Macworld Apple’s AirPods 2025 plans: In summary New AirPods Pro could launch featuring heart‑rate and temperature tracking and better ANC sound Some AirPods to get live translation feature via software update  AirPods Max could gain H2 chip, Adaptive Audio, Conversation awareness, Voice Isolation, Bluetooth 5.3 and more In September 2024, Apple introduced the AirPods 4. At the same time the company announced that hearing aid features would be coming to the 2nd generation AirPods Pro and the AirPods Max got a minor update (Lightning switched for USB-C and a color refresh). Those hoping that the AirPods Pro 3 and the AirPods Max 2 would launch were disappointed. It is now almost three years since the AirPods Pro 2 were introduced in September 2022, and more than four years since the AirPods Max introduction in December 2020. Updates are long overdue. In this article we are tracking all the rumors about the launch date, new features and specs and any other changes coming to the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. Read on for the latest news about the 2025 AirPods. We’ll look first at the rumours and leaks relating to the AirPods Pro 3 before moving on to the AirPods Max 2 below (click here to jump to the AirPods Max section).  AirPods Pro 3 release date: When will the AirPods Pro 3 be released? In summary September 2025 launch of AirPods Pro 3 likely… …But launch could be delayed until 2026 Production delays indicated It would be typical to expect a September launch for AirPods Pro, alongside iPhone 17. The original AirPods Pro were introduced in October 2019, the AirPods 2nd-gen launched in September 2022, and those were updated with USB-C in September 2023. In a February 2025, Bloomberg report Mark Gurman suggested that the AirPods Pro 3 were “Still many months away”. That could still line up with a September (or October) launch though. Also in February an unverified leaker claimed in a tweet that there would be an AirPods Pro launch in May or June. Twitter However, in May 2025 analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that we might not see an update to the AirPods until 2026. This could relate to production delays due to a new infra-red camera Apple is said to be equipping the AirPods with (more on that below). Twitter AirPods Pro 3 price: How much will the AirPods Pro 3 cost? In summary Price hike not expected… …But prices may rise due to economic factors We don’t expect the price to change, although it may increase in certain parts of the world and remain the same in others.  For example, when Apple launched the AirPods Pro in the U.K. the price was £249, that price was later reduced to £229, so it might go back up to £249. The price in the U.S. hasn’t changed since launch. Other factors may affect pricing. Pricing for the AirPods range starts at $129/£129 for the AirPods 4, and rises to $499/£549 for the AirPods Max:  Apple Earbuds: $19/£19 AirPods 4: $129/£129 AirPoids 4 with ANC: $179/£179 AirPods Pro 2nd-gen $249/£229 AirPods Max $549/£499 Ignoring the $300 premium for the AirPods Max, that’s an extra $70 between the AirPods 4 with ANC and the AirPods Pro. It would be feasible for Apple to increase the price of the AirPods Pro if the new features made the upgrade worthwhile.  We have a round-up of the Best wireless earbuds for iPhones and the best wired headphones if you’d like to consider alternatives to AirPods. Also read AirPods Pro vs AirPods to find out how the models compare. AirPods Pro 3 features: What specs and features will the AirPods Pro 3 have? In summary Heart rate monitoring Temperature monitoring Translation Better active noise cancellation It’s fairly easy to make predictions about the new features coming to AirPods Pro 3 just by looking at the AirPods 4 and the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2 (Beats is an Apple-owned subsidiary). For example, Powerbeats Pro 2, which launched in February 2025, includes heart rate monitoring. Read our review of the Powerbeats Pro 2 and our AirPods 4 review. As for the features rumored to be coming to the AirPods Pro 3, here’s what we’ve heard: Heart Rate monitoring: In December 2024, Gurman said Apple is working on in-ear heart rate monitoring. This will enable users to track heart rate while exercising without having to wear an Apple Watch.  The inclusion of heart rate monitoring in the Powerbeats Pro 2 certainly indicates that the same feature will be available on the AirPods Pro 3, but you can expect it to be superior. One issue with the Powerbeats Pro 2 is that they can’t steam music and capture heart data simultaneously. Another issue is with the interplay between the heart rate monitoring on the Apple Watch and the Powerbeats.  Temperature monitoring: Mark Gurman has also said Apple was researching in-ear temperature sensors, https://www.macworld.com/article/1978329/new-airpods-details-major-leak.html and Apple has a patent on such technology. In-ear temperature sensing could also be faster and more reliable than those via the Apple Watch. https://www.patentlyapple.com/2025/01/apple-reveals-an-all-new-temperature-sensor-that-could-be-used-with-apple-watch-airpods-and-more.html#:~:text=Apple Reveals an all-new,Electronic Devices With Temperature Sensors Translation: As part of the iOS 19 update Apple is said to be adding a live translation feature to AirPods. It’s unknown which AirPods will be compatible, but the AirPods Pro 3 are sure to be. https://www.macworld.com/article/2636989/airpods-to-get-live-translation-feature-as-part-of-ios-19-update.html We expect to hear more at WWDC. https://www.macworld.com/article/678333/wwdc-ios-macos-watchos-hardware-keynote.html Better active noise cancellation: According