There is widespread speculation that Apple will incorporate several design elements from visionOS, including the "glass-like" design, into iOS 19. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman recently suggested that Apple is working on an internal design project codenamed "Solarium," which means a room with glass walls, allegedly indicating the glass-like design changes expected in iOS 19.

While official changes and the list of eligible devices are not yet available, a private account on the social media platform X (via MacRumors), known for accurate leaks, has shared a list of iPhones eligible to get the iOS 19 update.

• iPhone 16e, iPhone 16, ‌iPhone 16‌ Plus
• iPhone 16 Pro, ‌iPhone 16 Pro‌ Max
• iPhone 15, ‌iPhone 15‌ Plus
• ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro, ‌iPhone 15‌ Pro Max
• ‌iPhone‌ 14, ‌iPhone‌ 14 Plus
• ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro, ‌iPhone‌ 14 Pro Max
• ‌iPhone‌ 13, ‌iPhone‌ 13 mini
• ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro, ‌iPhone‌ 13 Pro Max
• ‌iPhone‌ 12, iPhone 12 mini
• ‌iPhone‌ 12 Pro, iPhone 12 Pro Max
• ‌iPhone‌ 11, ‌iPhone‌ 11 Pro, iPhone 11 Pro Max
• ‌iPhone‌ SE (2nd generation or later)

Reportedly, the iPhone XR, iPhone XS, and iPhone XS Max will miss out on the iOS 19 update since they have the A12 Bionic chipset. All other iPhones will pick up the iOS 19 update, but several advanced features may be limited to newer iPhone models. Apple Intelligence, for example, only runs on iPhone 15 Pro and above devices.

As for iPadOS 19, the seventh-generation iPad with the A10 Fusion chip will be excluded. However, iPads equipped with the A12 Bionic chipset will be compatible with iPadOS 19.

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Apple executives always describe new hardware and software as the “best” or “biggest” ever, but the delivery doesn’t usually live up to the hype (see last year's iPads). However, iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 might be deserving of a few of those adjectives. The latest version of the operating system has the usual degree of year-over-year quality-of-life improvements, but Apple Intelligence steals the limelight.

This is Apple's implementation of artificial-intelligence-powered tasks that have been sweeping through the tech industry over the past few years. Even Siri got an overdue upgrade—the biggest since the voice assistant’s debut 13 years ago. Here are all the new iOS 18 and iPadOS 18 features, how to download the current version, and what exactly you’ll experience with Apple Intelligence.

Updated March 2025: We've added new details about iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4.

Is Your iPhone or iPad Compatible?

Good news! Every iPhone that was capable of installing iOS 17 can run iOS 18. Apple did not drop any iPhones from the list of supported devices. If you have the iPhone XR and iPhone XS from 2018 or newer (including the second- and third-gen iPhone SE), you can download and run iOS 18. If you're unsure what model iPhone you have, head to the Settings app, tap on General > About and look at the Model Name. This doesn't mean every feature is available, as some require more modern processors. (Apple Intelligence, for example, is exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 models; more on this below.)

It’s a little more complicated for iPads, since the naming scheme depends on the hardware generation rather than specific device names. Here are the generations that support iPadOS 18 (unlike iPhones, some iPads are no longer supported). You can figure out which model you have by following the directions here.

• iPad: 7th gen and later
• iPad Mini: 5th gen and later
• iPad Air: 3rd gen and later (including M2 and M3)
• iPad Pro 11-inch: 1st gen and later
• iPad Pro 12.9-inch: 3rd gen and later (including M4)

Check out our Best iPhones and Best iPads guides to learn more about current models.

How to Install iOS 18

Before installing the new operating system, I highly recommend you back up your devices. You can do this via iCloud—go to Settings, tap on your name at the top, and select iCloud. Then, tap on iCloud Backup, toggle it on, and tap Back Up Now to start a new backup. On the previous iCloud page, you also have the option to toggle off certain apps that you don't want to include in the backup. Don't have enough iCloud storage, or want to use another method? Check out our How to Back Up Your iPhone or iPad guide for alternative options.

Once you've backed up, you're ready to install iOS 18. Since this is a hefty update, you should plug your devices into a charger and ensure they're connected to Wi-Fi before the update starts. Now go to Settings > General > Software Update. You'll see the option to download the update. Tap Download and Install and, when the download is done, tap Install Now to start the update. You’ll know the update is complete when your device restarts.

New iOS/iPadOS 18 Version Updates

All the top features in iOS and iPadOS 18 are highlighted below, but Apple continues to release additional updates throughout the year. These include new features unavailable at launch, bug fixes, and security patches. To update your iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update and follow the instructions above.

iOS/iPadOS 18.4: This update includes Priority Notifications within Apple Intelligence, Visual Intelligence for the iPhone 15 Pro, a stand-alone Vision Pro app, new Emoji, Sketch mode in Image Playground, recipes in Apple News+, new organization features in the Photos app, preauthorized payments in Apple Wallet, lossless audio with AirPods Max, and access to Apple Intelligence features in the Control Center.

iOS/iPadOS 18.3: This update includes improved notification summaries, upgrades to Visual Intelligence for iPhone 16 models, and a minor feature added to the Calculator app. Apple Intelligence is now enabled by default (though you can turn it off).

iOS/iPadOS 18.2: This update brought Genmoji, Image Playground, Image Wand, ChatGPT in Siri, Visual Intelligence, AirTag shared location tracking in Find My, new Mail app features, and new settings for Camera Control. Also, Writing Tools gets a lift from ChatGPT too, with the ability to compose messages. There's no need to join a waitlist anymore to take advantage of Apple Intelligence.

iOS/iPadOS 18.1: Apple officially released Apple Intelligence in this version. Originally, you had to head to Settings > Apple Intelligence & Siri > Join the Waitlist to sign up. The waiting list took a few hours; Apple said it was to ensure there's sufficient server capacity. Apple Intelligence launched with the following smart features: Writing Tools, Memory Movies and Clean Up in Apple Photos, Priority Messages in Mail, Smart Reply in Messages, Summaries for Transcriptions and Call recordings in Notes, Notification Summaries, and the new Reduce Interruptions Focus.

Every major tech company has been integrating artificial intelligence into its hardware and software, from Google to Samsung to Microsoft, and now it's Apple's turn. Apple Intelligence is the term you'll see the company throw around over the next few years, and it powers many of the new AI features in its devices.

It's powered by Apple's large language models (partly trained through data from the public web, according to Axios’ Ina Fried). It requires Apple silicon, the company's bespoke chips that have a hybrid architecture designed to run AI tasks. Even though the devices Apple Intelligence runs on are capable of the on-device processing needed to complete AI tasks, sometimes the task is too big and needs to be sent off to the cloud. When a task requires more processing, it'll be sent to a secure data center stacked with computers that also run Apple silicon. While this method of computing is typically less private, Apple claims that its Private Cloud Compute platform focuses on ensuring data privacy for each user. Only data relevant to your query is sent to these servers, and the data is only used for your requests and never stored.

Apple Intelligence Compatible Devices

Before you get too excited, Apple Intelligence is not available for every device that supports iOS 18. It's only supported on select processors (and languages).

• iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max (A17 Pro)
• iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus (A18)
• iPhone 16 Pro, iPhone 16 Pro Max (A18 Pro)
• iPad Mini (A17 Pro)
• iPad Air (M1, M2, M3)
• iPad Pro (M1, M2, M4)
• MacBook Air (M1 and newer)
• MacBook Pro (M1 and newer)
• iMac (M1 and newer)
• Mac Mini (M1 and newer)
• Mac Studio (M1 Max and newer)
• Mac Pro (M2 Ultra)

What exactly is Apple Intelligence? Apple breaks down its key capabilities into three buckets: Language, Images, and Action.

