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The company’s next big product should arrive next year. Here’s what we expect.

Apple has been integrating augmented reality into its devices for years, but the company looks like it will leap right into the territory of Meta, Microsoft and Magic Leap with a long-expected mixed-reality headset in 2023.

The target date of this AR/VR headset keeps sliding, with the latest report in early December from noted analyst Ming Chi-Kuo suggesting an arrival in the second half of 2023. With an announcement event that could happen as soon as January, we’re at the point where every Apple event seems to feel like the one where it could pull the covers off this device at last. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported in early January that’s he’s heard the company is aiming to unveil the headset in the spring ahead of the annual Worldwide Developers Conference in June.

2023 looks like a year full of virtual reality headsets that we originally expected in 2022, including the PlayStation VR 2 and Meta Quest 3. Apple has already laid down plenty of AR clues, hinting at what its mixed-reality future could hold and has been active in AR on its own iPhones and iPads for years.

As far as what its device could be like, odds are strong that the headset could work from a similar playbook as Meta’s recent high-end headset, the Quest Pro, with a focus on work, mixed reality and eye tracking onboard.

Is its name Reality Pro? Is the software called xrOS?
The latest report from noted Apple reporter Mark Gurman at Bloomberg suggests the operating system for this headset could be called “xrOS,” but that may not indicate the name of the headset itself. Recent trademark filings reported by Bloomberg showed the name “Reality” showing up a lot: Reality One, Reality Pro and Reality Processor. Apple’s existing AR software framework for iOS is named RealityKit, and previous reports suggested that “Reality OS” could be the name for the new headset’s ecosystem.

No one really expected the Apple Watch’s name (remember iWatch?), so to some degree, names don’t matter at this point. But it does indicate that Apple’s moving forward on a product and software, for sure.

One of several headsets?
The headset has been cooking for a long while. Reports have been going around for several years, including a story broken by former CNET Managing Editor Shara Tibken in 2018. Apple’s been building more advanced AR tools into its iPhones and iPads for years, setting the stage for something more.

Whatever the headset might become, it’s looking a lot more real lately. A detailed report from The Information earlier this year discussed likely specs, which include what Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says is Apple’s latest M2 chip. According to another report from Bloomberg earlier this year, Apple’s board of directors have already seen a demonstration of the mixed-reality headset.

The expected arrival of this headset has kept sliding for years. Kuo previously predicted that Apple’s VR-AR headset would arrive in the fourth quarter of 2022 with Wi-Fi 6 and 6E support. But this VR-type headset could be the start of several lines of products, similar again to how Meta has been targeting future AR glasses. Kuo has previously predicted that Apple smart glasses may arrive in 2025.

Apple could take a dual headset approach, leading the way with a high-end AR-VR headset that may be more like what Meta has done with the Quest Pro, according to Bloomberg’s Gurman. Gurman also suggests a focus on gaming, media and communication on this initial first-wave headset. In terms of communication, Gurman believes FaceTime using the rumored headset could rely on Memoji and SharePlay: Instead of seeing the person you’re talking to, you’d see a 3D version of their personalized Memoji avatar.

Eventually, Apple’s plans for this headset could become larger. The company’s “goal is to replace the ‌iPhone‌ with AR in 10 years,” Kuo explained in a note to investors, seen by MacRumors. The device could be relatively lightweight, about 300 to 400 grams (roughly 10.5 to 14 ounces), according to Kuo. That’s lighter than Meta’s Oculus Quest 2. However, it’s larger than a normal pair of glasses, with early renders of its possible design looking a lot more like futuristic ski goggles.

Read more: The Metaverse is Just Getting Started: Here’s What You Need to Know

The headset could be expensive, maybe as much as $2,000 or more, with 8K displays, eye tracking and cameras that can scan the world and blend AR and VR together, according to a report from The Information last year. That’s to be expected, considering the Quest Pro costs $1,500 and AR headsets like the Magic Leap 2 and Hololens 2 are around $3,000.

It’s expected to feature advanced processors, likely based on Apple’s recent M2 chips, and work as a stand-alone device. But it could also connect with Apple’s other devices. That’s not a surprising move. In fact, most of the reports on Apple’s headset seem to line right up with how VR is evolving: lighter-weight, with added mixed-reality features via more advanced pass-through cameras. Much like the Quest Pro, this will likely be a bridge to future AR glasses efforts.

