Apple is short of months to bring the iPad Pro 2022 to market in 2022, but they are said to arrive “in a few days” – and it is said Apple is also working on a new role for all of its iPad tablets.
It comes from the usually reliable Mark Gurman at Bloomberg (opens in a new tab)which claims that the refreshed 11-inch and 12.9-inch iPad Pro will use the latest Apple M2 processor to increase performance by around 20%. The design is said to be similar to the current 11-inch iPad Pro and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro.
Gurman says the new tablets don’t guarantee the actual event – in line with previous predictions – and while he says there is work going on on a new entry-level iPad with USB-C and a revamped design, he doesn’t specify when it will come out (we think it may come at the same time as the iPad Pro).
Gurman has another interesting piece of iPad information to reveal: Apple is apparently also working on an iPad dock accessory that will turn its tablets into smart displays. It won’t be coming this month, but it may come out at some point next year.
This is a market category that we’ve been expecting Apple for a while: previous leaks (also from the same source, incidentally) pointed to a HomePod with display or an Apple TV 4K with display, and now it seems Apple could approach the product under a different angle.
It fits with the approach taken by the Google Pixel Tablet. When the budget plan finally comes out, we know it will come with an accessory that will fundamentally turn it into the Google Nest Hub when the tablet is docked.
Analysis: blurring of smart speaker lines
No wonder Apple plans to launch a dock that turns the iPad into a smart display – an idea so obvious, we even thought about it. The iPad already comes with the Home app and Siri on board, so all the basics are there: all you need is a power source and some extra audio.
As we mentioned, this is the approach Google is taking with its Pixel tablet, but Amazon is already there – Amazon Fire HD boards come with accessories that turn the tablets into Echo Show displays when they’re docked. It’s just a matter of a few interface tweaks.
This means your tablet can perform all the functions you need when you carry it around at home, and at the same time doubles as a home screen when you’re busy doing other things – it’s not that many of us take our tablets from home.
The only problem is that those smart displays that are really just docked may require a new name – to distinguish them from non-detachable smart displays – so any suggestions are welcome. Presumably smart battery-powered displays that can be carried around would be the logical next step …
Microsoft has announced that the new version of DirectStorage will be available to game developers by the end of 2022 and will be an important step forward in accelerating loading times on SSDs.
As you may know, DirectStorage is a feature that first appeared on the Xbox that offers faster loading – and better game resource loading performance in big open world titles – and first appeared on Windows PCs in March.
What Microsoft has now revealed (opens in a new tab) (hat tip to Tom’s gear (opens in a new tab)) is that DirectStorage 1.1, a new version with GPU decompression technology enabled, is coming soon. Although there are still no games that will benefit from this (more – we’ll come back to this, of course, quite important point).
Microsoft has already told us that DirectStorage (DS) will cut load times by up to 40% – for games on high-speed NVMe SSDs running on Windows 11 – and this new DS puzzle piece, GPU decompression, will offer something to triple your time performance loading, the company promises.
Usually decompression (compressed game resources that must be smaller due to their huge size) is run by the CPU, but Microsoft switches that work directly to the GPU.
Microsoft explains: “Graphics cards are extremely efficient at performing repetitive tasks concurrently, and we can use this ability along with the bandwidth of a high-speed NVMe drive to get more work done simultaneously.”
In a Microsoft demonstration, the company showed that when DirectStorage is running with GPU decompression, compared to traditional CPU decompression, “scenes load almost 3 times faster and the CPU is almost completely freed up for use in other game processes.” (Incidentally, in this demo, the CPU only saw 15% of its maximum utilization compared to 100% of its utilization when DS wasn’t in use.)
Now remember that this is a curated and “highly optimized” demo (in Microsoft’s own words), but it certainly promises some serious overall benefits that should make games that support DirectStorage load and run much smoother. -round.
Analysis: Forspoken unfortunately not coming (still)
It’s worth noting that while DirectStorage was created with superfast NVMe SSDs in mind, it will still work with slower SSDs (and even hard drives, to some extent); but the effect will not be as pronounced. The storage acceleration technology will also work well on Windows 10 PCs, but Windows 11 offers advances in storage optimization, again meaning DS offers more impact. (To run the DS, you also need a modern GPU, which is one that supports DX12 and Shader Model 6).
The main catch is that despite the successful progress with DirectStorage, there are still no PC games that actually support the technology. This month we were going to get the first game to show DS, Forspoken, but it was delayed until January 2023 (and has already been retired early so that’s a bit disappointing).
