News

The EU has published a database of smartphone battery lifeIt suggests Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Ultra offers excellent battery longevityThere are plenty of other interesting revelations found in the dataIf you’re looking for the phone with the best battery life overs its lifetime, the European Union (EU) has just made your job a little easier. That’s because it has published a database of battery ratings (via Android Authority) for a huge number of the best smartphones, and there are some fascinating revelations buried within.Searching through the EU’s new European Product Registry for Energy Labelling database isn’t particularly straightforward – you need a phone’s model identifier number rather than just typing in something like “Google Pixel 9a” – but once you’ve got that, you can get info on battery life, ingress protection, drop resistance, and more.That makes it a useful way to put phones up against each other and see which has an advantage. For instance, in the eternal battle between Samsung and Apple, we’ve compared the battery ratings of the flagship iPhone 16 Pro Max and the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra. Here, something interesting emerges: the S25 Ultra is rated for twice as many battery charge cycles as the iPhone.Specifically, the EU reckons the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra is rated for 2,000 charge cycles, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro Max sits at 1,000 cycles. That would appear to give Samsung a significant win in the battery department, on paper.However, it’s not quite as clear cut as that. The S25 Ultra’s “battery endurance per cycle” rating sits at a hair under 45 hours, which the EU says means “how long a smartphone's battery lasts from a full charge to when it needs to be recharged again.”For the iPhone 16 Pro Max, its battery endurance per cycle is higher at 48 hours. So, the iPhone might last a little longer per charge, but the S25 Ultra is rated for more charge cycles in total.Comparing the best smartphones(Image credit: Shutterstock)What about the charge cycles of other popular phones? We’ve found the database entries for the top devices in our list of the best smartphones and entered them into the chart above for easy comparison.Looking at the data, it’s clear that the OnePlus 13 offers by far the longest charge per cycle at 61 hours and 36 minutes. The iPhone 16 Pro, meanwhile, is bottom of the pack at 37 hours. But both phones are rated for 1,000 charge cycles.The total number of charge cycles isn't an estimate of how many a phone's battery can take before it dies, but rather the number of complete charges until you start to see degradation in its performance. So the figures above aren't necessarily an estimate of a phone's overall life cycle.How do we know how reliable all of this is? The information is almost certainly self-reported, which – you would think – could lead to dodgy scenarios and an incentive to fudge the numbers. There might be some reliability, though, as the EU has set out regulations on how battery endurance should be measured. Providing those are being adhered to, we can put a little trust in the numbers, although we can’t be 100% certain.Besides needing to take these figures with a healthy degree of skepticism, there’s also much more that goes into deciding which phone to buy than just looking at its battery capabilities. You need to consider its chip, cameras, software, durability, and much more. But if you prize battery life over a phone's lifetime above all else, the EU’s database could be a helpful resource indeed.You might also likeThe best phone 2025: we've tested and ranked the top phones you can buy in the USSamsung Galaxy S25 Ultra review: the ultimate AndroidApple iPhone 16 Pro Max review: a beautiful, intelligent beast

The Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra could be far slimmer than the iPhone 17 Pro MaxHowever, not all sources agree on how thick Samsung's phone will beSamsung's upcoming flagship might also have more RAM than its predecessor, among other spec changesThe Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra and the iPhone 17 Pro Max are arguably two of the most highly anticipated upcoming phone releases, but while they’re both sure to excel in most areas, the Galaxy S26 Ultra may have the edge in at least one way.According to @UniverseIce – a leaker with a good track record – the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will be under 8mm thick, while the iPhone 17 Pro Max will be 8.76mm thick.We’ve heard roughly that thickness for the iPhone 17 Pro Max before, with another source saying it will be 8.75mm thick, but this is the first we’re hearing of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra’s thickness.The designs of iPhone16 Pro max and Galaxy S25 Ultra are the closest at the moment, and their length, width and thickness are basically the same.However, iPhone17 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra will be the beginning of two completely different designs. The thickness of iPhone 17…July 6, 2025If this latest leak is correct then the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra will be significantly slimmer than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, and – as the source points out – this could also be a sign of diverging design philosophies for these two brands, as while the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra and iPhone 16 Pro Max are almost identically thick, at 8.2mm and 8.3mm respectively. This change would see Samsung slimming down its flagship, while Apple goes in the opposite direction.This source also claims that the weight difference between these phones will be even greater, though they don't specify how much each handset will weigh.However, while the source of this leak has a good track record, we would take it with a pinch of salt, especially as another Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra specs leak suggests the phone will instead be 8.1mm thick.This comes from leaker @PandaFlashPro (via NotebookCheck), and while they don’t have quite as much of a track record to go on as @UniverseIce, they have correctly leaked Samsung information in the past.A new chipset and more RAMThis isn’t the only Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra detail @PandaFlashPro leaked, as they also claim it will have a Snapdragon 8 Elite 2 chipset, and a similar 6.9-inch screen to the current model, just with different (presumably smaller) bezels.Additionally, they state that the number and layout of camera lenses will remain the same, just without the large camera rings found on the S25 Ultra, and that there will once again be a 200MP main camera, but that this will be packing a new lens.There will also apparently once again be a 50MP ultra-wide camera, a 50MP 5x telephoto, and a 3x telephoto lens that may or may not have a new sensor.In the case of the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra the 3x telephoto has a 10MP sensor, but supposedly the company hasn’t decided whether to replace this or not. The front-facing camera though will apparently be improved, with new features like 4K 120fps slow-motion video recording.@PandaFlashPro also claims that storage will remain unchanged, with 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB configurations set to be offered, and all of these are said to come with 16GB of RAM, while in the case of the Galaxy S25 Ultra they come with 12GB.Other listed specs include a 20% larger vapor chamber, and the return of a 5,000mAh battery with 45W wired charging. As with the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra it’s also said to support Qi2 magnetic wireless charging – but only with the addition of a magnetic case.But with the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra not likely to land until early next year, we’d take all of this with a pinch of salt, as it’s still very early for leaks and rumors. Before that though, we're expecting the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7, both of which will probably land on July 9.You might also likeHow to watch Samsung Galaxy Unpacked on July 9: get ready for new foldable phones and moreThe Samsung Galaxy S26 series could have Perplexity AI baked inThe Samsung Galaxy S26 could get a much-needed new camera

Oracle will offer the US government 75% off certain software packagesIt will also offer "substantial" cloud service discountsThe company has close ties with the governmentOracle is reportedly offering the US federal government a huge 75% discount on license-based software and further "substantial" discounts on cloud services until November.The news, reported by Wall Street Journal, follows several weeks of discounts by tech giants trying to win big government bids, in response to cost-cutting efforts driving by the Musk-founded Department of Government Efficiency.However, this marks the first deal to offer a government-wide discount on cloud infrastructure, including data storage, computing and networking, according to the report.Oracle discounts to the US governmentAs part of the cost-cutting initiative, the General Services Administration aims to use government-wide purchasing power to negotiate better tech deals, removing siloes and cutting out middlemen to drive the biggest savings.Salesforce has already offered the US government a staggering 90% discount on Slack, while Google and Adobe also form part of a growing list of tech companies dropping prices.Besides reducing costs, the US government is also undergoing a pretty big transformation to modernize outdated IT systems.With the US government already working closely with Oracle, the 75% software discount and further cloud discounts could secure a large chunk of revenue for the Texas-based tech giant. It recently launched a new program to help smaller vendors sell to the Defense Department, and is also a major partner for OpenAI's Project Stargate which aims to expand AI infrastructure across the US.Oracle CEO Safra Catz explained: "We remain steadfast in our commitment to the US government and are thrilled to work with the GSA to help every department and agency modernize their technology and gain the benefits of Oracle Cloud and AI."Federal Acquisition Service Commissioner Josh Gruenbaum welcomed the discounts, adding that transparency around tech acquisition could tackle "waste, fraud and cost takeout."You might also likeSave costs with the best free office softwareNeed a more modern solution? These are the best productivity toolsOracle signs a mystery huge cloud contract - one which could net it $30bn in revenue

