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- Saturday November 09
- 01:51 pmTwelve South PlugBug Find My Charger review: slim USB-C charger you should never lose
Macworld At a glanceExpert's Rating Pros 2 or 4 USB-C ports Built-in Find My locator Slim charger International Travel Set available Cons Our Verdict Twelve South PlugBug With Find Me is a great travel charger with a built-in locator to give you peace of mind that you should never lose your trusty charger again. Price When Reviewed This value will show the geolocated pricing text for product undefined Best Pricing Today Price When ReviewedFrom $69.99 Best Prices Today: Twelve South PlugBug with Find My Retailer Price $69.99 View Deal Twelve South $69.99 View Deal $79.95 View Deal Price comparison from over 24,000 stores worldwide Product Price Price comparison from Backmarket We have reviewed a lot of USB-C charger, from tiny ones you could lose in a pocket to giant desktop chargers with enough ports for every device you own. While we’d never forget where the big desktop charger is situated, the smaller and more portable chargers have a frustrating habit of disappearing… “Can I borrow your charger for a minute?” is the plaintive plea that most charger owners will hear every now and again or far too frequently in a large office or family. That minute can stretch far enough to the point where when you next need to charge your phone or laptop you suddenly find it’s not where it should be—maybe your colleague or family member didn’t even ask you and just took it “for a minute”. Short of taping an AirTag onto your charger you have little option but to go hunt the office or house for it. Or maybe you left it in a suitcase that has gone missing. Accessory maker Twelve South has a cunning product that could make that hunt all the easier. Its PlugBug With Find My charger has a locator built into it. It’s hidden away in a back compartment, so looks better than a sleek charger with an AirTag strapped on. It works just like an AirTag, and you set it up the same way and check for it in the Find My app’s Items section. You can make it sound an alert and all the other features available to Find My app items. Like the AirTag it requires a replaceable battery—one is included—that is easy to swap out when it runs out in a couple of years. Not just a big AirTag The principal purpose of the PlugBug is as a USB-C wall charger, and it comes in two models. Twelve South The PlugBug 50 has two USB-C ports, each rated at 50W. Use both at the same time and one will charge at 30W and the other at 20W. 50W is powerful enough to charge a MacBook Air. MacBook Pro owners would be better served with the more powerful 120 model. The PlugBug 120 has four USB-C ports, each rated at 120W. Use all four at the same time and they will charge at 50W, two at 25W and the last one at 20W, or one 50W, two 20W and one 25W. Three might configure as 65/35/20W, and two at 70/30W. The charger detects dynamically delivers the right amount of fast charging power to each device being charged so you don’t have to worry about which port to connect each device to. Design The PlugBug With Find My is long but thin so is especially suitable in those hotel rooms with power sockets tucked into hard to reach places behind desks or nightstands. It features a fetching red section that makes it visually easy to spot, too—which could come in handy when you try to distinguish it in a busy café or airport environment. While the PlugBug is a more than capable home charger, it is especially useful on your travels. The U.S. model has folding prongs for extra travel slimness. (Exclusive to PlugBug Travel) Includes switchable adapter plugs for US, UK, EU, AU, KR and CN with travel case The PlugBug 50 measures 3.3 x 1.9 x 0.9 inches (8,3 x 4.9 x 2.2cm), and weighs 3.9oz (110g). The PlugBug 120 measures 4.1 x 2.4 x 1.2 inches (10.4 x 6 x 3.1cm), and weighs 8.8oz (250g). Twelve South The U.K. and E.U. versions ship with plugs attachments for both regions. The U.S. model features just the foldable North American prongs. Apple sells an exclusive Twelve South PlugBug Travel Set, which includes interchangeable international adapters for U.S., U.K., E.U., AU, KR and CN and a travel case, for both the 2-port and 4-port models ($79.95 and $129.95). Price In the U.S. the PlugBug 50 costs $69.99 and the PlugBug 120 is priced at $119.99, direct from Twelve South or via Amazon. See also the value-for-money Travel Set sold excusively through the Apple Store. In Canada the two models are priced C$99.99 and C$169.99. In the U.K. its £69.99 and £119.99. And in the E.U. it’s 79,99 and 139,99 Euros. For more USB-C charging options check out our recommendations for the best iPhone chargers and best MacBook chargers. Verdict We thought we’d seen it all from the wide range of USB-C chargers but the powerful Twelve South PlugBug With Find Me is a great travel charger with a built-in locator to give you peace of mind that you should never lose your trusty charger again. It won’t stop you forgetting it and leaving it at home only to slam into your thoughts as your reach the airport or hotel, but at least you’ll know exactly where it is.01:35 pmToday in Apple history: Turnaround artist Gil Amelio joins Apple’s board
