Custom Fortnite Monopoly board game will hit store shelves in October

Collect 2HP when you pass go.

Fortnite is taking over the world. No, seriously. These days it’s hard to go anywhere without hearing about Fortnite, and soon not even your family game nights will be safe. A newly skinned version of Monopoly, titled Fortnite Monopoly, will be making its way into stores beginning October 1. Custom versions of Monopoly are nothing new, we’ve seen tons of them through the years, but this one will surely be a hit this upcoming holiday season. The custom skin has popular Fortnite locations as its spaces, including Dusty Divot, Tilted Towers, Loot Lake, and more.

The game will also feature chests, traps, and storm cards, all of which replace other familiar parts of the regular Monopoly. Instead of just a few game pieces, it looks like Epic has brought forth a bunch of its most popular skins, including Tomato Head, Bunny Brawler, Skull Trooper, and more. It’s unknown at this time which retailers will carry it or what it will be priced at.

If you don’t think you have enough Fortnite gear already, maybe it’s time to grab a pair of socks, an embroidered patch, a hat, or maybe even a backpack

Bose QC35 vs. Soundlink Wireless Headphones II: Which should you buy?

We’re a virtual company made up of tech experts from across the globe. While Android is our passion, we also know that a great pair of headphones is the perfect companion to any phone.

Bose QC35

Noise-canceling beast

$349 at Amazon

Pros

• Noise-canceling
• Up to 20 hours of battery life
• Google Assistant and Alexa built-in

Cons

• Expensive

If you want the best wireless Bose headphones you can buy in 2018, the QC35s are the way to go. In addition to providing the best active noise-canceling around, the headphones also feel great, last up to 20 hours on a single charge, and have both the Google Assistant and Alexa built-in.

Bose Soundlink Wireless II

Best for less

$229 at Amazon

Pros

• Powerful, crisp audio
• Comes in two dual-tone colors
• Offers more value for your money

Cons

• No noise-canceling
• Shorter battery life

If you’re okay giving up noise-canceling, Bose’s SoundLink Wireless II is a great headphone pick. The battery life isn’t quite as long at 15 hours and there aren’t any built-in virtual assistants, but the sound quality is still superb and the design is just as comfy.

For buyers that don’t need noise-canceling, the Bose SoundLink Wireless II offers the best bang-for-your-buck. However, if you’ve got the cash to spend and want the best that Bose has to offer, the QC35s are still worth the higher price.

Break it down now…

At first glance, the Bose QC35 and Soundlink Wireless Headphones II look very similar — and for good reason. While there are a couple distinct features that separate the two products, they both offer a very similar experience in more ways than not.

Starting first with the design, both the QC35 and Soundlink Wireless II are over-ear headphones with a padded headband, adjustable sides, and leather earcups that hug your ears with great comfort and security. Both also come with a free carrying case, 3.5mm cable to use them in a wired fashion, and microUSB charger.

In regards to the sound quality itself, you’ll find a very similar experience across the QC35 and Soundlink Wireless II. Bose promotes crisp and deep sound for both headphones to ensure your music and podcasts sound as great as can be. There’s also built-in microphone so you can easily answer phone calls and support for the excellent Bose Connect mobile app.

Dimensions	7.1″ H x 6.7″ W x 3.2″ D (8.3 oz)	7.5″ H x 6″ W x 1.5″ D (7 oz)
Battery	Up to 20 hours	Up to 15 hours
Noise-canceling	✅	❌
Voice assistants	Google Assistant Amazon Alexa	None

While all of that’s great, there are a couple key areas where the QC35s definitely come out on top — most notably with its active noise-canceling. There’s no doubt the Soundlink Wireless II sounds great, but if you’re using them on an airplane or a noisy coffee shop, it can be easy to have your tunes overwhelmed by the ambient sounds around you.

With the QC353, that’s not an issue in the slightest. Bose’s noise-canceling on the QC35 is some of the best you can find on any headphones right now. With the flick of a button, all of the extra noise arround you either disappears completely or turns into a faint muffle — allowing your music to stand out even in the loudest of envrionments.

Along with this, the QC35 also gets an edge with its built-in voice assistants. You can hold down a button to quickly talk to either the Google Assistant or Amazon Alexa, making it simple to hear notifications from your phone, check the weather, send texts, and a ton more.

Lastly, while battery on the Soundlink Wireless II is really good at 15 hours of use before needing to charge, the QC35 also gets a slight edge here with a higher 20-hour rating.

Our top pick is the QC35

With all that said, the Bose QC35 earns our top pick between the two headphones.

The $349 price tag definitely isn’t cheap, but these headphones do it all. The superb sound quality and excellent design already stand out as fantastic, and when you bundle that together with Bose’s top-notch noise canceling and the availability of Google Assistant and Alexa, you end up with a really special product.

Oh, and don’t forget about the ridiculously good battery life.

QuietComfort 35 (Series II)

Noise-canceling beast

$349 at Amazon

Powerful nose-canceling with built-in smarts.