That said, it’s still only a few months – assuming there won’t be any further problems – but even then it’s just one game. It will undoubtedly be a while before the broader support is adopted by PC game developers, but when that happens, it could become an important reason to upgrade to Windows 11 for gamers (and an equally good reason to get an NVMe SSD for those who have not yet made a jump on the front of the magazine).
Windows 12 is likely to be Microsoft’s sequel to Windows 11 – and it may come sooner than you might think.
Rumors suggest that an ingeniously named operating system could arrive in 2024, and the possibility that Windows 12 will arrive shortly after Windows 11 has delighted some of us on TechRadar.
And while this still leaves Microsoft behind the annual updates managed by macOS and some other operating systems, Microsoft’s upcoming “Moments” releases will at least see them refreshed regularly.
Whenever it comes, we’d love to see a bigger evolution compared to what Windows 11 has brought. What improvements and new features can Windows 12 have? Users flooded Microsoft with feature requests, and some of those wishes were fulfilled with Update 2022, which brought an improved taskbar.
With that in mind, here are everything we’ve found so far about the next major Windows update, as well as five features we’d love to see in Windows 12 as well.
Windows 12: Move to Chase
What is this? Windows 12 is supposedly the successor to Windows 11
When will it come out? Possibly 2024 based on a three-year schedule
How much is it? It should be free, just as Windows 11 is currently
Rumors about the release date of Windows 12
It’s still very early days for Windows 11 – we’re not even on an update announcement anniversary. However, for previous versions, we expect Windows 12 to arrive in late 2024, as support for Windows 10 is ending.
Devices supported by Windows 12
When Microsoft announced the availability of Windows 11, the main requirement was that machines had a hardware feature called TPM enabled, which is a security feature found on most motherboards.
While the same requirement will most likely be requested again by Microsoft, it can occur at a point where almost every computer has TPM enabled anyway.
Besides, it will likely have similar requirements to Windows 11:
64-bit processor
Clock rate 1 GHz
4 GB of RAM
64 GB disk
UEFI, secure boot support
TPM 2.0 (Trusted Platform Module)
Display larger than 9 inches with HD resolution (1366×768)
Graphics compatible with DirectX 12 / WDDM 2.x
Internet connection
What do we want to see
We don’t know much about Windows 12 yet, or whether a similar update will become a reality, but we have a good idea of what we want from it, and the following features are at the top of our list.
1. Connect Skype and Teams in MSN Messenger 12
(Photo credit: TechRadar)
It’s no secret that Microsoft’s efforts in video calling and collaboration through messaging applications have been less than brilliant in recent years. At a time when people needed to communicate more remotely, Zoom took the initiative and Skype was surprisingly left out of the way.
While some new features have been introduced in Teams and Skype, there is still some confusion as to which one to use. For example, if you need to attend a Teams interview, you’ll likely need to quickly install the app and make sure it works.
Instead, let’s see them both retire and start a fresh start with Windows 12, with the return of MSN Messenger to do the job that these two apps got stuck with.
Not only would we like to see the return of pokes, blinks, and classic sounds back if users want it, we’d also like to use the advanced features that make it possible with Zoom, Google Meets, and FaceTime. Perhaps it has integration with Slack, so if a video meeting is needed, it can prompt in the channel and with one button it will launch MSN Messenger with the required invitees.
Microsoft needs to reboot as it sees itself in messaging applications, and the return of MSN Messenger could be a great start.
2. Live wallpaper
(Photo source: Wallpaper engine)
A request from TechRadar Senior Computers Editor Matt Hanson, and it’s intriguing. There have been similar features in iPhones and Android phones for several years now, and the animations move across these devices. But for PCs and Macs, they’ve been relegated to third-party apps like Wallpaper engine (opens in a new tab)to have animated wallpapers with the ability to display information from your computer.
In order for something similar in Windows 12, Microsoft could further increase its theming efforts, something that was improved in Windows 11 with dark themes.
Having a dedicated section for wallpapers, where you can put static bytes of information on your desktop, which works with animated animated wallpaper, may appeal to all users.
Microsoft can also bring back previous wallpapers, such as the slope of a Windows XP hill, but animate them, as well as clouds that display battery health or the weather.
This can significantly update your desktop and make it more up-to-date without having to rely on widgets or the taskbar to showcase your changes.
