ZDNET's key takeaways The Pixel 9 is Google's latest baseline flagship phone, with prices starting at $800. It comes with the new Tensor G4 processor, an updated design, a bigger battery, and a slightly higher asking price. The hardware improvements over last year's model are relatively small. more buying choices At Amazon, the 256GB Google Pixel 9 is on sale for $649, a $250 discount. This deal applies to all color options except Peony (pink).I had a chance to attend the Made by Google event back in August 2024, and after the keynote wrapped up, I was more excited to go hands-on with the baseline version of the Pixel 9 than the Pro or the Pro XL. Why? Because the Pixel 9's accessibility makes it a fascinating device, and one I recommend for a handful of reasons.Also: I changed 10 settings on my Pixel phone to significantly improve the user experienceI'm spoiling this review right at the top, but it's true. Google's latest entry-level flagship, the Pixel 9, is here, with prices starting at $799. Even though its hardware is a minor improvement over the Pixel 8, it's an impressive phone overall. It offers a new design, slightly upgraded performance, slightly better cameras, a slightly bigger battery, and a host of new AI features.Google has positioned the Pixel 9 as the default Android alternative to the iPhone 16, partly because it looks like one. Google gave the entire Pixel 9 family flat sides with rounded corners, which makes it look like something from a design lab in Cupertino. The good news is that it makes these phones look and feel great. details View at Best Buy In fact, they're my favorite-looking Pixel phones yet. The Pixel 9 feels especially unique while still offering a premium feel that's blissfully cold to the touch when you pick it up. The sides are aluminum, while the front and back feature Corning Gorilla Glass Victus 2. The whole thing is IP68-rated for water and dust resistance, and it's just the right size for use with one hand. Max Buondonno/ZDNETAnother characteristic of the Pixel is its nice display, and the Pixel 9 definitely has one. It features a 6.3-inch Actua display that is a tenth of an inch bigger than the Pixel 8. The sharp 2424x1080 resolution, OLED panel, and 120Hz dynamic refresh rate give the Pixel 9 exceptional visuals, whether you're just reading email or watching your favorite movie. This year, the screen can reach way up to 2,700 nits of brightness, making it one of the brightest Android phones you can buy.Also: I replaced my Pixel 9 Pro XL with the 9a for a month - and it was pretty dang closeAlso, its performance feels better. Powered by the new Tensor G4 processor, 12GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB of storage, the Pixel 9 is a screamer. It's one of the most responsive Android phones I've used all year, and that's just with the standard version of this phone.The cameras are also impressive. Google kept the same 50MP main camera as last year but swapped the old 12MP ultra-wide for a new 48MP 123-degree camera. Photos are simply stunning on this phone, and Google's post-processing algorithms do a great job of retaining details and contrast. Video quality is also very good, especially with the company's Video Boost technology. This phone can easily rival any device that costs $200+ more. Max Buondonno/ZDNETIf there's a downside to the hardware, it's the inclusion of the lower-quality 10.5MP selfie camera, whereas the Pro phones get a new 42MP camera. There's also an extra telephoto camera on the Pro model, so you won't get the same zoom quality on the regular Pixel 9.Regarding this phone's AI features, Google has jammed quite a bit into the Pixel 9. Not only does it ship with the company's Gemini chatbot out of the box, but thanks to the Tensor G4 processor, it also comes with Gemini Live, so you can have real-life conversations with it.Also: I found a physical keyboard for my Pixel 9 Pro that isn't a jokeIt requires a Google One AI Premium plan, but you'll get one for free if you buy a Pixel 9. I've asked it numerous questions that were similar to web queries ("What's the best place to live near New York City that's relatively affordable," "How many stars are in the sky -- wait, in the galaxy?") and it answered them all with ease -- even with speech interruptions. It's in the early stages, but it's exciting technology that could change how we use our phones.You also get features like Add Me, which allows you to take a picture of your friends, then have them take a picture of you in the same place, and merge the two so no one's left out. I've played around with it during my testing, which worked surprisingly well. There are also some nice updates to Magic Editor for framing your photos. Max Buondonno/ZDNETGoogle also included two new AI-powered apps on the Pixel 9 series: Pixel Screenshots and Pixel Studio. With the former, you can organize your screenshots and search through them with AI prompts, allowing you to easily reference information like Wi-Fi passwords or recipes. Meanwhile, the latter lets you generate images on the fly and customize them with text, stickers, and other effects. I've enjoyed using both apps in my limited testing time, but I'll need to play with them over the long run to see whether they're worth it.Also: The best Google Pixel phones to buy in 2025I found battery life to be quite good. There's a 4,700mAh cell inside that can last all day on a charge and then some, which means you won't need to worry about this phone's battery after a long day. Google includes 45W charging support on the Pixel 9 series, which is awesome, but you'll need to buy a separate wall adapter to take advantage of it. In addition, there's 15W wireless charging (not Qi2, notably) and 5W reverse wireless charging called "Battery Share."ZDNET's buying adviceIf your budget is $800, it's hard not to recommend Google's Pixel 9, especially while it's on sale at $250 off. Sure, the Samsung Galaxy S24 is a tough competitor, but I actually think this is the better buy. It gives you access to some useful new AI features, and you get all the perks of the Pixel experience, like excellent software, display quality, and cameras. The Pixel 9 Pro and Pixel 9 Pro XL models may be flashier, but the baseline version of Google's flagship phone should not be overlooked. This article was originally published on August 22, 2024, and was updated on June 6, 2025 What are the tariffs in the US? The recent US tariffs on imports from countries like China, Vietnam, and India aim to boost domestic manufacturing but are likely to drive up prices on consumer electronics. Products like smartphones, laptops, and TVs may become more expensive as companies rethink global supply chains and weigh the cost of shifting production.Smartphones are among the most affected by the new US tariffs, with devices imported from China and Vietnam facing steep duties that could raise retail prices by 20% or more. Brands like Apple and Google, which rely heavily on Asian manufacturing, may either pass these costs on to consumers or absorb them at the expense of profit margins. The tariffs could also lead to delays in product launches or shifts in where and how phones are made, forcing companies to diversify production to countries with more favorable trade conditions. Show more Featured reviews