to Mark Gurman (in October 2023) the AirPods Pro 3 will feature a new H3 chip, which could lead to better active noise cancellation. Crash detection: An Apple patent describes a way that motion sensors inside AirPods could aid Crash Detection. AirPods Pro 3 design: Will Apple update the AirPods Pro design? In summary Changes to the charging case possible Slimmer design suggested Touch controls may work with gloves Mahmoud Itani / Foundry As mentioned above, we can look to the AirPods 4 for some clues about changes that may come to the AirPods Pro. One such change related to the charging case. The AirPod 4 charging case lacks a physical setup button, instead featuring a sensor under the status light on the front that lights up when active. There may be more changes coming. According to Mark Gurman (back in October 2023) the AirPods Pro will get a new design. We don’t expect new colors, but the buds may slim down further. The changes may be less visible, more tactile: A number of Apple patents indicate that Apple is looking to improve the way that the touch controls work on the earbuds work when the user is wearing gloves. For example in February 2025 a patent was granted to Apple that could enable this. AirPods Max 2 release date: When will the AirPods Max be updated? In summary Update long overdue Could be waiting until 2027 Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman wrote of the AirPods Max in a December 2023 newsletter, saying that “The cans don’t sell well enough for the company to invest in entirely new hardware or software features”. However, it’s now more than four years since the AirPods Max were introduced and with such a premium price Apple owes it to customers to bring the AirPods Max into line with their competition and other AirPods Apple sells.  In 2024 Mark Gurman predicted that the AirPods Max would get an updated at the iPhone event. Sadly, the update included only a color change and a switch from Lightning for USB-C connectivity.  I expect Apple to launch new AirPods Max headphones tomorrow with better noise cancellation, adaptive audio & USB-C. They’ll launch with the low-end AirPods 4. This is line with my reporting for months but runs counter to lack of low inventory in stores. https://t.co/KIJQEwywcp— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) September 9, 2024 Even worse, the change meant that the AirPods Max could no longer be used as wired headphones (a feature of the Lightning-based model). This was the case until a software update in March 2025 added this ability along with lossless and ultra low latency audio. As a result of that software update, users are now able to play lossless audio and ultra-low-latency audio through a wired connection. Lossless audio is a key feature for audio producers, while ultra‑low latency audio is key for gaming and live streams. Both very important features for the AirPods Mac. Despite these ‘updates’ the over four year old headphones are lagging behind the competition and an update is long over due. The bad news is that, if analyst Ming-Chi Kuo is correct, we could be waiting until 2027 for the second generation of AirPods Max. Twitter AirPods Max 2 price: How much will the AirPods Max 2 cost? In summary Price unlikely to change… …Although Apple could unify the U.S. and U.K. prices At $549/£499 the AirPods Max are an expensive purchase. The fact that they are now more than four years old makes that price look incredibly inflated. It’s no wonder they are frequently discounted at Amazon and elsewhere. When the new models launch we don’t expect a price change though. These are designed to fit at the premium headphones end of the market, and their competition has solar prices. That said, the price in the U.S. and U.K. may come in to line, with Apple choosing to ‘match’ the price as it usually does (many Apple products share an, e.g. $499/£499 price point) which Apple calculated based on exchange rates and local taxes. AirPods Max 2 specs: What specs and features will the AirPods Max 2 have In summary Necessary updates to bring into line with rest of the AirPods lineup New chip  Removal of ‘audio howl’ There is so much lacking from he AirPods Max compared to the AirPods Pro that it is easy to assume that the following will be included:  H1 chip upgraded to H2 (or H3)  Adaptive Audio (which combines transparency mode and ANC) Conversation Awareness  Conversation Boost Voice Isolation  Personalized Volume Option to activate with ‘Siri’ voice command (not just ‘Hey Siri’) Custom high dynamic range amplifier Bluetooth 5.3 (up from Bluetooth 5.0)  Find My  Also expect better battery life.  One patent identified in 2022 indicates Apple is looking at detecting “audio howl”, which is described as distracting audio feedback. AirPods Max 2 design: Will Apple update the AirPods Max design? In summary More protective carry case Removable ear cushions  Waterproofing  Jason Cross/IDG Improvements to gesture controls which are currently via the Digital Crown. Could Apple forgo the Digital Crown in favor of touch controls on the ear cups?  We could see changes to the carry case. Ideally it should cover the whole product and be more protective. A patent from 2022 suggested that Apple was developing a better case with magnetic clasps. The Audio Howl patent mentioned above also refers to removable ear cushions which could be reattached using magnets.  We’d also like to see a foldable design and better waterproofing. If you’re keen to hear the latest rumors about Apple’s plans, the best place to start is our roundup of New Apple products. Those interested in the current range should take a look at our roundup of the best AirPods deals for the latest bargains.