3. Dedicated podcasting application
(Photo credit: Primakov / Shutterstock)
While it was great to see Windows Media Player come back from Microsoft, having additional features like podcasts seems irrelevant to what Media Player is for.
macOS has had its own podcasting app since Big Sur in 2019, but if you want to use a similar app on Windows it’s unclear where to start as Microsoft doesn’t offer a dedicated podcasting app.
Therefore, Windows 12 should include a dedicated podcasting app that can also be used on other platforms such as iOS and Android so that your subscriptions can sync across all your devices.
Podcasts are hugely popular, and managing them all in your own app would be great for Windows users. That’s something that can really help accelerate your company’s efforts to host content on almost any device.
4. Dedicated streaming application
(Photo credit: Razer)
A stormy idea from our regular computer writer Jess Weatherbed, as there is no integrated option to stream what you play with Windows yet.
For years, there have been apps like OBS and Twitch that offer ways to stream what you play or watch with others. However, these apps have always taken extra effort to make sure you’re streaming to viewers in good quality and with low latency.
There is also the added aspect of peripherals that streamers use to show them in a better light, or Stream Decks to easily control their settings with hotkeys.
Managing multiple apps can be overwhelming to control them all, which is why Windows 12 can benefit from having a single app that can manage your streams and peripherals.
Microsoft has been promoting games on Windows 11 since its announcement in June 2021, thanks to a redesigned Xbox app and HDR support. But countless players also stream these games via Windows, so there’s a good chance here.
Having one application to control say, ring lights and streams for viewers is attractive, shifting the burden to one application. It can automate broadcasts based on schedule and games being played, as well as different lighting scenarios for different times of the day.
This could encourage more gamers to see Windows as a service, said Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella since Windows 10 was released in 2015.
5. Companion app for Android
(Image Credit: Samsung)
A suggestion from our TechRadar Pro editor-in-chief, Desire Athow – this could be an extension of the Your Phone application, Microsoft’s efforts to synchronize your mobile with Windows. But when you open this new app in Windows 12, it will have a Windows Phone-like layout and its tile layout, and will also allow you to use your desktop from your phone.
This would be similar to Samsung DeX, which can transform your Galaxy S22 or Galaxy S22 Ultra into a desktop when connected to a peripheral device.
This new app, however, would go beyond the efforts of DeX and Microsoft Your Phone. When connected to a monitor, it would become a full-fledged Windows 12 desktop, presenting everything from the main computer. And when you click the icon, it will download the content from the cloud and display it in its native resolution.
It would be an innovative cloud extension where you can access your files wherever you are. Here you’ll be carrying your desktop computer with you and all you need to do is connect your smartphone to a monitor with touchscreen features or a keyboard and mouse.
As with the streaming feature above, this would again widen Nadella’s plans to see Windows as a service. Having a computer in the application is an enticing thought and can help in those situations where you have a short window to get the job done with a spare monitor, keyboard, and mouse.
Full spoilers for the first season of The Rings of Power. There are also potential spoilers for Season 2.
Celebrimbor actor Charles Edwards wants Season 2 of The Rings of Power to introduce a deeply sculpted dwarf figure and then explore their friendship in more detail.
Speaking exclusively to TechRadar ahead of Episode 8 of The Rings of Power, Edwards revealed how delighted he would be if the next entry in the High Definition Prime Video series featured another dwarf from the Second Age of Middle-earth. The person in question? Narvi, who shares a close friendship with Celebrimbor after the duo worked together at the Durin Door, the famous Khazad-dûm West Gate.
This entrance was built by two blacksmiths in the Second Age, allowing travel and trade routes between Khazad-dûm and Eregion during a prosperous period in Elven and Dwarven relations. However, it was sealed during the War of the Elves and Sauron, thus ending the bonds of the kingdoms. In the Third Age, it becomes the entry point for Frodo and the company to the Mine of Moria in The Fellowship of the Ring.
Celebrimbor helped create the three elven rings in the season one finale. (Photo credit: Prime Video)
Lord of the Rings fans already know that the second season of The Rings of Power will be another elf’s acting debut. This person is Cirdan the Shipwright, one of the oldest elves in existence, who is endowed with one of the eponymous Rings of Power. Cirdan is sure to receive one of these jewelry after forging three elven rings in the finale of the first season of The Rings of Power.
