This story is part of Amazon Prime Day, CNET’s guide to everything you need to know and how to find the best deals.
Choosing the best pair of wireless earbuds is not an easy task: There’s a lot to consider, like battery life, comfort and sound quality. Depending on your criteria, price tags can be all over the place. You can grab entry-level models for as low as $50, while some of the priciest models are in the $200 range and beyond.
These Soundcore Liberty 3 Pro buds from Anker are the best-sounding value pair on our current list of the best wireless earbuds. They’re a great intersection of quality and affordability, offering a sound that can compete with more expensive earbuds without breaking the bank.
Even at their usual $170, they’re a great value, but right now Best Buy is running a deal that drops the price to just $80, a discount of $90. This deal only lasts for the next few hours, so hurry and grab a pair while you can.
These true-wireless Anker earbuds are plenty impressive. Their most remarkable feature is the sound quality at this price. Using coaxial driver tech and Anker’s HearID tech, which maps your in-ear pressure for a custom-tailored sound profile, they deliver sound on par with earbuds that cost much more, according to CNET’s resident headphone expert David Carnoy.
They have six built-in microphones for precise, active noise cancellation. And when you account for the wireless charging case, they deliver up to 32 hours of total playtime. With Soundcore’s companion app, you can also customize the equalizer, touch controls and more.
Looking for other options? Be sure to check out all the best headphone deals available now.
Looking for a simple computer that’s designed for the basics? Chromebooks are a great, and affordable, option for those who want to create documents or presentations, stream shows or movies, share photos and browse the web. They’re also generally ultra-portable so you can do work from the office, home, a coffee shop or anywhere else. Right now, this 11.6-inch Lenovo Chromebook 3 is just $89 at Best Buy, down from its original price tag of $139, so you get to save $50. There’s no set expiration for this discount, but deals are coming and going pretty fast with Christmas just around the corner. We’d recommend ordering sooner rather than later if you don’t want to miss out on these savings.
This Chromebook didn’t make our list of best Chromebooks for 2022, but it’s still packed with notable features. Equipped with 4GB of flash memory and a 64GB hard drive, this Lenovo Chromebook is both flexible and fast. It’s powered by an Intel Celeron processor and Google’s user-friendly Chrome operating system. It will last up to 10 hours on its battery, weighs less than three pounds and is less than an inch thick, making this laptop easy to carry with you anywhere.
It already comes with apps (you can also download thousands more), and it has built-in virus protection and cloud backup. Though it’s sacrificed a CD or DVD drive to remain light and thin, it has a microphone/headphone jack, HD webcam with a microphone and a built-in microSD card reader, which is an easy way to add some extra storage.
Gaming used to be a much more niche hobby, but with the advent of smartphones, almost everyone plays video games at some point or another. They can be a great way to spend time with the family or turn a party up to 11. And there are plenty of games where you don’t need to teach someone how to use a controller and all of its confusing buttons. In fact, there are some designed specifically with just your smartphone in mind.
There are a lot of online games to choose from — whether you’re a fan of old-school favorites, party games
, escape rooms or exciting board games, there’s likely a virtual option. Here are some of the best online games you can play with friends, no matter what type of experience you’re seeking. We’ll update this list regularly.
For us, Jackbox Games is the holy grail of casual online gaming: Its multiplayer party games are simple to learn but still very entertaining to play, and it’s also easy to stream or screen-share games from one device to a group for a virtual game night. Everyone plays through a web browser on their phones, so no apps or consoles are needed. You can even mirror your Android or iOS device to your TV.
Here’s how the Jackbox Party Pack works: One person has to purchase either one of seven Jackbox Party Packs, or one or more individual games, on Steam (for PC, Mac and Linux). The packs contain five games and usually cost $30 each, but sometimes you can find them on sale for less. The packs are also available on PlayStation, Xbox, Nintendo Switch, Apple TV, Amazon Fire TV and other devices.
After purchasing, you can hop on a video chat through a Zoom call, Skype, Google Hangouts or wherever you prefer for a video call, start the game on your laptop and use the screen-share option so that all the other players on the call can see the screen, too. As mentioned, everyone plays along on their mobile device by using a browser and going to Jackbox.tv, where you’ll be asked to enter a room code.
Other options include using Steam Remote Play Together, Discord screen sharing, sharing through your gaming console, or just setting up a webcam in front of your TV. Jackbox provides information on how to stream its games, too.
Each pack includes a variety of different games that might ask you to answer trivia questions, draw weird doodles or write the best joke. The games are light, humorous and include clear instructions, so they’re easy for the most novice players to pick up. But if you like a little more complexity, this year’s Jackbox Party Pack 8 features games that involve social deduction and hiding clues.
If you’re a fan of games like Mafia or Werewolf, you’ll love Among Us, an online multiplayer social deduction game from developer InnerSloth. Play as a crew member aboard a spaceship, sky headquarters or planet base, attempting to keep your ship together and return back to Earth with a group of four to 10 people (either those you know IRL or strangers online). But one crew member has been replaced by a parasitic shape-shifting alien who wants to eliminate the rest of the crew before the ship reaches home. Problem is the imposter looks just like everyone else and will sabotage the ship, sneak through vents, deceive fellow players and try to frame others, all in an attempt to remain undetected and kill off the rest of the crew.