Apple Intelligence: Language

Throughout Apple's hardware and software, you'll find new writing tools that draw on the power of generative AI to assist your writing. This includes Rewrite, which can help change the tone of your text to sound more friendly or more professional (like in an email), and Proofread, which more or less does what the name suggests. You can also summarize selected text with a tap.

These text-based improvements go beyond writing. It also powers Priority notifications, which appear at the top of your notification list and summarize it so you get a more digestible summary at a glance. You can turn the feature on by going to Settings > Notifications> Prioritize Notifications. Similarly, the Mail app offers Priority messages, which means important emails will float to the top of your inbox. You can also get summaries of long emails, and a Smart Reply function lets you quickly respond to emails (even answers to multiple questions posed in an email), not unlike what's available in Gmail.

For now, however, Apple has paused notification summaries for news apps following multiple instances where the feature failed to summarize articles accurately. Notifications summarized by Apple Intelligence will now appear as italicized text.

In the Notes, Voice Memos, and Phone app, you can hit the record button (yes, even on a call) to get an audio recording with a transcript, and Apple Intelligence can create a summary of that transcript. Apple says that in states that require two-party consent for recordings, the person on the other end of the line will be made aware that the call is being recorded.

Finally, there's a new Focus mode called Reduce Interruptions that can understand your personal context, so while it hides incoming stuff that could distract you, it knows enough about what you've got going on to allow a text from your babysitter to come through.

Apple Intelligence: Images

The Apple Intelligence image features largely revolve around generating new images through artificial intelligence. Much of this happens in Image Playground, an experience baked into other apps (though it also exists as a stand-alone app). You can generate images based on a description, suggested concepts, and even from people in your Photos library. You have control over the style, and it can be tweaked to match whatever's happening in the app you're using it in. You can also choose between different styles, including Illustration, Animation, and (most recently) Sketch, which gives images a more natural, hand-drawn look.

Genmoji just might be the most anticipated feature out of everything Apple has announced. It lets you generate emojis directly from the keyboard with text prompts. You can also pull a person's photo from your Photos library to make an emoji based on their looks. You'll have to provide a description first, but then you can adjust the description until it suits what you are going for.

Image Wand is another image generation system that works specifically in the Notes app. With your finger or Apple Pencil, you can circle a sketch to have Apple Intelligence create something that looks more refined, but you can also circle an empty space, and it will generate an image based on the surrounding text. It's an easy way to add more visual variety to your notes.

The Photos app is getting a few AI features. You can make a Memory Movie by entering a description like “All the desserts I ate during the summer last year, set to a pop song,” and Apple's AI will find the right images and video, put them to a song, and craft a shareable movie out of it. It'll also be easier to search for specific photos—just describe what you want and it'll find it, even moments in video clips (similar to Google's Ask Photos feature). Lastly, you can erase unwanted objects in the background of your photos with the new Clean Up tool in the photo editor, exactly like Magic Eraser on Pixel phones and Samsung's Object Eraser.

Apple Intelligence: Action

The final part of Apple Intelligence is arguably one that might be used the most often, and it involves Siri. The assistant has a new look—when activated, the edges of the screen will glow—and you can now type your requests to Siri instead of using your voice (something you've been able to do with Google Assistant for several years).

The idea is you'll be able to speak more naturally with Siri, and the assistant will be able to understand context better than ever before. You can say, “Play the podcast my wife sent me the other day,” and Siri will be able to pull it up. However, this kind of personal context isn't yet available—Apple delayed the Siri upgrade, citing that the capability is “taking longer than we thought.”

Siri can also help explain how to do certain functions on your phone if you're not sure (maybe Samsung was onto something with Bixby). And if you make a mistake mid-sentence, there's no need to start over again. Siri will be able to understand your slipup, and it remembers the context of your previous query, so you won't need to repeat things.

Much like how Google's Gemini is drawing on context based on what's happening on the screen, Siri can now understand what is on the screen when you activate it, so if someone texts you an address, you can activate Siri and ask it to add the address to the person's contact card. All of this is expected to work in first- and third-party apps.

ChatGPT Integration and Visual Intelligence

Apple Intelligence still needs a boost on some occasions, so Apple has tapped OpenAI's ChatGPT to power Siri. The company says it's using the GPT-4o model, and you are in control of when Siri uses ChatGPT. This powers features such as when you ask about the subject of a photo or a document (like scanning a hundred-page PDF), and Compose, which lets you generate original images and text from a query. All of these GPT features are free with no account required, though if you already are a subscriber, you can link your account and access paid features.

Then there's Apple's version of Google Lens, dubbed Visual Intelligence. This is where the new Camera Control button comes into play on the iPhone 16 range. Press and hold it, and it will open the camera viewfinder, but instead of taking a photo, you can “Ask” ChatGPT to explain what you're looking at or search it through Google. You can use this to figure out who that actor is on a movie poster, find out the type of flower in front of you, or glean more information about a landmark. You can also use the feature to add a Calendar event when scanning a flyer. With iOS 18.4, Apple expanded Visual Intelligence to the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. You can trigger it through the Action Button or the Control Center, just like on the iPhone 16e.

OK, onto the more traditional software features. I've collected the top features in iOS 18 below, but there are tons of smaller changes. You can view the full list directly from Apple.

Get Rid of the App Grid

For the first time, you can arrange your apps and widgets however you'd like (just like on Android). Say goodbye to the fixed list of grids Apple has forced on us for nearly two decades. You can make further personalization to the app icons as well, tuning them to a specific color to match or complement your wallpaper, and even convert them to dark mode. You can make these apps and widgets look larger too.

More Control in the Control Center

Control Center.

Photograph: Apple

 

New styles.

Photograph: Apple

 

Control Center, the hub that appears when you swipe down on the right edge of the iPhone, is now more customizable. There are now tabs within the Control Center, and you can scroll through them with one continuous swipe on the home screen. These include your favorites—the most important things you want accessible in the Control Center—media playback and even smart home controls.

You can customize the size and layout of everything in Control Center, and this extends to the lock screen controls—you can switch out the two icons at the bottom of your iPhone's lock screen to something more helpful. Expect new controls from third-party apps.

Lock and Hide Apps

You can finally hide apps to prevent anyone from snooping, or you can lock the app so that it asks for a passcode or biometric authentication every time it's launched. The information from this app will be hidden throughout the system, even in notifications and searches. Google debuted a similar new feature called Private Space in Android 15.

Redesigned Photos App

Apple's Photos app got a huge redesign in iOS 18. Now, you have a photo grid at the top, and below, you can swipe through different collections, such as Recent Days, Trips, and People & Pets. This upgrade is tied with several other improvements powered by Apple Intelligence, like Clean Up, which can erase unwanted objects in the background of your photos, and the ability to find any image easily via search.

Apple also added more organizational features. You can filter collections by oldest to newest, sort albums by Date Modified, disable “Recently Viewed” and “Recently Shared” collections, reorder items in the Utilities and Media types collections, and also show or hide items in the Library View that are not in a specific album or that are synced from a Mac or PC.

