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TL;DR: Get five years of fast, secure online privacy with AdGuard VPN for just $34.97 (reg. $359).

Opens in a new window Credit: AdGuard AdGuard VPN: 5-Year Subscription $34.97
$359.40 Save $324.43 Get Deal

We live in a world where online activity is routinely tracked. So, it makes sense that ensuring your privacy and security should be a top priority.

Get a 5-year subscription to AdGuard VPN for just $34.97 (reg. $359.40) and get peace of mind by securing your internet connection with advanced encryption and a no-logs policy, so your data remains private and protected. Order by 11:59 p.m. PT on September 29 to get this killer price.

No matter what you're doing, AdGuard VPN has you covered with 60+ server locations worldwide. AdGuard VPN gives you fast, reliable connections — no matter where you are.

When it comes to VPNs, speed is essential. AdGuard VPN offers optimized protocols that help give you a fast and seamless internet experience. It's designed so you don't have to experience frustrating buffering or lag. And with the ability to connect up to 10 devices simultaneously, you can protect every device in your home with just one account, whether it's your laptop, phone, or tablet.

AdGuard’s Threat Protection goes beyond privacy features. It also helps block malicious ads, trackers, and potential online threats before they even have a chance to reach you. 

Don't miss this opportunity to get five years of protection and privacy at a price that's right.

A five-year subscription to AdGuard VPN is just $34.97 (reg. $359) through September 29.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

The Mini is a bite-sized version of The New York Times' revered daily crossword. While the crossword is a lengthier experience that requires both knowledge and patience to complete, The Mini is an entirely different vibe.

With only a handful of clues to answer, the daily puzzle doubles as a speed-running test for many who play it.

So, when a tricky clue disrupts a player's flow, it can be frustrating! If you find yourself stumped playing The Mini — much like with Wordle and Connections — we have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for September 26

Here are the clues and answers to NYT's The Mini for Thursday, September 26, 2024:

AcrossLights on nightstands

• The answer is Lamps.

Historic performance at Milan's La Scala or Moscow's Bolshoi Theatre

• The answer is Opera.

It's just chugging along

• The answer is Train.

Visibly muscular

• The answer is Toned.

Squirmy and fidgety

• The answer is Antsy.

Down"That takes a ___ nerve!"

• The answer is Lotta

What might protect your shirt from a grease stain

• The answer is Apron.

Intended

• The answer is Meant.

Asks nosy questions

• The answer is Pries.

Needing a shower after a beach day

• The answer is Sandy.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Featured Video For You The Wordle Strategy used by the New York Times' Head of Games

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Mini Crossword.

If you're reading this, you're looking for a little help playing Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game.

Strands requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Here's the answer hints for September 26 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections today: See hints and answers for September 26 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Special delivery

These words are great for nesting.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

The answers are all related to items needed for babies.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is BabyGear.

Featured Video For You Strands 101: How to win NYT’s latest word game NYT Strands word list for September 26

• Crib

• Stroller

• Highchair

• BabyGear

• Blanket

• Swing

• Playpen

SEE ALSO: Hurdle hints and answers for September 26

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to today's Strands.

Hurricane Helene is growing into a vast, powerful storm.

The National Hurricane Center's computer modeling, which ensures such storms don't sneak up on anyone, predicts Helene will make landfall as a potent cyclone in Florida's Big Bend region on Thursday. But the impacts of such a sprawling storm will be widespread, including in areas like Tampa, which will see strong winds and some five to eight feet of storm surge.

"Helene is expected to rapidly intensify and grow in size over the eastern Gulf of Mexico," the center wrote on Sept. 25. "There is a danger of life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Panhandle."

Watch for guidance from local National Weather Service offices and other relevant agencies for updates and evacuation information.

SEE ALSO: Why it's impossible to forecast the weather too far into the future

For those in the Tampa region or interested in the storm's impacts there, you can watch on the webcams below.

Tweet may have been deleted Tweet may have been deleted

Though a number of factors influence the formation of strong hurricanes (a lack of opposing winds that can break apart storms, moist air, etc.), a vital influence is warm sea surface temperatures of over 80 degrees Fahrenheit (27 degrees Celsius). Warm oceans act as jet fuel for hurricanes, storm scientists explain. That's because warmer oceans fuel tropical storms as more water naturally evaporates into the air, giving storms energy and moisture to intensify.

Today, Atlantic hurricanes are already twice as likely to develop from a milder storm into a major hurricane.

Tampa Bay Riverfront webcam Siesta Key Beach Clearwater Beach Hilton Clearwater Beach Cam

And remember, as you're watching the slightly shifting track updates of Hurricane Helene, the track forecast cone is not an impacts cone. For example, regions far north of landfall — like in parts of Georgia, Tennessee, and the Carolinas — will see extreme deluges of rain and flooding.

"Make sure to stay up to date with the latest forecast as we move throughout the event at http://hurricanes.gov," the hurricane center emphasizes.

Helene is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane, and whether you're concerned about loved ones in Florida, or you're an armchair meteorologist, you can check out camera views of these adverse weather conditions by watching webcam livestreams.

Florida's gulf coast — particularly the Big Bend section of the Panhandle — is bracing for impact late Thursday. Rain and storm surge will move up the state's west coast throughout Thursday as the storm continues gaining strength. NOAA warned residents as of 4:00 a.m. ET Wednesday to be aware of "life-threatening storm surge along the entire west coast of the Florida Peninsula and Florida Big Bend. The highest inundation levels are expected along the coast of the Florida Big Bend."

SEE ALSO: Hurricane Helene: Spaghetti models track the storm’s path

To get a clearer understanding of conditions on the ground from a safe distance away, watch these webcam livestreams showing beach and other coastal conditions as this dangerous storm invades the U.S. mainland.

This list is organized from west to east.

Seascape, Florida webcam during Hurricane Helene

Located in Seascape, Florida, this webcam usually shows a placid white sand beach near Whale's Tail Bar & Grill, and the sea beyond.

Webcam showing Rosemary Beach during Helene

In normal times, this webcam displays the view from the roof at Pescado Seafood Grill & Rooftop Bar in Rosemary Beach, a vista that includes a number of homes, the ocean, and a nice view of the sky.

Watch Helene conditions at Panama City Beach's Laguna Beach

This beach camera normally shows beach conditions at Laguna Beach Christian Retreat in Panama City Beach, Florida.

Panama City Beach livecams during Hurricane Helene

This webcam shows Palazzo Beach in Panama City Beach.

And this view, also at Panama City Beach, shows another beach with pale sand as seen from Majestic Towers Beach Resort.

Port St. Joe webcam showing Hurricane Helene conditions

In less stormy times, this is the pleasant view of St. Joseph Bay from the back deck of Gulf County's Tourist Development Council building.

Cape San Blas during Hurricane Helene

Another view of St. Joseph Bay, this one from a gas station at Scallop Cove. This mostly shows sky, and periodically switches views, showing the bay from two directions.

St. George Island during hurricane conditions

This webcam ordinarily presents a view of Bob Sike's Cut, a pleasant swimming beach on St. George Island.

Watch Helene conditions in Steinhatchee, Florida

This is normally a view of the Steinhatchee River emptying into Deadman Bay, as seen from Roy's Restaurant.

If you've been online at all recently, there's a good chance you've come across Moo Deng. The baby pygmy hippo has enthralled the internet for weeks, with photos of the adorable two-month-old plastered across every social media platform. People just can't get enough of Moo Deng, and would like to see the baby as frequently as possible. 

Fortunately, Moo Deng's caretakers at Khao Kheow Open Zoo have heard your cries. The Thai zoo has launched a 24-hour livestream of its pygmy hippo enclosure, giving people the world over a chance to glimpse Moo Deng and coo over her cuteness in real time.

SEE ALSO: Why we’re all in love with a little hippo named Moo Deng How to watch Moo Deng's livestream

Moo Deng's livestream is available via the Zoodio website, which also hosts livestreams of other animals such as elephants and penguins. To watch it, simply head over to Zoodio's hippopotamus page, then scroll down and select the "Live Streaming" tab. 

The second tab above the information box, it shouldn't be too difficult to identify. Though the Zoodio website is in Thai, the "Live Streaming" tab is in English.

When is the best time to see Moo Deng on the livestream? Credit: LILLIAN SUWANRUMPHA / AFP via Getty Images

Khao Kheow Open Zoo's pygmy hippo livestream runs for 24 hours, so you can tune in any time. However, this doesn't mean you'll definitely get to see the famous meatball whenever you pop over to the stream. 

Aside from the fact that Moo Deng and her family are expected to continue their important pygmy hippo business with little concern for camera placement, there's also the time difference to consider. Thailand is 11 hours ahead of Eastern Daylight Time, meaning that Moo Deng's enclosure will be dark during daylight in the U.S. While pygmy hippos are nocturnal, visibility may not be the best.

Still, if you can't sleep and are looking for something to soothe you, it may be worth checking out Khao Kheow Open Zoo's livestream to see if Moo Deng will bless you with her presence.

Tweet may have been deleted

You should also keep Moo Deng's schedule in mind if you want the best chance of spotting her. According to a schedule shared on Khao Kheow Open Zoo's official social media accounts (translated by Facebook), Moo Deng starts her day with a shower at around 8 a.m. local time (9 p.m. EDT / 6 p.m. PDT). 