According to a recent investor note from GF Securities analyst Jeff Pu, Apple might have a pair of surprises in store for the iPhone 17 lineup this fall. Most notably, Pu has seemingly changed his prediction that the entire iPhone 17 lineup will use a version of the A19 chip. Instead, he now believes the base model iPhone 17 will use the same A18 chip that’s used in the iPhone 16. Pu had previously predicted that the entire iPhone 17 lineup would use the A19 chip and the differentiating factor would be the RAM. The analyst had said the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Air would have 8GB, while the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max would have 12GB of RAM. Now, Pu claims that the iPhone 17 will use 8GB of RAM, while the iPhone 17 Air will feature 12GB of RAM just like the Pro models. Also in this analyst note, Pu says that all four iPhone 17 models will adopt a new metalens technology for the proximity sensor. The “metalens” technology may help Apple dramatically reduce the size of the Face ID sensor. Previously, Pu had said this change would only come to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. If it pans out, this means the entire iPhone 17 will feature a smaller Dynamic Island. Notably, this contradicts Ming-Chi Kuo, who reported in January that the Dynamic Island across the iPhone 17 lineup will be “largely unchanged” compared to the iPhone 16 models Here is Pu’s full breakdown of the iPhone 17 lineup specifications: SpeciPhone 17iPhone 17 AiriPhone 17 ProiPhone 17 Pro MaxLaunchSep-25Sep-25Sep-25Sep-25Display6.1″6.6″6.3″6.9″ProcessorA18 N3EA19 N3PA19 Pro, N3PA19 Pro, N3PDRAMLPDDR5 8GBLPDDR5 12GBLPDDR5X 12GBLPDDR5X 12GBFront Camera24MP, 6P24MP, 6P24MP, 6P24MP, 6PRear Camera48MP 7P, 12MP 5P48MP, 7P48MP 7P, Periscope48MP 1G+3P, 48MP 6P48MP 7P, Periscope48MP 1G+3P, 48MP 6PFace IDStructured lightStructured lightStructured lightStructured lightCasingAluminumTitaniumAluminumAluminumModemQualcommQualcomm or AppleQualcommQualcommCharging35W35W35W35WNPIFoxconnFoxconnFoxconnICT My favorite iPhone accessories: Follow Chance: Threads, Bluesky, Instagram, and Mastodon.  Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

Choosing the right phone in 2025 involves more than just deciding between Android and iPhone. There are well-rounded options across various market segments, whether you are a budget-conscious buyer, a dedicated iPhone fan, or an Android enthusiast. We've structured our smartphone buying guide to reflect the most relevant categories for tech enthusiasts, with clear-cut recommendations if you're looking for top-tier performance, reliable midrange versatility, or affordable essentials. Additionally, upgrade cycles vary among consumers – some prefer to upgrade every year to keep up with the latest technology, while others may opt for longer intervals, prioritizing durability and value over cutting-edge features. Explore our top picks below to find the phone that best fits your needs. The Best Value Phones Google Pixel 9a | OnePlus 13R | iPhone 16e In numbers Price: $499 Google guarantees seven years of OS upgrades and security patches for its Pixel phones. As the brain behind Android, Google's updates are as prompt as Apple's iOS patches. The Google Pixel 9a has been hailed for being almost as good as the Pixel 9 at $300 less, but in reality the difference is often just $100. In this case, it helps to know what the other differences are. The 6.3-inch, 1080p, 120Hz display is almost identical, offering the same 20:9 aspect ratio. The Pixel 9a's battery is slightly bigger at a typical 5,100mAh versus 4,700mAh, but the Pixel 9 offers wireless charging that's twice as fast, and the ability to charge other devices wirelessly. The Pixel 9a's 48MP main camera (taking 12MP photos) sounds similar to the Pixel 9's 50MP, but the pixels are significantly smaller and capture less light. For the same reason, the Pixel 9a's 13MP front camera isn't better than the Pixel 9's 10.5MP, especially as it doesn't offer auto-focus. However, the biggest difference is the ultrawide camera, where the Pixel 9 uses a 48MP sensor to capture 12MP photos, and the Pixel 9a offers a much smaller 13MP sensor. Both phones include the Tensor G4 processor and 256GB of storage, but the Pixel 9 has 12GB of RAM rather than just 8GB, which allows for two extra AI features: Pixel Screenshots scans your screen captures for information you may need later, and Call Notes can transcribe and summarize your phone conversations. The Pixel 9 also supports Wi-Fi 7, and G5 mmWave. What makes the Pixel line stand out is the editing tools offered by the Tensor SoC. Audio Magic Eraser is useful for removing background noise from videos. Magic Editor allows to move, resize and remove people and objects in photos. 'Best Take' allows you to combine faces from different times into the same photo – a feature that was actually introduced by BlackBerry in 2013. Add Me does the same, but with people's entire body. Auto Frame can not only crop photos, but also expand them using AI, and Reimagine completely replaces the photo's background. All of this may sound unethical, but the era of photos being more reliable than drawings is over anyway. OnePlus 13R If you prefer raw horsepower and a bigger display over optimized software and AI photo features, then the OnePlus 13R is a good alternative. For $600 you get a Snapdragon 8 Gen 3 SoC, 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage. The 6.8-inch display features a non-standard width of 1264p and a 120Hz refresh rate. The phone offers a large 6,000mAh battery and exceptional 80W wired charging (55W with the standard, included charger). Four years of OS updates and six years of security updates are long enough at this price point. The main camera can save 50MP photos, but those can look under-exposed compared to the default 12.5MP. The same is true for the telephoto lens with 2x optical zoom. The selfie camera takes 16MP photos. The 8MP ultrawide lens is functional, but nothing more. Other than that, the phone's main drawbacks are mediocre water resistance and lack of mmWave support. iPhone 16e In our previous phone buying guides, we'd recommend two-year-old iPhone models over the outdated iPhone SE as the cheapest option for most Apple fans. In 2025, Apple made things simpler, discontinuing both in favor of the iPhone 16e. The 16e is $200 cheaper than the iPhone 16 with the same storage (starting at 128GB), but how does it compare? It has the same display as the iPhone 14, with a bigger notch that's attached to the top of the 6.1-inch screen. The ring/silent switch has been replaced with the programmable Action button. The iPhone 16e has the same A18 processor with 8GB of RAM and Apple Intelligence support, but with four active graphics units instead of five. The most visible difference is the lack of the ultrawide lens. Other than that, it doesn't offer mmWave, and the iPhone 16e supports Qi wireless charging rather than the faster MagSafe. Back to top ▵ Best Phones for Most People iPhone 16 | OnePlus 13 | More Alternatives In numbers Price: $799 The iPhone 16 offers a newer and brighter display than the iPhone 16e. The notch is smaller and integrated into the "dynamic island," which is useful to display key information from apps running in the background. As an overall package, it delivers the full iPhone experience with a solid balance of well-built hardware and polished software features, except for the 60Hz screen, which is at a disadvantage compared to competing Android handsets in the same price range and even cheaper ones. With the touch-sensitive Camera Control button, you can finally focus on your subject while taking a photo. The main camera can capture 48MP images but defaults to 24MP for better dynamic range and faster shutter speed. The ultrawide lens offers 0.5x optical zoom and, like the front camera, captures 12MP photos. If you want a larger screen and battery, you can get the 6.7-inch iPhone 16 Plus for an extra $100. OnePlus 13 With improvements across the board, the OnePlus 13 makes it hard to justify buying more expensive Android phones, like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. The Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite processor rivals the Apple A18 in single-core performance, and beats it in multi-core. The OnePlus 13 has an IP68/IP69 rating, meaning it's resistant not only to immersion but also to high-temperature water jets – making it safe to