RCS and Satellite Messaging

Arguably, one of the most anticipated announcements from Apple ended up as a tiny footnote amid the company's announcements. RCS is Rich Communication Services, the texting standard that followed SMS/MMS. Android phones have supported RCS for several years, allowing for an upgraded texting experience that pulls features from instant messaging apps, like typing indicators, read receipts, and improved photo and video quality. However, none of this works when an Android user texts an iPhone (or vice versa) because Apple didn't support RCS and used the older SMS standard.

That's changing now, “RCS messages bring richer media and deliver and read receipts for those who don't use iMessage," according to Apple's marketing materials. These texts will still appear green (instead of blue when you text fellow iPhone owners via iMessage), but it might finally spell the end of the broken texting experience that has caused so many people strife.

If you have an iPhone 14 or newer, you can take advantage of texting via satellite when you don't have Wi-Fi or a cellular connection (like when you're on a plane). Apple says all of these iMessages sent via satellite are end-to-end encrypted.

The Messages app itself is getting a few new perks too. You can add animated effects to any letter, word, or phrase—these are suggested as you type. And Apple's Tapback feature (emoji reactions) now works with any emoji or sticker. Most importantly, you can now schedule texts and send them at a specific time, a standard texting feature available in most messaging apps.

A Password App

It might be time to say goodbye to your password manager—at least, Apple would be thrilled if you did. The company's new native Passwords app supports end-to-end encryption and is about to become the way to find your passwords and ID verification codes on Apple devices. This app will work across all of Apple's hardware and even Windows (via the iCloud for Windows app). If you enable AutoFill, Apple says your passwords will automatically populate in the app.

iPhone Mirroring

This is technically a feature in macOS Sequoia, but you can access your iPhone's screen via the iPhone Mirroring app in the macOS Dock. You can completely use your Mac keyboard and trackpad to interact with the iPhone, and even have audio from it play onto your Mac's speakers. It supports drag and drop, so you can pull files from your virtual iPhone screen into your Mac. If you have an iPhone-specific notification, click on it from your Mac, and it will launch your mirrored iPhone, allowing you to act on it without having to pick up your device. During all of this, your iPhone stays locked.

It's worth noting many of these iPad features are also available on iOS 18 and vice versa: Almost all the iOS 18 features above are also available on your iPad. Sadly, not much in iPadOS 18 makes the iPad more like a computer, but many of these additions are much appreciated.

Smart Script

Now you don't have to feel bad about your chicken-scratch handwriting. Apple's Smart Script “re-creates” your handwriting, so you can scribble down as fast as you can, and the system will refine it to be more legible. It can do all of this while apparently still keeping your handwriting style intact. Also, if you paste typed text into a note that's been handwritten, it'll be converted to your handwriting. You can also scratch off text to erase it.

The Calculator App

The Calculator app is now finally available on the iPad, though it's far from basic. Apple has introduced a feature called Math Notes with Apple Pencil. This lets you write equations, and the app will compute and solve them as soon as you draw an equals sign. It can perform all the same functions as a scientific calculator. You can tap the equals sign twice to repeat the most recent mathematical function.

Other New Features Worth Noting

• Activation Lock for iPhone Parts: Activation Lock prevents someone from activating an erased iPhone if the previous owner did not remove their Apple account password before resetting the device. This feature has been in iOS for a long time, but now it extends to iPhone parts. The idea is to deter thieves from stealing an iPhone for parts, but it could have disastrous results.
• Mail: The Mail app now looks more like Gmail, with new tabs that sort your email by Primary, Transactions, Updates, and Promotions. There's also a new “Digest" view where all emails from the same sender are organized into one area.
• Safari Highlights: This feature gives you the at-a-glance info you might be looking for on a page. If you're looking for contact or address details on a hotel's webpage, Highlights will surface, so you spend less time clicking on different tabs trying to find it. Also, Safari's Reader mode will now show a table of contents and summary.
• Apple Maps: Maps now shows topographic maps with trail networks and hikes (US National Parks included). You can save these to your device for offline use and create your own hikes.
• Apple Wallet: You can now send cash from person to person by tapping two iPhones together (or just bringing them within an inch of each other). You'll no longer need to share phone numbers or email addresses to send somebody $5 for an oat milk cappuccino. With a new “Preauthorized Payments” section, you can also see upcoming payments for your active subscriptions and recurring bills.
• Game Mode: A common feature on most Android phones, Apple's Game Mode hails from its MacBooks. Turn it on while gaming on an iPhone, and it will minimize background activity to boost frame rates. It also reduces audio latency with AirPods and input lag from wireless controllers.
• AirPods Pro: Voice Isolation on the AirPods Pro improves your voice quality by eliminating background noise and wind. There are also hands-free Siri interactions (only on the second-gen AirPods Pro and AirPods 4), which let you nod yes or shake your head no to respond to Siri. This lets you accept or reject incoming calls without using your hands or your voice—neat. But be sure to set the 85-dB limit on your AirPods via the audio settings.
• AirPods Max: Apple's noise-canceling headphones now support lossless audio, with the ability to support audio files with a resolution of up to 24-bit/48 kHz. It also supports “ultra-low latency” (which the company says will improve their gaming performance) along with upgraded fidelity and response time for music production.
• Notes: The Notes app now lets you generate live audio transcriptions that are searchable. The app also supports collapsible section headers and highlights text with colors.
• Apple TV: A new feature called InSight in the Apple TV app lets you learn a bit more about who is on the screen, and even get more details on the music playing.
• SharePlay: You can remotely control someone else's screen via SharePlay, or draw on their screen to show them how to do something.
• Accessibility: Apple has an eye-tracking mode available on iPhones and iPads, and it lets people control the iPhone or iPad with their eyes.
• Camera: If you have an iPhone 16 model, you can now use the Camera Control button to switch to the front-facing camera. Anyone with the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max can access spatial photo capture (in addition to spatial video capture). This feature is already available on the iPhone 16 lineup. You can also lock auto exposure and autofocus settings. There's now a Require Screen On feature that will only launch the Camera app via the Camera Control button when the display is on.
• Find My: In the Find My app, there’s a new Lost AirTag section that lets you share the location of your AirTag with others (up to five people total) to help track it down (you'll soon be able to share it with airlines too, in the event your luggage is lost). You can send out a specific link via Messages, Mail, Notes, and AirDrop, among other apps, that others will have to authenticate before using via their Apple account. The link will expire after a week.
• Vision Pro: If you have a Vision Pro, you'll have access to a new stand-alone app on your iPhone. When you're not using the headset, you can use it to browse and download content, including apps and games, as well as add TV shows and movies to your watch list.
• Emoji: Apple added eight new emojis to the collection, including splatter, root vegetable, leafless tree, face with bags under eyes, fingerprint, harp, shovel, and a flag of Sark.
• Apple News+: If you subscribe to News+, you'll see a new Food section that includes stories about restaurants, healthy eating, and more, along with a Recipe Catalog where you can browse through options and save them to a Saved Recipes section.

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Industry sources rumored that the new SoC will likely be the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4, which has a model number SM8735. The chip arrives as an upgrade over last year's Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 which powered most of the mid-range smartphones in the top tier, such as Motorola Edge 50 Ultra and Poco F6.

The chip will not be looking to beat Qualcomm's top-of-the-line Snapdragon 8 Elite chip, however is likely to compete in the same segment as the last year's model. As per leaked sources, the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 is reported to utilize a new eight-core CPU configuration from the Snapdragon 8 Elite.

The architecture, according to reports, includes one single high-performance Cortex-X4 prime core with a clock speed of 3.21 GHz, three Cortex-A720 performance cores with a 3.01 GHz clock speed, another two Cortex-A720 performance cores operating at 2.80 GHz, and two Cortex-A720 efficiency cores running at 2.02 GHz.