If you’ve got the cash to spare, the QC35s are the very best wireless Bose headphones you can buy. In addition to great sound and battery life, the active noise-canceling and support for Google Assistant and Alexa really seal the deal.

The Soundlink Wireless II is a great, cheaper alternative

We also understand that not everyone is able to spend more than $300 on a pair of wireless headphones. If you don’t need the noise-cancelation features or built-in voice assistants, the Soundlike Wireless II will serve you really well.

The sound is great, the design is just as comfy as what you’ll find on the QC35, and while the battery isn’t quite as legendary, it’s still pretty darn awesome.

Soundlink Wireless II

Best for less

Top-notch sound without all the expensive frills.

$229 at Amazon

If you don’t need noise-canceling or voice assistants, the Soundlink Wireless II offers fantstic sound quality, battery life, and comfort for a great deal less than what you’ll pay for the QC35.

Routines are broken on third-party Google Assistant speakers

“OK Google, what the heck happened to my routines?”

Google Assistant has only had custom routines for a few months now, but it’s made quite the impression, especially with the scheduled routines option that rolled out the ability to schedule routines so that they activate on a specific Google Assistant speaker at specific days and times. Scheduled, custom routines make Google Assistant my favorite alarm clock, but there’s been a slight snag in using them the last two weeks.

They’re not working on any Google Assistant speakers outside the Google Home line.

Insignia Voice users have been the most vocal about Routines being broken, both on /r/GoogleHome and on the Google Assistant Help Community, but users of other Google Assistant speakers including the Sony S50G, the TicHome Mini, and JBL Link speakers have reported Google Assistant Routines failing in the following ways:

• Scheduled routines stopped firing after weeks of consistent performance
• Custom routines that date back to the Shortcuts days were suddenly producing “I don’t know how to help with that yet”
• “Good morning” still seemed to work, but not “good night,” nor any of the other ready-made routines

Since Google Assistant doesn’t have a support line, only Google Home, users who contact Google through the Home app or Google Home website are being told to contact the manufacturers. That said, with the impacts being felt across most if not all third-party Google Assistant speakers, this seems to be a server-side issue on Google’s end. Some Google Home users have been seeing more sporadic issues with Routines the last two weeks, but none of the persistent failures that third-party Google Assistant speakers are seeing.

In my testing, routines are failing altogether on TicHome Mini and Insignia Voice while my Google Home is still executing scheduled and voice-activated routines. The Music action in And then play… for routines now seems locked to the primary music service, whereas before you could specify an alternate music service, but otherwise, Routines are working normally on Google Home.

Are ready-made or custom routines working on your Google Assistant speakers? Can you schedule custom routines and are they actually firing at the designated times? Let us know in the comments below!

Can I use two Nest Protect detectors in the same home?

Best answer: Yes. Up to 10 Nest Protects can be used with the same Nest account, in one or multiple locations.

Amazon: Nest Protect ($119)

Multiple Nest Protects are supported

You probably have more than one smoke alarm in your home right now, and that’s because multiple units are needed according to national and local law. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) regulations for residential dwellings — single family homes that don’t house a business or provide care services — say you’ll need an alarm in multiple areas, including all sleeping areas, every level that’s separated by a door, new homes built since 2007, and for certain-sized dwellings, one every 500 square feet of floor space.

Luckily, your Nest account allows up to 10 Nest Protects enabled at once and these can all be in the same location or spread across several different locations (we recommend the latter).

And you’re going to want to get that full protection. Nest Protects are both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, so you’ll be covered. However, it goes beyond just a typical smoke detector. Nest Protects are smart, so they can not only regulate themselves but have multiple settings, including a Home/Away Assist feature that uses sensors to detect whether you’re home or not. It can also contact up to 20 people via smartphone if one of them goes off.

Best of all, because they’re smart, they won’t deafen you while going off. That’s literally music to our ears.

Our pick

Nest Protect

$119 at Amazon

If you’re replacing or adding smoke detectors, the Nest Protect is your best buy.

A smoke detector needs to warn you when appropriate, and not give false alarms. The Nest Protect excels at both and also provides excellent carbon monoxide detection. Because they’re from Nest, they are easily integrated into any home automation plan and work with Amazon Alexa and Google Assistant.

This is everything we know about the OnePlus 6T!

OnePlus is going to end 2018 with a bang.

Ever since it was released this past May, the OnePlus 6 has been one of the absolute best values in smartphones we’ve seen in 2018. The phone’s only gotten better thanks to striking new colors and fast software updates, and right around the corner is its incremental successor — the OnePlus 6T.

The 6T likely won’t shake up the OnePlus 6’s formula too much, but even so, it’s already shaping up to be one of the year’s most interesting smartphones.

Without further ado, here’s everything we know about the OnePlus 6T!

The latest OnePlus 6T news

September 4, 2018 — Retail box reveals an in-display fingerprint sensor and “waterdrop” notch

Our first big OnePlus 6T leak has finally arrived!

A retail box for the phone recently appeared in a few photos online, and while the phone itself isn’t anywhere to be seen, the packaging actually confirms a couple key details about it.