This affordable TV will be an impressive spectacle in any home. Credit: Best Buy/Mashable Photo Composite Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Learn more about how we select deals. SAVE $4,000: As of May 23, get the 85-inch TCL X11K 4K UHD TV for $5,999.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $9,999.99. That's a discount of 43%. Opens in a new window Credit: Best Buy TCL X11K 4K UHD TV $5,999.99 at Best Buy $9,999.99 Save $4,000 Whether you just want a bigger screen for the most popular room in your house or you want something you can brag about to your friends, an 85-inch TV is a fun splurge that anyone should be able to experience once. But the price can be prohibitive. However, if you're going to spend a big chunk of change, you'd might as well be able to save some cash on your big-ticket item when you make the choice to. In this case, you can score a huge 85-inch MiniLED TCL TV for a massive discount. As of May 23, get the 85-inch TCL X11K 4K UHD TV for $5,999.99 at Best Buy, down from its usual price of $9,999.99. That's $4,000 off and a discount of 43%. You May Also Like Aside from being absolutely huge, this TV is all about giving you excellent picture quality. It has 6500 nits of brightness and up to 14,112 dimming zones to give you a more realistic picture with deep contrast and bright, vivid colors. Its MiniLED features combine the great parts of both QLED and OLED tech for better pixel precision too, so you get a wide color gamut, higher peak brightness, and a TV that lasts longer than its brethren. All this, and it's accompanied by Bang & Olufsen sound with a slimmer profile than other TVs in its usual price range. It accomplishes its impressive picture and projecting audio with a super thin, delicate body that looks great mounted or standing on its own in your home, wherever you decide to put it. Mashable Deals Want more hand-picked deals from our shopping experts? Sign up for the Mashable Deals 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! Perhaps the most exciting part about the deal, however, is that you're saving thousands. If it's time to lock in and get an impressive new display, TCL has your back with this Best Buy discount. Brittany Vincent Brittany is fueled by horror, rainbow-sugar-pixel-rushes, and video games. Until her dying breath she'll be wielding a BFG made entirely of killer drive and ambition. Check out her work at PfhorTheWin.com. Like a fabulous shooter once said, get psyched!