For graphics processing (GPU), the chipset is said to contain an Adreno 825. While supposedly being of the same generation as the Adreno 830 on the Snapdragon 8 Elite, the Adreno 825 is said to be going to contain fewer cores. Other technical details include the availability of 6MB of Shared Level Cache (SLC) and 8MB of L3 cache.

Qualcomm claims the new chip will hit "an impressive AnTuTu score of over 2 million points", putting it in the high end of mobile SoCs. That level of performance should bring flagship-level capabilities to the next wave of higher-mid range and premium phones.

Qualcomm is expected to confirm partnerships with major smartphone manufacturers during the event. Rumors suggest that the first devices powered by the Snapdragon 8s Gen 4 will debut as early as mid-April.

Source: Qualcomm on Weibo (Chinese)

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In this week’s Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman writes that the iPad Pro will be Apple’s first product to get the M5 chip. The new versions of this model are reportedly in “late testing,” and the production phase begins in the second half of this year. The codenames for the M5 iPad Pro models are J817, J818, J820 and J821.

Last year, the iPad Pro received a major makeover by switching to the so-called Tandem OLED screen, getting an M4 chip, and most notably, a thinner and lighter design. Apart from the M5 chip and a touch of AI spice, we're unlikely to see any other significant change to the upcoming iPad Pro.

Gurman added that Apple had begun working on the M6 version of iPad Pro with the company’s in-house modem chips. This version is due to launch in 2027.

Meanwhile, iPad Pro is not the only product that debuts with M5 chips this year. In another report, Gurman says the MacBook Pro with an M5 chip will debut later this year, probably “around the same time of year that it received the M4 processor in 2024 and the M3 in 2023.” Apple is also working on the M5 MacBook Air, which will likely debut in October.

This year’s MacBook Pro refresh focuses on performance with M5 chips. Still, previous reports suggested that the MacBook Pro lineup is about to get a major overhaul in 2026, which brings M6 chips, OLED screens, and a thinner design to the laptops. Gurman added, “In terms of major new Mac designs, I don’t expect the MacBook Pro to get an overhaul until around 2026 — when the M6 model is due to come out.”

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Recently, Jon Prosser from the YouTube channel Front Page Tech shared some mockups of how apps and features might look in iOS 19. Prosser claimed that the mockups he showed were based on his trusted sources and were the "real deal." However, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman quickly quashed these rumors, saying the mockups aren't the actual representation of the iOS 19 UI.

Now, in his latest Power On newsletter for Bloomberg, Gurman has shared some more details about the upcoming UI changes in iOS 19. He mentions that the new design project is codenamed "Solarium," which, by the way, means "a room with glass walls and ceiling that lets in natural light."

The codename "Solarium" seems fitting for the glass-like design changes expected in iOS 19. Gurman previously stated that the iOS 19 redesign would be Apple's biggest visual overhaul since iOS 7. The company aims to ditch the flat appearance introduced in 2013 and adopt a more modern interface, similar to what it already implemented in visionOS.

Apple is expected to unveil iOS 19 at the upcoming WWDC event, scheduled for Monday, June 9, this year. The first iOS 19 beta should be immediately pushed to the developers after the announcement, which is when the world will get to know what exact glass-like change Apple has made to iOS. There are rumors that Apple may have subtly hinted at these UI changes in its WWDC logo.

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Google revealed the Pixel 9a last week, but its release plans were put on hold by a mysterious "component quality issue." Whatever that was, it's been worked out. Google now says its new budget smartphone will arrive as soon as April 10. The date varies by market, but the wait is almost over.

The first wave of 9a releases on April 10 will include the US, Canada, and the UK. On April 14, the Pixel 9a will arrive in Europe, launching in Germany, Spain, Italy, Ireland, France, Norway, Denmark, Sweden, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Portugal, Switzerland, Poland, Czechia, Romania, Hungary, Slovenia, Slovakia, Lithuania, Estonia, Latvia, and Finland. On April 16, the phone will come to Australia, India, Singapore, Taiwan, and Malaysia.

You may think that takes care of Google's launch commitments, but no—Japan still has no official launch date. That's a bit strange, as Japan is not a new addition to Google's list of supported regions. It's unclear if this has anything to do with the previous component issue. Google says only that the Japanese launch will happen "soon." Its statements about the delayed release were also vague, with representatives noting that the cause was a "passive component."

The 9a comes in Obsidian, Porcelain, Iris, and Peony.

Credit: Google

The Pixel 9a runs the same Tensor G4 chip as the flagship Pixels, but there are a few downgrades. It has an older cellular modem that may be less efficient and lacks satellite support, and there's just 8GB of RAM. That last limitation means Google had to develop a new version of Gemini Nano to run on the phone. It's text-only, so some of Google's coolest AI features won't work on this phone.

The Pixel 9a will start at $499 in the US, with an upgrade from 128GB of storage to 256GB for an additional $100. The base price is unchanged from last year, but the storage upgrade is $40 higher. Canadian pricing will start at $679 CAD. In the UK, it will be 499 GBP, and the rest of Europe is looking at 549 euros to start. You still can't preorder the phone, but you can sign up to be notified when it's available on the Google Store.

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As a society, we have decided to carry expensive electronic devices that are made out of glass. It's a real problem, especially if you have butter fingers. Gorilla Glass maker Corning has announced a new material that might help save the day the next time you drop a phone. The company claims its latest Gorilla Glass Ceramic can withstand drops that would shatter lesser materials.

As the name implies, Corning's new glass incorporates ceramic components to improve strength compared to other types of hardened glass. Corning has offered a bit of data to support this claim. In its lab tests (PDF), Gorilla Glass Ceramic withstood 10 drops from one meter onto surfaces that closely resemble asphalt. Why Corning does not use real asphalt for this test is unclear. Regardless, the company says an unspecified "competitive" type of aluminosilicate glass would typically fail on the first drop.

Chemically strengthened glass has been a key component in the proliferation of smartphones across the world. Since the company provided the glass for that first iPhone back in 2007, it has made glass for more than 7 billion devices. That makes Corning the largest glass supplier in the mobile industry, but it does face increasing competition in the budget and midrange segments.

Corning does not directly compare Gorilla Glass Ceramic to the popular Gorilla Glass Victus 2, which was, until now, its most durable offering. That material can allegedly survive drops onto similarly rough surfaces, but the company doesn't specify a number like it does with the new ceramic version. Corning also has its Gorilla Glass Armor series, which has been used on the last few generations of Samsung Galaxy Ultra flagships. This glass has anti-reflective properties, which appear absent in Gorilla Glass Ceramic.

This is not Corning's first swing at adding ceramic to the mix—the company is also responsible for Apple's Ceramic Shield glass, which has been used on the company's high-end phones since 2021. Apple fans have been largely impressed with the strength of Ceramic Shield, too. With the debut of Gorilla Glass Ceramic, we'll be seeing Android phones with ceramic protection. However, we expect this to be a material for more expensive devices.

The glass sandwich

It may seem odd that the industry spends so much time developing stronger glass instead of moving to other, less fragile materials in phones, but there are reasons to use it. Glass is less prone to scratching compared to plastic, so it's natural to expect it on the screen side. Using glass for the back of a phone enables wireless charging and magnetic attachment, which people have come to expect in premium phones. Using glass can improve wireless signal strength compared to fully metal bodies, too.

Putting glass inside an aluminum frame makes phones extremely hard to bend.

