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Tom's Guide
2 days ago
- Health
- Tom's Guide
Apple Watch needs this sleep feature to compete with Garmin, Oura, and Whoop — but it might be coming soon
Since my son was born, I'm more obsessed than ever with tracking my sleep. Did I get the recommended 1.5-two hours of deep sleep needed, and how many times did I actually wake up? Most nights, I'll go to sleep wearing my Apple Watch 10 and my Oura Ring 4, because despite being one of the best fitness trackers on the market, the Apple Watch falls short of one sleep feature nearly every other tracker on the market has had for years — a sleep score. Apple has been able to expertly track your different sleep stages for years, as well as your total time in bed and total time asleep. That said, you do need to remember to put your watch into sleep mode before falling asleep, and ensure it's got enough charge to record your sleep all night. If you have the vitals app pinned to your Smart Stack, you can see a breakdown of your sleep each morning, but unlike Garmin, Oura, and Whoop, Apple doesn't give you an overall sleep score. However, according to rumors, we might not have long to wait. Writer Steve Moser uncovered a graphic named 'Watch Focus Score' from deep within the code of Apple's Health app (reported by MacRumors). This score shows an Apple Watch with the number 84 in it, surrounded by three bars that curve to form a circle. The colors of the bars are red, light blue, and purple, which correspond to the sleep stages shown in the Health app — red reflecting time awake, light blue showing REM sleep, and purple reflecting time spent in deep sleep. Few more notes:1) Some other versions of this graphic have a thermometer icon which says to me that this feature will be available on old and new Apple Watches.2) Maybe this is why the sleep icon is changing from light blue to purple.3) I imagine the watch face complication… 23, 2025 It's not clear whether this feature would be part of the watchOS 26 update coming this fall (although it's not available on the public beta), or a feature launched with the rumored Apple Watch 11. Why does every other brand use a sleep score? In simple terms, it helps you see quickly what those different stages mean. For example, last night, my Apple Watch 10 recorded my 7 hours and 34 minutes of sleep (my kid slept through the night for the first time ever, a fact worth celebrating), but my Oura ring 4 gave me a sleep score of 89, and told me that yes, this was outstanding compared to my typical range. Of course, I know I slept better than I have in the past 18 months since my son was born, but I appreciate seeing the quality of sleep in the form of a sleep efficiency number. With Oura, I can also see how my sleep score changes over time, and why my sleep score might be lower from one day to the next. It allows me to make healthier decisions, such as not doom-scrolling Instagram before trying to sleep, or drinking a glass of wine too close to bedtime. Garmin and Whoop also have similar sleep features. The best Garmin watches give you a score out of 100, which is then incorporated into the watch's daily readiness number, reflecting how ready you are for a hard workout. Whoop, on the other hand, gives you an overall sleep performance score, as well as a breakdown of different metrics, all of which have their score out of 100. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips. It's a metric Apple Watch users have been dreaming about for years, and hopefully one that'll roll out onto watches sooner rather than later. Follow Tom's Guide on Google News to get our up-to-date news, how-tos, and reviews in your feeds. Make sure to click the Follow button.
Khaleej Times
08-07-2025
- Khaleej Times
iOS 26 Beta hints at major Apple Maps upgrade with AI integration
Apple Maps is on track to become a lot more intuitive if the latest iOS 26 beta code discoveries are anything to go by. Shared by reliable tipster and developer Steve Moser, two new features are being teased behind the scenes of Apple's upcoming software: natural language search and smarter thermal management. Neither feature has been officially announced by Apple, but their presence in beta code suggests they're being tested ahead of a possible rollout later this year. 'Search the Way You Talk' The headline upgrade is a more natural and conversational search capability for Apple Maps. According to Moser, the feature allows users to type queries like: 'Best coffee shops with free Wi-Fi'—phrases that are less robotic and more how we actually speak. This is part of Apple's broader integration of its new AI initiative, Apple Intelligence, which has already improved search in other apps like Photos, Music, and TV. With Maps getting this upgrade, users can expect faster, more relevant results without having to string together perfect keywords. If the implementation mirrors what we've seen in other apps, this could significantly improve how users interact with Maps—especially in unfamiliar areas where nuanced recommendations matter. Keeping cool under pressure The second feature spotted in the code is a new thermal management tool aimed at preventing iPhones from overheating during turn-by-turn navigation. Currently, Apple Maps keeps the screen on at all times when navigating—a useful but battery-draining and heat-inducing behaviour. In hot environments (think: mounted on a car dashboard on a sunny Dubai afternoon while charging), this can lead to the phone getting uncomfortably warm or even temporarily throttling performance. The new feature will allow the screen to automatically turn off when necessary to help the iPhone cool down. While this may sound minor, it's a meaningful quality-of-life improvement, especially for frequent drivers or anyone using Maps in high-temperature settings. When can you expect these features? As of now, neither of the new additions is visible in the latest iOS 26 beta available to developers or public testers. However, reports suggest that the thermal management capability may already be quietly active in some devices, not just in iOS 26, but even in iOS 18. The natural language search functionality, on the other hand, appears to still be in the works and hasn't yet made its way into any build available to users. Whether both features land in time for the public iOS 26 release this fall, or get pushed to later updates like iOS 26.1 or 26.2—remains to be seen.