Previous reports on Apple’s AR/VR roadmap suggested internal disagreements, or a split strategy that could mean a VR headset first, and more normal-looking augmented reality smart glasses later. But recent reports seem to be settling down to tell the story of a particular type of advanced VR product leading the way. What’s increasingly clear is that the rest of the AR and VR landscape is facing a slower-than-expected road to AR glasses, too.

Apple has been in the wings all this time without any headset at all, although the company’s aspirations in AR have been clear and well-telegraphed on iPhones and iPads for years. Each year, Apple’s made significant strides on iOS with its AR tools. It’s been debated how soon this hardware will emerge: this year, the year after or even further down the road. Or whether Apple proceeds with just glasses, or with a mixed-reality VR and AR headset, too.

I’ve worn more AR and VR headsets than I can even recall, and have been tracking the whole landscape for years. In a lot of ways, a future Apple AR headset’s logical flight path should be clear from just studying the pieces already laid out. Apple acquired VR media-streaming company NextVR in 2020 and it bought AR headset lens-maker Akonia Holographics in 2018.

I’ve had my own thoughts on what the long-rumored headset might be, and so far, the reports feel well-aligned to be just that. Much like the Apple Watch, which emerged among many other smartwatches and had a lot of features I’d seen in other forms before, Apple’s glasses probably won’t be a massive surprise if you’ve been paying attention to the AR and VR landscape lately.

Remember Google Glass? How about Snapchat’s Spectacles? Or the HoloLens or Magic Leap? Meta is working on AR glasses too, as well as Snap and also Niantic. The landscape got crowded fast.

Here’s where Apple is likely to go based on what’s been reported, and how the company could avoid the pitfalls of those earlier platforms.

Apple declined to comment on this story.

Launch date: Looks likely for 2023
New Apple products tend to be announced months before they arrive, maybe even earlier. The iPhone, Apple Watch, HomePod and iPad all followed this path.

The latest reports from Kuo point to possible delays for the release of the headset to the second half of 2023, but an event announcing the headset could happen as soon as January. That timeframe would make a lot of sense, giving time for developers to understand the concept well ahead of the hardware’s release, and even possibly allowing for Apple’s WWDC developer conference (usually in June) to go over specifics of the software.

Either way, developers would need a long head start to get used to developing for Apple’s headset, and making apps work and flow with whatever Apple’s design guidance will be. That’s going to require Apple giving a heads-up on its hardware well in advance of its actual arrival.

An Apple headset could be a lot like the Meta Quest, but higher end
There’s already one well-polished success story in VR, and the Quest 2 looks to be as good a model as any for where future headsets could aim. Gurman’s report makes a potential Apple VR headset sound a lot like Facebook’s stand-alone device, with controller-free hand tracking and spatial room awareness that could be achieved with Apple’s lidar sensor technology, introduced on the iPad Pro and iPhone 12 Pro.

Apple’s headset could end up serving a more limited professional or creative crowd. But it could also go for a mainstream focus on gaming or fitness. My experiences with the Oculus Quest’s fitness tools feel like a natural direction for Apple to head in, now that the Apple Watch is extending to subscription fitness training, pairing with TVs and other devices.

The Oculus Quest 2 (now officially the Meta Quest 2) can see through to the real world and extend some level of overlap of virtual objects like room boundaries, but Apple’s headset could explore passthrough augmented reality to a greater degree. I’ve seen impressive examples of this in headsets from companies such as Varjo. It could be a stepping stone for Apple to develop 3D augmented reality tech on smaller glasses designs down the road.

Right now, there aren’t any smart glasses manufacturers able to develop normal-looking glasses that can achieve advanced, spatially aware 3D overlays of holographic objects. Some devices like the nReal Light have tried, with mixed success. Meta’s first smart glasses, Ray-Ban Stories, weren’t AR at all. Meta is working on ways to achieve that tech later on. Apple might take a similar approach with glasses, too.

The VR headset could be a ‘Pro’ device
Most existing reports suggest Apple’s VR headset would likely be so expensive — and powerful — that it will have to aim for a limited crowd rather than the mainstream. If so, it could target the same business and creative professionals that more advanced VR headsets like the Varjo XR-3 and Meta Quest Pro are already aiming for.