The best Netflix movies often get a sequel, but that’s not gone down too well for 2020’s The Old Guard. Its sequel is part of everything coming to Netflix in July 2025, but after arriving on the platform last week, critics and fans alike have given the superhero action film a big thumbs down.If you’re not familiar with the plot, Charlize Theron plays Andy, who leads a group of immortal mercenaries that are able to heal themselves. In the sequel movie, they face off against a new enemy in the name of protecting humanity, all the while dealing with a long-lost immortal’s return. Unfortunately, many have highlighted problems with the film, including an undeveloped script and a cheap overall look, which have been cited as reasons not to bother with The Old Guard 2. Still, the sequel has managed to make it into Netflix’s top 10 most-watched movies, and I think there’s an overlooked reason for why it should stay there.Why I recommend watching The Old Guard 2Spoilers follow for The Old Guard 2. Two words: Charlize Theron. More specifically, four words: Charlize Theron’s leading romance. Cut through the noise of reviews and enraged social media posts, and you’ll find a deserved appreciation for the will-they-won’t-they love at the movie’s centre. Andy has an unspoken connection with Quỳnh (Veronica Ngô), an immortal who used to be connected to The Old Guard. We met the pair during the first film, but the sequel brings fans ever-closer to a potential Andy-Quỳnh kiss.It doesn’t happen, but that’s almost not the point. The Old Guard 2 might not be hitting all the beats of a well-crafted film, but it’s playing this particular storyline to its advantage. By taking the time to develop what’s between them in the background, there will be a more satisfying payoff in the long run – and that means the increased possibility of The Old Guard 3.Even if that doesn’t happen – Andy and Quỳnh clearly only have eyes for each other even after 500 years alive. Netflix should be praised for exploring a different kind of vulnerability and representation .It’s not an outright LGBTQ+ film, but the new Netflix movie is giving us range in its love, and we can all get something from that.You might also likeI watch TV for a living and these are my top 3 Netflix shows that you should watch nowNetflix’s #1 movie is a K-pop demon hunting anime with 97% on Rotten Tomatoes that I can’t get out of my headNetflix will start streaming NASA content soon – and the results look out of this world

As a college student today, you'll need certain tech to get your work done — key among the bunch being a solid laptop for college. But there are other gadgets that can make your academic life easier, and in some cases, more fun. If you're looking to stay organized, produce better work and enjoy your down time on and off campus, picking up a few important devices before you start the next semester can make all the difference. We've collected some of the must-have gadgets for college that we've tested here, and we wouldn't be surprised if all of them stuck with you long after your four-year university run is over.

Best tech for college students

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/12-must-have-gadgets-for-college-students-in-2025-120044577.html?src=rss

Apple doesn’t want to fork over half a billion euros to the EU. The tech giant is officially appealing a €500 million ($587 million) fine brought by the European Commission in April, 9To5Mac reports. The Commission fined both Apple and Meta earlier this year for violating the Digital Markets Act through anti-competitive activities.

In Apple's case, the Commission found that the company stopped developers from providing customers with information about sales and offers outside of the App Store. The large fine for anti-steering policies reflected the "gravity and duration" of Apple's practices. In contrast, Meta received a €200 million ($235 million) fine.

Shockingly, Apple doesn't agree with its steep punishment. "Today we filed our appeal because we believe the European Commission’s decision — and their unprecedented fine — go far beyond what the law requires," a statement from Apple to 9To5Mac reads. "As our appeal will show, the EC is mandating how we run our store and forcing business terms which are confusing for developers and bad for users. We implemented this to avoid punitive daily fines and will share the facts with the Court."

The European Commission started its investigations into Apple and Meta in March 2024. Their subsequent fines were the first levied under the DMA. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/apple-appeals-the-eus-anti-steering-fine-120015154.html?src=rss