Though many of the old artists’ residences have been gobbled up by new high-rises, pockets of nostalgia persist on the streets of New York’s NoHo neighborhood. Nine years ago, New Operations Workshop founder Gabriel Yuri was fortunate enough to find one when his real estate broker showed him a partially renovated 860-square-foot studio apartment in a 19th-century building that had been, at different times, a furrier, an artist refuge, and a home for women. Even in its haphazard state—with new walls plastered over some of the 1830s brickwork and half-finished hardwood flooring—the Diller Scofidio + Renfro alum could see the potential.Gabriel Yuri sits at a Tom Dixon screw table in the dining area, where custom shelving, a George Nelson pendant, and his grandmother’s Jens Risom chairs play off one another in their round and linear forms. “Most of what I was finding had been renovated to remove the charm,” Yuri remembers of the boring box apartments that had dominated the listings. “I wanted something that had history and character, so it was great that I got to this one while it still had some of that intact.”Many might have been daunted by the workload, but Yuri welcomed the challenge. He spent nearly four years peeling back the renovations—often himself, sometimes with the help of a handyman—restoring the original pine floors in the living room and revealing more of the existing brick, exposed pipework, and steel beams that had been covered up throughout the space. And his lucky streak continued: When new neighbors discarded the original tin ceiling tile during their own renovation, Yuri installed them in his kitchen and entry hallway—a sweet nod to the building’s past that complements the new industrial-style steel kitchen cabinetry. He also found original transom windows, which he used above the bedroom door to allow light to penetrate deeper into the apartment, and crafted a banquette sectional sofa and daybed in the living room to hide structural adjustments from the building’s façade work.A plaster of Paris bust of Yuri’s grandmother sits atop an old I-beam side table in the entry hallway, signaling the apartment’s industrial-chic aesthetic. The Tutsi milk jug was bought at auction. “I wanted to embrace the industrial aesthetic but also elevate it by blending it with a collection of things with balance and harmony,” says Yuri. In the living room, that meant pairing a vintage Hans Wegner lounge chair inherited from his grandmother with a sculptural Hinterlands cocktail table. But while the building itself served as an architectural muse, Yuri found inspiration in yet another beacon from a bygone era: his grandmother, who passed away just before he purchased the loft. “She wasn’t a designer but had the most incredible design sensibility,” he says. He repurposed her collection of midcentury furnishings—including the Jens Risom chairs in the dining room and the Hans Wegner lounge chair in the living room—as well as artwork and artifacts from her home in Queens. In the bedroom, he incorporated her stained glass pocket doors as a room divider and created a wood-and-cement-block bookcase inspired by the ones she often crafted herself. “The whole time I was keeping an eye out for what could fit in,” he says, noting the pops of red that were her (and his) favorite color. “It felt good to keep these things that I had grown up with and give them a new life.”Blended with contemporary additions, like the Tom Dixon table in the dining room and the live-edge platform bed in the bedroom, midcentury lighting that bridges the modern and industrial aesthetics at play, plus pieces picked up on his travels, the eclectic mix imparts layers of soul that give Yuri’s home a cocooning feeling of warmth and personal history.“The biggest response I get is how calm it feels,” he says. “I’m a homebody. I like to read and listen to albums and usually work from home. It’s nice to be surrounded by so many references to the past in such a busy, constantly changing city.”Above the custom Maharam-upholstered banquette sofa, Yuri has arranged an assortment of artwork on a steel shelf, including works by Paul Sepuya, Sarah Oppenheimer, and his mother, as well as a self-made piece that was once on display in the lobby of the Guggenheim. The table lamp is by In Common With, and the wood-and-steel magazine rack is of his own design. A memento from his time working at the iconic Starrett-Lehigh building, the hanging window acts as a divider between the living and dining areas. The transom windows that appear in the newly erected bedroom wall, which was started before Yuri purchased the apartment but redone in a much slimmer configuration, were found on site, and Yuri installed a herringbone floor over the previous owner’s renovations. Steel cabinetry and stained butcher block countertops from IKEA give the kitchen a sleek update. A seagrass CB2 rug, an Alvar Alto stool, and a city-themed drying rack by Seletti, as well as a collection of his grandmother’s vintage Hasami pottery and a conical tea kettle by Aldo Rossi for Alessi, infuse the space with warmth and personality. A custom oak platform bed adds earthy elegance in the bedroom, a space made cozier with custom felted wool drapery, cotton cashmere sheets by RH, and a throw blanket by El Rey for Nordic Knots. A pair of Yuri’s grandmother’s Arthur Umanoff side chairs create a sense of symmetry, as do the antique glass naval sconces and reclaimed pine flooring. Inspired by the simple bookshelves his grandmother made in her Queens, New York, home, Yuri crafted this efficient cinderblock and wood organizational system in the bedroom. Yuri painted the existing clawfoot tub in Farrow & Ball’s Off Black to coordinate with the new RH vanity and slate tile flooring for a moody effect against the existing brick walls.

