The iPhone 17 lineup is the perfect time for Apple to upgrade MagSafe.
Apple debuted MagSafe back in October 2020 with the iPhone 12, and it has been in every major new iPhone since then. With the release of the iPhone 16e, Apple decided not to include MagSafe in this budget device. People have been prematurely speculating whether or not this is the end of MagSafe, but I would argue that now is the best time for Apple to give MagSafe a much needed upgrade.
Alongside the iPhone 12, Apple released the 12 Mini, which had a 5.4 inch display. That meant all MagSafe accessories had to accommodate the smaller 5.4 inch body, up to the 12 Pro Max’s 6.7 inch body. The lower size limit for MagSafe accessories was the 12 mini, and you could tell because Apple’s accessories such as the MagSafe wallet and the MagSafe Battery Pack fit flush with the device and wrapped around the corners perfectly. Apple’s smallest iPhone 17 display is rumored to start at 6.3 inches, which gives MagSafe more room to breathe.
The base iPhone 17 is rumored to be 6.3 inches, climbing up to 6.6 inches for the iPhone 17 Air, and topping off at 6.9 inches for the 17 Pro Max.
The charging coil diameter will probably not change since it is part of the Qi2 standard, but more magnets can be added in the bottom two-thirds of the iPhone to give accessories more stability, using the 6.3 inch iPhone as the new lower limit.
This can lead to a whole slew of new accessories, such as iPad-like folio cases, ultra-sturdy car mounts, and thinner battery packs.
“MagSafe” cases for your iPhone 16e are not MagSafe, and will make your wireless charging experience even worse.
There is a simple reason why Apple didn’t include MagSafe magnets in their iPhone 16e cases:
It would be a classic blunder of over promising and under delivering.
The iPhone 16e does support Qi wireless charging which has a max output of 7.5W, while the iPhone 16 and 16 Pro can get 25W of wireless charging with MagSafe.
Having those circular magnets will give people the illusion that they have faster MagSafe charging, but they will realize that not only is it charging slowly, it might not be charging their iPhone at all.
I’m going through a similar situation at my house with my kids’ iPhone SE 2nd gen. I bought a circular magnet and glued it to the iPhone right where the coil is, but sometimes the phone won’t charge, even though it’s sitting magnetically on an official Apple MagSafe puck. It’ll start charging, but then stop randomly. When it is charging, it is very slow. This is all being done without a case which is the most efficient way of charging wirelessly.
Don’t just take my word for it, because MKBHD discusses his wireless charging experience with the iPhone 16e:
This week I had it on my desk charger for like 1/2 an hour and it gained zero percent (laughing) while just getting warmer. I don’t have to remind you of the downsides of early wireless charging.
The tech enthusiast doesn’t need a reminder of how bad 1st generation Qi wireless charging was (and still is), but the average person buying the 16e needs that reminder more than ever.
It will objectively be a disadvantage for charging speeds because the case adds an extra barrier that power has to travel through from the charger to the iPhone, generating more heat in the process. That excess heat will eventually cause the battery to either charge slowly, or stop charging completely.
Any case company that tells you it provides MagSafe charging with the iPhone 16e is technically lying.
Real MagSafe, which is available on the iPhone 12 and newer (except for the SE and 16e), is more than just magnets aligning the charging coils. There is communication between the magnetic puck and the phone, ramping up charging speeds and slowing them down depending on many factors such as current battery level, device temperature, and the power adapter being used for charging. The goal is to provide faster wireless charging without destroying the battery’s health.
It’s called MagSafe for a reason.
If you do want to buy a magnetic case for your iPhone 16e, just remember not to rely on it for fast charging. Use it for the other conveniences that it will give you, such as propping it up on your desk, your car, or to slap on a wallet magnetically.
If I were buying this phone, I would buy a magnetic case and use it with these accessories that I currently own (not sponsored or affiliated):
These are not chargers, but they are convenient holders that make life easier.
Will the iPhone 17 Pro finally get a Pro camera app?