Most of Moo Deng's time is spent sleeping in the water, sleeping on the ground, and waiting for her mum to eat. However, you may catch her being a little more active at around 2 p.m. (3 a.m. EDT / 12 a.m. PDT). She also spends some time playing with her mum at around 11 p.m. (12 p.m. EDT / 9 a.m. PDT).

Khao Kheow Open Zoo states that visitors have doubled since Moo Deng's birth in July, with people flocking from all corners to catch a glimpse of her. According to director Narongwit Chodchoi, 10,000 people recently came to visit on a single Saturday. In comparison, the zoo usually receives around 900 visitors on weekdays and 4000 on holidays. 

Moo Deng's overwhelming popularity has also prompted the zoo to put a 5-minute viewing time limit at her enclosure, as well as restrict viewings to weekends for safety.

Tweet may have been deleted

Sadly, not all the crowds have been well-behaved. Some visitors have reportedly thrown objects at Moo Deng, splashed her with water, and shouted at her in attempts to wake her. The zoo has condemned such activity, installing security cameras and threatening legal action against anyone who harasses the hippos.

Fortunately, watching Moo Deng via livestream and squealing about her cuteness from home won't cause her any distress. There isn't a time-limit either, so you can stare at her squishy little face for as long as you like.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses, launched last year, is getting a host of updates, according to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg who also announced the new Meta Quest 3S and Project Orion (a pair of AR glasses that are not-yet-ready for market).

Zuckerberg highlighted several new features, including more natural conversations with Meta AI, the AI assistant behind the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses.

Credit: Meta

He also introduced live language translation for one-on-one interactions and “Be My Eyes” support, allowing volunteers to assist low-vision users by describing what they see through the glasses.

However, there's one feature coming to the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses that aims to solve a common frustration for drivers: providing reminders of where they parked.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses can help remind you about where you parked

"We're adding the ability for the glasses to help you remember things," Zuckerberg said at Meta Connect 2024.

Demo of parked car reminder on Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses Credit: Meta

Demonstrating a use case for this, Zuckerberg provided an example in which a Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses-wearing user said, "Hey Meta, remember where I parked."

Meta AI took note of this in the simulated demo. When the user returned, they asked, "Hey Meta, remember where I parked?"

In response, Meta AI said, "You parked in space 9702."

"If you're heading somewhere, no more forgetting where you parked," Zuckerberg said. "Now, it will just help you out with that; your glasses have you covered."

Although Meta AI can tell you where you parked, there’s a bit of irony in needing to remember to ask it in the first place. For forgetful users, the challenge may not just be finding the car, but also remembering to ask Meta AI for help. That said, the parking reminder feature is just one of many conveniences the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses offer.

Zuckerberg also mentioned grocery shopping as a use case. For example, if you need an avocado for a smoothie later in the day, the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses can remind you to pick it up at the grocery store before heading home.

Zuckerberg didn't provide an exact date for when we can expect these updates, but he said that they're coming soon.

For more on what these AI-powered spectacles can do, check out our announcement piece on the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses.

Opens in a new window Credit: unknown Ray-Ban - Meta Smart Glasses - Wayfarer - Matte Black/Polarized Gradient Graphite with $75 Amazon.ca Gift Card

TL;DR: Live stream Ajax vs. Besiktas in the Europa League for free on Tabii. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The first round of Champions League fixtures produced some really entertaining games, and we're expecting more of the same from the Europa League. There are a lot of really interesting matchups to consider, including Ajax vs. Besiktas. Both sides will be desperate to start strongly and take all three points.

If you want to watch Ajax vs. Besiktas in the Europa League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Ajax vs. Besiktas?

Ajax vs. Besiktas in the Europa League kicks off at 8 p.m. BST on Sept. 26. This fixture takes place at the Johan Cruyff Arena.

How to watch Ajax vs. Besiktas for free

Ajax vs. Besiktas is available to live stream for free on Tabii.

Tabii is offering free live streams of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League for the next three seasons. Tabii is geo-restricted to Turkey, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Turkey, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Europa League from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Ajax vs. Besiktas on Tabii by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Turkey

4. Sign in to Tabii

5. Watch Ajax vs. Besiktas for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the Europa League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Ajax vs. Besiktas (plus more Europa League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Tabii?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Tabii, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Turkey

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Ajax vs. Besiktas in the Europa League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Get this comprehensive ethical hacking bundle on sale for £29.99 (reg. £823.82) through September 29 and learn everything from Python to social engineering.

Opens in a new window Credit: StackCommerce The All-in-One Super-Sized Ethical Hacking Bundle £29.99 at the Mashable Shop
£823.82 Save £793.83 Get Deal

Cybersecurity is a fast-moving field, and ethical hacking is your gateway to understanding how to protect systems from real-world attacks.

This all-encompassing ethical hacking course bundle is packed with expert-led courses designed to take you from beginner to professional — all while staying hands-on and practical. From building your own tools in Python to testing wireless networks, this bundle covers all the essentials for a budding ethical hacker. Through Sept. 29, you can score lifetime access to all 18 courses for just £29.99.

One course worth mentioning is Hacking Wireless Networks. You’ll dive deep into WiFi hacking techniques used by professionals, uncovering vulnerabilities in wireless networks and learning how to secure them. With more than 50 lectures and access to all the necessary tools, you’ll be equipped to understand the vulnerabilities of modern WiFi environments and how to mitigate them.

If you’re curious about how to break into secure systems, the Ethical Hacking and Penetration Testing course gives you a hands-on approach to finding and exploiting weaknesses. You’ll work through everything from cracking passwords to taking control of vulnerable systems, all while learning the theory behind each attack — making it easier to apply these skills in real-life situations.

Another course, Hack People, Systems and Mobile Devices, offers an in-depth look at social engineering. You’ll use tools and techniques that professionals rely on, getting the full picture of how to protect against these crafty attacks.

Whether you’re new to the field or looking to sharpen your skills, this comprehensive collection will help you become an ethical hacking pro.

Priced at £29.99 until Sept. 29, this extensive ethical hacking course bundle is packed with value for anyone serious about cybersecurity. 

Curious about other privacy and security deals? Check out all of the privacy and cybersecurity courses at the Mashable Shop.

StackSocial prices subject to change.

While I was watching Colin From Accounts Season 2, I had the realisation that comedy shows rarely make me laugh out loud. Even the ones I enjoy.

Colin From Accounts is an exception. This Australian rom-com from husband-wife team Patrick Brammall and Harriet Dyer, which started as a canine-themed meet-cute in Season 1, uses its second season to hilariously build on some already-very-funny foundations.

SEE ALSO: The 30 funniest comedies on Hulu, because we all need a laugh What's Colin From Accounts Season 2 about?

Season 1 sees brewery owner Gordon (Brammall) meeting trainee doctor Ashley (Dyer). He almost runs her over with his car after she flashes him en route to work, resulting in him hitting a runaway dog (the titular Colin) and the two banding together to nurse the poor pooch back to health. The first season is all about their burgeoning relationship, and Season 2 picks up directly where we left them: Gordon and Ashley are now a couple, and the dog takes something of a backseat as they navigate their way through misunderstandings, changing friendships and awkward family encounters.

The same supporting cast of friends and colleagues are back for Season 2. Credit: Paramount+ Season 2 has some brilliant (and horrible) new characters.

Speaking of awkward family encounters, Season 2 doubles down on the theme of nightmarish in-laws. In Season 1 we had Ashley's never-say-the-right-thing mother Lynelle (Helen Thomson) and her deeply icky partner Lee (Darren Gilshenan). If you thought they were bad, though, Gordon's family provide impressive competition. The episode that introduces his brother Heavy (Justin Rosniak), a sleazy father-of-three who delights in his brother's past behaviour, is as hilarious as it is cringe-inducing. Later, when we meet Gordon's misogynistic dad Brian (John Howard), things get even worse.

All of these characters are painful and hilarious in equal parts, amusing to watch not just because they're so cringey, but because they're also believable. This is a trick Colin From Accounts pulls off time and again — every new person that comes into Gordon and Ashley's lives, from Megan's (Emma Harvie's) self-obsessed new partner Rumi (Virginia Gay) to the slimy "Chief Growth Officer" Jared (Broden Kelly) who wants to buy Gordon's bar, are as familiar as they are wince-inducing.

"What are you driving?" says Jared at one point during his sales lunch with Gordon, after he's made his intentions to buy the brewery abundantly clear.

"I drive—"

"Not anymore," comes the immediate response, accompanied with a knowing half-grin, and Kelly's delivery is so perfect it's difficult to believe he isn't actually a sales rep.

Gordon's brother Heavy is just one of many cringey new characters. Credit: Paramount+ Colin From Accounts is the perfect blend of funny and awkward.

It wouldn't be right to directly compare Colin From Accounts with Baby Reindeer, because the latter is a much darker show. But there is something similar in the way both series blend tone and genre. Baby Reindeer derived much of its comedy from situations that were so awkward they were hard to watch, and Colin From Accounts utilises a lighter version of this, from double dates gone terribly wrong to a finale that – without getting into spoilers – is the stuff of social nightmares.