use even if you work at a car wash. With a 6,000mAh battery, the OnePlus 13 provides great battery life despite the 1440p, 6.8-inch display. Unlike the OnePlus 13R, it's a dual-cell battery, so it will charge faster with the same charger. The main, ultrawide and telephoto (with 3x zoom) cameras all provide a 50MP resolution. The selfie camera shoots at 32MP, but its fixed focus makes it less optimal for usage with a selfie stick. The OnePlus 13 starts at $899 with 12GB of RAM and 256GB of storage, and for another $100 you can increase that to 16GB of RAM and 512GB of storage. Many phones are cheaper, but none of them offer similar hardware specifications. Samsung Galaxy S25 At this point, the Samsung Galaxy S has remained mostly the same on the outside for several years, while competitors from OnePlus and Google have kept improving. So why do we recommend the Galaxy S25 for some? Because it's the only Android phone that's as powerful as the OnePlus 13 and as compact as the Pixel 9 with a 6.2-inch display. With the compact size comes a smaller 4,000mAh battery, but the smaller, 1080p display somewhat makes up for that in battery life. The 50MP main camera (saving 12MP photos by default) remains, and the rest of the setup is well-rounded but basic, with 12MP front and ultrawide lenses, and a 10MP telephoto camera with 3x optical zoom. The Galaxy S25 starts at $800 (although frequent discounts bring the price closer to $700) with 128GB of storage, and to match the OnePlus 13's 256GB you'll need to add $60. Samsung's advantage over OnePlus is the promise of seven years of OS and security updates. For those who favor larger screens, the Galaxy S25+ offers a 6.7-inch display (with a higher 1440p resolution), a bigger battery to compensate, and 45W wired charging compared to the base model's 25W. Additionally, it features ultra-wide band (UWB) support, ideal for pinpointing Bluetooth-linked items such as Galaxy SmartTags. The Galaxy S25+ starts at $1,000 (though it's often available for ~$850), providing 256GB of base storage, so if you were planning to get that amount anyway, it's only $140 more expensive than the S24. On the other hand, the Galaxy S25 Ultra adds too little for too much money, especially now that the S Pen no longer supports Bluetooth functionality. To fold, or not to fold? Foldable phones, like the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 6, might seem tempting. However, their design restricts battery and camera configurations. With a prev-gen SoC and a noticeable crease when unfolded, the Flip 6's $1,100 price point (often discounted to $900) is higher the Galaxy S25+, and it's more scratch-prone and less dust-resistant. If you really need the unique form factor, you should wait for the reviews of the Motorola Razr (2025), named after the legendary Razr V3 and promising a higher-quality external display that can fully replace the main one more often. Otherwise, you should probably look elsewhere. Back to top ▵ Best Budget Phones Samsung Galaxy A16 and A26 In numbers Price: $176 on Amazon If you're in the market for an affordable $200 device that can handle the tasks most users demand from their phones – albeit not always as proficiently – the Samsung Galaxy A16 5G is a compelling option. Six years of Android and security updates are more than you are going to get anywhere else for this price. The 6.7-inch 1080p AMOLED display offers great contrast, and it also runs at 90Hz. Additionally, the phone supports NFC for contactless payments. The Galaxy A16 features a 13MP front-facing camera, and on the rear three cameras: a 50MP primary lens, along with a 5MP ultrawide camera and a 2MP macro sensor. The phone is available with 4GB, 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and 128GB or 256GB of storage, which can be expanded with microSD. Thanks to the 5,000mAh battery, the phone features good battery life, and it also supports 25W charging. On the other hand, the mono speaker is as basic as you can imagine. For $100 more, the Galaxy A26 features Gorilla Glass on the front and back, IP67 dust/water resistance, an always-on 120Hz display and an upgraded 8MP ultrawide camera. Motorola Moto G Power (2024 model) If you replace your phone often, you can check out the Motorola Moto G Power. Just make sure you are getting the 2024 version, as the more expensive 2025 model has a slower CPU. The older phone won't receive OS updates beyond Android 15, but it will get security updates until 2027. The LCD display runs at 120Hz. The main and ultrawide cameras are similar to the Galaxy A26's, and the 16MP front camera is equivalent with slightly smaller pixels. The differentiating features are wireless charging, stereo speakers and a headphone jack. The main problem is the amount of bloatware that Lenovo installs on the phone. Back to top ▵ Best of the Best Apple iPhone 16 Pro Max In numbers Price: $1,199 The iPhone 16 Pro Max sports a 6.9-inch OLED display that supports a 120Hz refresh rate. The always-on display provides users with glanceable information without waking the device. The camera system includes a 48MP main sensor, a 48MP ultrawide lens with autofocus for improved macro photography, and a 12MP telephoto lens offering 5x optical zoom. The upgraded ultrawide sensor delivers enhanced detail and macro capabilities. Video recording is also enhanced with support for 4K at 120 frames per second, and the inclusion of four studio-quality microphones improves audio capture. The iPhone Pro line differentiates itself with the A18 Pro SoC (with six active graphical units and double the cache), and supporting USB 3.1 (or "3.2 gen 2") speeds via USB-C. On paper, Apple's top-tier smartphone may appear to offer similar features to those found in mainstream products from other companies. However, thanks to iOS and its finely-tuned apps, its performance is notably superior. The hardware is also top notch and more carefully built than most, using titanium instead of aluminum. The iPhone 16 Pro Max is the only model that's not available with 128GB of storage. Starting at $1,200 with 256GB, it is steep, especially when contrasted with a $700 iPhone 16e with the same 256GB. If it plays any kind of factor in your equation, a well-preserved iPhone Pro Max can typically be traded in or sold for around $400 – $500 after two years. If you're inclined towards a more compact device, the regular iPhone 16 Pro will save you $100 though the Max is where its at for the most pixels and biggest battery. Back to top ▵ The Best ePaper Phone Bigme HiBreak Pro | Mudita Kompakt In numbers Price: $439 Until recently, if you wanted to remain available on a camping trip lasting several days, your main option was an outdated and limited feature phone. Now, you can also opt for a phone with an efficient monochrome e-paper display. These phones remain perfectly usable in direct sunlight, and utilize front light to work in the dark. Except for the 21Hz display, the Bigme HiBreak Pro is a fully modern smartphone, with Android 14 and 5G support. The 6.1-inch, 824p display may not be ideal for watching video, but for reading it's arguably better than any other. Combined with a 4,500mAh battery, it's built to last for days between charges. While it's not designed for media consumption, the HiBreak Pro can still shoot color photos and videos with its 20MP rear camera and 5MP front camera. For the price, 8GB of RAM and 256GB of storage is solid. Unusually, it includes an infrared sensor, so it can double as a remote control. The main thing missing is an official IP rating. Mudita Kompakt If you don't want a full-featured smartphone, the Mudita Kompakt offers a de-Googled version of Android, with 13 apps optimized for its monochrome display (yes, including chess). It doesn't support 5G and lacks a front-facing camera to accompany the 8MP one on the back. The smaller 4.3-inch, 480p screen helps balance out the modest 3,300mAh battery. Due to its custom software, the Kompakt costs nearly as much as the HiBreak Pro. It only includes 3GB of RAM and 32GB of storage but does offer a microSD card slot and a headphone jack. If you're buying a phone because you want just a phone, it may be your best option. Back to top ▵ Masthead credit: Amanz

