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If you type a lot of commands in Bash, it can be time-consuming to navigate, correct, and add strings to achieve the desired output. I've found my fair share of typing errors, multi-instruction commands, and complex interpreters. There are ways to speed up the typing process without wearing you out or giving you headaches, from short codes and hotkeys to cool shortcuts and hidden features.

I am happy to pay for Android apps, but everyone should be able to do certain tasks regardless of budget. These features once required paid apps, but now you can enjoy them for free — often with a better experience than money can buy. Once you know which apps to download, you too can stop paying for these types of apps.

We live in an increasingly digital world, but as Olivia Newton-John said, sometimes you just need to get physical. Here are three projects that let you interact with Home Assistant in a physical way.

Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo can do many things, including side-by-side screen multitasking and hands-free video viewing at different angles.

Yet the company also pitched the $1,999 device as a "delightful bedside clock" during its Apple Event 2026 presentation on Wednesday.

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, said the Duo has the "ability to wake you up with a gentle glow timed perfectly with your alarm."

In the imagery shared by Apple, the partly folded Duo rests on a nightstand — exactly where numerous health and wellness experts say it should not be.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2026: Everything announced, including iPhone Duo Why you shouldn't sleep with your phone

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, for example, recommends keeping your phone in another room and relying on a digital clock instead. That's because research suggests sleeping next to a phone can worsen sleep quality in different ways.

First, there's the temptation of one last scroll, whether that's to check your social media feed or browse a shopping app for last-minute deals. Five minutes can quickly turn into 50, whittling down the amount of sleep you get.

Then, even if you expect pre-bedtime screentime to be relaxing, there's always the risk of mental stimulation that keeps your brain buzzing well after the phone is off for the night.

Experts also suspect that nonstop notifications during the day prime people to anticipate them at night, too. On its own, that dynamic may diminish sleep quality. But so will checking your phone after you've randomly woken up.

Apple surprises with pitch to use Duo as alarm clock

The emphasis on Duo as a bedside clock is surprising coming from Apple, given the company's emphasis on health and wellness. Among Apple's announcements on Wednesday were a raft of new Apple Watch health features designed to optimize and maximize physical well-being.

The new Apple Watch Ultra 4, for example, debuts a readiness feature that analyzes metrics like recent activity, training load, and — you guessed it — a sleep score to determine how a user should tackle their day.

Perhaps Apple has been rattled by the growing popularity of smart or screen-free alarm clocks like the Dreamie, Hatch Sleep Clock, and Hatch Restore 3, which can displace the smartphone as the first and last device people interact with every day.

Yes, you can really sleep without your phone

Whatever the case, sleeping without a phone in your bedroom isn't as nerve-wracking as it seems.

My own recent attempt at this led to one of the best nights of sleep I've ever enjoyed — and a permanent shift in my behavior. My phone stays in another room overnight and I use a screen-free alarm clock. To catch any emergency calls, I put my phone in do-not-disturb but turn the ringer on and all the way up so favorites can break through the silence if needed.

It can feel like an annoying hack just to get a peaceful night's rest, but it's far better than waking up, reaching for my phone, and getting pulled into text or email messages before I'm even out of bed.

Are you ready for some football?! If not, your parents are probably asking for the password to all the streaming services you set up for them. The 2026-2027 NFL season is once again spread across multiple streamers, so many that it might be hard to keep track of who’s playing where. Fear not, because we’ve found all the places to cheer for your favorite team, how to watch, and a couple of other perks to stream the upcoming NFL season.

At a glance:

• The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are $100 more expensive than last year's Pro models; pre-orders begin Sept. 12 ahead of a Sept. 18 launch.

• The iPhone 18 Pro features a new A20 Pro chip to better support AI features and Siri AI.

• While the design is largely the same, the new phones come in four color options: burgundy, black, silver, and glacier blue. Last year's iPhone 17 Pro didn't have a black option.

• The new phones have major camera upgrades, including a physical variable aperture, smart focus tracking, cinematic video effects, and improved low-light photography.