Meanwhile, the nonalien crew members must perform tasks to fix up the ship and can’t talk unless a death is reported. Then, the surviving crew can openly debate via chat who they think the imposter is and make their best guess about who to vote off the ship. If the imposter is voted off, the crew wins. But if the group accidentally votes a crew member off, everyone goes back to maintaining the ship until another body is found, and they vote again.
Among Us is free to play on iOS and Android devices (you can download it on the App Store or Google Play Store). Or, it costs $5 to play on a PC (you can download it on Steam or itch.io). One major benefit is that you can play with people seamlessly across platforms.
Be warned: The free mobile version does have ads. Once you download and open the game on your device, you’ll see a pop-up detailing its use of AdMob and data collection. If you want to turn off ads and data collection, you can purchase the ad-free version of the app for $2 by tapping Remove Ads, and following the prompts to select your payment method.
Put your puzzle-solving skills to the test with a virtual escape room. Try to solve all of the puzzles and follow the clues to escape the computerized room before time is up, as you would when you play the real-world version.
One option for ages 12 and up is TEG Unlocked: The Heist from The Escape Game. In the two-part game for one to four players, you’ll work as a secret agent trying to thwart a suspected art thief. Each part costs $10, or you can buy all three games and get a 10% discount.
If you’re looking for a more kid-friendly choice, there’s a free Harry Potter-themed escape room created by Peters Township Public Library in McMurray, Pennsylvania, using Google Docs.
If you’re looking to play traditional tabletop board games online, check out Tabletopia, which calls itself an “online arena” for playing more than 900 board games the same way you would in real life. You can play on a desktop browser for Mac or Windows, or download the platform on Steam, the App Store or the Google Play Store.
You’ll find fun classics like chess and Texas Hold ‘Em, or more in-depth options like Scythe and Clans of Caledonia to play. Start your own game with friends, or join a game in progress with open seats. The virtual versions save you from shuffling and some rules interpretation, making it easier to jump into each game.
You can play some fun game options for free with the bronze package, or upgrade to the silver ($5 a month) or gold ($10 a month) package to access premium games.
Another similar option is Tabletop Simulator, which includes classic game options like chess, poker, dominoes, Mahjong and jigsaw puzzles. Create your own original games on the platform, as well as play ones that were created by others.
You’ll see some familiar titles in here, but note that most of those were created by other users, as opposed to actual game developers. You can buy Tabletop Simulator on Steam for Windows and Mac for $20 and then share your screen to play with friends.
Since Animal Crossing: New Horizons came out on Nintendo Switch in 2020, it has taken the video game world world by storm. While you can perform simple tasks like growing fruit, planting trees and designing rooms alone, you can also invite friends to visit your island and go fishing and exploring together. Some familiar characters from the Mario universe have even shown up.
Nintendo released the 2.0 update for New Horizons last November, adding new items and expansions to villager interactions and the game camera. Happy Home Paradise is also available as a paid DLC, allowing players to build vacation homes.
You may already be familiar with popular mobile games that you can play with friends anytime. Fortnite, Words with Friends 2, Scrabble GO, Uno & Friends and Draw Something are all great options for simple games that let you keep in touch and sneak in a turn when you have time throughout the day.
Pokemon Unite takes the classic Pokemon formula and remixes it as a multiplayer online battle arena, similar to Dota 2 and League of Legends. Players control Pokemon and are tasked with battling both wild and opponent-controlled Pokemon to earn experience and Unite points. Two lanes, at the top and bottom of the map, are punctuated with hoop-like goals for each team, where players can deposit their Unite points to score.
Unite is a great game to play with friends because it simplifies the traditional MOBA elements, making it easier for beginners to jump in. And for fans of Pokemon, Unite still keeps many of the familiar gameplay — leveling up, evolving, learning new moves and using items for a tactical advantage. The game has been downloaded 50 million timesas of last December.
The five-on-five battles in Unite rely on teamwork, so it’s the most fun when you have a friend or four to play alongside. Have a group of five? Team up as a full squad and coordinate your attacks. Got a pair of friends who want in? You can team as the original starters, Venusaur, Charizard and Blastoise. Just one friend? Become the dominant duo in your lane by pairing offensive firepower with defensive toughness.
Every Pokemon has its own style, strengths and weaknesses, allowing players to find the character that best suits them. Create a well-rounded team to carve a path to victory, or have fun playing your favorites — the choice is up to you.
There’s always the option to go as old-school as possible in your virtual gaming: You can find free online versions of some classics like Battleship. You can also work on a crossword puzzle with friends through the Washington Post. Tabletop Simulator, mentioned above, also includes games like chess, poker, dominoes and jigsaw puzzles that you can play with friends if you both buy the platform.
Steam is one of my favorite gaming platforms — it’s easy to navigate and there are tons of sales. You can play games alone or with friends, and Steam is compatible with third-party controllers. If you know where to look, the service has a lot more to offer than a massive selection of games, bundle deals and ease of use.
