The Backbone One has become a favorite mobile gaming controller for iPhone, Android and PlayStation over the last few years. Now, Backbone has announced that its beloved $100 controller (yes, even the Android-specific version!) will be compatible with the upcoming iPhone 15.

The good news is that playing with an iPhone 15 doesn't require buying a new controller. Anyone with a Backbone USB-C product needs to have the company's app downloaded to receive the automatic update adding its "patent-pending universal technology." This should then make all USB-C Backbone One controllers — including the PlayStation Edition — compatible with Android devices and the iPhone 15. All new USB-C Backbone One controllers purchased should also work across the devices.

The announcement comes on the same day as Apple's iPhone 15 launch, which has been largely anticipated (and seemingly confirmed by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman) to have USB-C compatibility — finally replacing the longstanding lightning port. This shift is the critical factor in allowing this Backbone One crossover to occur, but it isn't a change Apple necessarily wanted. The European Union is mandating that any new phones, portable speakers, tablets and many related devices sold in the region must have a USB-C charging port by the end of 2024. The bloc's rationale is that the regulation will reduce e-waste, though lightning port users might first have to buy a new charger.

The iPhone 15 Pro is getting a performance boost thanks to a new chipset. That's not too much of a surprise since Apple upgrades its phones' components every year. One thing we didn't expect, however, is the games that the A17 Pro will be able to support. 

Apple said during its iPhone event that Resident Evil Village, this year's Resident Evil 4 remake, Death Stranding and the upcoming Assassin's Creed Mirage are all coming to its mobile devices soon. As Apple notes, this will be the first time that a console-level Assassin's Creed game will be available natively on iPhone. Expect to see Mirage on iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max in the first half of next year. The other three games will be available on the devices by the end of 2023.

Apple seems to be making a bit more of a push into games lately, after bringingRE Village and No Man's Sky to Mac last year, followed by Death Stranding. Whether folks will be willing to play (or pay full price for) major titles like these on iPhone is a different matter. The fact Apple is getting major publishers like Capcom and Ubisoft onboard for its gaming endeavors is certainly notable, though, especially as we look toward the debut of the Apple Vision Pro.

Follow all of the news live from Apple's 'Wonderlust' event right here.

September typically brings crisper weather and new iPhones, and this year is no different. Apple unveiled the new iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Pro today, and as rumors suggested, the company has finally done away with its storied Lightning port in favor of a USB-C connector. While iPhone 15 models now support the Dynamic Island and come in fun colors, the iPhone 15 Pro handsets sport titanium designs and the new A17 Pro processor. Apple also revealed the latest models of its wearable, the Apple Watch and the Apple Watch Ultra, both of which sport an upgraded chipset for better performance. Here's everything you need to know about how to pre-order the new iPhone 15 and 15 Pro, along with everything else Apple announced today.

Apple iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus

The latest iteration of the iPhone looks much the same as the previous model, with the biggest difference being the new USB-C charging port on its bottom edge that replaces the age-old Lightning port. The USB-C ports support charging and data transfer, and practically, they allow users to power up most of their Apple devices — think MacBooks, iPads and now iPhone — using the same cable.

Another new feature for the base iPhones is Dynamic Island, which was previous only available on the Pro handsets. The floating black-pill section at the top of the iPhones' displays hides the front-facing camera and the FaceID sensor, while also showing things like alerts and animations unique to apps you're using.

Both the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus have the same screen sizes as their predecessors: 6.1-inch and 6.7-inches, respectively, and they both have Super Retina XDR displays that can reach up to 2,000 nits of brightness. The revamped camera array includes a 48-megapixel main rear camera with a 12MP telephoto lens, plus a TrueDepth front camera. Both models run on Apple's A16 Bionic chipset, the same found in last year's iPhone 14 series, and will support an all-day battery life.

Apple iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max

As with the standard models, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max handsets eschew Lightning in favor of USB-C charging ports. But new for the Pro models only is a titanium design that makes both the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max much lighter than their predecessors. Apple claims it managed to shrink the overall dimensions of both handsets without affecting screen size; you'll find a 6.1-inch display on the iPhone 15 Pro and a 6.7-inch screen on the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

Another noticeable design change is the new Action button that replaces the side mute toggle switch. Apple essentially made it a more customizable tool on the iPhone, allowing users to pick the action they want associated with a button press. Muting the iPhone remains an option, but you can change it so a button press allow you to quick access to your phone's camera, flashlight, accessibility tools and more.