Thanks to an outline of the 6T inside the box, we can see that it adopts a very similar design compared to the Oppo R17 that was announced in mid-August. As such, we’ve got a phone with very slim bezels, a tiny chin at the bottom, and a waterdrop style notch at the top.

This outline also shows a fingerprint near the bottom center of the display — suggesting that the 6T will be the first OnePlus phone to adopt an in-display fingerprint sensor.

August 17, 2018 — OnePlus 6T to launch on T-Mobile in the U.S. in October

A new report from CNET surfaced today, and if you’ve been waiting for more juicy details on the OnePlus 6T, there’s plenty for you here.

OnePlus phones in the U.S. have always been sold exclusively as unlocked handsets through OnePlus’s website, but with the 6T, OnePlus will be launching the phone on its first carrier partner in the States — T-Mobile. The T-Mobile version of the OnePlus 6T is said to be “optimized for T-Mobile’s network” and will work beautifully with the Un-Carrier’s 600Mhz band.

Pricing for the OnePlus 6T is said to be about $550 (a slight increase from the $529 OnePlus 6) and it’ll launch at some point in October.

August 14, 2018 — The new Oppo R17 is likely the phone the OnePlus 6T will be modeled after

If you’ve been following OnePlus for a while, chances are you know that its parent company is Oppo. OnePlus typically uses Oppo phones as references for its own hardware, and this year, the reference device for the OnePlus 6T will likely be the all-new Oppo R17.

While the 6T won’t be identical to the R17, the phone’s biggest features will likely carry over — including the waterdrop notch at the top of the display and all-glass back.

The R17’s notch is one of the smallest we’ve ever seen, and should this make its way to the 6T, it’ll be a big win for the phone’s design. The display below that measures in at 6.4-inches, and to not much surprise, retains a resolution of 1080 x 2280 Full HD.

Where will I be able to buy the OnePlus 6T?

Like previous OnePlus phones, we’re certain that the OnePlus 6T will be sold unlocked on OnePlus’s website.

However, new this year in the U.S., OnePlus has apparently secured its first carrier partner.

In addition to selling the phone unlocked, OnePlus will also sell the 6T via T-Mobile. The unlocked variant will work just fine on TMO, but by having the phone sold directly through the carrier and available to purchase via monthly financing, this should hopefully get the 6T in more people’s hands than previous OnePlus devices.

When will the phone be released?

According to a report from CNET, the OnePlus 6T will launch this fall — sometime in October, to be exact.

Seeing as how the OnePlus 5T went on sale November 21 and sales for the 3T opened up November 28, we have no reason not to believe OnePlus will shoot for an October launch. It’s not uncommon for OEMs to move up launch dates by a month or so compared to previous releases, and seeing as how the next-gen iPhones will be announced on September 12 and the Pixel 3 will be unveiled on October 9, OnePlus appears to be slotting itself in nicely with those big-name launches.

How much will the 6T cost?

Per that same report, the OnePlus 6T will cost $550.

In typical OnePlus fashion, that’s a minor price hike compared to its past releases. Here’s how the $550 OnePlus 6T will compare to previous OnePlus phones:

• OnePlus 6 — $529
• OnePlus 5T — $499
• OnePlus 5 — $479
• OnePlus 3T — $439
• OnePlus 3 — $399

OnePlus 6 review: The matter is settled

OnePlus 6

• OnePlus 6 review
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5T: How much changes in six months?
• OnePlus 6 vs. OnePlus 5: Should you upgrade?
• These are the official OnePlus 6 cases
• The OnePlus 6 doesn’t work on Verizon or Sprint
• Join the discussion in the forums

Canada Daily Deals: GoPro Hero6, Bluetooth headphones, and more

Whether you’re looking for new tech gear or household items, we’ve got you covered.

We found plenty of great deals today that include big discounts on GoPro’s latest action cam, Bluetooth headphones for working out or zoning out, roasted coffee beans, and much more!

View the rest of the deals

Each day, the Thrifter Canada team scouts out and shares amazing deals on products you know and love, helping you find the best prices on the ‘net.

For more Canadian deals coverage, be sure to keep an eye on Thrifter CA and follow the team on Twitter.

MacRumors Giveaway: Win a TS3 Plus Thunderbolt 3 Dock From CalDigit

For this week’s giveaway, we’ve teamed up with CalDigit to offer MacRumors readers a chance to win a Thunderbolt Station 3 Plus dock, which offers 15 ports for Apple’s Thunderbolt 3-compatible Macs.

Priced starting at $299.99, the TS3 Plus can replace all of your other dongles because of the sheer number of ports that it offers. Available in both silver and a new space gray option, the TS3 Plus will match Apple’s devices.

Design wise, the TS3 Plus, which is designed to be a desktop dock, is made from aluminum with ribbing on the sides, and it can be positioned either horizontally or vertically to work with any desk setup.

