Xiaomi has announced that its upcoming flagship smartphone, the Mi 12T Pro, will use a 200MP camera sensor, most likely Samsung’s ISOCELL HP1. The 200MP sensor was released over a year ago. However, the South Korean tech giant’s flagship camera sensor hasn’t been used in any smartphone for quite some time. The first smartphone to use Samsung’s ISOCELL HP1 camera sensor – the Motorola X30 Pro – only launched in China last month.
It now appears that the ISOCELL HP1 camera sensor is making its way to more smartphones. Last week, the Motorola Edge 30 Ultra with a 200MP sensor was launched in India. Now, Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun has announced that the company’s upcoming flagship smartphone will feature a 200MP imaging system. Considering that the Samsung ISOCELL HP1 is the only smartphone high-end camera sensor with 200MP resolution, we think it is the sensor that Xiaomi uses in its flagship smartphones.
The Mi 12T Pro is said to use Samsung’s 200MP camera with F1.69 aperture, phase detection autofocus (PDAF) and optical image stabilization (OIS). The Mi 12T could use Samsung’s less advanced 108MP camera sensor. Both smartphones will make their global debut on October 4, 2022.
In addition to being able to capture native 200MP images, the Samsung ISOCELL HP1 offers 16-in-1 binning, with multiple resolutions from 12MP (2.56μm pixel size) to 50MP (1.28μm pixel size). Samsung has another 200MP camera sensor in its store, the ISOCELL HP3, which was launched last June. It has the industry’s smallest pixel size at just 0.56μm. According to Samsung, it can focus faster than its predecessor and capture sharper HDR images with its new stacked image algorithm.
The Galaxy S23 Ultra also uses a 200MP camera. However, various reports suggest that it will feature a new 200MP camera sensor. The South Korean tech giant has taken a similar approach with its 108MP camera sensor. Its first 108MP sensor is the ISOCELL HMX, which is used in Xiaomi phones, while Samsung’s own Galaxy S20 Ultra uses the slightly updated ISOCELL HM1 sensor.
Stories of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 blowing up were rife in 2016, and it seems that the issues plaguing the Note 7’s battery may be present in some form in many other Samsung models this decade.
According to British YouTuber Mrwhosetheboss, the issue of battery swelling in Samsung phones has been found in a large number of his phones, all of which are stored the same way and at the same temperature. While older iPhones, Google and Asus phones look perfectly fine, Mrwhosetheboss found a range of Samsung phones with batteries that appear to be in various stages of swelling.
Some were visibly broken and damaged, but more worryingly, others were only found deformed upon closer inspection, including the recently released Samsung phones Galaxy Z Fold 2 and Galaxy S20 FE, both of which are only about two years old History.
This is serious business because charging a damaged or swollen battery can be very dangerous, with the risk of fire and hazardous chemical leaks. If your Samsung device is about two generations old, then be aware of the “pop-up” look, i.e. the back of the phone is no longer aligned with the rest.
Battery swelling is usually caused by electrolyte degradation in Li-ion batteries, over time the battery’s charge capacity will decrease and you will see the electrolyte break down inside the battery and produce gas as a by-product, causing the battery to swell . Swelling can cause the battery to strain on the device case and puncture it, causing secondary damage to things like your phone or laptop.
Charging the battery at this stage can be dangerous because the electrolyte does not efficiently facilitate electron transfer between the positive and negative electrodes of the battery, which can lead to rapid heat build-up and a potential risk of fire or even explosion.
Lithium-ion battery swelling is not unheard of among most phone brands these days, but Arun and his friends in the tech industry have noticed that Samsung phones are by far the most likely to fail, so much so that he now feels obligated to replace them with Dispose of the sleeves in a fire-resistant manner. If you’re talking about the Samsung Galaxy S10, you don’t have to panic, as Arun and fellow YouTuber JerryRigEverything point out that Samsung has a lot of protections in place to prevent a swollen battery from bursting. Still, we don’t recommend trying to charge batteries that are already noticeably swollen, even those that may be slightly swollen effectively borrowing time.