Mark Gurman in his Power On Newsletter:
The iPhone 17 line is shaping up to be a significant upgrade, particularly for the Pro models. In past years, Apple has focused more heavily on the camera’s photo-taking abilities. This year it will stress improvements to video recording. One of the goals for 2025’s iPhone line is to get the vlogging community and other video creators to move away from standalone cameras and use the iPhone for even more of their work. Look for Apple to more heavily than ever tout these video recording capabilities when the new iPhones debut in September.
If Apple really wants bloggers and video creators to move away from standalone cameras, they need to give its Pro users full camera controls, with white balance, ISO, actual lens selection, etc. Currently we have the illusion of lens selection, but Apple decides based on its algorithm whether or not to use a digital zoom vs switching to the telephoto lens.
On the 15 and 16 Pro for example, if you want to use the 5x zoom in medium to low light, the iPhone will use the 1x lens, and digitally zoom in to 5x, giving you a huge loss in detail. Sometimes the software switches back and forth between digitally zooming at 5x vs switching to the 5x telephoto lens, again trying to decide which is best for the user. This is frustrating to say the least.
On top of that, I’m sure vloggers would love the ability to record front and rear facing video at the same time, with their face inlaid with whatever footage they’re taking. Top that off with a CapCut like editing features like auto-captions, and people will happily pay for higher-priced iPhones.
Apple products: Why you should film your unboxing videos (part 2)
I mentioned earlier how Best Buy was going to give me a refund simply because I told them I didn’t receive a watch inside the package. It turns out I was misinformed by the person who helped me with this case. This actually makes a ton of sense though because if it was as simple as calling Best Buy and telling them there was nothing in the package, what is there to stop anyone from simply abusing that policy? They do want to do an investigation, which makes perfect sense.
They got back to me via email and kindly requested pictures of the product packaging and the shipping box. I one-upped that request with detailed photos and a video of me unboxing the watch strap box, tearing the seals and finding even more overly engineered cardboard.
I do expect to get a full refund eventually, but in today’s day and age, it is worth your time to take photos of the shipping box, along with a video of you unboxing your expensive, high-value items. I personally believe that without the video I made, it would be hard for me to prove my innocence.
Stay tuned.
How not to describe the iPhone 16e.
It is the same size as an iPhone 14.
It has USB-C like an iPhone 15, but wirelessly charges like an iPhone SE.
It has the same screen as an iPhone 14, which has the brightness of an iPhone 12 Pro, but the notch of the iPhone 13.
It has the same processor as the iPhone 16, but the same amount of GPU cores as an iPhone 13.
The back camera is almost the same as the iPhone 16, but it takes portraits like an iPhone 12.
But don’t worry, the selfie camera is the same as the iPhone 16.
Who should buy the Powerbeats Pro 2? The answer will surprise you.
Apple’s Superstar lineup for marketing the Powerbeats Pro 2:
Shohei Ohtani.
Lionel Messi.
Lebron James.
Your mom.
Wait…what??
Yes, that’s right. Your mom is a Superstar, and an ideal candidate for the Powerbeats Pro 2, at least if she’s anything like mine.
My mom was in the market for some durable earbuds back in October 2021. Besides being wireless, she only had one criterion: the earbuds had to have a loop that goes around her ears and keeps it secure. She wears a headscarf, and headscarves don’t go well with any AirPods that she has tried since they simply are not secure enough. As a bus driver, the last thing she wants to do is try to find her ear bud in the driver’s footwell.
The Powerbeats Pro were the best choice, and she has been using the same pair every day since November 2021. They’re still going strong, and once they go bad, I will probably get her the Powerbeats Pro 2 that I am testing out. I can’t give them to her now because her original ones still work, and she wouldn’t want me to get her new headphones for no reason. I might even get a lecture about wasting money if I did.
It’s an Asian thing.
Just don’t tell her about my Apple Watch obsession.
She’s in her 60s, yet these are perfect for her in many ways besides the secure fit. She is a marathon talker on the phone, and she will be happy with the much better battery life. She manages battery life by alternating ear pieces, and she keeps her other ear free for listening to her surroundings.
