OnePlus 6T vs. OnePlus 6: Should you upgrade?

OnePlus launches a new phone every six months, but with the company offering top-notch hardware on all of its devices, it doesn’t necessarily mean you have to upgrade with each cycle. Here’s what you need to know if you’re already rocking the OnePlus 6 and are eyeing the 6T as a potential upgrade.

OnePlus 6T

Subtle upgrade

$549 at OnePlus

Pros

• Narrower cutout
• Larger 3700mAh battery
• In-display fingerprint sensor
• 128GB storage as standard

Cons

• No headphone jack
• In-display sensor is slow and unreliable

The OnePlus 6T can be best summed up as a new variant of the OnePlus 6. Very little has changed on the hardware side of things, and while the phone has picked up a new cutout for the front camera, an in-display fingerprint sensor, and a 3700mAh battery, it’s missing the headphone jack.

OnePlus 6

Great hardware

$529 at OnePlus

Pros

• Same chipset as the 6T
• Top-notch performance
• Fingerprint sensor actually works
• Headphone jack

Cons

• GSM-only
• Notch is ungainly

You can hold on to your OnePlus 6 for at least one more generation. The phone is still one of the fastest in the market, and there’s nothing fundamentally new in the OnePlus 6T that warrants an upgrade. If anything, you’re better off with the OnePlus 6 if you care about wired audio.

OnePlus has followed a dual flagship release cadence for the last two years, and the strategy seems to be working for the company. As we’ve seen in years past, the fall refresh is more about tweaking a few elements rather than a wholesale overhaul, and that’s the case on the OnePlus 6T as well. With very little changing when it comes to the underlying hardware, let’s take a look if you should make the switch to OnePlus’ latest.

Should you upgrade from the OnePlus 6 to the OnePlus 6T?

OnePlus doesn’t really change a lot of the hardware elements with the T refresh, and as such, the overall design aesthetic as well as the specs are identical between the OnePlus 6 and 6T. The main changes with the 6T center around the fact that it now has a narrower cutout at the top of the display, and the traditional fingerprint sensor has made way for an in-display solution.

The 6T also has a slightly larger 6.41-inch display (versus the 6.28 inches on the OnePlus 6), which leads to a taller profile. One thing that’s different though is the width of the phone — the 6T is 0.6mm narrower than its predecessor, and that makes a lot of difference in real-world usage. It is also heavier thanks to the larger 3700mAh battery, and that also contributes to giving the device an added sense of heft.

The narrower notch up top isn’t nearly as annoying, and it’s far easier to ignore. And while the in-display sensor presents a novel new way to unlock the phone, it isn’t as fast or reliable as the standard module it’s replacing. Authentication using the optical in-display module usually takes well over a second, and I’ve found that it was particularly bothersome to use when the device was laid flat on a table.

The sensor also failed to recognize my fingerprints on several occasions, and if you were looking at the feature as a possible reason to upgrade, I’d recommend holding off for a few generations. The tech is very cool, but the implementation just isn’t there yet. As an alternative, face unlock on the 6T is just as accurate as the OnePlus 6, and continues to be one of the fastest in general on Android today.

The in-display sensor is very cool, but it just isn’t as fast as traditional fingerprint readers.

Aside from that, there isn’t much to differentiate the 6T from its predecessor. Both phones are powered by the Snapdragon 845 and come with 6GB or 8GB of RAM, and feature Wi-Fi ac, Bluetooth 5.0, AptX HD, and dual rear cameras. OnePlus is offering 128GB of storage as standard on the 6T, which more than negates the $20 price hike to $549.

The 6T also has Gorilla Glass 6 protection at the front and back, and I (thankfully) haven’t had a chance to test out its real-world effectiveness yet. But the Gorilla Glass 5 back on the OnePlus 6 weathered a few tumbles over the last five months without any issues, so I’m hopeful that the new version will be just as resilient.

One point of contention for fans of wired audio is the fact that the 6T no longer has a 3.5mm jack. It was an odd move for the company to make, but the industry in general is moving away from wired audio and OnePlus is the latest company to follow that trend.

OnePlus phones were never short on performance, and with both the 6 and 6T running the Snapdragon 845, you can be assured that there won’t be any slowdowns in day-to-day use. OnePlus is also taking advantage of the generous amount of RAM with a new feature called smart boost that caches data from frequently-used apps within the RAM to boost app load times. The feature is designed to help load games like PUBG faster, with OnePlus noting that it worked with a lot of app developers to optimize loading times on the 6T.