Understandably, Edwards is excited to see Cirdan’s acting role. However, he would be just as delighted, if not more, to see Narvi making his debut on The Lord of the Rings TV show. There is little mention in the source material of the couple’s close bond, so it would be fascinating to see another dwarf-elf friendship through Celebrimbor and Narvi on screen.
Read our recaps of the first season of Rings of Power
Exciting as Narvi’s involvement in Season 2 of The Rings of Power would be, however Edwards is not sure if the dwarf character would be able to appear in the next batch of Prime Video episodes. First of all, a lot would depend on whether the show’s writers and Amazon have the right to bring Narvi into the fold.
“This [Narvi’s introduction] it would be great, Edwards said. “I mean, whether the laws allow it, I don’t know.” I don’t remember when Narvi was mentioned or if he was allowed to be in it.
“But I think creating a door [of Durin] it will be a wonderful thing, however fleeting it may be. Many people do not know who Celebrimbor really is, but they do know The Lord of the Rings and they know the doors from The Fellowship of the Ring. So it would be pretty cool – and Celebrimbor’s name is on the door as well, so yeah, introducing Narvi would be pretty cool to discover. “
Want to read more exclusive Rings of Power stories? Read our chat with Charlie Vickers, who explains when he found out he was going to be playing Sauron. Alternately, find out when the cast found out about the Stranger’s true identity, or find out why the second episode of The Rings of Power nearly ruined Sauron’s disclosure well ahead of schedule.
Indoor cycling has come a long way since the first days when riders mounted their bikes on unstable rollers and stared at the wall for hours during training. Nowadays, smart turbo trainers and connected exercise bikes provide a more enjoyable indoor cycling experience – albeit they are very different from each other. Which one should you get?
Indoor cycling isn’t just a replacement for going outside, but it has several distinct training advantages over going out onto the open road. First, it is more efficient as opposed to getting in and out of traffic; and secondly, an hour on a turbo or smart bike always provides a full hour of structured training.
Moreover, it is easier to do some types of indoor training, such as repetitive intense efforts that would normally result in twisting all over the asphalt. Third, thanks to both virtual classes and training gamification, it’s easy to stay motivated, especially when the weather is gloomy outside.
Of course, to try something like this, you’ll either need your bike and a matching turbo trainer, or one of the latest generation of smart indoor bikes. But what are the advantages of each style?
Advantages (and disadvantages) of turbo trainers
On wheel mount or direct mount versions, you take your regular bike and either drop the rear wheel onto the turbo trainer drum (wheel-on) or take it off and bolt the bike directly to the machine (direct mount). Many modern turbochargers can connect directly to training apps for structured workouts that can be controlled from your phone or tablet.
Some intelligent trainers can simulate the feeling of going uphill with a slope of more than 20% along with the feeling of going freely downhill. Not only that, but they can often stimulate different types of roads as well, making you feel like you’re driving to Paris-Roubaix without leaving the cave of pain.
If you have a Smart TV at home – and enough space to put a turbo-charged road bike in front of it – you can stream workouts that seem almost real, or lose yourself in the virtual world of Watopia (Zwift’s virtual world), which he says users is almost as rewarding as riding in a group in real life.
Turbo trainers such as the Wahoo Kickr Headwind allow you to train indoors on your own bike (Image credit: Wahoo)
When using your own bike, the main benefit of turbo trainers is that you will immediately feel at home in the saddle, as technically you are riding the same bike indoors as outdoors. They are also quiet due to the magnetic resistance and no chains etc. The flip side of this is that your drivetrain and tires (wheeled models) wear out when pedaling, and bikes can also be surprisingly sensitive when sweaty.
In addition, the condition of your bike can affect the level of noise it generates, and a bike that is poorly maintained can be surprisingly squeaky. There is also the fact that you will have to configure everything every time. It doesn’t take too long to assemble the bike; Nevertheless, it is the kind of minor hassle that can weaken your determination to avoid a scheduled session.
While it’s fun to always have your bike set up and ready to ride, not all of us have unlimited space. In this regard, turbo trainers achieve high scores for portability and storage. Since most folds down to a size that will fit under your bed, dedicated cyclists will also appreciate being able to transport them to the competition to warm up in a professional style.
Look out for big names like Tacx, Wahoo or Elite to create products that are great for bringing the feeling of an open road to your showroom or garage. For those looking to track their progress, models with built-in power sensors will also provide direct insight into changing performance.
