At its Unpacked event, Samsung showed off its upcoming "Project Moohan" AR/VR headset, which is designed to compete with the Vision Pro. Some users might even mistake the headset for a Vision Pro, given the design similarities.


Samsung is developing the headset in collaboration with Google, and it will run Google's Android XR operating system. Google introduced Android XR late last year. Android XR and Samsung's headset will support being immersed in a virtual environment or staying present in the real world, similar to how Apple allows ‌Apple Vision Pro‌ users to adjust the Vision Pro immersion level by activating or shutting out the real world passthrough view provided by cameras.


The headset from Samsung will support Google features like Gemini, Google's AI assistant, providing access to device controls and insight into what the wearer is seeing. Samsung has described Project Moohan as "lightweight" and "ergonomically optimized" for "maximum comfort," but no details on weight are available yet.

Project Moohan will be the first headset designed for Android XR, and it is set to launch later in 2025.
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Samsung made a slew of announcements today at its Unpacked 2025 event today, headlined by the Galaxy S25, Galaxy S25+, and Galaxy S25 Ultra.

At the end of the event, however, Samsung also dropped a surprise teaser for its forthcoming ultra-thin Galaxy S25 Edge. Samsung’s teaser comes ahead of Apple’s rumored release of its ultra-thin smartphone, the iPhone 17 Air, later this year.

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When unveiling the new Galaxy S25 lineup today, Samsung did a "one more thing" announcement, introducing an additional Galaxy smartphone that's set to come out later this year. The Galaxy S25 Edge appears to be aimed at the iPhone 17 Air, a rumored ultra thin iPhone that's set to debut this September.

The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge will be thinner than the S25 pictured here

Samsung only teased the Galaxy S25 Edge, but the device is set to launch in the first half of 2025. With a debut date before September, Samsung will beat Apple and will be able to launch a super thin smartphone first.

The Samsung Galaxy Edge is on the right in this comparison photo

Little information is available on the Galaxy S25 Edge, but it appears to be a thinner variation of the Galaxy S25. Samsung plans to price it below the $1300 S25 Ultra, suggesting it will be a middle-tier device with lower specs due to thinness, which is exactly what we're expecting from the ‌iPhone 17‌ Air.


Rumors suggest that Apple's upcoming super thin ‌iPhone‌ will have a 6.6-inch display and a chassis that's somewhere between 5.5mm and 6mm, making it the thinnest ‌iPhone‌ to date. It will have lower battery capacity and a single-lens rear camera due to space constraints, but it will mark Apple's first major ‌iPhone‌ redesign in several years.
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With its One UI 7 update, Samsung is adding support for “Live Notifications” and the “Now Bar,” the company’s take on the “Live Activities” functionality Apple has been building out on iPhone for a while. With the Galaxy S25 now official, Samsung is confirming additional support for apps including Google Maps.

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The fourth-generation iPhone SE will be equipped with a chip that has an identifier of T8140, according to a private account on social media platform X. That identifier is used by both the A18 and A18 Pro chips, and given the iPhone SE is a lower-end device, it is very likely that the device will be equipped with the A18 chip out of those two options.


The account also said the next iPad Air models will have an M3 chip, and that the iPad 11 will have an A16 chip instead of the previously-rumored A17 Pro chip.

The account has a good track record of sharing iOS-related information, but it has had some occasional misses. We continue to respect the account owner's request to not link to its posts, as they wish to remain anonymous and maintain a low profile.

Back in October, 9to5Mac independently reported that the next iPhone SE would be equipped with an A18 chip, so there are now multiple sources claiming this.

Apple will likely announce the new iPhone SE by March or April. Rumored features for the device include a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a USB-C port, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, and the first Apple-designed 5G modem. With the A18 chip, and a rumored 8GB of RAM, the device is also expected to support Apple Intelligence.