The new iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple's most powerful smartphone model, was officially announced on Wednesday at the big "Surprise and Shine" event.

And if you take a look at the device, you may notice that — aside from the new color options — the new iPhone Pro Max looks a lot like the old iPhone Pro Max.

It's true. Visually, the iPhone 18 Pro Max sports a very similar design in the same-sized body as its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

However, when it comes to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, it's what's on the inside that counts.

So, before you pre-order the new iPhones, here's the head-to-head between the two devices.

Cost

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are priced at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively. That means the phones both arrive with a $100 starting price increase over last year's model, which isn't too bad given the global memory crisis.

This is the one area where the iPhone 17 Pro models had a clear advantage.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Color options The iPhone 18 Pro Max comes in black, silver, glacier blue, and burgundy. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Let's get the aforementioned color options out of the way first. Visually, this is the big difference between the new iPhone 18 Pro Max and the old iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max comes in four colors. There's a new burgundy and glacier blue, as well as a silver color that looks to be a slightly different shade than the iPhone 17 Pro Max's silver. And finally, a black model returns after being conspicuously (and controversially) absent from the iPhone 17 Pro Max options.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max comes in silver, deep blue, and the viral cosmic orange color options. So, if you were really drawn to that Halloween-esque orange color, this fall, it's all about burgundy.

Display, size, and design

As mentioned, these phones have the same overall design. Both of these Apple smartphones sport a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display in an aluminum body.

The height, width, and depth of the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro Max are exactly the same. The only real difference between the two here is in their weight. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is slightly heavier than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, weighing 8.78 ounces versus 8.22 ounces, respectively.

Why is the new model heavier? Likely because of the larger battery and new variable aperture components.

Cameras Credit: Apple

This is the first big difference between the two devices.

Yes, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro Max both have a 48MP Pro Fusion camera system with a 48MP Fusion Main lens, 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide lens, and 48MP Fusion Telephoto lens. 

However, the iPhone 18 Pro Max introduces a physical variable aperture on its main camera lens. This provides way more control when it comes to lighting and depth of field, and it will make a noticeable difference in the quality of the photo and video output.

In addition, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has smart focus tracking, cinematic mode video effects, and improved low-light video. There's also a new image authentication feature called Apple Reference Image that verifies that the image was captured by the iPhone camera and isn't AI-generated.

Credit: Apple

The new iPhone 18 Pro Max has new Pro Controls features as well, which gives users the ability to manually tweak lens aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and more.

Battery

Another huge difference between the two devices is the battery. In fact, Apple says that the iPhone 18 Pro Max has "the largest increase of battery life ever on iPhone."

The iPhone 18 Pro Max can last for 45 hours of video playback on a single charge. That's 6 more hours than its predecessor.

Dynamic Island Credit: Apple

Visibly, you may not be able to notice this, but the physical cutout on the iPhone 18 Pro Max display, where the Dynamic Island is housed, is smaller than on the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The sensor region where the cutout is located is roughly 16.57mm. On the iPhone 17 Pro Max, this region was 20.76mm.

Why does that make a difference? By shrinking the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple was able to add a third activity display within the feature. So, even though the physical Dynamic Island is smaller on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple is able to pack more into the feature because of this. And this 3-in-1 Dynamic Island is only available on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models.

Processing power Credit: Apple

The biggest and most unappreciated difference will be what powers the devices.

Apple says it completely redesigned its Silicon chipset, with the A20 Pro chip, to make it its most powerful and most efficient iPhone yet. In addition to that, it completely redesigned its vapor chamber system in order to keep the iPhone 18 Pro Max cool and deliver the highest possible thermal performance.