One of my favorite product lines Nomad has made over the years is their slim power adapters. They started with their 35W slim charger, which brought fast iPhone charging in this ultra-slim form factor. Then they released their 65W version that added a secondary port and was tailored to customers needing more juice. Now, they have finally launched their 100W slim power adapter for those who need to charge their larger machines on the go. Here is what you need to know. My experience (update from May 22, 2025) The first thing I noticed when I opened the packaging was how light this charger is. For comparison, a 14-inch MacBook Pro comes with a 96W power adapter that weighs 454g (about one pound). The Nomad charger is roughly half the weight, slimmer and more compact overall, has an additional USB-C port to charge a secondary device, and is cheaper. There is a lot to like about this charger. First is the build quality, which feels well-engineered and soft to the touch with zero harsh corners or sides. Since its so thin, it is made to huge the power outlet its connected to so you don’t have to worry about the charger falling off the outlet, which happens with Apple chargers. Since it has dual USB-C, I like how they distinguished the fast charger with a blue port. To clarify, both ports can charge at the full 100W, but when two USB-C cables are connected, the blue port is the designated fast charger and the regular one is the normal charger. This charger is perfect because I can fast-charge a MacBook Air and an iPad Pro simultaneously, so I never have to worry about slow charging speeds. But of course its more than fast enough to charge both 14in and 16in Macbook Pros. From my experience, it has stayed cool to the touch throughout my testing, even when pushing the wattage. Overall, this is a great charger that has no real downsides. I wish a USB-C cable were included in the price, but in this product category, it’s rare that any brand does that. A man can dream. Regardless, this is now my main travel charger! It’s incredible how much power they can fit in a charger that is roughly the size of a deck of cards. They were able to use GaN battery tech to make this possible. This allows the charger to get to 100W of max charging efficiently without overheating or losing efficiency. You get: 100W max output to be able to charge the 16-inch MacBook Pro sufficiently Smart dual charging with each port charging up to 100W (70/30 split when both plugged in) Ultra slim, measuring just 19mm in thickness (again, think a deck of cards) Folding prongs This is officially my new travel charger, which I will bring with me everywhere. I can charge my iPad Pro and iPhone at fast charging speeds, no problem. I will also pair this with my Nomad universal cable to charge my Apple Watch while charging my iPad or iPhone. So bringing those two Nomad products gives me a super small, compact, and portable way to charge all three of my devices, and charge them fast. Its amazing how far battery tech has come and where its going. I love that we can now charge a fully loaded MacBook Pro at PD speeds with a charger that can fit in your pocket. Pricing and availability Nomad’s new 100W slim adapter is available today from their site for $75. As of now, it comes in just one color, carbide. They also have their 65W slim adapter for $65 if you do not need a full 100W, and they also have their 35W charger in the gorgeous white color for just $29. Let me know what you think. Is this a product you were looking for? Do you have devices that need this much power? let’s discuss below. 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

Dyson has announced what it’s claiming is the “world’s slimmest vacuum cleaner.” At first glance, its new PencilVac looks like a broom rather than a vacuum because the battery, motor, and electronics are all integrated into a thin handle that’s just 38mm in diameter — the same thickness as Dyson’s Supersonic r hair dryer. It weighs in at just under four pounds and is powered by the company’s smallest and fastest vacuum motor yet.The PencilVac is designed to be a replacement for the slim Dyson Omni-glide, which launched in 2021 with a cleaning head that used two spinning brushes so it could suck up dust and dirt in multiple directions. The new PencilVac is not only slimmer and lighter than the Omni-glide, it uses four spinning brush bars that Dyson calls Fluffycones.The PencilVac uses four conical brushes called Fluffycones that are designed to prevent long hair from getting tangled up around them. Image: DysonAs the name implies, the Fluffycones each feature a conical design that causes long hairs to slide down to the narrow end of each brush and fall off so they can be sucked up instead of getting tangled up around the brushes. The Fluffycones slightly protrude at the sides for better edge cleaning, and are paired with green LED lights (instead of the lasers that Dyson’s other vacuums use) that illuminate dust and debris so you can see when floors have been properly cleaned.The PencilVac is just 3.7-inches tall when laying flat, allowing it to slide and clean under furniture. Image: DysonOther innovations Dyson is introducing with the PencilVac include a motor that’s just 28mm in diameter but spins at 140,000RPM to generate 55AW of suction, and a new two-stage dust filtration system that prevents clogging and performance loss as the vac fills up. Given its size, the PencilVac has a smaller dust bin than Dyson’s other cleaners, but uses a new design that compresses dust as it’s removed from the airflow to help maximize how much dirt the bin can hold.A magnetic charging dock is included, which has storage for accessories and can charge an additional battery. Image: DysonThe PencilVac magnetically connects to a floor dock for charging and storage, and features a small LCD screen that shows the cleaning mode and an estimate of how long before the battery dies. It’s also Dyson’s first vacuum to connect to the MyDyson mobile app, which offers access to additional settings, alerts for when the filter needs to be cleaned, and step-by-step maintenance instructions.The vacuum’s slim design does come with some trade-offs when compared to the company’s larger models. Its cleaning head is designed for use on hard floors, not carpeting, and while it can be swapped with alternate attachments like a furniture and crevice tool, it doesn’t convert to a shorter handheld vac. Runtime is also limited to just 30 minutes of cleaning at its lowest power setting, but its battery is swappable and Dyson will sell additional ones to extend how long you can clean.Dyson hasn’t revealed pricing details yet, and while the PencilVac will launch in Japan later this year, it won’t be available in the US until 2026.See More:

