped.

However, one of the companies that will be its competitor if it gets into VR/AR (or XR, as it terms it, which means mixed reality), HTC, seems to think Apple will be joining it today, and Cher Wang, HTC Vive Co-founder and Chairwoman, has issued a statement welcoming Apple to the "XR community in the spirit of collaboration and support."

"As a leader in the XR industry, we are thrilled to extend a warm welcome to Apple as they venture into the vibrant XR community. With our years of dedicated innovation and commitment to pushing the boundaries, we eagerly embrace the arrival of a company that shares our unwavering pursuit of technological excellence, user privacy, and human-centered design. Together, we have a unique opportunity to collaborate, inspire each other, and reshape the future of XR experiences, making a profound impact on the lives of businesses and consumers alike." 

Does HTC know something we don't? Or is it using all the uncertainty to brag about how it is 'a leader' in the industry? Not long until we find out...

Here's the lovely Lance proudly showing off his press pass at Apple's HQ!

Lance update: He's got a seat! And it looks to be a good one as well, not too far from the screen.

This also suggests that the keynote will be pre-recorded, rather than live on stage. This was also the case last year.

Our computing staff writer, Muskaan, is writing up a thread about what she hopes to see at WWDC, especially what it has in store for her iPhone.

She also makes an excellent point about how Lance's excellent hat is a good omen for WWDC 2023.

This is why we pay her the big bucks (it isn't, and we don't).

It’s happening

Based on all the whispers, grins, winks, and over-excited faces I’ve seen this morning, I think the big Apple VR launch is a lock.

There is an energy at this WWDC that is unlike any I’ve seen in years. Part of it might be the weather and that we really all feel like we’ve entered a post-COVID space, but that’s not all of it.

No one is leaking any information about what to expect but it’s clear this is not a typical WWDC. I have a feeling that Apple is going to surprise a lot of people today. Whatever we think we know about the hardware and platform may be wrong by a little or a lot.

This could be a bigger consumer play than originally anticipated.

And it may just be the excitement of being here, but I’m starting to understand why people say that this could be the next iPhone moment. Partially because we all remember how no one thought in 2008 the iPhone App Store would be that big. And, well, look at it now.

Again, all conjecture, but we’re just about 45 minutes from knowing it all (or at least most of it).

But first, a little pessimism

We've been hyping everything Apple might show today, but the perennial headline for Apple's WWDC shows is always "don't be disappointed, this was a developer conference." While we love to see new Apple products that we some day may buy and adore, there's every chance we'll see nothing today ... at least nothing we can buy. 

Apple takes the Developer part of WWDC seriously, so this show could be all about the things to come. There may be no new glasses on display, only an xrOS for developers. There may be no new Macbook Air or Mac Pro on display, only the future Apple silicon chips that will go inside. 

We could see chips today and then get an announcement from Apple next week about its new Macbook Air. Apple can be enigmatic with its launch decisions, and it often makes changes at the last minute based on internal forces. 

Whatever comes, we're ready for it, and the buzz couldn't be more electric over VR and other new products. We'll have all the news as it happens, right here. 

Apple's Reality Pro VR headset may come with some bad news

Even if we see Apple's rumored AR/VR (or XR, as it's called) headset today, and even if we do get some price and availability info for a consumer launch, we're not expecting the happiest news on that front. In fact, we're expecting Apple's entry into consumer headsets to be among the priciest of any manufacturer. 

Our VR expert Hamish Hector has a rundown on the potentially high price tag that could come with Apple's new headset, and though it makes sense for the technology inside, it's sure to be hard to swallow. 

Of course, this is all rumor and speculation until the show starts, and then we'll know for sure, so keep tuned to this page and we'll have all the details as the story breaks. 

Some of our biggest announcements ever

The show has begun and Tim cook has taken the stage! Without revealing any new products, Cook says that Apple will be making some of its biggest announcements ever. 

A much bigger Macbook Air

First up is the new Macbook Air 15-inch. The new M2 Macbook will have a huge display, a 15.3-inch Apple Liquid Retina screen. Apple says this is the world's thinnest 15-inch laptop. It weighs only 3.3 pounds. 