While the iPhone 17 Pro Max's A19 Pro chipset is certainly powerful in its own right, the A20 Pro chip was designed at a time when Apple is simultaneously launching many of its new Apple Intelligence features, such as the completely reimagined voice assistant Siri AI.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

The early days of people having internet in their homes were pretty wild. Viruses were pretty much everywhere, and unlike now, many users had no clue what to do with them. I was a tween in the early '00s, but I remember intervening when my mom's PC had what felt like hundreds of them, with pop-ups and ads covering up the entire desktop, impossible to remove.

Weeks after announcing its sale to AI image-generator Midjourney, astrology app Co-Star revealed it's launching a dating app for book lovers called Readme.

First reported on Sept. 4 in journalist Emily Sundberg's newsletter, Feed Me, Readme (unrelated to Feed Me) is for "people who read (or want to date people who read)." It's the brainchild of Co-Star's founder and CEO, Banu Guler, and strategist and cultural analyst Emily Segal. Guler shared the news on X on Tuesday:

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"Obviously everyone knows that existing dating app culture is profoundly broken," Segal told Sundberg. Dating app fatigue and cynicism are well-documented, but while many singles are sick of the apps, they don't know where else to turn.

"Readme emerged from a running observation between me and Banu, that even though our friends were constantly in bookstores, we never actually saw anyone have that meme-famous 'meet cute at a bookstore' experience," Segal continued.

The two realized they could create something themselves that would mimic that experience, and believe that someone's taste in books tells you a lot more about their true spirit "than an awkwardly workshopped line on a conventional dating app profile." (Segal recently coined the term "tasteslop," which has a three-pronged definition: Slop made out of things considered tasteful; Tasteful things deployed in service of slop; and repeated discussion in the tech world about the significance of taste.)

Segal told Sundberg that Co-Star users have wanted a dating app, but that astrology, which is Co-Star's main focus, "is only one piece of the puzzle."

It's unclear how the cosmos will play into Readme, but considering it's an offshoot of one of the most well-known astrology apps, it'd be surprising if the zodiac was absent. And fans of Co-Star have claimed the app has "read them to filth," so the name might be a nod to that. Whether AI will factor into the app is also in question, given that Midjourney now owns Co-Star.

The launch party is happening this week, where surely more details will be revealed.

The iPhone 18 line and first foldable iPhone are officially here, which means brand new cases are, too.

The first few weeks after a new phone's release can mean more limited case options. The good news? iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max phones are compatible with iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max cases. The foldable iPhone Duo, however, is another story. As the iPhone Duo size is completely unique, the case options are limited to just Apple and a few other brands as of launch day.

SEE ALSO: Where was the regular iPhone 18? The missing product in Apple's event.

Still, we gathered up the best cases available for the new iPhones so far, whether you're looking for something cute, something protective, or something that brings the best of both worlds. Check them out below.

Note: Most iPhone Duo cases on this list have live product pages, but aren't available to order just yet. We'll keep this list updated as they become available.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max cases Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Casetify Impact Case in Dark Cherry Jelly $64 at Casetify
  Shop Now Why we like it

This look won't be for everyone, but Casetify's Dark Cherry case feels kind of perfect for the new burgundy colorway (especially as it was rumored to be called "dark cherry" before its release). If you're not a fan of this design, Casetify already has plenty of others available for the 18 Pro and Pro Max.

More iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max cases

• Smartish Wallet Case — $34.99

• Casely Blue Hydrangea Case with MagSafe — $35

• Otterbox Figura Series — $39.99

• Velvet Caviar Polka Dot case — $40

• Apple Silicone Case — $49

• CaseMate Jelly Pop Carolina with MagSafe — $50

• Casetify Cloud Case — $52

• Casetify Ripple Case — $56

• Apple TechWoven Case — $59

• Nudient Bold Case — $60

• Casetify Impact Case — $64

• Otterbox Defender Series — $69.99

iPhone Duo cases Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand $129.99 at Apple
  Learn More Why we like it

Apple's iPhone Duo Folio case isn't available just yet, but we're intrigued by the design. The kickstand allows for the phone to stay propped up when folded or open, bringing together the best parts of a phone and mini tablet experience. Yeah, $129.99 is steep, but hey, so is $3,199.