Credit: Ryan Whitwam

Glass also has some mechanical advantages you might not realize. Remember bendgate, when Apple's sleek aluminum phones would acquire banana-like bends simply from riding around in your front pocket? That doesn't happen anymore because most high-end (i.e., not plastic) phones have adopted the glass sandwich design. Glass has low tensile strength, which is why it cracks when struck, but its compressive strength is off the chart. So placing a pane of strengthened glass inside a metal frame makes the device extremely stiff and resistant to bending. There are trade-offs, but everyone adopted the glass sandwich for a reason.

We're interested to see if Gorilla Glass Ceramic makes handling a phone less precarious. Corning announces new versions of Gorilla Glass regularly, but you won't always see its latest materials across the board. In this case, Corning says Motorola will be the first to offer it "in the coming months." Presumably, that means it will be used on the exterior of the next foldable Razr.

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You can now choose WhatsApp as your iPhone’s default app for calls and text messages, as noted by WABetaInfo. After updating WhatsApp to version 25.8.74, you’ll see the app appear as an option in your Messaging and Calling default app settings.

Apple first announced that it would let iPhone users in the European Union change their default phone and messaging apps, but it later said that everyone would be able to do the same in iOS 18.2.

Screenshot: The Verge

You can change your default calling and texting app by heading to your settings, selecting Apps > Default Apps. From there, select the Messaging and Calling options, and you’ll see a list of alternative apps you can choose from, which now includes WhatsApp if you upgrade to the latest version.

Once you change your default app, your iPhone will automatically pull up your selected app when you tap a phone number on a webpage, for example, or select the message button from your contacts list.

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Now, leaker Mystery Lupin on the social media platform X has shared an image that lists specifications of both upcoming Android tablets. According to the leak, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and S10 FE+ will be powered by the Exynos 1580 processor. The S10 FE will feature a 10.9-inch display, whereas the S10 FE+ will come with a 13.1-inch display.

Both devices will be equipped with an LCD panel and offer a 90Hz refresh rate. Under the hood, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE is noted to be juiced by an 8,000 mAh battery, while the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ is tipped to be equipped with a 10,090 mAh battery.

As per the spec sheet, Samsung will offer tablets with 128GB and 256GB storage configurations along with a microSD card slot, allowing for the expansion of up to 2TB. Both Android tablets will be IP68 dust and water resistant with 45W fast charging support.

Samsung's AI features have been the talk of the town, and the Galaxy Tab S10 FE and S10 FE+ will offer AI features. The tablets will come with an S-Pen of their own. The tablets will feature a 12MP front camera and a 13MP rear camera.

Previously, it was revealed that the Galaxy Tab S10 FE could cost around €579 for the base model and €100 more for the higher RAM+Storage variant. On the other hand, the Galaxy Tab S10 FE+ was tipped to cost €679 for the 8GB model, with the 12GB model costing €100 more.

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Samsung is speculated to launch the device next month. And ahead of its official launch, leaker Max Jambor has shared purported high-quality wallpapers of the Galaxy S25 Edge in high quality. In a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), Jambor stated, "You can grab the high-res wallpapers of the upcoming Galaxy S25 Edge. Enjoy!"

Recently, it came to light that Samsung could introduce the Galaxy S25 Edge in three titanium colors: Titanium Jet Black, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Ice Blue. It is not confirmed if these will be online exclusive colors or will be available in retail stores.

Whatever the case may be, you can grab the high-quality wallpapers of the alleged Galaxy S25 Edge below. Notably, the wallpapers are in JPG format and 960x2070 pixel resolution. All you need to do is right-click on the image, download the image and set as wallpaper on your phone.

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge wallpapers

 

 

 

The Galaxy S25 Edge could measure just 5.84mm thin, though it may not surpass the rumored Apple iPhone 17 Air, which is expected to measure just 5.5mm without the camera hump. Nonetheless, it's still quite thin. Despite its thinness, Samsung has reportedly packed the device with features—at least, as per rumors.

The Galaxy S25 Edge will come with a dual-camera setup with a 200MP main camera. On the other hand, the Apple iPhone 17 Air is speculated to feature only a single camera. The back of the Galaxy S25 Edge is rumored to be made of ceramic, but still keep the weight of the device under 162 grams. AI, One UI 7, premium display, etc., are a part of the Galaxy S25 Edge's features.

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Fresh images, courtesy of WinFuture (via Roland Quandt), showcase the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge in three titanium colors: Titanium Jet Black, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Icy Blue. These colors match the finishes available for the Galaxy S25 Ultra. For now, it is unclear if these color options will be available exclusively online or through stores. Take a look for yourself:

Gallery: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge colors

 

 

 

The Galaxy S25 Edge looks similar to the Galaxy S25+, but it is expected to be much narrower. Moreover, the back panel—which is rumored to be of ceramic—is what differentiates it from other Galaxy S25 models.

It will pack a dual-camera setup in a vertical camera hump. The cameras are expected to be 200MP primary and have a 50MP 3.5x telephoto lens. The device is also speculated to weigh 162 grams and measure just 5.84mm thin.

The display is tipped to be protected by Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and offer a 120Hz refresh rate with 2,600 nits of peak brightness. The phone could also come with 12GB of RAM and a vapor chamber much thinner than the Galaxy S25. It could be juiced by a 3,900mAh battery and may support satellite connectivity.

Samsung could keep the price of the Galaxy S25 Edge under $1,299 and launch it sometime next month. Apple also has its answer to the Galaxy S25 Edge ready, called the iPhone 17 Air, which is expected to replace the "Plus" model from the lineup.

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However, this was the second change, as Apple's first attempt didn't sit well with browser companies, which criticized Apple for deliberately slowing down the rollout. This delay hindered users from migrating from Safari to Chrome or other browsers. Also, Safari remained the default web browser for those who didn't manually change their default web browser on their iPhones.

As a result, the EU believed that Apple's Safari browser still had an unfair advantage. To fix this, Apple pushed a new choice screen that pops up right when setting an iPhone, listing Safari among various third-party browser options. Additionally, Apple allowed other browsers to use their web engines.

These changes might have satisfied the EU, as, according to Reuters, they have decided to let go of the fine. Reportedly, the EU "is expected to close its investigation early next week." This decision might have come amid tensions after US President Donald Trump threatened to put up tariffs against countries taking strict actions against US companies.

Had the fine been imposed upon Apple, then it would have been as high as 10% of the company's global revenue. While Apple has been relieved from one case, it remains under investigation for another anti-steering case, where it has been accused of restricting developers from linking external payment methods in App Stores free of charge.

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Apple is getting closer to launching Priority Notifications, a feature that uses AI to automatically detect important iPhone notifications and makes them more visible on your lockscreen. The feature is included in the iOS 18.4 release candidate rolled out on Monday, as spotted earlier by MacRumors.

Along with Priority Notifications, the iOS 18.4 release candidate enables support for Matter-compatible robovacs, allowing you to control a wider range of devices through Apple Home. Other features expected to arrive with the update include AI-generated review summaries on the App Store, new shortcut actions, and Apple Intelligence support for the iPhone 15 Pro.

There are also more details about what’s coming to watchOS 11.4, too. The release candidate notes show “an option to allow Sleep Wake Up alarm to break through Silent Mode.” That means you can have your Apple Watch sound an alarm even if you mute all other notifications. Apple also launched release candidates for iPadOS 18.4, macOS 15.4, tvOS 18.4, and visionOS 2.4.

The company is expected to release the final versions of its software next month.

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Microsoft has expanded the number of devices that can view a shared Office file without a Microsoft account. A recent update makes it possible to view shared files on an iPhone or iPad even if you are not signed in.