I tried Varjo’s hardware. My experience with it could hint at what Apple’s headset might also be focusing on. It has a much higher-resolution display (which Apple is apparently going to try to achieve), can blend AR and VR into mixed reality using its passthrough cameras, and is designed for pro-level creative tools. Apple could integrate something similar to its lidar sensors. The Quest Pro does something similar, but in a standalone device without as high-end a display.

Varjo’s headset, and most professional VR headsets, are tethered to PCs with a number of cables. Apple’s headset could work as a standalone device, like the Quest 2 and Quest Pro, and also work when connected to a Mac or iPad, much like the Quest 2 already does with Windows gaming PCs. Apple’s advantage could be making a pro headset that is a lot more lightweight and seamlessly standalone than any other current PC-ready gear. But what remains unknown is how many apps and tools Apple will be able to introduce to make its headset feel like a tool that’s truly useful for creators.

Controls: Hand tracking or a small wearable device?
The Information’s previous reports on Apple’s headset suggest a more pared-down control system than the elaborate and large game controller-like peripherals used by many VR headsets right now. Apple’s headset should work using hand tracking, much like many VR and AR headsets already enable. But Apple would likely need some sort of controller-type accessory for inputs, too. Cracking the control and input challenge seems to be one of the bigger hurdles Apple could face.

Recent patent filings point to a possible smart ring-type device that could work for air gestures and motion, and maybe even work with accessories. It’s also possible that Apple might lean on some of its own existing hardware to act as inputs, too.

Could that controller be an Apple Watch? Possibly, but the Apple Watch’s motion-control capabilities and touchscreen may not be enough for the deeper interactions an Apple headset would need. Maybe iPhones could pair and be used as controllers, too. That’s how Qualcomm is envisioning its next wave of phone-connected glasses.

The ThinkBook Plus Twist could change the future of hybrid work with its OLED and color E Ink display.

Lenovo is always good for some interesting announcements at CES and it did not disappoint this year with not one, but two dual-screen laptops.

The more consumer-focused model is the Yoga Book 9i, which is essentially two 13.3-inch 2.8K OLED attached at the center with a 360-degree soundbar hinge like those used in its Yoga 9i two-in-one. This allows the screens to be used in a variety of ways such as one big vertical display (pictured above) or horizontally (pictured below) with windows able to move or flow between the two screens. A compact Bluetooth keyboard is included as well as an origami-style folding stand to support the Yoga Book in either position.

You won’t always have room to use the Yoga Book 9i as dual displays, though. (It would be awkward on my train commute for sure.) To use it as a regular laptop with a single 13.3-inch screen, you can call up a full onscreen haptic keyboard on the bottom display — the one without the webcam above it — with a 10-finger gesture as if you’re starting to type on a keyboard.

If you’re not a fan of touch-typing on screen — and I’m not — the included Bluetooth keyboard magnetically attaches to the bottom display and the bottom half turns into a touchpad. You can also slide the keyboard to the bottom half of the screen and continue using the top half as extra display space.

A Lenovo-designed active pen is included, too, and there’s unique software for notetaking so you can take advantage of the two displays. For example, you can watch a video conference on one screen while you take notes on the other. And when you’re done working, the stand doubles as a carrying case to hold the pen and keyboard.

Powered by 13th-gen Intel Core processors, the Yoga Book 9i will start at $2,100 and is expected to be available starting June 2023. Availability for the UK and Australia wasn’t announced but the price converts to approximately £1,765 or AU$3,110.

The ThinkBook Plus has been around for a few years now and is a completely different take on a dual-screen laptop. The second-gen model was a traditional laptop with the exception of an E Ink display on its lid. The Gen 3 model switched things up by putting a secondary 8-inch display next to the keyboard. For the new ThinkBook Plus Twist, Lenovo went back to the Gen 2 design but this time used a color E Ink display and put the displays on a rotating hinge.

So the laptop has both a 13.3-inch 2.8K OLED display and a 12-inch E Ink touch display. When you rotate the E Ink screen to be in front of the keyboard, it turns off the OLED and switches the E Ink screen to the main display for Windows 11. Unfortunately, you can’t have the displays mirror each other, which might be handy for commercial uses or giving presentations.