The current iPhone SE looks similar to the iPhone 8, with outdated features such as a Touch ID button, Lightning port, and thick bezels around the display. The current iPhone SE has an A15 Bionic chip, so the A18 would be a significant upgrade. Pricing starts at $429, but at least a slight price increase seems probable for the next model.
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Apple is expected to launch the M4 MacBook Air very soon, likely as its first new product of the year. When it arrives, there will be one new feature that could motivate users of the M2 and even M3 models to upgrade: more robust external display support.

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Earlier this month, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said the iPad 11 will support Apple Intelligence, but a new leak has added uncertainty to the rumor.


According to a private account on social media platform X, with a good track record of sharing iOS-related information, the iPad 11 will be equipped with a chip that has the identifier T8120. That identifier corresponds with the A16 chip, which does not support the Apple Intelligence suite of artificial intelligence features. Existing devices with the A16 chip include the iPhone 14 Pro, iPhone 14 Pro Max, iPhone 15, and iPhone 15 Plus.

We continue to respect the account owner's request to not link to its posts, as they wish to remain anonymous and maintain a low profile.

Gurman said to look for the iPad 11 to have the A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, which are currently the minimum iPad specs for Apple Intelligence. The latest iPad mini also has the A17 Pro and 8GB of RAM. However, if the anonymous account is correct, the next entry-level iPad will actually use the A16 chip, which has 6GB of RAM. That means either no Apple Intelligence, or Apple curiously lowers the minimum iPad specs for it.

We don't know who is right here: Gurman, or the anonymous account. Both sources have good track records with Apple rumors, with the occasional miss.

Or, could both sources be right? We are purely speculating, but Apple could end up offering multiple iPad 11 configurations and price points.

Apple will likely announce the iPad 11 by March or April, and no major changes are expected for the device beyond the improved specs. According to Gurman, Apple is also planning to release an updated Magic Keyboard accessory for the iPad 11.
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Samsung today announced the launch of its new Galaxy S25 smartphone lineup, debuting the Galaxy S25, the Galaxy S25+, and its top-of-the-line Galaxy S25 Ultra. The new devices will directly compete with Apple's iPhone 16 lineup, and unsurprisingly, AI is a major focus.

Design

Samsung hasn't made major changes to the look of its Galaxy S25 devices, but the S25 Ultra has rounded edges for a more comfortable grip, and Samsung says that it is the slimmest, lightest, and most durable Ultra device to date. It continues to have a 6.9-inch AMOLED display with a 120Hz refresh rate, while the Galaxy S25+ offers a 6.7-inch display and the Galaxy S25 offers a 6.2-inch display.


The smartphone has a titanium shell and Corning's Gorilla Armor 2 for the front display, which Samsung says is more durable than glass. Gorilla Armor 2 is like Apple's Ceramic Shield, and it is made from a glass-ceramic material that is meant to improve drop protection and cut down on scratches.

Updated Galaxy Chip

All three of the new smartphones are equipped with a customized Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite chip that is built on a 3-nanometer process. There is a 37 percent improvement in CPU performance, a 30 percent improvement in GPU performance, and a 40 percent improvement in neural processing and image processing compared to the S24 lineup. Samsung says that the new chip makes it possible to process more AI experiences on-device, mirroring one of Apple's key artificial intelligence aims.

Samsung added a Vulkan Engine for improved ray tracing to compete with Apple devices on the mobile gaming front, and there is a 40 percent larger vapor chamber along with thermal improvements for better heat dissipation.

Camera Technology

There is a new 50-megapixel ultra wide lens for the S25 Ultra, which joins the 200-megapixel wide lens and the 50-megapixel 5x telephoto lens with 100x space zoom and 10x AI-powered "optical quality" zoom. The upgraded ultra wide lens is an S25 Ultra exclusive, and it makes a big improvement to macro shots.

10-bit HDR recording is a default option, which provides "four times richer color expression" for better detail in any lighting condition. Samsung says that the S25 devices are able to analyze movement and time to better reduce noise, providing clearer low-light videos.