The overall software experience on both phones is near-identical, as is the performance.

For now, smart boost is limited to the 6T, but it should be making its way to other OnePlus phones shortly. Another area where things are identical between both phones is the software. With the OnePlus 6 picking up the Pie update, both devices are running the latest version of Android. OxygenOS continues to offer one of the best third-party software experiences on Android, and that hasn’t changed with the Pie update.

With the 6T sporting the same cameras as the 6, there isn’t any difference in this area as well. That said, OnePlus introduced a Nightscape mode on the 6T that staks several images to produce a more vivid image in low-light shooting scenarios.

Overall, the OnePlus 6T doesn’t offer anything drastically new that warrants an upgrade from the OnePlus 6. The in-display tech is still in its infancy and will take a few generations to get the same speed and accuracy as traditional fingerprint readers, and while the cutout is much smaller, that alone doesn’t justify paying for what is basically the same hardware. The OnePlus 6 is still one of the most capable phones in this segment, and the fact that it has a 3.5mm jack makes it the default choice for those interested in wired audio.

OnePlus 6T

Subtle upgrade

$549 at OnePlus

Same great formula with a few minor improvements.

With the OnePlus 6T, you get a much more palatable notch at the top of the display and an in-display fingerprint sensor, a first for the company. That said, the underlying hardware is identical to its predecessor, and there really isn’t a need to upgrade.

OnePlus 6

Great hardware

$529 at OnePlus

Still one of the fastest phones in the market today.

The OnePlus 6 has plenty of juice left, and with the phone debuting just five months ago, it has the latest hardware in the market today. Combine that with the fact that it has received the Pie update and the 3.5mm jack and you get a device that should hold its own well into 2019.

How to Make a Group FaceTime Call on iOS 12

Back in June at WWDC, Apple introduced iOS 12 with a long-awaited Group FaceTime feature that’s designed to let you chat with up to 32 people at one time using a unique tiled interface that’s new to FaceTime.

Apple ultimately removed Group FaceTime from the public iOS 12.0 release, but it’s back in iOS 12.1, which was released on October 30 during Apple’s New York event.

Group FaceTime is relatively easy to use, but it may not be immediately obvious how a call is initiated nor how all of the group chat options work, which is why we’ve taken an in-depth look at the new feature. To use Group FaceTime, all participants must have iOS 12 installed.

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Placing a Call

There are two ways to initiate a Group FaceTime call, using the FaceTime app or the Messages app.

FaceTime App

Open up the FaceTime app
Tap on the “+” button in the upper right hand corner.
In the “To” field, type a name and tap it.
Type another name.
Continue typing in all of the names of the participants who you want to chat with.
When ready to place the call, tap on either the audio or the video option and participants will receive a popup letting them know that you want to FaceTime with them.

Messages App

Open up an existing multi-person conversation or create a new iMessage chat thread.
At the top, where the names of the chat participants are listed, tap to bring up a menu bar.
Choose the “FaceTime” option to transition from a text-based conversation to a video or audio call.
The Messages FaceTime interface works with just one person or with a group of people, and it’s perhaps the easiest way to initiate a multi-person FaceTime call.

Receiving an Incoming Call Request

When a Group FaceTime chat is initiated either via FaceTime or through the Messages app, you will get a notification letting you know that a FaceTime call is initiating, which you can tap to join.

Joining an Existing Group FaceTime Call

When you’re in a group chat in the Messages app and someone initiates a Group FaceTime conversation, any person in the chat can join the call at anytime.

In the Messages interface, there’s a chat popup that lets you know a call is ongoing, with a “Join” button available and the number of people active in the conversation.

Joining a conversation is as simple as tapping that “Join” button, which automatically adds you to the call. There’s no approval interface, so be aware that if you’re in the middle of a conversation, anyone from a group Messages chat can interrupt and join in.

While in a Group FaceTime call, you’ll also see a chat bubble that lets you know how long the call has been going on.

Adding Another Person Through FaceTime

While in a FaceTime call, you can easily add another person to the chat.

In an active call, tap on the icon that features three dots.
Tap on “Add Person.”
Choose a name from the list to send them a notification to join in.

Leaving a Group FaceTime Call

As with a standard FaceTime call, exiting a Group FaceTime chat is as simple as tapping the big red “X” button to end the chat.