Even though it's thin, Apple is saying it will last for 18 hours on a single battery charge. It uses MagSafe for charging and includes two Thunderbolt ports, and it also keeps the headphone port, thankfully. 

The new Macbook Air will come in four colors, including a deep blue color as well as a standard array of Apple shades. 

The two most powerful Macs that Apple has ever made

Apple has introduced two new Mac desktop computers that take advantage of Apple M2 Ultra and M2 Max chipsets. The Apple Mac Studio compact desktop and the Apple Mac Pro have finally gotten the long-awaited update to Apple's own silicon, officially leaving Intel behind. 

We'll have all of the news and spec details on the new Apple desktops, but these are truly pro-level machines. They will have tons of power for Pro-Res video editing and serious creative workflows. 

In iOS 17, Apple has re-invented the Answering Machine

Apple has moved on from the professional-grade hardware to new features in iOS 17, and first up is a live voice mail feature that lets you listen in as a caller records a message. 

If this sounds familiar, that's probably because you are old enough to remember the old school answering machine. In the same way that those tape recorders let you screen your calls, Apple will do the same. 

This isn't your Dad's answering machine, though. Apple is adding voice mail service for Face Time. You'll be able to leave a Face Time message for a recipient when they can't answer. This is a long-requested feature, according to Apple.

A new way to AirDrop, Apple lets you Name Drop content

Apple has made sharing easier among iPhone and iOS devices. Expanding on its AirDrop feature, Apple is adding new gestures and new ways to find people to share your content or your activities. 

One of these is called Name Drop, a feature you can use from your phone or your watch to find your recipients quickly. You can also share with people nearby using a simple new gesture of bringing your iPhones close together. The phones will recognize the sharing process. 

You can share more than just files. You'll also be able to share links and video streams. 

A new Journal app is coming to iPhone and iOS

As we predicted, Apple is launching a Journal app that will use data from your iPhone to help you create journal entries. Apple says this will be all about helping its users express and experience gratitude. It will grab photos, location data, and other information and offer suggestions for journal entries. 

Apple says that this information will be kept completely private and will be locked to your device. This is Apple, so we hope it will follow its legacy of protecting user privacy, especially on an app like this. 

Let's go downstairs to the iPad

Apple has moved on from its phone OS and is giving iPad OS it's due, starting with improvements to widgets. Android fans are probably laughing that Apple is finally catching up to the capabilities Android has possessed since single-digit versions, but at least the iPad will become more useful with widgets that don't need to open an app to be interactive. 

Apple is also offering new wallpapers to the iPad, including weather-specific and live photos. Wallpapers like Astronomy look great on the iPhone and it finally gets some big features for the larger iPad. 

There are also new lock screen features, including the ability to keep track of live updates like food orders. The iPad can even track multiple timers at once. "We truly live in an age of wonders," Apple says, sarcastically? 

It seems that the big screen device is finally getting some real consideration after stagnating for a while. 

MacOS Sonoma is the next heart of the Mac

In a WWDC keynote filled with jokes (those "ducking" typos, am I right, people?!), Apple says that it's crack marketing team was tasked with coming up with a new MacOS name and instead ended up piling into the bus and heading to wine country. So the new MacOS is Sonoma, named after California's famed vineyard landscape. 

Regardless, Apple says that Mac OS Sonoma will be about helping you get things done. Then it starts with widget demos, including an unfortunate demo of Apollo for Reddit, a widget which may be priced out of existence by new exorbitant third-party API pricing by Reddit's team. 

After widgets, Apple moves on to gaming, which is not a realm for which Apple is known to be a leader, or even a contender, as it supports very few of today's top games. In any case - MacOS Sonoma - it's about getting things done. 

No, seriously, there's going to be a game for Macs someday

After talking up gaming on Mac, confusing everyone who has shopped for a graphics card, Apple rolled out Hideo Kojima to talk about upcoming games for the Mac. The upcoming game for the Mac is Kojima's Death Stranding, a game that was launched in 2020. It will get a rerelease on the Mac. 

After launching his three-year-old title on brand new Mac machines, Kojima implored other developers to launch new (old?) games for Mac. He did not actually announce a brand new game coming to the Mac, but presumably developers will listen to what he says and not what he does. 