Samsung mimicked an ‌iPhone 16‌ audio feature, adding Audio Eraser for video. Audio Eraser isolates categories of sounds like voices, music, wind, nature, and crowds to tone down or eliminate excess noise. Apple did something similar with Audio Mix for improving the sound captured in videos.

Samsung updated its built-in Filters feature to include new analog filters with a film-like aesthetic for photos and videos, which is akin to Apple's Photographic Styles feature for the ‌iPhone 16‌ models.

There is a new Virtual Aperture option for controlling depth-of-field, and Galaxy Log recording is available for precise color grading for professional video production.

AI Improvements

According to Samsung, the S25 series includes a "true AI companion" that understands the context of user needs and provides personalized AI experiences. Here are the new AI features:

• Personal Data Engine - Uses on-device learning to provide "highly tailored experiences" such as the Now Brief.


• Now Brief - There is a Dynamic Island-like "Now Bar" on the that contains a "Now Brief" that guides users through their day.


• Circle to Search - This existing AI option now supports phone numbers, email, and URLs. You can call, email, or visit a website with a tap.


• Quick GIFs - Circle to Search works in all kinds of new ways. If you circle a video in the YouTube app, for example, you can create a wallpaper or a GIF, adding the number of frames from the video that you want.


• Quicker Photo Editing - Samsung's generative editing features provide suggestions on what to remove from a photo, and the actual removal is an improvement over what's available on the iPhone.


• Actionable searches - The S25 supports interactive search with context-aware suggestions for next steps. When you highlight anything with an Circle to Search, you can get suggested actions.


• Natural language - Samsung says that the S25 series supports a "breakthrough in natural language understanding." Users can ask for things like a specific photo in the gallery, to adjust settings, and more.


• Third-party integration - Gemini, which can be activated by pressing the side button, can perform actions between Samsung apps, Google apps, and third-party apps like Spotify.


• Multi-step commands - Gemini and Galaxy AI work together to complete multiple tasks with a single command. For example, you can ask the S25 to find the next few games for your favorite sports team, and add them to your calendar while also sending a link to a contact.


• Portrait Studio - The Portrait Studio for the camera has been improved for creating personalized avatars that have more true-to-life facial expressions.

One of the main new features is the Now Brief, which can be found in the Now Bar. The Now Bar looks a lot like the ‌iPhone‌'s Dynamic Island, and it displays information from select apps throughout the day. In the morning, it displays a morning brief with sleep scores, top news headlines, weather, and more.


Later in the day, it can provide live sports scores, info from Google Maps, timers, and more. It's also interactive, like the ‌Dynamic Island‌.

Pricing and How to Buy

The Galaxy S25 Ultra is priced starting at $1,300 for 256GB of storage. The S25+ is more affordable at $1,000, and the S25 is priced to compete with the ‌iPhone 16‌ at $800. Samsung also has a new "Galaxy Club" early upgrade program that costs $8.33 per month and eligibility to get a new smartphone every 12 months.

Pre-orders are available for the Galaxy S25 smartphones starting today, with customers able to make a purchase from the Samsung website. Buyers who reserved a device already can apply a $50 discount, and Samsung is offering up to $1,250 in credit for an eligible trade-in plus 15 percent off Samsung Care+, a program that provides $0 screen repairs.

Note that pre-ordering the Galaxy S25 smartphones from the Samsung website offers customers the chance to get exclusive colors. The Samsung-only colors include Titanium Pinkgold, Titanium Jetblack, and Titanium Jadegreen for Ultra models, and Blueblack, Coralred, and Pinkgold for the S25 and 25+.

The Galaxy S25 smartphones will see an official launch on February 7.
This article, "Samsung Launches Galaxy S25 Smartphones With New AI Features" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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I got an early, hands-on look at the new Samsung S25 lineup, most importantly the S25 Ultra. I was curious to see what the best of the best from Samsung was like compared to the Apple counterpart, the iPhone. What really stood out to me about these phones is that we have seemed to reach a peak when it comes to form factor. The rectangular, candy bar design breathes a lot of similarities across both devices and so do the internal specs. So the only thing left here to truly compare is going to be the software, user experience, and, of course, their AI. Let’s get into.