Here’s a few tips and tricks every Steam user should know about to get the most out of the platform.
Share your library with friends
If you have a massive gaming library through Steam, it’s possible to share with friends and family. You can select up to five users who can access and use your library across 10 devices that you’ve authorized.
Open the Steam app and click Steam in the top left corner of the screen. Select Settings (Windows) or Preferences (Mac) and choose Family in the side menu. Click the box that says Authorize Library Sharing on this computer.
You can also revoke access by clicking your username in the upper right corner of the Steam app and choosing Account Details in the drop-down menu. From there, scroll down to Family Settings and click Manage Family Library Sharing. Under Sharing Status, click Revoke on any devices or accounts you no longer wish to have access.
Turn on Steam Guard and 2-factor authentication
Steam Guard can add an extra layer of security to your account.
Steam/ Screenshot by Shelby Brown/ CNET
Steam Guard can serve as a useful tool to provide an additional level of security against unauthorized access. To set it up on the desktop app or browser, click your username in the top right corner. Click Account Details in the drop-down menu and choose Manage Steam Guard under Account Security.
When Steam Guard is enabled, you can have codes sent to your phone or email, as well as deauthorize other computers or devices other than the one you’re currently using that might have saved your login information. Steam recommends sending Guard Codes to your phone to also serve as two-factor authentication.
Set up Family View
Family View can serve as a useful tool for adults who share an account with younger users. The feature lets families customize which parts of Steam are accessible to other users. To get started, log into the Steam account that your child will use, click the Steam menu in the top left corner and choose Settings (Preferences on Mac). Choose the Family tab and click Manage Family View.
Choose what the protected account can access in Family View like Only Games I Choose or All Games, as well as online content and social features. Once you’re satisfied with your choices, click Next.
If you selected Only Games I Choose, Steam will generate a list of all your games and you can individually click which games you want PIN-protected.
Click Next, verify your recovery email address and click Next again.
Create, enter and re-enter your PIN and click Next. Steam will send a verification code to your recovery email, enter that code when prompted and click Next to finalize the process.
To turn off Family View, return to Manage Family View and click Disable Family View.
How to use Remote Play Together
If you set up Remote Play Together, this is what it’ll look like.
Shelby Brown/CNET
Steam’s Remote Play feature lets you play local multiplayer games with friends and family. One player owns and runs the game, according to Steam, and up to four players can join in. To find a list of compatible Remote Play games, open the Steam app, click Categories and choose Remote Play under Special Sections.
To start a session, launch your game, make sure your friends are logged in to Steam from their devices and open Steam Overlay in-game. Find your friends list and right-click the names of the people you want to play with, then click Remote Play Together. You can start playing after all your invitees have accepted.
How to make a Library Collection
Steam collections can help organize your library.
Shelby Brown/CNET
Steam keeps your games in alphabetical order on the left-hand side of the screen, but if you’ve got a massive library or want even more organization, you can create a Collection. In the Steam app, click Library and choose Collections. Name your collection and choose Create Collection. From there, just drag and drop any games you want to include. The collection will save automatically. Those games will be organized under the name of your collection in the left-hand side menu instead of the larger alphabetical list.
You can also choose Dynamic Collection by following the same steps. Dynamic Collections use filters to create collections that continuously update as you add more games to our library.
Add and play non-Steam games
You can play games that aren’t native to Steam on the platform pretty easily. To add a non-Steam game to your library, open the Steam app and click Add Game in the lower left corner of the screen. From there, click Add a Non-Steam Game.
Since I added Myst as a non-Steam game, there’s no information on its main page.
Shelby Brown/CNET
Steam will open a window that lists all the games found on your device. Check the box next to the game you want to add and click Add Selected Programs. If you don’t see the game you want, click Browse and Steam will expand your search results. Find the program you want and click Open. Make sure the program or game is checked in the Add a Game window and click Add Selected Programs.
You should then be able to see the game or program you added in your alphabetical library list on the left side of the screen. When you click the game, the page will likely have little to no information since it’s not native to steam.
Customize bandwidth
You can adjust the bandwidth to make Steam work faster or slower.
Shelby Brown/CNET
Because Steam uses the internet to download games, getting your gameplay going can take little to no time. But if your internet connection is slow, Steam downloading a game likely won’t leave any download speed for anything else. So, if you want to multitask during a download, you can limit Steam’s download speed.
Click Steam in the top left corner of the app and choose Settings (Preferences on Mac). Click Downloads and then check the box next to Limit Bandwidth To. From there, you can type in your preferred download speed and click OK. You can adjust or remove the limits at any time.
Xiaomi begun large-scale layoffs this week, with plans to reduce its workforce by up to 10 percent.
The Chinese company said it had “recently implemented routine personnel optimization and organizational streamlining, with affected parties totalling less than 10% of total workforce,” in an official statement on Tuesday.
Xiaomi’s total headcount stood at 35,314 workers as of September 30, according to its third-quarter financial results for this year, with a large majority of those workers (32,609) based in mainland China followed by India and Indonesia.