At the front and back, the dock includes two Thunderbolt 3 ports, an SD card reader, five USB-A ports, one USB-C Gen. 1 port, one USB-C Gen. 2 port, a DisplayPort 1.2 port, a Digital Optical Audio port, Audio In & Out, and a Gigabit Ethernet port.

The included USB-C Gen. 1 port offers 5Gb/s throughput, while the USB-C Gen. 2 port offers 10Gb/s throughput, ideal for high-performance SSDs.

The TS3 Plus provides 85W of charging power so it’s able to charge Apple’s 15-inch MacBook Pro models, along with the 13-inch 61W models with an included Thunderbolt 3 cable. It supports one 60Hz 5K display via Thunderbolt 3 or two 60Hz 4K displays using the DisplayPort and Thunderbolt 3 connections.

CalDigit’s TS3 Plus is compatible with 2016 and later 13 and 15-inch MacBook Pro models that support Thunderbolt 3, the 2017 iMac models, and the iMac Pro. We have two of the CalDigit docks to give away.

To enter to win, use the Rafflecopter widget below and enter an email address. Email addresses will be used solely for contact purposes to reach the winners and send the prizes. You can earn additional entries by subscribing to our weekly newsletter, subscribing to our YouTube channel, following us on Twitter, or visiting the MacRumors Facebook page.

Due to the complexities of international laws regarding giveaways, only U.S. residents who are 18 years or older and Canadian residents (excluding Quebec) who have reached the age of majority in their province or territory are eligible to enter. To offer feedback or get more information on the giveaway restrictions, please refer to our Site Feedback section, as that is where discussion of the rules will be redirected.

a Rafflecopter giveawayThe contest will run from today (September 7) at 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time through 11:00 a.m. Pacific Time on September 14. The winners will be chosen randomly on September 14 and will be contacted by email. The winners will have 48 hours to respond and provide a shipping address before new winners are chosen.

Tags: giveaway, CalDigit
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Proposed Tariffs Will Impact Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod, Mac Mini and More

A proposed $200 billion tariff on Chinese goods would affect the Apple Watch, AirPods, HomePod, Beats headphones, AirPort routers, Apple Pencil, Magic Mouse and Magic Keyboard, MacBooks, Mac mini, and a selection of cables, chargers, and adapters, Apple said today in a letter sent to the U.S. government.

Apple’s letter urges the Trump administration not to apply the tariffs that will affect Apple products and to find “other, more effective” solutions instead. According to the company, the U.S. will be the hardest hit by the proposed tariffs, leading to lower U.S. growth and competitiveness and higher prices for U.S. consumers.

Apple CEO Tim Cook with Donald Trump at the Executive Tech Summit at Trump Tower in December 2016

The proposed tariff list covers a wide range of Apple products and the products used in our U.S. operations: Apple digital health and wireless connectivity products, including Apple Watch, Apple Pencil and Air Pods; Apple computing tools such as MacMini; Apple adapters, cables and chargers engineered for efficiency and safety; Apple-designed components and made-to-specification tooling for Apple’s U.S. manufacturing and product repair facilities; specialty testing equipment for Apple’s U.S. product development labs; and servers, hard drives and cables for Apple’s U.S. data centers that support our global services such as the App Store.

According to Apple, the tariffs will increase the cost of its U.S. operations, divert resources, and disadvantage Apple compared to foreign competitors, leading to more expensive Apple products for customers.

Second, because all tariffs ultimately show up as a tax on U.S. consumers, they will increase the cost of Apple products that our customers have come to rely on in their daily lives. For example, the proposed tariffs cover Apple Watch, which has become the top-selling smart-watch in the U.S. and globally.

Since we introduced Apple Watch a few years ago, we have heard from users about how it has changed, and in some cases saved, their lives. Apple Watch is also being used in conjunction with American universities to help individuals to manage health conditions such as epilepsy and post-heart attack recovery.

Apple CEO Tim Cook said in July that Apple was evaluating the fourth tariff the United States plans to implement and would comment on its impact on Apple at a later date, which is what today’s letter pertains to. Cook called the examination of the tariff “a tedious process” because of the need to consider not only revenue, but also purchases being made through other companies unrelated to revenue, such as data centers.

The United States has already put three sets of tariffs in place affecting steel, aluminum, and $50 billion worth of other goods from China, but none of these tariffs have impacted Apple products and devices.

When commenting on tariffs in July, Cook said that while Apple believes the trade agreements the U.S. has with other major economies are in need of modernization, tariffs are not the right approach. Cook said Apple is, however, “optimistic” the tariff issue will be sorted out, and that the company is hoping “calm heads prevail.”

Apple shares dropped following the tariff news.

Apple’s Comments Regard… by on Scribd

Note: Due to the political nature of the discussion regarding this topic, the discussion thread is located in our Politics, Religion, Social Issues forum. All forum members and site visitors are welcome to read and follow the thread, but posting is limited to forum members with at least 100 posts.
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What to Expect at Apple’s September 2018 Event: New iPhones, Apple Watch Series 4, AirPods, AirPower and More

On Wednesday, September 12, Apple will hold its annual iPhone-centric event at the Steve Jobs Theater on the Apple Park campus. This year’s theme is “Gather Round,” the line that was on the invitations sent out to members of the media in late August.

