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iPhone 14 Pro review + Apple Watch Ultra hidden features

If you're still on the fence about two of Apple's hottest new products, we've got a pair of posts that might help you decide if they're right for you.

First up, Graham Bower's piece shines the spotlight on nine lesser-known features of the Apple Watch Ultra. It really shows how deeply Apple's team thought while creating the rugged new smartwatch.

Second, Leander Kahney's iPhone 14 Pro review focuses on two features that won him over: the upgraded camera array and the quirky and fun Dynamic Island. Don't miss the side-by-side photos that show how the new phone compares to last year's model.

Enjoy your weekend!

-- Lewis Wallace, managing editor

News and opinion

The big and rugged Apple Watch Ultra is a very different beast than the “normal” Apple smartwatches that came before it. With so many new features, there’s still a lot we don’t know about it. But over the past couple of weeks, I have discovered nine fascinating factoids that most reviewers haven’t picked up on yet.

iOS 16.0.2 takes care of problems that have made headlines (and irritated iPhone users).

The first reviews of the Apple Watch Ultra praise the rugged smartwatch’s large display, its new Action button and its longer battery life. But a debate brews about whether the wearable is too big.

Apple desperately needs to shake up its iPhone Pro colors. The brand-new iPhone 14 Pro — in the exotic-sounding “deep purple” color — actually looks like a dull gray in real life.

The overwhelming consensus? The design is only slightly changed from the first-generation buds, but almost everything else is improved, with a few minor caveats.

The second iOS 16.1 beta gives users the option to show their iPhone’s remaining battery life in the status bar as a number and as a graphic at the same time.

How-tos

Studies show that haptic feedback improves touchscreen typing speed and input accuracy, and at last Apple added the feature in iOS 16. It feels absolutely brilliant -- here's how to experience it.

This marquee feature annoys some folks. If you don't like it, or just want to save some juice, you can switch it off easily.

A new feature in iOS 16 lets you get the latest scores, read coverage from newspapers and magazines, see scheduled games and watch highlights. It works across multiple apps, including Apple News and Apple TV.

iOS 16 brings a lot of exciting changes, but no one seems to like the new Search button on the Home Screen. It can clutter your aesthetic theme, it’s easy to press accidentally, and it’s not any faster than using the swipe-down gesture for search. Luckily, it’s possible to turn it off.

Deals

The WonderCube Pro is one of the most versatile iPhone accessories ever made. It’s a phone charger and cable that works with both Apple and Android devices, a stand that’ll prop your device in portrait and landscape positions, an LED torch, a MicroSD card reader and more.

Plus, more hardware deals:

If you’ve got a new iPhone 14 or an Apple Watch Ultra, it’s time to get tough about protecting them.

Artificial intelligence can help you narrate your video scripts in various styles and languages.

There’s no better time than fall and winter to cozy up indoors with a great new game … or three. For Xbox gamers, the ultimate way to do that is with Xbox Live Gold.

There are plenty of fancy Apple Watch bands out there, but how about one with more than 800 brilliant crystals on an ornate link band?

Reviews

Out of the box, the new iPhone 14 Pro looks almost identical to its predecessor, the iPhone 13 Pro, with its frosted glass back, shiny steel band and triple-lens rear camera. But switch it on, and you immediately see an obvious difference — the new Dynamic Island, a fun, interactive UI element that alone is almost worth the upgrade. But what cinches it is the new 48MP camera sensor, which takes absolutely fantastic pictures.

New Apple TV+ documentary Sidney tells the story of the great actor and activist Sidney Poitier. Filmed just before his death in January 2022, the film delivers a gripping, first-person chronicle of a man discovering himself, finding his talent, and divining the character of the country he called home.

Plus, more Apple TV+ recaps:

The Moft Flash Wallet & Stand magnetically clings to your iPhone, giving you a place to hold your ID while also acting as a kickstand wherever you need one.

Is it worth buying a full-size camera these days? The reasons to do so grow smaller and smaller as smartphone cameras get better and better. And with Moment's lenses and other accessories, there's really no need for a DSLR.

It’s time to get a grip — on a silicone case for your new iPhone 14, that is. Elago has two super-grippy silicone cases — one with MagSafe and one without — that are easy to hold, protective and colorful.

Whether or not you took the plunge and upgraded to a new Apple Watch Series 8 or SE, you can partake of something more affordable if you own any model of the wearable — Apple’s new lower-end Apple Watch bands.

Setups

Sometimes you just can’t help taking a holistic approach to a computer setup, taking in the whole room. That’s what happens when the user makes their home office a veritable museum like that which surrounds this MacBook Pro setup. Three themes set it apart: The Beatles, the variety of RGB lighting and the concrete blocks holding up the Ikea countertop and the retro Thunderbolt Displays sitting on it.

If you’re at all into audio equipment, you’ve probably heard of a digital-to-analog converter. You might think it’s a fancy thing for rich audiophiles. But, actually, you already have a few DACs if you have gadgets that make sound, like a computer, tablet and smartphone. But not every DAC is created equal.

The term “money pit” usually refers to an old house that needs a lot of expensive work that never seems to end. But it could actually refer to a computer setup, too. After all, it’s never really finished and the next round of irresistible gear is always about to come out.