News of the layoffs was was first reported by the South China Morning Post, citing social media posts by affected workers as well as local Chinese media. The layoffs at Xiaomi come as mainland China grapples with the economic aftermath of years-long COVID-19 restrictions as well as slowing global smartphone demand. In November, Xiaomi reported a near 10% drop in third quarter revenue with smartphone sales falling 11% year-on-year. Revenue from smartphones make up approximately 60% of the company’s total sales.
Xiaomi is one of the world’s largest smartphone makers. The Beijing-based company is estimated to have shipped more than 190 million smartphone units in 2021, which represents an increase of 45 million units compared to the year before, according to Statista.
The layoffs at Xiaomi follow a spate of layoffs across a number of Big Tech firms, which saw companies including Meta, Twitter, and Amazon undergo large-scale layoffs.
Did you buy a MacBook that had keyboard issues? If so, you might be eligible for part of a $50 million settlement Apple has agreed to in response to allegations it hid a known keyboard design flaw from customers.
Apple agreed to the multimillion-dollar payout in July, and a California court granted preliminary approval on Nov. 28.
MacBook Pro owners have started to receive emails and postcards notifying them they are eligible for payment, and the settlement website began accepting claims on Dec. 12.
Below, find out more about the MacBook settlement, including who qualifies for money, how much you could get from Apple and how to submit a claim.
What is Apple accused of in the class action suit?
Apple introduced its “butterfly” keyboard design in 2015 in its 12-inch MacBook. The keys were attached with a wing-like hinge, as opposed to traditional keyboards, which use two pieces of plastic that, when pressed, cross each other and close like a pair of scissors.
At the time, the tech giant said the butterfly design was 40% slimmer, meaning its laptops could be too. But customers complained about the propensity for the keys to be sticky and miss or repeat typed characters.
The first-generation butterfly keyboard from 2015.
Sarah Tew/CNET
Apple launched a repair program that covered MacBook, MacBook Pro and MacBook Air laptops in 2018. But it only replaced old butterfly keyboards with new ones.
Finally, in 2019, Apple phased out the butterfly design and introduced a redesigned Magic Keyboard that once more relied on a scissor-switch mechanism.
The butterfly design “had some things it did really well,” then-Apple marketing director Phil Schiller told CNET that year. “It felt more firm and flat under your finger — some people really like that, but other people weren’t really happy with that.”
Schiller also acknowledged there were “quality issues we had to work on.”
In a class action lawsuit filed in California in 2018, a group of plaintiffs claimed Apple knew about the quality issues and “fraudulently concealed” them from customers.
As a result, they claimed, laptops were knowingly equipped with keyboards that could result in “characters repeating unexpectedly; letters or characters not appearing; and/or the keys feeling ‘sticky’ or not responding in a consistent manner,” according to the settlement website.
Apple didn’t respond to a request for comment, but in filings, it denied any wrongdoing.
Who is eligible for a payment from Apple?
If you bought a MacBook between 2015 and 2019 and had to replace the keyboard or individual keys, you are eligible for compensation.
If you’re not sure if your model is covered, you can check here.
How much money could I get from the MacBook keyboard settlement?
The amount of the individual payout depends on how many repairs you had to have on your MacBook.
Consumers who had to swap out multiple keyboards within four years of purchase are considered Group 1 Settlement Class Members. They are eligible for an estimated payment of between $300 and $395 and should be receiving an email this month.
You can still qualify for Group 1 so long as you require two or more topcase replacements before Nov. 28, 2024. (The topcase houses the keyboard and other components.)
If you believe you’re part of Group 1 but didn’t receive a notification, you can call the claims administrator at 855-579-1311. (You can also fill out a change of address form, if needed.)
If you had to replace the keyboard once, you’re considered part of the Group 2 Settlement Class and could receive as much as $125. You’ll need to submit a claim form, though.
And if you only had to replace individual keycaps, you’re eligible for up to $50. (You’ll also have to submit a claim form.)
How do I file a claim in the Apple butterfly-keyboard settlement?
You can submit a claim on the settlement website or mail a completed form to:
re: MacBook Keyboard Litigation Settlement
c/o JND Legal Administration
PO Box 91341
Seattle, WA 98111
For all class members, if Apple doesn’t have a record of your repair or purchase, you’ll have to provide proof of purchase or repair.
The deadline to file a claim is 11:59 p.m. PT on March 6, 2023. If you want to object to the settlement — or exclude yourself and retain the right to separate litigation — the deadline to notify the court is Feb. 10, 2023.
When will I get my money?
A final approval hearing is scheduled for March 16, 2023. Any payments would go out after that, but the process could be delayed by appeals.
In a year packed with numerous phone releases, Apple’s iPhone 14 lineup is curious. There is the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, which represent the pinnacle of the company’s design, software and hardware. The iPhone 14 Pro is notably defined by an oval-shaped screen cut-out for the True Depth camera, which replaces the notch, called the Dynamic Island. But then, there’s the iPhone 14 which seems like a repackaged iPhone 13 Pro without the stainless steel body or the third rear camera for telephoto pictures.