Samsung told us it’s investigating the reported battery swelling issue and should be able to comment in more detail shortly. Arun did point out that his Samsung device had been collected by the company for further research, while Samsung has not further stated how this was done.
In our own experience, our Samsung devices have not experienced any battery swelling. It may depend on how we use them, and experts recommend storing old and infrequently used devices at around 50% capacity, rather than a full or full charge.
Since the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S23 will look very similar to its predecessor, this could cause concern for the South Korean giant and those who tend to hang on to their phones for a while. But given that we haven’t heard of a Galaxy S20, Galaxy S21, or Galaxy S22 battery bulging, maybe future Samsung phones will see it at a glance.
Likewise, if you’re storing older Samsung phones, we recommend checking them out to make sure their batteries are intact and to determine if they need charging to be safe.
Intel and Samsung showed off a new type of laptop — maybe a tablet. Additionally, Intel CEO Gelsinger showed off Intel’s next-generation Raptor Lake processors for the first time.
Intel and Samsung have another new idea for how to make PCs: a “swipeable” device whose screen stretches to a larger size when you pull the edge.
With no keyboard, the swipeable PC looks more like a tablet. But with screens ranging from 13 inches to 17 inches diagonally, it’s more like a laptop in size. Intel CEO Pat Gelsinger and Samsung Display head JS Choi showed off the device on Tuesday at the Intel Innovation Conference, where the company also unveiled Intel’s new 13th-generation Core processors.
Gelsinger said that swipeable PC devices will satisfy the need for large screens and portability. It demonstrates the possibilities of OLED display technology built on flexible plastic substrates.
It’s unclear when or even if the idea of a swipeable PC will mature into a product. But the design shows how the PC industry continues to experiment with new hardware to move beyond the traditional clamshell laptop, whose keyboard and screen are connected by a hinge. Other examples include a laptop with a screen that hinges all the way back to convert the device into a tablet and the ThinkPad X1 Fold with a folding screen.
Moving parts and flexible assemblies add complexity and reliability challenges. Costs will also increase, a concern during a shrinking PC market. But Michelle Johnston Holthaus, head of Intel’s PC chipsets, said at the conference that novel designs could find a place, with high-end PCs outperforming cheap ones.
Earlier this year, Samsung showed off a swipeable phone screen along with other novel designs. While the slidable PC prototype lacks a keyboard, as the design matures, a keyboard can be added, such as by folding from below, Holthaus said.
Welcome, Raptor Lake Processor
Also at the event, Gelsinger showed off the new Raptor Lake processors, which are scheduled to hit store shelves on October 20. These processors speed up CPU cores dedicated to high-priority tasks and double the number of CPU cores dedicated to running low-priority tasks to work more efficiently.
The new chips hit new speeds, clocking up to 5.8GHz, but they also consume more power in desktops. Expect improvements in 2023: “Early next year, we’ll release an out-of-the-box model that hits 6 GHz for the first time,” although Intel will only ship in limited quantities, Gelsinger said.
PC processors are key to Intel’s future, but the company faces stiff competition. AMD has eroded Intel’s dominance, especially in the high-end gaming PC market, and AMD’s Ryzen 7000 series promises a significant speed boost.
Windows 11 22H2 was released to the public on September 20 and needed to be put back into its original cage. Sketchy updates are breaking PCs. Not only did it drop frame rates for gamers with Nvidia GPUs, but it also caused a disastrous Blue Screen of Death (BSoD) for some users. If you’ve been having this problem, don’t worry; there’s a fix, let’s take a look!
Why does a Windows 11 update cause a blue screen of death?
The Windows 11 22H2 update has an incompatibility issue with some Intel Smart Sound Technology (SST) audio drivers on Rocket Lake processors. More specifically, according to a report published by Microsoft on September 22, the driver IntcAudioBus.sys with file version 10.29.0.5152 or 10.30.0.5152 is the culprit. As a result, the user got a BSoD, a stop error that caused the system to shut down due to a fatal failure.