The show is consistently funny, occasionally moving, and permanently fun to watch, with characters you alternate between groaning at and rooting for. Like Colin, we're quickly swept up into the chaos of their lives, carried along, and made all the happier for it.

Colin From Accounts Season 2 is streaming on Paramount+ from Sept. 26.

TL;DR: Live stream Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League for free on Tabii. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

José Mourinho is used to competing in the latter stages of the Champions League, but he'll have to make do with the Europa League this season. His Fenerbahce side will have aspirations of going far in this year's competition, and a strong start against Union Saint-Gilloise will certainly set them up for success.

If you want to watch Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise?

Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League kicks off at 5:45 p.m. BST on Sept. 26. This fixture takes place at the Şükrü Saracoğlu Stadium.

How to watch Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise for free

Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise is available to live stream for free on Tabii.

Tabii is offering free live streams of the Champions League, Europa League, and Conference League for the next three seasons. Tabii is geo-restricted to Turkey, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Turkey, meaning you can unblock free live streams of the Europa League from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise on Tabii by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in Turkey

4. Sign in to Tabii

5. Watch Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but leading VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can gain access to free live streams of the Europa League without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise (plus more Europa League fixtures) before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for Tabii?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on Tabii, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including Turkey

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95 and includes an extra three months for free — 49% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Fenerbahce vs. Union Saint-Gilloise in the Europa League for free with ExpressVPN.

TL;DR: Live stream Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants for free with a 30-day trial of Prime Video. Access this free live stream from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

The next Thursday Night Football fixture sees the Dallas Cowboys take on the New York Giants. This exciting matchup is available to watch all around the world with a simple hack. And better yet, fans don't need to spend anything to live stream all the action from the MetLife Stadium.

If you're interested in watching Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Cowboys vs. Giants?

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants takes place at 8:15 p.m. ET on Sep 26. This fixture will be played at the MetLife Stadium.

How to watch Cowboys vs. Giants for free

Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants is available to live stream on Prime Video in the U.S., but you don't need to be subscribed to Amazon Prime to watch this fixture. Instead, you can watch Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants (plus more Thursday Night Football fixtures) for free with a 30-day trial of Amazon Prime.

Fans from outside the U.S. will need to use a VPN to watch the NFL for free on Prime Video. This process is straightforward:

1. Sign up for a 30-day Amazon Prime trial (if you're not already a member)

2. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)

3. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

4. Open up the app and connect to a server in the U.S.

5. Watch Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants for free from anywhere in the world on Prime Video

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Year Subscription + 3 Months Free) $99.95 only at ExpressVPN (with money-back guarantee) Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but top VPNs do tend to offer free-trial periods or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these deals, you can access free live streams of the NFL without actually spending anything. It's a short-term solution, but this gives you enough time to watch select NFL fixtures before recovering your investment.

What is the best VPN for the NFL?

ExpressVPN is the best service for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream the NFL, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is always secure

• Fast connection speeds

• Up to eight simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee

A one-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $99.95, saving you 49% on list price. This deal includes an extra three months for free, a whole year of unlimited cloud backup, and a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Live stream Dallas Cowboys vs. New York Giants for free from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

Marques Brownlee, also known as MKBHD, is a tech-focused content creator with nearly 20 million YouTube subscribers, renowned for his reviews of the latest gadgets.

He has dunked on the likes of the Humane Ai Pin and the Rabbit R1 with titles such as "The Worst Product I've Ever Reviewed" and "Barely Reviewable," but praised the Apple Vision Pro (despite calling it flawed), OnePlus 12, and other products.

However, the seasoned and arguably respected tech reviewer recently released a new wallpaper app called Panels. And if X (formerly Twitter) and the Apple App Store reviews are anything to go by, the reception for the app has been poor.

Even Jesse Lyu, the CEO behind Rabbit R1, appeared to display some schadenfreude over the wave of criticism Brownlee has faced online, sharing a meme about Brownlee with his followers on X.

Tweet may have been deleted

The image Lyu posted depicts Brownlee as the grim reaper, poking fun at how some critics perceive the YouTuber as a "startup killer" with his candid reviews. (When Brownlee reviewed the Humane Ai Pin, for example, there was chatter about whether his harshness thwarts the growth of small-time gadget makers.)

The meme shows Humane Ai Pin co-founder Imran Chaudhri, Lyu, and Apple CEO Tim Cook as victims of Brownlee's sharp tongue, symbolized by the reaper's scythe. Interestingly, the last person of the lineup is Brownlee himself, implying that the YouTuber's latest venture should be subjected to his own brutal critiques.

MKBHD's new Panels app gets poor reviews

It isn't just Lyu, however, who has been trolling Brownlee. The Panels app, revealed in Brownlee's new iPhone 16 review video, is designed to offer a curated collection of high-res wallpapers from artists.

Credit: Apple

"I'm so pumped to be launching this app!" Brownlee said in a Sept. 23 X post. "People have asked where I get wallpapers FOREVER, so this is the answer, now and forever: PANELS!"

However, the replies underneath Brownlee's post don't appear to match his enthusiasm.

"Pretty disappointed in this," Ian Zelbo said. "Doesn’t have the polish / design I’d expect. Seems like something that’s been on the App Store already that you slapped your name on. Ads everywhere and it just all feels like a cash grab to me"

"The app is trash, you can get better, high-res wallpapers for free right here and many other accounts on X," Corbin Williams said.

"This damages your brand," said Alex Kehr. "It's crazy that the #1 tech reviewer known for advocating for quality and usefulness would release a cash-grab subscription app with terrible UI design, filled with ads, and offering mediocre wallpapers."

"Delete this garbage and pretend it was a joke," bl0rq suggested.

Based on the replies, as The Verge pointed out, it appears that users are unhappy that the iOS version of Panels asks whether it can track users' activity. One of the data points that it reportedly monitors is location. Brownlee refutes this claim (more on his response below).

On top of that, the app requires users to sign up for a $49.99 annual subscription or an $11.99-per-month membership. There are some wallpapers you can access for free, but only a few — and they're in standard definition, not high-res. But first, to access them, users have to watch two advertisements.

"$50/yr for WALLPAPERS?! And not a single high-res wallpaper downloadable for free with ads? Love team MKBHD and all, but that’s crazy," Nevan said.

"Half of your reviews are like 'uh it’s expensive and it doesn’t really do anything' lol you should review yourself," cometcalls said.

MKBHD responds to feedback

As a result of the feedback, Brownlee posted a tweet on Sept. 24 that, in part, said, "I hear you!"

In response to privacy concerns, Brownlee said the following: "First thing we're doing is fixing the excessive data disclosures, as people rightfully brought up. For transparency, we'd never actually ask for your location, internet history, etc. The data disclosures (that everyone is screenshotting) is likely too broad, and largely driven by what the ad networks suggest."

In regards to pricing, Brownlee said that delivering value for the premium version is a personal challenge — and he plans to dial back ad frequency for the free experience, with more updates to come.

The Panels app isn't MKBHD's first foray into an entrepreneurial venture. For example, Brownlee has collaborated with Atoms for a sneaker line as well as accessories maker Ridge.

The road ahead for Brownlee’s Panels app seems uncertain, but with a dedicated following and a promise of improvements, there’s still hope for redemption.

Coming soon to Google Earth: Time travel.

According to Google, some new updates on the way to the company's satellite imagery platform Google Earth, will allow users to "travel back in time" and view satellite and aerial images that go as far back as 80 years ago.

Google Earth lets you explore more of the past

In its update announcement, Google says some cities, including London, Berlin, Warsaw and Paris, will have imagery dating back to the 1930s. As of right now, most locations on Google Earth go no further back than just a few decades ago. The new changes will double the time frame for even those locations.

San Francisco in 1938 Credit: Google San Francisco in 2024 Credit: Google

Google Earth users will be able to go back in time and compare those historical photos with current ones too. Google gives an example of comparing the San Francisco of 1938 with 2024 and seeing how much the geography of the region changed. In the sample photos provided by Google, one can see how in the 1938 photo, ports in San Francisco were used mainly for shipping. The same location in more recent photos are filled with restaurants and cruise ships.

The historical imagery will be available for Google Earth users on both web and mobile.

Google's developer blog says that these updates should be rolled out in the "upcoming weeks" In addition to the historical satellite and aerial imagery, Google also announced it was expanding Street View on Google Maps in almost 80 countries. The company will also improve image quality by sharpening imagery on Google Earth and Google Maps using new AI models.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus were never on my radar — until I had a sudden change of heart.

As a Pro Max exclusivist, the entry-level iPhone typically doesn't catch my eye. After all, “Who wants a puny little phone?” I once thought.

And the "Plus" was always the awkward middle child, often ignored for the base model or the top-tier variant.

However, my experience with these phones has changed my mind. For those who don’t need pro-level photo and video capture, I’d go as far as saying that the iPhone 16 Plus is a better buy than the iPhone 16 Pro (though not the iPhone 16 Pro Max).

Stick around for everything that made me reconsider the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models as viable daily drivers.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus price and specs

Before I can dive into the meat and potatoes of this review, I need to give you some insight into how much you'll have to spend on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.

iPhone 16 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The iPhone 16, available for pre-order as of now, starts at $799 via Apple's official store. The iPhone 16 Plus, on the other hand, starts at $899.

