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These 7 Favorite Apple Watch Tips Assist Me Every Day
These 7 Favorite Apple Watch Tips Assist Me Every Day

CNET

time03-06-2025

  • Health
  • CNET

These 7 Favorite Apple Watch Tips Assist Me Every Day

You know your Apple Watch is capable of doing a lot, whether that's tracking your health metrics or managing multiple timers when cooking dinner. But it's easy to treat it mostly as a timepiece, even though it always feels like there's more happening beneath the watch face that you're not fully using. That's why I've put together seven of my favorite Apple Watch tips, each of which I use nearly every day to save me time and trouble. See also: Did you think you were stuck with just the built-in watch faces? Learn how to expand the variety of timekeeping designs. And if you have an old Apple Watch in a drawer, see how to extend its utility. Swipe between watch faces (again) Until WatchOS 10.0, you could swipe from the left or right edge of the screen to switch active watch faces, a great way to quickly go from an elegant workday face to an exercise-focused one, for example. Apple removed that feature, likely because people were accidentally switching faces by brushing the edges of the screen. Swipe from the edge to switch between faces. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET However, the regular method involves more steps (touch and hold the face, swipe to change, tap to confirm) and people realized that the occasional surprise watch face change wasn't really so bad. Therefore, as of version 10.2, including the current WatchOS 11.2, you can turn the feature on by toggling a setting: Go to Settings > Clock and turn on Swipe to Switch Watch Face. Stay on top of your heart health with Vitals Wearing your Apple Watch while sleeping offers a trove of information -- and not just about how you slept last night. If you don the timepiece overnight, it tracks a number of health metrics. A new feature in WatchOS 11 gathers that data into the Vitals app that reports on the previous night's heart rate, respiration, body temperature (on recent models) and sleep duration. The Vitals app can also show data collected during the previous seven days -- tap the small calendar icon in the top-left corner. (If you own a watch model sold before Jan. 29, 2024, you'll also see a blood oxygen reading. On newer watches in the US, that feature is disabled due to an intellectual property infringement fight.) The Vitals app reports heart and health trends collected while you sleep. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET How is this helpful? The software builds a baseline of what's normal for you. When the values stray outside normal ranges, such as irregular heart or respiratory rates, the Vitals app reports them as atypical to alert you. It's not a medical diagnosis, but it can prompt you to get checked out and catch any troubles early. Make the Smart Stack work for you Bring up the Smart Stack using the crown or by swiping. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET The Smart Stack is a place to access quick information that might not fit into what Apple calls a "complication" (the things on the watch face other than the time itself, such as your Activity rings or the current outside temperature). When viewing the clock face, turn the digital crown clockwise or swipe from the bottom of the screen to view a series of tiles that show information such as the weather or suggested photo memories. This turns out to be a great spot for accessing features when you're using a minimal watch face that has no complications. Choose which Live Activities appear automatically The Smart Stack is also where Live Activities appear: If you order a food delivery, for example, the status of the order appears as a tile in the Smart Stack (and on the iPhone lock screen). And because it's a timely activity, the Smart Stack becomes the main view instead of the watch face. Live Activities like mobile orders appear in the Smart Stack. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Some people find that too intrusive. To disable it, on your watch open the Settings app, go to Smart Stack > Live Activities and turn off the Auto-Launch Live Activities option. You can also turn off Allow Live Activities in the same screen if you don't want them disrupting your watch experience. Apple's apps that use Live Activities are listed there if you want to configure the setting per app, such as making active timers appear but not media apps such as Music. For third-party apps, open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap Smart Stack and find the settings there. Add and pin favorite widgets in the Smart Stack When the Smart Stack first appeared, its usefulness seemed hit or miss. In WatchOS 11, Apple seems to have improved the algorithms