What exactly is the Intel SST audio driver? It is an integrated digital signal processor that manages voice, voice and audio interactions. If you want to determine if this feature is available, navigate to Device Manager and search for Intel® Smart Sound Technology (Intel® SST) Audio Controller.
Thankfully, according to Windows Update, Microsoft has taken steps to prevent affected PCs from using the incompatible Windows 11 update.
How to fix Windows 11 update blue screen of death
To resolve this BSoD issue, Microsoft recommends updating the affected Intel SST driver, depending on your system manufacturer. Go to your OEM website for updates or navigate to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update > View optional updates.
After updating to a version higher than 10.29.0.5152 or 10.30.0.5152, users should now have the opportunity to bypass the block and update Windows 11 without any issues.
According to the latest Windows news, Microsoft is working hard to roll out a new update to fix a dire issue with Windows 11 22H2.
The Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra is considered to be the top model of the upcoming Samsung Galaxy S23 series, and the rumors we’ve heard so far seem to confirm that.
The Galaxy S22 Ultra offers a huge upgrade over previous Galaxy S Ultra phones, combining the previous model’s camera array with the Galaxy Note series’ built-in stylus. The Galaxy S23 Ultra appears to be building on this in a few ways, most notably a main camera somehow crammed into the rumored 200-megapixels, and the traditional annual chipset refresh for better performance and power efficiency.
The new Samsung flagship phone is still a few months away, but below we’ve rounded up all the rumors about the Galaxy S23 Ultra so far.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra possible release date and price
Getting the basics out of the way first, we know the Galaxy S Ultra model will be back, as Samsung boss TM Roh said when he talks about the end of the Galaxy Note series. The only question now is when will it show up.
A smart guess would be January or February, when Samsung has been rolling out new Galaxy S phones every year for the past few years. Since we’ve already seen a new Samsung model certified in South Korea, Samsung seems to be seizing the moment.
As for the cost of this Ultra phone, we expect it to cost at least $1,200 again, just like the current S22 Ultra. We’re happy to see the price drop, though, especially since its closest competitor, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, starts at a slightly lower $1,100.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Design and Display
If the changes to the Galaxy S23 Ultra are as small as rumored, then we might see a nearly identical design to the Galaxy S22 Ultra, with square corners, a curved display, and a camera embedded separately on the back. It also means another embedded S Pen for your graffiti needs, one of the S22 Ultra’s most unique features.
We’ve heard that the S23 Ultra may be slightly longer and wider than the S22 Ultra, albeit by a hundredth of a millimeter, so you’re unlikely to notice.
Additionally, leaker Ice Universe claims that the S23 Ultra will have a new display. While it’s hard to improve on the ultra-bright 6.8-inch QHD AMOLED panel and its fully variable LTPO 120Hz refresh rate, Samsung may have a brighter or more efficient display that could be replaced as a welcome update.
In addition, the rumored S23 regular version may also have thicker bezels. That might explain the slight increase in body size, although since the regular S23 and S23 Plus have flat displays instead of curved ones, maybe it won’t work with the Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra Camera
We should still see four cameras on the back of the S23 Ultra, save for one major change. There will allegedly be a 200MP main camera, even higher resolution than the already high-res 108MP main camera on the Galaxy S22 Ultra.
What’s not rumored to change is the telephoto camera, and according to one source, they’ll both have 10MP sensors like before, and likely have the same 3x and 10x optical magnifications.
On top of that, we’d like to once again see a 40MP selfie camera embedded in the top center of the display. While only one of the five cameras appears to have received a major upgrade, hopefully Samsung will show off some new software enhancements or camera modes at the launch event that will help the S23 series take its place on our best camera phones page a place.