Phone Arena
02-07-2025
- Phone Arena
iOS 26 brings a new AirPods feature – and it's surprisingly thoughtful
iOS 26, currently in developer beta, is a big update with a new, attractive design and plenty of useful features. But alongside the big changes, there are also plenty of small quality-of-life features that may not sound like a big deal, but are actually there to make the experience with an Apple device even of these features is a new feature for AirPods and potentially Beats headphones. With iOS 26 , there's a new option called "Pause Media When Falling Asleep" and it's designed to turn off your earbuds when you're no longer awake. This is something I can't wait to use, as I fall asleep to podcasts every single night. The feature was mentioned during Apple's WWDC 2025 conference, but it was highlighted as an AirPods feature. However, code discovered by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser hints that the feature may also be available for Beats headphones. This option which pauses audio when you fall asleep will save your spot in an audiobook or podcast, thus eliminating the need to search around in the audio until you find a place you actually remember. But what's even cooler is that it can also preserve battery life by preventing your earbuds from staying on all night. The option is reportedly going to be on by default with iOS 26 . It will also be able to be enabled by connecting your headphones to your iPhone and then tapping on them in the Settings app. So far, the Cupertino tech giant has not explained how Beats or AirPods will detect the moment when you've fallen asleep. Image Credit – PhoneArena Apple Watches detect sleep by using the accelerometer and other sensors. AirPods also have accelerometers (this helps with features such as the music to stop playing when you take an AirPod out of your ear or detection when they're in your ears, and dynamic head tracking for spatial audio). Probably, Apple will use the accelerometer to detect that you've fallen asleep too. iOS 26 is required to use this feature, as well as the updated firmware that Apple is currently beta testing for AirPods. At the moment, iOS 26 is in beta testing with a public beta expected sometime this month. The stable release is expected for the fall, alongside the iPhone 17 series. I am personally hyped for this feature. As I mentioned, I listen to podcasts when falling asleep every night, and the hassle is knowing where to return on the next day in my podcast to continue listening. This feature will certainly be something I'll use daily. Secure your connection now at a bargain price! We may earn a commission if you make a purchase Check Out The Offer
Tom's Guide
12-06-2025
- Tom's Guide
AirPods Pro 3 revealed in iOS 26 beta code — here's what we know
A mention of the long-awaited Apple AirPods Pro 3 has been found in the code of the current iOS 26 developer beta. The code was discovered by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser, who found a reference to the AirPods Pro 3 buried in a headphone-related UI framework alongside mentions of the current AirPods Pro 2 and the AirPods Pro. While the code doesn't mention any specific features, it still indicates that Apple could be preparing for an upcoming launch. This isn't the first time that we've seen code lines that seemingly indicate that Apple is working on a new set of headphones. We recently saw Apple update a sentence in a software update that had previously stated, 'AirPods Pro 2nd Generation' to read 'AirPods Pro 2 or later.' As it stands, we don't have a lot of information on the possible features that the new AirPods Pro will have. However, there are a fair number of rumors, including the possibility of a heart rate monitor similar to the Beats Powerbeats Pro 2. We've also seen patents for a possible touch screen on the case of the AirPods that would let you control music and other features. We do however know that Apple is bringing users a couple of new additions for the current AirPods line in general. During WWDC, it was revealed that Apple is launching two big upgrades: improved, studio-quality sound for AirPods headphones and new remote camera controls for a connected iPhone. Apple's potential release of a new pair of AirPods Pro is certainly great news, considering we've been waiting since the original Lightning-ported AirPods Pro 2 launched in September 2022, with the only hardware update being the USB-C version that appeared in February of last year. But even with this code discovery seemingly confirming the AirPods Pro 3 are on their way, we could still be waiting until 2026 for an actual launch. All the new features coming as part of Apple's iOS 26 lineup make it look like a great time to invest in either the AirPods 4 or AirPods Max, or even the AirPods Pro 2 if you wanted. But we wouldn't blame you for holding out for AirPods Pro 3. Chances are they'll once again be among the best earbuds you can buy, especially for Apple users. Get instant access to breaking news, the hottest reviews, great deals and helpful tips.
TechCrunch
11-06-2025
- TechCrunch
AirPods Pro 3 could be on the way
In Brief Apple didn't unveil new hardware during Monday's WWDC 2025, but we could still be getting updated AirPods soon. According to Steve Moser of MacRumors, the code for the developer's beta of iOS 26 includes mention of the AirPods Pro 3 alongside mentions for AirPods Pro and AirPods Pro 2. This suggests that the AirPods Pro 3 could be coming soon, which would make sense, because the AirPods Pro 2 have been out for almost 3 years. Apple has also included phrasing like 'AirPods Pro 2 or later' in some code, which could also nod to unreleased hardware. Apple did not respond to TechCrunch's request for comment.