This year’s event is shaping up to be quite exciting, with three new iPhones and refreshed Apple Watch Series 4 models on the horizon. Bigger displays seem to be the major draw this year, with Apple introducing both a 6.5-inch iPhone and larger-screened Apple Watch models that have smaller bezels.

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2018 iPhone Lineup

Apple’s 2018 iPhone lineup will consist of three devices: a 5.8-inch OLED device that’s a follow up to the current iPhone X, a larger 6.5-inch OLED device that’s a sort of “iPhone X Plus,” and a 6.1-inch device with an LCD screen and a lower price tag that’s meant to be Apple’s more affordable smartphone.

All three of the iPhones will feature nearly edge-to-edge designs with a notch that houses a TrueDepth Camera System, putting an end to the Touch ID Home button in Apple’s flagship iPhone lineup. While the three iPhones will have almost non-existent bezels like the iPhone X, the 6.1-inch iPhone’s bezels may be slightly thicker due to the LCD display instead of the OLED display.

2018 iPhone dummy models
Internally, Apple employees are said to be referring to this year’s iPhones as an “S” upgrade, a notation reserved for years when upgrades focus on internal components rather than design changes. “S” naming is appropriate given that all three iPhones are using an X-style design even though there are two new devices.

Apple is expected to use the 7-nanometer TSMC-manufactured A12 chip in all of the new iPhones for parity in processing power. The A12 should be faster and more efficient than the A11 for faster processing times, better graphics, and improved battery life. Early benchmarks suggest the A12 is 10 percent faster than the A11.

Leaked information from Apple suggests the 5.8-inch iPhone will be referred to as the “iPhone Xs” while the larger 6.5-inch iPhone could be called the “iPhone Xs Max,” with Apple doing away with the “Plus” moniker that it has used since the release of the iPhone 6 and iPhone 6 Plus.

Such a naming scheme makes some sense because the “Plus” designation has traditionally referred to phones that have features non-Plus phones do not, but it does not appear that there are differentiating features between the two OLED iPhones with the exception of screen size, battery life, and price tag.

The iPhone Xs models, which will have resolutions of 2,688 x 1,242 (6.5″) and 2,436 x 1,125 (5.8″) according to rumors, will feature 12-megapixel dual-lens camera systems like the iPhone X, sturdy stainless steel frames, faster Intel LTE modems with support for 4X4 MIMO, 4GB RAM, and up to 512GB of storage space.

Improved battery technology may allow Apple to introduce a two-cell L-shaped 3,300 to 3,400 mAh battery in the 6.5-inch model and a 2,700 to 2,800 two-cell battery in the 5.8-inch iPhone.

Apple’s iPhone Xs devices are expected to be available in silver and space gray like the iPhone X, but leaked images suggest Apple is also planning to introduce a new gold shade. Apple last year intended to introduce a gold iPhone X according to rumors, but was unable to do so due to manufacturing issues. Those problems have presumably been worked out this year, allowing for gold iPhone Xs models.

The 6.1-inch iPhone, which we don’t know the name of, will look similar to the iPhone Xs models, but with lesser features that are meant to keep costs lower. In addition to a 1,792 x 828 LCD display instead of an OLED display, this device will feature an aluminum frame instead of a stainless steel frame, a single-lens 12-megapixel rear camera rather than a dual-lens rear camera, a 2,600 to 2,700 mAh single-cell battery, up to 256GB of storage space, an Intel LTE modem with 2X2 MIMO, and 3GB RAM.

We’ve heard some rumors suggesting the 6.1-inch iPhone’s display won’t support 3D Touch, but it’s not clear if this is accurate. There has also been some speculation that Apple intends to use an aluminum rear shell rather than a glass rear shell, thereby not allowing wireless charging, but we believe all three iPhones will support wireless charging functionality.

Glass panels for the 2018 iPhone models
Faster wireless charging is a possibility for at least one of the iPhones Apple is developing with rumors suggesting Apple is working on a wireless charging coil made from copper wire instead of the ferrite polymer composite used in the current iPhone lineup. A copper wire charging coil would allow for faster and more efficient wireless charging, perhaps bumping up the 7.5W limit in the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X.

Like the 2013 iPhone 5c, the 6.1-inch iPhone will supposedly come in a multitude of colors, with possibilities that include grey, white, blue, red, pink, black, and orange. The 6.1-inch iPhone will mark Apple’s first real use of bright colors since the iPhone 5c.

6.1-inch iPhone dummy models in red, blue, and white, three color possibilities that have been rumored. From Slashleaks.
The 6.5-inch iPhone Xs Max and the 6.1-inch iPhone may support dual-SIM dual-standby in some countries like China, allowing for two SIM cards to be used at once. It’s not clear if this functionality will be coming to the United States, however. There has also been a rumor Apple could include eSIM functionality in some of the devices planned for 2018, so we’ll have to wait for launch to get a full picture of the SIM situation.