Let's see how they stack up. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable Apple recently made its grand (re)entrance to the mid-range smartphone market with the iPhone 16e, replacing the older iPhone SE variant. Of course, now the only thing to do is see how it compares to one of the best mid-range smartphones around, the newly released Google Pixel 9a.Both phones provide a lot of value for those looking for a flagship-like experience for a much lower price, but there are benefits and drawbacks to each. Let's get into it.Google Pixel 9a vs. iPhone 16eTwo phones enter, but only one can fit in your pocket. Which will it be? You May Also Like Price and specs The Pixel 9a is a great value. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable When it comes to price, there is a clearly superior option here. The Pixel 9a starts at $499, while the iPhone 16e starts at $599. While $100 isn't the biggest difference in the world of flagships, it's a large number for anyone in the market for a budget phone.Here's what you get in the Pixel 9a for that price:6.3-inch display with 120Hz refresh rateGoogle Tensor G4 processor8GB RAM128GB storage5,100mAh batteryAnd for $100 more, this is what the iPhone 16e gets you:6.1-inch display with 60Hz refresh rateApple A18 chip8GB RAM128GB/256GB/512GB storage4,005mAh batteryWe'll get into display and performance analysis later, but Google is easily winning the value game so far. You get a bigger and (in some ways) better display and a bigger battery for less money. Apple, to its credit, offers more storage options, but those will only make the phone even more expensive; the 512GB iPhone 16e is $899, which makes it not even really a budget phone anymore. Design Apple kept it simple. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Neither of these phones are on the cutting edge of smartphone design, but that's not necessarily a bad thing. The iPhone 16e, for its part, looks like a slightly older iPhone model. It doesn't have the standalone Dynamic Island cutout at the top of the display like you'd see in a recent flagship iPhone, instead going for the classic notch look. There's no home button, which differentiates it from the old iPhone SE models, but there isn't one on the Pixel 9a, either. Unfortunately, it only comes in two very boring colors: black and white.Google's mid-range phone is slightly bolder in its design. Namely, Google went and removed the horizontal rear camera bar that had become such an iconic part of the Google Pixel look over the past few years. Now, the rear camera is barely noticeable, lacking even a bump to make it stand out. That's pretty nice if you like your phone to lie completely flat on a table, but it does make the Pixel 9a look like a generic phone prop in a TV show. Mashable Light Speed Want more out-of-this world tech, space and science stories? Sign up for Mashable's weekly Light Speed newsletter. By clicking Sign Me Up, you confirm you are 16+ and agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Thanks for signing up! That said, the Pixel 9a offers four colors, twice as many as the iPhone 16e. There are black and white options, as well as one called "Iris" and a gorgeous pink colorway that should be the only one anyone buys, in my humble opinion.Display Google's display is superior. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable In my eyes, there's a pretty definitive winner in the display category.Pixel 9a's display is not only slightly bigger (though that can actually be problematic for folks with smaller hands), but its refresh rate is twice as high. Not everyone values this as much as I do, but smooth scrolling is very nice to have on a smartphone, and it's a little wild that Apple is still so behind the times on this issue in everything other than iPhone Pro models. You also get up to 2,700 nits of peak brightness, which makes it great for outdoor use.Apple's panel isn't bad, by any means. Its 2532x1170 resolution is slightly higher than what Pixel 9a offers (2424x1080), and it is an OLED screen with HDR support. However, with just 1,200 nits of peak brightness, it likely won't look as good under sunlight as the Pixel 9a.Performance Apple went with USB-C for this one, which is nice. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable When it comes to performance, there really isn't a losing choice here.Both phones are excellent in terms of day-to-day use. Apps load quickly and neither phone slows down too much when there are too many open. I did notice the Pixel 9a getting a little warm to the touch after prolonged use, but a case could easily alleviate that. If you want to put it in numbers and technically choose a winner, it would be Apple. The iPhone 16e's Geekbench benchmarking metrics are better than Pixel 9a's, with Apple netting a 7,423 multi-core score and Google coming in at just 4,358. However, on a practical level, either phone will do just fine for you.Battery life Both phones have good battery life. Credit: Joe Maldonado/Mashable Battery life is another area where you can only win.In my testing, the Pixel 9a was more or less a 24-hour device between charges, and could probably last longer if you turned the refresh rate down to 60Hz or took other power-saving measures. I never directly tested the iPhone 16e myself, but our reviewer Stan Schroeder noted that he was able to go about two days between charges on what he described as "heavy use." It's possible, then, that the extra cash you pay for the iPhone 16e is getting you a better battery than what is available on Pixel 9a. However, I wouldn't describe the Pixel 9a's battery as "bad" by any means. It's just less good.Camera The iPhone 16e takes nice nighttime shots. Credit: Stan Schroeder/Mashable Both the iPhone 16e and Pixel 9a have identical (in terms of megapixels) 48MP main shooters on the rear side. However, Apple only included the one camera lens on the phone's backside, while the Pixel 9a also has an additional 13MP ultra-wide lens. Since these are both budget phones, cameras are where the biggest compromises are to be expected. That said, you can definitely get nice-looking shots on either the Pixel 9a or iPhone 16e. One nice bonus that the Pixel 9a has over the Pixel 8a is the addition of Macro Focus, which lets you get up real close to tiny objects and capture them in great detail. Unfortunately, the iPhone 16e doesn't have this feature at all, due to the lack of an ultra-wide lens.Given that Google's phone has that extra lens and at least one feature the iPhone 16e can't claim, I'm inclined to think the Pixel 9a has a better camera system. Google Pixel 9a $499 at Google Store Apple iPhone 16e $599 at Apple.com Topics Google iPhone

