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iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Boxes Revealed

T-Mobile President Jon Freier today shared real-world photos of Apple's boxes for the iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 models, which launch on Friday.

Image Credit: Jon Freier

Apple has typically included iPhone box renders in its product environmental reports, but it did not do so for the latest models. However, Apple's iPhone Upgrade Program page does offer some images of the boxes, which we have shared below.


Are you the type of person who collects Apple boxes, or do you get rid of them right away?
Related Roundups: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air
Related Forum: iPhone

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AirPods Pro 3 Case Features U2 Chip With Improved 'Find My' Range

Last week, we listed eight new AirPods Pro 3 features, including a U2 chip in the charging case. The addition of the U2 chip has been receiving a lot of attention since then, so we wanted to single out its inclusion and discuss it in more detail.


Until now, Apple only referred to the U2 chip as a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, but it is no longer shying away from using a name that might remind Apple fans of the free U2 album that was infamously added to everyone's iTunes account in 2014.

Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip debuted a few years ago, in all iPhone 15 models and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The chip enables a location-tracking range of up to 200 feet/60 meters, which is up to 3× longer range compared to Apple's first-generation U1 chip in the AirPods Pro 2 charging case, AirTag, and more.

Accordingly, the main benefit of the U2 chip in the AirPods Pro 3 case is up to 3× longer range compared to the U1 chip in the AirPods Pro 2 case, so you can locate the case with the Find My app's Precision Finding feature at longer distances, in the unfortunate event that you lose or misplace your AirPods Pro 3 somewhere around you.


The long-rumored AirTag 2 is also expected to be equipped with the U2 chip.

AirPods Pro 3 are available to pre-order now, and they launch on Friday.
Related Roundup: AirPods Pro 3
Buyer's Guide: AirPods Pro (Buy Now)
Related Forum: AirPods

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Here Are 5 Smaller iPhone Air Details You Might Have Missed, Including Only a Single Speaker

Apple's all-new, ultra-thin iPhone Air launches on Friday, and there are some smaller details about the device that you might have missed.


Below, we outline five things to know about the iPhone Air:

  • As rumored, the iPhone Air only has a single speaker. The earpiece at the top of the device doubles as a speaker, but there is no speaker on the bottom of the device. The holes to the left and right of the USB-C port are for microphones. For stereo audio, use AirPods or a capable external speaker.

  • On the iPhone Air, the Dynamic Island is positioned slightly lower on the screen compared to the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro models. This was likely necessary due to the device's ultra-thin frame necessitating internal design changes.

  • While the iPhone 17 Pro models support USB 3.2 Gen 2, for data transfer speeds of up to 10 Gbps, the iPhone Air is limited to USB 2 speeds of up to 480 Mbps.

  • Apple says the iPhone Air can be charged to 50% in approximately 30 minutes, whereas the iPhone 17 Pro models can be charged to 50% in approximately 20 minutes. A higher-wattage charger and cable is required to achieve these speeds. In addition, MagSafe wireless charging on the iPhone Air is limited to up to 20W, compared to 25W for the iPhone 17 Pro models.

  • In the iPhone 17 Pro models, the A19 Pro chip has a 6-core GPU. In the iPhone Air, it has a 5-core GPU, so graphics performance will take a slight hit.
Be sure to watch our iPhone Air hands-on video from earlier this week.
Related Roundup: iPhone Air
Buyer's Guide: iPhone Air (Buy Now)

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iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro Now Facing Extended Delivery Estimates

iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air pre-orders began on Friday in the U.S. and many other countries. iPhone 17 Pro Max delivery estimates quickly slipped beyond the Friday, September 19 launch day for those who had yet to place an order, and now the rest of the new models have started to follow suit.


As of shortly after 11:30 a.m. Pacific Time today, select iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone Air configurations on Apple's online store in the U.S. are facing an additional 1-3 week shipping delay beyond launch day, with delivery estimates pushing into late September to mid-October. However, for some configurations, delivery or in-store pickup at select Apple Store locations on launch day is still an option at the time of writing.

We do not know how much supply Apple has for each new iPhone configuration, but if extended delivery estimates generally align with strong demand, then Cosmic Orange for the Pro models and Cloud White for the iPhone Air are proving to be especially popular color options so far. For the regular iPhone 17, Sage and Black are in demand.