Rumors suggest Apple’s 6.1-inch “low cost” iPhone will be priced at $600 to $700, making it more affordable than the two OLED models that are in the works. The 5.8-inch iPhone Xs could be priced at $800 to $900, making it cheaper than the $999 iPhone X, while the 6.5-inch iPhone Xs Max could be priced at $900 to $1,000.

Chart outlining prospective 2018 iPhone features, via Ming-Chi Kuo
Some of the new iPhone models may ship with a Lightning to USB-C cable rather than a Lightning to USB-A cable plus a more powerful 18W power adapter, which would enable fast charging speeds right out of the box without the need to purchase additional equipment.

While all three iPhone models are set to make their debut at Apple’s September 12 event, rumors suggest the 6.1-inch model may not be available for pre-order alongside the two OLED models due to production difficulties. It is unclear if this information is accurate, but we’ve heard several rumors suggesting production issues for the 6.1-inch iPhone.

For additional information on the three iPhones Apple will introduce next week, make sure to check out our iPhone Xs roundup.

Apple Watch Series 4

The Apple Watch Series 4 is expected to feature a display that’s 15 percent larger than the display of the Apple Watch Series 3, a change implemented through a reduction in the size of the bezels of the device.

A larger display size will provide more room on the screen for apps and it will allow more space for watch faces. Apple is expected to introduce at least one new watch face with support for up to nine complications.

Leaked image of Apple Watch Series 4
While we don’t know the resolution of the 38mm Apple Watch, data found within the beta suggests the 42mm version will feature a resolution of 384×480, up from 312×390 in the current 42mm Apple Watch models.

Aside from the larger display, a leaked marketing image suggests the Apple Watch Series 4 will look similar to the Series 3, with no major design changes. With no significant change in design, Apple Watch Series 4 models will continue to be compatible with existing Apple Watch bands.

The Apple Watch Series 4 could include a gold stainless steel color for the first time based on the leaked image, and there have been rumors that it could potentially use a haptic side button rather than a physical side button.

Other rumors have pointed towards a longer battery life enabled through a higher-capacity battery and improved health monitoring capabilities related to the heart rate sensor, but we haven’t heard concrete details on what could be included.

Alongside the new Apple Watch, Apple is expected to introduce a selection of new bands as it does with each major event.

For more information on what we can expect to see in the Apple Watch Series 4, make sure to check out our Apple Watch roundup.

AirPower

Apple introduced the AirPower in September 2017 and promised to launch it in 2018, but development issues have delayed its release. Rumors have suggested Apple’s updated timeline included a release in or before September, so we’re hitting that deadline.

We expect to see Apple’s AirPower become available for purchase alongside the new 2018 iPhones and Apple Watch models.

The AirPower is designed to charge the Apple Watch (Series 3 and 4), glass-backed iPhones, and AirPods all at the same time, with a wireless charging case required to enable wireless charging for the AirPods.

AirPods

With the AirPower, Apple is supposed to be introducing a new AirPods Charging Case that adds wireless charging to the earbuds, but because the AirPower has taken so long to launch, we’re set to see updated AirPods with new features.

Rumors suggest that the AirPods will see a minor update this year adding an upgraded wireless chip that supports hands-free “Hey Siri” functionality. With “Hey Siri” support, AirPod owners will be able to activate Siri without needing to double tap on the AirPods with a finger.

An upgraded set of AirPods will also likely ship with the aforementioned Charging Case with wireless charging capabilities, and Apple is also expected to sell that case on a standalone basis so customers who have already purchased AirPods can upgrade to it.

Existing AirPods Charging Case next to redesigned AirPods Charging Case with wireless charging capabilities
No other major changes are expected for the AirPods this year, but there have been some hints that Apple is working on a set of Apple-branded high-end over-ear headphones that could launch in late 2018 at the earliest, so we may see a mention of them. Rumors on a launch date have been mixed, though, so Apple may not be ready to debut these until 2019.

For more information on the AirPods, check out our AirPods roundup.

Software Updates

New versions of iOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS have been in beta testing since June, and Apple is likely to provide golden master versions of each of the updates following its September 12 event.

The golden master versions of iOS 12, macOS Mojave, watchOS 5, and tvOS 12 will represent the final version of the software that will be provided to device owners when the software launches.

We expect to see Apple release iOS 12, watchOS 5, and tvOS 12 on Wednesday, September 19, two days ahead of the predicted launch of the 2018 iPhone models. Such a launch date would be in line with past software release timelines. We could also see macOS Mojave on that day, but historically, macOS release dates have varied somewhat.

Additional information on all of the new features included in Apple’s fall 2018 software lineup can be found in our iOS 12, tvOS 12, watchOS 5, and macOS Mojave roundups.

Possibilities for September or October

Several additional updates are on the horizon for Apple’s Mac and iPad lineups, but in past years when there have been a slew of fall updates to unveil, Apple has held two events: one in September focusing on iPhones and the Apple Watch and one in October to focus on Macs and iPads.