that determine which widgets appear -- instead of it being an annoyance, I find it does a good job of showing me information in context. But you can also pin widgets that will show up every time you open the stack. For example, I use 10-minute timers for a range of things. Instead of opening the Timers app (via the App list or a complication), I added a single 10-minute timer to the Smart Stack. Here's how: View the Smart Stack by turning the Digital Crown or swiping from the bottom of the screen. Touch and hold the screen to enter the edit mode. Tap the + button and scroll to the app you want to include (Timers, in this example). Tap a tile to add it to the stack; for Timers, there's a Set Timer 10 minutes option. If you want it to appear higher or lower in the stack order, drag it up or down. Tap the checkmark button to accept the change. Add specific widgets to the Smart Stack. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET The widget appears in the stack, but it may get pushed down in favor of other widgets the watch thinks should have priority. In that case, you can pin it to the top of the list: While editing, tap the yellow Pin button. That moves it up, but Live Activities can still take precedence. Use the watch as a flashlight You've probably used the flashlight feature of your phone dozens of times, but did you know the Apple Watch can also be a flashlight? Instead of a dedicated LED (which phones also use as a camera flash), the watch's full screen becomes the light emitter. It's not as bright as the iPhone's, nor can you adjust the beam width, but it's perfectly adequate for moving around in the dark when you don't want to disturb someone sleeping. To activate the flashlight, press the side button to view Control Center and then tap the Flashlight button. That makes the entire screen white -- turn the Digital Crown to adjust the brightness. It even starts dimmed for a couple of seconds to give you a chance to direct the light away so it doesn't fry your eyes. Your Apple Watch can double as a hands-free flashlight. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET The flashlight also has two other modes: Swipe left to make the white screen flash on a regular cadence or swipe again to make the screen bright red. The flashing version can be especially helpful when you're walking or running at night to make yourself more visible to vehicles. Press the Digital Crown to turn off the Flashlight and return to the clock face. Pause your Exercise rings if you're traveling or ill Closing your exercise, movement and standing rings can be great motivation for being more active. Sometimes, though, your body has other plans. Until WatchOS 11, if you became ill or needed to be on a long-haul trip, any streak of closing those rings that you built up would be dashed. Now, the watch is more forgiving (and practical), letting you pause your rings without disrupting the streak. Open the Activity app and tap the Weekly Summary button in the top-left corner. Scroll all the way to the bottom (take a moment to admire your progress) and tap the Pause Rings button. You can choose to pause them for today, until next week or month, or set a custom number of days. Give yourself a break when needed and pause your exercise rings. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET When you're ready to get back into your activities, go to the same location and tap Resume Rings. Bypass the countdown to start a workout Many workouts start with a three-second countdown to prep you to be ready to go. That's fine and all, but usually when I'm doing an Outdoor Walk workout, for example, my feet are already on the move. Instead of losing those steps, tap the countdown once to bypass it and get right to the calorie burn. How to force-quit an app (and why you'd want to) Don't forget, the Apple Watch is a small computer on your wrist, and every computer will have glitches. Every once in a while, for instance, an app may freeze or behave erratically. On a Mac or iPhone, it's easy to force a recalcitrant app to quit and restart, but it's not as apparent on the Apple Watch. Here's how: Double-press the Digital Crown to bring up the list of recent apps. Scroll to the one you want to quit by turning the crown or dragging with your finger. Swipe left on the app until you see a large red X button. Tap the X button to force-quit the app. You can force-quit an app on the Apple Watch. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Keep in mind this is only for times when an app has actually crashed -- as on the iPhone, there's no benefit to manually quitting apps. These are some of my favorite Apple Watch tips, but of course there's a lot more to the popular smartwatch. Be sure to also check out which new health features are expected in the next models and Lexy Savvides' review of the Series 10.