On a related note, there is some good news for customers who placed a pre-order as soon as possible on Friday, as some customers who initially received a September 25 delivery estimate have now seen their orders bumped up to September 19.

Need help with making your pre-order decision? Check out our helpful buyer's guide below:
Related Roundups: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air
Related Forum: iPhone

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Apple's New N1 Chip in iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone Air Has a Wi-Fi 7 Limitation

The latest iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air models are equipped with Apple's all-new N1 chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity. However, the chip has a Wi-Fi 7 bandwidth limitation.


According to FCC documents reviewed by MacRumors, the N1 chip in all of the new iPhone models supports up to 160 MHz channel bandwidth for Wi-Fi 7, short of the standard's 320 MHz maximum. This limitation means the devices cannot achieve the peak theoretical speeds possible with Wi-Fi 7, but real-world performance is typically already bottlenecked by internet service providers and other factors.

For the vast majority of customers, this is a non-issue, but some iPhone users had wanted to know if the N1 chip offered 160 MHz or 320 MHz channel bandwidth for Wi-Fi 7, so we combed through FCC documents to find the answer.

FCC document showing Wi-Fi specs for iPhone 17 Pro Max

Wi-Fi 7 is still very fast. The standard allows for data transmission over the 2.4GHz, 5GHz, and/or 6GHz bands simultaneously, with a compatible router, resulting in faster speeds, lower latency, and more reliable connectivity.

All of the iPhone 16 models — excluding the iPhone 16e — also support Wi-Fi 7 with up to 160 MHz channel bandwidth. Those devices are equipped with a Broadcom chip for wireless networking, though, leading to hopes that Apple's N1 chip might raise the limit to 320 MHz. Evidently, that is not the case.

There are other benefits, though. Apple said the N1 chip improves the overall performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and AirDrop, and it also contributes to power efficiency improvements in the latest iPhone models.
Related Roundups: iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone Air
Tag: Wi-Fi 7
Related Forum: iPhone

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The Regular iPhone 17 is Reportedly Proving Popular — Here's Why

The entry-level iPhone 17 model looks very similar to the equivalent iPhone 16 model, but it is reportedly proving popular in at least one country so far.


On the popular Chinese shopping website JD.com, the standard iPhone 17 with 256GB of storage received the most pre-orders of any of the new iPhone models after pre-orders began on Friday, according to the South China Morning Post.

There is one caveat: Apple delayed pre-orders for the all-new, ultra-thin iPhone Air in China due to eSIM regulatory approval issues in the country. However, on Apple's online store in the U.S., most iPhone Air configurations are still available for September 19 launch day delivery, so it is quite possible that the entry-level iPhone 17 would have proved popular in China even if the iPhone Air had also been available to pre-order.

Why is the regular iPhone 17 proving popular, despite being the "boring" choice? It almost certainly comes down to the device's perceived value, as the device starts at the same $799/5,999 yuan price as the regular iPhone 16 did when it launched, despite featuring a larger 6.3-inch display with thinner bezels, ProMotion support for up to a 120Hz refresh rate, a doubled 256GB of base storage, and many other upgrades. The display improvements in particular finally bring the base iPhone more in line with the Pro models.

So while the iPhone 17 does not have a flashy new design, nor is it the thinnest iPhone ever, it appears to be an unassuming hit so far.
Related Roundup: iPhone 17
Buyer's Guide: iPhone 17 (Buy Now)
Related Forum: iPhone

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OpenProject 16.4: Option to auto-sync system color mode

10 September 2025 at 09:13

OpenProject 16.4 has been released and this version introduces new features and improvements again. We look forward to hearing your thoughts and feedback on the latest updates. Please take a few minutes to learn what changes for you. We will summarize the most important changes in this blog article and, as always, please see our release notes that contain all changes, features and bug fixes.

In this blog article, we will focus on two main topics: the new automatic color mode sync together with dark high contrast mode for a more convenient and accessible interface, and the PDF export of project lists for more professional reporting.

We will also briefly summarize additional important features. Here is a quick navigation to all feature descriptions:

Automatic color mode sync and dark high contrast

We always have many milestones on the roadmap, but some features stand out because they affect everyone. With OpenProject 16.4, you can enable automatic color mode sync in your personal settings. OpenProject will then match your operating system (OS) preference and switch automatically between light and dark mode. If your OS uses high contrast, OpenProject will select the corresponding light high contrast or dark high contrast mode for optimal readability.