Advantages (and disadvantages) of smart exercise bikes
The boom in spinning and indoor cycling has seen everyone, from celebrities to professional soccer teams, add indoor riding to their training sessions. There are many static bikes available, ranging from simple models with magnetic resistance to sophisticated spin bikes like the Peloton, but if you’re looking for a really dynamic experience, you need a smart bike.
All indoor bikes have the advantage that they are always ready to ride after the initial setup, which makes them much less cumbersome in everyday use than a turbo trainer. They are surprisingly quiet and wear is hardly a problem. What sets smart bikes apart, however, is their ability to automatically change resistance levels in real time based on data from a connected app, resulting in a more realistic riding experience that adapts to your needs on the fly.
Prices for smart bikes from brands such as Wattbike, Stages and Wahoo range from $ 2,600 / £ 2,000 / AU $ 3,500 for the base model to $ 4,000 / £ 3,200 / AU $ 5,000 for the latest high-end version. These bikes offer instant resistance adjustment, gear simulation, power measurement, and (in the case of the Wattbike Atom) pedaling efficiency analysis. Basically everything you’d expect from a high-end turbocharger – and more.
Smart bikes such as the Wattbike Atom can automatically change the resistance level in real time (Photo credit: Wattbike)
Providing enough training knowledge to become a hit with professional athletes, those on several rungs of the athletic career ladder will appreciate being able to easily complete complex workouts or combine exercise with fun in virtual racing applications such as Zwift.
Spin bikes may look similar to smart bikes but have completely different functions. First, most of them do not have the same level of intelligent integration, instead requiring the user to select the required resistance level. Often using a steady gear and a large, heavy flywheel, this combination means you have to pedal constantly, which may seem strange at first, but it helps create flexibility and strength in your legs. However, they do not provide such dynamic changes in resistance as a smart bike.
Smart bikes are perfect for those looking to take their gym experience home with them. At the same time, anyone who wants to keep their regular outdoor bike, or doesn’t have a bike to start with, will also be served well – assuming they have the resources and space required to accommodate the larger size and cost.
Turbo Trainers vs Exercise Bikes: Which One Is The Best?
Turbo trainers are perfect for professionals and people who prefer to ride their own bikes. Admittedly, setting up your bike every time you want to ride is a bit of a hassle, and you may need to clean the frame a bit to keep dirt from getting everywhere in your home, but in return you’ll be able to virtually participate in any major race on the road. around the world on your bike – nothing beats that feeling!
Exercise bikes are more accessible and designed for indoor training, meaning you don’t need to calibrate or clean them before using them. They are often more comfortable to ride and offer many customization options for riders, allowing you to tailor the riding experience to your liking.
The packaging for the Intel Core i9-13900K processor has leaked, and while the spilled photo shows it has the same theme as the existing 12900K – including this waffle – there are some minor but nonetheless interesting changes.
The box for the Core i9-13900K was posted on Twitter by the well-known leaker HXL, who got it from the closed WeChat group, as VideoCardz (opens in a new tab) points out (and of course, as always, be skeptical whether it is real or not).
As you can see, there are some notable changes here, and while Intel continues to put the CPU in a fancy imitation silicon wafer, this time instead of gold, it’s silver in color.
Moreover, the box itself is much thinner than the one that hosts the current generation Alder Lake flagship, although otherwise the design remains fairly similar.
Analysis: The leaks from Raptor Lake are definitely gaining momentum
What’s, of course, the most interesting here is the fact that a glance at the Raptor Lake flagship box indicates that perhaps Intel’s next-gen chips aren’t too far from launch. Especially since we just saw the Core i9-13900K in PassMark test leaks, so the leak around these 13th-gen CPUs seems to be gaining momentum.
Rumor has it that Raptor Lake processors will be launched next week, possibly on September 27, but silicon will not go on sale until October. These leaks, which are starting to show up more and more frequently, are a promising indication that we may be seeing these processors earlier in October, not later.
As for the packaging itself, the switch from gold waffle to silver seems like a strange choice for Intel, suggesting some sort of degradation in quality, at least subliminal. After all, you get a silver medal for second place and a gold medal for first place. It’s good to see a slimmer box when it comes to keeping things a bit more environmentally friendly; although that said, the extra waffle wrapping is rather unnecessary and not quite as green in this regard.
We get the feeling that this waffle trick has its final installment here, and it would make sense for Intel to completely redesign the box for the next generation of processors in 2023, which is Meteor Lake (as it will be a big change with a drop to 7nm, eventually).