A human can’t shrink away from the threats of climate change. A clownfish, however, can. In a new paper published today in Science Advances, a team of researchers revealed that these tiny “Finding Nemo” fish can actually shrink to survive heat stress, allowing them to overcome the threat of heatwaves.“We were so surprised to see shrinking in these fish,” said Melissa Versteeg, a study author and a Ph.D. student at Newcastle University in the U.K., according to a press release. “In the end, we discovered it was very common in this population.”Clownfish Shrink in SizeA clown anemonefish. (Image Credit: Morgan Bennett-Smith)Climate change has transformed terrestrial and marine habitats and continues to transform them, with heatwaves — or periods of abnormal warmth — having one of the most significant impacts on animals. Studies show, for example, that increasing temperatures have a strong influence on the dimensions of terrestrial and marine species, shaping their size and size variability and contributing to their overall reduction in size over time.But what, exactly, is the effect of marine heatwaves on the clownfish, also known as the clown anemonefish (Amphiprion percula)?Setting out to study how heatwaves transform these fish over time, Versteeg and a team of researchers turned to the wild clownfish population in Kimbe Bay in Papua New Guinea, where heatwaves caused temperatures to sit around 4 degrees Celcius above average over the course of the study. Measuring the water temperatures and the size of the clownfish there from February 2023 to August 2023, the team found that individual clownfish shrank over time.“We measured each fish individual repeatedly over a period of five months,” Versteeg said in the release. “During our study, 100 fish shrank out of the 134 fish that we studied.” Rather than getting slimmer, these clownfish shrank by getting shorter, with the degree of their reduction depending on the individual’s initial size and social rank. According to the researchers, the results reveal that clownfish reduce their size in response to heat stress, which, in turn, increases their chances of surviving a heatwave by 78 percent.Read More: How Volunteers Are Helping Keep Coral Reefs AliveClownfish Survival ImprovesAccording to the researchers, some clownfish shrank one time, and some clownfish shrank multiple times, with all of the fish that shrank multiple times surviving throughout the course of the study. Intriguingly, the chances of clownfish survival were also improved if a clownfish shrank alongside its breeding partner. “We witnessed how flexibly they regulated their size, as individuals and as breeding pairs, in response to heat stress as a successful technique to help them survive.” Versteeg said in the release. “It was a surprise to see how rapidly clownfish can adapt to a changing environment.”Similar shrinking abilities are seen in other animals, including marine iguanas. And while clownfish are the first coral reef fish that researchers have shown to shorten in response to heat stress, they may not be the last. In fact, the results could have implications for other coral reef fish, and for other fish overall. According to the researchers, fish on the whole are much smaller today than they once were. A 2023 study in Science found, for instance, that fish, in particular, are driving a decrease in size in the world’s animal populations. One possible explanation for this is that smaller species of fish are surviving over larger species of fish. Another is that fish species of all sizes are shrinking over time, with the smaller individuals of each species surviving (and thus procreating) more than the larger individuals of each species. It is possible, however, that there are other factors contributing to the smaller size of fish today, too, including the ability to shrink in size in times of stress. “If individual shrinking were widespread and happening among different species of fish, it could provide a plausible alternative hypothesis for why the size many fish species is declining,” said Theresa Rueger, the senior study author and a lecturer at Newcastle University, according to the press release. “Further studies are needed in this area.”Though the fish themselves are small and becoming smaller, the researchers say that their results raise big questions about animal size and about animal shrinking, more specifically. “We don’t know yet exactly how they do it,” Versteeg said. “But we do know that a few other animals can do this too.”Article SourcesOur writers at Discovermagazine.com use peer-reviewed studies and high-quality sources for our articles, and our editors review for scientific accuracy and editorial standards. Review the sources used below for this article:Sam Walters is a journalist covering archaeology, paleontology, ecology, and evolution for Discover, along with an assortment of other topics. Before joining the Discover team as an assistant editor in 2022, Sam studied journalism at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois.