Galaxy S23 Ultra performance and Snapdragon 8 Gen 2
Samsung typically uses Qualcomm chips to power its Galaxy S phones in the US, but uses its own Exynos chips elsewhere in the world. That means we’ll see the so-called Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 and Exynos 2300 at the heart of the Galaxy S23 Ultra.
Samsung Galaxy S23 Ultra: battery and charging
To power the Galaxy S23 Ultra, Samsung should use the same 5,000 mAh battery we saw in the Galaxy S22 Ultra. While some extra capacity would be nice, a battery of this size is normal for a large Android phone, so we just hope Samsung can squeeze a little more battery life out of the S23 Ultra. While the S22 Ultra delivered decent results in our custom battery test, the iPhone 14 Pro Max lasted longer.
Rumors predict no change in charging speed, at least for the standard S23. This translates to at least 25W of charging power for the Galaxy S23 Ultra, and possibly up to 45W if you buy the right charger. The 45W charger was able to charge the S22 Ultra to 67% in half an hour, which is again good, but not great, compared to the 65W and higher charging standards used by competitors like OnePlus.
Apple’s new Always-On Display for the iPhone 14 Pro lineup, the feature only launched on iPhones this year, but the always-on display technology has been around for years on Android devices.
For example, on the Samsung Galaxy S22, the AOD exists as a separate entity from your usual lock screen, showing you limited information, such as the date and time, while your phone is still asleep. It works almost like a productivity feature, letting you quickly scan your phone for important stuff without bogging you down.
On the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, Apple redesigned what the always-on display should be, for better or worse, depending on who you ask.
In Apple‘s vision for iOS 16, the always-on display is essentially a dimmed version of the lock screen: the date and time light up, but you can still see notifications piled up at the bottom of the screen, and your wallpaper has a little bit of it.
For some, that always-on display feature might be perfect. It lets you see what’s going on without having to tap the screen or wake your phone.
But for me, it’s a big “but”. If you think of the always-on display more as a productivity feature, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max don’t do that. It’s a little too distracting for me, with all the notifications piling up and waking up the screen, and it’s too bright, which is a problem if you’re sleeping with your iPhone on your nightstand.
Luckily, you can fix both by toggling a feature that not only completely blacks out most of your display, but also stops all notifications from distracting you — and it’s more than you might think more obvious.
How to make the iPhone‘s always-on display dimmer on iOS 16
To make your always-on display darker and less distracting, we’ll use Focus, which helps reduce distractions by muting most notifications on your iPhone, while allowing individual profiles and customization.
In the Settings app, go to Focus, then choose a profile: Do Not Disturb is the easiest option, but you can also choose Personal, Sleep, or Work. In any focus profile of your choice, tap Options, then toggle on Dim Lock Screen. Whenever this particular profile is enabled, your lock screen will dim, darker than usual.
To open your Focus profile, swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to close Control Center, then tap Do Not Disturb or hold your finger on Do Not Disturb to open your other Focus profiles.
With the correct Focus profile selected, your iPhone 14 Pro or Pro Max’s always-on display should now be completely black, showing only the date, time, and the Do Not Disturb icon.
Have you recently bought a Google Pixel phone and wondered what it could do besides make calls, text and take pictures? We know that buying a new smartphone can be exciting and sometimes confusing. However, if you haven’t upgraded your phone in a while, or are switching from a different operating system, there are a lot of new features and settings to get used to. Check out 6 Google Pixel tricks below!
Add captions to videos with Live Captioning
Did you know your Pixel phone can automatically caption videos, podcasts, phone calls, and more? Press the volume buttons and tap the Live Caption icon that looks like a small text box to enable this feature. Live Caption runs in English on the Pixel 2 and later, so it should work on any Pixel phone launched in the past four years. According to Google, subtitles are stored and processed locally and never leave your device.
You can also adjust certain settings, such as hiding profanity and adding labels to sounds like laughter and applause. Open Settings and select Live Captions to customize these options. It’s also important to note that Live Caption consumes extra battery, so you may only want to turn it on when you need it.
