All articles tagged with #battery life
Google's Wear OS 7 update adds iPhone‑style Live Updates for deliveries and sports scores, replaces Tiles with Wear Widgets in Android‑like layouts, brings AI features under Gemini Intelligence on select watches later this year, and promises up to 10% better battery life over Wear OS 6.
Microsoft acknowledges that faulty third-party drivers have silently drained Windows 11 batteries and degraded performance for years. It will overhaul driver evaluation to assess power usage, heat generation, and performance, introduce automatic rollbacks to block problematic drivers, and shift away from crash-only criteria by incorporating telemetry to detect everyday usability issues.
Ars Technica reviews the Dory Sign, a $149 5.2-inch E Ink sign controlled by a Bluetooth iOS/Android app for real-time text and image edits, with multi-user editing, a long battery life claimed up to 15 years, and IP44 durability; praised for a simple, readable display and Calm Tech credentials, the piece warns that its usefulness hinges on ongoing software support, since losing the app could effectively brick the device.
The iOS 26.5 update offers practical tweaks to boost privacy, performance and efficiency, including end-to-end encryption for RCS where supported; controlling notification forwarding to save battery; Audio Zoom for clearer video audio; disabling automatic podcast downloads to conserve storage; enabling Background Security Updates; switching screenshots to SDR format for smaller files; enabling Optimized Battery Charging (and considering disabling Clean Energy Charging); disabling lock-screen camera access; reviewing and tightening app permissions; and using a Scheduled Summary to group non-urgent alerts.
Motorola’s Razr Fold delivers standout battery life and a versatile inner-screen multitasking experience, but its $1,900 price, preloaded bloatware, lack of magnets, and uneven camera performance make it hard to recommend against stiffer rivals.
MacRumors outlines rumors that the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max will largely resemble the iPhone 17 Pro in design but gain a bigger battery (Pro Max ~5,100–5,200 mAh), LTPO+ displays, a 2nm A20 chip with WMCM, an in-house C2 modem with mmWave support, a Samsung-made PD-TR-Logic camera sensor, and a possible variable-aperture main camera, with debate over under-display Face ID and a slimmer Dynamic Island. A new deep-red color is in testing, and Apple is reportedly pursuing a two-phase rollout: Pro lineup in September 2026 followed by iPhone 18 and 18e in spring 2027, potentially adding satellite 5G via Globalstar and a simplified Camera Control button.
A Chinese leaker claims the next Apple Watch models won’t add Touch ID, instead prioritizing larger batteries and advanced health sensors. Unlocking is expected to remain tied to the paired iPhone, and adding a fingerprint sensor would incur extra cost and take space away from battery capacity. Earlier hints of Touch ID were found in old code, but a major design update isn’t anticipated until 2028, with glucose monitoring potentially on the horizon.
Asus unveils the CM14 Chromebook refresh powered by the MediaTek Kompanio 540, offering up to 8GB RAM and 128GB eMMC, a 14-inch (optional touchscreen) display, and MIL-STD-810H durability, plus a claimed 23-hour battery life. The chassis features a screwless bottom panel and tool-free battery latch for easier maintenance, and a three-month trial of the Google AI Pro plan is included. Colors are Platinum Silver, Forest Blue, and Blue Aura, with aggressive pricing expected but no official release date or price yet.
PCWorld tested productivity laptops across Intel Core Ultra Lunar Lake (200) and Panther Lake (300), AMD Ryzen AI 300, and Qualcomm Snapdragon X1E/X2E using Microsoft 365 apps and Procyon battery tests. Panther Lake delivers the strongest Office performance, while the older Lunar Lake-based Core Ultra 200 emerges as the most efficient per watt-hour, meaning a 2024 chip can still offer the best value for long productivity. Larger data-set tasks widen performance gaps, and battery life depends on battery size; the study suggests considering older laptops for the best balance of speed and endurance, noting one Snapdragon X2 Elite Extreme unit encountered boot/charge issues during testing.
The reMarkable Paper Pure is set to launch as a cheaper 10.3-inch e‑ink tablet that omits a frontlight and keyboard compatibility, but includes the official reMarkable Pen with a reported 21 ms latency. It features USB‑C charging, Wi‑Fi, and a 360 g body, and is said to deliver up to three weeks of battery life from a 3,820 mAh cell. A Bluetooth chip hints at possible wireless keyboard support, with more details/timing to be announced at the May 6 launch.
Samsung's Galaxy A37 5G refresh is a solid under-$500 midrange with a big 6.7-inch OLED display, IP68 durability, a 50MP main camera, and long 5,000mAh battery with 45W charging; it uses a plastic chassis and lacks a microSD slot, and its in-screen fingerprint reader can be finicky until you re-register, but overall it offers good everyday performance and camera output that competes with the Pixel 10a—making it a strong value for budget-conscious buyers.
The Galaxy Z Fold 8 lineup (Fold 8, Fold 8 Wide, and Flip 8) introduces practical refinements: a thinner, lighter body with a softer crease, a larger 5000 mAh battery with 45W charging (and possible Qi 2 magnetic charging); enhanced cameras including a 50 MP ultra-wide lens; improved cooling for sustained performance; and potential S Pen support, offering choices to fit different usage needs without a radical design overhaul.
In a side-by-side test, the Oppo Find X9 Ultra with a 7,050mAh silicon-carbon battery and up to 100W charging outlasts the iPhone 17 Pro Max, which has a roughly 4.8–5.1k mAh capacity, in real-world battery life and charging speed. Over three hours of 1080p YouTube playback, the iPhone stayed at 90% while the Find X9 Ultra finished at 94%; in charging tests, the iPhone reached 64% in 30 minutes (35% at 15 minutes) versus 74% in 30 minutes for the Oppo (44% at 15 minutes). The article suggests silicon-carbon tech is pushing ahead and could push Apple/Samsung to adapt, while noting Oppo’s larger battery and faster charge give it a tangible edge today.
A Verge reviewer tests a wide range of smart glasses (from Even Realities G2 to Meta Ray-Ban Display and Oakley Vanguard) and finds they mostly look and feel alike, with AI features that are often impractical, battery-draining, and privacy-invasive. Prescription support is inconsistent, repairs are hard, and there’s no compelling all-day use case yet beyond niche roles like travel or training. While some models are stylish and offer useful functions, the overall promise of wearable AI on the face remains unproven, though future iterations with better prescription handling and lighter design may change that.
Motorola's Razr Fold is priced at $1,900 in the US (plus $100 for the Moto Pen Ultra) and goes on sale May 14, positioning it between the Pixel 10 Pro Fold ($1,800) and Galaxy Z Fold 7 ($2,000). It’s thinner and lighter than rivals but carries IP48/IP49 dust resistance. A 6,000mAh silicon-carbon battery could offer standout endurance, though the high price raises questions about value in today’s economy.