Section

Apple Watch & AirPods

Apple Watch, watchOS and AirPods: new features, the faults owners report and Apple's fixes, repairability, and which model to buy.

← All articles

Abstract cover art for AirPods 5 and AirPods Pro 3

11 Oct 20264 min read

AirPods 5 or AirPods Pro 3: what the extra 100 dollars buys, and which AirPods 5 case to pick

AirPods 5 against AirPods Pro 3, from Apple's spec sheets: three times the noise cancellation, double the battery and health features for 100 dollars more.

Pinkesh Gajera

Abstract cover art for the new apps in watchOS 27

Apple Watch & AirPods

8 Oct 20263 min read

watchOS 27 replaces three Find My apps with one, and adds Siri and Readiness apps to Apple Watch

watchOS 27 merges Find Devices, Find Items and Find People into one Find My app, and adds a Siri app and, on the newest watches, Readiness.

Pinkesh Gajera

Abstract cover art for Apple Watch skin irritation reports

Apple Watch & AirPods

8 Oct 20263 min read

Some Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 owners report skin irritation under the sensor, MacRumors says

Owners on MacRumors' forums and Reddit describe burning and redness under the new watches' sensors. Apple has not commented. What Apple advises.

Pinkesh Gajera

Abstract cover art for the Apple Watch Series 12 review round-up

Apple Watch & AirPods

7 Oct 20264 min read

What reviewers found in the Apple Watch Series 12: accurate heart rate, a slow Readiness score and a one-day battery

Six reviews of the Apple Watch Series 12 agree its heart rate sensor is accurate and its battery unchanged. They split on charging speed and on upgrading.

Pinkesh Gajera

Abstract cover art for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 teardown

Apple Watch & AirPods

7 Oct 20264 min read

iFixit gives Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 a 4 out of 10, and says Watch repair falls short of ten states' laws

iFixit's teardown gives both new Apple Watches 4 out of 10. The Series 12 gains a battery pull tab; the Ultra 4 gains nothing. Then iFixit raises the law.

Pinkesh Gajera

Abstract cover art for AirPods Pro 3 and AirPods Pro 2

Apple Watch & AirPods

6 Oct 20263 min read

AirPods Pro 3 or AirPods Pro 2: what the upgrade gets you, and what you give up

AirPods Pro 3 against AirPods Pro 2, from Apple's own spec sheets: longer earbud battery, heart rate and IP57, but a smaller case total and no cable.

Pinkesh Gajera

Abstract cover art: a timeline motif on an ink background

Apple Watch & AirPods

3 Oct 20263 min read

Apple Watch Series 12 or keep your Series 9, 10 or 11: what each upgrade actually gets you

Apple's compare page shows Series 12 adds little over Series 11, more over Series 10, and the most over Series 9. What each step buys, and what it loses.

Pinkesh Gajera

Abstract cover art: a scale motif on a deep background

Apple Watch & AirPods

2 Oct 20263 min read

Apple Watch Readiness score explained: what it measures, and why only Series 12 and Ultra 4 get it

Readiness rates each day from 0 to 10 using sleep, vitals and training load. It needs seven nights of sleep data and a Series 12 or Ultra 4.

Pinkesh Gajera

Abstract cover art for a comparison of two Apple Watch models

Apple Watch & AirPods

1 Oct 20265 min read

Apple Watch SE 3 or Series 12: what the extra $150 buys, and what the SE 3 leaves out

The Apple Watch SE 3 starts at $249 and the Series 12 at $399. What the difference buys, from Apple's own specifications, and who should pick which.

Pinkesh Gajera

Abstract cover art: a wave motif on an ink background

Apple Watch & AirPods

1 Oct 20265 min read

Apple details Live Rewind and Siri Recap for Apple Watch, and gives Live Rewind the Digital Crown double-click

A new Apple support page sets out how Live Rewind and Siri Recap will work on Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, which iPhones they need, and who is excluded.

Pinkesh Gajera

Abstract cover art: a flow motif on a warm background

Apple Watch & AirPods

30 Sept 20264 min read

AirPods scored above zero for repairability for the first time in ten years

iFixit gave the AirPods 5 a repairability score of 2 out of 10 on 29 September, after giving every previous generation a zero.

Pinkesh Gajera

Abstract cover art: a shield motif on a deep background

Apple Watch & AirPods

25 Sept 20264 min read

watchOS 27.0.1 fixes unexpected restarts on Series 12 and Ultra 4

Apple has released watchOS 27.0.1 for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, fixing a bug that made the two newest models restart unexpectedly.

Pinkesh Gajera

Apple Watch & AirPodsApple Watch & AirPods

AirPods 5 or AirPods Pro 3: what the extra 100 dollars buys, and which AirPods 5 case to pick

watchOS 27 replaces three Find My apps with one, and adds Siri and Readiness apps to Apple Watch

Some Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 owners report skin irritation under the sensor, MacRumors says

What reviewers found in the Apple Watch Series 12: accurate heart rate, a slow Readiness score and a one-day battery

iFixit gives Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 a 4 out of 10, and says Watch repair falls short of ten states' laws

AirPods Pro 3 or AirPods Pro 2: what the upgrade gets you, and what you give up

Apple Watch Series 12 or keep your Series 9, 10 or 11: what each upgrade actually gets you

Apple Watch Readiness score explained: what it measures, and why only Series 12 and Ultra 4 get it

Apple Watch SE 3 or Series 12: what the extra $150 buys, and what the SE 3 leaves out

Apple details Live Rewind and Siri Recap for Apple Watch, and gives Live Rewind the Digital Crown double-click

AirPods scored above zero for repairability for the first time in ten years

watchOS 27.0.1 fixes unexpected restarts on Series 12 and Ultra 4

Apple Watch & AirPods