When Siri Fails, Here's How I Find My Images in Apple Photos
When Siri Fails, Here's How I Find My Images in Apple Photos

CNET

time02-06-2025

  • General
  • CNET

When Siri Fails, Here's How I Find My Images in Apple Photos

When Apple demos Siri, it often highlights finding images in the Photos library -- a great example, since we all have tons of pictures and asking for what we want feels like the simplest approach. The problem? It just doesn't work reliably. For example, "Siri, show me pictures of Jeff Carlson" is a phrase that should work on my iPhone when I'm looking for a new profile picture or to see if I wore the same shirt at last year's family gathering. Instead, the Apple Intelligence assistant brings up a web search of other Jeff Carlsons, such as a star of the movie Slap Shot, the leader of a rock band and the late science fiction author. So much for smart AI photo management. The conundrum is that the Apple Photos app already knows who I am -- I've tagged photos of myself, and a text search for my name brings up exactly what I'm looking for. In fact, Apple Photos already uses AI extensively to find images and surface memories -- it's just not yet integrated into the broader Apple Intelligence framework. When you do want to locate photos that you know must be in your library somewhere, you don't need to haphazardly scroll through the thumbnails to find them. Here are some strategies for making smarter searches that'll save you time and trouble. It's all about the photo metadata When you search for a document on your computer, you typically type a word or phrase that you know appears in it; for example, I can quickly locate my tax information by searching for "2024 taxes" or "1099" in the MacOS Finder or Windows Explorer. However, an image is composed of colored pixels. The key to effective photo searches is having metadata -- information that lives inside the image file and describes what the image depicts. It used to be your job to tag each photo with keywords and descriptions to make it easier to find. In reality, few people actually go to the trouble of adding this information. Plus, in this mobile age, it's difficult to actually add it; the Photos app on the iPhone and iPad only includes a Caption field for writing descriptive text. But in this case, Photos is actually on your side, because it's doing a lot of that descriptive work for you in the background. The app uses machine learning to analyze each image and build its own internal database of what it discovers. So even if you've never thought about tagging your images, Photos is building metadata for you. This photo could include metadata such as harbor, bridge, ferry, skyline, water and city to describe its contents. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Strategy 1: Search for items, scenes or places in the photos There's no way to tell what information Photos comes up with for any given image, so the rule of thumb is to assume it's there -- or is at least close enough to narrow your search. For example, tap the Search button and type "flowers" in the Search field. As you type, the app displays an assortment of results: Photos you've favorited that contain flowers, images with any type of flower, images with the word "flowers" in it and so on. Tap one of the items in the pop-up menu that appears or tap the Search button to reveal everything it found. Searching for "flowers" (left) brings up all images that Photos thinks include flowers. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Similarly, the Photos app can make guesses about scenes and concepts, such as "spring" or "skiing" and serve up images that match those ideas. And if your images were captured by an iPhone or tagged with location data, the search will pick up names of cities, neighborhoods or some landmarks. Apple says the following metadata are detected when scanned: Date (month or year) Place (city or state) Business names (museums, for example) Category (beach or sunset, for example) Events (sports games or concerts, for example) A person identified in People & Pets Text (an email address or phone number, for example) Caption Strategy 2: Search for identified people The Photos app also uses machine learning to identify when people are in a photo. If you've identified them in the People & Pets category, you can type someone's name into the Search field to find all the photos in which they appear. Individuals you've identified in the People & Pets category (left) can be found by name using the Search field (right). Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET In fact, when you add multiple people to the search query, Photos narrows the results to photos in which all of the people are present. When you specify multiple names of people in the Search field, the results show only photos in which all of them appear. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Strategy 3: Search for text that appears in photos At one time, you'd pay a lot of money for software that could recognize text in a document and turn it into editable text. Now, the Photos app automatically scans all your photos looking for text that appears on signs, menus and other real-world sources. Any text you type in the Search field that matches what appears in photos will come up in the search. A search for "coffee" includes results in which that word appears in photos. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Strategy 4: Combine elements for more targeted searches You can see where this is all going. When you type multiple criteria into the Search field, you can narrow the number of results that appear and find your photos quicker. For example, searching for "Jeff L. Carlson in Italy in 2022" -- tapping each of those items in the pop-up menu that appears to denote that you're using the results it knows, highlighted in blue -- brings up images of me during a vacation that year. Combining search terms narrows the number of results. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Strategy 5: Add keywords in Photos for Mac for more specificity I know I said people don't tag their photos with keywords, but that doesn't mean it's not an effective method of organization. The Photos app on MacOS does include a Keywords field, though it's not obvious: Select a photo and choose Window > Info to view the floating Info panel, then type in the Keywords field. Separate terms with commas. Keywords transfer, but it can take some time due to the Photos sync process. In one example, an edit where I converted a photo to black and white synced, but it took many minutes before the keyword I added ("Grabthar") came up in a search. You can add keywords in the MacOS version of Photos and they will be recognized when searching in the iOS and iPadOS versions. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET What does "Some Results May Not Appear" mean? At the bottom of the search screen you may see an unobtrusive message: "Some Results May Not Appear." This is Apple's way of tamping expectations in case the photo you're looking for doesn't come up in a search. More specifically, it's there because of how Photos indexes your library. I mentioned earlier that Photos scans your images to find recognizable elements, perform people recognition and collect other metadata. According to Apple, that scanning only happens when your device is locked, charging and connected to Wi-Fi. There's no way to force it to update its database, which can be frustrating when you've recently imported a bunch of new photos but the people in them aren't yet recognized. With AI, there's always something to look forward to, I guess. For more on working with Apple Photos in iOS 18, don't miss how to use the new Clean Up tool to remove unwanted elements from your pictures. And if you're flummoxed by the new interface, learn how to pare the app down by hiding many of the collections and categories fighting for space.

iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 16: How Apple's Budget Phone Compares to the Baseline Model
iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 16: How Apple's Budget Phone Compares to the Baseline Model

CNET

time02-06-2025

  • Business
  • CNET

iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 16: How Apple's Budget Phone Compares to the Baseline Model

The $599 iPhone 16E is Apple's most affordable iPhone, and it shares many features with the $799 iPhone 16. But there are also some sacrifices you'll need to make for that $200 discount. While some core components like the A18 chip, iOS 18 and Apple Intelligence are the same for both devices, there are notable differences across the phones' cameras, designs and batteries. Best Memorial Day Deals CNET's team of shopping experts have explored thousands of deals on everything from mattresses and TVs to everyday essentials and outdoor fun so you can shop the best Memorial Day deals in one place. See now Here's how the more budget-friendly iPhone 16E compares to the baseline iPhone 16. Now Playing: iPhone 16E vs. iPhone 16: Spec Breakdown 05:44 Display and build The iPhone 16E is rated IP68 for water and dust resistance, just like the iPhone 16. Apple/CNET The iPhone 16E and iPhone 16 both have a 6.1-inch OLED display with a 60Hz refresh rate. The 16E has a peak brightness of 1,200 nits, while the 16 reaches 2,000 nits. A ceramic shield front and glass back are featured on each phone. The devices have an aluminum design and are about as heavy as each other, with the iPhone 16E weighing in at 167 grams and the iPhone 16 at 170 grams. Both phones also have an Action button, but only the iPhone 16 has a Camera Control button. The Dynamic Island feature is also limited to the pricier model. The devices each have an IP68 rating for dust and water resistance. Apple drops the home button on its new budget phone in favor of Face ID, just like the iPhone 16. Both devices also have a USB-C port, and neither has a headphone jack. The iPhone 16E comes in black and white, while the iPhone 16 comes in black, white, pink, teal and ultramarine. Battery and storage The iPhone 16E has Apple's C1 modem, which Apple says is the most efficient modem in an iPhone, and this should help lengthen battery life. Apple/Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Both the iPhone 16E and 16 come in 128GB, 256GB and 512GB options. Apple boasts that the 16E can get up to 26 hours of video playback and 21 hours of streamed video playback, while the 16 will last for up to 22 hours of video playback and 18 hours of streamed video playback. One of the reasons behind the cheaper iPhone's longer battery life is because it runs on Apple's very first 5G modem, called C1. The company says its C1 modem is the "most power-efficient modem ever in an iPhone" and as a result helps increase the phone's battery life. They each support 20-watt wired charging. The iPhone 16E supports 7.5W Qi wireless charging, while the iPhone 16 is capable of 15W Qi2 charging, as well as MagSafe wireless charging up to 25W with a 30W adapter or higher. Cameras at a glance The iPhone 16E is the only phone Apple sells with a single rear camera. Apple/Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET You'll find a 48-megapixel wide camera on both the iPhone 16E and iPhone 16, as well as a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera on the 16. To make up for its lower camera count, the 16E uses sensor cropping to get a 2x magnification for better zoomed-in shots (as does the iPhone 16). Both phones have a 12-megapixel front-facing camera. You can shoot 4K video at 60 frames per second on each device. On the iPhone 16, you can shoot 1080p spatial video, but only at 30 frames per second. Apple Intelligence for all The iPhone 16E has the same Apple Intelligence features as the iPhone 16. Apple One of the biggest upgrades to Apple's lower-priced iPhone is the inclusion of Apple Intelligence, which was previously confined to iPhone 15 Pro models and the iPhone 16 lineup. Now you can spend less and still get access to features like a smarter Siri, writing tools and the Clean Up tool in photos. This move signals Apple's eagerness to get its AI suite into more people's hands, and indicates that AI is now a core component of any iPhone, from the cheapest option to the most premium. Check out the spec chart below for more details on each phone.