AirPods get Adaptive Audio mode for changing environments

The developer's conference is a great time to add software features for Apple accessories, and Apple today announced an Adaptive Audio mode for its AirPods devices. This mode tries to intelligently change between transparent and noise cancelling modes depending on the types of sound around you. 

Presumably, this means that a lawn mower would be silenced, while a car horn would break through your music to alert you. 

For AirPods Pro, Apple is adding new adaptive modes that will silence your music when you start speaking. This way you don't have to press pause before you begin a conversation. You don't even have to remove your earbud to show that you are listening. 

FaceTime is coming to AppleTV

Your Mac can already use an iPhone as a web camera, and now your TV will be able to do the same. FaceTime and video conference call apps are coming to Apple TV, and the same Continuity feature that connects your iPhone to your Mac will allow you to use your biggest screen for video chats. 

Apple is also adding AppleTV-like features to your iPhone to let you connect to hotel TVs when you travel and play your content on the go. Presumably this will be similar to CarPlay, but with a foreign TV set instead of a car screen. 

Apple watch gets a redesi... SNOOPY is here!

Sure, Mickey Mouse watch fans got their Apple Watch face a long time ago, but finally Snoopy is coming to the Apple Watch, and lovers of  Peanuts and happiness can rejoice. 

Oh yeah, there are also major redesigns to every major Apple app giving them better full screen views, but did you hear that Snoopy is coming to Apple Watch? If you want an especially pricey way to have Snoopy on your wrist, and connect to your complicated performance bicycle via Bluetooth, the Apple Watch will be the way to go. 

The Compass and Maps app will also get updates for hiking measurements, including waypoints that will help you find where to make a call in an emergency and help your loved ones find you and your Snoopy-enabled Apple Watch when you get lost. There will also be new hiking maps and topography features. And Snoopy. 

Watch OS 10 will help you understand your peace of mind or lack thereof

Among the new mental health features Apple has been talking up across the board, including the new Journal app, it is adding new features to Watch OS and iOS that will let you track your state of mind. You enter how pleasant or unpleasant your current mood, and Apple will track this and compare it with data. 

It might suggest that your bad mood is caused by a lack of exercise or sleep, or perhaps you need an app to help you experience more mindful minutes. Surely, it could not be all the time you spend staring at your phone and connected to your watch. 

One more thing: Apple Vision Pro

It's here! Apple has introduced a new kind of computer, an augmented reality headset that blends virtual reality with the real world. It works with your eyes, hands and voice. Apple showed the new headset working with apps, videos, and photos, offering a giant screen for all of your content. 

Apple calls this "spatial computing." We're learning more, stay tuned. 

Apple's vision of augmented reality is heavy on apps

Apple is talking up its Apple Vision Pro headset, and the experience seems very focused on apps. Apple is talking about using all of your favorite apps and services and seeing them in three dimensions in the world around you.

This is not a new metaverse or a new version of reality, it's simply Apple's app and icon designs floating in your own personal space. Apple doesn't seem to be reinventing the wheel. It isn't clear yet how powerful these apps will be, whether you'll have robust video editing or photoshop, along with coding and other productivity tools. But there are plenty of social and content consumption apps available, it seems. 

Apple Vision Pro will rely on your eyes and your hands for navigation. It will track and reveal your eyes to others using a feature Apple calls EyeSIght. Instead of dedicated controllers, it seems that Apple will track your hands for manual control. 

Bring your Mac screen into AR with Apple Vision Pro

In addition to its own apps, Apple is showing that its Apple Vision Pro will work with your Macbook computer. When you look at your Macbook screen, Apple's Vision Pro headset will adopt your computer screen and let you work on a larger virtual display. 

Apple is also showing off video conferencing capabilities with Apple Vision Pro. Every caller will appear in a virtual tile floating in space. The headset's spatial audio feature will make it sound like that person's voice is coming from the tile, wherever it is located. 

Apple's XR headset will also be a 3D camera

Apple Vision Pro won't just let you watch your content in three dimensions, it will also let you capture content in 3D. Using the device cameras, the headset will let you capture content that you can then relive or share after it has been fully rendered. 

In a rather distopian and sad display, Apple showed a parent stuck behind dark Vision Pro lenses experiencing a child's birthday party. The remove from reality was enough to inspire more than a few comparisons to Black Mirror. 