Recently, multiple reports have claimed that Apple will be switching up its iPhone release schedule beginning in 2026. Starting with the iPhone 18 lineup, we’ll have a split launch, with the higher end models launching in the fall, and the entry-level models launching in the following spring. While this does feel like a weird decision, it will have some noteworthy benefits for all iPhone users. Recap In case you missed it, the split iPhone launch rumor essentially goes as follows: Fall 2026: iPhone 18 Air, 18 Pro/Pro Max, Foldable iPhone Spring 2027: iPhone 18, iPhone 18e Instead of launching the entire mainline iPhone lineup in September, it’ll be split 6 months apart. The iPhone 17 lineup will still launch in its entirety this September, possibly marking the last normal iPhone launch year. This information comes from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Wayne Ma from The Information. Better tech First and foremost, Apple setting two separate stages for iPhone launches will require them to step things up a little. By spreading the base model iPhone to a separate launch in the spring, it’ll require Apple to make the phone more interesting, for two reasons. For one, the entry level iPhone has always lived in a weird position. It’s still a new device, yet it isn’t the best of the best. Of course, it’s cheaper, but it always lived under the shadow of the Pro models, even in years where Apple made rather impressive upgrades to the base iPhone. According to The Information, Apple is making this shift to reinvigorate iPhone sales. With the base iPhone being its own separate distinct launch, I think it’s substantially more likely that we see larger upgrades with the entry level iPhone, especially since Apple won’t need to be playing a balancing act against its own announcements. On top of that, certain supply chain constraints may be a thing of the past. If theres a certain component that Apple would like to integrate in the whole lineup, but it’s supply constrained, Apple will now be able to without needing to worry about having less supply than ideal. That’s the leading reason that 120Hz ProMotion displays have been absent from the base iPhone for so long. LTPO display production wasn’t in high enough volumes to place on every iPhone at launch. Always a good time to buy On top of better tech, there’s a second benefit: there won’t be a bad time to buy iPhones. Every year, people buy new iPhones in the late summer months, like July and August, then get ridiculed by the tech-aware folks in their life that the next iPhone is about to come out. If they’re buying the base iPhone, though, instead of buying a 10-11 month old phone, it’ll only be 4-5 months old, and they’ll still be less than halfway into the release cycle of that phone when they purchase it in the summer time. Lots of people buy tech to utilize for the long run, and sometimes life happens. Two distinct iPhone launches a year means that no matter when you buy your new iPhone, it’ll at most be 6 months old, rather than a year old. Cheaper iPhones Last but not least, this split iPhone release schedule rumor does seem to suggest one thing: the new ‘e’ iPhone will become an annual release. Introduced earlier this year, iPhone 16e takes the body of an iPhone 14 and packs it full of iPhone 16 features, including USB-C, Apple Intelligence support, a 48MP camera, and more. Historically, these cheaper iPhones (previously iPhone SE) had a 2-4 year release schedule. With an annual release schedule, there’ll now be more iPhones around for those on a budget. Granted, with the iPhone 16e starting at $599, it certainly isn’t hitting the same budget demographic that the iPhone SE did. My favorite Apple accessory recommendations: Follow Michael: X/Twitter, Bluesky, Instagram Add 9to5Mac to your Google News feed.  FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.You’re reading 9to5Mac — experts who break news about Apple and its surrounding ecosystem, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow 9to5Mac on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our exclusive stories, reviews, how-tos, and subscribe to our YouTube channel

When it comes to headphones, we can’t shut up about Sony’s top-tier buds and over-the-head options. In each iteration, the company adds new features, develops better technology and hones its strengths in portable audio, and three years on from the WH-1000XM5, the sixth-gen model does it yet again. Sony’s overhauled its flagship headphones in all the right ways. The WH-1000XM6 sound better, with improved active noise cancellation and convenient features that match the best-sounding and the most feature-packed rivals. You should definitely check out Billy Steele's full review. The headphones' only major challenge remains a non-clunky naming convention. — Mat Smith Get Engadget's newsletter delivered direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here! Even more tech news you might have missed Nothing teases the ‘all-in’ Phone 3 with a flagship price Mission: Impossible should never have gone full sci-fi The Lucid Gravity is the coolest three-row EV on the market DJI Mavic 4 Pro review: A new standard for consumer drones Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge hands-on: Less smartphone, more compromises Android gets a young, vibrant makeover It’s bright, it’s brash, it’s… bouncy? It’s Android 16. Google As spoiled by Google itself, Android is getting a major visual refresh. Dubbed Material 3 Expressive, it’s the latest evolution of the Material You design, adding customizable color swatches and, I guess, spicier fonts. Google says the Quick Settings menu can now fit more actions, and there is an addition of live-updating notifications, similar to Apple’s Live Activities. In Android 16 (and even Wear OS 6), expect more animation between menus and items, while notifications will jiggle and offer haptic responses to your touch. Google is basing a lot of these tweaks on research: The company claims up to 87 percent of 18- to 24-year-olds prefer expressive design — a term hard to define. There’s a lengthy post on Google’s design blog if you want to get into all that. Continue reading. The Xperia 1 VII is here, with some Walkman inspiration Sony still makes phones! Sony Sony has now folded in Hi-Fi sound from its Walkman series, as well as the company’s Bravia screen tech and Alpha camera smarts. The Xperia 1 VII has launched quietly with an array of new audio features, including high-end Walkman components. Unlike other smartphone makers, Sony has kept its headphone jack and improved wired sound via a premium-grade integrated circuit. The Xperia 1 VII supports Sony’s DSEE Ultimate AI sound upscaling technology, along with 360 Reality audio or Dolby Atmos formats. The latest Xperia also features a new 48-megapixel ultrawide camera with a good-sized 1/1.56-inch sensor, significantly improving the specs of the Xperia 1 VI’s ultrawide. That’s on top of the main 48MP 1/1.35-inch 24mm camera and a 12MP telephoto zoom. Sony is also trying to differentiate its smartphones through camera features, with improved Bokeh mode, real-time tracking, and even real-time eye autofocus. It claims low-light shooting is “in line with full-frame cameras, " which is bold! I’m wondering what other parts of Sony’s corporate machinery it will integrate next. Maybe Aibo dog ears? Continue reading. One year of Peacock Premium is on sale for only $25 The Memorial Day deal knocks off $55. Want a cheaper sub for Peacock? You’ll need a code, but if you input SPRINGSAVINGS at checkout you’ll get $55 off the standard annual price of the Premium plan. It does include ads, however. The big draw for this particular streaming service is likely the long-awaited spinoff of The Office, called The Paper. That premieres in September, so you’ll be primed and ready to watch (and rewatch). Continue reading.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/general/the-morning-after-engadget-newsletter-123515822.html?src=rss