Both displays work with the bundled pen. The E Ink display is handy for jotting down a quick note like a list of action items in a meeting without opening the laptop. It can also be used for notetaking, checking your e-mail and calendars, keeping an eye on notifications and so on. And if the display rotates, you can also do all of that stuff with the main OLED display and much much more.

So why make it rotate? When I asked Lenovo that question, the answer was more or less so that the E Ink could be used for reading and keeping an eye on things without opening the laptop, but also the OLED could be used in tablet mode for streaming video or drawing or anything else where using the OLED screen as a tablet makes more sense than the E Ink. And E Ink sips power, so you could also use it to get simple office work done in Windows when your battery’s running too low to use the OLED.

The business-oriented ThinkPhone takes its design cues from Lenovo’s popular laptop line.

Lenovo’s popular ThinkPad laptop line is finally getting a mobile sidekick. The ThinkPhone by Motorola, announced at CES, will have a similar aesthetic to that of the ThinkPad computers, down to their signature red button. Motorola, which is owned by Lenovo, appears to have focused on three specific areas for the business-focused ThinkPhone: security, durability and productivity. Motorola has not said how much the device will cost.

Read more: Here are the must-see CES highlights, the wackiest products revealed and the most futuristic tech we’ve seen.

Among the ThinkPhone’s most interesting features is its customizable red key, which can be used to launch certain apps or features, such as the Walkie Talkie functionality in Microsoft Teams. It sounds similar to the programmable button on Samsung’s XCover6Pro, a phone that was also developed for enterprise and industrial uses.

It’s a work-oriented device, so the ThinkPhone unsurprisingly includes a variety of productivity features that make it easier to connect the phone to your PC. Many of these features are already available through Motorola’s existing Ready For software, which you can find on previously launched phones like the Motorola Edge 20 and Edge 20 Plus. These include the ability to use the ThinkPhone as your laptop’s webcam for video calls, automatic connectivity to your Windows laptop via Wi-Fi when it’s nearby, drag-and-drop file transfers between the ThinkPhone and your Windows computer and a unified clipboard. The difference, however, is that some of these features can be accessed with the ThinkPhone’s red key, making it stand out from Motorola’s other devices.

Motorola is also positioning the ThinkPhone as ideal for storing sensitive work-related information. The device has a separate processor called Moto KeySafe, which isolates PINs, passwords and other sensitive data. Lenovo and Motorola’s ThinkShield and Moto Threat Defense software can also be found on the device. The ThinkPhone also has tools that allow IT departments to manage aspects like lock screen settings and network alerts.

As for durability, the ThinkPhone is MIL STD 810H certified and is constructed from an aramid fiber that Motorola says is stronger than steel. It also has Gorilla Glass Victus and should be able to withstand drops from up to 1.25 meters. Like most modern phones, the ThinkPhone has IP68 water resistance.

Many of the ThinkPhone’s other specifications are similar to the ones found on standard flagship smartphones. The phone has a 6.6-inch display, Android 13 and runs on Qualcomm’s Snapdragon 8 Plus Gen 1 processor. There’s a 50-megapixel main camera and a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera along with a 32-megapixel selfie camera.

The announcement comes as there’s been more emphasis on cross-platform compatibility between smartphones and laptops throughout the industry. Apple’s MacOS Ventura update, for example, introduced the ability to use your iPhone as a Mac webcam and seamlessly move FaceTime calls between your iPhone and Mac computer. Google’s Phone Hub feature lets you do things like check your phone’s signal or battery status, sync notifications and access photos from the camera roll on your Chromebook.

This feature only works on iOS 16.

You can use your voice to do so much on your iPhone. Thanks to Siri, you can do really basic things like send a text message and get directions or you can get more complicated and use your voice to pull up all the movie showtimes for your local theater — no hands needed.

Apple is always adding new commands to Siri, and with the somewhat recent release of iOS 16, there’s one particular addition I’m most excited about.

You can finally use your voice to restart your iPhone.

Anytime I notice a software issue with my iPhone, like applications automatically force-closing, a laggy operating system or unresponsive features, I reboot my device to hopefully fix these bugs. And many times it does.

Don’t miss: iOS 16.2 on Your iPhone: Every New Feature, Tool and More

However, the only way to restart my iPhone is by either turning the phone off and on or force-restarting it. Both of these options require the use of my hands, and take several steps, but now it’s so much easier thanks to iOS 16. If you’re having any issues and need to reboot your device, here’s how to do it with just your voice.