As far as cameras go, the iPhone 15 Pro models have a 48MP main camera with a larger sensor than that found on the standard iPhone 15 models, and it provides improved low-light performance and the ability to shoot higher resolution photos at different focal lengths. There's also a 12MP telephoto lens with 5x optical zoom capabilities, which is the most on any iPhone yet. The entire rear array can also capture spatial video, which Apple is billing as a perk for those who want to get the Vision Pro when it becomes available next year.

The iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max run on Apple's latest A17 Pro chipset, a new GPU and a dedicated USB controller that's not present on the standard models. The new GPU is noteworthy for its six-core design and hardware-accelerated ray-tracing capabilities, both of which should improve overall gaming experiences on the new iPhones.

Apple Watch Series 9

If you were expecting a lot of changes on the latest Apple Watch, you'll unfortunately be disappointed. The new Apple Watch Series 9 is almost identical to last year's version, but it runs on a new S9 SiP, which is the biggest chipset upgrade for Apple's wearable since 2020. It will provide a general performance boost and things like smoother watchOS 10 animations and quicker Siri request processing. The Series 9 also has a new four-core neural engine that should help process machine learning tasks more quickly, and enable new features like the Double Tap gesture. The Watch will also be able to ping your iPhone and help you find it with on-screen directions and haptic feedback (aka Precision Finding) thanks to the new, built-in ultra wideband chip.

Otherwise, the Series 9 will be available in the familiar sizes, 41mm and 45mm, and come in pink, starlight, silver, midnight and Product Red aluminum case colors.

Apple Watch Ultra 2

Similarly to the Series 9, the Apple Watch Ultra got an incremental update for 2023. The new model runs on the updated S9 SiP and features all of the perks of the Series 9, including on-device Siri command processing and Precision Finding for iPhone with the new, built-in ultra wideband chip. The externals are mostly the same, but Apple changed the display architecture here so the Ultra 2's screen can hit up to 3,000 nits of brightness. That should make it even easier to view watch faces, complications and more in direct sunlight.

Otherwise, the Ultra 2 is the same GPS + Cellular, 49mm wearable as it was last year, with the biggest screen on any Apple Watch and the longest battery life of any Apple wearable too.

Apple AirPods Pro with USB-C

Apple didn't spend much time talking about the newest version of its Pro earbuds, probably because the major upgrade here is USB-C. The new AirPods Pro have a charging case that now features a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port, following the iPhones as another Apple gadget to ditch Lightning entirely. On top of the new connector, the upgraded earbuds will have improved dust resistance and lossless audio with Apple Vision Pro.

Today at its annual fall iPhone event, Apple announced its next two flagship handsets in the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max. And while their overall design looks similar to last year's devices, there are a handful of interesting new features that could make them worthy upgrades. 

Starting with their displays, screen sizes are staying pat at 6.1 and 6.7 inches respectively while Apple's Dynamic Island is being used againto house the phone’s selfie cam and FaceID sensors. However, their bezels are noticeably thinner, resulting in a slightly larger screen-to-body ratio. On top of that, thanks to their new grade 5 titanium frames, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are the lightest Pro handsets Apple has ever made while also offering improved durability compared to the stainless steel chassis on the previous models. The company says the back glass on the iPhone 15 Pro is also easier to replace due to a new substructure. And on the side of the phone, there's also a new Action button that uses haptic feedback to give you more control over the device's settings and controls. 

As for performance, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will be powered by Apple’s latest 3nm A17 chip and a USB-C port that's faster than what you get on the standard model due to support for up to USB 3 speeds. Apple says its A17's GPU is 20 percent faster than before with even better power efficiency. And for the first time ever on an A-series chip, the A17 supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing.

Follow all of the news live from Apple's 'Wonderlust' event right here.

This story is still developing...

Apple has pulled the cover off the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus and, as expected, it’s mostly another iterative update — but with a few nice new features nonetheless. That said, the biggest change will undoubtedly impact lots of potential buyers, as Apple is saying goodbye to the Lightning port it introduced in 2012 with the iPhone 5. In its place, as expected, is USB-C.

As you'd expect, USB-C will carry power, audio and video, and a USB-C Apple Watch charger cable will let you power up your Watch via your iPhone's battery. 