Still, this is Apple's first 3D camera, and it will be interesting to see how this affects the overall Apple ecosystem. 3D cameras on iPhone, anyone?

How the Apple Vision Pro was designed

Apple is now letting its designers talk about the large and bulky-looking Apple Vision Pro headset. This is not a subtle device. It looks smooth, sleek, and stylish, but it is just as noticeable as any other large VR headset we've seen.

The entire front is a single piece of glass, curved around the face. The back is a soft band, and the two are fit together with a modular system that allows Apple to fit the incredibly wide variety of face shapes among its target customers. 

Frankly, it does look quite comfy, especially the soft band. The device uses an adjustment dial for a better fit. Apple teamed with Zeiss for lenses, so it should have excellent image quality. 

The battery pack is a separate piece that hangs off the device with a cord. Apple notes that this removes the battery's weight from your head, which makes it more comfortable. It does not appear to need any wires, otherwise. 

Apple Vision Pro uses an Apple R1 chip along with the M2

Apple is using a brand new chip in its Apple Vision Pro headset, called the new Apple R1 chip. In addition to the M2 chip found in the Apple Macbook Air and Mac Mini desktop machines, Apple has developed a specialized chip made to interpret the wealth of sensor data that the Apple Vision Pro headset collects. 

The Vision Pro headset uses LiDAR, like Apple iPhones for Augmented Reality. It also uses infrared sensors, a wealth of cameras, and sensors that face forward, downwards, and inwards to track your eyes. 

Apple is detailing the processing of the new Apple Vision Pro headset in some detail. This is a developer conference after all, so the chipset and the developing information will come before any pricing and availability news. 

Vision OS is the system behind Apple Vision Pro

Apple's Vision OS will be the driving force behind the new Apple Vision Pro, and the new system will be able to run tons of existing apps at launch. Apple specifically named Adobe Lightroom, in addition to a number of iOS and iPad OS apps that will transfer quickly to the new visionOS app store when the system launches. 

Apple will use the popular Unity 3D rendering engine, which could make Apple Vision Pro a headset ripe for game development, or even transfer from existing VR headsets. Still, Apple's track record for gaming is spotty, so we'll have to see whether developers are as excited as Apple seems to be. 

Apple Vision Pro will cost $3499 when they launch next year

Well, we knew these were not going to be cheap. Apple has not announced availability for the new Apple Vision Pro glasses, but they will hopefully be available some time next year. As for the price, hold on tight, they're going to be one of Apple's most expensive products. 

The Apple Vision Pro will cost $3499 at launch, according to Tim Cook. We don't know much about specs or configurations, or what else will be required to use Apple Vision Pro glasses, but they will certainly be priced in the Pro end of the spectrum. 

Apple has a rather unconvincing advertisement for its new Vision Pro glasses, mostly proving that you can watch movies and not ignore your children if you wear Apple's glasses. They look cool, but even a Chris Hemsworth-alike cannot convince us that they aren't more bulky that we'd imagined for a headset-mounted future.

Not quite hands-on with the new Apple devices

Our US Editor-in-Chief Lance Ulanoff is on the scene and getting as close as anyone can get to the new Apple Vision Pro headset. Sadly, Apple isn't letting media hold the new gear, but we have some photos that prove it's real and it's ready to be seen. 

We've also gotten some hands-on time with the new Macbook Air, the 15-inch version of Apple's thinnest laptop. This is a laptop you won't want to put down once you pick it up, so better be careful. 

Check out the Apple Vision Pro headset up close well-lit

Here's the new Apple Vision Pro headset from every good angle, battery pack included. You can see the lenses, cameras, and the well-padded strap. Does it look like gear worth $3499? We won't know until we've worn one. 

And here is the battery pack

Wrapping up all of the WWDC 2023 news

If you want a great summary of everything we learned today from Tim Cook and the entire Apple gang, here's a round up of the 15 things we learned at WWDC. 

If you're most excited about the Apple Pro Vision headset, here's everything we know so far while we wait for an opportunity to get hands-on with the new device.  

If you're most excited about the only product Apple announced today that you can actually buy soon, check out our in-depth look at the upcoming Macbook Air 15-inch version, a real powerhouse coming to the big ultraportable space. 