Focusing on Chat Members

All Group FaceTime calls are displayed with a tiled interface that highlights the person who last spoke. If you have a call with multiple people, you’ll see tiles of various sizes focusing on main participants, with those who haven’t spoken recently minimized in small tiles.

You can double tap on any person’s tile to make it the focal point in your FaceTime view, enlarging the tile to its biggest possible size. Tap again to go back to the standard tiled view.

Applying Effects

In addition to multi-person FaceTime calls, iOS 12 adds a new FaceTime effects camera that you can use while chatting. While in a FaceTime call, tap on the star-shaped icon to the left of the end call button to access options that include Animoji and Memoji, filters, stickers, shapes, and text.

Multiple effects can be applied at once, which are displayed to all chat participants. The people you’re chatting with can also choose different effects to use, leading to chats filled with different Memoji and Animoji characters.

Memoji and Animoji are limited to devices with the TrueDepth camera system.

We did a detailed how-to on the Effects camera in the Messages app, and it’s essentially the same for FaceTime, so make sure to check that out for additional details on how to use this new feature.

This how-to was last updated on October 3, 2018 to address Group FaceTime’s removal from iOS 12.0 and subsequent reintroduction in the iOS 12.1 beta.

Related Roundup: iOS 12
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‘Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition’ Coming to Mac Next Year

Divinity: Original Sin 2 – Definitive Edition is coming to Mac next year. The critically acclaimed role-playing game from Larian Studios featured in yesterday’s Apple event in New York, where Apple unveiled new Macs and iPad Pros.

The RPG title is being developed in partnership with Mac porting studio Elverils and Apple’s Metal engineering team, and promises to feature all the content from the PC version as well as the following additional features exclusive to Mac, as confirmed by MacGamerHQ:

• 64-bit Metal 1.2 support
• eGPU support (10.13+ only)
• V-sync support (10.13+ only)
• Support for Apple MFI controllers and rumbling support on selected controllers
• MacBook Touch Bar support
• MacBook trackpad and selected gestures support

This is very surreal. Very proud of everyone. pic.twitter.com/eABRsWY2M5

— Very Games Michael (@Cromwelp) October 30, 2018

Elverils plans compatibility with systems running macOS 10.13 and 10.14 macOS, with potential for 10.12 support further down the line, while MacBook Pro Touch Bar support should equate to quick access to in-game features like the journal or map.

Divinity: Original Sin 2 will also support HDR, iCloud backups, and cross-play between Windows and macOS systems.

More information including pricing is expected as the game gets closer to its Q1 2019 release, when it should be available to purchase on both Steam and the Mac App Store.
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Mark Zuckerberg Says Apple’s iMessage is Facebook’s ‘Biggest Competitor by Far’

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg on Tuesday singled out Apple’s iMessage mobile messaging service as Facebook’s “biggest competitor by far.” (via CNBC).

The comments were made to investors during an earnings call for the company’s third quarter performance, in which the Facebook CEO admitted the social platform was losing out to iMessage in “important” territories like the U.S., where iPhone sales are highest.

“Our biggest competitor by far is iMessage,” Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg said in an earnings call on Tuesday with investors, referring to the messaging service built into the iPhone and other Apple products.

“In important countries like the U.S. where the iPhone is strong, Apple bundles iMessage as a default texting app and it’s still ahead,” he said.

The Facebook chief said the company had identified a shift in the way users are communicating, with many transitioning from publicly shared content to private messaging, thanks to services like Messenger, WhatsApp, and Apple’s iMessage.

Zuckerberg also responded to vehement criticism from Apple CEO Tim Cook about companies that use people’s personal information as a business model for profit.

“It’s worth noting that one of the main reasons people prefer our services, especially WhatsApp, is because of its stronger record on privacy,” Zuckerberg said.

“WhatsApp is completely end-to-end encrypted, does not store your messages, and doesn’t store the keys to your messages in China or anywhere else. And this is important because if our systems can’t see your messages, then that means that governments and bad actors won’t be able to access them through us either.”

Zuckerberg’s reference to China is likely a dig at Apple, which recently transferred its China iCloud services from a hosting location in the United States to servers owned and operated by a state-run Chinese company.

The move means the Chinese government can use its own legal system to ask Apple for users’ iCloud data, whereas before the government had to go through the U.S. legal system. Human rights and digital security advocates have questioned whether Apple will be able to maintain and protect its customers’ privacy under the new Chinese laws.