"Why does the iPhone 16 Plus cost more than the iPhone 16?" you may be wondering. Well, the iPhone 16 Plus has a larger display and a bigger battery, which means you should be able to squeeze out more runtime on a single charge (more on that later).

Other than the aforementioned differences, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus both share the same specs, including the following:

• New A18 chip

• 8GB of RAM (required for Apple Intelligence support)

• New Camera Control button

• Action Button from last year's iPhone 15 Pro models

• 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage options

I highly recommend getting the 256GB storage option. Take it from me, 128GB runs out pretty quickly — in about a year and a half, give or take. (But I also understand there are budget constraints, so iCloud+ is another option for storage space if you don't mind subscriptions.)

Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus $799.99
Shop Now iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus design

The iPhone 16 Plus review unit I received, draped in bubble-gum pink deliciousness, would have been a showstopper during 2023's peak Barbie craze. It's just dripping in Margot Robbie cuteness, cotton candy sweetness, and pink lemonade joy.

iPhone 16 Plus in Pink Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Simply called "Pink," this rose-tinted shade is available only for iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.

If you decide to go caseless (because you love this color as much as I do), you'll be relieved to know that iPhone 16 lineup is now equipped with an even more durable display glass that's technically "Ceramic Shield 2." The OG Ceramic Shield debuted with the iPhone 12, and four generations later, we've got a new-gen Ceramic Shield that is 50% tougher, according to Apple.

In other words, the screen on the iPhone 16 should be just a little more resistant to your clumsy incidents — within reason, of course. (Don't get too clumsy.)

iPhone 16 Plus in Pink Credit: Joe Maldonado / Mashable

My non-Plus iPhone 16, however, comes in teal. Not my taste (I would have preferred Ultramarine), but I love Apple's decision to leave the pastel palettes behind, going deep, vivid, and rich. Other colors on the iPhone 16 menu include black and white.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus no longer have their cameras arranged in a diagonal position. They're now stacked. This doesn't necessarily bother me. But since the iPhone 13, the base models have had that diagonal-style placement that became Apple's signature.

But now, the cameras are positioned in a way that's very Android-esque —à la Samsung Galaxy S24 and Nothing Phone (2). So if you have a finicky teenager who wants to fit in with their fellow iPhone-owning friends, the iPhone 16's new design may be a tough sell.

iPhone 16 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

They'll likely urge you to purchase, at the very least, the iPhone 16 Pro, which maintains that familiar, triple-camera Apple design language that screams "This is an expensive iPhone!"

iPhone 16 Pro Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The iPhone 16 (particularly the non-Plus model) is beautifully light. If I accidentally dropped the iPhone 16 on my face while watching Love Island USA on my back — which is totally a "hypothetical" and never happened to me before — I won't get a black eye. Nice!

I checked the weight to see if the iPhone 16 is lighter than its predecessor — and there is, indeed, a tiny difference; Apple managed to shave off about 0.3 ounces gen-over-gen (6.03 ounces to 6 ounces). As for the chassis, the iPhone 16 is still 0.31 inches thin, which matches the iPhone 15.

• iPhone 16 - 6 ounces

• iPhone 15 - 6.03 ounces

iPhone 16 Plus is slightly lighter, too, but it has the same thickness as the iPhone 16 base model (0.31 inches).

• iPhone 16 Plus - 7.02 ounces

• iPhone 15 Plus - 7.09 ounces

I knew I wasn't losing it. The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models are totally lighter than last year's entry-level variants.

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus models continue to have volume buttons on the left and a side key on the right (which doubles as a way of invoking Siri). But like the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, the entire iPhone 16 lineup now has the Action Button.

Finally, the iPhone 16 models are rated for splash, water, and dust resistance (i.e., IP68); this means they can handle six meters of water submergence for up to 30 minutes.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus display

Some people aren't going to like this, but sorry to say, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus still have a 60Hz screen.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

You may be wondering, "Why won't Apple put a 90Hz or 120Hz refresh rate on the iPhone 16?" My guess is that the Cupertino-based tech giant needs something to lure users into purchasing the Pro models (which have a variable refresh rate that go up to 120Hz). Also, there are superfans who don't give a rat's behind about whether a display is 60Hz, 90Hz, or 120Hz; they love iPhone and will buy one regardless.

Unlike the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, which had their displays increase to 6.3 inches and 6.9 inches, respectively (yeah, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is practically a phablet at this point), the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus' displays have remained the same:

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

• iPhone 16 - 6.1 inches, 2,556 x 1,179-pixel resolution, 1,000 nits of screen brightness (2,000 peak)

• iPhone 16 Plus - 6.7 inches, 2,796 x 1,290-pixel resolution, 1,000 nits of screen brightness (2,000 peak)

The iPhone 16 models still have Dynamic Island (that pill-shaped notch at the top of the screen), which disguises the TrueDepth selfie camera. I found myself admiring it every now and then while listening to music. The bouncing waveform animations that dance along to my tunes are hypnotizing. But at the same time, I wouldn't miss it if it ever got the boot in the future. (More screen real estate is always welcome.)

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I miss TouchID, though. Perhaps one day, maybe iPhone 17, I'll see it appear somewhere on the side of the chassis — or maybe under the display.

Of course, the iPhone 16's compact form factor is advantageous because it's more pocketable. But while using it for streaming pleasures, I couldn't help but miss my iPhone 15 Pro Max, which has 6.7 inches of delicious display. But I enjoyed the iPhone 16 Plus, which nearly matches my iPhone 15 Pro Max's dimensions.

While watching Netflix's Selling Sunset and taking in the colorful array of — er — interesting outfits in the famed real estate office, I noticed that the colors were vivid and heavily saturated on both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus Action Button

The Action Button hit the iPhone last year — and it was an absolute hit. Some people configured this customizable button to have it call their spouse, others programmed it so that it plays their favorite Apple Music playlist.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I don't have a "cool" Action Button story. My use case is more practical. I configured the Action Button to pull up Google Authenticator, which lets me log into accounts with 2FA requirements. It's boring, yes, but it's super useful.

You can also use the Action Button to run more-than-one task using Shortcuts. For example, if your iPhone detects you're away from home, you can transform the Action Button into your "Tap to Pay" key, but if it "knows" you're at your residence, the Action Button can become a flashlight instead.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Personally, I'd love it if Apple could make it easier to assign more gestures (e.g., double and triple presses) to the Action Button. For example, with three quick presses, I can close Amazon super fast before my fiancé sees it — he's had enough of my designer perfume obsession.

The Action Button isn't the only button that's made its way onto the iPhone 16 models.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus Camera Control

Since MagSafe, Camera Control is my absolute favorite hero feature that Apple has added in recent years. This is a slam dunk!

You can find the Camera Control button all across the iPhone 16 lineup Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I said this in my Camera Control hands-on, but with just a few gestures (e.g., sliding motion, and one or two presses), you can access so many camera features, including the following:

• Zoom

• Cameras (swap between ultrawide, wide, and 2X zoom)

• Photographic Styles (e.g., filters like "Gold," "Amber," "Vibrant," and more)

• Tone

• Depth

• Exposure

Camera Control makes it easier for me to play around with features I've often ignored, including depth and tone. While I use the likes of exposure and zoom all the time, Camera Control had me adding shadows and blur effects.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The Camera Control button, as a right-handed user, is easiest to use with two hands (e.g., the left hand is holding the iPhone and the right hand's pointer finger is doing all of the gesturing).

Camera Control button Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, my natural position in taking photos is typically one-handed. On my right hand, I balance the phone on my pinky while using my thumb to navigate. As such, with Camera Control, I needed to drop the thumb habit and start using my pointer finger as my primary Camera Control navigation finger.

The best part of Camera Control? I can instantly launch the Camera app while my phone is locked. Win!

Later this year, Camera Control will double as a gateway to Visual Intelligence (as part of the Apple Intelligence suite).

With Visual Intelligence, you can point the camera at any subject in your surroundings. And in a Meta AI-like manner (similar to the AI-powered Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses), it will tell you what you're seeing. For example, you can point at a dog — and it will tell you the breed.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus cameras

So let's start with the new camera feature on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus: "optical quality" 2X zoom. You may be wondering, "What does that even mean?"

To put it simply, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, unlike the Pro models, do not have a telephoto sensor — the lens responsible for your zoomed-in photos.

However, as mentioned, Apple says it managed to deliver "optical quality" 2X zoom — meaning the image clarity is so good, you'd think that it does have a telephoto sensor.

So I put this to the test. Here's a 2X zoom shot of Arthur J. Hendrickson Park in Long Island.

Zoom - 2x "2X Zoom" shot of Valley Stream Community Center inside Hendrickson Park with iPhone 16 Plus Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Stunning right? The photo is so crisp, you can see the delineation of the red bricks that make up the edifice. The lawn is verdant and the ripples are sharply defined. Even when I increased the zoom to 5X, the image still looked great, though with some resolution loss, considering the low-light conditions.