Take better photos of stars
Google’s Pixel phones have features specifically designed to help you take photos of the night sky. It works on Pixel 3 and above, but if you’re on Pixel 4A 5G and above, you’ll need to adjust the zoom setting to at least 1x.
Google says the feature works best when taking pictures away from city lights for at least 45 to 90 minutes after sunset. You’ll also need a tripod or other stable surface rather than your hands for best results.
Just open the camera app, prop up the phone and make sure it’s steady, and tap Night Sight to get started. After a few seconds, you should see a message saying “Astrophotography on”. Press the capture button and put the phone aside until you finish taking the photo.
Translate screenshots in other languages
You can use Google‘s Lens feature to translate screenshots in Spanish, German, French, Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Italian, and more. Open the Google Photos app and select the screenshot you want to translate. Then tap the lens icon that looks like a camera and select the translate icon. This works on Pixel 3 and above.
Switch to selfie camera without pressing any buttons
You can switch between the Pixel’s selfie camera and the main camera without having to click any buttons. Just open the Pixel’s camera app and turn the phone twice to switch between cameras. If you’re not sure what I mean by “twist”, Google has a helpful animation for you.
If you’re still having trouble, check your Pixel’s settings to make sure this feature is enabled. Open the Settings app, select System, then Flip Camera Selfie.
Open an app or take a screenshot by tapping the back of the phone
Add a handy shortcut to your Pixel phone with Google’s Quick Tap feature. This lets you open apps, take screenshots, play or pause media, or show notifications with just two taps on the back of your phone. It only works on newer Google phones like the Pixel 4A 5G and above.
To turn on Quick Click and customize its actions, open the Settings menu and select System. Then, choose gestures and quick taps. From here, turn on Quick Tap and choose what you want to do when you tap the back of your device.
Google is expected to help with its call screen feature, which is available on all Pixel phones. When this feature is on, the Google Assistant can answer unknown calls and ask who the caller is and why. If it’s a spam call, it will hang up automatically, but you can see how the caller responded and decide whether to answer the caller or not.
Google doesn’t block calls from phone numbers saved in your contacts, and your Pixel doesn’t automatically block calls when you’re using a headset or connected to Bluetooth.
To set up automatic call screening, open the Phone app and tap the three dots in the upper right corner. Select Settings and select Spam & Calling Screen. Make sure the switch next to View caller and spam IDs is turned on, then press Call Screen.
From here, you can choose how Google blocks incoming calls. For example, you can set it to block spam calls, possibly fake numbers, first-time callers, and private or hidden callers. Just click on one of these categories and select the automatic screen. Deny the Robocalls option.
Many people around the world love AirPods for their light weight, ease of use, amazing noise cancellation and sound quality.
So, we’ll show you how to automatically connect to your iPhone, iPad, or Mac device. Whether you have an iPhone SE or iPhone 14 Pro or an iPad Air or iPad Pro, you can connect your AirPods to them. We’ll also see how to manually connect them with an Android device via Bluetooth settings. Let’s take a look below!
The first and main thing to look out for when trying to connect your AirPods to your iPhone is to make sure your iPhone is updated to the latest version of iOS. Plus, the AirPods automatically connect with the iPhone, so the process is simple.
Just follow the step-by-step guide below to prompt this connection:
1. Unlock your device and leave it on your iPhone’s home screen.
2. Hold your iPhone close to the AirPods in the charging case and open the lid.
3. If you plan to reconnect your AirPods with your iPhone, press and hold the button on the back of the case to reset them.
4. A prompt will appear on the iPhone screen. Click Connect. When they’re connected, the status lights on the case flash and then stay the same. After following the on-screen instructions, tap Done.
How to connect AirPods to iPad
Connecting AirPods to an iPad is similar to connecting them to an iPhone. As long as you are also signed in with your Apple ID. The setup process should display a message on your device that the AirPods have automatically connected.