During the earnings call, investors learned that Facebook had surpassed analysts’ estimates on earnings per share in the third quarter, but had fallen short on revenue and active user projections.

Tags: Facebook, iMessage
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Dark Mode Coming to Microsoft Office for Mac

With the release of macOS Mojave in September, Apple introduced a Dark Mode to its desktop operating system that some users prefer the look of, or just find more forgiving on the eyes. Many third-party apps have followed suit with their own darkened interfaces, and now it looks like a similar interface option is also headed for Microsoft Office.

MS PowerPoint in Dark Mode
Microsoft Office product manager Akshay Bakshi has been teasing as much on social media, with two tweets posted on October 29 and 30 indicating that users of Office for Mac will soon have the ability run at least some apps included in the productivity suite in a new native Dark Mode.

Look closely at the Pictures icon. Office running on macOS Mojave in Dark Mode. #OfficeInsiders #office365 pic.twitter.com/xDSTFvNr5q

— Akshay Bakshi 🎉 (@AgentAkki) October 29, 2018

According to the tweets, Dark Mode will be available in Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, featuring new dynamic ribbon and icon styling. Users signed up to the Insiders Fast community getting access to the visual refresh first in build 181029.

📣 Office Visual Refresh and Dark Mode support rolling out now to Insiders Fast with build 181029!

🎀 New Ribbon and icon styling in Word, Excel, PowerPoint and OneNote.
🌙 Dark Mode in Word, Excel and PPT on macOS Mojave. https://t.co/gTrEQbJoiN#OfficeInsiders #office365 pic.twitter.com/rTvFvOsqE1

— Akshay Bakshi 🎉 (@AgentAkki) October 30, 2018

Tags: Microsoft, Microsoft Office
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Like Google for CCTV, software could help cops scour surveillance video quickly

Surveillance footage can be a great security tool, but it works best when you know the exact moment that you’re looking for. Do you know that there was a break-in at your offices between 1 a.m. and 1.15 a.m. on Tuesday morning? Provided you’ve got cameras in the right place, closed-circuit television (CCTV) footage can be exactly what you’re after in terms of evidence. But surveillance footage isn’t always quite so useful. If you’re monitoring a large number of cameras and are searching for something more open-ended — for instance, a sighting of a missing person — it can leave you in the position of having to search, eagle-eyed, through hundreds or even thousands of hours of video.

Things could be about to change, however, thanks to researchers from India’s Ahmedabad University and Lalbhai Dalpatbhai College of Engineering. They have developed what they hope could become the Google of surveillance video systems. It would allow people to enter a text-based description of a person of interest, and then have artificial intelligence (A.I.) scour the footage for a sign of them.

[Our] technology asks only the description [of a person] — for example, 180cm tall man with a white T-shirt and blue jeans — to search,” Hiren Galiyawala, one of the researchers on the project, told Digital Trends.

The technology is not yet perfect, and with some of the other technical limitations of surveillance footage, it may not be any time soon. For instance, Galiyawala notes that surveillance footage is usually of such low resolution that making out faces is difficult. (And don’t for a second imagine that the CSI-style tech that allows police to enhance blurry images actually exists!) That means that you’re limited to searching attributes like a person’s height, gender and clothing. Unless someone is wearing a particularly outlandish attire, you’re therefore unlikely to only find the specific person you’re hunting for in a large collection of surveillance footage. However, Galiyawala said this technique “can be used to reduce the search space in hours of surveillance footage.”

In tests, the technology was able to accurately find 28 out of 41 people to help prove its efficacy. The researchers now plan to further develop the technology by adding in more search signals, like the ability to search for particular body builds and more detailed information about clothing styles.

“Research is ongoing in this project,” Galiyawala said. “Future work will be focused on improving the accuracy of the system.” A paper describing the work is available to read online, and the work will be presented at next month’s International Conference on Advanced Video and Signal-based Surveillance in New Zealand.

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Buy a new open-box unlocked iPhone 7 and save more than $100

One of the best things about Apple tech is that it ages pretty well – we probably all know one person who still refuses to let go of their iPhone 5 or iPhone 6. Apple makes some of the best hardware money can buy and offers good legacy support, so iPhones tend to last for a while. Fresh Apple gear can get costly quick, so we’re big fans of buying refurbished tech so long as you perform your due diligence and buy from a trusted professional source.