I don’t even want to try to explain to her how the force touch tips on AirPods work, let alone the swipe gestures, but the actual buttons on the beats make it simple and easy to understand. A simple volume rocker and a “beats” button for play and pause. Real, clickable buttons, perfect for the elderly and non tech-savvy. She is already used to this layout, so she will feel right at home.
The smaller case will make more room for her purse which is already full (what purse isn’t full anyway?), but it won’t be too small for her to lose it either. The balance is just right.
The other cool aspect about the Pro 2 is heart rate monitoring. My mom refuses to wear an Apple Watch because that’s just one more thing to learn and charge, but she wears her beats all the time. When she is not actively listening to lectures or talking on the phone, her iPhone would be logging her heart rate with the Pro 2. It only logs your heart rate when you are actively in the Health App with both earbuds in place, but it would be nice for her to see at least one health metric. The minute you leave the Health app, the heart rate monitor stops, probably to preserve battery life.
My plan is to get her interested in heart rate monitoring, and then eventually upsell her into an Apple Watch for all the other health benefits.
Lastly, if you’re afraid someone might steal her earbuds, buy the Quick Sand color. That hue of light grayish-brown is a similar color to hearing aids, and looks the part when placed in your ear. I instantly felt older when I looked in the mirror instead of younger and hip.
Apple products: Why you should film your unboxing videos (part 1)
I bought an Apple Watch Ultra 2 from Best Buy Geek Squad Refurbished, and I had a “unique” unboxing experience. It was advertised as “Open Box Excellent” and when I opened the outer packaging, I got excited because the inner box that holds the Apple Watch still had the white plastic seals on it, signifying a brand new, unopened watch.
I tore the tabs off, and inside the box was the charger… and no watch.
I was not disappointed as much as I should have been, but I was actually impressed. How did they seal this package back up and make it look just like a brand new seal? I inspected the pull tabs on the seal and on the box, and nothing looked like it was put back together or jimmy-rigged in some way.
There was still the watch band to unbox, but this time I recorded it. The box felt suspiciously light, but the Alpine Loop is light too, so it was anybody’s guess if there was a band inside. When I pulled the sealed tab, there was an empty cardboard shell that holds the Alpine Loop.
Ouch.
The thieves have upped their game, but thankfully Best Buy is siding with the customer (me) and will be refunding me without even needing my video proving my innocence.
Not sure if other retailers/sellers will make it this easy to get a refund, but do yourself a favor and record your unboxings of any high-demand product, especially if it’s used.
The influence for the Vision Pro’s design.
It’s hard not to see the uncanny resemblance between these two products. 📓
Storing things inside Your AirPods Pro 2 case.
I ended up getting a mini workout done when I was not really expecting to at my son’s wrestling practice. Normally I just use the time to do some writing, but now I have to split the time between writing and working out due to less free time at home with the new baby.
The Milanese band is my band of choice for jogging, but I forgot to swap it out and was wearing my link bracelet. I wear the link bracelet a bit loose since it’s uncomfortable when tight, but I needed to tighten it up for the workout.
I ended up taking out one link, and storing it in my AirPods Pro 2 case. It fits pretty good inside there, and even attaches magnetically making it harder for the link to fall out. I do use the smaller sized bracelet labelled 38mm (also the same as 40mm, 41mm, and the new 42mm), but I’m confident there is enough space for the larger links to also fit.
I’m not a fan of working out with the link bracelet, but it’s doable, especially if you have storage for your extra links. 📓
The iPhone 16E will be Apple’s new “buffered” iPhone.
Tim Cook on Twitter:
Get ready to meet the newest member of the family.
Wednesday, February 19. #AppleLaunch
I’ve been thinking about this (probably too much,) but I don’t think it will be a new iPhone SE.
As a matter of fact, I think the SE lineup will be killed off.
What we will probably get is a new variant of the iPhone 16, rumored to be the iPhone 16E. This makes perfect sense for several reasons.
The iPhone SE lineup has defining features that make it an SE, the biggest two being the classic top and bottom bezels and the Home Button. If you get rid of both of those, you might as well get rid of the name too since it won’t make sense. People have associated the SE branding with those two hallmark features.