You should also check out these 10 hidden iOS 16 features for your iPhone and the complete guide you need to master your iPhone’s latest software update.

Restart your iPhone using this simple voice command
As long as you have the “Hey Siri” feature enabled, which constantly listens for the two-letter command, you can say the following to restart your iPhone:

First, say “Hey Siri” to activate Siri.
Next, say “Restart iPhone.”
And last, say “Yes” when Siri prompts you to confirm.
Your iPhone will then restart. You’ll need to enter your passcode to unlock your screen.

You can also use this new feature on the iPad, but you’ll need to be running at least iPadOS 16.1.

If you don’t have “Hey Siri” enabled, you can to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle on Listen for “Hey Siri.” If you don’t want your iPhone listening for this command all the time, you can always just activate Siri by holding down on the side button for a second, although this does defeat the whole hands-free aspect of restarting your iPhone.

Acer is going big at CES 2023, with 16- and 18-inch Predator Helios gaming laptops.

A lot of gamers will be pleased with what’s coming in 2023 from Acer. The new 16- and 18-inch Predator Helios gaming laptops announced Tuesday at CES 2023 feature the latest 13th-gen Intel Core processors, Nvidia GeForce RTX 40 series graphics, enhanced cooling, beautiful big displays and a whole lot of lights.

Predator Helios is a premium gaming line, so Acer will offer the best in new components inside. Along with the latest Intel and Nvidia options, they’ll support up to 32GB of DDR5-4800 RAM and up to 2TB PCIe Gen4 NVMe solid-state drives in RAID 0. The components will be kept cool with “dual custom-engineered fifth-gen AeroBlade 3D metal fans and vector heat pipes in the shape of rectangles for improved heat transfer,” Acer said in its announcement.

The Helios 16 will come with three 2,560×1,600-pixel display options with a 165Hz or 240Hz refresh rate or a Mini LED panel with a 250Hz refresh rate, 100% P3 color gamut and a peak brightness over 1,000 nits. The 18-inch Helios has those panel options as well as an entry-level 1,920×1,200-pixel display at 165Hz.

The new designs use a mini-LED backlit keyboard with deep 1.8-millimeter key travel. The per-key lighting uses less power while giving the keys bright, uniform color. A customizable RGB light bar also runs across the top of the back vents.

The Predator Helios 16 is expected in March starting at $1,650 with the Helios 18 following in April with a starting price of $1,700. Both laptops are expected to be available in Europe a month earlier than in the US, though. Pricing for the UK and Australia wasn’t immediately available, but the price for the Helio 16 converts to approximately £1,370 or AU$2,445.

Acer also introduced new Nitro gaming laptops for those who want a bigger display still but at a lower entry price. Available in 16- and 17.3-inch sizes, the new Nitro gaming laptops will also be available with the latest Intel and Nvidia chips, up to 32GB of DDR5 memory and up to a 2TB PCIe Gen4 SSD for storage. Display options will include a 2,560×1,600-pixel panel with a 165Hz refresh rate on the 16-inch version and either a 144Hz or 165Hz full-HD or 165Hz quad-HD display on Nitro 17.

Both the Acer Nitro 16 and 17 are expected in May with a starting price of $1,200.

You need to be running iOS 16 for this feature to work.

Siri lets you do so much on your iPhone with just your voice. You can do basic things like send a text message to a friend and get directions back home or you can get more complicated and pull up all the movie showtimes for your local theatre — all without using your hands.

Apple is always adding new commands to Siri, and with the somewhat recent release of iOS 16, there’s one particular addition I’m most excited about.

You can finally use your voice to restart your iPhone.

Anytime I notice a software issue with my iPhone, like applications automatically force-closing, a laggy operating system or unresponsive features, I reboot my device to hopefully fix these bugs. And many times it does.

Don’t miss: iOS 16.2 on Your iPhone: Every New Feature, Tool and More

However, the only way to restart my iPhone is by either turning the phone off and on or force-restarting it. Both of these options require the use of my hands, and take several steps, but now it’s so much easier thanks to iOS 16. If you’re having any issues and need to reboot your device, here’s how to do it with just your voice.