More iPhone Duo cases

• Casely Shell Shocked (with MagSafe) — $40

• Velvet Caviar Midnight Stars — $40

• Velvet Caviar Snoopy Moods — $45

• dbrand Grip Case — $54.90

• CaseMate Floral Gems MagSafe — $60

• Otterbox Lumen Series — $69.99

• Spigen Ultra Hybrid Pro S (Mag Fit) — $69.99

• Apple iPhone Duo Case — $79

• MagBak Elite — $89

• Thinborne iPhone Duo case — $89.69

• Otterbox Defender Series Pro XT — $89.99

• Spigen Slim Armor Pro (Mag Fit) — $89.99

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See what our readers guessed would happen at today's Apple event in our Big Guessing Game.

There's no denying that Microsoft has been stuffing many of Windows' default apps with superfluous features, turning them into bloated pieces of software filled with (mostly) AI features no one needs, with the Copilot-infested Notepad being a prime example.

Everywhere you can preorder the new Apple Watches: Apple Store Apple Watch Series 12 (GPS, 42mm) $399 Pre-Order Here Apple Store Apple Watch Ultra 4 (GPS + cellular, 49mm) $799 Pre-Order Here

New iPhones weren't the only devices Apple announced during its "Surprise and Shine" event Wednesday. The company also revealed two upgraded smartwatches, and they're both available for preorder right away.

The lineup includes the new flagship Apple Watch Series 12 and the premium rugged Apple Watch Ultra 4. (Apple didn't revisit its budget Apple Watch SE 3 this time around.) Shoppers can now purchase them through the Apple Store ahead of their joint release on Friday, Sept. 18. We'll update this story with other major retailers' preorder listings once they go live.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 pricing The Apple Watch Series 12 is available with rubber, textile, and stainless steel band styles. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Notably, neither Apple Watch received a price hike from the previous generation:

• Apple Watch Series 12 — starting from $399 in two sizes (42mm or 46mm)

• Apple Watch Ultra 4 — starting from $799 in one size (49mm)

Like always, the Ultra model comes standard with cellular connectivity. It's an optional $100 upgrade on certain Series 12 variants, depending on the case style.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 features Apple calls the Ultra 4 "the ultimate sports and adventure watch." Credit: Apple

Both new Apple Watches run on the new S11 chip and include a new Health Sensing System with improved sensors. Apple said this system captures more accurate, continuous heart rate data and enables a "Readiness" score that tells the user how intensely they should exercise based on recent activities.

The S11 chip also enables "Audio Intelligence" features that utilize the watches' built-in microphones. Coming later this year, these include Sound Recognition alerts and Live Rewind conversation transcriptions. (To address privacy concerns, Apple said the watches don't record or store audio.)

The new Apple Watches' Readiness score tries to predict your bandwidth for future workouts. Credit: Apple

The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will both work with Apple's newly redesigned Health app for iPhones, which also launches later this year.

The Series 12 is rated for up to 24 hours of battery life, while the Ultra 4 can last up to 50 hours per charge. That jumps to a whopping 84 hours in low power mode.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 colors Here's a closer look at the Apple Watch Series 12's new ceramic finish. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

The Series 12's case will be available in three finishes and multiple colors:

• Aluminum (dark bronze, light gold, black, or space gray) starting from $399 with optional cellular connectivity

• Titanium (radiant gold or natural) starting from $699 with cellular connectivity

• Ceramic (pearl white or night blue) starting from $899 with cellular connectivity

Rubber, textile, and stainless steel bands are available for the Series 12.

The Ultra 4's case just comes in black titanium or natural titanium. It can be paired with an Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, Ocean Band, or Titanium Milanese Loop.

The Apple Store is also selling special-edition Hermès variants of both smartwatches, starting at $1,399 for the Series 12 and $1,499 for the Ultra 4. The latter is available with a new extendable Grand H titanium band for $3,149.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

On Wednesday, Apple announced a cornucopia of new products. The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Duo, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are all coming soon, and that's very exciting.