Like last year, the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus include 6.1- and 6.7-inch displays, respectively. The big change this year is that the notch is gone, replaced by the so-called Dynamic Island that Apple first brought to the iPhone 14 Pro lineup last year. Almost everyone will likely appreciate a less obtrusive front camera cutout, though the notification utility of the Dynamic Island isn’t exactly the game-changer that Apple positioned it to be last year.

Another big change to the display this year is that it is brighter than ever before — the peak brightness in sunlight reaches 2,000 nits, while HDR video playback goes up to 1,600 nits.

The camera is getting some notable upgrades, as well. While there are still only two distinct camera lenses, the phone now has the same 48-megapixel sensor that Apple first introduced in last year's iPhone 14 Pro. It groups the pixels and makes a 24-megapixel output, but you can also crop in closer and use the middle 12 megapixels for a 2x telephoto option. Naturally, it still also has a wide-angle lens as well. There's also a new portrait mode that is enabled automatically when it sees you focusing on a person or pet.

Unsurprisingly, the iPhone 15 is using the A16 Bionic chip that Apple put in the iPhone 15 Pro last year. That’s not a big surprise, given that the A15 chip is now two years old — even though it’s still plenty powerful, it would have been surprising to see Apple try and stretch it for another year.

There's a new ultra-wideband chip in the iPhone 15, same as the one found in the Apple Watch Series 9. This makes it easier to find friends or devices when you're near them. You'll get an indicator showing you which direction to head and about how far away you are. Apple's existing SOS service is being extended to work with AAA roadside service, as well. 

Like Apple is doing with the Apple Watch, new iPhone cases will not use leather; instead they are using Apple's own FineWoven fabric. As usual, the iPhone 15 comes in five colors: Black, light blue, mint green, light yellow and pink. (These are my interpretations of these colors; I'm sure Apple will have their own names for them.) Pricing is unchanged from last year — the iPhone 15 will cost $799 and the 15 Plus will cost $899, both with 128GB of storage.

Follow all of the news live from Apple's 'Wonderlust' event right here.

Apple's watchOS 10 will officially be available on September 18, the company announced during its iPhone 15 launch event today. The update is simultaneously one of the biggest facelifts ever for watchOS, while also being a throwback to the original "Glances" feature from the original Apple Watch. Instead of focusing on individual apps, WatchOS 10 relies on widgets in every watch face — just turn the Digital Crown and you'll have quick access to things like timers, music, or a podcast episode that you're listening to. 

Given how confusing multitasking has been in watchOS for some time, it makes sense for Apple to reorient the platform around simple tasks, rather than have you flip through multiple app screens. (Maybe Apple just noticed that people really like using the Siri watch face, which offered a similar array of widgets.) 

As we saw during WWDC, watchOS 10 will come equipped with two new watch faces — a colorful view called Palette, and one featuring Woodstock and Snoopy — and includes a slew of other upgrades. You'll be able to add corner shortcuts to the Activity app, for one, while the Compass app will automatically log where you last had cellular connectivity (in case you need to backtrack for an emergency call).

watchOS 10 will be available on the Apple Watch Series 4 or later, and it also requires an iPhone XS running iOS 17. 

Follow all of the news live from Apple's 'Wonderlust' event right here.

Apple has spent a significant amount of its keynote today talking about its environmental bonafides, and part of that is the fact that it will no longer sell leather accessories, including things like iPhone cases and Apple Watch bands. The company noted that while leather is popular for things like watch straps, it has a serious impact on the environment, particularly at Apple's scale. 

Instead, Apple is introducing a new product called FineWoven that'll replace its leather straps. Visually, they do look quite similar to the leather bands it used to sell — the leather loop and "modern buckle" styles will still be available, just in this new FineWoven material. We haven't gotten to the iPhone yet, but presumably we'll hear about FineWoven cases for that device as well. 

Apple has long had a partnership for the Apple Watch with Hermès, a company known for high-end fashion products including a wide variety of leather products. The collaboration will continue, but Hermès straps won't be leather going forward either. It looks like they'll be made of custom Hermès canvas, rubber and other textiles. 

Developing...

Follow all of the news live from Apple's 'Wonderlust' event right here.