On November 9, 1994, future CEO Gil Amelio joined Apple's board. Everyone in Cupertino hopes he can turn around the struggling company. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)10:03 amPolice Freak Out at iPhones Mysteriously Rebooting Themselves, Locking Cops Out
Law enforcement officers are warning other officials and forensic experts that iPhones which have been stored securely for forensic examination are somehow rebooting themselves, returning the devices to a state that makes them much harder to unlock, 404 Media is reporting, citing a law enforcement document it obtained. From the report: The exact reason for the reboots is unclear, but the document authors, who appear to be law enforcement officials in Detroit, Michigan, hypothesize that Apple may have introduced a new security feature in iOS 18 that tells nearby iPhones to reboot if they have been disconnected from a cellular network for some time. After being rebooted, iPhones are generally more secure against tools that aim to crack the password of and take data from the phone. "The purpose of this notice is to spread awareness of a situation involving iPhones, which is causing iPhone devices to reboot in a short amount of time (observations are possibly within 24 hours) when removed from a cellular network," the document reads. Apple did not provide a response on whether it introduced such an update in time for publication. Read more of this story at Slashdot.08:05 amHow much MacBook do you really need?
Macworld With the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro, Apple offers standard configurations to make it easy to pick a laptop. They seem straightforward, but if you start to think about all the things you do on a Mac–whether you’re a student or a professional–you can start to wonder about which model to choose and maybe even find it difficult to decide. It’s a decision you don’t want to take lightly. You’re investing a considerable amount of money, and you don’t want to end up with a Mac that isn’t up to the task or a Mac that has more than you need. This guide was created to help shoppers figure out what to look for when buying a MacBook. We’ll cover the main components you need to consider: the CPU, the GPU, the amount of unified memory (RAM), the SSD, the display, the battery, and the ports. We’ll go over what your use case may be, and which component configurations would work best to help you get the most bang for your buck. The M System on a Chip overview: CPU, GPU, unified memory, SSD Let’s first start with a brief overview of the heart of every Mac: the M System on a Chip. It’s called a System on a Chip (SoC, or just “chip”) because, unlike past chips, it has more than just a CPU that does the main job of processing work. It also houses the graphics processors (GPUs), the unified memory (a combination of CPU and GPU RAM), and the SSD for file storage. In the past, these were all separate components. Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M3, 256GB/16GB RAM, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,099 Best Prices Today: $1,024 at Amazon$1099 at B&H$1099 at Best Buy Apple 15-inch MacBook Air (M3, 256GB/16GB RAM, 2024) Price When Reviewed: $1,299 Best Prices Today: $1,229.55 at Amazon$1299 at Best Buy A benefit of having all these components under one unified part is that it helps with performance and power efficiency. A drawback is that the user cannot upgrade the components after purchase. So, it’s even more important than before to carefully consider the specifications you need for what you do. CPU: Processing cores and how many you should get The Central Processing Unit (CPU) is the main data processing component and is divided into processing cores. There are two types of cores, which Apple divides into performance and efficiency cores. Generally, the more cores in a CPU, the faster the processing speed. Apple currently offers five CPU models in its MacBooks: the M2, M3, M4, M4 Pro, and M4 Max. The M2 and M3 has the lowest CPU core count, while the M4 Max has the highest. Which one is right for you? Let’s break it down based on tasks. M2 (8-core CPU with 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores): a good chip for everyday usage and can handle tasks in media editing apps. M3 (8-core CPU with 4 performance and 4 efficiency cores): you do the usual everyday tasks and work, which includes web browsing, light productivity apps (Pages, Numbers, Keynote, Microsoft Office), media streaming, light gaming, easy media production (iMovie, GarageBand). M4 (10-core CPU with 4 performance and 6 efficiency cores): a lot like the M3, but a bit faster. M4 Pro (12- or 14-core CPU with 8 or 10 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores): you are regularly performing work that’s a bit more in-depth, such as complex Excel spreadsheets, multi-layer image editing, and creation in Photoshop or other graphics apps, production of video and audio shorts, databases, serious gaming. M4 Max (14- or 16-core CPU with 10 or 12 performance cores and 4 efficiency cores): you make a living as a media producer (Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Autodesk Maya, etc.), software developer, or any other work that requires multitasking and long hours with heavy work. Keep in mind that the base M4 is robust enough to handle the tasks that the M4 Max is designed for–it just takes longer to finish. If you only occasionally need to do those high-end jobs or you’re learning how to do them, you can live with the M4. The M3 and M3 chips offer different CPU, GPU, memory, and SSD configurations.Macworld.se GPU: Graphics processing power The GPU (graphics processing unit) is primarily used for rendering graphics and video on the screen. However, because GPUs offer parallel processing, a GPU can be used for other jobs, including AI, though the NPU (which is the same across all MacBooks) handles much of that workload. As with the CPU, the GPU has processing cores, and the more cores, the better the performance. Apple partners the increase of CPU cores along with the increase of GPU cores, so you don’t have to worry about, say, getting a M3 Pro chip with not enough CPU cores. Which one is right for you? Let’s break it down based on tasks. M2 (8-core CPU): capable of everyday tasks and casual games. M3 (8- or 10-core GPU): general tasks and everyday work, media streaming, easy media production, light gaming. M4 (10-core GPU): like the M3, general tasks and everyday work, media streaming, easy media production, light gaming. M4 Pro (16- or 20-core GPU): moderate to serious media production and gaming. M4 Max (32- or 40-core GPU): professional-level media production and hard-core gaming. Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) Price When Reviewed: $1,599 | $1,799 | $1,999 Best Prices Today: $1,549 at Amazon$1599 at Apple$1599 at B&H Read our full Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4) review Apple 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) Price When Reviewed: $1,999 | $2,399 Best Prices Today: $1,949 at Amazon$1999 at Apple$1999 at B&H 14-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max) Price When Reviewed: $3,199 Best Prices Today: $3,132.51 at Amazon$3199 at Apple$3199 at B&H Unified memory: More RAM is always better Apple’s M chips use unified memory, which is where the chip reads and writes the data it is working on. It’s called “unified memory” because it’s used by both the CPU and GPU. It’s often referred to as RAM (random access memory). (Traditionally, “RAM” referred to the memory used by the CPU only, and the GPU used video RAM or VRAM). Each M-series chip comes with a standard configuration of unified memory. Here are the standard memory configurations Apple offers and where you may want to upgrade. 16GB: Good enough if you’re doing general productivity work, internet access media streaming, and easy media production. 24GB or 32GB: Nice amount for moderate media production, graphic work, podcasting, and gaming. Even for people who don’t do processor-intensive work, this is a better fit. Above 32GB: Professional-level graphics and media production, software development, hardcore gaming. Remember, you can’t add RAM later, so make sure you consider spending a little more to customize your Mac at purchase. For example, the M3’s standard configuration is 16GB, but an option for 24GB is available for $200. It’s not cheap, but we recommend getting as much memory as you can afford. You can’t go wrong with opting for more memory than the standard configuration–it helps with performance. When Apple originally introduced the MacBook Air in March 2024, the standard configurations came with 8GB of RAM. When Apple introduced the M4 series of MacBook Pro in October 2024, it increased the base standard configuration to 16GB. The MacBook Air also got the boost without a price increase. So, now all MacBooks have a minimum of 16GB of RAM with some standard configurations that have more. SSD: file storage The Mac uses a solid-state drive (SSD) to store your files, apps, and other data. But in addition to data storage, the SSD can play a role in a Mac’s performance. The larger the capacity, the better the performance, mostly in instances that involve very large files. The higher the SSD capacity, the more NAND chips Apple uses. The more chips in use, the faster the performance, because the data can be accessed in parallel. For example, a 10GB file saved over four SSD chips is faster than the same file saved over two SSD chips. For smaller files used by most people, the difference is still there but isn’t noticeable. So there are two considerations for the SSD size: How much room you need, and how big are the files you create. With that in mind, here are some recommendations. 