Table of Contents Table of Contents Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: specs Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: design Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: display Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: performance Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: battery and charging Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: cameras Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: software and updates Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: price and availability Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge vs. iPhone 16 Pro Max: verdict The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is coming out at the end of the month as one of the first slim phones in the world, and we’re excited to see how people will react to holding a phone that’s nearly as thin as a piece of paper. However, it’s competing against its thick Apple rival, the iPhone 16 Pro Max. As we settle into the middle of 2025, it’s survival of the fittest — or should we say, “thinnest”? — and the two phones are competing over who weighs less and how much can deliver more to their users regardless of their size. Here’s what we have to say. Recommended Videos Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge iPhone 16 Pro Max Size 159 x 76 x 5.9 mm (6.26 x 2.99 x 0.23 inches) 163 x 77.6 x 8.25 mm (6.42 x 3.06 x 0.32 inches) Weight 163 grams (5.75 ounces) 227 grams (7.99 ounces) Screen size 6.7-inch HDR10+ AMOLED (120Hz) 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display Screen resolution 1440 x 3120 resolution at 513 pixels per inch 2868 x 1320 resolution at 460 ppi Operating system Android 15 under One UI 7 iOS 18 Storage 256GB, 512GB 256GB, 512GB, 1TB MicroSD card slot No No Tap-to-pay services Google Play Apple Pay Processor Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite A18 Pro RAM 12GB 8GB Cameras Rear: 200-megapixel 12MP ultrawide Front: 12MP Rear: 48MP Fusion (main), f/1.78 48MP ultrawide, f/2.2 12MP telephoto, f/2.8, 5x optical zoom Front: 12MP, f/1.9 Video Rear: 8K at 30fps, 4K up to 120fps, and 1080p up to 240fps Front: 4K up to 60 fps, and 1080p up to 60 fps Rear: 4K up to 120fps, and 1080p up to 240fps Front: 4K up to 60fps, and 1080p up to 120fps Bluetooth 5.3 5.3 Ports USB-C USB-C Biometrics Under-display ultrasonic fingerprint sensor Face ID Water resistance IP68 IP68 Battery 3,900mAh 25W wired charging 15W wireless charging Reverse wireless charging 4,685mAh 30W fast charging (50% in 30 minutes) 25W MagSafe wireless 15W Qi2 wireless 4.5W reverse wireless App marketplace Google Play Store App Store Network support 5G 5G Colors Titanium Icy Blue, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Jet Black Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium Price Around $1,300 Starts at $1,199 Available from Unknown  Apple, Amazon, Best Buy Related Andy Boxall / Digital Trends The Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge is as thin as its name suggests, if the exact dimensions listed in the spec chart above are anything to go by. Leaked images have shown the S25 Edge to have a thin frame around the handset and two vertically-aligned cameras on top of the slight camera bump — a detail that is noticeably absent from the rest of the Galaxy S25 lineup. They have also shown the phone to have a microphone on the top and bottom, and a side button beneath the volume button on the right edge of the frame. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro Max is a bit thicker at 8.25mm, with a titanium frame with a brushed metal finish, flat edges, and a matte glass back that make it easier to grip the phone. It has a triple-lens camera layout similar to that of the iPhone 15 Pro Max, and a Camera Control button dug into the right side of the frame underneath the power button, which sticks out like the other buttons sitting on the left edge. Aside from the thickness (or lack thereof), we’re waiting to see if the S25 Edge comes out looking the way they do in the leaks. For now, the iPhone 16 Pro Max takes the trophy in the design category. Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends The Galaxy S25 Edge is rumored to have a 6.7-inch AMOLED display with a peak brightness of 2,600 nits, a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz, and a 3120 x 1440 QHD+ resolution, which will allow users to access their photos, videos, files, social media, games and more at a lightning-fast pace. The quick access will also be helped by the fact that the S25 Edge’s screen will take after the S25 Plus and S25 Ultra and support Dynamic AMOLED 2X and ProScaler, greatly enhancing photo and video quality. The display on the iPhone 16 Pro Max is 0.2 inches bigger than the S25 Edge, given that it sits at the high-end of the iPhone 16 lineup. It has a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR OLED display with ProMotion and always-on tech, gives off a 2868 x 1320 resolution and a maximum of 2,000 nits, and has an adaptive refresh rate of 120Hz, same as the S25 Edge. Though both phones have the smoothest refresh rate, the iPhone 16 Pro Max may be too big for some people to hold because of how large the screen is compared to the S25 Edge — and the iPhone 16 Plus, for that matter, as its display measures the same. You might find an easier time gripping the S25 Edge because its display is smaller. You’ll have an even better time viewing videos and photos, as well as playing games, with the higher resolution and the quality bump from ProScaler. Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge  Andy Boxall / Digital Trends Visual quality and performance go hand-in-hand, and no tech company knows that better than Samsung and Apple. But since the Galaxy S25 Edge comes out in a week, we’ll talk about its performance stats first. This phone runs 12GB of RAM whether you pick the 256GB or the 512GB version, and they house the Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Elite, which relies on multi-core performance and has eight CPU cores and an Adreno GPU, which runs everyday tasks as smooth as silk. If you have a tendency to have intense gaming sessions on your phone, you’ll be happy to know that the Galaxy S25 Edge has a vapor chamber and new thermal interface material (TIM) to prevent the phone from overheating — and burning your hands — while playing anything on Xbox Game Pass. Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro Max operates on the A18 Pro processor, which makes everything run fast and smooth for how little memory it has — 8GB of RAM. You can play resource-heavy games on this phone, but because it has only one CPU core, it will overheat pretty quickly if you play on your phone in a hot environment or use a case that doesn’t allow it to cool down as fast as it heats up. That makes the iPhone 16 Pro Max well suited for those who will only use it for light tasks like web surfing, taking pictures and videos, and texting. But for people who want to do more on their phone without breaking a sweat, gaming included, the Galaxy S25 Edge is the way to go. Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge  Andy Boxall / Digital Trends The Galaxy S25 Edge has a 3,900mAh battery, which is slightly smaller than the batteries in the rest of the Galaxy S25 lineup, where the base model has a 4,000mAh battery and the S25 Ultra has a 5,000mAh battery. Samsung claims that the S25 Edge supports 25W wired charging, 15W wireless charging and reverse wireless charging. However, Samsung didn’t exactly mention how fast the phone would charge when it’s plugged in. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, on the other hand, has an even bigger battery with 4,685mAh of power capacity. It supports 30W fast charging, reaching 50% charge in 30 minutes or less. It also supports 25W MagSafe wireless charging, 15W Qi2 wireless charging, and 4.5W reverse wireless charging. This shows that a bigger battery doesn’t always mean faster charging, it just means it takes little longer to get to full charge. Although, it is tough to call which phone has the best battery and charging time since they’re close is size and capacity, and the speed in which in the S25 Edge reaches a full charge, let alone a half charge, has not been determined. Winner: Tie Samsung Despite the Galaxy S25 Edge having two rear cameras, its main camera has a 200-megapixel lens sitting atop the 12MP ultrawide camera. The latter camera is quite a significant downgrade from the 48MP ultrawide camera found on the S25 Ultra, but that’s only because there aren’t any other cameras aside from the main one to compensate for it. However, the 200MP camera would provide for high-quality photos and videos, considering how well it captured every detail on the S25 Ultra. The iPhone 16 Pro Max, meanwhile, has a 48MP Fusion camera, a 48MP ultrawide camera, and a 12MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, balancing out the visual quality of every picture and video it captures. The ultrawide camera provides a 120-degree field-of-view for landscaping and group photos, while the 12MP telephoto helps to capture the tiniest objects up close and personal when zoomed in, like small insects and leaf cells. The 48MP camera ensures every photo and video is crystal clear. We don’t know how well the cameras on the S25 Edge will pan out, so the iPhone 16 Pro Max gets the photo finish — for now. Winner: iPhone 16 Pro Max Andy Boxall / Digital Trends The Galaxy S25 Edge will operate on Android 15 out of the box, with Samsung’s One UI 7 layered on top of it. The combined software guarantees enhanced privacy features, improved multitasking, and AI capabilities like Gemini. Just like the other phones in the Galaxy S25 line, Samsung has promised seven years of OS and security updates for the S25 Edge. As for the iPhone 16 Pro Max, it runs on iOS 18 out of the box, but it can be updated to the latest version. Basically, iOS 18 comes with Apple Intelligence, which will summarize your emails, text messages, social media notifications, and help improve your writing by providing grammar and spelling checks to ensure you get your point across to anyone you’re talking to with poise. There’s also an advanced Siri that lights an iridescent ring around the display when you say its name. Apple didn’t say how many years of OS and security updates the phone would get, as it updates the OS for months at a time. Winner: Samsung Galaxy S25 Edge Andy Boxall / Digital Trends At launch, the Galaxy S25 Edge will be sold at $1,099 for the 256GB variant, and $1,199 for the 512GB version. As for what colors it will be sold in, it will come in Titanium Icyblue, Titanium Silver, and Titanium Jetblack. No, the first and third colors are definitely not typos. The iPhone 16 Pro Max has been on the market since September 2024, and its price depends on how much storage space you need. The 256GB variant costs about $1,199, while the 512GB version costs $1,399, and the 1TB variant costs $1,599. It comes in Black Titanium, White Titanium, Natural Titanium, and Desert Titanium. Winfuture Although our review has yet to be published, the Galaxy S25 Edge appears to be winning this battle. It’s easier for big hands to hold for how slim it is, camera design justifies the overall design of the phone, and the performance it delivers is highly optimal, especially for gamers. Its thinness may make it look fragile, but it has a titanium frame around its circumference and is the first smartphone to have the Gorilla Glass Corning 2 on glass screen, offering the phone double the protection from cracks and scratches if it falls. Plus, the S25 Edge is a little more affordable than the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which could be helpful information for people who need a new phone but don’t want to break the bank for an Apple phone. They say great things come in small packages. In this case, they come in slim packages.

Cutting corners: Now that Samsung has unveiled the Galaxy S25 Edge, attention has turned to Apple's upcoming ultra-thin rival handset, the iPhone 17 Air. The device is expected to debut this fall with a thickness almost half that of a normal iPhone. According to rumors, this doesn't mean every element will have compromises, but there will be areas that could disappoint, especially the battery life. Samsung has made a lot of headlines with the release of the Galaxy S25 Edge, which measures just 5.8mm thick, not counting the camera bump. But Apple's iPhone 17 Air – expected to launch this fall – is said to be even thinner at 5.5mm. That level of thinness means the Air won't be able to match the model it's replacing, the iPhone 16 Plus, in every area. However, it will have a 6.6-inch OLED display with LTPO, making it the first non-Pro iPhone to do so. There will also be features such as 120Hz ProMotion and always-on functionality. Elsewhere, the iPhone 17 Air is expected to pack the same A19 chip as the rest of the iPhone 17 lineup. It will also come with 8GB of RAM and MagSafe wireless charging. Finally, the price of the iPhone 17 Air is believed to be under $1,000, possibly around $899. But it was recently reported that Apple is going to increase the prices of its next generation of iPhones, though it will avoid blaming Trump's tariffs for the hikes, so this rumor may prove wrong. That's the good news. The bad news is that the iPhone 17 Air will have a single rear camera: a 48MP sensor with 2x optical zoom. Something else the iPhone Air will only have one of is a speaker. There will be a single, enhanced earpiece speaker as the phone is too thin for a second speaker to be placed at the bottom. // Related Stories Another potential disappointment is the iPhone 17 Air's lack of support for mmWave 5G. The handset will be one of the first iPhones to use Apple's in-house 5G modem, the C1. The iPhone 16 Plus uses Qualcomm's Snapdragon X75 5G modem, which supports mmWave 5G. Then there's what could be the biggest drawback of them all: the battery life. Reports state that between 60% and 70% of users will be able to use the handset for a full day on a single charge, whereas that figure is between 80% and 90% for other iPhones. Apple may use Apple Intelligence to improve the Air's battery life, and Cupertino plans to introduce a new battery case accessory specifically for the iPhone 17 Air.

Today, DJI is officially announcing the Mavic 4 Pro, which could be the most versatile drone it’s ever made. It’s the first with a 360-degree rotating gimbal for footage that tilts, rolls, and offers true vertical filming. It’s the first Mavic to offer 51 minutes of battery life, tied with the old Mini 3 and close to the longest flight times DJI has achieved. It’s the first with a built-in 100-megapixel camera, which can also record 6K/60fps HDR, as part of its triple-camera array.Another important distinction: it’s the first off-the-shelf DJI drone that won’t launch in the United States.Today, it’s going on sale in Canada, Mexico, and every other country where DJI sells drones, but the company tells The Verge it has no timeline on bringing it to the US. DJI won’t honor its limited warranty if you cross the border to purchase one in Canada or Mexico. It’s not even sending the drone to US-based technology reviewers — we don’t have one, and we’re not sure when we’ll get one.RelatedWhy is the Chinese drone maker doing this? The company says Trump’s tariffs were among the top reasons it chose to abandon a US launch — and there’s also the fact that, seven months later, US Customs is still holding up DJI’s ability to import drones into the country. Last October, DJI said that a “misunderstanding” initially forced the company to abandon its plans to offer the Air 3S at retail; this time, DJI may not sell its new drone here at all.We sent the company over a dozen questions about this decision, and you can find full answers at the bottom of this post. But before we go there, let’s first dive into all that’s new with the Mavic 4 Pro.The Mavic 4 Pro, folded, with a DJI RC2 controller. Image: DJIWith a starting price of roughly between $2,000 and $2,500 based on currency conversion rates (it’s $2,049 CAD in Canada, $50,999 in Mexico, €2,099 in Europe, £1,879 in the UK, and $3,099 in Australia), the Mavic 4 Pro isn’t cheap — but it’s not far off the price of its predecessor the Mavic 3 Pro.While it only weighs about 3 ounces (105g) more than its triple-camera predecessor, the 2.3-pound (1.06kg) Mavic 4 Pro offers up eight