Apple discontinued the iPhone 13 Mini and replaced it with a bigger version of the 14 called the iPhone 14 Plus. Starting at $929, it’s meant to be a slightly “more affordable” way to get a large screen iPhone without crossing that $1,000 line. Taken in total, you have two high-end Pro iPhone models, a big-screen regular iPhone and the standard iPhone 14, which on the surface doesn’t seem like much of an upgrade from the iPhone 13. Apple’s lineup offers exciting new features while also seeming like a curious repeat of what came out last year.
Over the past three months, I used the iPhone 14 as my daily driver and the 14 Pro as my work phone. During that time, I ran in-depth battery tests, took numerous photos, used them to film CNET videos and tried out the new Emergency SOS via Satellite feature. Several of my CNET colleagues have also tested the cameras and compared them to the likes of the Google Pixel 7 Pro and Galaxy S22 Ultra. Here are my thoughts on the iPhone 14 family since my initial reviews back in September.
The iPhone 14’s battery doesn’t last as long as the iPhone 13
I’ve never met a single person who said, “Wow, I get too much battery life on my phone.” But I have definitely met many who have wanted more. A phone’s battery life lands at an interesting crossroads. You have the physical and chemical limits of modern lithium batteries as well as the clever software and processing optimizations that aim to make those batteries more efficient.
Apple doesn’t disclose the size of the batteries in its phones, but I wish it did because they’re relatively small compared to the batteries in Android phones. This isn’t about shaming Apple, but highlighting how much longevity the company ekes out of that battery through software optimizations and the efficiency of its A-series chips. In fact, last year’s iPhone 13 Pro Max lasted longer on a single charge than any other phone we tested.
The same can’t be said for this year. The iPhone 14 series gets good battery life but is definitely a step down from the iPhone 13 family, which gets longer battery life. The difference wasn’t drastic, and I imagine most people aren’t upgrading their phone every year and would never be the wiser.
At CNET, we run a few battery life tests and note how long the phones last in real life. The first test I ran with each phone was an endurance test. For 45 minutes, I played video games (some were online) as well as watched videos, scrolled through social media apps like TikTok and Instagram and made a video call over FaceTime. During that time, the iPhone 14’s battery decreased 10%, the 14 Plus dropped 5%, the 14 Pro lost 8% and the 14 Pro Max went down 7%.
I also fully charged each phone, then played a downloaded video looped in Airplane mode with the screen at 50% brightness. We’ve been running this test at CNET for years, and are in the process of phasing it out since software and chips now optimize for video playback. And most people watch streaming videos.
So why run this test? It allows us to compare Apple’s claims for video playback as well as with the outcome we got with the iPhone 13 series. The results are below.
Video playback test results
Phone
Apple’s claim
Our results
iPhone 14
20 hours
18 hours 45 minutes
iPhone 14 Pro
23 hours
20 hours
iPhone 14 Plus
26 hours
25 hours
iPhone 14 Pro Max
29 hours
26 hours 15 minutes
These times also come up short when compared to the iPhone 13 series. The regular 13 lasted 21 hours and 51 minutes, the 13 Pro went 22 hours and 4 minutes and the 13 Pro Max scored an outstanding 31 hours and 19 minutes. I should also note that the 13 Mini lasted 18 hours and 19 minutes which is almost as long as the regular iPhone 14.
There has been a lot of chatter around the always-on display on the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max and how it’s draining the battery. In our tests, the always-on display didn’t decrease the battery life in any significant way compared to having it off.
I charged both phones to 100% and left them on my desk with the always-on screen enabled. After 6 hours, the 14 Pro dropped 4% and the 14 Pro Max lost 2%. I ran the same scenario again, but this time turned off the always-on display. The results were essentially the same: the 14 Pro dropped 4% and the 14 Pro Max dropped 3%.
A lot of this will depend on your lock screen wallpaper, since the always-on display isn’t a black screen and instead shows a darkened version of your wallpaper photo. Luckily, iOS 16.2 has new always-on display settings that let you turn off the wallpaper and have just a black screen.
Emergency SOS via Satellite helped three people get rescued
Emergency SOS via Satellite and Car Crash Detection (or maybe it should be called “I’m on a roller coaster with an iPhone 14 detection”) might be two of the best features on the regular iPhone 14 and 14 Plus. But they are largely invisible tools that most people will hopefully never have to use.
I Tried Emergency SOS via Satellite on the iPhone 14
Features like these are important, and I do think they help the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus stand out. But I don’t know if most people would prioritize them as something they must have on a phone. After a few months, it’s crystal clear that the standard iPhone 14 is aimed at people upgrading from an iPhone 11 or older and not from last year’s iPhone 13.
More Dynamic Island, please
The Dynamic Island displays different tiny icons and animations. During a FaceTime call, a green camera icon shows on the left side.
Celso Bulgatti/CNET
The Dynamic Island works well. but it’s not without quirks. For example, the Dynamic Island sticks out further into the screen than the notch did, which is noticeable when watching some videos. I also wish that more non-Apple apps took advantage of the Dynamic Island.