Even better than refurbished is buying “open box” tech that’s still in brand-new condition, which is another great way to save some cash if you’re wary of buying pre-owned gadgets. Why pay extra for a sealed box you’re going to immediately tear open anyway? Now, you can score a new unlocked iPhone 7 in “open box” condition for just $320 while supplies last. Read on to find out more.

The iPhone 8 and iPhone X series might be the new Apple hotness (with prices to match), but the iPhone 7 still packs solid hardware and up-to-date features: Under the hood, it runs on a 64-bit A10 chip and 2GB of RAM, and the phone comes pre-loaded with iOS 10 and its suite of apps. Its aluminum housing is sleek, lightweight, and durable, and it has an IP67 rating for resistance against dust and water splashes.

The iPhone 7 also features Apple’s super-crisp Retina display, with this IPS touchscreen having a 1,334 x 750 HD resolution and a pixel density of 326 pixels per inch. Cameras include an excellent 12-megapixel rear-facing shooter plus a front-facing 7-megapixel FaceTime camera. The iPhone 7 does lack a 3.5mm headphone jack, though – a controversial decision on Apple’s part to be sure – but you can still use compatible headphones and other accessories with Lightning or Bluetooth connectivity.

Currently, you can score the open-box 32GB iPhone 7 (unlocked for GSM carriers) for $320 from Ebay. These are in brand-new condition with an aftermarket Lightning cable and wall charger included, and color choices include black, yellow gold, rose gold, and silver with a limited quantity available for each. This saves you around $130 off of the street price of a brand-new sealed unit.

Ebay

Looking for more great stuff? Find Apple deals, Black Friday deals, and much more on our curated deals page, and be sure to follow us on Twitter for regular updates and ongoing Black Friday coverage.

We strive to help our readers find the best deals on quality products and services, and choose what we cover carefully and independently. If you find a better price for a product listed here, or want to suggest one of your own, email us at dealsteam@digitaltrends.com.Digital Trends may earn commission on products purchased through our links, which supports the work we do for our readers.

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Everything Apple Didn’t Announce at Today’s Event

Apple held a second hardware-centric fall event this morning in New York City, where the company launched updated iPad Pro models, a refreshed version of the MacBook Air, and a new Mac mini.

Prior to the event, though, there were rumors suggesting we’d also see some other products that didn’t end up making an appearance.

iMac

Rumors suggested Apple was working on updated iMac models with new processors, but it doesn’t look like the iMac lineup is going to get a 2018 refresh at this point.

There wasn’t a lot of detail on what to expect from a new iMac, but Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo did say Apple was working on a version with an upgraded processor and a “significant display performance upgrade.”

With no new iMac making an appearance at today’s event, we don’t know when we’ll see an updated version.

MacBook

Prior to today’s event, there was a lot of confusion over a rumored lower-cost notebook, which turned out to be a MacBook Air. It wasn’t clear if the device would be in the MacBook Air or the MacBook family for good reason – it was rumored to be a 13-inch machine with a MacBook Air style design, a lower price tag, and a Retina display.

Those options turned out to be true, and the new MacBook Air is slimmer with thinner bezels, a faster processor, built-in Touch ID, and a Retina display, the feature previously differentiating the MacBook Air from the 12-inch MacBook.

Now that this new $1,199 MacBook Air with 8th-Gen Intel processors, Touch ID, T2 chip, and a slimmer chassis exists, it’s not entirely clear what Apple plans to do with the 12-inch MacBook lineup, which starts at just $100 more.

There were rumors the 12-inch MacBook lineup would also be updated at today’s event, but it wasn’t refreshed.

Is this the end of the MacBook? It’s not clear what Apple has in store for its thinnest, lightest machine, nor when it might see an update. With faster 8th-Gen processors and a Retina display in the new MacBook Air, the only real distinguishing feature between the MacBook and the MacBook Air is the MacBook’s smaller size.

iPad mini

Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said just ahead of Apple’s event that a new iPad mini is in the works, but he wasn’t sure if it would be included in the October 30th product unveilings. As it turns out, it wasn’t, and if a new iPad mini is in development, there’s no word on when we’ll see it launch.

AirPower and AirPods

There was some speculation that Apple could still debut the AirPower charging mat and compatible AirPods at its October event, but that didn’t happen.

We have no idea when we might expect to see the AirPower launch, if it is indeed still in the works, nor when Apple will launch updated AirPods. At this point, it looks like we may not see these products until sometime in 2019.

Mac Pro

We were hoping to get a little peek at Apple’s work on its promised high-end high-throughput modular Mac Pro that Apple is developing for release in 2019, but it looks like we’re going to have a longer wait to get our first glimpse at Apple’s pro-focused machine.

Missing iPhone XR Cases and iPad Smart Covers

It’s still not clear why Apple hasn’t introduced cases for the iPhone XR, especially after mentioning special clear cases for the device in the iPhone XR press release in some countries, but following today’s event, there’s still no sign of Apple-designed iPhone XR cases.

Apple also did not introduce new Smart Covers for its updated 11 and 12.9-inch iPad Pro models, but there are new Smart Folio options and the new Smart Keyboard Folio.

Related Roundups: iMac, iPad mini 4 (2015), MacBookTag: October 2018 eventBuyer’s Guide: iMac (Don’t Buy), iPad Mini (Don’t Buy), MacBook (Don’t Buy)
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Apple Mac Mini (2018) buying guide

After more than four years of neglect, Apple has finally refreshed the Mac Mini, giving it one of the biggest performance bumps the line has seen to date. This year’s Mac Mini tops out with a six-core Intel 8th-gen processor, enhanced security thanks to the Apple T2 chipset, and upgradeable memory. Despite coming only in the same space grey hue as the prosumer-targeted iMac Pro, the 2018 Mac Mini retains its consumer branding — there’s no “Pro” in the name, contrary to early rumors.

All this power, however, comes at a cost, and the 2018 costs a pretty penny more than the older model that it replaces. With a starting price of $800, the Mac Mini’s higher price this year is creeping into the iMac’s $1,100 territory, even though Apple’s compact desktop doesn’t ship with its own display. If you’re set on picking up a new Mac Mini, here’s what you need to know heading into the configuration process.

Processor

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Thankfully, after years of being saddled with an aging processor, the Mac Mini comes with Intel’s 8th-gen processor. The 2018 Mac Mini starts with a quad-core 3.6GHz Coffee Lake Core i3 processor, though you can configure the device with either an upgraded 3.0GHz six-core Core i5 or an even more powerful 3.2GHz six-core Core i7 processor at the time of purchase. The jump from quad-core to six-core processors will provide the most noticeable performance jump, so if you’re looking for the best value, the Core i5 is a good choice.

None of the upgrades will give you the option to add a discrete graphics card, which isn’t surprising given the Mac Mini’s compact 7.7 x 7.7 x 1.4-inch frame. Instead, you’ll have to rely on Intel’s UHD Graphics 630, though if you demand more graphics performance, you can connect the Blackmagic eGPU to any one of the four Thunderbolt 3 over USB-C ports on the rear of the device.

Storage

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

Apple did away with hard disk storage this year, and all Mac Mini models now standardize on PCIe-based solid-state drives. Storage starts with at 128GB for the base quad-core model or 256GB on the six-core configuration. On the six-core Core i5 model, upgrading from a 256GB drive to 2TB quickly bumps the $1,100 price to $2,500.

As a desktop, most users will want at least 256GB capacity. The SSD can only be configured at purchase, as it’s not an upgradeable component on this desktop. More frugal shoppers can choose a lower capacity SSD to save money and add an external SSD or hard drive later.

Memory

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The 2018 Mac Mini can be configured with up to 64GB of DDR4 RAM, making it a powerful desktop. Best of all, even if you opt to stick to the base 8GB of RAM at purchase, memory is easily upgradeable by removing a plastic cover on the bottom of the Mac Mini. Configuring the Mac Mini with 64GB of RAM adds $1,400 to the cost.

To justify the cost, Apple claims that 64GB of memory will deliver up to nearly eight times the performance of a similarly configured system with 16GB of RAM. But even at 16GB, you’ll need to add another $200 to your base memory configuration. Make sure whatever processor can actually put to use the amount of memory you add on. A Core i3 with 64GB of RAM won’t do you much good.

The rest

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

All configurations ship with Gigabit Ethernet support, along with Wi-Fi 802.11a/b/g/n and Bluetooth 5.0 radios. Users demanding even faster connection speeds can upgrade to a 10 Gigabit Ethernet port for an added $100. The Mac Mini also comes with an HDMI 2.0 port, power port, two USB-A 3.0 ports, 3.5mm headphone jack, and four Thunderbolt 3 over USB-C ports, allowing prosumers the opportunity to connect up to a total of three displays.

Although significantly more powerful this year, the Mac Mini’s higher cost of entry — it starts at $800 — may put off the budget-conscious buyers who were previously drawn to this Mac line. The improved performance on this year’s model, along with its ability to pair with an eGPU, moves the Mac Mini into a more premium territory. Fully specified, the Mac Mini’s price quickly increases to $4,200 when configured with with a six-core Intel 8th-Generation Core i7 processor, 64GB RAM, 2TB SSD, and 10Gb Ethernet port. However, keep in mind that you still need to add a $100 Magic Keyboard, $80 Magic Mouse, and display to the price.

In comparison, Apple’s iMac Pro comes with in at $5,000, but comes with a more powerful Xeon processor, ships with a keyboard and mouse, and has a built-in high resolution display in an all-in-one package. And when you have to add in the peripherals and a display, Apple’s standard $1,100 iMac may be the more affordable option for most consumers, if you don’t mind a 21.5-inch screen or a hard desk drive rather than SSD for storage.

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iPad Pro (2018) hands on review

Computers and video game consoles. That’s what Apple compared its latest iPad Pro to at a launch event in New York City, pinning its tablet as the most versatile tool you can have in your arsenal. It’s tough to argue against that. The iPad Pro (2018) has spectacular performance with a stunning 120Hz screen, the most tablet-optimized apps, Face ID, and a downright attractive design we can’t stop staring at.

Gorgeous design, speedy Face ID

Shrinking down the bezels around a screen is something we’ve been seeing for quite some time across all products, from TVs and smartphones to tablets. The new iPad Pro does exactly that, cutting down the edges for a more modern look.

There are two iPad Pro sizes: an 11-inch model, which is the same size as 2017’s 10.5-inch iPad Pro thanks to the shaved bezels; and a 12.9-inch model, which is 15 percent thinner with 25 percent less volume than the largest iPad Pro of old, despite having the same screen size.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The 12.9-inch iPad Pro still feels massive in the hand, but it’s lightweight enough to become at least kinda manageable. The 11-inch is easier to maneuver – but we’ve fallen in love again with the 12.9-inch screen size. It’s a fantastic canvas, whether you’re drawing or watching a movie.

It’s a fantastic canvas to work on, whether you’re drawing or watching a movie.

Still, we’re a little concerned about the slimmed edges. It made holding the 12.9-inch iPad Pro a little tough without interrupting the screen, though the flat edges did help. We’ll need to spend more time with the tablets to see if it impacts overall usability. We mostly used the 12.9-inch iPad Pro in our brief hands-on time, so that’s what we’ll be referring to the most, but both iPad Pro devices share the same features.

Another big change is the home button, or lack of. It’s gone! That’s already happened in Apple’s iPhones, so it’s hardly a surprise. Instead, you’ll navigate iOS with gestures akin to what you’ll find on the iPhone XS and iPhone X. It’s intuitive, and it’s a navigational change that came to all iPads with iOS 12.

So, how do you unlock the tablet? You guessed it. Apple has brought over Face ID, and unlike the iPhone, the iPad Pro can unlock by detecting your face in any orientation it’s held. You won’t need to worry about keeping the iPad in portrait orientation or tilting your head sideways when the tablet is in landscape mode. We tried it, and the iPad unlocked as swiftly as Face ID on iPhones.

We’re baffled why Apple would axe the headphone port on the iPad Pro.

In portrait orientation, the volume rocker sits on the right edge with the power button up top. The same quad-speaker setup is still here, but there’s a crucial component missing — a headphone jack. While we’ve come to terms with the omission on the iPhone, we’re baffled as to why Apple would axe the headphone port on the iPad Pro. It supposedly targets musicians, and we can’t imagine they’ll take this well.

Apple has we moved around the smart connector, which is how accessories like the Smart Keyboard connects to the iPad. It’s now on the back. The Smart Keyboard also got a revamp — there are now two viewing angles, but we’re still not fans of the typing experience. It’s also too expensive at $200 for the 12.9-inch iPad Pro, and $179 for the 11-inch. If you want to use the iPad Pro as a laptop replacement, that puts the total cost close to $1,000 for the smallest iPad Pro. That’s a lot!

A much-improved Apple Pencil

The original Apple Pencil worked well, but there wasn’t an easy way to keep track of it. It was easy to misplace because there’s no good way to store it on the iPad. Apple has fixed that with the second-generation, though it means the new Apple Pencil is only compatible with the new iPad Pro, according to Apple’s website.