I know what you’re thinking. Apple has transformed many other devices and kept the same name, but in this case, pricing is a huge factor.
The 16E will have to support Apple Intelligence since Apple is heavily pushing it, meaning it will have an A17 Pro or A18 chip. Putting a faster chip in an iPhone SE model that beats the iPhone 15 in performance, and pricing it lower than that is nonsensical. If this device is part of the 16 lineup as the 16E, it becomes easy to make the price higher than the SE, but lower than the regular 16. I think it will take the place of the iPhone 15 and start at $699.
So now you have the following price points:
iPhone 16 Pro Max - $1,199 (starts at 256GB)
iPhone 16 Pro - $999
iPhone 16 Plus - $899
iPhone 16 - $799
iPhone 16E - $699
iPhone 15 Plus - $699
iPhone 15 - $599
The iPhone 14 and SE will be discontinued like in the EU, and the starting iPhone price takes a huge jump up from $429 to $599. I don’t think that’s a real shocker even though the click-bait headlines will definitely scream, “Apple raises lowest iPhone price by 40%.”
Seriously though, who really is buying the iPhone SE these days? I’m sure most people are being upsold into the iPhone 14 which is leagues better than the SE, making the real starting price of an iPhone as of today, $599.
Tim’s headline, “newest member of the family,” sounds like a whole new branding, and I think the “E” lineup of iPhones will fall in-line with the “A” line of Pixel phones.
The “E” lineup of iPhones also doesn’t have to be refreshed every year. It will be like the SE, acting like a price buffer to accommodate for technological advancements, laws and regulations, consumer demand, and company performance.
This is my speculation for this coming Wednesday.
JD Vance gets told to take off his Apple Watch.
An open letter from Watches of Espionage, letting JD Vance know of the obvious security risks for a Vice President to be wearing a smartwatch.
Not a politically charged piece, just one that makes sense.
Using a Series 3 Ceramic Edition Apple Watch is like driving a weekend car.
It’s like an old, weekend car you want to enjoy for a few days, but then you’re glad it’s over by Sunday afternoon because the car is nice and fun, but also a bit cumbersome, makes a few rattles, is missing many creature comforts, needs to be warmed up before you throw it around, and takes premium gas. 📓
Why your AirPods might not be working.
If you have AirPods 2, 3, or 4, you might have an issue where the sound is too low, or the sound is heard from the outside vent projecting outward instead of inward to your ears.
I recently had a relative have this problem with her AirPods 2nd gen and 3rd gen, and it was due to earwax build up.
The buildup causes the speaker facing your ear canal to be blocked, causing the sound to be diverted to the outside vent in some cases.
If you have changed nothing else in your Bluetooth or Sound settings, this is probably what’s going on.
It can be hard to see any buildup since the speaker grill is black, but you should follow Apple’s instructions for cleaning them.
You’ll be surprised by how much gunk gets stuck in there.
If you want to avoid this problem in the future, consider getting the AirPods Pro 2. The silicone tips have a mesh grille that detaches from the black speaker head. The mesh is small enough to let sound through, but no earwax can go back into the speaker grille, preventing buildup.
I’ve had my original AirPods Pro for 5 years now, and never had the earwax buildup issue.
Apple Watch Meridian Face - Unique colors you didn’t know about.
I’ve written two earlier pieces about the unique colors for the California and Chronograph Pro watch faces, but what really surprised me was the Meridian watch face. 📓
How to add the Apple logo to your Apple watch face.
Just like all watch brands that showcase their logo right below the 12 o’clock marker, you can brand your Apple Watch with a Monogram on several watch faces. 📓
WatchOS 11 gets more well deserved criticism.
First it was Zac from 9to5Mac, and now John from Daring Fireball sharing my pain with their Apple Watch frustrations.