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New information has surfaced that indicates the rumored iPhone SE 4, iPad 11, and new iPad Air models are nearing launch.


A private account on social media platform X today revealed that iOS 18.3 or iPadOS 18.3 will be preinstalled on all of those upcoming devices when they are released. It is still unclear exactly when the devices will launch, but this information suggests that Apple will announce them by March or April, before the release of iOS 18.4 and iPadOS 18.4.

The account, which has a proven track record for iOS information, leaked the build numbers for these iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 versions. We continue to respect the account owner's request to not link to the account in our coverage of its posts.

The leaked builds:

• iOS 18.3 for iPhone SE (4th generation) (22D8062)


• iPadOS 18.3 for iPad 11 and iPad Air (2025) (22D2060)


• iPadOS 18.3 for iPad 11 and iPad Air (2025) (22D2062)

The final iOS 18.3 and iPadOS 18.3 betas were seeded this week, and the software updates are expected to be released next week for existing iPhone and iPad models.

According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, new 13-inch and 15-inch MacBook Air models with the M4 chip will be announced earlier than those other devices, so the new MacBook Air models could end up being Apple's first product announcement of 2025.

The new iPhone SE is said to have a similar design as the base iPhone 14 or iPhone 16. Rumored features for the device include a 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a USB-C port, a single 48-megapixel rear camera, a newer A-series chip and an increased 8GB of RAM for Apple Intelligence support, and the first Apple-designed 5G modem.

The entry-level iPad 11 is rumored to be equipped with the A17 Pro chip and 8GB of RAM, enabling support for Apple Intelligence features.

There have been conflicting rumors about whether the next iPad Air models will be equipped with the M3 chip, or the same M4 chip as the latest iPad Pro models. A recent leak pointed towards the device having an M3 chip.

There are also new Magic Keyboards expected for the iPad 11 and iPad Air.
This article, "iOS 18.3 Leak Provides Clue About iPhone SE 4, iPad 11, and iPad Air 7 Launch Timing" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple Intelligence ‘officially’ is only supported on compatible iPhones, iPads, and Macs, but the Apple Watch also gains select features when paired with a modern iPhone. Here are two key AI features available on your Watch.

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Deals on the 1TB M4 MacBook Pro at $200 off are indeed still live, but today we are moving back over to the M3 MacBook Air – the most affordable 13- and 15-inch models are now also $200 off while open-box listings are as much as $470 off the original prices before the RAM upgrade. For today only, we are also tracking some rare deals on brand new unlocked iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus units from $680, or $119 off the launch prices, joined by return lows on the official Alpine and Trail Loops for Apple Watch Ultra. All of that joins some Sonos home theater deals, charging gear, and more down below. 

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In November, Plex unveiled a redesigned iPhone app with improved navigation, larger artwork, a dedicated section for media libraries, and more. The redesigned app is still in beta, and as of today it can also be tested on the Apple TV.


Apple TV users can download TestFlight from the App Store, and then install the Plex beta. Step-by-step instructions are available on Plex's website.

Plex shared some screenshots of the redesigned Apple TV app, as seen below.


Plex previously said the redesigned app would be available in early 2025, following beta testing, but it has yet to provide a more specific timeframe.

Plex is a popular video player that lets you stream your own media library on a variety of devices, and it also offers ad-supported TV shows and movies.
This article, "Plex Introduces Redesigned Apple TV App That You Can Test Right Now" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple will report its quarterly earnings next week, providing an official look into iPhone 16 sales in the holiday quarter. For now, though, a new report helps inform what we should expect from the sales mix for different iPhone 16 models.

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Amazon today has up to $175 off a collection of Apple's M4 iMac computers, and it's matching a few all-time low prices on the higher-end models. The cheapest M4 iMac available is the 8-core/16GB RAM/256GB 24-inch iMac at $1,194.00, down from $1,299.00.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

You'll also find the 512GB models on sale, and each configuration has multiple colors available at these discounts. For the steepest markdown, Amazon has the 10-core/24GB RAM/512GB 24-inch iMac for $1,724.00 in two colors, down from $1,899.00.