Windows 11 has finally overtaken Windows 10 for market share52% of those using Microsoft's desktop operating systems are now on Windows 11That's a hefty swing of almost 10% away from Windows 10At long last, Windows 11 is present on more PCs globally than Windows 10, at least according to one set of figures from an analytics firm.StatCounter provided fresh statistics for July which show that Windows 11 has accelerated to account for 52% of all Windows versions worldwide, leaving Windows 10 in its wake on 44.59%.That's quite a shift from the previous month where Windows 10 remained just in the lead on 48.76% with Windows 11 on 47.98%. So, Windows 11 was not far off a full percentage point behind in June, but is now in the lead by 7.4%, a swing of near 10%.Could this be the start of a mass exodus of Windows 10 stalwarts fleeing for the shores of Windows 11? Well, that can't be ruled out, and it's clear that time is running short when it comes to the looming deadline for the end of support for Windows 10, which is October 2025 - which is only three months away now.However, I'm not convinced that there will be a stampede of migrators, because while I've argued in the past that you should be making the upgrade to Windows 11 early - assuming you can (due to your PC's spec) - there's no longer quite the same sense of urgency in this matter.Why not? Let's go over that next.Analysis: Support and scrapheaps(Image credit: Microsoft)Something changed with Windows 10's extended support program for consumers recently, and it's worth recapping in case you missed it. Microsoft decided to offer an alternative to the $30 fee that was previously required to get an extra year of security updates for Windows 10 (through to October 2026).So, instead of stumping up that cash, you can now elect to have the Windows Backup app sync all your PC's settings to the cloud. If you allow that to happen - via signing in with a Microsoft Account - then you can get the extra year of all-important security updates at no cost. This gives you a lot more breathing space to work out what you might want to do next, which is great for those who can't upgrade to Windows 11 due to its loftier system requirements (or those who simply refuse).Of course, 'free' is not usually completely free, and the cost here, as it were, is allowing your settings to be synced. Due to this, some online commenters have accused Microsoft of almost a kind of 'blackmail' in terms of getting access to your data. However, I should note that the wording of Microsoft's offer is important here, and you're not syncing all your personal data to OneDrive or anything - all you have to sync are your Windows settings.And having those settings synced should help in the future, too, if you want to make the transition to Windows 11 (or the following version of Windows) at a later date on a new PC. Microsoft's hope, it seems, is this will make that transition easier, and so folks are therefore more likely to tread that path.I don't think there's any underlying motive from Microsoft here to get its claws into your personal data as some are suggesting, so in my book, this all seems fair enough. If you're not convinced, however, that's equally fair - you don't have to take Microsoft up on this option. You can pay instead (or redeem 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points, if you have them, which is another alternative), or just go ahead and switch from Windows 10 come its End of Life in October 2025.Whatever you do, don't stay on Windows 10 without security updates - never mind worrying about Microsoft's nose potentially being in your data, a hacker could really make your life a misery by compromising your PC due to an unpatched vulnerability because your system doesn't have security updates.Taking a broader perspective, I've half-convinced myself that Microsoft may even offer more than a year of additional support to consumers (in the same way it treats businesses).Mainly because this new Windows Backup-related offer has come in at the last minute, largely I suspect to assuage some of the fears of the 'towering scrapheap of Windows 10 PCs' activists who are (rightly) concerned about the environmental impact of Microsoft's Windows 11 system requirements. (Those that prevent a lot of would-be upgraders from moving to the newer OS, due to having an older CPU, or the lack of a specific security feature, TPM 2.0).And so I don't think it's unimaginable that Microsoft might offer a second year of extended support for consumers, and I very firmly believe the company should do so. We shall see, but for now, with an extra year of support on the table for free (effectively), there's no need to rush to abandon Windows 10 for many folks. Not unless your trust in Microsoft is particularly low, or you don't have a Microsoft account and don't want to sign up for one (to sync your settings).There are, of course, other options aside from Windows - the main one being a switch to Linux. Of course, in that case, you need to be prepared to leave Microsoft's ecosystem and put up with some of the limitations that one of the best Linux distros will come with (mainly around compatible software, particularly PC games).Meanwhile, we can expect further spikes in adoption for Windows 11 in the near future, although perhaps not to the same extent that some people might expect, given those extra choices Microsoft has just introduced.You might also like...No, Windows 11 PCs aren't 'up to 2.3x faster' than Windows 10 devices, as Microsoft suggests – here's why that's an outlandish claimmacOS Tahoe 26: here's everything you need to know about all the new featuresCan’t upgrade to Windows 11? This Linux project wants to save your old PC from the scrapheap when Windows 10 support ends

Here's a sweet Prime Day deal on one of our favorite streaming devices. You can get the Google TV Streamer for $84. (It typically retails for $100.) That's nearly an all-time low for the wedge-shaped gizmo.