256GB: General productivity work, internet access media streaming, and easy media production. 512GB: Frequent work in iMovie, GarageBand, and other consumer-level media production apps. 1TB or more: Professional media production in apps such as Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Compressor, etc., software development, graphics. These considerations don’t involve photos that can accumulate quickly and take up a lot of space or the Photos app. If you like having local access to your photos, consider an external storage device. This also doesn’t consider cloud storage, such as iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, and other services. You don’t want to work directly on files in cloud storage because it’s not an efficient way to work. But cloud storage is a viable way to manage the space on an SSD–you can move files you won’t need immediately to the cloud. The MacBook Air (left) has an LED display,. while the MacBook Pro (right) has a Mini LED screen.Foundry Display: Looks are everything Apple uses different display technology for the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. The Air uses a tech that’s more affordable to implement, and it looks good, but it doesn’t look as good as the tech used for the MacBook Pro. Of course, you’ll pay more for the better Pro quality. Here are the two display technologies and who they are suited for. LED (MacBook Air): General-purpose use, but it can also handle consumer-level video and photo editing that you would do in apps such as Photos, Adobe Photoshop Elements, iMovie, etc. Also good for steaming videos from YouTube, Apple TV+, Netflix, etc., and moderate gaming. Mini LED (MacBook Pro): Serious video and photo editing and graphics work in pro-level apps (Final Cut Pro, Adobe Photoshop, etc.) where color and detail are important. Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) Price When Reviewed: $2,499 | $2,899 Best Prices Today: $2,449.99 at Amazon$2499 at Apple$2499 at B&H Read our full Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Pro) review Apple 16-inch MacBook Pro (M4 Max) Price When Reviewed: $3,499 | $3,999 Best Prices Today: $3,422.51 at Amazon$3499 at Apple$3499 at B&H Battery life: All-day work The MacBooks offer excellent battery life that will last all day long. However, the different chips affect the duration because a chip that offers more processing prowess requires more battery power. There are also lots of considerations to think about regarding your specific use case. Here’s a look at how the different MacBooks compare and our recommendations. M3 MacBook Air: Apple cites the same battery life numbers for both the 13- and 15-inch models since both laptops have a 52.6-watt-hour battery (up to 18 hours), though you’ll probably get a little more battery with the 13-inch model due to the smaller screen. Either way, that’s the battery is long enough to last a whole day doing general-purpose work, access the internet, and work in Pages, Keynote, or Microsoft Office. You can even do light media work in iMovie or GarageBand, but heavier jobs will tax the battery. M4, M4 Pro/Max MacBook Pro: The 14-inch MacBook Pro has a 72.4-watt-hour battery; the M4 can last up to 24 hours, while the M4 Pro/Max lasts up to 22/18 hours. The 16-inch MacBook Pro is rated at 100-watt-hours, and the M4 Pro can last up to 24 hours, while the M4 Max lasts 21 hours. Since the Pro laptops are bigger than the Air, the battery is bigger. If you’re doing production-type work while on location and you can’t plug in, the Pro is the one to get, even if it’s bigger/heavier than the Air. Ports: Making connections All of Apple’s MacBooks have Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports, a MagSafe port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. But that’s where the commonality ends. Here’s what you need to know. MacBook Air: Two Thunderbolt/USB 4 ports. That’s because the Air is meant to serve primarily as a travel buddy in situations when you aren’t connecting too many devices–maybe an external Thunderbolt/USB-C display for presentations, or a drive to save/transfer files. The Thunderbolt ports conform to the Thunderbolt 3 specification, and while its fast, it is the slowest of the MacBooks. MacBook Pro: As a mobile desktop device, the MacBook Pros have an HDMI port for connecting an external display and an SDXC Card slot for file transfers from a camera or other device. All MacBook Pro models have three Thunderbolt/USB-C ports. However, laptops with the M4 chip have the Thunderbolt 4 implementation, while the M4 Pro and M4 Max chips support Thunderbolt 5, which is the fastest specification. The MacBook Pro has an SDXC Card slot (far left) and HDMI port (far right), which are not on the MacBook Air.Foundry For more information, check out the following guides: Best MacBook 2024: Which MacBook should you buy? MacBook Air vs Pro: Differences between MacBook Air and Pro MacBook Pro comparison: 14- vs 16-inch MacBook Pro M3 MacBook Air: Everything you need to know M3 MacBook Pro: Everything you need to know Apple 13-inch MacBook Air (M2, 256GB/16GB RAM) Price When Reviewed: $999 Best Prices Today: $799 at Amazon$799 at Best Buy$999 at Apple United States05:31 amiPhone 16 DIY repair parts now available from Apple