You don't have to wait until early next year to get our impressions of the new gear. We'll have a deeper look soon, and for now you can read about the most important things to know about Apple's big new AR/VR/XR play, the visionOS that will support it, and everything we know about Apple Vision Pro. 

Read 12 things you need to know about Apple Vision Pro, then learn everything you need to know about visionOS.

Amazon may eventually offer Amazon Prime customers cheap or even free cellular service, according to a report from Bloomberg (via Yahoo). If true, the company would buy network capabilities from T-Mobile, Verizon, or even Dish Network’s Boost Infinite network and act as its own mobile virtual network operator, a so-called MVNO strategy. Amazon denies that this is happening. 

Bloomberg says that Amazon could buy airtime and offer it for $10 per month or less to Amazon Prime customers. The company might even offer cellular service to customers who don’t subscribe to Prime. This pricing would significantly undercut even the most aggressive cellular plans in the US right now. Amazon Prime currently costs $14.99 per month or $139 per year. 

Unlimited prepaid plans on the major US cellular networks run around $60/month for a single line of service, and restrictions often apply. Plans only get cheaper when you add more lines. Google Fi, an MVNO service run by Google, costs $50 per month for a single line, but can be reduced to $20 per month if you have four lines of service. It is unclear how Amazon would handle families under a possible Amazon Prime MVNO.

This is still a rumor even if it makes a lot of sense

Because of the enormous sensitivity that must be involved, no party will fess up to the possible deal. Amazon denies any mobile offering, telling Bloomberg that it is “exploring adding even more benefits for Prime members, but don’t have plans to add wireless at this time.” The mobile carriers that might sell airtime to Amazon also declined to comment.

That makes sense, because this deal would be very disruptive. Right now the US mobile market lacks competition among the carriers. Ever since T-Mobile engulfed Sprint, we’ve had three carriers offering very similar plans at similar price points.

There are occasionally unique deals on new phones. Carriers also make partnerships with streaming services and offer bundles, so you might get Disney or Apple TV or Paramount Plus with your mobile plan. Amazon Prime has even been offered as a bundle option on US carrier plans, including the now-defunct Sprint.

While numerous MVNO brands have come and gone over the years, none have offered serious competition to the larger nationwide networks that control the cell towers. Some of the largest brands, like Boost Mobile and Metro, have been swallowed up by nationwide networks and used as a prepaid brand.

Amazon would offer unique competition in many ways. It already has a built-in subscriber base paying for services. It already has a robust sales channel for products like connected mobile devices. It manages returns, service, and warranty partnerships. These are usually major roadblocks to entry in the mobile network space, but Amazon has almost every base covered.

One thing remains steadfast – the carriers are in control

That said, Amazon doesn’t own cellular towers. There have been talks of Amazon building out a constellation-type satellite network, which could theoretically drive a mobile network, but that hasn’t happened yet. If Amazon, or any company, wants to become a mobile network operator, it needs to buy airtime from a major nationwide provider. 

The carriers are not fans of giving up control, no matter how large the partner. When Verizon bundles Disney Plus with its monthly plan, you are still buying your cellular plan from Verizon. We don’t see Disney making the sale, offering you Verizon service if you subscribe to Disney Plus. 

Even Apple hasn’t tried to step a toe into the mobile network battle arena. If Amazon offers mobile service with Amazon Prime, the big shakeup would be wrestling control over US customers from the US carriers. The US carriers are incredibly powerful and don’t give up without a fight.

Verizon refused to sell the iPhone for years because Apple wouldn’t give Verizon control over the software. Until the iPhone 4, every iPhone was an AT&T exclusive in the US because Apple wouldn’t load Verizon’s VZ Navigator or even a basic MyVerizon account app. Apple wouldn’t give Verizon any control, so Verizon simply refused to sell the hottest smartphone the world had ever seen. For years. And years.

Eventually, Apple beat a US carrier at its own game, and it never happened again. Every other phone company, from Samsung to Google to Motorola, all bend to the will of the US carriers. Every phone includes carrier software, and some are still locked down to a carrier network.