We introduced light high contrast mode almost two years ago. With OpenProject 16.4, we now added a dark high contrast mode together with the auto-sync feature.

These different color modes are more than just convenient options. They are part of our ongoing commitment to accessibility — a principle that has been part of OpenProject from the very beginning, when the project was forked from Redmine in order to remove accessibility barriers. You can read more about this in our articles on real progress in accessibility, written by Niels Lindenthal.

By the way: When our developer Kabiru Mwenja, who is responsible for the color mode changes, demoed the auto-sync feature for the first time, the whole team was genuinely excited. This shows that even though it is a simple option, it makes a real difference in everyday work for many users.

Learn more about the Look and feel options in OpenProject.

Screenshot of OpenProject 16.4: Account settings to adjust color mode to new options like high contrast and Automatic mode

PDF export of project lists

On the one hand, we still believe that the best way to collaborate is directly in OpenProject with living documents. On the other hand, we also know that for many organizations, PDFs remain an essential format. Whether for regulatory requirements (e.g. in the public sector), for digital or printed filing, or simply for sharing professionally styled reports with stakeholders.

This is why, over the past two years, we have continuously added PDF export features to different modules: work packages and tables, work package descriptions, meetings, Gantt charts, timesheets — and now also project lists.

With OpenProject 16.4, you can now export project lists as structured PDF reports. The export includes:

  • A table of contents that reflects your project hierarchy (when multiple projects are included).
  • A cover page and numbered sections (e.g., 1, 1.1, 1.2).
  • Linked section titles to jump back into OpenProject.
  • The same attributes and order that you configured in the list view.

To export, open the More (three dots) menu on the project list and select Export. In the modal, choose XLS, CSV, or – now also possible – PDF.

Read more about project lists in our documentation.

Screenshot of OpenProject 16.4: Export modal for PDF export of project lists, choosing the file format - XLS, CSV and PDF

Custom fonts for all PDF exports (Enterprise add-on)

Another improvement, available as an Enterprise add-on for customers of Enterprise Basic and higher, is the ability to define custom fonts for all PDF exports. Administrators of the Enterprise Basic plan and higher can now upload fonts under Administration → Design → PDF export font. Once uploaded, the font will be used consistently across every PDF export in OpenProject — from project lists and work packages to meetings, Gantt charts, and timesheets.

This feature is particularly important for organizations with strict corporate design requirements. It ensures that all exported documents reflect the organization’s professional branding and style.

Screenshot of OpenProject 16.4: Administration / Design / PDF export font - options to upload fonts for regular, bold and italic and generate Demo PDF

Improved meeting participants dialog

Managing participants now runs smoother: you can search and multi-select users with autocomplete when preparing a meeting, and track attendance during the meeting with simple toggles — including Mark all as attended. The dialog also aligns visually with sharing components and shows a cleaner status on the right pane and in PDFs.

Learn more about meeting management with OpenProject.

Screenshot of OpenProject 16.4: Meeting participants modal with autocomplete and ‘Mark as attended’ button

Synchronize group information via OIDC (Enterprise add-on)

OpenProject 16.4 introduces the ability to synchronize group memberships from your OpenID Connect (OIDC) provider. This makes it easier to manage user groups and permissions centrally in your identity provider and ensures that memberships in OpenProject reflect those settings whenever users log in. Admins can filter which groups to import, extract name substrings, auto-create groups, and distinguish between locally managed vs. synchronized memberships.

Read more about OIDC in our documentation.

Improved budget handling in project queries and budget planning

Budget setup is more practical: you can define a Base amount (a fixed sum) without detailing material or labor costs — and still add them later, if needed. Project lists now include planned budget, spent budget, spent percentage, and available budget for a clearer overview. We plan to continue improving budgets in upcoming releases. Read more about budgets in our user guide.

Screenshot of OpenProject 16.4: New budget with highlighted Base amount

Updated Home and Project overview page

We refreshed the widgets on the Home and the Project overview pages:

  • cleaner styling (white backgrounds in Light mode, rounded corners, improved Dark mode support),
  • an always-visible More (three dots) menu,
  • a clearer add widgets click zone,
  • and a new + Widget button in the subheader that opens the selection modal and places new widgets at the top for instant feedback.