Also, we haven’t had the full experience with the Dynamic Island that Apple intended. It’s part of a trinity of features that also includes the always-on display and Live Activities, which tracks the progress of certain activities like showing you the live score of a basketball team on your lock screen. The Dynamic Island will truly shine once apps fully adopt Live Activities which should be sooner than later now that iOS 16.2 is out.
There are scratches on my Ceramic Shield
My iPhone 14 Pro Max already has a couple of tiny scratches.
Celso Bulgatti/CNET
All four models in the iPhone 14 series have Apple’s Ceramic Shield that covers the display. And all four of the phones I tested have scuffs or minor scratches on the front glass. I haven’t coddled the phones, but I haven’t been reckless with them either. After nearly three months, I’m shocked that all of these phones have scratches.
The iPhone 14 Pro’s cameras are excellent
The main camera on the back of the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max has a 48-megapixel sensor.
James Martin/CNET
The cameras on the iPhone 14 and 14 Plus are good. But the cameras on the iPhone 14 Pro’s and 14 Pro Max’s are great. Does that mean you can’t get quality photos on the 14 and 14 Plus? Absolutely not. But the ones I captured on the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max and their 48-megapixel main camera are consistently great. Unfortunately, you have to shoot ProRaw photos to take full advantage of the iPhone 14 Pro’s full camera resolution, and these images have dramatically larger file sizes. I wish there was a built-in way to save and quickly convert the ProRaw photos into JPEGs.
One surprise for me has been Cinematic mode. It can record in 4K video at 24 frames per second or 30fps, and I’ve actually used it to film several CNET videos. The quality is good, and the overall experience with Cinematic mode is much better than it is on the iPhone 13. (Apple’s previous phone was limited to 1080p resolution at 30fps in that mode.) One trick I use to get more natural looking videos is to drop Cinematic mode’s aperture setting to f/8. I find this gives the background a more realistic out-of-focus look while keeping the subject in focus.
The iPhone 14 is more expensive even if the price didn’t go up
The baseline iPhone 14 is $829, which is the same as the iPhone 12 and 13 when they launched. But there is a difference. In 2020 and 2021, Apple also sold the iPhone 12 Mini and 13 Mini at $729. That essentially means the barrier to entry for a new iPhone is now more expensive, since the Mini isn’t part of the iPhone 14 lineup. To alleviate the price, Apple and US carriers have a ton of trade-in deals. Apple also still sells the iPhone 13 for $729, which can save you some money.
Then there’s the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max, which are Apple’s most expensive models. They have the same starting prices as the 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max and as the 2018 iPhone XS and XS Max when they came out. Basically, the prices for Apple’s top-of-the-line models haven’t increased but they are hard to find. Apple scaled back production on the iPhone 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max because of COVID-19 lockdowns in China. Currently, the iPhone 14 Pro is showing shipping times of three-and-a-half weeks.
If you’re trying to get an iPhone 14 Pro as a gift for someone, your best bet is to try carriers and third-party retailers. However, Apple’s retail stores typically get more restock. And I wouldn’t dissuade you from ordering an iPhone 14 Pro. It’s an excellent phone and will still be one in three-and-a-half weeks.
Three months later, I am still impressed with the iPhone 14 and 14 Pro. The cameras are great, Emergency SOS provides more peace of mind, but the ceramic shield isn’t as durable as I expected. And the battery life isn’t as long as last year’s iPhone 13 lineup. But whether you’re upgrading from an older iPhone to an iPhone 14 or just want Apple’s absolute best, the iPhone 14 Pro, you should find something that fits your needs, budget and tastes.
iPhone 14 Pro, Pro Max Get the Biggest Changes to Apple’s Phone Lineup
Just about everyone has heard of or used Microsoft Office at some point in their life, but not everyone may own a copy of it on their own computer. There are some alternatives that work online and while that can help in a pinch, it’s not a great long-term solution. If you find yourself spending more time creating documents, sending emails and fixing up PowerPoints, you’re going to want to check this out.
You can ditch the subscription (with recurring charges) and snag a lifetime license of access to Microsoft’s Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, OneNote, Publisher and Access for just $30 instead. That’s back at the lowest price we’ve ever seen, and a whopping 91% off the usual price of $349. However, this deal expires in just a few days, so be sure to get your order in soon.
The offer, from StackSocial, applies to both the Windows and Mac version of the software.
This wildly popular offer for a Microsoft Office lifetime license is still available for $30. It’s available for both Mac and Windows, so be sure to grab the right one for the computer that you use regularly.
While the price almost seems too good to be true, we tried it ourselves, and it worked like a charm. (The two big caveats: You get a single key — which only works on a single computer — and there’s no Microsoft OneDrive Cloud Storage included.) In fact, Stack has been offering a version of this deal since the beginning of 2022. But this lowest-ever price won’t last, so take the plunge while you can.
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With Sony not launching its PlayStation VR2 until Feb. 23, 2023, there currently aren’t many better VR headsets than the Meta Quest 2, which offers a completely wireless experience for untethered VR gaming. Right now, it’s $399 for the 128GB model. That gets you everything you need to start playing, but there are a lot of different accessories that can enhance your experience.