Once again, we're at Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park, waiting for the company to unveil new hardware. But unlike WWDC earlier this year, there is much less hype over what we expect to see. Instead of a mixed reality headset that was a first for the company, this time we're most likely getting new iPhones and Apple Watches — things that Tim Cook and friends have spent so many years refining it's hard to imagine them looking drastically different. 

Still, iPhones are the most popular phones around, and we might still be treated to surprise announcements. Stick around as we bring you all the news straight from Apple Park. The keynote begins at 1pm ET (or 10am PT), and we'll begin liveblogging about an hour before that, so come through with your favorite snacks and beverages!

Anker makes some of the best charging products out there, but the extra quality comes at a price. If you've been waiting for a sale, you can now grab a number of Anker chargers and other smartphone accessories at Amazon with discounts of up to 50 percent. Some of the key items include the Anker 621 MagGo magnetic charger ($30 or 50 percent off), the 511 Nano 3 PIQ 3 charger at $17 in all colors, the 313 Power Bank 10,000 mAh portable charger and the MacBook Pro 100W charger ($27 or 30 percent off). 

The Anker 621 Magnetic Battery (MagGo) snaps right on to your iPhone 12/13/14, adding 5,000mAh of range. It's relatively thin at 12.8mm, attaches using a super-strong magnet and charges either wirelessly or via the USB-C port and included cable. It also doubles as a kickstand, letting you prop up your phone for video chats, movie watching and more. It's normally priced at $60, but you can now grab one for $30 for a savings of $30 (50 percent).

The Anker 313 Power Bank, meanwhile, comes with a 10,000 mAh battery app and PowerIQ charging tech to triple the battery life of your iPhone or Android smartphone, all in a relatively slim and light size. Anker's 511 30W Nano 3 charger is one of our favorite accessories for Apple Watches and it's down to $17 instead of the usual $23. It's compact, foldable and has built-in safeguards to protect against overheating — and it's even powerful enough to juice up an iPhone.

Finally, the company's 100W MacBook Pro charger is on sale for $27, or 30 percent — a particularly good deal if you compare it to Apple's own MacBook Pro chargers. It can charge up a 16-inch M1 MacBook Pro to 100 percent in just an hour and twenty minutes, while taking up a lot less space than the factory charger. The sale includes a number of other chargers, cables and other devices, but it's best to act soon before the sale ends. 

Follow @EngadgetDeals on Twitter and subscribe to the Engadget Deals newsletter for the latest tech deals and buying advice.

Apple’s annual iPhone event kicks off today, so if you can’t stand the company’s presentations or devices, you might want to disconnect this afternoon. But for anyone interested in what the most influential tech hardware company is doing, expect to seea new iPhone… obviously.

All the iPhone 15 models (except for perhaps a new SE) could shift from the notch to the Dynamic Island cutout, which debuted in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max. There were rumors of an iPhone Ultra, but we’re now expecting that next year.

Engadget

Rumors also suggest the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max could switch to titanium frames from stainless steel. This upgrade could make the new pro hardware “stronger, lighter and more premium,” according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. The Pro Max model could well get a camera upgrade to a new periscope lens, using a prism to fold light, leading to an optical zoom of 5x to 6x without making the phone beefier.

The company may phase out the Lightning port with the iPhone 15, making a long-awaited switch to USB-C and addressing European Union rules regarding unified charging ports. We may also see USB-C friendly AirPod cases too, if not entirely new AirPods.

Expect minor Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra updates too, with a shift to the S9 chip, marking the product’s first real processor upgrade since 2020. However, watchOS 10 — arguably the biggest software update so far for the wearable — should change how we use the Apple Watch.

We’ll be there in person, reporting and handling all the new hardware, and you can watch alongright here.

– Mat Smith

You can get these reports delivered daily direct to your inbox. Subscribe right here!​​

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Logitech’s newest webcam has a giant arm

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The Mercedes-Benz Concept CLA Class mixes big range with style

400-plus miles of range.

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The best e-readers for 2023

Kindles are no longer your only option.

E-readers combine the best of paper and computers, and while Amazon’s Kindle ecosystem dominates this market, there are some worthy competitors – especially useful if you have an aversion to Amazon’s stranglehold on books. Other companies, particularly Kobo, now make solid ebook readers that might be better for your needs. We tested out some of the best e-readers, and we have some surprising recommendations.

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Apple chips made in the US may still require assembly in Taiwan

The Information says TSMC can only package advanced chips in Taiwan.

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