While it’s possible Apple could unveil new Macs and iPads at its September event, we believe the company is going to wait until an October event simply due to time constraints and the sheer number of devices that are in the works for the fall.

iPad Pro

Apple is working on updated iPad Pro models that adopt an iPhone X-style design with slimmer bezels and no Home button, with the iPads instead set to gain a TrueDepth Camera System that will allow Face ID to be used for biometric authentication purposes.

While the iPhone X includes a notch for the TrueDepth Camera, leaked iPad Pro designs in the iOS 12 beta suggest the iPad Pro models will not have a notch, instead retaining slim top and bottom bezels. Apple is also not planning to use an OLED display for the iPad at this time due to cost and production issues.

Renderings of 12.9-inch iPad Pro based on alleged CAD drawings
Rumors suggest the new iPad Pro models will be available in screen sizes that are approximately 11 and 12.9 inches, with Apple using chamfered edges that are similar in design to the iPhone SE. The antenna lines on the device may also be located at the top and bottom, similar to the iPhone 7.

Renderings of 12.9-inch iPad Pro based on alleged CAD drawings
Renders based on leaked CAD drawings suggest the iPad Pro has a relocated Smart Connector that’s been moved from the side of the device to the back of the device, but how this would functionally work remains in question, so it’s not clear if the information is accurate.

We’ve also heard that the new iPad Pro models will not feature a headphone jack, with Apple opting to do away with the port as it did in the iPhone lineup beginning with the iPhone 7.

For more information on what to expect from upgraded 2018 iPad Pro models, check out our iPad Pro roundup.

Mac mini

Apple is said to be working on a refreshed version of the Mac mini that’s focused on pro users. The upgraded device will include new storage and processor options, and because of its pro focus, it could be more expensive than previous Mac mini products.

There’s not a lot of additional information available on the Mac mini, but a previous rumor suggested the higher-end version “won’t be so mini anymore” hinting at least one configuration with a larger size to accommodate higher-end components.

Given that this is going to be a pro-focused machine, it’s not clear what chips it will adopt, but Intel this year has announced 8th-generation processors appropriate for both desktop and notebook machines. Past Mac mini models have used the same chips as the 13-inch MacBook Pro, but Apple may be planning to opt for more powerful chips for a pro Mac mini model.

For everything we’ve heard on the Mac mini, check out our Mac mini roundup.

Low-Cost MacBook Air

Apple has a 13-inch MacBook Air replacement in the works, which has been the subject of rumors for more than a year now. It’s been unclear whether Apple plans to position the machine in the MacBook Air family or the 12-inch MacBook family, but some concrete details about the upcoming notebook can be gleaned from everything we’ve heard.

Positioned as an entry-level low-cost machine in Apple’s product lineup, the notebook will be 13 inches in size and it will feature a Retina display. It is said to be similar in design to the current 13-inch MacBook Air, but with slimmer bezels.

It’s not entirely clear how Apple will distinguish this machine from the 12-inch MacBook if it’s going to offer a Retina display, but if the design is similar to the current MacBook Air, the 12-inch MacBook will still be Apple’s lightest machine, justifying its higher price tag.

Various pricing rumors have suggested that it could be available for anywhere from $799 to $1,200, but the most reliable source, Bloomberg, believes it will cost under $1,000.

Whiskey Lake chips appropriate for a MacBook Air-like machine were announced by Intel in August, and so Apple could potentially be planning to use these chips in the device.

For more on the mixed rumors we’ve been hearing about the 13-inch low-cost notebook, check out our MacBook Air roundup.

12-Inch MacBook

Regardless of whether the rumored lower-cost 13-inch notebook is a MacBook Air or a MacBook, Apple is still planning to maintain the 12-inch MacBook lineup and a refresh is in the works.

Upgraded 12-inch MacBooks are likely to feature Intel’s 8th-generation Amber Lake Y-series processors, announced in August. These chips bring processor and battery improvements, so new MacBooks could offer both faster performance and longer battery life.

Aside from upgraded Intel chips, there’s been little information on what else Apple might add to a refreshed MacBook lineup.

For more on the MacBook, check out our 12-inch MacBook roundup.

iMacs

We haven’t heard any iMac rumors in recent months, but Apple refreshes its iMac lineup on a yearly basis and this year is not likely to be an exception.

We’re expecting refreshed iMacs in 2018 that feature upgraded 8th-generation Intel processors, improved GPUs, and perhaps the adoption of the T2 chip that was introduced in the iMac Pro and has since been added to the MacBook Pro.

More details on the iMac can be found in our iMac roundup.

Conclusion

Apple’s 2018 “Gather Round” event will see the introduction of a slew of new flagship products that will build on the success of the Apple Watch Series 3 and the iPhone X. We also likely have a major Mac and iPad-focused event to look forward to in October should Apple not introduce new Macs and iPads at its September event.

Following the debut of the new iPhones and Apple Watch models on September 12, we are expecting Apple to hold pre-orders on Friday, September 14. If Apple sticks to pre-order times from past years, we can expect orders to be accepted starting at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time.