To confirm this, you can follow the guide above for connecting your AirPods to your iPhone. If it doesn’t work, try this:
1. Make sure bluetooth is turned on from the bluetooth menu in settings
2. Swipe down from the top right corner to navigate to Control Center. The audio controls should show an image of the connected AirPod.
3. If your AirPods are still not connected, press and hold the music control icon.
4. Tap the music source icon, then tap your AirPods.
To manually connect your AirPods to your Android device, you must go to the Settings app on your device and follow these steps:
1. Navigate to your phone settings and select Bluetooth settings.
2. Put the AirPods in the charging case close to the phone and open the case cover.
3. Press and hold the button on the back of the case until you see a flashing white light.
4. Select AirPods from the list of Bluetooth devices on your phone’s screen and follow the on-screen instructions to pair them with the device.
While you can pair AirPods with non-Apple devices, you should be aware that these devices may reduce the quality of audio streaming to your AirPods. Significant sound enhancement and noise reduction may also not be available on some Android devices, mainly due to Apple’s proprietary version.
How to connect AirPods to MacBook
If you have a registered Apple ID, your AirPod is likely already listed on the Bluetooth menu bar or on the volume control buttons on your Mac. If not, follow the guide below:
To pair your Airpods with your Mac, disconnect them from your iPhone, then follow these steps:
1. Put the AirPods in the charging case and open the lid.
2. Press and hold the settings button or noise control button on the back of the charging case. Do this until you see the white status light blinking.
3. Go to the Apple menu bar on your Mac and select System Preferences.
4. Click on Bluetooth and select your AirPods in the list of devices displayed on your Mac. Then, click Connect.
Note: You can enable a preference to automatically connect the earbuds to your Mac. Additionally, users whose AirPods support Siri voice commands can enable it on their Macs.
How to connect AirPods to PC/Laptop (Windows)
Here’s how to connect your AirPods to a Windows PC:
1. Make sure your bluetooth is turned on by navigating from Settings to Devices
2. Click Add Bluetooth or other device, then click Bluetooth.
3. Open the lid of the AirPods case with your AirPods and press and hold the small button on the back of the case for a few seconds until you see a flashing white light.
4. Your earbuds should appear on your computer screen below the list of devices available for pairing. They may initially show up as Headphones, then switch to AirPods.
5. Click on the AirPod name, the lower right corner of the screen will show that the connection is successful.
Amazon’s line of Fire tablets remains a popular choice for those looking for an affordable entertainment device. In the home, the Fire HD 8 is a great middle ground, light and compact enough for travel, but big enough for a decent experience when watching on the go.
With an updated model coming in 2022, replacing the 2020 variant, how much has changed and which one should you choose? Let’s take a look below!
Price and Availability
Fire HD 8 (2022): From $99.99/£99/€114.99
Fire HD 8 (2020): From $89.99/£89/€89.99
Both versions of the Fire HD 8 tablet are available from Amazon, and preorders are open for the 2022 device, which hits store shelves on October 19.
Design and Build
Fire HD 8 (2022): 201.90 x 137.34 x 9.60 mm, 337 g
Fire HD 8 (2020): 202 x 137 x 9.7 mm, 355 g
There’s not much difference between the 2022 Fire HD 8 and its updated 2020 model. The two tablets look essentially the same, but the newer version is slightly slimmer—just a fraction of a millimeter—but nearly 20 grams lighter.
The overall design is the same, with a plastic rear and equal bezels on the outside of the display to allow a little room to grip the device. Color options for the new model are black, denim, and rose, while older models come in black, fuchsia, blue, or white.
There’s also a Fire HD 8 Plus model, which is slightly heavier and grayed out, with a few extras we’ll explain below.
All models offer stereo speakers with Dolby Atmos, making it a great entertainment device. Those keen on details will notice that the volume rocker and power button have swapped places between these models. The 2022 model also uses 35 percent post-consumer recycled plastic.
Exhibit
Fire HD 8 (2022): 8 inches, 1280 x 800 pixels, 189ppi
Fire HD 8 (2020): 8 inches, 1280 x 800 pixels, 189ppi
There’s no difference between displays: same size, same resolution, same overall experience.