"5X Zoom" shot of Valley Stream Community Center inside Hendrickson Park with iPhone 16 Plus Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

(Keep in mind that both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus share the same cameras, so it'd be redundant to share photos from both phones.)

Wide

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus sport 48MP wide lenses; here are some photos.

iPhone 16 wide photo Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Here is a wide-lens picture of a sullied lake inside a Long Island park flanked by weeping willows. This image has a cooler, more true-to-life vibe. I'm a more vivid, warm type of girl. (As you'll learn later, though, you can use Photographic Styles to change the temperature to your liking.)

iPhone 16 wide photo of Chrysler Building Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

This photo captures the Chrysler Building against a clear blue sky, framed by both classic and modern architecture. The perspective creates a dynamic sense of depth, emphasizing the towering buildings as they converge upward. While the lighting is well-balanced, adding more contrast to the sky could enhance its impact against the structures.

Chicken sandwich taken with iPhone 16 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I love a good food photo, so here's a shot of a delicious chicken sandwich inside a well-lit fast-food spot in Manhattan. There's minimal noise, accurate color representation with the muted yellow fries, bright-red ketchup, and golden-brown bun.

Makes you want to take a bite, doesn't it? I'm particularly tickled by how well the wide lens captured the saucy, spicy texture of the chicken.

Ultrawide

Since you already saw the zoomed-in perspective of this photo in the "2x zoom" section, let me show you how the 12MP ultrawide lens performed.

Utlrawide shot taken with iPhone 16 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It looks dreamy, doesn't it? This is a sensor you use when you want to capture a landscape with an ethereal, silhouetted feel, full of contrast and mystery. It's worth noting that the iPhone 16's ultrawide sensor captures more light, improving image quality. Plus, this ultrawide lens now enables macro photography, so you can get crisp, close-up shots in fine detail.

For example, check out the macro photography shot of the Penny Mac flowers in my backyard.

Macrophotography with ultrawide lens. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Here's another shot that may be familiar to you — and my favorite photo so far.

Ultrawide picture taken with iPhone 16 Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

This ultrawide shot looks like it was plucked right out of a storybook — it's giving "hidden oasis" vibes. The details in the foreground are relatively sharp, the colors are balanced, and the full scope of the landscape was captured, showcasing the stream and surrounding greenery. But naturally, this was shot in low-light conditions, so the limitations of the ultrawide lens are shown with the background's lack of fine detail.

For upgraded ultrawide, check out the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max.

Selfie

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus continue to sport a 12MP selfie camera. No, I don't mind that Apple didn't upgrade it because I can't imagine that lens getting any sharper.

iPhone 16 selfie Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It's also worth noting that the iPhone 16 models, thanks to the A18 series chip inside, have new iPhone 16-exclusive Photographic Styles filters, including "Gold," "Amber," "Quiet," and "Cozy."

"Quiet" Photographic Style Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable "Natural" Photographic Style Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable "Ethereal" Photographic Style Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

What makes Photographic Styles different from other filters? Well, most filters simply choose a color vibe and apply it to the whole image globally — without regard for your skin tone and other precious elements in the photo. Photographic Styles, on the other hand, intelligently applies filters without completely losing the essence of the photo.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus performance

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have a new A18 chip that's packed with a faster processor, zippier graphics, and an improved Neural Engine (the unit responsible for AI processing and machine learning).

iPhone 16 in teal colorway Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I ran Geekbench 6, a benchmark that tests processor prowess, on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus. Here are the multi-core scores:

• iPhone 16 - 7,878

• iPhone 16 Plus - 7,897

Um, can we talk about how these scores match a budget gaming laptop we reviewed, the Lenovo LOQ 15, which notched a multi-core score of 7,575 on the same test?

Other smartphone competitors don't even come close to these numbers. The Google Pixel 9, for example, has a nasty multi-core score of 4,358. To be fair, though, one could argue that the iPhone 16 phones are overpowered. No phone needs the power of a gaming laptop, but hey, Apple can continue to brag about its undefeated streak in the performance department.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus battery life

Apple said that the A18 chip is also energy efficient — and it wasn't kidding.

Apple put bigger batteries all across the iPhone 16 lineup and it shows. We ran a TikTok rundown with the displays at 50% of brightness. Here are the results we got for each phone:

• iPhone 16 - 16 hours and 20 minutes

• iPhone 16 Plus - 18 hours and 53 minutes

I can't believe my eyes. The iPhone 16 Plus lasted almost 19 hours. It also outperformed the iPhone 16 Pro, which lasted 18 hours and 17 minutes. But that's not too surprising because the iPhone 16 Pro has a smaller battery compared to the iPhone 16 Plus.

The iPhone 16 has the shortest battery life in the entire lineup (the iPhone 16 Pro Max lasted more than 25 hours), but it crushed rivals like the Google Pixel 9, which lasted 16 hours and 6 minutes on a single charge.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus Apple Intelligence

Compared to the likes of Meta and Google that have gone full throttle with artificial intelligence (AI), Apple has taken a more conservative approach.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It may appear that Apple is "behind," but really, the company is just taking its time. It's likely seen the feedback and backlash that consumers have had with the likes of Meta AI and Gemini — and it doesn't want to follow the same footsteps.

Apple announced Apple Intelligence this year, at WWDC 2024 specifically, and outlined some new features that will drop on iOS 18. At the time, Apple said that those features will only be available on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. But now, Apple Intelligence is getting support across the entire iPhone 16 lineup.

Some Apple Intelligence features include a new-and-improved Siri, Writing Tools (get assistance tone adjustment for emails and text), call recording, the Clean Up tool (remove unwanted objects in photos), and more.

(I recommend you check out our face-off that pits Apple's Clean Up Tool against Google's Magic Eraser and Samsung's Galaxy AI.)

Apple's "Clean Up" tool Left: Original photo Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: Apple's "Clean Up" tool results Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

You can test all of these aforementioned features in a beta version of iOS 18 beta (but make sure you back up your iPhone before trying them out). I've tested them myself and had a relatively smooth experience with them all. However, some Apple Intelligence features, like Genmoji (lets you create your own emoji with text prompts) and Image Playground (AI-generated imagery), are not out yet — not even for beta testing.

The next big update, iOS 18, officially dropped on Sept. 16. However, Apple Intelligence will start rolling out to phones sometime in October with iOS 18.1.

Are iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus worth it?

For the battery life increase alone, yes, the entry-level iPhone 16 models are worth it, but I recommend the iPhone 16 Plus even more.

Battery life anxiety is real. Nothing is worse than wondering if I'll be able to order an Uber at the end of the night because I'm only at 20%. With the iPhone 16 Plus, however, lasting nearly 19 hours on a single charge, its power efficiency makes it worth every single penny.

On top of that, there's a new Camera Control button, a tougher display, improved zoom up to 2X, the inheritance of the Action Button, and three stunning new colors (Ultramarine, Pink, and Teal). Oh, and Apple Intelligence, too. Even if you don't care about AI, you'll eventually get a sense of FOMO while everyone is sending "Genmoji" to each other. And well — you can't.

The iPhone 16 starts at $799 and the iPhone 16 Plus starts at $899.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus Shop Now

I now crown the iPhone 16 Pro Max as our new smartphone battery life king, kicking the Google Pixel 9 out of its short-lived throne.

You won't believe how long the top-tier iPhone 16 lasted on a charge.

If you're confused over whether you should snag the iPhone 16 Pro or the iPhone 16 Pro Max, you'll find out in this in-depth review that the latter delivers more than just a 6.9-inch mega display.

iPhone 16 Pro Max Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Use the table of contents to skip down to the battery life section if you're too impatient about the Pro Max's runtime figure. But if you want to know the breadth of how well the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max performed during our testing, stick around from start to finish.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max price

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are the iPhones you tote around to impress the impressionable. These are the crème de la crème of the iPhone 16 lineup that show off the latest ready-for-market, cutting-edge technologies out of Cupertino.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

There are a handful of features the iPhone 16 Pro models have that the entry-level iPhone 16 models don’t — like the ability to play 4K video at 120Hz — that the average Joe doesn’t use regularly. However, for some, being able to say "I've got the most premium phone from the iPhone 16 lineup" is enough of an incentive to get people to make the purchase plunge.

If you're one of those folks, you may be wondering, "What's the damage?" Let's get to it.

The iPhone 16 Pro has a starting price of $999 and comes with the following:

• A18 Pro chip

• 8GB of RAM (required for Apple Intelligence)

• 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB storage options

• 6.3-inch, 2,622 x 1,206-pixel resolution display

The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, starts at $1,199:

• A18 Pro chip

• 8GB of RAM (required for Apple Intelligence)

• 256GB, 512GB, 1TB

• 6.9-inch, 2,868 x 1,320-pixel resolution display

I don't love that the base model iPhone 16 Pro starts at 128GB. In my experience, this storage configuration lasts about a year, give or take some months, before it runs out.

I'd recommend upgrading to the 256GB for an extra $100. Alternatively, you can simply delete unwanted photos and videos periodically — or get an iCloud+ subscription for additional storage.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max $999.99 at Apple
Pre-Order Here iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max design

When Apple said that the iPhone 16 Pro Max had a larger 6.9-inch display, up from the iPhone 15 Pro Max's 6.7-inch screen, I joked that it's practically a "phablet." (Hey, there are tablets with 7-inch displays on the market.)

iPhone 16 Pro (left) and iPhone 16 Pro Max (right) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Despite me "taking the piss," as my British fiancé would say, I was pleasantly surprised that the iPhone 16 Pro Max wasn't as unwieldy as I thought it'd be. I expected awkwardness while clutching the premium top model — but nope. I didn't notice a big difference. (And this is coming from someone with small hands.)