The Google TV Streamer is Engadget's pick for the best all-in-one streaming device. It has a top-notch interface that makes it easy to organize your content. That holds even if your series and movies come from different sources.

Its upgraded processor and RAM make it quick and easy to switch between apps and load media. It supports 4K streaming. Its remote has an intuitive button placement and a programmable key. The device supports smart home controls via Matter and Thread.

In our review, Engadget's Amy Skorheim was impressed. "The Google TV Streamer is responsive and quick, packing the best streaming interface out there with smart home features that are useful and properly integrated," she wrote.

One of our only nitpicks was that it costs so much more than its Chromecast predecessor. Today's deal helps to ease that concern. Google also didn't bundle an HDMI cable with it. So, if you snag this deal, make sure you have an extra one on-hand.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/the-google-tv-streamer-4k-drops-to-84-for-prime-day-121026008.html?src=rss

Shark robot vacuums are on sale for Prime Day and there are some good deals to be had. For instance, the AI Ultra is on sale for just $280. This is 50 percent off, as the regular price is $550.

This model topped our list of the best robot vacuums, so it's the real deal. The AI Ultra boasts fantastic suction power and the bagless self-emptying base is incredibly handy. There's a simple mobile app that lets users control the vacuum when not at home. This app also displays home maps made by the vacuum that can be edited to create "no-go" zones.

The battery life is decent, at 120 minutes per charge. Like most modern robovacs, it'll head back to the power outlet on its own. During use, we found that the vacuum did a pretty good job at avoiding obstacles and managed to sidestep the many cat toys strewn across the floor.

The only caveat worth mentioning is that this particular model includes a debris canister that needs to be manually emptied every 30 days. There's a version with a larger canister that's also on sale. It's down to $298 from $600, which is also a discount of around 50 percent.

Many other Shark products are also on sale right now. This includes other robovacs, but also standard upright designs.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/get-up-to-50-percent-off-shark-robot-vacuums-with-these-prime-day-deals-170023662.html?src=rss

Amazon Prime Day deals are in full swing now and we're seeing record-low prices on a lot of our favorite gadgets. That even applies to some Apple devices, which do see regular discounts but it's not often they see all-time lows. Right now, the USB-C AirPods Max headphones are on sale for $450, which is $100 off their usual price and the best discount we've seen. They previously dropped this low during the Black Friday shopping season last year, and currently the discount applies to all colorways.

Apple finally refreshed the AirPods Max with a USB-C charging port and new colorways last fall. Earlier this year, the company updated the headphones with some new features, but only for the USB-C model. That version of the AirPods Max now supports lossless audio and ultra-low latency audio, though only in wired mode.

That update and the switch to USB-C charging are the only major changes Apple has made to the AirPods Max, which still otherwise use hardware from 2020. Even so, the headphones deliver high-quality audio with good active noise cancellation.

We gave the original version of the headphones a score of 84 in our review back in 2020. At the time, the lack of high-res music streaming was one of our main misgivings, but that has since been resolved. Another major negative for us was the price, though this offer mitigates that issue.This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/apples-usb-c-airpods-max-are-cheaper-than-ever-in-this-prime-day-deal-144105836.html?src=rss

We're just one sleep away from Amazon Prime Day but it might as well have started with all the amazing deals available now. Take, for instance, Apple accessories like the AirTag. Currently, you can get a four-pack of Apple AirTags for $67, down from $99.

The 31 percent discount brings the set to just $2 more than its record-low price. A single AirTag is typically $29, so you're getting four of them for not much more than a pair costs. Though, if you really want just one, a single AirTag is also on sale, down to $23 from $29 — a 21 percent discount.

Apple AirTags are our pick for best bluetooth tracker for iPhone users. They're quieter than some other options, but work well within the Find My network. You can also pick up one of the many great Apple AirTag accessories out there to make up for the lack of a key hole. This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/deals/prime-day-airtag-deals-include-a-four-pack-of-the-bluetooth-trackers-for-68-123500475.html?src=rss