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Longer-lasting battery tech is here, but iPhone owners will need to wait a while

Longer-lasting battery tech is here, but iPhone owners will need to wait a while | Photo shows the battery in the iPhone 17 Pro

As I mentioned a few days ago, breakthroughs in battery tech always seem to be two years away, but there have been some modest but worthwhile developments.

One of these, silicon-carbon batteries, is already found in some Android brands, and battery-test results clearly illustrate the benefits. But experts say it will be a little while before Apple adopts the new battery chemistry in future iPhones

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Here are some smart AI features we can expect from the Gemini-powered new Siri

Here are some smart AI features we can expect from the Gemini-powered new Siri | Image shows an iPhone with Siri and Gemini icons

Apple confirmed back in January that Google’s Gemini AI model will power new Siri features. That not only frees us from the need to wait for Apple’s own AI models to catch up, but also means we have a pretty good idea of what’s in store for us.

Gemini Personal Intelligence provided our first glimpse of what we can expect from the new Siri, and a Google event has pointed to a number of additional features …

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This could be the best thing to ever happen to Apple’s Camera app

This could be the best thing to ever happen to Apple's Camera app | Image shows someone taking a photo on an iPhone with controls visible on the screen

Apple’s stock Camera app started out with a very straightforward goal: it was intended to allow anyone to pick it up, press a button and get a decent result. It essentially made an iPhone the ultimate point-and-shoot camera.

Over the years, however, the app has grown increasingly sophisticated. While that may be a good thing, it has been accompanied by growing complexity. Finding the setting you want can involve a lot of guesswork about where it is found in the ever-expanding UI. Fortunately, it seems that iOS 27 may solve this problem …

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More than 10% of iPhone owners eyeing a folding phone – survey

More than 10% of iPhone owners eyeing a folding phone – survey | iPhone Ultra render shown

Price alone is likely to make the iPhone Fold (or iPhone Ultra) a somewhat niche product in Apple’s lineup, but a new survey suggests there could be more interest than one might expect.

While the majority of US smartphone owners unsurprisingly care most about two vital but uninteresting things, interest in new form factors like foldables was surprisingly high …

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Your iPhone just got a brand new colorful wallpaper, here’s how to customize it

With the iOS 26.5 update, Apple has added a new Pride Luminance wallpaper to your iPhone. The wallpaper features strips of colors that transition as you swipe up from the lock screen to the home screen. By default, the wallpaper uses a rich, vibrant color palette that celebrates the LGBTQ+ community.

But it’s actually super customizable, and it allows you to pick your own personal color palette for your iPhone’s lock screen. Here’s how to add the new colorful wallpaper and make it your own.

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spotify

PSA: Spotify confirms ongoing outage [Updated]

If you’re having problems using Spotify today, you’re not alone. The music streaming company has confirmed an ongoing outage and says it’s working on a fix.


Update, 12:30 p.m. PT/3:30 p.m. ET: Spotify is still down and the company hasn’t provided any additional updates on when the outage will be fixed.

Update, 1:59 p.m. PT/4:59 p.m. ET: Spotify says the outage has been resolved.

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New Lady Gaga performance streaming this Thursday exclusively on Apple Music

Apple today announced that Apple Music subscribers will be able to stream a brand new Lady Gaga filmed live performance this Thursday, in which the artist performed tracks from her MAYHEM album.

In fact, at 8 AM Pacific Time on May 14, anyone can tune in for free (no subscription required) to watch the live stream premiere. After the fact, it will be available to watch on demand for Apple Music subscribers.

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Hands-on: CUKTECH 30 Ultra delivers 300W charging, real-time power monitoring, more

I have recently been reviewing high-powered, multifunctional desk chargers, and I think they are great for providing reliable power to your devices while keeping your space decluttered. Most of the chargers I have tested usually have a wattage cap of 140, like the Nomos charger, or 200W, like Anker’s charging station. But as we get more and more tech that constantly needs to be charged, getting something with higher wattage becomes essential, especially for power users. That is where CUKTECH’s new 30 Ultra Charging Station really stood out. It delivers up to 300W of output, features CUKTECH’s signature display, and offers something I have not seen in any other charger. Here is what you need to know.

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9to5Mac Daily: May 12, 2026 – iOS 26.5 now available, more

9to5mac daily podcast

Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts appStitcherTuneInGoogle Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Sponsored by Bitwarden: Make your life easier with Bitwarden, featuring a secure, open source password manager with end-to-end encryption and seamless autofill across all your devices.

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Deals: 32GB M5 MacBook Pro $300 off, 48GB M5 Pro $300 off, iPad Air, Apple MagSafe Battery 40% off, more

Alongside the ongoing all-time low on the official Apple iPhone Air MagSafe Battery at 40% off, today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by a new Amazon all-time low hitting the 32GB/1TB M5 MacBook Pro at $300 off alongside the 48GB M5 Pro MacBook Pro also at $300 off the list price. You can save up to $300 on these M3 iPad Air clearance deals before they are gone for good, and scoop up a mid-range 13-inch M5 iPad Pro sitting down at the Amazon low – $149 off new or $245 off open-box. Just be sure to check out this rare discount on the latest Philips Hue Bridge Pro as stock appears to be quite low. Head below for a closer look.

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