To be fair, though, as a phone reviewer, I've been carrying around the likes of the Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL; both have 6.8-inch displays. As such, the 6.9-inch display on the iPhone 16 Pro Max doesn't faze me much.

However, if you're coming from a phone that has a significantly smaller display, you'll definitely notice the difference. For example, using the smaller iPhone 16 models, like the 6.1-inch iPhone 16 and 6.3-inch iPhone 16 Pro, it's easy to navigate the screen one-handed with your thumb. (See below.)

Look how easy it is to navigate the iPhone 16 Pro Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

However, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max, I find myself having to balance it on my finger for one-handed navigation, making the iPhone 16 Pro more comfortable.

To hold the iPhone 16 Pro Max one-handed, I must balance it on my pinky finger to navigate the display. Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I grabbed my iPhone 15 Pro Max and held it in my left hand while holding the iPhone 16 Pro Max in the other; the latter is definitely heavier. (After all, it does have a bigger battery in it.) I checked the actual numbers and the iPhone 16 Pro Max is marginally more hefty by 0.81 ounces. Interestingly, though, the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the same thickness as the iPhone 15 Pro Max (i.e., 0.33 inches).

iPhone 15 Pro Max (left) and iPhone 16 Pro Max (right) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

But when you look at the iPhone 15 Pro Max and iPhone 16 Pro Max, the difference between the two sizes isn't as large as I thought it'd be (which explains why I didn't experience any unwieldiness while holding it during my hands-on).

iPhone 15 Pro Max (left) and iPhone 16 Pro Max (right) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The iPhone 16 Pro is now 6.3 inches, up from 6.1 inches. It's still got a compact form factor (though not as portable as the $799 6.1-inch iPhone 16).

Other design changes? The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max have a new button, found on the lower-right side of the chassis, called Camera Control. (More on that later.)

Camera Control Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max, still wrapped in a titanium enclosure, have a water resistance rating of IP68, which means they can tolerate approximately 20 feet of water for up to 30 minutes.

My only disappointment is that Apple got rid of the Blue Titanium color featured on the iPhone 15 Pro models and replaced it with "Desert Titanium," which looks mostly beige with a slight hint of pink and gold.

Other colors you can get include Natural Titanium, White Titanium, and Black Titanium.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max display

As mentioned, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max models have bigger displays this time around.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

• iPhone 16 Pro - 6.3-inch, 2,622 x 1,206-pixel resolution, 1,000 nits of brightness (2,000 peak)

• iPhone 16 Pro Max - 6.9-inch, 2,868 x 1,320-pixel resolution, 1,000 nits of brightness (2,000 peak)

On top of that, both models have an ultra-slim frame that surround the display. They're the slimmest bezels found on an Apple product. If Apple didn't mention it, I wouldn't have noticed. I was never bothered by the bezels on the iPhone 15 Pro Max, but slimmer bezels never hurt, I guess.

iPhone 16 Pro Max (left) and iPhone 15 Pro Max (right) Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Apple is still trying to make fetch happen with the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 16 Pro models. I do find myself getting hypnotized by some of the animations on the pill-shaped notch, like the funky waveform movements that dance along to my Apple Music playlist.

However, I have a feeling that the Dynamic Island's days are numbered (I give it until iPhone 19).

On one hand, the Dynamic Island is an iPhone signature. When you see a pill-shaped notch on an phone, you know it's an iPhone. Plus, Dynamic Island makes good use of the controversial notch that was a bit of an eyesore for some users. On the other, I won't miss it much if Apple decides to shave it off (or remove it completely) — more screen real estate for me!

On the iPhone 16 Pro models, I watched some of my favorite shows, from The Boys on Amazon Prime Video to Selling Sunset on Netflix, and both displays delivered rich colors as I ogled vivid superhero costumes on The Boys and feasted my eyes on sweeping drone footage of Hollywood Hills.

iPhone 16 Pro Max display Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Of course, don't expect the screens to be as sharp as your TV set. (Perhaps, to the Selling Sunset cast's delight, you won't find many fine lines or subtle details on actresses' faces, but the overall viewing experience is still top-notch.)

Finally, Apple placed the second-gen Ceramic Shield — Ceramic Shield 2, if you will — across the entire iPhone 16 lineup. (The first-gen Ceramic Shield, introduced with iPhone 12, was touted as its most durable display glass ever.) Now, Ceramic Shield 2 on iPhone 16 is reportedly "50% tougher" than the OG Ceramic Shield.

In other words, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max should be able to handle your clumsiness a lot more than their predecessors.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max Action Button

There's nothing new to report regarding the Action Button on the iPhone 16 Pro models (though it's a novel feature for the lower-tier iPhone 16 variants). Just like the iPhone 15 Pro models, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max continue to sport the Action Button on the upper-left side of the chassis.

iPhone 16 Pro Max Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

For the uninitiated, the Action Button, first appearing on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, replaced the mute switch (though you can still use it to mute if you want). The Action Button was a hit among users. You can assign a number of different tasks and apps to it. You can get it to launch one of the following pre-configured things:

• Silent Mode

• Focus Mode

• Flashlight

• Shazam

• Translate

• Voice Memo

• Camera

• Magnifier

Or, you can get creative with the Shortcuts app and program the Action Button to do certain tasks depending on how you're holding the iPhone — or even where you're located. For example, you can configure the Action Button to open Apple Maps when you're away from home, but once you're at your residence, it can fire up Netflix.

My partner programmed his Action Button to be a Notes app launcher while he's holding his iPhone upright, but while he's holding it horizontally, the Action Button launches the Camera app. When he's holding the device upside down, it opens Voice Memos.

My only wish is that Apple could introduce multi-tap gestures for user programming. (For example, one press opens my favorite Apple Music playlist, a double-press fires up Peacock, and a triple-press calls my fiancé.)

Currently, my usage of the iPhone 16 Pro Max Action Button is pretty simple; I use it to fire up Google Authenticator to validate 2FA requests.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max Camera Control button

The Camera Control button is, hands down, my favorite new feature that Apple has introduced in recent years (next to MagSafe.) With the Camera Control button, you can access the Camera app with a hard press. Next, you can take a picture by pressing the button again.

Camera Control on iPhone 16 Pro Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

With a light double-tap press, you can access a menu that includes the following:

• Zoom

• Cameras (swap between wide, ultrawide, and 5X zoom)

• Photographic Styles (e.g., filters like "Black and White," "Gold," "Vibrant," and more)

• Depth

• Tone

• Exposure

You can cycle through this menu by sliding your finger on the Camera Control button. However, it's the sliding motion that gets tricky to employ while using the phone one-handed (and I found this to be true across the entire iPhone 16 lineup). To use the sliding gesture, it'd be easier to use two hands. If you're a righty, like myself, your left hand will be holding the phone while your right pointer finger swipes up and down the button to pick the right selection.

You can still use the Camera Control with one hand, using your thumb to cycle through options, but I found that the Camera Control button registers my pointer finger a lot better.

Camera Control on iPhone 16 Pro Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

Overall, I absolutely adore using the Camera Control button. I have so many Camera app features at my finger tips. For example, the "Gold" Photographic Style is my favorite, so I can apply this filter in just seconds. Plus, while my iPhone is locked, I can hard press the Camera Control button — and the Camera app appears almost instantly.

It's an intuitive button and I got accustomed to the experience quicker than expected.

My only critique is that, to record video capture, you need to press-and-hold the Camera Control. Once you let go, it stops recording. I wish it would continue to record. And once I'm ready to end the recording, I can press the button again.

The Camera Control button will double as a Visual Intelligence tool, which is basically similar to Google Lens or Meta AI (via the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses) in that you can point to a subject and Visual Intelligence will tell you all about it. You'll be able to point the camera at a fluffy dog — and it will tell you it's a miniature poodle, for example. This is coming later this year.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max cameras

Camera-wise, one of the eye-catching new features is the new 48MP ultrawide sensor, up from the 12MP ultrawide lens on the iPhone 15 Pro models.

Ultrawide

To see if there's a difference between the ultrawide camera on the iPhone 15 Pro Max and the iPhone 16 Pro Max, I shot a landscape photo with both. For reference, here's the iPhone 15 Pro Max's interpretation:

iPhone 15 Pro Max ultrawide shot Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

And here is the iPhone 16 Pro Max's take:

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

As you can see, Apple's claim that the 48MP ultrawide camera has improved is spot on. The tech giant boasted that the upgraded lens performs better in low light — and that's accurate.

The iPhone 16 Pro Max's interpretation of the Long Island park delivered improved exposure, increased brightness, more distinct reflections, less noise in the blue sky, richer colors, and more depth and clarity. The iPhone 16 Pro has the same ultrawide upgrade, so users should get similar results with that phone.