Even though Apple DID make a 5.3mm iPad Pro, let’s just remember that they didn’t have as much success slimming down their keyboards. Remember the infamous butterfly keys on the MacBooks of 2015? Well, after that travesty, Apple just went back to what worked – relying on good-old scissor switches that resulted in a marginally thicker, yet more practical and functional device. At just 8 millimeters thick, the ‘mikefive’ doesn’t look like it should be real—let alone functional. But it is. It’s 37% slimmer than Apple’s Magic Keyboard and still manages to pack in 1.8mm of key travel, tactile mechanical switches, wireless connectivity, and a cyberpunk-grade metal chassis. It’s the kind of gear that looks like it came from a movie prop shop specializing in dystopian sci-fi—only it types better than most of what’s on your desk. The mastermind behind it is Reddit user dynam1keNL, an industrial product designer who clearly decided the mechanical keyboard rabbit hole didn’t go deep enough. Built from scratch around Kailh’s obscure PG1316 laptop switches, the mikefive is what happens when obsessive design meets precision engineering. The custom transparent caps, the CNC-machined aluminum chassis, the completely flush PCB layout—it’s all been meticulously dialed in to create a keyboard that doesn’t just challenge what a mechanical board can be. It redefines it. Designer: dynam1keNL To start, the mikefive is built around the Kailh PG1316 switches—a lesser-known, laptop-style mechanical switch that isn’t just slim, it’s shockingly tactile. These things have a travel of 1.8mm, and despite their wafer-thin profile, they pack a surprisingly aggressive tactile bump. It’s a bold choice that bucks the trend of soft, mushy low-profile inputs. You feel every keypress, and not in a nagging way—more like a firm handshake with every letter. The design language leans into a sleek cyberpunk aesthetic: a CNC-machined aluminum chassis that feels like it belongs on the deck of a spaceship, paired with transparent keycaps that hint at the internals while catching ambient light like crystal circuitry. The keycaps are proprietary, square-shaped, and clear, subtly marked with mold letters from the inside. What makes this keyboard doubly fascinating is that it isn’t some big brand prototype or crowdfunding darling, it’s a homebrew labor of love from a designer-engineer with a background in industrial product design. The entire board, including its impossibly compact controller and 301230 battery, is laid out like a masterclass in minimalism. The switch mounts directly to the PCB with no pins poking through, letting the board itself double as the bottom plate. Both halves of the unibody design are angled 15 degrees for comfort, creating a total ergonomic tilt of 30 degrees. The bottom edge has been subtly shaved down near the thumb cluster to avoid interference. And while there’s a slight warp on one end from hotplate soldering (just old-fashioned human error), it’s barely a blemish on an otherwise refined build. Despite its experimental nature, the keyboard’s wireless connection (courtesy of a nicenano v2) works flawlessly, even with the metal chassis surrounding the internals. Clever placement of the Bluetooth antenna and strategic removal of ground planes near it help the signal escape. Typing on the mikefive is a tactile revelation. Coming from linear switches, the force required by the PG1316s might be a shock, but there’s a tactile clarity here that’s hard to ignore. And when you realize your wrists aren’t straining after hours of use, the ultra-low height starts to feel like a long-overdue standard. The post Ultra-Slim Cyberpunk Keyboard is 37% slimmer than Apple’s own Magic Keyboard first appeared on Yanko Design.

Rumor has it, we may soon see an ultra thin iPhone. The rumored iPhone 17 Air -- or it might be called the iPhone Slim -- could potentially replace the current iPhone Plus amid Apple's next iPhone release in the coming months. The buzzed-about "Air" is getting a lot of attention in the iPhone 17 rumor mill, but the prospect also has people asking if Apple may have to sacrifice features to get a super thin phone.Here's the skinny on what we could expect with the newest iPhone.iPhone 17 Air release date: Is the slimmer iPhone coming this year?For nearly a decade, Apple has held an event in September to announce its new phones. This year we expect Apple to reveal the iPhone 17 series, including the rumored iPhone 17 Air.If the iPhone 17 Air rumors are true, Apple would be the latest to join the ultra-thin phone trend this year. Last week, I got to try out Samsung's new lightweight Galaxy S25 Edge after previewing it and a slew of shockingly thin phones at the Mobile World Congress in March.The iPhone 17 lineup may be the last to follow this fall-release model, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and a report from The Information. Starting with the iPhone 18, Apple will reportedly split its phone releases so that lower-cost iPhones launch in the first half of the year (previously reserved for iPhone SE models) and higher-end pro models are announced in the latter half. That would likely mean a rumored iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, Air