But what about after that? It turns out Apple still probably has some tricks left up its sleeve for the rest of 2026, as the rumor mill anticipates several new product launches before the end of the year. They may not all be as monumental as a foldable iPhone, but some of them are still pretty exciting.

Here are the Apple products we expect to see before the end of 2026.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2026: Everything announced, including iPhone Duo Two new MacBooks, including one with a touchscreen

Apple tends to launch new MacBook laptops between the annual iPhone event and the end of the year, and 2026 is looking no different. Two new MacBooks, in particular, stand out as products we'll see before the calendar turns.

The first is a MacBook Pro with an M6 chip, which was reported by Bloomberg earlier this year. We admittedly don't know a whole lot about this device yet, but the new chip should come with noticeable gains in performance and battery efficiency, if nothing else. This may not be a particularly revolutionary new MacBook model, which is fine, because the next one might be.

To be more specific, we're expecting a "MacBook Ultra" to launch this year. Reports and Apple's own beta software indicate it will have a touchscreen, which would be new for the MacBook line. It's possible this one will slip into early 2027, but fingers crossed it doesn't, as it'll reportedly have Dynamic Island in an OLED display and a thin chassis.

A new Apple TV 4K

Reports from the likes of Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also suggest we'll get a new Apple TV 4K refresh this year. It's been four years since the last one, so Apple's set-top box is probably due for an upgrade. The main things we know right now are that it will apparently use Apple's in-house WiFi/Bluetooth N1 chip for network connectivity, and it might have a redesigned Siri remote. It could also get Siri AI support, if that's your thing.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

HomePod Mini

You'll never believe this, but yet another report from Gurman earlier this year suggested some more Apple smart home products are on the way in 2026.

First, a new HomePod Mini is allegedly coming this year. It would be the first since all the way back in 2020. It's said to support Siri AI, contain the same N1 chip as the Apple TV 4K, and it might even come in a red color. Exciting! Those changes are on top of expected improvements, like better sound quality.

Home Hub

Last but certainly not least, Apple may have a brand new smart home product called Home Hub launching this year.

This one is supposedly a HomePod-esque device that also has a 7-inch display. It will use facial recognition to know who it looking at the display and change what it's showing, accordingly. Naturally, you'll also be able to do FaceTime calls, play music, display a gallery of your photos, and more. Reports also suggest it'll have a unique operating system that blends elements of homeOS and tvOS.

As always, things can change, and some of these devices might slip into 2027. But if you were worried that Apple was done after the "Surprise and Shine" event, worry not.

What about the iPhone 18?

If you were looking for the iPhone 18 at the iPhone launch event, then you would have been disappointed. Unfortunately for shoppers who want to spend less than $1,000 on a new phone, this is one device we do not expect to launch in 2026. Rumors point to a spring 2027 release date for the base model iPhone 18.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

There was a time when I loved Amazon Fire Tablets. Modding them and repurposing them is a hobby of mine. One reason, aside from curiosity (or the old standby of "because I can") is that Fire OS has just been getting progressively worse. So I'm fighting back the best way I know how: with knowledge and a few nifty power-user tricks.

Good news, everyone! Apple's Polishing Cloth is "compatible" with the iPhone Duo.

Mercifully confirmed on Apple's website, the tech giant's microfibre cloth is ready to wipe clean its first foldable smartphone, which was announced at Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event on Wednesday — among many, many things.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2026: Live updates on folding iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and new AirPods

Following the event, Apple added its new devices — iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max — to the webpage listing its most Emperor's New Clothes of products. The Polishing Cloth is technically compatible. We're just giving you the facts.