Screenshot of OpenProject 16.4: New design for the project overview page

OpenProject 16.4: Migration, installation, updates and support

Follow the upgrade guide for the packaged installation or Docker installation to update your OpenProject installation to OpenProject 16.4. We update your hosted OpenProject environments (Enterprise cloud) today, September 10, 2025.

You will find more information about all new features and changes in our Release notes or in the OpenProject Documentation.

If you need support, you can post your questions in the Community Forum, or if you are eligible for Enterprise support, please contact us and we are happy to support you personally.

Credits

A very special thank you goes to Helmholtz-Zentrum Berlin, City of Cologne, Deutsche Bahn and ZenDiS for sponsoring released or upcoming features. Your support, alongside the efforts of our amazing Community, helps drive these innovations. Also a big thanks to our Community members for reporting bugs and helping us identify and provide fixes. Special thanks for reporting and finding bugs go to Björn Schümann, Harald Herz, James Neale, Rince wind, Alexander Aleschenko, Sam Yelman, Stefan Weiberg, Tom Gugel, Johannes Baumgarten, and Christoph Nodes.

Last but not least, we are very grateful for our very engaged translation contributors on Crowdin, who translated quite a few OpenProject strings! This release we would like to particularly thank the following users:

  • Alin Marcu, for a great number of translations into Romanian.
  • William, for a great number of translations into Chinese Traditional.
  • OlhaTrotska, for a great number of translations into Ukrainian.

Would you like to help out with translations yourself? Then take a look at our translation guide and find out exactly how you can contribute. It is very much appreciated!

As always, we welcome any feedback on this release. 💙

AirPods Pro 3 Are Major Upgrade With These 8 New Features

Apple has introduced the AirPods Pro 3, and they are a major upgrade over the AirPods Pro 2.


Below, we have recapped eight new features coming with the AirPods Pro 3, which are available to pre-order now, ahead of a Friday, September 19 launch.


  1. 2× more active noise cancellation: Apple says the AirPods Pro 3 offer up to 2× more active noise cancellation than the AirPods Pro 2, and up to 4× more than the original AirPods Pro. In fact, the AirPods Pro 3 offer the best active noise cancellation of any in-ear wireless headphones, according to Apple.

  2. Improved sound quality: AirPods Pro 3 feature a new acoustic architecture, with next-generation Adaptive EQ, that "transforms the bass response, widens the soundstage so users hear every instrument, and brings vivid vocal clarity to higher frequencies across music, shows, and calls," according to Apple.

  3. Longer battery life per charge: Apple says AirPods Pro 3 offer up to 8 hours of listening time on a single charge, with Active Noise Cancellation enabled. That is up from 6 hours with the AirPods Pro 2. On the other hand, the AirPods Pro 3 charging case offers up to 24 hours of total listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled, whereas the AirPods Pro 2 case provides up to 30 hours of total listening time with Active Noise Cancellation enabled.

  4. Heart rate monitoring during workouts: Like the Powerbeats Pro 2, the AirPods Pro 3 feature a heart rate sensor that shines pulsating infrared light to measure light absorption in blood flow. AirPods Pro 3 users can track their heart rate and calories burned, close their Move ring, and earn awards for 50 different workout types in the Fitness app on an iPhone, with no Apple Watch required.

  5. Improved fit: Apple says AirPods Pro 3 are the "most secure and best-fitting AirPods ever." The earbuds are slightly smaller, and the external design of each ear tip was "aligned to the center of the body for increased stability."

  6. Improved water resistance: AirPods Pro 3 have IP57-rated sweat and water resistance, up from IP54 for the AirPods Pro 2. By definition, an IP57 rating means the AirPods Pro 3 could withstand temporary immersion in up to one meter of water, but Apple's marketing only promises that they "can handle the sweatiest workouts and even a sudden downpour."

  7. U2 chip: No, the AirPods Pro 3 do not come with a free U2 album, but the charging case does feature Apple's second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, presumably for longer location-tracking range in the Find My app.

  8. XXS ear tip option: AirPods Pro 3 come with new XXS silicone ear tips, along with the same XS, S, M, L sizes included with the AirPods Pro 2. Apple says the tips are now infused with foam for greater passive noise isolation.



