1. iPHONE 13 PRO
This year’s Apple fall preview featured two new iPhones, a revamped iPad mini, and the ninth version of its classic iPad, but no watch; that will be later this fall. The new iPhone 13 Pro has a faster chip, an improved screen, better battery life, and what Apple says is the biggest upgrade ever of its three cameras. The 6-core A15 Bionic chip is the fastest in a smartphone, and there’s a 5-core GPU and 16-core Neural Engine. The Super Retina XDR display (6.1" 2,532 x 1,170 pixels and Max 6.7" 2,778 x 1,284 pixels) is 25% brighter outdoors, and for gaming, the refresh rates adjust up to 120 times per second. This ProMotion constant adjustment saves power and adds to battery life that now can provide up to 28 hours of video playback. Available memory storage ranges from 128GB up to 1TB. Three lenses provide telephoto, ultrawide, and wide cameras, and for the first time a macro camera that will focus as close as two centimeters—less than an inch away—for stills and video. True Depth allows depth-of-field adjustments, even at the editing stage. The 13 Pro is available in silver, gold, graphite, and sierra blue. www.apple.com
2. iPAD 10.2
The basic 10.2" iPad is now in its ninth generation. It has a new A13 Bionic chip that provides 20% faster GPU and Neural Engine performance—six times faster than the best-selling Android tablet. The iPadOS 15 supports multitasking, app switching, new widgets, and an App Library. The front-facing camera is a 12MP ultrawide lens with a 122° field of view and Center Stage’s ability to detect people and follow them as they move around or are joined by others. True Tone adjusts the display to the color temperature of the room. Battery life is up to 10 hours, and the basic storage has been increased, ranging from 64GB up to 256GB. Starting at $329, the new iPad 10.2 supports Smart Keyboard and Apple Pencil and is the most affordable and popular iPad. www.apple.com
3. iPAD MINI
The biggest upgrade ever for the iPad mini has been a long time coming. The new sixth-generation mini has a completely redesigned body; it’s available in four colors—purple, pink, starlight, and space gray—and the Liquid Retina display has been increased to 8.3" in the same size body. The display features True Tone automatic temperature adjustment, improved antireflective coating, and 500 nits of brightness. Touch ID fingerprint recognition is now triggered in the top button of the case. The speed has been increased with a 40% boost for CPU and 80% increase for GPU performance. A new USB-C port provides connections with faster data transfers and 5G. The new 12MP front camera has Center Stage, and there’s a new speaker system and support for the 2nd generation Apple Pencil. www.apple.com
4. MOPHIE UV SANITIZER AND CHARGER
Your phone regularly picks up all sorts of pathogens, so sanitizing makes sense. The mophie sanitizer uses UV-C light that kills up to 99.9% of staph and E. coli surface bacteria without chemicals or heat. The device is designed for smartphones but can also be used to sanitize your keys, credit cards, and earbuds. A charger is included in the lid that provides up to 10W of charging power for any Qi-enabled device, and you can charge one phone while another smartphone or item is sanitized inside the case. The 8.05" x 4.97" x 1.69" case can accommodate most smartphone sizes, and a complete cleaning cycle takes only five minutes. www.zagg.com
November 2021