Before a smartphone can go out into the world, it needs to be approved by various regulators – and the Samsung Galaxy S23 has just arrived at 3C, the Chinese regulatory agency, revealing another key spec along the way.
It comes from SamMobile (opens in a new tab) and Ice Universe (opens in a new tab)which are credible sources when it comes to Samsung’s upcoming products. The fact that the phone has now arrived in 3C suggests that it is still well on its way to launch in the not-too-distant future, with February 2023 being the month the phone will most likely be launched.
The only real curiosity we get from this report is that the wired charging speed will stay at 25W, just like the Samsung Galaxy S22. By today’s standards, it’s not that fast at all, as some phones charge the battery almost five times faster (120W).
Take it slow and easy
This caution when it comes to charging speeds is something we’ve noticed on other premium Samsung phones as well. For example, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 4 also achieves a wired charging speed of 25W, with 15W wireless charging.
It’s perhaps understandable that Samsung is sticking to the 25W wired charging speed for the Galaxy S23 given what happened to some Galaxy Note 7 models that caught fire – that was in 2016, however, so that’s not all recently.
There is one caveat which is that this regulatory list only lists the standard Samsung Galaxy S23 phone. It is possible that other models, the Galaxy S23 Plus and Galaxy S23 Ultra, will increase the charging speed.
Analysis: How Important Is Loading Speed?
The charging speed of a wired phone may not be the most important spec when choosing a new device, but it does affect the way you use your phone. If your device can be charged in minutes instead of hours, then battery life is not that important.
If you’re running out of the house or stopping quickly in the office, knowing that you can recover a significant amount of your phone’s battery juice in a short period of time helps reduce that creeping anxiety that can arise from ending your day with a dead phone.
Samsung can at least point to Apple as the next company to slow down when it comes to battery charging speed. The iPhone 14 hits a maximum of 30W when it comes to wired charging, just above the reported ceiling for the Galaxy S23.
As long as the 2023 phones have other improvements, Samsung can probably get away with keeping the charging speed on the Galaxy S23 the same as it did with its predecessors – and it should at least have more powerful internals.
According to floppy disk mogul Tom Persky, the market for one of the most iconic products in the tech industry will only last for “another four years.”
The US businessman, who describes himself as the “last man standing” in a declining business, is running flkietka.com (opens in a new tab)one of the last places on the internet to buy vintage technology.
Sony, the last company to make floppy disks, stopped producing them in March 2011, and Perksy mainly ran his business with over a millionth order placed almost a decade ago.
Who still uses floppy disks?
Apparently quite a lot of people, at least until recently.
The Boeing 747s, which were only retired in July 2020, continued to use 3.5-inch floppy disks to store updated navigation databases.
Worryingly, it was not until 2019 that the U.S. military stopped using 8-inch floppy disks in a 1970s computer, Strategic Automated Command and Control System (SACCS), to receive orders to launch nuclear weapons.
Japan, in particular, has found it difficult to abandon its love of floppy disks, and they are still popular for use by local authorities
In one area of Tokyo, Chiyoda Ward, are not on track to completely remove floppy disks until fiscal 2026, according to a report Nikkei (opens in a new tab).
An edict by national minister of digital affairs Taro Kono has declared a “war” on floppy disks, as well as CDs, as part of a wider campaign to reduce the use of outdated technology.
But it is unlikely that floppy disks will grow in popularity again.
Even the traditionally hardcore, computer-friendly Linux community is taking steps to roll back the floppy driver (opens in a new tab)because “it’s getting harder and harder to find working physical floppy hardware.”
By placing the new Apple AirPods Pro 2 headphones that Apple unveiled at the Far Out event on September 7 in my ears in the Steve Jobs Theater hands-on space, I wanted to experience what Apple promised would be a 2x better active noise canceling experience. Even in this bustling space, I was surprised at their effectiveness, which is mainly due to the new Apple H2 chip.
Apple’s silicon, which some say started with the iPhone and its specially designed A-series chips, has spread across a range of devices, including Macs and tablets with M-series processors – but the H2 predecessor that appeared on the original Pros AirPods in H1 chip form, in fact predates the Apple Silicon concept (similar to the original A series).
Now, however, regardless of what information Apple gets on the construction of the M1 line on SoC development, it seems to inform the processors in all Apple devices.
If there is one hallmark of all Apple Silicons, it’s performance, and Apple’s new H2 processor has hit new heights by incorporating twice as many transistors into the chip – now there are over a billion.