Here’s a look at some of the top Oculus Quest 2 accessories out there. Most I’ve tried myself, including the Quest 2 Elite Strap, various carrying cases, a VR mat, prescription lenses, sweat mask, weighted gloves, external battery packs and a generic version of the Oculus Link VR cable. But a few selections are highly rated by buyers online. I’ll be adding more accessories for your Quest 2 VR headset and will update this list as I try them out.
If you’re looking for a little protection for the Quest 2 head unit (yes, people have been known to drop them), a face cover will help. The Kiwi comes in translucent or black colors for less than $15.
When I was looking to upgrade to an “elite” head strap for my virtual reality experience, I didn’t necessarily want to spend $50 for the official Elite Head Strap. I was looking for a Quest accessory bundle that combined accessories and found this one from Esimen, which includes a nice carrying case. So far, after a year of use, everything is holding up well. That said, both the Elite Head Strap and official Quest 2 Carrying Case have a more premium look and feel to them (whether they’re worth the extra dough is debatable, of course).
If you’re looking for a more comfortable gaming experience, upgrading to an “elite” strap is the way to go. I initially bought that knockoff Esimen accessories bundle. That’s all been fine, but I will say the official elite strap version is superior (it’s not twice as good, but it’s a bit of an upgrade over the elite strap knockoff). You just have to pay a premium for it.
If you’re hardcore about your VR gaming, you know that it’s a bummer to have to stop gaming because your battery is dying. That’s where a setup like the Bobovr M2 Plus Head Strap Twin Battery Combo comes in. You get a head strap plus two batteries and a docking station, so you can charge one battery while using the other. It’s one of the best and most ergonomic Quest 2 external battery setups we’ve seen, and it’s a good deal if you’re looking to upgrade your the stock Quest 2 head strap and also add some extra battery life.
The batteries dock and adhere magnetically to the back of the head strap and essentially double the battery life of the Quest 2. If you don’t want the dock and second battery, you can buy the base Bobovr M2 rig for a little more than $50 (the batteries also charge via USB-C).
Plenty of VR games are designed to make you sweat. That’s why it’s a good idea to get a silicone or faux-leather face cover that you can easily wipe off after each gaming session, along with a set of controller grips. There are lots of options on Amazon, but what makes the Kiwi Design bundle slightly better is that its controller grips have a door for the battery so you don’t have to pull off the grips when you change batteries.
The bundle also includes a lens cover, which protects your lenses from getting hit with direct sunlight, which can do damage to your system. This set only comes in one color but you can also get Kiwi Design’s controller grips in white or translucent for around $30 (the bundle is a better valueoverall if you can live with black).
You can certainly play with the Quest 2 while wearing glasses, but it is more comfortable without. That’s where a set of prescription lens inserts comes in.
Oculus has partnered with FramesDirect to provide such Rx inserts, with prices starting at $80 for the VirtuClear inserts. There are other Oculus VR Rx lens inserts out there, including ones from VR Lens Lab and WidmoVR, but I’ve only tried the VirtuClear lenses. They work well and are easy enough to remove so someone who doesn’t require glasses can play.
There are plenty of carrying cases for the Quest 2 that cost around $25 and are quite decent. But the Oculus-branded version is arguably the best. It’s protective, relatively lightweight and sleek-looking. The only drawback is its cost, which is $60.
If you’re looking for a cheaper alternative to the official Meta Quest 2 Carrying Case, the Syntech Hard Carrying Case is a good alternative for just over half the price.
We’re finally starting to see some true-wireless earbuds for the Meta Quest 2, and the Soundcore by Anker VR P10 is officially compatible with the console. The way it works is that it comes with a USB-C dongle that you plug into the the Meta Quest 2’s USB-C port and which streams audio to the buds. They can also be used as Bluetooth earbuds, and there’s a companion app that allows you to put the buds into Meta Quest 2 mode (work with the dongle). It can be a little tricky to set up, but I got it working after a couple of attempts.
Once connected, the buds work well though, I wouldn’t say the sound quality is great, which may have more to do with the Quest 2’s hardware (and how it outputs audio) than the buds. But these are a way to get private sound (when you raise the volume of the Quest 2’s external speakers, people in the room can hear the audio) and avoid having all the wires. And they are cheaper than some of the wired solutions out there from Logitech, for example.
Owning a “VR” mat is good because it provides some padding for your feet during VR workouts and also sets a boundary that you can feel (the mat is raised a bit off the floor so you can sense when you’re stepping off it and know to recenter yourself). This provides as much padding as a thick yoga mat.
I’ve used one from Supernatural that sells for $42. It seems to be very similar to the popular Proxi-Mat Space Station Theo mat that you can find at Amazon for around $50 (its price seems to fluctuate a bit). Both are 35 inches in diameter.