After a September 14 pre-order date, the new devices are likely to see an official launch date on Friday, September 21.

The event will kick off at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, with Apple planning to live stream the product unveiling on its event website and through the Events app on the Apple TV. For those unable to watch, MacRumors will have live coverage both here on MacRumors.com and on our MacRumorsLive Twitter account, along with continuing coverage throughout the rest of September.

What are you most looking forward to seeing Apple introduce this year? Let us know in the comments.

Related Roundups: Apple Watch, watchOS 4, watchOS 5, iPhone Xs, AirPodsBuyer’s Guide: Apple Watch (Caution), AirPods (Caution)
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Xiaomi Pocophone F1 review: First impressions

We’d like to thank our friends at GearVita for supplying the device for this review. We’ve placed a link at the end of the review if you’d like to purchase the Xiaomi Pocophone F1 from GearVita.

Generally speaking, if a phone launches a Snapdragon 845 (currently the best mobile processor on the market) 6GB RAM (the gold standard of mobile memory) and most of the must-have amenities of modern smartphones, you’d expect to drop about $700 on it – like the Samsung Galaxy S9, or LG G7, perhaps. If you’re phone-savvy, you might even be able to spend $500 on a Xiaomi Mi Mix 2S or a OnePlus 6.

But $300? For those specs? All-but unheard of.

At least, so we thought. The Pocophone F1 (from the aforementioned Chinese tech giant Xiaomi) crams flagship-caliber hardware into bargain bin pricing, while simultaneously cutting very few corners in the process. Released in August and starting at just $300 for the base model, the F1 features a very impressive spec-sheet worthy of a phone twice its price.

Pocophone F1 Specs At-A-Glance

• Display: 6.18″, 1080p IPS LCD (82.2% screen-to-body ratio)
• Platform: Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 CPU, Adreno 630 GPU
• Memory: 6+64/128GB or 8+256GB RAM/ROM (expandable)
• Rear camera: 12+5MP, f/1.9, 1/2.55″, 1.4µm
• Front-facing camera: 20 MP, f/2.0, 0.9µ
• Connectivity: Bluetooth 5, WiFi 802.11ac
• Audio: 3.5mm jack, “Stereo” Speakers (see below)
• Battery: 4,000mAh battery
• Build materials: Plastic Body, Gorilla Glass display
• Measurements: 6.12 x 2.96 x 0.35 in, 6.35 oz

But is it really that good?

Short answer? Yes, yes it is. It runs just as smoothly as my OnePlus 6, with better battery life and a screen that competes despite being “just” a 1080p IPS LCD. Since it runs on a Snapdragon 845 core, it features the same built-in Bluetooth 5.0 and 802.11ac WiFi modules that you’d see on any other flagship phone. At 4,000mAh, the battery is about 25% larger than your average flagship battery, and the same size battery as the spankin’ new Samsung Galaxy Note 9.

Need more praise? As GSMArena points out, the Pocophone F1 puts up a ridiculous 285k aggregate AnTuTu score, landing it squarely between the OnePlus 6 (286k) and the Samsung Galaxy Note 9 (283k). That’s pretty great company to be in. And granted, that metric only measures raw processing power and doesn’t take into account things like firmware and the performance of accessory modules, but even still – that number blew me away.

Okay, so what’s the catch?

There’s one rather severe catch and a number of smaller ones. The major on – for US users, at least – is that neither the Global nor India versions of the Pocophone F1 support any of the Primary LTE bands of the four major US-based carriers. This means that while the Pocophone will technically run on either of the GSM-based carriers (AT&T or T-Mobile), the best connection you’ll ever see is the HSPA+ “4G” label – never a true LTE connection.

The smaller catches are significantly smaller. The phone doesn’t feature wireless charging or NFC – which is a deal-breaker for very few people, I would imagine. It also features a plastic back, which is a purely cost-cutting move I’m sure most people will be able to handle at this price point. Ironically, perhaps the plastic back makes the Pocophone more drop resistant than many glass-bodied phones on the market.

I won’t sugar coat it for you, the “Stereo” speakers on the Pocophone F1 are not great. In anything other than a quiet room you’ll struggle to hear it even on max volume – and I use “Stereo” in quotes because while the phone has two speaker grates on the bottom, there’s only one speaker in there. Covering up the right one makes sound all but muffled, while covering up the left one doesn’t impact sound in the least. It’s a fake speaker grate, and marketing the phone as having Stereo speakers is rather disingenuous of Xiaomi.

Verdict

And that’s it. Everything else works as you’d expect from a phone running the above specs, which is to say – quite well. Personally, if the couple problems listed above are all that’s wrong with a $300 flagship, I call that a huge win for Xiaomi.

Now if they’d just make a North American version, we might see a true shakeup in the industry. Keep an eye out for my full review in a week, AndroidGuys.

Again, we’d like to thank our friends at Gearvita for supplying this device for review. If you’d like to pick up a Pocophone F1, head over to GearVita and pick yours up today.