Wide

The iPhone 16 Pro models, like their predecessors, have a 48MP wide camera. Check out some of the shots I took on the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

A cityscape of Manhattan from Bryant Park with iPhone 16 Pro Max Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Bryant Park Carousel with iPhone 16 Pro Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

By default, the iPhone 16 cameras lean more toward a true-to-life, cooler vibe. If that's not your preference, you can always use the Camera Control button and cycle through "Styles" for a warmer feel, like "Vibrant" and "Gold."

Telephoto

The iPhone 16 Pro inherited the 5X optical zoom feature that was a Pro Max exclusive last year.

Top of the Chrysler Building, taken with iPhone 16 Pro Max Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Pink flowers in Bryant Park, taken with iPhone 16 Pro Max Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The above zoomed-in photos were taken at 5X, which is the max the telephoto sensor can handle before digital zoom kicks in (i.e., reliance on software other than hardware).

You can see the weathered deterioration on the Chrysler building, including rusting and peeling, on the iPhone 16 Pro Max's telephoto shot. You can even see the small, hair-like structures poking out of the green leaf in the pink flower photo.

However, in my experience, nothing beats the Super Res Zoom on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. When I blind-tested iPhone users with photos shot on an iPhone and a Pixel device, the iPhone participants preferred the iOS device for the wide and ultrawide photos, but preferred Pixel for telephoto-based (zoomed-in) pictures.

Selfie

No major changes to the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max's front-facing 12MP camera, which I'm OK with. After all, there is such a thing as a camera being too good.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

I had a blast playing around with the new iPhone 16-exclusive Photographic Styles, including "Gold" and "Ethereal," with the former being my favorite (I love a warm, sunset-esque vibe).

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max video

Good news for content creators. Apple says that the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max can now record 4K video at 120Hz, which means that your videos will be zippier, sharper, and smoother than ever.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

When I tested 4K120 for the first time, I was taken aback at how fast the viewfinder kept up with my quick motions. I took videos of flying birds, running cats, and speeding cars, and marveled at how buttery smooth the videos turned out when I launched playback. Even better, I was able to play around with slo-mo by tapping on the adjustment slider icon, which is between the "i" icon and the "trash" icon.

On the top-right corner, you'll find a clock icon. Here, you can decrease the speed to 24 frames per second to add dramatic, suspenseful, cinematic vibes to your content.

Plus, the new Audio Mix feature is a game-changer. To be succinct, Audio Mix, another feature you can find by tapping on the adjustment slider icon, lets you play around with some mind-blowing, sound-editing capabilities. There are four options you can choose from:

• Standard

• In-Frame

• Studio

• Cinematic

Studio and Cinematic blew me away. After recording a speaking test subject for this review, Studio was able to place the person's voice front-and-center, making noises like crickets and wind-swaying trees fade into the background, creating a clear, crisp, and focused audiovisual experience.

Cinematic transformed my ho-hum standard video into a movie-like sound format — and it's what we've been missing from our videos all along. For social media personalities who make skits and other content of this ilk, this feature is going to elevate their work for sure.

How to access the Audio Mix feature Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It appears, though, that the video would have had to been recorded with Spatial Audio capture, which is a default on the iPhone 16 Pro models, before you can use Audio Mix. For example, I wasn't able to use Audio Mix on older, non-Spatial Audio videos in my library.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max performance

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max come with the new A18 Pro processor.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

We ran Geekbench 6, a benchmark that tests CPU prowess, on both models and we're blown away by the multi-core scores:

iPhone 16 Pro - 8,268

iPhone 16 Pro Max - 8,064

Year after year, we get the same story with Apple: it's got competition-beating performance compared to other smartphone rivals:

Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra - 7,078

Google Pixel 9 Pro XL - 4,569

The iPhone 16 Pro models' performance figures are close to the likes of the Lenovo Yoga Book 9i and the HP Envy Move.

However, I tend not to give too much weight to these numbers because, truthfully, iPhone has been overflowing with ultra-high performance for years now. It's really not necessary to have laptop-level performance on a phone, but I suppose it's a nice-to-have for power users and future-proofing.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max battery life

Apple said that the iPhone 16 Pro Max has the "best-ever battery life on iPhone" — and it wasn't kidding.

iPhone 16 Pro Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

The tech giant placed bigger batteries in both the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max — and it shows.

Let's start with the iPhone 16 Pro. On our TikTok rundown with the display emanating brightness at 50 percent, the iPhone 16 Pro lasted 18 hours and 17 minutes on a single charge. This is phenomenal considering that last year's iPhone 15 Pro Max lasted 14 hours and 53 minutes on the same test. However, keep in mind that the iPhone 16 Plus, which is $100 less than the iPhone 16 Pro, lasted 36 minutes longer than the iPhone 16 Pro.

However, as Apple boasted, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is the real-life Energizer Bunny. It just kept going, and going, and going, and going.

On the same TikTok rundown test, the iPhone 16 Pro Max lasted a whopping 25 hours and 17 minutes.

Check out our battery life numbers of the entire iPhone 16 lineup, as well as some rivals, in order of shortest to longest runtimes:

• Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra - 13 hours and 1 minute

• iPhone 16 - 16 hours and 20 minutes

• iPhone 16 Pro - 18 hours and 17 minutes

• Google Pixel 9 Pro XL - 18 hours and 50 minutes

• iPhone 16 Plus - 18 hours and 53 minutes

• Google Pixel 9 - 19 hours and 20 minutes

• iPhone 16 Pro Max - 25 hours and 17 minutes

As you can see, the A18 Pro's power-efficient chip and the iPhone 16 Pro Max's large battery had all the other smartphone competitors eating its dust.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max Apple Intelligence

Apple has taken a more cautious approach with AI. At first glance, it may seem like Apple is lagging behind, but it's just moving at a more conservative pace.

Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

It has likely observed the reactions and criticism that Meta AI and Gemini have faced, so it wants to avoid repeating their errors. (For example, Google faced backlash when Gemini generated historically inaccurate images and Meta was in hot water for how it labeled AI images.)

This year, during WWDC 2024, Apple introduced Apple Intelligence, highlighting several new features coming to iOS 18. Initially, Apple stated these features would only be available on the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. However, Apple Intelligence is now rolling out to the entire iPhone 16 lineup.

Some of the key features of Apple Intelligence include the Clean Up tool (for removing unwanted objects from photos), a revamped Siri, Writing Tools (tone adjustments for emails and texts), and call recording.

Apple's "Clean Up" tool Left: Original photo Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable Right: Apple's "Clean Up" results Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable

You can try these unreleased AI-powered utilities in the beta version of iOS 18.1 (but make sure you back up your iPhone just to be safe). Personally, I've found that the aforementioned Apple Intelligence features worked like a charm, but that doesn't mean there isn't tough competition. (See my Clean Up Tool vs. Google Magic Eraser vs. Samsung Galaxy AI piece.)

There are some features, however, that haven't even reached beta yet, including Image Playground (AI-generated images tool) and Genmoji (create new custom-made emojis with text prompts.) I'm really excited to test those new features out.

The official iOS 18 release launched on Sept. 16, but Apple Intelligence will be available sometime in October when iOS 18.1 launches.

Are the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max worth it?

If you have money to blow, I highly recommend the iPhone 16 Pro Max. I mean, we're talking about 25 hours of battery life here. As someone who is big on power efficiency, that alone is worth the price.

Some are excited about 4K video capture at 120Hz, but the real star feature here is Audio Mix, which gives your videos a noticeable, studio-esque improvement in sound quality. So if you're a content creator who wants an edge over your competitors, this is the phone for you.

If your day-to-day tasks don't include content creating nor pro-level, on-the-go video capture, don't downgrade to the iPhone 16 Pro. Instead, I recommend the iPhone 16 Plus. It lasts longer on a charge — and still comes with some hero features like Camera Control and a tougher Ceramic Shield display.

UPDATE: Sep. 18, 2024, 10:43 p.m. EDT This review was updated to add the Google Pixel 9's battery runtime.

Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPhone 16 Pro $999.99
Get Deal Opens in a new window Credit: Kimberly Gedeon / Mashable iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus $799.99
Get Deal

The Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses are entering a new market, as the company announces a new collaboration with accessibility service provider Be My Eyes that will help wearers get the assistance they need.

Be My Eyes provides free human and AI support for users who are blind or have low vision, pairing them with sighted volunteer helpers who can describe a visual field or object, read text, navigate a space, or answer questions in real time.

With a brand new integration of the accessibility app and the tech giant's wearable, Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses owners can now use the Be My Eyes “Call a Volunteer” experience entirely using voice commands. All they need to do is say out loud, “Hey Meta, Call a Volunteer on Be My Eyes” to be paired with multilingual audio or video support.

Users can toggle between their glasses and smartphone cameras, as well, allowing volunteer and user to communicate in a variety of ways.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Meta Connect 2024

The Meta and Be My Eyes collaboration is a big first for the company, as it's tech wasn't previously compatible with smart glasses or other hands-free devices.

"Our collaboration with Meta launches an experience that addresses something that our community of blind and low-vision users has been requesting for a long time, namely hands-free access to our services." wrote Be My Eyes CEO Mike Buckley. "The Ray-Ban Meta smart glasses have enabled that, and with our integration we have now opened a gateway to unprecedented levels of accessibility, unlocking new opportunities for those navigating their daily lives. And this is just the beginning."