You should also check out these 10 hidden iOS 16 features for your iPhone and the complete guide you need to master your iPhone’s latest software update.

Restart your iPhone using this simple voice command
As long as you have the “Hey Siri” feature enabled, which constantly listens for the two-letter command, you can say the following to restart your iPhone:

First, say “Hey Siri” to activate Siri.
Next, say “Restart iPhone.”
And last, say “Yes” when Siri prompts you to confirm.
Your iPhone will then restart. You’ll need to enter your passcode to unlock your screen.

You can also use this new feature on the iPad, but you’ll need to be running at least iPadOS 16.1.

If you don’t have “Hey Siri” enabled, you can to Settings > Siri & Search and toggle on Listen for “Hey Siri.” If you don’t want your iPhone listening for this command all the time, you can always just activate Siri by holding down on the side button for a second, although this does defeat the whole hands-free aspect of restarting your iPhone.

Our unofficial curtain-raiser on Apple’s iPhone 15 series based on the most credible rumors circulating so far.

The iPhone 15 lineup likely won’t arrive until the fall of 2023, but there are plenty of questions about what to expect from Apple’s next-generation phone. Will the iPhone 15 have a USB-C port? Will Apple increase iPhone prices in 2023? Will it even be called the “iPhone 15”? No one outside of Apple knows for sure, but the rumor mill will certainly feed our curiosity until Apple throws the next iPhone event. Here are some of the biggest and most credible rumors we’ve seen so far, to paint a picture of what we may see from the iPhone 15.

iPhone 15 design: Embracing USB-C charging
The buzziest design rumor so far involves the iPhone’s charging port, given the European Union’s ruling that iPhones sold in the region will need to switch to a USB-C port by 2024. The question is whether Apple will switch all iPhone models to USB-C or just those sold in the EU. Apple already modifies iPhone models regionally, as it has done with the iPhone 14: The US version has an electronic SIM, while other variants retain the SIM slot.

But Avi Greengart, an analyst at Techsponential, believes Apple has good reasons to move all iPhones to USB-C moving forward. “There are larger ecosystem, security, and accessory considerations with the power/data connector, so I think it is more likely that Apple moves all iPhones [globally] to USB-C in the iPhone 16 timeframe to comply with European regulations,” Greengart said.

iPhone 15 design: Dynamic Island expands to all models
Apple is likely to continue selling four iPhone models with the iPhone 15 lineup. Rumors point to a generally similar design across the board, except that the iPhone 14 Pro’s shape-shifting cutout, known as Dynamic Island, is set to make its way across all models.

That rumor comes from display analyst Ross Young, who also said in a September tweet that he’s not expecting base iPhone 15 models to have a higher refresh rate like Apple’s Pro iPhones because the supply chain can’t support it.

Read more: iPhone 14 Pro’s Most Eye-Catching Feature Feels Like It’s Winking at Something Else

iPhone 15: Solid-state buttons come to pro iPhone 15 models
Noted Apple observer Ming-Chi Kuo, an analyst with TF International Securities, expects Apple to differentiate further between its base and Pro models in the coming years. One way he’s expecting that to happen is by giving the iPhone 15 Pro models solid-state volume and power buttons instead of the standard keys present on today’s devices, he wrote in a tweet in October.

The solid-state buttons, which Kuo says will be similar to the home button found on the iPhone SE and iPhone 7, mimic the feel of pressing a button with the help of haptic feedback. The apparent advantage of this type of button is that it also protects against water getting in.

iPhone 15 camera: Periscope-style telephoto lens arrives
Yet another Kuo prediction has been making the rounds, but this time it’s about the iPhone 15’s camera. The analyst forecasts that the iPhone 15 Pro Max will receive a periscope-style telephoto lens. This sort of telephoto lens allows for higher optical zoom levels, with Kuo forecasting a 6x optical zoom could arrive in the iPhone 15 Pro Max. The optical zoom on the iPhone 14 Pro Max is limited to 3x, which lags rivals such as the Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra’s 10x optical zoom.

iPhone 15 price: Up, up and away?
Prices have dramatically increased since the original iPhone arrived in 2007. And that may happen again in 2023 with the iPhone 15, except not in the way you might think. The price of the regular iPhone 15 is currently expected to remain the same, according to analysts who previously spoke with CNET.