The Quest 2 has a couple of excellent table tennis games that are already shockingly realistic (I play Eleven Table Tennis). But if you want to add even more, turn your Quest controller into what feels like a real ping-pong paddle with a paddle grip. The weight balance is a little different, but it’s close enough to give you the sensation you’re truly holding a ping-pong paddle. It’s a little hardcore, but it’s a must-have if you play a lot of virtual table tennis.
Amazon has several VR sweat masks available for those who play active VR games and end up with a little too much perspiration buildup. After a session of Thrill of the Fight (boxing), I often end up with sweat dripping into my eyes inside the headset, which is irritating. That’s where one of these sweat masks can help. They look a little ridiculous but they can make the VR playing experience more comfortable.
The Crossmeta version here is a little more expensive than some other options on Amazon, but it comes with three masks instead of two.
If you don’t want to wear full-size headphones while playing, the Logitech G333 VR gaming earphones are a good alternative. They come with a custom-length short cord (and Velcro strap) designed for Quest 2 headsets.
The cord leading to the right bud is longer so you wear that cord behind your neck, which allows you to leave them hanging when you don’t have the buds in your ears. While they’re nothing too fancy as far as earbuds go, they do have a sturdy cord and feel sturdy overall, and they’re well-designed for Oculus Quest 2 use. They deliver solid sound if you get a tight seal (a few different sized tips are included).
There are plenty of cheaper earbuds options for Oculus Quest 2 — you can find them here. However, I haven’t tried them. Some don’t seem as durable as the Logitech G333.
The Anker Charging Dock for Quest 2 is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a resting place for your Quest 2 head unit and controllers when you’re not using them, and includes rechargeable batteries for your controllers as well as a USB-C cable and power adapter (you plug the cable into the dock).
The dock also comes with a little magnetic USB-C adapter that you plug into the USB-C port on the Oculus headset. You then dock the head unit and the integrated magnetic charger connects to the adapter.
I was able to charge the Quest 2 headset even with an elite head strap on it, but you have to take off any grips you might have on the controllers to charge those.
External battery packs are a popular accessory for the Quest 2 and there’s no shortage of them out there. This model from Moolechi costs a little more than some but has a higher percentage of positive reviews than some of the cheaper batteries that clip on to the side of your Quest 2’s head strap (this has a mounting rail system that allows you to slide it on and off easily enough).
It’s a 5,000-mAh battery and basically doubles the battery life of your Quest 2. The LED is just for show, but it does add a little flair to your console and lets you know the battery is working.
I haven’t tried this Quest accessories combo out yet, but it gets high marks on Amazon and seems like a good way to attach an external battery (not included) for extended gameplay sessions.
There’s a magnetic docking area on the back of the comfort strap. You simply stick the adhesive metal plate onto any external battery and the battery then sticks to the comfort strap. While there are now plenty of battery options for the Quest 2, this is more of a DIY solution for those who already have a battery pack they want to bring to the charging party.
Quest 2 controllers use AA batteries, which can last a reasonable amount of time, but if you play a lot, they do require replacement more regularly. That’s why it’s a good idea to get a set of rechargeable lithium-ion batteries, which charge faster and last longer than the NiCad and NiMH rechargeable batteries of yesteryear. And who needs to put more dead disposable batteries out in the world?
Pale Blue rechargeables come in packs with as few as four batteries or as many as 12 (various battery types are available). The batteries charge via Micro-USB and the included cable charges up to four batteries simultaneously. It takes about two hours to get a full charge. Some competing models have moved to USB-C charging, and Pale Blue may do that in the future. Currently, only its rechargeable D batteries charge via USB-C.
If all you’re looking for is a lens cover, this Orzero VR Lens Protect Cover is one of the more popular options for just less than $10. Personally, I look for accessory bundles that include a lens cover, but some people only want this lens protector accessory.
You can play PC VR games on your Quest 2 but you need a Link cable, (although Meta has been refining its Air Link wireless option to be more reliableover Wi-Fi). The official Oculus Link Cable costs $78, but lots of less-expensive versions are available, including this 16-foot KRX data transmission and charging cable (the 20-foot version is out of stock).
I wanted a little bit more of a challenge when doing virtual reality workout games like Thrill of the Fight, Fitness VR, The Climb and The Climb 2, Beat Saber and many others, so I looked into getting some wearable weights. From my experience, I found that weighted gloves were the way to go. Just be warned that you should proceed at your own risk with these (you could injure yourself), but it certainly does increase the intensity of your workouts.
Each glove only adds a pound of weight, but that’s more than you think. They fit inside the controllers fine.
If storage is tight on your iPhone, you have very few options. You can of course delete large files, like downloaded TV shows, movies and albums, but maybe you don’t really want to give these up. There are also various cloud options, but that requires shifting files around and deleting things. Or maybe you could buy a new phone with more internal storage, but that can be expensive.
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 without having to delete anything or spend money.
That’s right. 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 update, take more photos and videos and download more apps. Here’s what you need to know.
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 significant more space on your device storage.
For this to work, you need to have the iCloud Photos setting turned on.
Nelson Aguilar/CNET
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.
You can spend as little as $1 per month for more iCloud storage.
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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.
You need to tap Offload App twice to “delete” the app.
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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.