I Can't Make It to the F1 Monaco Grand Prix, but Apple Maps Will Help Me Feel Like I'm There
I Can't Make It to the F1 Monaco Grand Prix, but Apple Maps Will Help Me Feel Like I'm There

CNET

time16-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • CNET

I Can't Make It to the F1 Monaco Grand Prix, but Apple Maps Will Help Me Feel Like I'm There

I won't get to experience the noise and heat of the real-life Formula One Monaco Grand Prix race in person on May 23-25, but following along at home will take on an added dimension due to a new Apple Maps update. Fueling interest in the legendary race and its upcoming F1 The Movie release, Apple has created a Detailed City Experience for the principality of Monte Carlo, Monaco, that features details surrounding the event. That includes more detailed 3D renderings of landmarks such as the Casino de Monte-Carlo and Hotel de Paris Monte-Carlo, with day and night-lit versions. More significantly, the race course itself is marked on the map in light red to give you an idea of how this storied race winds directly through the streets and buildings of Monte Carlo. In addition to the F1 race course, the Apple Maps renderings of Monaco now include far more visual detail. At left is the Casino de Monte-Carlo before the update; to its right are the new day and night versions. Screenshot by Jeff Carlson/CNET Following the template of other city experience upgrades, the Monaco map adds plenty of other details, from road markings to bike lanes. Temporary structures such as grandstands, turn markers and the finish line also appear. You can use Apple Maps to explore the area virtually by searching for several cars Apple's stashed throughout (hint: look on at least one yacht). And if you're attending the race in person in Monte Carlo, Apple Maps could be an invaluable tool for getting around, with real-time information such as road closures and footbridges. 3D views of Monaco during the F1 Grand Prix show the race route and updated architectural details, even at night. Apple "Whether fans are there in person or watching from afar, the beautifully designed Detailed City Experience and Monaco Grand Prix features give them an incredible view into Monaco, just in time for the race and the upcoming premiere of F1 The Movie," said Eddy Cue, Apple senior vice president of services. Not yet up to speed on Formula One racing? Be sure to check out our F1 101.

Act Fast to Get This Limited-Time Deal on the Best Portable iPhone Charger I've Found
Act Fast to Get This Limited-Time Deal on the Best Portable iPhone Charger I've Found

CNET

time14-05-2025

  • CNET

Act Fast to Get This Limited-Time Deal on the Best Portable iPhone Charger I've Found