The most obvious result is the advertised six hours of AirPods Pro 2 life (30 hours total with the redesigned charging case). This number, however, is related to stronger Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) enabled; turn it off and the number reportedly increases to seven hours for the buds and 35 for the casing.
(Photo credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
More AirPods Pro Profits
It’s not just about power management, though – the new H2 chip architecture is behind most, if not all, of the performance gains Apple advertises on the AirPods Pro 2.
There is more memory on board, giving the chip the bandwidth to handle larger audio models. In practice, this means that it can interpret a wider variety of noise sources faster and better know what to do with them in flight.
An example would be how the AirPods Pro 2 apparently copes with harsh sounds in Adaptive Transparency mode. The Transparency Mode, which pulls in real-world sounds through the bud’s microphones, and which I experienced over a few short demonstrations and later during more causal, real-world use, was impressive for its clarity and fidelity, but H2’s fast processing can also, apparently, overtake sharply louder external sounds, such as sirens and motorcycles. To be clear, this is not so prediction loud noise but response time can be fast enough to keep noises at 90db and above 85db when they pass through the AirPods Pro 2 into your ears.
Of course, no one wears their buds all the time, and it’s unlikely they’ll be in your ears when your neighbor decides to turn on his gas leaf blower. A more realistic scenario might be wearing your AirPods Pro 2 during a concert so that the sound is below the level of the ringing in your ears.
(Photo credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
I wore donuts on a transatlantic flight and they muted the noise in the cabin very effectively (until one popped out when I fell asleep and almost lost it – I’m a restless sleeping plane); they were just as good at mowing the lawn as they were walking along the busy streets of Manhattan.
Turning on the ANC at a crowded intersection, the transition to almost silence was a whistle and so complete that for a moment I felt isolated. There is still a sound, but it is a muffled whisper compared to the roaring reality of the city street.
As for my lawn mowing experience, I tried to go back to the first-gen AirPods Pro and there was a noticeable difference in noise attenuation. Both are good, but the AirPods Pro 2 are noticeably more effective.
Sound management is not only about loud, big sounds. Apple optimized the processor algorithm for noisy environments like restaurants and offices, and of course did some hardware work to support these efforts. The inward facing microphone has been moved to improve the way it perceives ambient noise, helping the H2 chip to better understand what noise is and process it accordingly. There are also new beamforming microphones that should help cut out wind and outside noise so that you only leave your voice while talking.
I made a few phone calls to the new buds and noticed that no one had trouble hearing me, regardless of my surroundings – on one occasion I had a loud oven fan next to me for the entire duration of the call.
(Photo credit: Future / Lance Ulanoff)
Regardless of what Apple claims during its presentation, my experience with the AirPods Pro 2 has largely backed it up, with massive noise reduction likely due to the combination of a decent gasket (tiny tips, after all!) And the computing power of the H2 chip.
Despite hardware changes, including a new H2 chip, updated microphones, and new spindle volume controls, Apple hasn’t made the AirPods Pro 2 bigger or heavier than their predecessors; in fact, they look almost the same.
The charging case looks similar unchanged, but gained two or three grams, perhaps to accommodate new features, such as a speaker that can be used with the Apple Find My app to help locate the case if it gets lost (the case light will also flash to help with localization effort).
It is a pity that this more powerful case is also unable to charge the last generation AirPods Pro – but you probably can’t have everything.
In my time at TechRadar I made sure I was a master of used products; buying your favorite gadgets is a great way to save money and the environment in one go. But since all the gadgets I use are maintenance loans, I didn’t really have to buy any technology for four years.
However, since I will be leaving TechRadar soon, the situation is different. I am now at the point where I need to start buying my own technology again. I have to spend my own money on the devices I will have – and the lack of such a position for a while makes it a really very scary change.
The last purchase I had to make is an iPad. While I’m not a huge fan of Apple products, some of the apps I use in my professional life are only available for iOS, excluding Android tablets for work.
I have been offering tech buying advice for years as part of the TechRadar team, but having to put money where my mouth is was like a huge test of what I wrote. However, after I finally chose the refurbished iPad Pro 12.9 (2021 model) with 256GB storage and Wi-Fi connectivity and got it last night, I feel right to recommend refurbished gadgets.
Finding a tablet
Buying a new iPad was quite an intimidating proposition, because Apple gadgets are ridiculously expensive – but I had an open mind what device I would buy.