more minutes of flight time from its new 95Wh pack, the most battery capacity DJI’s ever put in a consumer drone and just shy of the typical limit for lithium batteries that you can bring on a plane. All three of its cameras now offer 4K 120fps modes, in addition to 4K60 HDR, and the gimbal can tilt up twice as far (70 degrees) for upward shooting.You also get 64GB of internal storage — up from 8GB. DJI will also sell a “Creator Combo” with a 512GB SSD and a proprietary 240W power adapter and charging hub to charge up three batteries more quickly.Image: DJITop speed is now nearly 56 miles per hour (90 kilometers per hour), up from nearly 47 mph (75.6 kph) previously, and it can travel over 25 miles (41km) on a charge, up from its predecessor’s 17 miles (28km). Not that you can send it quite that far away, as its maximum transmission range has merely doubled to 18.6 miles (30km).While DJI’s sticking with the same specs for its 70mm medium tele camera (1/1.3-inch 48MP sensor, f/2.8 aperture), the 168mm telephoto’s had a bit of upgrade, with a slightly larger 1/1.5-inch, 50MP sensor (up from 1/2-inch, 12MP) and a slightly wider f/2.8 aperture (compare to f/3.4), both of which could let it capture more light. And speaking of light, DJI says its omnidirectional avoidance now works in low light at up to 18 meters per second (roughly 40 mph), significantly faster than the Mavic 3 Pro (27 mph) or even the Air 3S.Also it can pull the same trick as the Air 3S where it can map its path using forward facing LiDAR sensors, then return-to-home without needing GPS satellite signals; here’s a video DJI produced to show that off with the Air:DJI’s also touting its new-for-Mavic tracking abilities: “Once tracking begins, Mavic 4 Pro can keep a subject in focus even if partially obscured by bushes or if they are standing on a bridge. It also detects vehicles up to 200m with directional awareness, ideal for delivering professional-grade automotive cinematography,” the company brags.The DJI RC Pro 2. Image: DJIToday DJI is also announcing a new controller called the DJI RC Pro 2, which comes with some pretty neat tricks. Its large 7-inch screen is on a folding arm that automatically folds down the joysticks for easy transport — no more screwing and unscrewing! It automatically powers on the controller when you open it and the whole screen’s on a swivel so you can rotate it for vertical filming. It’s also got an HDMI port, 128GB of built-in storage, and a high price: €999 / £879 / CAD $999 all by its lonesome, or bundled in DJI’s priciest combo kits.Mavic 4 Pro pricingItemCanada(tax not included)Mexico(includes tax)UK(includes tax)Europe(taxes varies by country, so prices can vary)Australia(includes tax)Japan(includes tax)New Zealand(includes tax)DJI Mavic 4 Pro$2,049 CAD$50,9991,879 GBP2,099 euro$3,099 AUD277,200 yen$3,599 NZDFly More Combo (DJI RC 2)$2,799 CAD$68,3692,459 GBP2,699 euro$4,039 AUD497,860 yen$4,585 NZD512GB Creator Combo (DJI RC Pro 2)$3,459 CAD$87,5993,209 GBP3,539 euro$5,359 AUD497,860 yen$6,015 NZDDJI RC Pro 2$999 CAD$18,999879 GBP999 euro$1,529 AUD158,400 yen$1,629 NZDPrices: DJISo, what exactly is DJI saying now that Trump’s biggest tariffs on China have been paused for 90 days? The pause won’t change what happens today with the launch. “That said, we’re currently reassessing the market conditions and developments, and will share any updates once we have completed a full evaluation. Please rest assured that we are making every effort to protect the interests of our customers,” reads an emailed statement from DJI spokesperson Daisy Kong.Here are the other questions we sent DJI, and the company’s responses.Will the DJI Mavic 4 Pro go on sale in the United States? If not, why not?The DJI Mavic 4 Pro will not be available for sale in the U.S upon its global launch on May 13. Like many global companies, we have had to adjust our market strategy as local conditions and the industry environment have evolved. While we do not have a timeline for when we can introduce the product to the US market, we are closely monitoring the situation and actively exploring every possible solution. Can you provide the top three reasons, in order?[Not answered.]How much did tariffs have to do with the decision?Under conditions of high uncertainty, adjustments to market strategies are not always driven by a single factor; tariffs, however, are certainly among the key considerations.How much did the ticking time clock in the US have to do with the decision?This was not a consideration as DJI had already received approval from the FCC and the TSCA certificate needed to launch the Mavic 4 Pro in the US market.What US retail price were you originally hoping to hit? What US retail price would you have needed to ask in order to satisfy Trump’s tariffs?We’re not able to share any insight on our pricing strategy. Tariffs aside, did DJI obtain all the required clearances to put the product on sale? Which clearance(s) are still missing?Yes. DJI is fully committed to compliance in every market where we operate. We obtain all necessary clearances and approvals before making any product available for sale. The DJI Mavic 4 Pro has already been approved by the FCC and received the TSCA certificate needed to be launched in the US market. How soon do you anticipate the Mavic 4 Pro might arrive in the US if not now? Within the year? Within 2026? The United States is an important market, and we are committed to making our products available to our US-based customers. While we currently do not have an estimated timeline, we are closely monitoring the situation and actively exploring every possible solution. Do you anticipate not shipping it to the US at all, ever, because you will have missed the window of opportunity for it to be fresh and new and it will make more sense for its successor to arrive in the US instead?[Not answered.]Will the Mavic 4 Pro be sold in Canada/Mexico/every other country where DJI sells drones?The DJI Mavic 4 Pro will be available in all regions where DJI operates, except the US market, starting Tuesday, May 13. This includes Canada and Mexico.If US residents purchase a DJI Mavic 4 Pro outside the US from a DJI authorized retailer, will your US arm honor the standard limited product warranty?To be clear, we do not recommend purchasing DJI products abroad and bringing them back, as you may be subject to various import regulations. Our limited warranty for DJI drones is only valid in the country or region where you purchased your drone. International coverage is not offered for DJI drone products. Outside the Mavic 4 Pro, can you confirm that DJI drone shipments are still getting held up by US customs? DJI continues to actively work with US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to resolve the current customs-related misunderstanding. You can read more about what’s happening on our blog.When do you anticipate supply normalizing at US online and physical retail? DJI remains committed to the US market and is closely monitoring recent challenges affecting product availability. We are actively working to address and mitigate any influences and uncertainties, and to ensure products are accessible to our customers soon.Outside the Mavic 4 Pro, are any other future US product launches on pause? Is there any reason to believe a DJI Mini would ship in the US this year if a Mavic is not?DJI remains committed to the US market, and we’ll continue to introduce new products to the market. As always, we do not comment on products that have not been announced or launched.Can you confirm that you aren’t shipping even small quantities of this drone into the US for purposes of product reviews and testing?As the DJI Mavic 4 Pro will not be available for sale in the US market at launch, we will not provide review samples to US-based reporters on loan. We will share any further info when it’s available.See More: