Category: Technologies

Oh no. Is your iPhone storage at its limits? No matter if you’ve filled your iPhone with pictures of happy memories throughout the years or just downloaded too many movies, full iPhone storage is a major inconvenience. You can’t install the latest iOS software updates, download more apps or even take a single photo or video. Not to mention, your phone likely crashes more often. You do have a few obvious options to clear up your storage, but they require you to either delete things or spend money.

You can remove large files, like movies, TV shows and music albums, but maybe you’re not ready to give those up. There are also various cloud alternatives to beef up your existing storage, but that requires shifting files around, and you may have to pay for it. You could also just buy a new phone with more storage — but that’s an expensive option.

That’s why, if these options aren’t appealing to you, you can and should take advantage of certain iOS features to free up storage on your iPhone without having to delete anything or spend any money.

There are two built-in iOS settings that can help you clean up a significant amount of storage on your iPhone — one permanent and the other temporary — so that you can install the latest software updates, take more photos and videos and download more apps. Here’s what you need to know.

If you want more tips on getting more iPhone storage, check out how to free up space on your iPhone with these easy tricks and the best cloud storage options in 2023.

Optimize your iPhone photos and videos

It’s not always easy to just delete what’s in your camera roll, so if you want to keep your precious memories, or even just your meme screenshots, but still want to free up device storage, the easiest way to do that is by optimizing the photos and videos already stored on your device.

By default, every time you take a photo or video, it is saved in full resolution on your device. If you’re capturing photos and videos in the highest resolution possible, they can take up quite a bit of space. A minute of video shot in 4K at 60fps takes up approximately 400MB — nearly half a GB. That’s pretty significant.

To optimize your photos and videos, go to Settings > Photos and toggle on Optimize iPhone Storage (for this to work, you’ll need to have the iCloud Photos setting above it enabled). Depending on how many photos and videos you have on your iPhone, this can take up quite a bit of time, but once it’s finished, you should see significantly more space on your device storage.

All of your full-resolution photos and videos are then transferred over to your iCloud, while smaller, lower-resolution versions are kept on your device, to take up less space. If you want to access your higher-resolution photos and videos, you can go into the Photos app and download any file that’s being optimized, but this requires a decent internet connection. Your more recently taken photos and videos may exist in full-resolution, so you won’t need to download every photo or video.

If you don’t have enough iCloud storage, it’s easier to upgrade your cloud than get a new phone. In the US, you can upgrade to 50GB for only a dollar a month, or you can go bigger: 200GB for $3 a month or 2TB for $10 a month. Prices range depending on your country or region.

To upgrade your iCloud on your iPhone, go to Settings > (your name) > iCloud > Manage Account Storage > Buy More Storage. Choose a plan and then follow the instructions. If you upgrade to any paid iCloud subscription, you’ll get access to iCloud+, which also offers the iCloud Private Relay and Hide My Email features.

Offload your biggest apps

You don’t use every application stored on your iPhone. Many of them just sit there, like apps for your favorite airlines, third-party cameras and music production. And even if you use them only every once in a while, you probably don’t need consistent, daily access to most apps, which is why you should consider offloading apps in case you desperately need storage.

Say for example you want to download and install the latest iOS update. If it’s a major update, like iOS 16, you may need a little over 5GB to successfully install the software. If it’s a point update, like iOS 16.1, you’re looking at around 1GB. And if you don’t have enough storage space to update, you can quickly offload apps, which is a middle ground between keeping and deleting your apps.

Go to Settings > General > iPhone Storage and check which apps are taking up the most storage. Certain built-in apps like Photos and Messages cannot be offloaded, so be warned. If you find a sizable app you want to offload, tap on it and hit Offload App. Wait a little bit and the app should then be removed offline, while your documents and data will stay saved on your device.

If you need temporary storage, for a software download, just go through the list and offload every app you can. The amount that’s offloaded for each app will vary, but you should see the number next to App Size. Discard the number next to Documents & Data, because that will stay on your device. The only way to get rid of that is to actually delete the app.

Offload as many apps as you need until you have enough storage. Obviously you can’t use an app that’s offloaded, but if you want to get an offloaded app back, go to your App Library and tap on the iCloud button to redownload it. If the offloaded app is on your home screen, simply tap on it to download it. You won’t have to re-sign in or anything — you’ll have access to the app as if it was never deleted.

An Xbox Game Pass subscriptionis almost essential for Xbox owners. The service, which runs $10 to $15 a month, not only includes a large, ever-changing catalog of games to download and play, but also bundles access to online multiplayer services. Each month, Microsoft adds new games to the service.

Read more: Best Game Subscription Services

If you’re on the fence about Game Pass, or just looking for some suggestions about what to play, below are some recent and classic favorites on the service.

Valheim is a multiplayer survival game based on Norse mythology that has been a hit with PC gamers since its release in 2021. On March 14, the game makes its way to Xbox Game Pass letting players explore the world of Valheim and build their own bases to fend off the monsters of the world. Up to 10 players can join up with crossplay enabled between Xbox and Steam players.

New and noteworthy

• Hi-Fi Rush

• Madden NFL 23

• Darkest Dungeon
• Monster Hunter Rise
• Persona 3 Portable
• Persona 4 Golden

Xbox Series X

$500 at Amazon

Recent hits

• Forza Horizon 5
• Pentiment
• As Dusk Falls
• Citizen Sleeper
• A Plague Tale: Requiem

• Death’s Door
• Farming Simulator 22 (no, really)
• Sea of Thieves
• Deathloop
• Halo Infinite
• Guardians of the Galaxy
• Outer Wilds
• Psychonauts 2
• Vampire Survivors

• Tetris Effect: Connected

Read more: Best Cloud Gaming Services

Xbox Series S

$287 at Amazon

Must-play classics

• Assassin’s Creed Origins (and AC: Odyssey)
• Batman: Arkham Knight
• Dishonored 2
• Dead by Daylight
• Fallout 76
• Doughnut County
• Skyrim
• Grim Fandango

PC gaming picks

• Warhammer 40,000: Darktide

• Pillars of Eternity 2: Deadfire
• Solasta: Crown of the Magister
• Warhammer 40,000: Battlesector
• The Elder Scrolls III: Morrowind
• Expeditions: Rome
• Wasteland 3

We’ll keep this list updated with new additions and new staff suggestions. You can also check out our picks for the best games on PlayStation Plus.

Dan Ackerman/CNET

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate

Best for multiplatform gaming

Game Pass has evolved far beyond its Xbox-bound origins to become a subscription that delivers something for everyone who plays games, and now encompasses console and PC game downloads, access to online multiplayer services, a deal with gaming giant EA and a cloud-based service that streams games to nearly any device.

Microsoft offers several versions, but because of how the features are sliced up between them, only the $15-per-month Ultimate plan, with all the benefits detailed above, really makes sense. Read our Xbox Game Pass review.

$15 at Microsoft

Of all my favorite hobbies, drawing digitally certainly tops the charts. Stretching my skillset with digital art on my iPad gives me the chance to explore different artistic figures, forms and styles, and create art without having to haul out all the supplies for a more traditional medium. So getting to experiment around to find the best drawing apps for iPad users looking to dive into the digital art world has been a blast.

I use a third-gen iPad Air and a first-gen Apple Pencil. But regardless of your iOS device, ultimately the best drawing app for iPad art is one that supports you in being creative and expressing yourself. So whether you can draw a symmetrical face or have more of a Jackson Pollock flair for splatters, you and digital artists across the globe will be sure to find the perfect app among our picks of the best iPad drawing apps.

Read more: Best iPad for 2023

Procreate

Procreate

Best overall

The Procreate iPad drawing app — a CNET Editors’ Choice pick for 2022 — costs $13 to download, but its suite of art tools and creative features make it well worth the money. The digital illustration app is accessible whether you’re a design professional, a seasoned digital artist or a beginner to the world of digital illustration. I’ve been using Procreate for a couple years and there are still features I’m finding out about that improve my artwork (check out all of the best Procreate tips I’ve found so far).

Procreate lets you customize gesture controls so the app is ultimately personalized to you. No matter what level of artist you are, Procreate’s features like Quickshape, blend mode, layering, alpha locks and clipping masks can add a new level of professionalism to your art.

There’s a lot going on in this app, so I wouldn’t download it if you’re just looking for a place to doodle. For quick reference in the app, check out the official Procreate Handbook.

Read our Procreate review.

See at App Store

Autodesk Sketchbook

Autodesk Sketchbook

Best free drawing app

The Autodesk Sketchbook app is free, but is surprisingly packed with art tools that aren’t blocked by paywalls. You can use the free version for seven days and then you’ll be asked to make an Autodesk ID, which is also free. It’s a little less intimidating than Procreate when you’re starting off your digital art journey. When you download the sketch app, it’ll give you a quick tutorial of where all the basic tools are.

Autodesk has an extensive, well-organized brush library, and with its customizable brushes, it’s easy to adjust settings like brush size, opacity and pressure. Even with a typical learning curve of a new drawing app, the toolbar is pretty easy to figure out. I also liked that, even when extensively zoomed in, the app didn’t lose its “drawing” feel by letting you see the pixels in your stroke.

One of my favorite parts of Sketchbook is the focus on making the transition from paper to screen easy. You might’ve done cool sketching in a notebook, and with Autodesk, you don’t have to redraw the sketch in the app. Your camera doubles as a scanner so you can import your art. The image imports with a transparent background so you can immediately get to work in the app.

See at App Store

Art Set 4

Art Set 4

Best for beginners

Art Set 4 is one of the more basic, realistic drawing apps. It’s free to download, but most of its tools are unlocked through the Premium Pro features, which cost $10. This app would be best if you’re brand-new to digital illustration — it feels similar to having physical tools and paper in front of you. I love its user interface. If you’re overwhelmed by the idea of going into a more complex app like Procreate or Autodesk, the Art Set 4 drawing tool is a good one to get started with. It’s also fun if you just want to doodle.

Something I really like about Art Set 4 is the ease with which even the free tools work together in a piece. It’s also nice that you can swap between multicolored paper styles like canvas and the rough surface of heavyweight, cold press sheets for watercolor. You can choose burlap styles, cardboard and grids without messing up a drawing you’ve already done.

When you explore the app, any items that require Premium Pro will be locked. If you tap on a locked item, Art Set will ask if you want to upgrade and unlock everything. Premium gives you full access to over 150 brushes, 3D paint, fluid watercolor, the ability to layer and use masks, enable a “wet canvas,” drawing guides like symmetry, shapes, filling and dozens of other ways to customize your workspace.

See at App Store

Shelby Brown/CNET

Lake

Best for coloring book fans

Not everything you create in an art app has to be a massive endeavor that ends with a masterpiece. Having fun is the most important part. Simply coloring can make for a creative and relaxing afternoon. Lake is a free ASMR art app packed with coloring book sheets — in all different styles — from artists all over the world.

The app’s audio element is particularly cool. For example, if you do digital painting with the paint brush, you’ll hear quiet brush sounds. If you choose the spray paint tool, you’ll hear a ball bearing rattling like it would if you shook a paint can. You can turn the ASMR off in settings.

Another thing I liked was the option to stay in the lines and add more color for shading and effects. It gives you more room to be creative instead of just tapping and filling (though you can do that if you want). Also, the artist for each coloring page puts together an optional palette for you to use if you’re not sure about colors.

You can stay on the app’s dashboard and pick from free daily images or explore All Art in the toolbar. Lake sorts the coloring pages into artist collections, kids, abstract, animal, cities, feminist, portraits, mandalas for relaxation and satisfying symmetrical images.

On Lake’s free tier, you get nine free coloring pages per day. If you subscribe to premium — $10 a month, or $40 annually — you’ll get access to all the coloring pages, more color variations in the wheel and the option to use a blank canvas.

See at App Store

More art apps to check out

ShadowDraw: Learn How to Draw: ShadowDraw is a helpful free app (with in-app purchases and subscription plans for premium content) if you’re struggling with proportions or drawing specific things like faces, bodies or animals.

Drawing Pad: The Drawing Pad app is a good simple app for those in the market for a casual doodling app. It has a free version with ads (which can be a little annoying if you’re in the middle of a piece), or you can upgrade to premium for $7 a month or $30 annually.

For more on drawing, check out these five online drawing classes you can take right now. If an iPad isn’t your drawing tablet of choice, read our list of top tablets for 2023.

More iPad advice

• Best Laptops, Desktops and Tablets for Graphic Design and Creatives in 2023
• The 30 Best iPad Games You Need to Play
• The Best Apple iPad Apps of All Time

Getting caught with a dead phone battery while you’re out and about can throw off your entire day, so it’s a good idea to keep a portable charger on hand. And even though new phones like the iPhone 14 boast a pretty impressive battery life, navigation, taking videos, gaming and other functions can still drain it pretty quick. So unless you want find yourself scrambling to locate an outlet, you’ll want to make sure you’ve got a dependable portable charger or power bank in you pocket or bag.

The best portable power banks and battery chargers come in all shapes and sizes. The more affordable options tend to require use of a cable for charging, but we’re seeing more and more magnetic wireless chargers that stick to the back of your MagSafe-enabled iPhone or MagSafe-enabled case. I personally like portable power banks for iPhones that have an integrated Lightning cable, which offers fast charging.

While this list is geared toward iPhones, any portable battery pack on the list with a USB-C or USB-A out ports will work perfectly well for charging an Android smartphone (or any other portable gadget), so long as you provide a compatible smartphone cable.

So what’s the best portable charger for juicing up your iPhone on the go? Here are out top picks, all of which I’ve tested and reviewed. I’ll update this list as other top portable chargers hit the market.

Read more: Best iPhone Chargers

Best battery packs with built-in Lightning cables and foldout wall plugs

David Carnoy/CNET

Infinity Lab InstantGo 5000

Best power bank with integrated Lightning cable

Infinity Lab is Samsung-owned Harman Kardon’s new accessories subsidiary, and I like its InstantGo 5000 and InstantGo 10000 power banks, which come with an integrated Lightning cable for easy charging of iPhones. The larger 10,000 mAh costs $20 more and is heavier and bulkier, but it can charge most iPhones twice.

$50 at Amazon

Get Price Alerts

You’re receiving price alerts for Infinity Lab InstantGo 5000

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

iWalk LinkPod Y2

Top generic portable charger with integrated Lighting cable

While i can’t say how well this portable battery from iWalk will hold up over time, it’s a good power bank for the money, if it does manage to hold up. Along with an integrated Lightning cable that tucks away into a slot when not in use, it’s got an integrated 9,600-mAh battery, which should charge most iPhones almost twice. There’s also an LED in the battery that lets you now how much juice its got left.

The battery is a little bulky but it’s not huge for a 9,600-mAh battery. There’s nothing too fancy about it — it does feel a little generic — but it’s also about half the price of most portable batteries with a built-in Lightning cable. The Lighting cable will fast charge your iPhone at 18 watts and there’s also a USB-C out port for charging a second device (or a device that doesn’t charge via Lightning).

$35 at Amazon

Get Price Alerts

You’re receiving price alerts for iWALK LinkPod Y2 Power Bank Fast Charging 9600mAh,Small Portable Charger with PD Output & LED Display,[2023 Upgrade]Battery Pack Portable Charger with Built-in Cable Compatible with iPhone 14/13/12/6

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

Mophie Powerstation Plus With PD

Durable portable charger with integrated Lighting cable

Zagg hasn’t promoted its Mophie Powerstation Plus With PD charger much, but it’s one of the best portable batteries with an integrated Lightning cable. It houses a 6,000-mAh battery (that’s enough to fully charge even larger iPhones) and the Lightning cable offers 18W fast charging and tucks into a storage slot when not in use (a flap covers the storage slot so you may not realize there is a built-in cable at first).

You charge the power bank with a Lightning cable, and there’s also a USB-A out port for charging a second device (or a device that isn’t an iPhone). The battery is available in a few color options, but I’ve mainly seen it in black and gray.

$40 at Walmart

$55 at Amazon

Get Price Alerts

You’re receiving price alerts for Mophie Powerstation Plus With PD

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

myCharge Hub 4400

Best dual iPhone and Android portable charger

MyCharge’s Hub portable chargers come in a few different sizes and not only have an integrated foldable wall plug but integrated Lightning and USB-C cables, so you can charge both Apple and Android devices. It’s a little bulky, but with a 4,400-mAh battery, it should be able almost fully charge your smartphone, depending on its size. The step-up 6,700-mAh model is about $10 more.

$23 at Amazon

$60 at Best Buy

Get Price Alerts

You’re receiving price alerts for myCharge Portable Charger for iPhone – Hub 4400mAh Wall Plug & Built in Cables (Lightning, Type C) USB C Power Bank Fast Charging Battery Pack External Phone Backup

Anker

Anker 733 Power Bank

Best power bank that’s also a 65W charger

Thanks to Gallium Nitride (GaN) technology, chargers have been getting more powerful while shrinking at the same time. The latest example of that trend is Anker’s new line of GaNPrime chargers with next-generation GaN 3 technology, which the company says is even more energy-efficient. The Anker Power Bank 733, combines a 65-watt charger with a 10,000K-mAh portable battery and is part of the new GaNPrime line. It’s pretty compact for what it is and offers two fast-charging USB-C ports and one fast-charging USB-A port. You can charge up to three devices at once, but note that to get a full 65W charge for a laptop, you can only plug in the laptop. Also note that you can save $30 at Amazon by activating the instant coupon on the product page.

$100 at Walmart

$100 at Amazon

Get Price Alerts

You’re receiving price alerts for Anker 733 Power Bank

Best MagSafe-compatible magnetic battery packs for MagSafe-enabled iPhones

David Carnoy/CNET

Anker 622 MagGo Magnetic Battery

Best magnetic battery with integrated stand

What’s cool about Anker’s 622 magnetic battery is that it’s a wireless battery that has an integrated magnetic flap that converts into a stand. You won’t get fast wireless charging from this 5,000-mAh battery (it charges at up to 7.5 watts), but it’s slim and easy to carry around.

It charges via USB-C, and if you use a USB-C to Lightning to charge your iPhone, it will charge at a faster rate of 12 watts. That’s not as fast as what a 20-watt USB-C power adapter can deliver, but it’s faster than 7.5 watts.

$59 at Walmart

$59 at Amazon

Get Price Alerts

You’re receiving price alerts for Anker 622 MagGo Magnetic Battery

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

Baseus Magnetic Wireless Power Bank

Best high-capacity magnetic wireless portable charger with flip-out kickstand

If you’re looking for a bigger portable battery that charges your phone wirelessly, the Baseus Magnetic Wireless Power Bank is an excellent option. It houses a 10,000-mAh battery that can charge an iPhone 14 around two times — but it’s still somewhat compact.

The magnet is strong, and I also liked that it has an integrated flip-out kickstand, so it converts into a stand. There’s also an LED battery life indicator on back of the battery that tells you exactly how much juice the battery has left (you see the actual percentage). The Baseus Magnetic Wireless Power Bank is available in three color options with the black version currently costing a few bucks less.

It’s on sale for $48 at Amazon, but you can save 20% by activating the instant coupon on the product page.

$48 at Amazon

Get Price Alerts

You’re receiving price alerts for Baseus Magnetic Power Bank, 10,000mAh Foldable Kickstand Wireless Portable Charger, for Magsafe Battery Pack 20W USB-C for iPhone 14/14 Plus/14 Pro/14 Pro Max and iPhone 13/12 Series

David Carnoy/CNET

MyCharge Superhero MagLock

Wireless battery charger

You don’t want your phone to go dead on the mountain, so it’s always good to pack a battery pack.

MyCharge calls its new line of magnetic power banks Superhero MagLock, implying that they’re real saviors. I was impressed by their design. Not only do the batteries, which come in various capacities, have strong magnets and stick really well to the back of your iPhone 12, 13 or 14, but they have raised coils, which are supposed to help reduce heat levels while charging. It does seem to work.

The 3,000-mAh battery is lightweight and slim and is nice to have around for some emergency charging. However, it won’t get you a full charge, so you’ll probably want to step up to one of the higher-capacity options like the 6,000-mAh model. The 9,000-mAh version is beefy and feels like your phone is attached to a small brick — the battery and phone do fit in your hand nicely, but the combo certainly isn’t pocket-friendly.

All the MagLock batteries charge Qi-enabled iPhones at 5 watts, although you can get faster charging if you go wired and use a USB-C-to-Lightning cable. I also liked how there’s a chime when the charging starts and your phone tells you how much juice is left in the battery pack (it’s tied into iOS 15). You can wirelessly charge Android devices as well but the MagLock won’t stick unless you have a metal ring on the back of your phone’s case (stick-on rings are available).

The SuperHero MagLock is available in a few colors and has a glossy finish. It’s currently the best designed magnetic power bank — better even than Apple’s. It’s priced at $60 but note that you can save 30% by activating the instant coupon on the product page.

$60 at Amazon

Get Price Alerts

You’re receiving price alerts for myCharge Portable Charger iPhone 14, 13, 12 & Mag Safe Cases – MagLock 6000mAh Wireless Magnetic Power Bank – Compatible with MagSafe Battery Pack, USB C Cable Input/Output – Pacific Blue

David Carnoy/CNET

Mophie Snap Plus Juice Pack Mini

Mophie wireless magnetic power bank

Like some competing magnetic wireless chargers, Mophie’s magnetic power bank isn’t an official Apple MagSafe accessory, but it magnetically adheres to the back of your MagSafe-enabled iPhone or MagSafe case — yes, it sticks nicely — and is svelte for a 5,000-mAh battery. It can also be used with other phones that support wireless charging and comes with a stick-on magnet.

For wireless charging, Mophie says you’re looking at up to 7.5 watts for iPhones, but it felt a little more sluggish to me (more like 5 watts). If you need a faster charge, you can connect a USB-C-to-Lightning cable to bump the speed up to 12 watts.

$50 at Best Buy

$38 at Amazon

Get Price Alerts

You’re receiving price alerts for Mophie Snap Plus Juice Pack Mini

Screenshot by David Carnoy/CNET

Mophie Powerstation 10K Stand with MagSafe

Best official MagSafe portable battery with kickstand

Mophie’s Powerstation Wireless Stand with MagSafe is currently only sold through Zagg (Mophie’s parent company) and Apple. It’s not cheap but is a versatile 10,000-mAh battery battery with both a stand and MagSafe charger built in, and also has a threaded tripod mount at the bottom.

Since this is an official MagSafe charger, the battery does charge at 15 watts, making this among the fastest wireless external battery chargers out there and will also charge the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro models with MagSafe. If you use a USB-C-to-Lighting cable (not included) with it, you can charge at 20-watt speeds. You can also charge two devices at the same time.

Note that first-time buyers at Zagg can get a 20% off discount by supplying their email address.

$130 at Zagg

$130 at Apple

Best battery packs for iPhones with fast charging USB-C out

Mophie

Mophie Power Station Mini (2022)

Compact powerbank with fast charging

If you’re looking for a compact external battery pack for your iPhone (or any smartphone), Mophie’s pocketable Power Station Mini (2022) features a 5,000-mAh internal battery and 20-watt USB-C PD fast charging. (You’ll need a USB-C to Lightning cable to take advantage of that fast charging if you’re an iPhone owner.) That battery will allow you to fully charge your iPhone.

For $20 more, you can pick up the 10,000-mAh version with dual USB-C ports — both come in black or blue colors. Also, note that Zagg, Mophie’s parent company, offers a 20% discount off your first purchase, so that model (it’s simply called the Power Station) is actually $50.

$40 at Zagg

David Carnoy/CNET

Anker 523 PowerCore Slim 10K PD

Slim high-capacity battery with USB-C fast charging

The Anker 523 PowerCore Slim 10K PD is impressively slim for a 10,000-mAh portable phone charger and has a fast 20-watt USB-C out charging port (it’s also a USB-C input to charge its battery), plus a 12-watt USB-A out port. While the Anker 313 PowerCore Slim 10K is cheaper, this offers fast USB-C out charging, which makes spending the extra dough a big plus if you have a USB-C to Lightning cable.

$30 at Amazon

Get Price Alerts

You’re receiving price alerts for Anker 523 PowerCore Slim 10K PD

David Carnoy/CNET

Nimble Champ

Best eco battery pack

Nimble’s Champ portable charger uses recycled plastic in its construction. You have to pay a bit more for going green, but it is a nice, compact 10,000-mAh charger that features PD 4.0 fast-charging (18 watts) via its single USB-C port. Also, the coupon CNET25 will get you 25% off at checkout.

Nimble also sells some higher-capacity fast-charging battery packs.

$47 at Nimble

Best battery packs that convert into wireless charging stands

Otterbox

Otterbox Folding Wireless Power Bank

Power bank that converts into wireless charging stand

Otterbox gears its Folding Wireless Power Bank (10,000 mAh) toward those who like to watch movies on their phones or play games with a controller. It has a built-in stand that folds down when you take it on the go. It also has USB-C and USB-A ports that are capable of fast-charging your phone at up to 18 watts. The wireless charging is up to 7.5 watts with the iPhone and 10 watts for Android devices.

$60 at Otterbox

What to look for

Here are a few things to keep in mind when shopping for an external battery pack or power bank:

• A higher power output rating (mAh, short for milliamp hours) means more charges — but also a heavier portable charger weight.
• For the latest iPhones (everything after the iPhone 7) you should buy a battery with at least a 3,000-mAh capacity, which should give you at least one full charge for a device. With the exception of the Atom XS, all of the models featured above hit that mark.
• Multiple integrated charge cables or USB-out ports will allow you to charge more than one device at a time, such as an iPad or another iPhone.
• These best portable chargers for iPhone all use lithium-ion rechargeable batteries, and should thus always be stored in carry-on luggage when flying. Airlines and regulatory agencies are increasingly banning li-ion batteries in checked baggage.
• If you want maximum power output, opt for chargers with USB-C PD (power delivery) models, which should charge nearly every device smaller than a laptop, such as a tablet or Nintendo Switch.

More mobile and computing recommendations

• Best Noise-Canceling Headphones Under $100 for 2023
• Best MacBook for 2023

• Best iPad for 2023

• Best iPhone 14 Fast Chargers at the Lowest Prices We Can Find

• Best iPhone in 2023: Which of Apple’s Phones Is Right for You?

March is a big month for PlayStation Plus. Minecraft Dungeons is a great game for fans of Diablo, and Code Vein will give any Dark Souls a real challenge.

Other major games on PS Plus include Resident Evil 7, horror adventure game The Quarry and Borderlands 3. For those into retro games, PS Plus Premium subscribers (as opposed to Essential and Extra tier subscribers) have access to two classic PlayStation 1 RPGs: Wild Arms 2 and The Legend of Dragoon.

Here are some notable PlayStation Plus inclusions so far:

• Scarlet Nexus
• Tekken 7
• Stray

• Mass Effect Legendary Edition
• Kingdom Hearts HD 1.5 + 2.5 ReMIX

• Deathloop

• Final Fantasy 7 Remake, and FFVII Intergrade

• Ghost of Tsushima: Director’s Cut
• Marvel’s Guardians of the Galaxy
• Death Stranding: Director’s Cut
• Returnal

• Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla (and now Black Flag and several others)
• Spider-Man: Miles Morales
• God of War (2018)
• Fallout 76
• Red Dead Redemption 2

There are some notable games on that list, but it also lacks the blockbuster Day 1 vibe of Xbox Game Pass, which has big debuts like Halo Infinite. Extra costs $15 a month, $40 for three months or $100 for a year. (In the UK it’s 11, 32 or 84, respectively, and in Australia it’s AU$19, AU$55 or AU$135.)

Now playing:Watch this:PlayStation Plus: Picking the Best Tier

10:39

The more expensive Premium tier ($18 or 13.49 a month) also includes download and streaming access to about 500 older games, mostly from pre-PS4 consoles, most of which will run at 60 frames per second. It also includes access to game demos. You can try games like Horizon: Forbidden West, Tiny Tina’s Wonderlands and Hot Wheels Unleashed. (Note: In Australia the Premium tier is called Deluxe and costs AU$22 a month.)

One of the better aspects of the new PS Plus is there are plenty of cult and indie favorites in the Extra/Premium tier.

Here are some older or lesser-known picks so far:

• Disaster Report 4: Summer Memories
• XCOM 2
• Greedfall
• Uncharted: The Lost Legacy
• Pathfinder: Kingmaker
• Pillars of Eternity
• Tetris Effect
• Outer Wilds

Read more: Best Game Subscription Services

One odd but interesting thing I noticed is there are a lot of Warhammer games included. I know next to nothing about Warhammer lore, but appreciate that it’s so deep and wide-ranging. And I’ve enjoyed games like Inquisitor (like a sci-fi Diablo) and the recent Chaos Gate (like XCOM with space marines). If you’re interested, the PS Plus list includes:

• Chaosbane
• Space Hulk: Deathwing
• Inquisitor
• Necromunda: Underhive Wars
• Space Hulk Tactics

I’ll update this list as more games are added, and as my colleagues remind me of top-tier classics I’ve missed.

Read more: PlayStation Plus vs. PlayStation Now

Now playing:Watch this:Explaining Sony’s 3 New PlayStation Plus Packages

5:08

Apple’s sports ambitions have expanded beyond baseball. After broadcasting live MLB games on Friday nights last year, the home of Ted Lasso has begun a 10-year deal with Major League Soccer. Apple TV Plus will be the exclusive provider of every MLS game in the 2023 season, which continues this afternoon when LAFC hosts Portland in Los Angeles at 4:30 p.m. ET (1:30 p.m. PT).

The company’s new MLS Season Pass, which lets you watch on TVs, phones and other devices, costs $13 a month or $79 for the season if you’re already a subscriber to the Apple TV Plus streaming service. If you don’t subscribe to Apple TV Plus, the MLS Season Pass costs $15 a month or $99 for the season.

There are no blackouts for local games and no need to switch between different apps or channels to find different matches. With the exception of a handful of games that will also air on Fox and FS1, the only way to watch MLS games, Leagues Cup matches or games from MLS Next will be with Apple. And it’s not only available in the US: Soccer fans in over 100 countries can subscribe, including Canada, Mexico, the UK and Australia.

Watch the games on the Apple TV app

See at Apple

Here’s everything you need to know about how to watch Major League Soccer on Apple TV this year.

MLS on Apple FAQs

Best Streaming Device for 2023

See at CNET

Whether you’re looking to shift towards a career in IT or are looking to supplement your existing skills, there is a ton of opportunity available for those who know how to write code. Python is one of many programming languages out there, and it’s often considered one of the easier options to pick up if you’re a beginner. And with so many online courses available, you don’t need to enroll in a traditional tech school to learn it. Right now StackSocial is offering lifetime access to the 2023 Complete Python Certification Bootcamp Bundle for just $40. It’s packed with information that you can access right at home and can save you hundreds of dollars over enrolling in each course separately. This offer is available now through March 8.

This bundle includes 12 courses with 130 hours of material covering Python foundations, web development, building applications, automation and much more. From data science to machine learning and application development, this bundle of courses can teach you the programming skills you need to be a Python creator. You’ll even learn about best practices, unit testing and plenty of other know-how you’ll need on the job. And because you’ll have access to this bundle for life, you can set your own pace and go back through a topic again while you gain mastery of the subject. Just make sure that once you make your purchase, you redeem your access code within 30 days.

If you’re interested in learning to code, this course can get you started and help develop your abilities so that you can pivot to a new career or increase your earning potential in the world of IT — and all for less than the average cost of a tank of gas.

Samsung finally has a new rival in the foldable phone ring: The Magic Vs foldable from Honor, formerly owned by Huawei. Honor revealed in September that it would bring its Honor Vs to international markets after a China release. This week, it showed off its book-style foldable flagship designed for a global audience at the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona.

I had the chance to test the Honor Magic Vs a few days before its launch. I was impressed with the device’s slick hardware, which is lightweight but also allowed the two halves of the phone to fold flat against each other without a gap. The Galaxy Z Fold 4, its biggest rival, still has a wedge-shaped gap when closed even in its newest iteration.

Beyond the standout features, the Honor Magic Vs packs all the specs you’d expect from a 2023 flagship phone into a slick package. That includes a large battery (5,000 mAh), fast charging (66 watts), a powerful Snapdragon 8 Gen Plus 1 processor, and three years of OS upgrades as well as five years of security patches. The only knock I could give in terms of specs is that it lacks the newer Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 chip found in the Galaxy S23 line and OnePlus 11.

Honor Magic Vs

Like

• Lightweight for a foldable
• Fantastic battery life
• Fast charging

Don’t Like

• Software doesn’t take nearly enough advantage of the fold
• No official IP rating
• Crease could be less obvious
• Less software updates than Galaxy Z Fold 4

However, it’s not perfect. The crease is more visible and discernible to the touch than other book-style foldables I’ve tested, such as the Oppo Find N and the Huawei Mate XS 2. The phone also lacks wireless charging and an official IP rating for water- and dust-resistance. By comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 has an IPX8 rating for water-resistance.

That said, the Magic Vs starting price undercuts the Galaxy Z Fold 4 by 200 euros, and you also get more storage for that lower price. The Magic Vs starts at 1,599 euros for 12GB RAM and 512GB storage. By comparison, the Galaxy Z Fold 4 starts at 1,799 euros for 12GB RAM and 256GB of storage. There are no current plans for a US release, although the company said a UK launch is expected in June.

Honor Magic Vs outer display is the focus

The Magic Vs’ headline feature is its bendable display. Like the Galaxy Z Fold 4, it has a cover screen and an interior screen. The outer screen measures 6.45 inches diagonally, while the inner display is 7.9 inches. I found both crisp, responsive and bright, and each screen also folds into the other with no discernible gap.

Unlike Samsung, Honor chose to equip the cover screen of its book-style foldable with superior specs. For example, it has better brightness (1,200 nits vs. 800 nits) and a higher refresh rate (120Hz vs. the inner screen’s 90Hz). For reference, the Magic Vs’ inner screen is a step below the 120Hz capability of the Galaxy Z Fold 4.

Considering this is a foldable phone, I found Honor’s choice to be counterintuitive at first. However, it seems Honor wants this device to be a phone first, and a tablet second. I think this decision helped prolong the battery life of the Honor Magic Vs — which, by the way, was fantastic. (More on that below.)

Honor Magic Vs inner display has an obvious crease

Honor says the Magic Vs has a creaseless display, but that didn’t turn out to be true. You can see and feel the inner display’s crease from various angles. It was immediately noticeable as soon as I opened the phone. I didn’t have to search for it as I have with other foldable phones, such as the Oppo Find N or the Huawei Mate XS 2.

Despite the crease, watching movies and flipping through pictures is fun and immersive. While it didn’t bother me much, such a large crease may be a deal-breaker for some. But it’s a compromise that fans of foldables may just have to learn to live with for now. Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 4 still has a crease, though it’s less noticeable than in the past. But Huawei’s Mate XS 2, which has a wraparound-style foldable phone design with one screen, is basically creaseless.

Key to the folding nature of this phone is the hinge. The company said the hinge is crafted with an aerospace grade polymeric material and has fewer components in its supporting structure (just four compared to 94). This helps make the hinge lighter and potentially more durable. Honor claims the hinge can withstand up to 400,000 folds, which means you can expect maybe 10 years of use out of it if you assume 100 folds per day. CNET hasn’t been able to independently verify that claim.

Honor Magic Vs camera

The Honor Magic Vs has three rear cameras, consisting of a 54-megapixel main camera, 50-megapixel ultrawide camera, and an 8-megapixel telephoto camera capable of 3x optical zoom. There’s also a 16-megapixel selfie camera, which is one less front-facing camera than the pricier Galaxy Z Fold 4.

Overall, I was happy with photo clarity, dynamic range, shutter speed and the versatility of the camera. Whether I was in bright, dim or even dark lighting environments, the camera captured crisp, vibrant and accurate photos in a variety of lighting scenarios. That said, this isn’t the best camera. It doesn’t measure up to the iPhone 14 Pro Max for instance, which tends to offer better low light photography. But I guess that’s OK (sort of) since you’re really paying for that fancy display, not the camera module.

Honor Magic Vs battery performance

With a 5,000-mAh battery, the Honor Magic Vs has the largest battery of any commercially sold foldable phone. Non-foldable phones, such as the Galaxy S22 Ultra and the Galaxy S23 Ultra, have the same battery capacity.

The Magic Vs made it through most days of testing on a single charge with medium use. I didn’t need to bother charging at the end of the day since I usually had more than 20% remaining. But I charged overnight anyway out of habit.

When I ran a battery endurance test where I watched YouTube videos, scrolled through my Instagram feed, played Genshin Impact and took a 5-minute WhatAapp video call on the cover screen. The battery went from 100% to 86% in those 45 minutes.

The Magic Vs comes with a bundled 66-watt charger, which Honor says will completely replenish a dead battery within 46 minutes. Based on my experience, that claim was true, which means the Magic Vs outshines the Galaxy Z Fold 4 in this department.

The Magic Vs runs on 2022’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1. In my short time with this phone, the device performed without a hitch whether it was powering multiple apps, running games, streaming YouTube videos or even just switching between apps.

Honor Magic Vs software

The Magic Vs runs Android 13 and Honor’s MagicOS. I’m a fan of MagicOS’ split-screen multi-tasking system, which includes a slide-over menu that you trigger by swiping and holding from the sides. You can multitask with up to four applications, and there’s a split screen mode as well as floating windows. You can also move apps around and resize their windows.

It’s a shame the software doesn’t take enough advantage of the phone’s folding design. I would have loved to see something like Samsung’s Flex mode on the Magic Vs. Even though I could use the phone when it was half-folded and prop it up like a laptop, none of the apps I used, even native ones, that were tailored for that experience. The Galaxy Z Fold 4’s Flex Mode software capabilities let you use the screen when it’s folded at a 90-degree angle.

With the Magic Vs’ slender hardware, solid cameras, fabulous battery life and intuitive multitasking features, Honor has created a solid rival to the Galaxy Z Fold 4. But it’s still tough to recommend the Magic Vs over the Galaxy Z Fold 4 for several reasons: There’s no IP rating, the crease is more visible, its software doesn’t really take advantage of the folding screen and Honor provides fewer software updates than Samsung. Honor made a solid first effort overall, though, and I’m so glad Samsung has more competition.

For more details on how the Magic Vs and the Galaxy Z Fold 4 compare, take a look at CNET’s specs chart below.

Almost a year since he received that infamous slap at the Oscars, Chris Rock is back with a very different sort of bang, as the standup comedian takes to the stage for a history-making live comedy special on Netflix.

Marking the first time an act has performed a livestreaming comedy event on Netflix, Chris Rock: Selective Outrage is set to be broadcast worldwide in 190 countries from the Hippodrome Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland, on Saturday night.

The show is expected to be based around all-new material from the comedian as well as drawing from Rock’s recent Ego Death world tour routine.

While it’ll struggle to reach the same levels of infamy as Rock’s explosive encounter with Will Smith, the streaming service has been keen to emphasize that the special will have an uncensored, “anything goes” approach to proceedings. A Netflix press release proudly stated: “The seven-second delay button is taking a night off.”

When is Chris Rock: Selective Outrage being broadcast?

This groundbreaking live comedy special is set to be broadcast live on Netflix on Saturday, March 4 at 7 p.m. PT (10 p.m. ET).

Alongside Rock’s routine, star-studded pre- and post-show specials are set to round-out the evening’s entertainment, which will only be available to watch on the night.

Starting at 6:30 p.m. PT (9:30 p.m. ET) and serving as the night’s opening act, The Show Before the Show will be hosted by Ronny Chieng alongside Arsenio Hall, Leslie Jones and Deon Cole. The half hour build-up show is set to feature special messages from the likes of Amy Schumer, Cedric the Entertainer, Ice-T, Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart and Sir Paul McCartney.

Following immediately after Rock’s standup will be The Show After The Show. Hosted by David Spade and Dana Carvey, the wrap-up show will feature Hall once more, plus JB Smoove and NBA legend Kareem Abdul-Jabbar discussing the night’s events.

Viewers will be able to rewind, pause and jump to “Live” during the broadcast, and if you start watching late, there will also be a “Play from the Beginning” option.

If you have to break off, the special will remain under the “Continue Watching” row on the Netflix home screen, and will also be available for streaming on demand on Netflix following the live event.

Read more: Best Streaming Service of 2023: Netflix, HBO Max, Disney Plus and More

How to watch Chris Rock’s special from anywhere with a VPN

Perhaps you’re traveling abroad and want to stream Netflix while away from home. With a VPN, you’re able to virtually change your location on your phone, tablet or laptop to get access to TV shows and movies from anywhere in the world. There are other good reasons to use a VPN for streaming, too.

A VPN is the best way to stop your ISP from throttling your speeds by encrypting your traffic. Using a VPN is also a great idea if you’re traveling and find yourself connected to a Wi-Fi network, and you want to add an extra layer of privacy for your devices and logins. Streaming TV can be a bit smoother with a reliable, quality VPN that’s passed our tests and security standards.

You can use a VPN to stream content legally as long as VPNs are legal in your country and you have a valid subscription to the streaming service you’re using. The US and Canada are among the countries where VPNs are legal, but we advise against streaming or downloading content on illegal torrent sites. We recommend ExpressVPN, but you may opt for another provider from our best list such as Surfshark or NordVPN.

Sarah Tew/CNET

ExpressVPN

If you’re looking for a secure and dependable VPN, our Editors’ Choice is ExpressVPN. It’s fast, works on multiple devices and provides stable streams. It’s normally $13 per month, but you can sign up for ExpressVPN and save 49% — the equivalent of $6.67 per month — if you get an annual subscription.

ExpressVPN offers a 30-day money-back guarantee.

Read our review of ExpressVPN.

See at Expressvpn

Follow the VPN provider’s instructions for installation, and choose a country where Selective Outrage will be streaming. We’ve successfully tested using Netflix and an ExpressVPN server in New York City, so that’s one location you could choose to watch this event.

Before you open the streaming app, make sure you are connected to your VPN using your selected region. If you want to stream Chris Rock: Selective Outrage on more than one device, it’s possible you’ll need to configure each one to ensure you are signed in. Go to settings and check your network connections to verify you’re logged in and connected to your VPN account.

If you run into issues with streaming, first make sure your VPN is up and running on its encrypted IP address. Double-check that you’ve followed installation instructions correctly and you’ve picked the right geographical area for viewing. If you still encounter connection problems, you may need to reboot your device. Close all apps and windows, restart your device and connect to your VPN first. Note that some streaming services have restrictions on VPN access.

Read more: Best VPN 2023: VPNs Tested and Rated by Our Experts

Stream Chris Rock: Selective Outrage on Netflix

Sarah Tew/CNET

Netflix

Watch Chris Rock: Selective Outrage

The only place to watch this live special is the streaming service Netflix. The service currently offers subscriptions that cost between $7 and $20 per month in the US.

$7 at Netflix

Adobe Photoshop Elements remains a popular photo-editing option among both novice hobbyists and expert photographers. While the 2023 version is now available, the 2022 software still has a lot to love. And right now you can purchase the disk version of Adobe Photoshop Elements 2022 for Mac and PC for just $40 — that’s a savings of 60%. This offer is only available today, March 3, while supplies last.

With built-in Sensei AI that allows you to warp photos or reframe your video subjects, along with options for adding animations, 3D effects and other elements to your photos and 60 guided edits for instant options that can improve your images, this user-friendly program has everything you need to elevate your photos.

The program itself is simple to use and has varying degrees of editing automation to save you time and effort while editing your pictures. You can still access a ton of manual options for when you want to tweak things yourself, but with all of the automated tech and easy-to-follow guidance offered in this version of Elements, you may find yourself opting for the hassle-free options more often than not — at least that has been my experience.

Whether you are planning to post your edits to social media or want to use the built-in prints and gifts service to get personalized keepsakes for you or a loved one, this Adobe program is a good choice, especially at this price.

Read more: Top Tips for Taking Amazing Photos on Your Phone