It’s not the sharpest display in the Fire tablet lineup — that’s reserved for the Fire HD 10 — but it’s a perfect size for watching movies on the go, and has enough resolution for the task.
Hardware
Fire HD 8 (2022): 2.0GHz hexa-core, 2GB RAM, 32/64GB storage + microSD (1TB)
Fire HD 8 (2020): 2.0GHz quad-core, 2GB RAM, 32/64GB storage + microSD (1TB)
There are some differences in hardware. The biggest difference is that the 2022 model of the Fire HD 8 moves to a hexa-core processor instead of the previous generation’s quad-core.
Amazon says this results in a 30 percent performance boost, which means things happen a little faster.
That should mean the 2022 Fire HD 8 offers a better overall experience – while it also benefits from slightly longer battery life – 13 hours compared to 12 hours on the older model.
The Fire HD 8 Plus models (2020 and 2022 versions) bump up the RAM to 3GB, and also offer Qi wireless charging as an added bonus.
Software
four operating systems
Both tablets run on Fire OS, Amazon‘s version of Android. It does not support the Google Play Store, instead you must use Amazon’s AppStore to download apps and services you may need.
The Fire HD 8 2022 introduces Tap to Alexa in terms of accessibility, although we suspect an update to the older model may bring this feature in the future.
Apple is rumored to release new 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models as soon as next month. The new iPad will be the first update to the iPad Pro lineup since April 2021, and will be an overall incremental upgrade that brings new features and capabilities to the highest-end iPad.
Apple is reportedly planning an event in October to announce new iPad Pro models, a new benchmark iPad, and an update for the Mac. As October approaches, we’ve outlined five of the biggest features and changes coming to the upcoming iPad Pro.
Wireless charging
According to Bloomberg, the next-generation iPad Pro is expected to include some form of wireless charging. Apple has reportedly tested glass backs instead of aluminum casings or using a larger glass Apple logo for the upcoming iPad, which would allow for wireless charging, although Apple has faced some challenges implementing the technology. Apple is also considering adding MagSafe to the iPad, but how it will be implemented is still unknown.
New connector
The upcoming iPad Pro will feature two new four-pin connectors of some sort, as opposed to the three-pin Smart Connector found in the current iPad Pro. The current three-pin Smart Connector in the iPad Pro is used to connect accessories like the Magic Keyboard. The inclusion of an updated four-pin connector expands the types of accessories supported by the iPad.
M2 chip
The current iPad Pro uses the M1 Apple silicon chip released in November 2020. The M1 chip was Apple’s first Mac-specific custom processor, and it also appeared in the iPad Pro a few months later. For the upcoming “iPad Pro,” Apple is expected to use the updated M2 chip announced last June. According to Apple, the “M2” chip is 20% faster than the “M1” chip.
In the iPad Pro, the M2 chip will support features like Stage Manager that ships with iPadOS 16, which allows users to connect the iPad to an external display and have overlapping windows. According to Apple, iPadOS 16 will be released in October, likely alongside the updated iPad Pro.
The new Apple Pencil?
A video from April 2021 is said to show the third-generation Apple Pencil with a glossy finish and a redesigned tip. Despite the alleged leaks, Apple hasn’t announced a new “Apple Pencil” for nearly four years since the second-generation model debuted in 2018.
It’s been over a year since we’ve heard any major rumors about a new “Apple Pencil,” so it’s unclear what the situation is. If a new Apple Pencil does appear, we don’t expect major design changes, but the latency may improve due to internal hardware upgrades and software optimizations.
Reverse wireless charging?
According to Bloomberg, Apple has tested reverse wireless charging for the iPad Pro, which will allow iPad owners to charge their AirPods or iPhone by placing it on the back of the iPad. Apple is rumored to eventually plan to offer bilateral charging for accessories like AirPods to the iPhone, but that has yet to happen.