However, the upper limit of the price range could be pushed higher if rumors about a luxe iPhone 15 Ultra turn out to be true. The rumored Ultra model could potentially replace the iPhone 15 Pro Max next year, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman writes. This falls in line with predictions from Kuo, who expects Apple to differentiate further between the iPhone Pro and iPhone Pro Max models. US prices currently range from $829 for the entry-level iPhone 14 model (128GB) all the way up to $1,599 for the highest-end iPhone 14 Pro Max with 1TB of storage.

Read more: What Apple Could Do With iPhone 15 Prices in 2023

iPhone 15: Launch and release timeline
Apple holds its annual iPhone event in September almost every year, so we’d expect the timeline to remain the same for the iPhone 15. New iPhones typically get released shortly thereafter, usually the Friday of the following week. Sometimes Apple will stagger release dates for specific models, especially when introducing a new design or size. So it’s possible that the iPhone 15 lineup will have more than one release date.

Here’s what we know:

Apple tends to hold its events on Tuesdays or Wednesdays. Apple’s iPhone 14 event was held on Wednesday Sept. 7, while its iPhone 13 event was held on Tuesday, Sept. 14.
iPhone release dates are typically a week and a half after Apple’s announcements.
In general, new iPhones are released on a Friday, around the third week of September. For the iPhone 13, preorders began Sept. 17 and the phones went on sale Sept. 24.
Looking for more iPhone advice? Check out our iPhone upgrade guide, our list of the best iPhones and our roundup of the best cases for your iPhone 14 or 14 Pro.

Subsidize the cost of your next iPhone by selling your current one. Here are the best places to do so.

If you were tempted to treat yourself to the latest iPhone this Christmas or you plan to gift one to someone else in your family, you might be wondering what the most cost-effective way to do it is. Saving as much money as possible is paramount if you’re wanting to regularly upgrade to the best iPhone which is why subsidizing your next phone by selling your current one is such a great idea. But how do you get the most money back for your existing device?

Well, there are numerous ways to trade in an old iPhone and earn hundreds toward your new one, but each option has its own list of pros and cons. Fret not, though, as we’re here to help guide you through the process. We’ve put together a list of the best places to sell, so you can work out the best iPhone deal for you. Below, you’ll find three different ways you can make some cash, as well as when to make the sale and what you can expect from the process.

Looking for a quick and easy option? Consider selling your old device to a buy-back service. Although it’s not entirely without risk — if the old iPhone isn’t in the condition you said it was, for example if it is a broken iPhone, you may not get the full value quoted by the buyer — it does minimize the time and hassle, especially compared with trying to sell it yourself on, say, eBay or Craigslist.

There are traditional trade-in options like those offered by Apple and Best Buy (see the next section), and then there are buy-and-sell marketplaces like those listed below. Before you spend a lot of time hopping from one to another to get quotes, head to Flipsy, which compares US trade-in values at multiple buy-back stores. It shows you the payment methods, price-lock duration (that’s how long you have before you need to send the phone in) and price based on the condition of the old device. (Because each buyback program and store is little different when it comes to “condition” definitions, Flipsy doesn’t drill down beyond phone model, carrier and storage.) SellCell is another price-comparison service for anyone looking to score top dollar for an old iPhone.

If you’d rather check out some individual marketplaces yourself, below are a few options that are worth a look. The sample quotes are based on iPhone 13 trade-ins for “good” condition devices in December 2022 and were correct at the time of writing.

Apple and Tesla stocks have tumbled over growing concerns about delays in their production lines in China.

Apple shares hit their lowest point since June 2021. Tesla’s stock has dropped 73% from a record high in November 2021.

Companies have struggled to keep production going in China due to Covid restrictions and weeks of lockdowns.

Now they are facing a staffing crunch as China battles a Covid wave after lifting years of restrictions.

China announced that it will lift its strict quarantine rules for travellers on 8 January, a positive sign for many investors who are seeing an ease in supply chain movement in 2023.

But global investors are also being cautious ahead of additional interest rate hikes, a global economic slowdown and the ongoing war in Ukraine.

Given the spike in Covid cases in key manufacturing hubs, analysts say production will take time to ramp up once again.

