2026-03-13 04:10:27
Apple's latest low-cost iPhone launched yesterday, and we picked up the iPhone 17e to see how it compares to the iPhone 16e that came before it, and how it measures up to the iPhone 17 lineup.
2026-03-13 02:00:09
Google today added Gemini AI to Google Maps, enabling a new Ask Maps feature. Gemini in maps can answer complex, real-world questions that Google says "a map could never answer before."
There is a new Ask Maps button where Google Maps users can get answers to specific questions like "is there a public tennis court with lights on that I can play at tonight?" Google says that finding information like that would have taken a lot of sifting through reviews in the past, but now Google Maps can provide an answer with a custom map.
The feature can be used for trip planning, and it is able to provide tailored responses based on prior searches or saved information in the app. Google Maps can build a trip itinerary using information from more than 300 million places, including reviews from the Google community.
Along with Ask Maps, Google also introduced Immersive Navigation, which Google says is the biggest update to driving in Google Maps in over a decade. There is a 3D view that displays buildings, overpasses, and terrain, and Google Maps will highlight important road details like lanes, crosswalks, traffic lights, and stop signs when providing directions.
Google says that the app will have a new spatial understanding of the route that it's providing, which is made possible with Gemini models. Gemini analyzes real-world imagery from Street View and aerial photos to provide new details.
The updated navigation provides a broader route view with more information about what's coming ahead, more details about tradeoffs with alternate routes, and route previews for planning parking and other actions.
Ask Maps is rolling out in the U.S. and India on iOS and Android, with the feature set to expand to the desktop version of Google Maps soon. Immersive Navigation is rolling out in the U.S. today, though not all users will see it at first. Google says availability will expand over the coming months to eligible iOS and Android devices, plus CarPlay and Android Auto.
2026-03-12 22:57:00
The iPhone 17e just joined the iPhone lineup. Apple continues to sell the iPhone 16 as an alternative low-cost option, and while the two devices share many core features, there are still more than 25 differences between them to be aware of.
Following the launch of the iPhone 17 lineup and the iPhone Air, Apple discontinued the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, and reduced the price of the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus by $100.
The iPhone 17e and iPhone 16 now represent the two least expensive iPhone models available directly from Apple, with just $100 between them. To justify this price gap, the iPhone 17e misses out on features such as the Dynamic Island, an Ultra Wide camera, and several newer connectivity technologies. However, it still offers strong performance thanks to the newer A19 chip, the same main rear camera, and long battery life. Here's everything that's different:
| iPhone 17e (2026) | iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus (2024) |
|---|---|
| "Notch" | Dynamic Island |
| 6.1-inch display | 6.1- or 6.7-inch display |
| 800 nits max brightness (typical) | 1,000 nits max brightness (typical) |
| 1,200 nits peak brightness (HDR) | 1,600 nits peak brightness (HDR) |
| 2,000 nits peak brightness (outdoor) | |
| 1 nit minimum brightness | |
| Glass back | Color-infused glass back |
| Available in White, Black, and Soft Pink | Available in White, Black, Ultramarine, Teal, and Pink |
| Camera Control | |
| 12-megapixel Ultra Wide camera | |
| 1x or 2x optical zoom options | 0.5x, 1x, or 2x optical zoom options |
| Optical image stabilization | Sensor-shift optical image stabilization |
| Photographic Styles | Latest-generation Photographic Styles |
| Macro photography | |
| Spatial photos and videos | |
| Cinematic mode for recording videos with shallow depth of field (up to 4K Dolby Vision at 30 fps) | |
| Action mode | |
| A19 chip (N3P) | A18 chip (N3E) |
| 4.26 GHz CPU clock speed | 4.04 GHz CPU clock speed |
| 68.2 GB/s memory bandwidth | 60 GB/s memory bandwidth |
| 4-core GPU with Neural Accelerators | 4-core GPU |
| Apple C1X modem | Qualcomm Snapdragon X75 modem |
| mmWave 5G connectivity | |
| Wi‑Fi 6 connectivity | Wi-Fi 7 connectivity |
| Thread connectivity | |
| Ultra Wideband chip for Precision Finding | |
| 26-hour battery life | 22 or 27-hour battery life |
| 256GB or 512GB storage |
iPhone 16: 128GB
iPhone 16 Plus: 128GB or 256GB |
| Starts at $599 | Starts at $699 |
2026-03-12 22:15:33
Samsung introduced the newest line of Galaxy products last month, including the S26 smartphones and Galaxy Buds4. Today, you can find a few discounts on some of these products, plus savings on Samsung's most popular monitors and TVs, with notable markdowns on products like The Frame TVs.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Samsung. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
2026-03-12 21:55:07
Apple is already on Instagram, where it primarily shares photos and videos for its Shot on iPhone campaign, but the company is expanding its horizons.
Apple today launched another Instagram account called Hello Apple (@helloapple), where it will share company news, stories, product marketing, and more. The account will showcase how Apple products inspire creativity and help to make a difference in everyday lives, and it will highlight work from Apple's creator community.
Apple said the account will occasionally provide behind-the-scenes peeks too, so fans will want to follow along to learn something new.
"Our stories, and yours," the account's bio says.
Apple has already started sharing some content, including a video that says "Hello" and a post that shares Apple CEO Tim Cook's new "50 Years of Thinking Different" letter. Apple turns 50 on April 1, and it plans to celebrate over the coming weeks.
2026-03-12 21:43:19
A teardown of the new MacBook Neo by Australian YouTube repair channel Tech Re-Nu reveals what may be the most modular and repair-friendly Mac laptop in recent times.
The Neo is shown being taken apart in just six minutes, suggesting Apple has prioritized simplicity across the board, using standard Torx screws (T3, T5, and T8) and a clean cable routing design.
To open the aluminum body, eight screws on the bottom are loosened, similar to the MacBook Air and MacBook Pro. Inside, a tiny motherboard sits, surrounded by a stripped-back internal layout with minimal parts and no hinge covers.
The battery is secured by 18 screws and lifts straight out – there are no stretch-release adhesive tabs, and no sticky glue holding it in place. In fact, the teardown encountered zero tape throughout the entire disassembly, which is a first for a modern Mac.
The two USB-C ports, speakers, and the headphone jack are all modular, so the individual components can be swapped without replacing larger assemblies. The speakers, for example, come out with just four screws each and no adhesive. Indeed, the only adhesive found in the machine was a small amount on the trackpad where a cable connects it to the mainboard.
Tech Re-Nu does not entirely disassemble the Neo, but we know it is possible to remove the keyboard for repair without replacing the entire top case – which is a huge boost for any repairability score. Taken together, it looks like the $599 MacBook Neo is a lot more repairable than some might have expected for an Apple laptop.