The new Apple Pencil magnetically attaches to the right side of the iPad Pro (when held in portrait). The magnetic connection is strong, and it doesn’t feel as though the Pencil will easily break away. As soon as it connects, you’ll see a notification on the iPad indicating so, which also means the Pencil pairs with the iPad and will automatically start charging wirelessly. It’s much more elegant than charging the Pencil with the Lightning port on older iPads.

The Apple Pencil feels more like a pencil than ever before.

We love the feel of the new Pencil. It feels more like its namesake. Writing on the iPad is natural, and everything feels responsive. You can now double tap any part of the Pencil to swap to the eraser when drawing or writing (or the last used tool), and this action is customizable and open to third-party developers. Tap the screen of the iPad, and it will automatically launch the Notes app. That’s a nice touch.

These improvements come at a cost. The new Apple Pencil costs $30 more at $129. Yep. Another price hike, one that comes alongside a higher price for the iPad Pro itself.

120Hz display, unrivaled performance

The iPad Pro’s display is breathtaking, using Liquid Retina LCD technology similar to the iPhone XR. The 12.9-inch offers 2,732 x 2,048 resolution, while the 11-inch model packs 2,388 x 1,668. ProMotion technology delivers a screen with a refresh rate of 120Hz, meaning you see incredibly smooth scrolling and an overall more responsive experience. It’s excellent, and while we’ll be doing more testing in our review, we expect to be impressed and think you will be, too.

Julian Chokkattu/Digital Trends

The iPhone XS and XR have unrivaled performance thanks to the A12 Bionic processor. Apple has taken that up a notch with the A12X Bionic powering the new iPad Pro devices. There’re eight cores, and the neural engine is present for speedy machine learning. You won’t have an issue with performance.

Apple says you should expect twice the graphics performance of last year’s iPad Pro, saying it performs better than the Xbox One S console. However, if Apple’s going to make comparisons to video game consoles, it should make sure it has console-quality games on iOS, like NBA 2K. It has the best mobile games — that’s undeniable — but we’d like to it run more AAA titles, like Civilization VI, which arrived on the iPad last year.

Apple iPad Pro (2018) Compared To

Amazon Fire HD 8 Kids Edition

ReMarkable tablet

Apple 10.5‑inch iPad Pro

Amazon Fire HD 8 (2017)

LeapFrog epic

LG G Pad 10.1

Microsoft Surface Pro 3

Dell Venue 8 Pro

Panasonic Toughpad FZ-G1

Barnes & Noble Nook HD+

Dell Latitude 10

Acer Iconia Tab W700

Motorola Xyboard 8.2

Lenovo IdeaPad K1

BlackBerry PlayBook

The iPad Pro comes in a variety of storage sizes, from 64GB for the base model to 1TB. The price for the new iPad devices has jumped, and we think Apple should get rid of the 64GB option and make the 128GB the base size.

Battery, USB-C, and camera

Apple said the iPad Pro should last all day, and we’ll certainly be testing that, but the biggest improvement is the addition of a USB-C charging port instead of a Lightning connector. That means you can use the iPad Pro to charge your iPhone via a USB-C to Lightning cable, and you can connect the iPad to external displays. It’s a long-overdue feature, but we’re happy it’s finally here.

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Apple didn’t say much about the camera in the iPad. Your phone camera is likely better, so you shouldn’t use the tablet to take photos. Still, it’s used for augmented reality applications, so it’s worth mentioning. It’s a 12-megapixel camera on the rear with a f/1.8 aperture, and it supports the new Smart HDR feature Apple introduced on the iPhone XS. The 7-megapixel TrueDepth camera can be used to take Portrait Mode photos, so you can create and send Memojis and Animojis.

Price and availability

The 11-inch iPad Pro starts at $799, and the 12.9-inch iPad Pro starts at $999. That’s a big price jump considering the 2017 10.5-inch iPad Pro cost $650. That’s without accessories like the Apple Pencil or the Smart Keyboard.

The new iPads are expensive, yes. But in the announcement video, Phil Schiller, Apple’s senior vice president of Worldwide Marketing, said the 2018 iPad Pro is “like a computer, but unlike any computer.” This is tablet is calling itself a legitimate laptop replacement, and we’ll be testing it that way. There’s so much you can do with the iPad Pro that it really does feel unlike any other computer.