and new foldable iPhone model could debut in fall 2026. Keep in mind that an iPhone Flip or Fold has been rumored for years.You'll likely be able to preorder a new iPhone the Friday after the announcement, with the phone shipping a week later.What will the iPhone 17 Air cost?Early rumors about an iPhone 17 Air hinted that it could cost even more than the iPhone 17 Pro, but a March Bloomberg report suggested the phone could cost around $900. That price tag would align with the rumor that the "Air" could replace the Plus, which currently costs $899. For comparison, Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge starts at $1,100.However, there's also the question of how tariffs could affect the price of an iPhone. Amid President Donald Trump's ongoing tariff drama, Apple has mostly escaped additional taxes by stockpiling inventory and getting most of its products on a tariff exemption list. Apple has moved some production of US iPhones to India to avoid the steeper tariffs imposed on China. However, Trump recently said he pushed Apple CEO Tim Cook to move US iPhone production from India to the US. How much all of this could affect iPhone prices is yet to be determined.Regardless of how tariffs play out, Apple is expected to raise the price of the iPhone. These price hikes are rumored to start with the iPhone 17 line, so prepare now to pay more for "Air." iPhone 17 Air camera: potential downgrade?Among the rumored potential sacrifices Apple may have to make to get a skinnier phone is limiting the camera features. The rumored iPhone 17 line is getting a new camera bar that extends across the width of the phone. But Front Page Tech shared an iPhone 17 Air video in February that showed a physical mockup of the phone based on rumors. One of the more surprising reveals was a smaller camera bar with one lens on the left, suggesting the "Air" phone has a single rear camera, similar to the iPhone 16E ($599). It's not clear if the camera would be the same as the 16E or if Apple would go the route Samsung did and include the main camera from the iPhone 17 Pro.The single camera theory is backed up by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and a Bloomberg report, which said that the rumored Air may not have the ultrawide and 5x telephoto lenses that have become staples of Apple's premium iPhones. In a bit of good news, it's also rumored that the front-facing "selfie" camera on all iPhone 17 models, including the Air, will be upgraded to 24 megapixels, according to analyst Jeff Pu. iPhone 17 Air vs iPhone 17 ProIt may be getting a lot of attention, but the rumored Air appears to be less an advanced Pro model and more a replacement for the Plus.However, rumors are that the Air would have a 6.6-inch display, according to analysts Jeff Pu and Ming-Chi Kuo. If accurate, that would mean the Air's display is slightly smaller than the iPhone 16 Plus, with a 6.7-inch display, but larger than the iPhone 16 Pro, which features a 6.3-inch display. The iPhone 16 Pro Max leads with a 6.9-inch display. It's unclear if the 17 Air's screen would be a Pro Motion display like the one found on iPhone Pro models.If the rumored Air lives up to its name, then the biggest potential advantage it could offer over a Pro is its size and weight. A Bloomberg report from March notes that the iPhone Air could measure 5.5mm thick, compared to the iPhone 16 Pro at 8.25mm. Mac Rumors reported that a leaker on the Korean-langauge Naver blog, going by "yeux1122," said that the rumored iPhone 17 Air weighs approximately 145 grams (5.11 ounces). Compare that to the iPhone 16 Pro, which weighs in at 199 grams (7.03 ounces). If this rumor proves true, the Air would be just slightly heavier than the iPhone 13 mini, which weighs 141 grams (4.97 ounces).Bloomberg's report also notes that the iPhone 17 Air is expected to have super slim bezels compared to the rest of the line, along with a Camera Control button and a Dynamic Island cutout in the display.iPhone 17 Air battery life expectationsAmong the challenges of slimming down an iPhone could be figuring out how to reduce the battery size without compromising battery life.Initially, it was assumed that a skinnier iPhone would simply have a reduced battery life since there would be less space to house a large battery. But more recently, AppleInsider reported that a skinnier iPhone might use a silicon-anode battery that could help extend its battery life. Yeux1122 said the battery capacity is 2,800mAh, based on details that originate with "mass production confirmed sample," according to MacRumors. It added that a high density battery in the Air could increase its "actual capacity" by 15 to 20%.If the rumored iPhone 17 Air does use the silicon battery technology, it would be the first iPhone to do so.Are iPhone Air rumors and leaks to be trusted?Rumors are just that. The speculation leading up to the iPhone's release is often based on insider knowledge or leaked information from the teams working on the iPhone's design, but those plans can continue to evolve and are not necessarily reflected in the final product. We'll only be able to confirm these rumors with certainty when Apple officially releases the next iPhone and we can see it for ourselves.