• 8-core/16GB RAM/256GB - $1,194.00, down from $1,299.00


• 10-core/16GB RAM/256GB - $1,349.00, down from $1,499.00


• 10-core/16GB RAM/512GB - $1,549.00, down from $1,699.00


• 10-core/24GB RAM/512GB - $1,724.00, down from $1,899.00

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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It’s not the dream of a full bundle, but some Google One subscribers will soon get a discount on YouTube Premium in the US. Meanwhile, YouTube is starting to test a handful of new features that subscribers can opt-in to.

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Apple's iconic "1984" commercial, which introduced the Macintosh computer to the world, aired 41 years ago today during Super Bowl XVIII.


Directed by Ridley Scott, the advertisement was designed to highlight the Macintosh as a groundbreaking computer that offers freedom and individuality in a market dominated by corporate conformity. It drew inspiration from George Orwell's dystopian novel Nineteen Eighty-Four, with Apple positioning itself as a liberator from the homogenized control represented by the fictional "Big Brother," a veiled allegory for IBM.

The ad concludes with the voiceover stating, "On January 24th, Apple Computer will introduce Macintosh. And you'll see why 1984 won't be like '1984.'"



Despite its eventual acclaim, the commercial faced skepticism within Apple. The board of directors expressed concerns about its unconventional approach, and John Sculley, Apple's CEO at the time, even attempted to sell the purchased Super Bowl ad slots.

While the commercial aired nationally only once, the Macintosh reportedly achieved $3.5 million in sales within months of its launch.
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We yesterday got a look at what is claimed to be the iPhone 17 Air camera bump, and the reaction hasn’t been … overly favorable.

While we don’t know for sure that the photo shows the real thing, our own sources indicate that the design depicted is probably accurate …

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Apple today previewed its all-new retail store at the Miami Worldcenter complex. The store opens this Friday, January 24 at 10 a.m. local time.


Apple says the store was designed with the environment in mind, and to connect customers with the natural world. The store's rooftop is outfitted with a green space that seamlessly blends with the surrounding palm trees and shrubs.

"Apple Miami Worldcenter also features a biophilic design that helps connect customers to the beautiful green spaces surrounding the store," says Apple. "Upon entry, customers and the local community are welcomed by the grounds blooming with plants and flora inspired by the multicultural Latin American influence of Miami."


The use of regionally-sourced materials helped to reduce the carbon footprint of the store's construction, according to Apple.

The store features a combined Genius Bar and Apple Pickup area for technical support and collection of online orders in one place.


There is also an Apple Vision Pro demo area.

For accessibility, the store offers varied table and seating heights, wheelchair-friendly spaces, and a portable hearing loop for use with hearing aids.

Visitors can participate in free Today at Apple creative sessions, including special ones that highlight the store's environment-focused design.
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We’ve today been given a preview of the gorgeous new Apple Miami Worldcenter store ahead of its opening on Friday morning.

The company has highlighted the store’s “biophilic” design, environmental credentials, accessibility features, and multicultural Latin American influence …

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Apple is wrapping up its iOS 18.3 beta cycle, and that means one important thing: iOS 18.4 beta 1 is coming soon. Here’s when to expect it to arrive.

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Plex, the popular media server and streaming app, has a handful of announcements today. The service is adding new discovery and community features for all users and upgraded video streaming quality for Plex Pass users.

Perhaps most notable for Apple users, however, is that Plex is expanding its preview of the all-new Plex experience to Apple TV.

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Philips Hue and other smart bulbs based on the Zigbee standard could soon act as motion sensors without the need for any additional hardware. This would mean they could automatically switch on when someone enters a room without using a separate motion sensor.

Even better, the new functionality looks set to be added to existing Hue bulbs through an update to the Hue Bridge …

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