Amazon and the major networks will deny this is happening until the day it happens, but it makes a lot of sense, and though I’m wary of Amazon’s power, I’m also tired of the triopoly hold on US mobile networks. Three networks isn’t enough.

There hasn’t been enough competition on price or products. Amazon is already taking my money for Prime Video and free shipping. If it can offer a mobile plan for a bit more, the US carriers will need to fight very hard to win me back.

Samsung has acknowledged an issue concerning out-of-focus elements in shots captured by some Galaxy S23 and Galaxy S23 Plus devices, after ongoing complaints by affected users. The company says it will issue a fix later in the year.

Though the Samsung Galaxy S23 and Samsung Galaxy S23 Plus have been praised for their broadly excellent cameras, one flaw has presented itself over time in the case of some units. Users affected by this issue have noted that there is a strangely “banana-shaped blur” present when capturing images, particularly when shooting subjects up close. The S23 Ultra has not been affected by this issue, likely because it uses a different, 200MP primary sensor, while the S23 and S23 Plus share the same 50MP primary camera.

A Polish Samsung Community post confirmed that Samsung was aware of the issue, offering an explanation and noting that an update would be arriving in the future. Here’s the machine-translated Samsung Community post:

“While testing the camera capabilities of the S23 or S23+, you may have noticed that the area around the subject looks a bit blurred when taking a close-up shot. This is because the rear wide-angle camera on the S23 and S23+ has a bright aperture, which helps when taking photos in the dark. However, this also means that more noticeable selective focus can make the background of your photos look a bit blurry.”

The Samsung post suggests that affected users might simply want to try stepping back so that the camera can properly focus with the added distance or turn the phone vertically. In any case, the promised update should arrive shortly to deliver improvements in this regard, though it may be able to fix it entirely; we’ll have to wait and see.

A physics problem?

Though smartphone cameras improve massively year over year, no camera is without its flaws. Some of them are immediately obvious – the large and somewhat unsightly protrusions on the rears of the best smartphones, for one. Others, such as the ‘blurry banana’ problem, are more subtle and only emerge after extended use. Samsung is not the only one to suffer from focus issues, some iPhone 14 Pro Max owners and Pixel 6 owners have reported similar experiences, historically.

At the same time, Samsung in particular has made great strides in its camera technology, enough to earn multiple spots on our best camera phones list. As Samsung would suggest, sometimes you can simply step back to get a better picture, although that might not be enough of a solution for everyone affected.

Samsung’s second Galaxy Unpacked showcase this year, at which the company is expected to unveil the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5 (among other devices) will take place in Seoul, South Korea, a company executive has hinted. In the past, Samsung has held its Unpacked events in New York and San Francisco.

The report comes from the South Korean publication, Yonhap News, citing senior Samsung executive Lee Young-hee, at a recent press event. In response to a reporter who asked “Why are you holding Unpacked in Seoul?” Lee responded (translated from Korean), "Because Korea is meaningful and important."

It isn’t confirmed that Seoul will be the launch location for the new foldables, however, as the company was later said to avoid more direct queries at the same event. However, it now appears likely that Samsung will indeed hold the launch of its new foldables in South Korea, likely in Seoul or Busan, as per Yonhap. If so, this would be the first time Samsung has held such an event in its home market.

Samsung’s Galaxy Unpacked is currently believed to be happening in the final week of July.

Launching into a different market

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 5 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 5, wherever and whenever they launch, will find stiffer competition than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 faced last year. In the US in particular, Google and Motorola have entered the fray with the Google Pixel Fold, Motorola Razr 2023, and Motorola Razr 2023 Plus; excellent foldables (on paper) that chip away at the Galaxy Z Fold and Flip lines' total domination of the foldable space.

At least, that’s what Google and Motorola would love to believe. Samsung’s proven track record of making some of the best foldable phones, and overall strong brand reputation in the mobile space, could see it extend its hegemony for another year.

Other than its foldables, which are set to dominate the conversation around Unpacked, Samsung is also thought to be introducing follow-ups to some of the best Android tablets in the shape of the Samsung Galaxy Tab S9, Tab S9 Plus, and Tab S9 Ultra. It’s also expected to deliver new candidates for our best Wear OS watches list, with the expected reveal of the Samsung Galaxy Watch 6 and Galaxy Watch 6 Classic.