Like most people living in the modern world, I use my phone for just about every aspect of life -- from staying in touch with work, family and friends to getting driving directions, news and weather updates. And like most people, I also live in fear that my iPhone's battery will die on me right when I need it most. Fortunately, I bought a handy magnetic charger that is so portable and practical that I can take it everywhere I go, and now my dead-battery fears are a thing of the past. The Anker 622 MagGo is a small slab of battery with a few features that make it an ideal on-the-go accessory. Right now, Amazon has a limited-time deal going on that means you can get one for as much as 33% off, bringing the price down to $32. The charger comes in a variety of colors, with Interstellar Gray being the cheapest at the moment and all other colors running $34. For me, it's more about power than color, but if you want to snap up a battery pack that complements your phone, you can choose from Buds Green, Dolomite White, Lilac Purple and Misty Blue. Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money. The Anker 622 MagGo is small enough to go anywhere a charge is needed. Jeff Carlson/CNET Here's why I've stuck with this little charger for so long Have you seen people walk around with a loop of cable hanging from their pocket to their phone? I've been there and hooked that loop on too many chairs and table corners. Never again. The ring of magnets in the Anker 622 MagGo aligns with the MagSafe magnets in every iPhone since the iPhone 12, latching securely and charging without wires. (The notable exception is the iPhone 16E, which does not offer MagSafe but does charge wirelessly using Qi technology. The Anker 622 MagGo will charge the iPhone 16E, but won't latch to it magnetically.) It's also compact -- a little backpack feeding power to the phone while you're holding it or have it stashed in a pocket, even a jeans pocket if your fit isn't too tight. Those features alone would have convinced me, but the Anker 622 also includes a fold-out back flap that props up my iPhone and can also hold the phone in its wide orientation for StandBy mode. With a power adapter such as the Anker Nano Pro (not included) and a charging cable, I've taught long classes with the phone angled to help me keep track of the time without checking my watch. Essential Anker 622 MagGo specs Here's what you need to know. Battery capacity: 5,000 milliamp hours 5,000 milliamp hours Voltage: 1.55 volts 1.55 volts Output: 7.5-watt Magnetic (compatible with MagSafe-equipped devices, iPhone 12 and later) or 20-watt USB-C port. Can charge only one device at a time. 7.5-watt Magnetic (compatible with MagSafe-equipped devices, iPhone 12 and later) or 20-watt USB-C port. Can charge only one device at a time. Input: The same single USB-C is also how you recharge the device. The same single USB-C is also how you recharge the device. Size: 4.13-inch by 2.61 inches by 0.5 inch 4.13-inch by 2.61 inches by 0.5 inch Weight: 5 ounces 5 ounces Included: Magnetic battery, 60cm (23.6 inches) USB-C to USB-C cable Magnetic battery, 60cm (23.6 inches) USB-C to USB-C cable Warranty: 24 months Jeff Carlson/CNET MagSafe-compatible charging I've owned several battery chargers, and each one has some sort of compromise. They're bulky. They require a cable. They charge wirelessly but don't include a magnet to keep the phone in place, so it's hard to maintain that connection. There's always something. The Anker 622 is half an inch thick and snaps onto the back of my iPhone using the MagSafe-aligned magnets. I don't have to turn it on to start charging -- power flows as soon as the connection is made. Now, this isn't the highest-capacity (5,000 mAh) or fastest portable charger. That's fine. What I usually need is a way to eke out a few more hours of battery life on my iPhone. I can typically get a full top-off of my iPhone 15 Pro. The Anker 622 MagGo is smaller than an iPhone 15 Pro. Jeff Carlson/CNET Making a stand The other appealing feature of the Anker 622 MagGo for me is its built-in stand. Honestly, it doesn't look like it should work well: It's a fabric-covered set of plastic pieces that lie flush against the case, folds in two places and attaches to the back of the unit with a magnetic strip when extended. Yet I've had no problems with the stability of my iPhone 15 Pro or even the larger iPhone 15 Pro Max size. The stand on the Anker 622 MagGo slides down and adheres with a magnetic strip. Jeff Carlson/CNET This also lets me use standby mode by turning the iPhone to landscape orientation (the magnets are strong enough to hold the phone in place) when it's on a table or desk. Flip the iPhone horizontally to take advantage of StandBy mode while charging. Jeff Carlson/CNET Smart port placement matters The charger gets its juice from a single USB-C port, which is positioned on the edge of the case, not the bottom. That means you can replenish it while the stand is open -- many chargers' ports are stuck on the bottom. Having the USB-C port on the side keeps it accessible even when in its stand configuration. Jeff Carlson/CNET That USB-C port also acts as a charger for other devices when you plug in a cable, such as when your Apple Watch needs a boost. Charge other devices, such as an Apple Watch, from the Anker 622's USB-C port. Jeff Carlson/CNET How the Anker 622 MagGo compares to similar power banks Before getting the Anker 622 MagGo, I carried an Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless, which doubles the battery capacity, includes a USB-A port and charges wirelessly but without magnets to hold the phone in place. That meant if I didn't use a cable, the phone and charger needed to be stable and level; too often I'd find the iPhone slid off its wireless perch and not charged. It's also larger and heavier. I still use it, but it's the power bank that goes into my carry-on suitcase as a backup charger. The Anker 622 MagGo is much smaller and lighter than my old reliable Anker PowerCore III 10K Wireless, which is now a solid backup. Jeff Carlson/CNET Since I've owned this Anker 622 MagGo, the company has released a few updated models. The $55 Anker 633 (currently on sale for $45) packs 10,000 mAh into a slightly thicker brick, includes a USB-A port in addition to USB-C and has a metal kickstand for resting the phone upright. You can also consider getting the chunkier Anker MagGo Power Bank that delivers 10,000 mAh and follows the same idea of compact magnetic charging and a convenient kickstand. Its main appeals are faster 15-watt magnetic charging and Qi2 compatibility, plus a small display on the side that reports the battery capacity and an estimate of the remaining battery in hours. For more smart buys, check out this amazing multitool and a portable TV that can go anywhere. And if you happen to be gift shopping, check out our roundup of the best gifts for grads and the best tech gifts for anyone, anytime of year.

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