Apple is now selling repair parts and tools for the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro through its Self Service Repair Store. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)04:55 amHow It Went
Election day, 2024.01:15 amChatGPT is currently down; Siri integration in iOS 18.2 affected
OpenAI’s popular AI chatbot ChatGPT is currently down, making the platform inaccessible to users around the world on Friday night. The outage has also affected integration with Siri in the iOS 18.2 beta as a consequence. more…Friday November 0811:10 pmNew Mac Mini Has Modular Storage, 256GB Model Will Have Faster SSD
According to a partial teardown video of Apple's new Mac mini, the new machine features modular storage that can be removed. "As we saw with the Mac Studio, however, replacing the modular storage is complicated," notes MacRumors. The teardown also reveals two 128GB storage chips in the 256GB model, enabling faster SSD speeds comparable to higher-capacity versions. From the report: The criticism surrounding Apple's decision to use a single 256GB chip in some base-model Macs a few years ago primarily came from a vocal contingent of tech enthusiasts, and the average customer is unlikely to even notice the slower speeds in common day-to-day tasks. Nevertheless, it appears that customers who do want the fastest SSD speeds do not need to worry about which storage capacity they choose when ordering the new Mac mini. Read more of this story at Slashdot.11:10 pmNew Mac Mini Has Modular Storage, 256GB Model Will Have Faster SSD
According to a partial teardown video of Apple's new Mac mini, the new machine features modular storage that can be removed. "As we saw with the Mac Studio, however, replacing the modular storage is complicated," notes MacRumors. The teardown also reveals two 128GB storage chips in the 256GB model, enabling faster SSD speeds comparable to higher-capacity versions. From the report: The criticism surrounding Apple's decision to use a single 256GB chip in some base-model Macs a few years ago primarily came from a vocal contingent of tech enthusiasts, and the average customer is unlikely to even notice the slower speeds in common day-to-day tasks. Nevertheless, it appears that customers who do want the fastest SSD speeds do not need to worry about which storage capacity they choose when ordering the new Mac mini. Read more of this story at Slashdot.11:09 pm9to5Mac Daily: November 8, 2024 – M4 Mac launch day is here
Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players. Sponsored by CardPointers: The best way to maximize your credit card rewards. Save 30% and get a $100 Savings Card today. more…10:45 pmPSA: Be super-careful opening your new M4 iMac
The iMac sits upside down inside its box, relative to the picture on the front. It can be an unwelcome surprise. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)10:23 pmNew Apple Vision Pro study reveals promising performance in radiology
A new study published this week by researchers at the University of California, San Diego highlights how Apple Vision Pro can be used in healthcare settings. In particular, this study sought to compare diagnostic performance when using Apple Vision Pro versus using a desktop. Researchers also touted the “new opportunities for 3D virtualization” and ergonomics offered by Apple Vision Pro. more…10:15 pmNvidia becomes first company to surpass $3.6 trillion market value after President Trump election win | Mac Daily NewsNvidia becomes first company to surpass $3.6 trillion market value after President Trump election win
Shares of Nvidia rallied to a record high on Thursday, making the chipmaker the first company in history to surpass a stock market value… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.09:54 pmiPhone 17 Air: Here’s everything we know so far
According to multiple sources, Apple is planning an all-new iPhone 17 model for 2025 with a dramatic design overhaul. Here’s everything we know so far about the so-called iPhone 17 Air (which could also be called the iPhone 17 Slim or something completely different). more…09:45 pmPrice drop: This 3-in-1 charger is perfect for Apple fans on the road
Need a travel charger for iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods? Get the 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Pad for just $26.97 for a limited time. (via Cult of Mac - Apple news, rumors, reviews and how-tos)09:34 pmIt Doesn’t End