To learn more, read our stories about the AirPods Pro 3's new design with foam-infused ear tips. Also know that AirPods Pro 3 do not come with a charging cable.
Related Roundup: AirPods Pro
Related Forum: AirPods

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AirPods Pro 3 Get New Foam-Infused Ear Tips With Five Size Options

The AirPods Pro 3 have an updated design that Apple says is more ergonomic, and new ear tips that are supposed to be better at eliminating ambient sound.


Apple included new ear tips that fuse a thin layer of soft foam microspheres to a silicone shell for better passive noise isolation.

The ear tips come in five sizes, including XXS, XS, S, M, and L, The smaller XXS size wasn't available with the AirPods Pro 2.

The new foam ear tips, the wider range of size options, improved computational audio, and the design changes to make the earbuds fit more ergonomically in the ear all help to make the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ 2x better at Active Noise Cancellation than the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2.

Apple is still selling the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ for $249, but there is no longer a USB-C charging cable inside, so the company is saving a bit of cash with this model. The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ are available for pre-order and will launch on Friday, September 19.
Related Roundup: AirPods Pro
Related Forum: AirPods

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Buyer's Guide: Apple Watch SE 3, Series 11, or Ultra 3? 45+ Differences Compared

The new Apple Watch lineup is now available to pre-order. With more feature parity than ever before across the models, understanding the differences is more important ever before.


All three of the new Apple Watches feature the S10 chip, always-on displays, sleep score, and media playback, but there are still some significant differences between the two devices.

The Apple Watch SE is designed to be a low-cost option that still offers many of the Apple Watch features that have made the device so popular over the years, while the Apple Watch Series 11 offers a more feature-rich experience with additional health monitoring capabilities. The Apple Watch Ultra focuses on withstanding extreme environments, a high level of durability, extended battery life, and additional features to aid activities like diving and exploration.

With as little as $50 between the 46mm titanium Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch Ultra 3, some prospective customers will be weighing up whether it is worth spending a little extra to get the 49mm Ultra model. While there is a $400 difference between the GPS-only 42mm aluminum Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch Ultra, the high-end model offers a set of features to address specific challenges, so it may even be worth it for some of these buyers.

This guide outlines all of the differences between the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ 3, Apple Watch Series 11, and Apple Watch Ultra 3 to help you decide which is best for you.

Sizes and Weights

































‌Apple Watch SE‌ 3 Apple Watch Series 11 Apple Watch Ultra 3
Height 44mm (44mm case)

40mm (40mm case)
46mm (46mm case)

42mm (42mm case)
49mm
Width 38mm (44mm case)

34mm (40mm case)
39mm (46mm case)

36mm (42mm case)
44mm
Depth 10.7mm
9.7mm
12mm
Weight 32.9g (GPS, 44mm)

33.0g (GPS + Cellular, 44mm)

26.3g (GPS, 40mm)

26.4g (GPS + Cellular, 40mm)
37.8g (aluminum, GPS, 46mm)

36.9g (aluminum, GPS + Cellular, 46mm)

43.1g (titanium, 46mm)

30.3g (aluminum, GPS, 42mm)

29.7g (aluminum, GPS + Cellular, 42mm)

34.6g (titanium, 42mm)
61.6g (natural titanium)

61.8g (black titanium)



Designs






































‌Apple Watch SE‌ 3 Apple Watch Series 11 Apple Watch Ultra 3
40mm or 44mm case size 42mm or 46mm case size 49mm case size
Anodized aluminum case Anodized or polished aluminum and polished titanium casing options Blasted titanium case
Curved display Curved display with refractive edge Flat display
80% recycled steel in the speaker and Taptic Engine
Apple Watch Hermès edition available Apple Watch Hermès edition available
Available in Starlight and Midnight Aluminum: Available in Rose Gold, Space Gray, and polished Jet Black Titanium: Available in Natural, Gold, and Slate



Durability











































‌Apple Watch SE‌ 3 Apple Watch Series 11 Apple Watch Ultra 3
Design based on Apple Watch Series 4 Design based on Apple Watch Series 10, including a thinner casing, more rounded edges, and a wider aspect ratio Same design as previous Apple Watch Ultra models
Front crystal curves at edges onto shaped casing Front crystal curves at edges onto shaped casing Corrosion resistant case with raised edges to protect the flat sapphire front crystal
Nylon composite and sapphire crystal back Metal and sapphire crystal back Ceramic and sapphire crystal back
Water resistant up to 50m Water resistant up to 50m Water resistant up to 100m
EN13319 certification
Certified IP6X dust resistance Certified IP6X dust resistance
Tested to MIL-STD 810H