In the past, Be My Eyes has partnered with companies like Google and Microsoft to expand their reach, and have grown in popularity over the last several years — the app now has more than 7 million volunteers. In 2023, the company announced an entirely new venture to support the demand: generative AI. In partnership with OpenAI and ChatGPT, Be My Eyes launched its AI-powered virtual volunteer to provide instant chat-based support.

Meta is sprucing up its Ray-Ban smart glasses in other ways, too, including a complete suite of new AI features and collaborations. Users will be able to ask the Meta AI what they're looking at in more detail, ask for help finding where their car is parked, send messages, and translate speech in real-time. And those who get their music or audiobook fixes on Spotify, Amazon Music, Audible, and iHeart can more easily find and play their favorite content.

"Call a Volunteer" on Ray-Ban glasses will be available soon, rolling out first to users in the U.S., Canada, UK, Ireland, and Australia.

UPDATE: Sep. 25, 2024, 3:45 p.m. EDT This story has been updated with additional details about the Meta Quest 3S.

Opens in a new window Credit: Meta Meta Quest 3S (128GB) $299.99 at Meta.com
Pre-Order Here

Meta is launching a new entry-level version of its flagship virtual reality headset ahead of the holidays, and preorders begin today (Sept. 25).

CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the upcoming Meta Quest 3S at the outset of the company's Connect developer conference Wednesday. It looks pretty similar to last year's Meta Quest 3, but there are a few notable spec differences between the two — and, most glaringly, a $200 price gap.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Meta Connect 2024

Set for a formal launch on Tuesday, Oct. 15, the Quest 3S is currently available for preorder on Meta's website starting at $299.99 for 128GB of storage. (You can bump that to 256GB for $399.99.) It comes bundled with two freebies, including a copy of Batman: Arkham Shadow and a three-month trial of Meta Quest+. The latter is a subscription service valued at $7.99 per month that unlocks two complimentary VR games per month.

Like the standard Quest 3, the Quest 3S also includes a soft head strap, two Touch Plus controllers, two wrist straps, a power adapter, a charging cable, and a pair of AA batteries. Its hard head strap, carrying cases, and charging dock are still sold separately, too.

The differences between the two headsets mostly relate to their visuals:

• The Quest 3S has a 1832 x 1920 resolution display with 773 pixels per inch (ppi) and 20 pixels per degree (ppd), as opposed to the 2064 x 2208 resolution display with 1218ppi and 25ppd on the Quest 3.

• The Quest 3S uses Fresnel lenses with 3 position interaxial adjustment distances (IAD) instead of pancake lenses with continuous IAD.

• The Quest 3S has a smaller field of view (FOV) of 96 degrees horizontal/90 degrees vertical instead of 110 degrees horizontal/96 degrees vertical.

These are all slight downgrades, but the Quest 3S has a leg up over the Quest 3 in two other ways. One is a slightly longer battery life: It's rated for an average runtime of 2.5 hours, up from 2.2 hours in the Quest 3. The other is a spacer for the user's glasses within its Facial Interface (the silicone goggle thing that presses up against your face).

The Quest 3 and the Quest 3S otherwise have the same Snapdragon XR2 Gen2 processor, 8GB RAM, speakers, hand tracking, color passthrough, and "TruTouch" haptics. They also work with the exact same games.

SEE ALSO: Meta Quest 3 review: Read this before you even think about buying

"Quest 3S is the best headset for those new to mixed reality and immersive experiences, or who might have been waiting for a low-cost upgrade from Quest and Quest 2," Meta said in a press release.

Speaking of: The arrival of the Quest 3S marks the demise of Meta's Quest 2 from 2020 and Quest Pro from 2022; both models have officially been discontinued. It also prompts a permanent price adjustment for the Quest 3: The 512GB model now starts at $499.99, down $150 from its original launch price in October 2023. (The 128GB base configuration was no longer available on the Meta website at the time of writing.)

In the race to make truly useful AI for a mass audience, Meta just jumped forward a few key steps — including AI's ability to "see" objects and provide live, lip-synched translations.

At the Meta Connect developers' conference, CEO Mark Zuckerberg unveiled the latest version of Llama. That's the open-source Large Language Model (LLM) powering the AI chatbot in the company's main services: Facebook, WhatsApp, Messenger, and Instagram.

Given that reach, Zuckerberg described Meta AI as "the most-used AI assistant in the world, probably," with about 500 million active users. The service won't be available in the European Union yet, given that Meta hasn't joined the EU's AI pact, but Zuckerberg said he remains "eternally optimistic that we can figure that out."

SEE ALSO: Where to preorder the Meta Quest 3S

He's also optimistic that the open-source Llama — a contrast to Google's Gemini and OpenAI's GPT, both proprietary closed systems — will become the industry standard. "Open source is the most cost-effective and the most customizable," Zuckerberg said. Llama is "sort of the Linux of AI."

Meta AI edits photos by text

But what can you do with it? "It can understand images as well as text," Zuckerberg added — showing how a photo could be manipulated simply by asking the Llama chatbot to make edits. "My family now spends a lot of time taking photos and making them more ridiculous."

Voice chat is now rolling out to all versions of Meta AI, including voices from celebrities such as Judi Dench, John Cena and Awkafina. Another user-friendly update: When using Meta AI's voice assistant with its glasses, you no longer have to use the words "hey Meta" or "look and tell me."

SEE ALSO: Meta Connect 2024: Meta’s Orion AR glasses unveiled

Zuckerberg and his executives also demonstrated a number of use cases. For example, a user can set up Meta AI to provide pre-recorded responses to frequently asked questions over video. You can use it to remember where you parked. Or you can ask it to suggest items in your room that might help to accessorize a dress.

The most notable, and possibly most useful feature: live translation. Currently available in Spanish, French, Italian and English, the AI will automatically repeat what the other person said in your chosen language. Zuckerberg, who admitted that he doesn't really know Spanish, demonstrated this feature by having an awkward conversation live on stage with UFC fighter Brandon Moreno.

Slightly more impressive was the live translation option on Reels, and other Meta videos. The AI will synchronize the speakers' lips so they look like they're actually speaking the language you're hearing. Nothing creepy about that at all.

If you do a quick online search for Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses right now, you'll find that the wearable is mostly marketed for its quick photo capturing and livestreaming capabilities.

However, at the Meta Connect 2024 event on Wednesday, Meta founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg didn't have too much to say about photos and videos during the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses section of the presentation.

SEE ALSO: Everything announced at Meta Connect 2024

In fact, Zuckerberg introduced the Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses primarily as an AI device.

"Glasses are a new AI device category," Zuckerberg said, noting that his company has just caught up with the consumer demand for Meta smart glasses after sales took off faster than he said he expected.

Aside from a new limited edition Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses device with clear transparent frames, there weren't any new smart glasses hardware announcements from Meta. 

Credit: Meta

However, Zuckerberg did share several new features that he said were coming to the Meta smart glasses in a set of updates releasing over the next couple of months — all of them AI related.

Meta AI is already integrated into Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses in much the same way other companies' voice assistant's are integrated into their devices. But, according to Zuckerberg, new updates will make these interactions "more natural and conversational."

"Hey Meta" instead of "Look and tell me."

For example, currently, users have to prompt their Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses with the phrase "look and tell me" when they have a question. Zuckerberg's demo showcased how users will no longer have to do that. Users will just need to activate the feature with the "Hey Meta" prompt and then ask their question. Meta AI will automatically know the question is in regards to whatever the user is looking at through the glasses.

Furthermore, after the initial "Hey Meta," Meta AI will no longer require that users start each prompt with that phrase. Meta AI will be able to continue interacting with users.

Live Translation on Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses 

The latter feature is similar to what's been seen in other smart glasses when it comes to translations. A user can access live real-time audio translations of another language through the glasses when conversing with another person. The demo seemed to work nearly perfectly at Meta Connect when translating from Spanish to English and English to Spanish.

Credit: Meta Multimodal AI prompts

Zuckerberg explained the multimodal video AI feature through a demo showing a user trying on outfits to wear. Through this feature, Meta AI was able to offer fashion advice and suggestions based on the user's outfit and their specific question about it.

Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses will also soon be able to automatically remember things for users. The example showcased at Meta Connect involved Meta AI recalling the parking space number where the user parked their car. The user did not have to prompt Meta AI to do that. It naturally appeared to remember the number because the user viewed it through the glasses.

Credit: Meta

Adding on to that feature is a similar Meta AI capability where Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses users will soon be able to look at a flier or advertisement and ask the smart glasses to call the phone number or scan the relevant QR code. The glasses can also automatically remember those things as well if a user wants to go back to what they previously viewed through the glasses at a later time.

Other updates coming to Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses include the ability to voice control Spotify and Amazon Music through the device as well as new integrations with apps like Audible and iHeartRadio.

Partnership with Be My Eyes for blind and low vision users Credit: Meta

Meta also announced a partnership with Be My Eyes, a mobile app that connects blind and low-vision people with volunteers via live video to talk through what's in front of them. The app will work directly through Ray-Ban Meta Smart Glasses and volunteers will be able to see through the user's glasses in order to provide assistance.