Progress hasn’t stopped, but it’s never easy, and never without backlash.09:02 pmApple supplier Kioxia files for IPO
Bain Capital-backed Kioxia, an Apple NAND flash supplier, filed for an IPO on Friday and sources familiar with the matter said the… The post appeared first on MacDailyNews.09:00 pmHow to start using Image Playground in iOS 18.2 to create funny selfies
Transform your iPhone 16 into a digital art studio with iOS 18.2's Image Playground, the latest tool for creating custom visuals with a few taps.Ninja the cat moves through the house unseenWith the release of iOS 18.2, Apple's Image Playground app offers users an accessible way to create custom digital images, sparking creative possibilities for iPhone owners. Part of Apple's expanding Apple Intelligence suite, Image Playground debuted in developer betas in late 2024.With each update, Apple has strived to make Image Playground more responsive and intuitive, aiming to provide a smoother user experience as the feature matures. In the second developer beta of iOS 18.2, notable improvements are already evident, particularly in rendering speed and the alignment between user prompts and generated images. Continue Reading on AppleInsider | Discuss on our Forums08:40 pmThe new Mac mini has a removable SSD but DIY upgrades won’t be easy
Macworld Apple gets a lot of flack for its non-friendly approach to user repairs and upgrades–you can’t really do them. But there’s a ray of hope with the new Mac mini that started shipping on Friday. In a teardown posted on X, ohgkg shows that the Mac mini’s SSD is on a separate board instead of integrated with the M4 chip. Partial teardown of M4 Mac Mini /w 16GB RAM & 256GB SSD. Interesting revealation [stet]: Wifi chip & antenna on the back of bottom air intake. SSD on a daughter board. And even the base 256GB version comes in two chips. No compromise in speed. Theoretically also end user upgradable. ohgkg via X, November 8, 2024 On X, L0vertodream also posted on X a Mac mini teardown. L0vetodream states that “it is indeed a 1-slot dual-slot with a maximum particle size of 1TB. It uses a BGA315 hard disk and the maximum upgrade capacity can be up to 2T” (translated). This SSD setup is similar to that of the Mac Studio, which also has separate SSD modules. Ars Technica points out that Apple’s implementation isn’t like that of Windows PCs where the SSD controller is contained with the SSD hardware. Apple’s SSD controller is built into the M-series chip. Because of that, you can’t simply swap out the Mac Studio’s or Mac mini’s SSD with a part bought from Amazon or some computer store. There are other reasons why off-the-shelf parts won’t work, like the possibility that the Mac’s SSD slots have restrictions on the types of modules that can be used. But the simple fact that Apple separated the SSD leaves the possibility of someone figuring out how to perform a DIY SSD upgrade. It would involve figuring out what modules can be used and being able to modify the controller–not easy tasks to do. There’s a Kickstarter for a Mac Studio SSD upgrade but it still requires a bit of work. It’s unclear if these modules will work with the M4 Mac mini. The other big revelation about the Mac mini SSD is that Apple uses two 128GB NAND chips in the 256GB SSD configuration. In the M2 Mac mini, Apple used one 256GB NAND chip, and that hinders performance because there’s no parallel processing as there is with two 128GB chips. With the M3, Apple switched to using two 128GB chips, but the company did not release an M3 Mac mini. Read our in-depth review of the M3 Pro Mac mini.08:32 pmYour iPhone may finally tell you how long it will take to charge
Macworld There are lots of battery-powered devices that can give you an estimate of how much longer they’ll need to stay plugged in until they’re fully charged. It’s not exactly a new feature. MacBooks gives you this info in the Battery menu of Settings or the menu bar, for example. With all the battery management and analysis built into our modern iPhones, it’s kind of remarkable that they don’t do this. Fortunately, a “time to charge” feature may be on the way. 9to5Mac discovered some code in the latest iOS 18.2 beta that points to a new BatteryIntelligence framework. The framework will take into account the amount of charge your battery can hold, its state of charge, and the amount of power it’s receiving from the charger (USB-C or wireless, we assume) and produce an estimate of how much longer it will take for the battery to charge. According to 9to5Mac, users will be able to do things like get a notification stating how long it will take to charge to the current limit (80% or whatever you set it to). I could see Apple incorporating the info into the Dynamic Island, or perhaps on the lock screen. The feature is not yet enabled, so it’s unclear if it will come in iOS 18.2 or a later release. It may also be restricted to specific iPhone models, much like the custom charge limits or other battery features.