It was already possible to open shared files from Word, Excel, and PowerPoint without a Microsoft account if you viewed those files on the web. Now, that same option is available on an iPad or iPhone.

With this change, recipients of shared files can now open and view documents in Word, PowerPoint, or Excel more easily. Editing shared documents or leaving comments still requires a Microsoft account.

Since Word, PowerPoint, and Excel are the standard for many organizations and users, receiving a shared Office document is common. The recent change to the Office apps on iOS and iPadOS increases the accessibility of those types of files.

Microsoft shares the steps to share documents in a Tech Community post:

• Open a Word, Excel, or PowerPoint file that you want to share.
• Select Share > Link settings (the gear icon in the top-right corner), ensure that either the Anyone with the link can edit or Anyone with the link can view option is selected, and then select the Apply button. 
• To share the link with others, type their email address in the Share dialog box, and then click the Send button, or click the Copy link button and paste it in a message created using an app such as Microsoft Outlook or Microsoft Teams.

Anyone who uses that link on a supported device will be able to open and view the file.

The new behavior rolls out with Version 2.94 (Build 25020422) of the Office apps on iOS and iPadOS.

Google has taken the wraps off the Pixel 9a today, a phone that has leaked about a thousand times in recent weeks, as is the Pixel tradition. Still, there are some things to know about this phone you can't glean from leaked renders or a YouTube unboxing. This phone maintains the same $499 price tag as last year's A-series phone, but it has a larger battery, a new camera, and a simpler design that ditches the camera bar of other recent Pixel phones.

The Pixel 9a has the same flat aluminum frame that has been in vogue on smartphones for the past few years. Unlike the more expensive Pixels, the back is plastic instead of Gorilla Glass. Google says it's made of 81 percent recycled material, and the aluminum is 100 percent recycled. Apparently, these percentages are a record for the Pixel series, if that's something that matters to you.

From the front, you can barely tell the Pixel 9a from its predecessor, although the display is a bit larger. Google's new phone has a 6.3-inch OLED display with slightly wider bezels than the flagship Pixels. As a result, it's a few millimeters larger in height and width compared to last year's model. Google maintained the same 8.9 mm thickness, though.

The display is once again covered with generations-old Gorilla Glass 3, but the phone has gotten a small upgrade from IP67 to IP68, making it slightly more resistant to water infiltration when submerged. The display supports a 120Hz refresh rate with a peak brightness of 2,700 nits, which is a reasonable increase over the 2,000 nits of peak brightness for last year's phone.

The phone comes in the traditional porcelain (white) and obsidian (black) colors, along with this year's signature colors of peony (pink) and iris (purple-ish blue). The base model has 128GB of storage for $499, but an upgrade to 256GB is available for $599.

Flatter but still Pixel-y

While older Pixel phones could look a bit busy with their multicolored backs and prominent camera bars, the lineup has been trending toward a streamlined look, and the Pixel 9a truly embraces that. Google says the Pixel 9a uses a thinner pOLED screen, which allowed engineers to save a precious few millimeters. With more room inside, Google was able to eliminate the camera bump entirely for a cleaner look.

The thinner display also left more room for the battery—Google probably could have made the phone body thinner and left the cameras to stick out, but instead, the 9a has the largest battery ever put in a Pixel. Yes, Google actually did the thing we always chastise OEMs for not doing.

Google's phones are not generally big in the battery department—they last a day on a charge, but this one will give you a little more breathing room. It's not the champ by a huge margin, but the 5,100 mAh battery is a big step up from the 8a's 4,492 mAh cell and squeaks past the Pixel 9 Pro XL at 5,060 mAh. Google says the phone is good for 30 or more hours of use per charge and 100 hours with battery-saver mode turned on. The phone also gets a mild charging upgrade, with a max wired speed of 23 W instead of the meager 18 W on last year's A-series phone.

Google has continued the tradition of slapping its flagship processor in budget phones. The 9a has a Tensor G4 processor, which is not necessarily a speed demon compared to the latest from Qualcomm or Apple. However, Google says it has optimized Tensor for specific tasks rather than benchmarks, and it's nice you get the same pretty fast hardware in a phone that costs hundreds of dollars less than the Pixel 9. This chip is paired with 8GB of RAM, a step down from the 12GB of RAM available in the more expensive Pixel 9 phones but the same as the 8a.

A new Pixel camera

Without a camera bar, the Pixel 9a doesn't have that "serious about cameras" vibe of past Pixel phones. However, Google is still serious about mobile photography. This is still a Pixel camera with all the clever functionality we've come to expect from Google.

Google has made some changes to the primary shooter. The Pixel 8a had a 64 MP camera, but the 9a has a 48 MP primary sensor (imaged binned to 12 MP). This sensor's specifications appear similar to the 48 MP camera in the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, but Google says it's a slightly different piece of hardware. It's smaller and lower resolution than last year's A-series phone, but that doesn't necessarily equate to lower image quality—the Pixel 9 Pro Fold offered better snapshots than the Pixel 8a, for example. Google does not list sensor models, so we'll have to wait to see how the camera performs in real life.

The primary shooter is joined by a 13 MP ultrawide that appears unchanged from last year's phone. There is no telephoto camera—you have to go all the way up to the Pixel 9 Pro to get that. However, the Pixel 9a can take advantage of Google's impressive "Super Res Zoom" image sharpening for up to 8x zoom on the main sensor. The selfie camera also remains unchanged at 13 MP.

On more expensive Pixel phones, you can take macro shots using the ultrawide lens, which has autofocus. The Pixel 9a doesn't have that, but it can take macro photos with a new AI-assisted feature called Macro Focus. This uses the primary sensor to create a sharper close-up shot. Again, we'll have to see how this performs in real life, as Google hasn't provided many specifics. The phone has other banner Pixel camera features, including Add Me, Night Sight, Face Unblur, astrophotography, and editing features like Best Take and Magic Editor.

Android, updates, and availability

The software experience should hew close to the more expensive Pixel 9 phones. The phone will launch with Android 15, and it's guaranteed seven years of OS updates. That will include an update to Android 16 in June, as well as regular Pixel Drop releases every few months with new features.

This phone has most of the features we've come to know on the flagship Pixels, like Call Screen, Recorder summaries, and Gemini Live. Google says this phone runs Gemini Nano, helping it process data more securely on your device instead of the cloud.

Google notes this is the only phone in its price range with Gemini Nano for local AI processing, but the list of supported features is lacking—we've asked Google for a full accounting of AI features and will report what we get. Gemini is still at the core of the experience, though. Google's flagship phones include a free year of Gemini Advanced, but there will be no such deal on the Pixel 9a.

If you're interested in the newest Pixel, you may have to wait a bit. Google hasn't nailed down an exact release date yet, saying only that the phone should be available in April. Preorder details will be made available soon.

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Recently, it was reported that Samsung has finalized April as the month when it will begin rolling out the stable One UI 7 update. Now, the company has officially announced the date when eligible Samsung Galaxy models will pick up the Android 15-based One UI 7 update.

In an official newsroom post, Samsung has confirmed that the One UI 7 update will officially be rolling out on April 7, and will expand to more devices in the following weeks. However, the company did not state that the roll-out may vary by market. This is great news for all Samsung Galaxy users, as they will finally get to experience one of the biggest One UI updates in recent years.

Samsung has also shared a list of devices that are eligible for the One UI 7 update. Check out the list below:

• Galaxy S24
• Galaxy S24+
• Galaxy S24 Ultra
• Galaxy S24 FE
• Galaxy S23
• Galaxy S23+
• Galaxy S23 Ultra
• Galaxy S23 FE
• Galaxy Z Fold6
• Galaxy Z Flip6
• Galaxy Z Fold5
• Galaxy Z Flip5
• Galaxy Tab S10+
• Galaxy Tab S10 Ultra
• Galaxy Tab S9
• Galaxy Tab S9+
• Galaxy Tab S9 Ultra

The first devices in line to pick up the official One UI 7 update include the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy Z Fold6, and Galaxy Z Flip6. Note that the above doesn't mean that One UI 7 will be exclusive to the aforementioned models. Older Galaxy models will pick up One UI 7 update gradually.

More importantly, all One UI 7 features, including Now Bar, Writing Assist, Drawing Assist, AI Select, new icons, and new UI, will be available to all eligible Galaxy models; the Audio Eraser feature will be exclusive to the Galaxy S24 series, Galaxy S24 FE, Galaxy Z Fold6 and Z Flip6, and Galaxy Tab S10 series.

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As Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman writes in his Power On newsletter, Apple has considered ditching the USB-C port with the upcoming iPhone 17 Air and launch its first-ever port-free iPhone. This move, while requiring users to rely solely on wireless charging, could lead to a sleeker, more streamlined device. Additionally, syncing data with iCloud remains the only pathway to access information.

iPhones have long been using Lightning ports to charge and download information. However, Apple opted for USB-C with the iPhone 15 lineup - primarily due to EU regulatory pressure - and it might finally ditch all ports from its iPhones in the coming years. As Gurman says, Apple finally decided to keep the USB-C on iPhone 17 Air to prevent further disputes with EU regulators.

While a bold move like ditching the charging port from a device will be controversial for Apple, it might soon become an industry standard, and other manufacturers will take the same path. Remember when Apple eliminated the 3.5mm headphone jack in 2016 with the iPhone 7? Many rival firms, industry experts, and even customers criticized Apple for making such a change, but soon after, other firms also followed Apple’s footprint and removed the headphone jack from their devices.

It seems that Apple’s customer base is also ready for the change. Apple has been experimenting with the idea of relying solely on wireless charging with the Apple Watch lineup, and it might replicate that for the iPhones as well.

Other models of the iPhone 17 lineup are expected to keep their USB-C port too. Meanwhile, Gurman says Apple executives have stated that if the new iPhone 17 Air proves successful, more port-free and slimmer iPhones might be down the road in the coming years.

What do you think about a port-free iPhone 17 Air? Should Apple keep the USB-C or switch to wireless charging?

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Last year, the ferrochrome-dev-option tag in Android Open Source Project (AOSP) hinted at a new Android's Linux Terminal app via a string, and with the March 2025 Pixel update, the stable version of the app was released. This terminal app is based on Debian and runs in a virtual machine via the Android Virtualization Framework, allowing users to have a portable version of a Linux distro. However, the app lacked one of the most common yet useful features: adding multiple tabs.

Android Authority's Android enthusiast, Mishaal Rahman, noticed that Android 16's third beta has brought about UI changes by adding Tab Strips. By clicking on +, users can now add multiple tabs, multitask, and even execute sudo commands. The publication was able to add up to 12 tabs without any issues. However, once the tab is created, it cannot be rearranged or renamed: only deleted.

Take a look at the new user interface of the Terminal app:

Additionally, the third beta has added the "Display" button, as you can see at the top-right corner. As for now, the Display button is non-functional, and its exact role is not clear. Mishaal Rahman suspects it to run graphical Linux applications.

As mentioned earlier, Android's Linux Terminal app lacks tab rearrangements and tab renaming, but this could be simply because of its fresh inclusion. With the subsequent updates, the Terminal app should have more convenient features.

Those who would like to try out the new Terminal app can enable developer options and toggle Linux Development Environment: Settings > System > Developer Options > Linux development environment. The system will ask you to install a 560MB+ Debian image package.

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That means the API surface is locked, the app-facing behaviors are final, and developers can push their Android 16-targeted apps to the Play Store right away.

This release marks the final stage of preparation for Android 16. Developers should take note of a few key updates as they continue refining their apps.

Here are some of the highlights in Android 16 Beta 3:

• Broadcast audio support: Pixel 9 devices now support Auracast broadcast audio with compatible LE Audio hearing aids. This is part of Android's push to enhance audio accessibility in public venues like airports, concerts, and classrooms.

   

• Outline text for maximum text contrast: Users with low vision now have a better experience thanks to the new outline text feature. Instead of the older high contrast text, Android 16 now draws a larger contrasting area around text to improve legibility. If you are working with custom text rendering or maintaining a UI Toolkit library, make sure to use the new AccessibilityManager APIs to detect if this mode is enabled.

   

• Local Network Protection testing: This beta introduces the ability to test the Local Network Protection (LNP) feature, which will eventually require apps to ask for a specific permission for local network access. In Beta 3, it is an opt-in feature. You can test it by running the following adb command:

   

  adb shell am compat enable RESTRICT_LOCAL_NETWORK

  After rebooting your device, your app will have restricted local network access. Expect socket errors like EPERM or ECONNABORTED if your app tries to access the local network without the necessary permission.

   

Google notes that several changes may affect apps when targeting Android 16, including stricter quotas on JobScheduler, updates to Bluetooth bond loss handling, and adjustments to core functionalities.

Android 16 is set for a major release in Q2 2025, with another API update coming in Q4. The Q2 release will be the only one this year that introduces behavior changes affecting apps, while the Q4 update will focus on new features, optimizations, and bug fixes without making any changes that could break existing apps.

Google is sticking with its quarterly update cycle, with smaller Q1 and Q3 updates aimed at improving stability. At the same time, extra effort is going into getting the Q2 release on as many devices as possible.

To try out Beta 3, you'll need to enroll a supported Pixel device for over-the-air updates or use the 64-bit system images with the Android Emulator in Android Studio. If you're already on Android 16 Beta 2 or part of the Android Beta program, you’ll get the update automatically.

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According to reliable tipster IceUniverse on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, next year's premium flagship, the Galaxy S26 Ultra could feature a variable aperture main camera. If this turns out to be true, Samsung will have a major feature to highlight in its marketing materials next year.

Variable aperture isn't a new technology and it has already been used by Samsung on the Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9+ back in 2018. Variable aperture allows the camera lens to be more versatile as it will be able to handle bright and low light situations equally well.

This would also help the Galaxy S26 Ultra produce better images, as the variable aperture can adjust to let in optimal amount of light for best quality shots. As mentioned previously, Samsung did use this technology for a couple of years but ditched it in favor of more capable camera lenses.

Notably, the Galaxy S9 and S9+'s main camera could switch between f/1.5 for low light conditions and f/2.4 for bright lighting conditions. The Galaxy S10 series also feature this technology but it was removed from later models.

Since Samsung has started using a 200MP main camera with the Galaxy S23 Ultra, the use of variable aperture will only elevate the picture quality. Plus, the AI skills and other imagery technology will bring out the best in the Galaxy S26 Ultra—if tuned well. For now, these are just rumors and we would suggest you to take this with a hint of salt.

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But Apple is also speculated to be working on a foldable iPad Pro. Speculations about this foldable iPad Pro with a 20-inch screen first emerged back in December 2024, and now a fresh leak has shared an interesting detail about the product.

This piece of information comes from Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station aka DCS. In a post on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, DCS has claimed that the prototype of the foldable iPad Pro features an under-display Face ID, which would mean that the device will have an uninterrupted display, eliminating the need for the Dynamic Island.

The leaker writes, "The engineering version has an 18.8-inch screen and uses a metal meta-lens. It mainly integrates Face ID Rx and Tx for under-screen 3D face recognition." But that's all the information DCS provided about the alleged foldable iPad Pro prototype. Previously, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has also suggested that Apple's giant tablet would arrive by 2028. Apple reportedly doesn't want its foldable iPad to have a display crease.

Under-display Face ID has been rumored for future iPhones for years. If this leak signals real progress, we may finally be able to see Apple utilizing under-display technology on iPhones. There were also rumors about Apple working on a foldable MacBook, which is rumored to arrive sometime in 2027 or 2028.

For now, it is unclear, which will be Apple's first foldable device—an iPhone or an iPad? Or perhaps Apple isn't planning to release a foldable product in the near future. Only time will tell.

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Google didn't explain exactly why it shipped a mandatory software update to the Pixel 4a, an Android phone from 2020, earlier this year. The nature of that update, which gave some models all but unusable battery life, provided some clues, as did later software analysis. But now, Australian authorities have provided a more concrete answer: battery overheating and fire risk.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's (ACCC) Product Safety arm issued a recall for the Pixel 4a late last week. The reason, the commission said, is that Google's firmware update and battery changes served to "mitigate the risk of overheating" because "an overheating battery could pose a risk of fire and/or burns to a user."

Do you own this product?

Credit: ACCC Product Safety

In the US and elsewhere, Google's messaging did not use the term "recall." Google stated on its "Pixel 4a Battery Performance Program" page that "certain" Pixel 4a models "require a software update to improve the stability of their battery’s performance," which also "reduces available battery capacity and impacts charging performance." Google said it is still safe to charge a Pixel 4a.

A Google spokesperson provided a statement to Ars regarding the ACCC notice. Of note is the point that Pixel 4a devices with hampered batteries are still, technically, usable; the ACCC does not make a point of suggesting owners stop using the device:

Recently, the ACCC published a voluntary recall notice to Australian consumers regarding a battery performance issue that affected a limited subset of Pixel 4a devices. In January, Google announced and rolled out an automatic firmware update to address the issue. Owners should ensure that their device firmware is up to date, and they can continue using their devices. In addition, customers can check here to see if they are eligible for an appeasement from Google.

Australia's notice does not offer any remedies beyond what Google has offered and functionally serves as notice that it's important to update the devices. The notice includes links to Google's device checker and appeasement options—a $50 USD payment, a battery replacement, or Google Store credit. Google's support page states that its update and remedy options are separate from statutory rights provided in various countries.

Google's update to affected Pixel 4a devices drastically reduced their charging potential, essentially by half. One Ars staffer saw their Pixel 4a battery life drop to less than two hours on a full charge. Code in the updated Pixel 4a kernel, examined by noted hardware analyst Hector Martin, suggested that batteries had either "ATL" or "LSN" profiles. Those with the LSN tag—potentially the battery cell maker Lishen—had their charging capacities capped.

This post was updated at 1:30 pm ET with a response from Google.

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Now, leakster IceUniverse has shared some more information about the Galaxy S25 Edge, along with what they claim to be an "accurate render." According to a post on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), the screen size of the device will be 6.656 inches and the bezel on the Galaxy S25 Edge will be similar to that of the Galaxy S25 Ultra, which, for the record, are quite thin.

This also means that the bezels on the Galaxy S25 Edge will be narrower than the Galaxy S25+. Based on this and previous information, Galaxy fans will get two options to choose from at the same price point—the Galaxy S25+ and the Galaxy S25 Edge.

While the Galaxy S25 Edge will feature a slimmer profile, a 200MP primary camera, a narrow bezel, a ceramic back panel, and slightly less weight—all for an alleged starting price of $999—the Galaxy S25+ will be a bit bulkier, with comparatively thicker bezel and a 50MP primary camera, for the same price.

IceUniverse has also shared a CAD render video of the iPhone 17 Air, which is Apple's answer to the Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge. The device's design is similar to what we've heard from previous rumors.

The iPhone 17 Air features a single camera in a rectangular camera module that extends along the top of the width of the device. The iPhone 17 Air appears thin—purported to measure 5.5mm—making it even thinner than the Galaxy S25 Edge, which is tipped to measure 5.84mm.

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Google released its scheduled March Pixel Drop earlier this week, adding AI scam detection, multi-camera streaming, and—possibly—buggy haptics. Pixel owners have been grumbling about the feel of vibrations, which have been described as "springy" and "hollow." Others say the haptics have gotten distractingly harsh in some places.

Android devices have long trailed Apple when it comes to haptic feedback—the latter's Taptic Engine generally puts other phones to shame with its power and precision. However, Google has made great progress with Pixel phones. It occasionally gloats about how much Pixel haptics have improved. It would seem that this attention to detail is not born out in the latest update, though.

Some of this confusion may be down to the addition of notification cooldown, a feature that was previously only in the Android 16 beta. This opt-out feature aims to reduce the annoyance of receiving multiple notifications in quick succession. The first ping you get in a two-minute period will be normal, but if you get another within a few seconds, it will have lower volume and vibration intensity. It tapers off until notifications don't make any additional fuss. You can still find all those notifications in their usual home in the drop-down shade.

The unexpected appearance of notification cooldown, along with smaller changes to haptics globally, could be responsible for the complaints. Maybe this is working as intended and Pixel owners are just caught off guard; or maybe Google broke something. It wouldn't be the first time.

The unexpected appearance of Notification Cooldown in the update might have something to do with the

reports—it's on by default.

Credit: Ryan Whitwam

In 2022, Google released an update that weakened haptic feedback on the Pixel 6, making it so soft that people were missing calls. Google released a fix for the problem a few weeks later. If there's something wrong with the new Pixel Drop, it's a more subtle problem. People can't even necessarily explain how it's different, but most seem to agree that it is.

After testing several Pixel phones both before and after the update, there may be some truth to the complaints. The length and intensity of haptic notification feedback feel different on a Pixel 9 Pro XL post-update, but our Pixel 9 Pro feels the same after installing the Pixel Drop. The different models may simply have been tuned differently in the update, or there could be a bug involved. We've reached out to Google to ask about this possible issue and have been told the Pixel team is actively investigating the reports.

Updated on 3/7/2025 with comment from Google. 

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Unlike the tablet experience, where a dedicated 2x3 grid-style "glanceable hub" was available by swiping in from the right, the phone version will feature a more compact, single-column layout. Google explained that the design choice was made with an eye toward simplifying the experience for the narrower displays of most smartphones.

However, the method of accessing lock screen widgets will differ from the tablet approach. Instead of a swipe, users will now be able to access the lock screen widget experience by placing their phone on a charger or docking it. Future updates may include the ability to access the widgets by simply holding the phone upright on a kickstand.

Although the interface will be different on phones and tablets, the functionality will remain the same. Android users will be able to manage smart home devices, set timers, view financial information, and access a variety of other widgets from the lock screen without unlocking the phone. Also, widgets on the lock screen will have the same requirements as any other widget on Android.

Google goes on to say that developers will also benefit from this change, as the new lock screen widget support will apply to all Android widgets without the need for additional code. However, they will need to declare the android:showWhenLocked attribute to allow their widgets to launch activities without user authentication.

Google emphasized that lock screen widgets will be available in AOSP (Android Open Source Project) for phones and tablets starting with the post-Android 16 QPR1 release, which will be available in late summer 2025.

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