Displays




























‌Apple Watch SE‌ 3 Apple Watch Series 11 Apple Watch Ultra 3
Up to 1,000 nits brightness Up to 2,000 nits brightness Up to 3,000 nits brightness
2 nits minimum brightness 1 nit minimum brightness 1 nit minimum brightness
OLED Wide-angle OLED (up to 40% brighter when viewed at an angle) Wide-angle OLED (up to 40% brighter when viewed at an angle)
LTPO LTPO3 for faster refresh rate in always-on mode LTPO3 for faster refresh rate in always-on mode



Health Features

































‌Apple Watch SE‌ 3 Apple Watch Series 11 Apple Watch Ultra 3
Second-generation optical heart sensor Third-generation optical heart sensor Third-generation optical heart sensor
Hypertension notifications Hypertension notifications
Electrical heart sensor Electrical heart sensor
ECG app ECG app
Blood Oxygen app Blood Oxygen app



Battery Life and Charging























‌Apple Watch SE‌ 3 Apple Watch Series 11 Apple Watch Ultra 3
Up to 18-hour battery life Up to 24-hour battery life Up to 42-hour battery life
Up to 32 hours in Low Power Mode Up to 38 hours in Low Power Mode Up to 72 hours in Low Power Mode
Charge 0–80% in about 45 minutes; 15 minutes for up to 8 hours Charge 0–80% in about 30 minutes; 15 minutes for up to 8 hours Charge 0–80% in about 45 minutes; 15 minutes for up to 12 hours



Other Differences



















































































‌Apple Watch SE‌ 3 Apple Watch Series 11 Apple Watch Ultra 3
Customizable Action button
Night Mode for low-visibility conditions
Exclusive Wayfinder and Modular Ultra faces
Swim Swim, snorkel Swim, snorkel, scuba, high-speed water sports
Depth gauge to 6m Depth gauge to 40m
Water temperature sensor Water temperature sensor
Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip Second-generation Ultra Wideband chip
Find iPhone Precision Finding for ‌iPhone‌ Precision Finding for ‌iPhone‌
GPS (L1) GPS (L1) Precision dual-frequency GPS (L1 and L5)
Always-on altimeter Always-on altimeter Always-on altimeter with expanded operating range from –500m to 9000m
Satellite connectivity
Emergency SOS via satellite
Single microphone with voice isolation Single microphone with voice isolation Three-microphone array with beamforming and wind noise mitigation
Single speaker Single speaker Dual speakers
86-decibel Siren to attract attention



Prices
























‌Apple Watch SE‌ 3 Apple Watch Series 11 (Aluminum) Apple Watch Series 11 (Titanium) Apple Watch Ultra 3
GPS $249 (40mm)

$279 (44mm)
$399 (42mm)

$429 (46mm)


GPS + Cellular $299 (40mm)

$329 (44mm)
$499 (42mm)

$529 (46mm)
$699 (42mm)

$749 (46mm)
$799



Which One Should You Choose?


SE 3 vs. Series 11


The Apple Watch Series 11 is a minor improvement over the previous Series 10 model, offering a 5G connectivity and longer battery life. Yet compared to the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ 3, the Apple Watch Series 11 is a noticeably more feature-rich device with advanced capabilities.

With its larger display, additional health monitoring features, and range of colors and finishes, the Apple Watch Series 11 will be the model of choice for those who want more out of their smartwatch. If you feel that the added health monitoring features or longer battery life would be particularly beneficial to you, or simply like a specific casing and color combination not available with the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ 3, the Apple Watch Series 11 will be the best model for you.

If you are on a budget and are not particularly attracted to the additional features of the Series 11, the ‌Apple Watch SE‌ 3 is still a compelling option. As it shares many key features with the Apple Watch Series 11, many customers will be happy choosing the more inexpensive model, unless you particularly value features such as the larger display or advanced health monitoring and can justify the added cost.

The ‌Apple Watch SE‌ 3 is an ideal device for kids and senior citizens who do not have an ‌iPhone‌ thanks to Family Setup, but it is also the go-to model for most customers who are new to the Apple Watch and those who are upgrading from an older device due to its competitive pricing and generous feature set, allowing users to get a balanced Apple Watch experience at a low price.

