Apple typically discontinues older iPhone Pro models at the same time as new generations arrive. However, third-party retailers can still sell the old Pro.
Amazon sells the Apple iPhone 15 Pro for 1,130 euros for a 256GB unit, 200 euros cheaper than the comparable 16 Pro model. The 2023 phones have smaller displays (6.1 inches vs. 6.3 inches), shorter telephoto lenses (77mm vs. 120mm), and lower-resolution ultra-wide cameras (12MP vs. 48MP). It’s otherwise pretty similar and supports Apple Intelligence.
You can buy the iPhone 16 Pro Max 256GB for 1,450 euros and the iPhone 15 Pro Max 256GB for 220 euros less. That might be a good thing, since older phones had smaller displays (6.7 inches vs. 6.9 inches), but 2024 phones are much larger. The telephoto camera is the same, leaving only the ultra-wide angle (12MP vs. 48MP). I also have to mention the new action buttons and camera controls on the 16 series. Older 15 Pro models only have a ring/silent slider.
Apple suddenly revamped the iPad mini. The previous model was three years old at this point and was not ready for the computational demands of AI. That’s the main difference: the iPad mini (2024) uses an Apple A17 Pro chip (than last year’s iPhone 15 Pro) and twice the RAM (8GB), so it can support Apple Intelligence. There are a few other changes, like doubling the base storage to 128GB and adding support for Wi-Fi 6e (up from the usual 6), but that’s about it. Still, there is basically no mini-flagship tablet, just the iPad mini on its own. Please note that iPad mini will ship starting Wednesday.
Alternatively, you can use one of the M-powered iPads. The Apple iPad Air 11 (2024) costs just 38 euros more than the mini, so it comes down to whether you want screen size or portability.
The larger iPad Air 13 (2024) seems to be less popular than its 11-inch sibling. Therefore, “bigger is better” has its limits. Note that while iPad mini has video output, it can only perform screen mirroring. Only M-powered iPads have Stage Manager.
Changing gears, next we’ll take a look at Samsung’s smartwatches. Samsung Watch Ultra is rated to have the longest battery life and the deepest diving (100 meters). Galaxy Watch7 has the same 1.5-inch display but is more stylish and compact. Both have electrocardiogram and blood pressure monitoring. Watch7 is no wimp. It is rated for 50 meters. Finally, the Samsung Watch FE is a cheap, small watch that also has ECG functionality (but no blood pressure monitoring) and is rated for 50 meters of water resistance.
Amazon has announced its first-ever color Kindle e-book reader. The Kindle Colorsoft Signature Edition features a 7-inch e-paper display with a pixel density of 300ppi when viewing black and white content and 150ppi when viewing color content. This is great for reading comic books (Comixology is natively supported) and highlighting text in different colors. However, it is not cheap at 290 euros.
If you want to stick to the good old black-on-white print, check out the new Kindle Paperwhite. Standard version (16GB) and signed version (32GB) are available. The Signature edition adds wireless charging and a light sensor that automatically adjusts the warm front light. Please note that Colorsoft is only available as Signature edition and has the same features. Paperwhite (including the vanilla version) and Colorsoft are waterproof (IPX8) and feature front lights with adjustable color temperature.
The regular Paperwhite is much cheaper than the Colorsoft, but it’s even cheaper with the new vanilla Kindle. The screen is smaller (6 inches vs. 7 inches) but just as sharp. Both panels have a pixel density of 300ppi and have improved contrast in this generation. The reason to buy a Paperwhite is because of its larger screen and IPX8 rating, but it’s up to you to decide whether they’re worth the extra 60 euros.
Amazon also upgraded Kindle Scribe. It focuses on reading documents and taking notes using a large 10.2-inch display (300ppi, black and white). We’re adding new AI features that can clean up your handwriting, convert it into digital text, and summarize it into bullet points.
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