Here’s John’s Apple Watch Report Card:
APPLE WATCH: C (LAST YEAR: B)
Series 10 watches feature a new display that supports once-per-second updates while in energy-saving always-on mode. So the seconds hand on an analog face can “tick” once per second even when the display isn’t fully on. But Apple only enabled this ticking seconds indicator on two watch faces, both new to WatchOS 11: Flux and Reflections. Setting aside the fact that I personally don’t like either of those faces (Flux in particular seems deliberately obtuse), this is ridiculous. WatchOS 11 offers, by my quick count, at least 33 different watch faces that offer a non-digital seconds hand or indicator. And only 2 of them support the new 1Hz refresh rate? That’s bullshit. And it wasn’t just a launch thing, because here we are in February, with WatchOS 11.3, and zero additional watch faces have been updated to support it. This is not how a serious watchmaker treats its watches. I will admit to caring far more about always-on seconds hands than most people, but this isn’t how a serious watchmaker deals with technical breakthroughs like this new display with a 1Hz refresh rate. Not just most, but every single watch face should have been updated to support ticking seconds. Apple Watch is turning more into a fitness tracker that happens to show the time, and away from serving as a proper watch.
Also: no Ultra 3 this year. The year-old Ultra 2 did gain a very nice black titanium color option, but that’s it. Kind of weird for a watch that starts at $800 — and that seems quite popular — to skip a year of silicon improvements.
I really hope watchOS 12 fixes all previous watch faces and complications that are compatible with the 1Hz refresh rate, if not sooner.
As for the Ultra 2, marketing wise they get an A for selling the same watch at the same price with a worse color that everyone seems to love even though it rubs off worse than Jet Black.
Adam Savage reviews the AirPods Pro 2 as a hearing aid.
A nice review by Adam Savage, former MythBuster. Calling it a review is doing it injustice as he really goes into his personal life and how hearing aids in general have even changed his marriage dynamics. Didn’t know he wore hearing aids, but his enthusiasm for Apple products and his real world experience really shows how useful the AirPods Pro 2 are.
Some highlights:
I think Apple turning the AirPod Pros into a substitute hearing aid is one of the best sub-features I've seen out of this consumer product in a long time. Having been a very public hearing aid wearer for 15 years, I have been sent a lot of people’s versions of earbud-hearing-aids and I’ll, I’m not naming any names but everything I have tried sucked. Everything I have tried had a very bad user experience in the calibration, in the testing, in the integration. These (the AirPods Pro 2) were really really just as advertised by Apple, straightforward, simple to understand, fast to execute, and awesome to use…
If you have people in your life who need hearing aids, this might be a great gateway drug to hearing aids, given that it is a lot less expensive and it carries a lot less of the, stigma of hearing aids. One of the rhetorical flourishes I gave people a few years ago that a lot of folks have told me worked on people in their lives, is to explain that no one who ever got hearing aids thought to themselves, “well that was a bad idea.”
Is the Series 3 Apple Watch still usable in 2025?
I’ve been using the Series 3 Apple Watch for about three weeks now. Actually, I’ve been using three different Series 3 watches, and it’s quite interesting how even after 7 generations, the Series 3 still holds up. 📓
Apple’s Watch faces are broken.
Zac Hall from 9to5Mac rants about the Always-On Display with ticking seconds hand on the Series 10:
It’s the only model that displays seconds on the watch face in always-on mode. There’s just one catch: only three watch faces support this hardware feature. Now, that number has grown — to a whopping four.
Zac’s a lot more kind that I am about this lack of consistency in hardware support, but I’m glad someone else is talking about this. I hope he’s wrong (so does he) about Apple’s strategy moving forward with the watch face support:
The good news is that Apple’s new Unity Rhythm face in watchOS 11.3 supports always-on seconds, just like Reflections.
The bad news? This sums up Apple’s watch face game plan: introduce a few new watch faces annually that feature always-on seconds, while simultaneously removing some less popular watch faces that lack this feature.
Ideally, this is incorrect, and watchOS 12 updates all watch faces to support always-on seconds. A standard analog watch face with numerals, like Utility or California, should support always-on seconds — especially if Apple isn’t going to update each face. Every watch face should support the hardware’s capabilities though.
To complicate things further (pun intended), there are a lot of Time based complications that also would benefit from the Always-On Display with ticking seconds hand, but I can live without those for now.