Series 11 vs. Ultra 3


The Apple Watch Ultra offers specific capabilities to address the requirements of those who need their Apple Watch to provide assistance in challenging environments. If you need a more durable Apple Watch with features like a brighter display, louder speakers, a more reliable GPS, better water resistance, and more, the Apple Watch Ultra is undoubtedly the best choice. The Apple Watch Ultra is clearly better equipped to handle tasks like hiking, diving, and navigation.

The Apple Watch Ultra is also biggest and most feature-rich Apple Watch option available, not to mention that it offers the first true redesign of the device since its introduction in 2015. For technology enthusiasts, Apple Watch Ultra represents a way to get a new Apple Watch experience with top specifications in several key areas. Features like longer battery life, a brighter display, and the Action button are also highly accessible, and will be beneficial to all users. As such, some customers may still be inclined to choose the Apple Watch Ultra 3 over the Apple Watch Series 11, even if they do not need it for use in challenging environments.

As the largest Apple Watch model to date, the size of the Apple Watch Ultra will not be for everyone. If you already prefer the 41mm or 42mm Apple Watch casing size, the Apple Watch Ultra may be far too large for you. If in doubt, it may be worth heading to an Apple Store and trying on the Apple Watch Ultra in person to get to grips with the size and determine if it is too big and bulky for you.

Similarly, the Apple Watch Ultra's look may not appeal to some buyers. If you prefer the idea of a polished finish and are looking for a more fashion-focused smartwatch that pairs well with premium bands, the more aggressive, rugged design of the Apple Watch Ultra may not be for you.

If the Apple Watch Ultra is out of your price range but you still want to use your Apple Watch in challenging environments, it is worth bearing in mind that the Series 11 still offers a durable design with a strong front crystal, water resistance, and many of the Apple Watch Ultra's software features like waypoint marking.

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 has a lot to offer, especially for the subset of users who can take advantage of all of its capabilities, so it is certainly worth considering when purchasing a new model, but the Apple Watch Series 11 is still a compelling all-around option that comes in at a lower price point with a subtler design.
Related Forum: Apple Watch

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What's Different With the AirPods Pro 3 Design

Apple tweaked the design of the AirPods Pro 3, changing the fit of the tips in the ears and bringing some updates to the case. On the whole, the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ look a lot like the AirPods Pro 2, but there are some differences to be aware of.


Earbud Design


Apple reengineered the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ using more than 10,000 ear scans and more than 100,000 hours of user research.

Apple says internal architecture was revamped to make each AirPod slightly smaller, and the external geometry of the ear tip was aligned to the center of the body to improve stability. Basically, the ear tips are now rotated inward.


The shape is meant to better fit into the ear canal, improving sound isolation and ensuring that the ‌AirPods Pro‌ stay in place during workouts.

When it comes to actual size, there are a couple changes. The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ are the same height as the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2, so the stem isn't any shorter. Width is now 19.2mm, down from 21.8mm, so they're a little bit slimmer. They're also deeper, though, measuring 27mm, up from 24mm. Weight increased too, so the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ are 5.55 grams, while the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 were 5.3 grams.

Charging Case


There were rumors that Apple would slim down the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ Charging Case, like it did with the AirPods 4 Charging Case last year.

That didn't happen. The ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ Charging Case is actually larger than before. It measures in at 1.86 inches tall (up from 1.78 inches), 2.45 inches wide (up from 2.39 inches), and 0.86 inches deep (up from 0.85 inches). It's not as heavy, weighing 1.55 ounces, down from 1.79 ounces.

‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 on left, ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ on right

The case for the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ has an attachment point for a lanyard, along with a capacitive pairing button and an invisible LED that only shows up when the case is opened or charging.

Battery life for the earbuds themselves is up, but the charging case doesn't last as long. Apple says it provides up to 24 hours of charging time, but the ‌AirPods Pro‌ 2 case provided up to 30 hours of listening time.

You can pre-order the ‌AirPods Pro 3‌ now, and the earbuds will launch on September 19. Pricing is still $249.
Related Roundup: AirPods Pro
Related Forum: AirPods

This article, "What's Different With the AirPods Pro 3 Design" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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