This attitude lasted exactly one second, at which point I ruled out buying an iPad Mini – because who in the world would consider buying a tablet of the same size as some Android phones? Definitely not me.
I had been thinking for a while about buying a new iPad (2022) when I heard rumors of a redesign and would probably go with the purchase if the new generation was introduced alongside an iPhone 14. This obviously didn’t happen, and I can’t wait for the supposedly October launch. Also, I’m not a fan of the outdated design of the current generation models, so the entry-level iPad line has also been ticked off the list.
iPad Air 2020, my first tablet choice. (Photo credit: TechRadar)
iPad Air has become my top choice; not the iPad Air (2022) as it’s quite an upgrade over its predecessor, but the iPad Air (2020). This tablet offers a high-quality design that I like, more than enough processing power and a compact body. However, as you already know from the headline of this article, this was ultimately not the device I opted for for one simple reason: storage. While the iPad Air comes at an average price, it is designed for a concise memory of 64GB. Choosing a larger size, 256 GB, raises the price quite significantly.
So where next? Obviously, the iPad Pro series – after all, this is the line I know the most as I have been using every model since 2018. While the iPad Pro series is incredibly expensive as well, I like the more generous size of the 12.9-inch model, and there are plenty of other storage options as well.
And while shopping, I discovered that there are many options in the form of refurbished models. You see, while checking the prices of the new iPad Pro tablets, I also watched the cost of refurbished models such as BackMarket, Amazon, and Apple’s own stores, noting the cost differences between them.
My research showed that the iPad Pro models were available at the best prices compared to new and used ones. In addition, a wider selection of quality grades was also offered; some refurbished websites allow you to choose the quality of the device, and models with a flawless appearance cost more than the slightly obliterated ones.
This is the reason I ended up with the iPad Pro instead of the iPad Air and the 12.9-inch model instead of the cheaper 11-inch device, with 256GB of storage instead of 128GB. The large number of refurbished iPad Pro models on the market meant that I was able to successfully purchase more tablets for the same amount, which actually saved me a lot of money.
In the end, I saved around £ 250 on the iPad I bought, compared to buying a new one when it launched a year ago. Considering that even on Black Friday there is often a price cut of around £ 100 this seemed like a significant saving that I was very pleased with.
Receiving more than for and paying
After clicking “Buy” on the Apple website (which, surprisingly, offered the model at a better price than Amazon or BackMarket), I had my doubts immediately – I agreed to spend a large sum of money on a used tablet I had bought. never seen before. Have I made a huge mistake?
iPad Air 2021, which I finally bought. (Photo credit: TechRadar)
I was apprehensive upon arriving at the Apple Store, something that got worse upon entering; it felt like i was in a street bazaar. Why do so many people just hang out without wanting to buy anything at all? Why were all employees shouting at each other on the floor? Why did all the display products look like they had survived the war? In attempting to make your Apple Store more hangouts and fewer stores, Apple has created a rather confusing visitor experience.
Even more confusing was the fact that after receiving the iPad I ordered, it was in a box covered with a plastic wrap. Did someone on staff accidentally give me a brand new tablet?
But when I got home I saw that the box indicated it was a refurbished product; Apple has simply made every effort to keep this refurbished tablet looking like new. This was evident when I opened the box to find the plug and cable wrapped nicely inside.
In fact, if it weren’t for the word “refurbished” on the box, no one would ever know it was a second-hand device – and the tablet itself is as much an indicator of this as the packaging. It was immaculate, with no scratches or marks. Even the charging port, which can get scratched quickly, looked like he’d never seen a USB-C cable in his life.
Annoyingly, iPads don’t have the Battery Health feature seen on iPhones, so I can’t say for sure how well the battery will last. However, after a day of using this tablet it feels identical to the brand new test unit I have been using for months.
I am pleasantly surprised how new this “refurbished” device is, and it prompted me to rethink all my future purchasing plans. Sure, Apple is a big company and you can rely on it to have a top-notch refurbishment process for its products, but that also means that its close competitors (including Amazon’s renewed service and the popular BackMarket website) will likely have to keep up with speed to stay competitive.
My iPad Pro basically feels like new, with the only difference that I paid much less than I would have paid for the new model. So, if I can save a similar amount of money by buying other products of the same quality (something that seems obvious given the cost of the crisis), I really don’t see the need to buy a new one again.