“Factories are going to experience labour shortages for at least 4-6 weeks as the wave passes through their production regions, and of course most migrant workers will go back to their home villages for the Lunar New Year at the end of January,” says Simon Baptist, chief economist at The Economist Intelligence Unit.

“Production looks unlikely to be back to normal in China until late February.”

Production delays hit Apple supplier Foxconn earlier this year following unrest at its Zhangzhou plant known as “iPhone City.” The company said its revenue in November was down 11% compared with the same month in 2021.

This week, media reports said Tesla’s Shanghai manufacturing plant had cut production as Covid infections rose in China. The company declined to comment.

But analysts say the company’s sluggish sales are evident in the fact that it has offered discounts to both Chinese and North American customers.

Investors have also raised concerns about Tesla chief executive Elon Musk, who has repeatedly made controversial headlines. He took over Twitter in October after a drawn-out legal battle and since then, Mr Musk has focused a significant amount of his time on running the social media platform. Some have cited his alleged distraction during this time as another reason for the fall in Tesla’s share price.

Last week, Mr Musk tweeted asking users if he should continue as the head of the platform – they voted no, prompting him to announce that he would resign from his position once a replacement is found.

Analysts say he now needs to rebuild investors’ and board members’ confidence.

“Musk is viewed as ‘asleep at the wheel’ from a leadership perspective for Tesla at the time investors need a CEO to navigate this Category 5 storm,” wrote Webush tech analyst Dan Ives in his newsletter.

“Instead Musk is laser-focused on Twitter which has been an ongoing nightmare that never ends for investors.”

Transfer all your information from your old phone to your new iPhone 14 without losing a thing.

So, you received a new iPhone 14 this holiday season and you’re tempted to tear that box open and start toying with all the new features of iOS 16. Before you do so, you will want to patiently set up your phone and sync your information. Rushing the setup process is the last thing you want to do — now’s the time to make sure your new iPhone 14 is set up to your liking.

1. Use Apple’s direct transfer method
   During the setup process, you’ll be asked if you want to directly transfer apps and information from your old iPhone to your new one. This feature was first rolled out with iOS 12.4, so if it’s been a few years since you’ve upgraded phones, it’ll be the first time you’ve seen the option.

The tool is straightforward to use. Make sure you have both phones, preferably plugged in and charging to ensure they don’t run out of battery, a Wi-Fi connection and enough time for the process to finish — it could take over an hour.

The more information you have on your phone, like photos in your camera roll, the longer it will take. When the transfer starts, the phones will show you a time estimate. Every time I’ve used this tool, that estimate has been accurate within a couple of minutes. It’s worth taking the time if you don’t use Apple’s iCloud service to back up your phone.

1. Use a Mac or PC to transfer your data to an iPhone
   The method I personally use with every new iPhone is to restore from an encrypted backup using a Mac or PC. Not only does this process transfer all of your apps, settings and preferences, but it also means you don’t have to sign into the countless apps you have on your phone.

Before you can use this method, you’ll need to create an encrypted backup of your current iPhone. I know that may sound intimidating or overly complicated, but it only means you have to check an extra box and enter a password.

On a Mac, you’ll use Finder to back up your old iPhone. We outlined the steps when Apple killed iTunes. Just make sure to check the Encrypt backup box and enter a password you’ll remember when prompted. Let your Mac go to work, creating a backup file. It will let you know when it’s done.

On a PC, you’ll need to use iTunes (it’s not completely dead) to create a backup. That process is explained here. Again, you’ll need to make sure the Encrypt backup box is checked and enter a password.

To restore your new phone, open Finder or iTunes, and connect your phone to your computer. Click Trust when prompted, and then follow the prompts, selecting the backup you just created as what you want to use to restore the phone. You will need to enter the backup’s password before the process begins — so make sure you don’t forget it!

Once it’s done, your new phone will be an exact copy of your old phone and you won’t have to spend any time signing into apps or random accounts.

1. Android user? This app is your answer
   Apple doesn’t have many Android apps listed in Google’s Play Store, but Move to iOS is one of them. This free app will connect your Android phone to a new iPhone and allow you to transfer the most important information from one phone to the other.

Here’s the entire step-by-step process as well as some caveats, like the fact that it won’t transfer any locally stored music or PDF files.

No matter the process you used to set up your new phone, you’re sure to be giddy with excitement as you explore what it can do.