CONFIRMED. Credit: Apple / Mashable screenshot

Apple recently lowered the price on its Polishing Cloth, cutting that $19 price tag into a still-lofty-for-a-cloth $9. Considering the price of the new iPhone Duo, maybe buyers will want to just throw one in for fun.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

See what our readers guessed would happen at today's Apple event in our Big Guessing Game

TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 17 is free from T-Mobile when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is also free with T-Mobile — claim by bringing your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Free iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro   Get Deal

Apple just announced a new lineup of phones, including the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, and the long-awaited folding iPhone Duo. Notably missing was the base model iPhone 18, which is rumored to be released in spring 2027. If the Pro models seem like overkill and you're not quite sold on a folding Apple phone yet, sticking with the iPhone 17 is your best bet for now.

And if you switch to T-Mobile or trade in your existing phone, you could get the iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro for free. All of these deals are live now:

• iPhone 17e — free when you switch to almost any qualifying T-Mobile plan (no trade-in required).

• iPhone 17 — free on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan when you turn in an eligible trade-in device.

• iPhone 17 Pro — free when you bring your existing number over to an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in required).

T-Mobile requires you to pay local sales tax on the phone's full retail value upfront, along with a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout. Are these really "free" deals when you need to pay something upfront? It's a gray area, OK? Anyway, it's a small price to pay for a new iPhone.

Score the Apple iPhone 17 for free this week from T-Mobile.

Apple just announced the $1,199 iPhone 18 Pro and the $1,999 foldable iPhone Duo. If you were hoping to soften those prices by trading in your current phone, however, Apple may have some bad news for you.

Following its "Surprise and Shine" event, Apple updated its trade-in program and lowered the maximum amount it will pay for previously eligible iPhone models.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

An iPhone 16 Pro Max is now worth up to $610, down from $720. The iPhone 16 Pro took an even larger hit, dropping from as much as $630 to $510 — a $120 reduction. Some depreciation is expected whenever Apple releases a new generation of iPhones, but the timing is particularly notable because Apple had raised trade-in values for many of these same devices just last month. In August, the iPhone 16 Pro Max jumped from $695 to $720. Following this week's event, it's down to $610.

The cuts continue throughout Apple's older lineup. An iPhone 15 Pro Max is now worth up to $455, down from $530, while the iPhone 15 Pro fell from $420 to $370. Maximum trade-in values for the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro dropped to $360 and $285, respectively.

Here are some of the most notable changes:

• iPhone 16 Pro Max: Up to $610, down from $720

• iPhone 16 Pro: Up to $510, down from $630

• iPhone 16 Plus: Up to $430, down from $485

• iPhone 16: Up to $430, down from $480

• iPhone 16e: Up to $270, down from $310

• iPhone 15 Pro Max: Up to $455, down from $530

• iPhone 15 Pro: Up to $370, down from $420

• iPhone 15: Up to $305, down from $335

• iPhone 14 Pro Max: Up to $360, down from $405

• iPhone 14 Pro: Up to $285, down from $335

Apple also added last year's iPhone 17 lineup to the trade-in program. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is eligible for up to $885, while the iPhone 17 Pro tops out at $785. Both the iPhone Air and standard iPhone 17 are worth up to $585.

Interestingly, those starting values are more generous than what Apple offered for the previous generation when it became eligible for trade-in. Last year's iPhone 16 Pro Max, for example, initially topped out at $700, compared with $885 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max today.

There may also be a small silver lining for anyone trading in a less-than-pristine device. Apple is reportedly becoming more forgiving of minor cosmetic damage, including small chips or cracks in the display. That could mean some damaged iPhones receive better assessments than they would have under the previous system, even as maximum trade-in values decline.

And the reductions aren't universal. They primarily affect iPhones. Every eligible iPad gained value, with the iPad Pro jumping from $720 to $905. Most Macs also received increases: The MacBook Pro rose from $855 to $1,315, while the Mac Studio climbed from $1,305 to $1,460. Apple Watch values were generally reduced or left unchanged.

Of course, these figures represent the most Apple will offer, not guaranteed payouts. The final amount depends on the device and its condition after inspection. Still, the timing stings: Apple's newest iPhones are more expensive, while many of the devices customers might use to help pay for them are suddenly worth less.

I'm one of those people who presses Alt+Tab hundreds of times a day to bounce between the many windows I have open. The problem is that Windows' built-in switcher starts to get awkward when I have lots of windows open, and aside from choosing how many thumbnails to display, there's not much room for customization.

Apple announced its latest rugged wearable, the Apple Watch Ultra 4, during its "Surprise and Shine" iPhone event on Wednesday. It's joined by the new flagship Apple Watch Series 12, some new AirPods, the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, and the long-rumored foldable iPhone Duo.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 will start at $799, the same price as last year's Apple Watch Ultra 3. It also has the same design as its predecessor, but adds faster performance, a longer battery life, and new health and fitness features. Here's a rundown of its upgrades.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 introduces new Health Sensing System, S11 chip Credit: Apple

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is the latest iteration of Apple's biggest, most durable, and most expensive smartwatch. In a press release, the company called it "the ultimate sports and adventure watch" and "the most comprehensive wearable across health, fitness, and safety."

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 supports a new Health Sensing System that takes more accurate, continuous heart rate readings. That includes more heart rate variability (HRV) measurements to gauge cardiovascular stress and recovery indicators, Apple said. Users will be able to compare their daytime and nighttime HRV measurements.

The Health Sensing System also adds a Readiness fitness score that tells the user how prepared they are for certain workout activities based on past training sessions.

Credit: Apple

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 will work with iPhones' newly revamped Health app (out later this year), which will have a Longevity tab and use vision-based AI models to analyze users' movements for flexibility, balance, and more.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 runs on the new S11 chip, which will power new "Audio Intelligence" features (also coming later this year). These include a "Live Rewind" tool that can transcribe 15 seconds of conversations, "Siri Recap" conversation summaries, and "Sound Recognition" alerts for users who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Credit: Apple

Privacy-wise, Apple said Audio Intelligence features "do not create or store audio recordings," and that raw audio is processed separately from the rest of the system before it's deleted. Apple, on-board apps, and even the user themselves can't access it.

The Health Sensing System, redesigned Health app, and Audio Intelligence features will also be available on the standard Apple Watch Series 12.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 will offer up to 50 hours of battery life, up from 42 in the previous generation. In low power mode, it maxes out at 84 hours per charge. Apple said its "charging is now faster than ever," with just 15 minutes on an outlet translating to 18 hours of use.

Credit: Apple

The Apple Watch Ultra 4's case comes in the same standard colors as the Ultra 3 — black titanium and natural titanium — but its Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean Band come in new hues. A luxe Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 4 variant will be available with a new extendable Grand H titanium band for $3,149. (It otherwise starts at $1,499.)

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is set for release on Friday, Sept. 18, and preorders begin today.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 4 $799 at the Apple Store
  Pre-order Here

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

At Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event, newly minted CEO John Ternus unveiled the long-anticipated foldable, the iPhone Duo. Before we got to that big announcement though, Ternus and the Apple team showed off the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The iPhone announcements ended there with no regular iPhone 18 announced.

Apple CEO, John Ternus, showed off the iPhone Duo. But the regular iPhone 18 wasn't mentioned. Credit: Apple

The tech giant instead focused on three premium iPhone models, with the iPhone 18 Pro starting at $1,199 and the iPhone Duo starting at $1,999. This breaks from Apple's September tradition of releasing the full lineup of iPhones. Apple likely didn't want to overcrowd its announcements, especially with the high-profile launch of the iPhone Duo. But does that mean Apple is skipping the regular iPhone 18?

Going into the event, there were already rumors that Apple wasn't going to release the regular iPhone 18 just yet. Instead, the iPhone 18, along with the 18e and a new iPhone Air, is rumored to be coming March 2027. So if you wanted a more affordable iPhone model, you'll potentially need to wait another six months.

Until then, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will be available for preorder Sept. 12, while the iPhone Duo will be available for preorder Oct. 16. Plus, Apple still has the iPhone 17 and 17e available for purchase.

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