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Alongside the launch of the new screenless Google Fitbit Air tracker, Google has confirmed that the Fitbit app is officially being phased out and will be replaced with the Google Health app. Back in 2023, a switch began when Google mandated that all new users sign up to Fitbit using a Google account. This migration for existing users completes in May 2026, while anyone who hasn’t moved their account by July 15, 2026, will see it deleted. That’s all setting up for the change fans expected to see come, with Google taking over the experience with its own branded app.

The Google Health app looks similar in several ways to the Fitbit app, but it’s organized very differently and adds lots of new features. Chief among these is Google Health Coach, a Gemini AI-driven feature that launched in public preview in October 2025 but will now be officially opening up to everyone. It gathers information about you through natural language conversation and even photos, and it tracks your workouts and habits, to help you build a proper plan to reach your health and wellness goals. If you use Google Fit, you’ll also be invited to move your data over, as that app will cease to exist, folded into this new one as well.

Key features of the Google Health app

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Once you have migrated your Fitbit app data to a Google Account, if you haven’t already, the app will automatically switch to Google Health starting May 19, 2026. From there, you’ll notice the new layout and features. This includes data divided into four tabs for Today, Fitness, Sleep, and Health. You can customize the top dashboard to better see trends, progress, and how different aspects of your health fit together, not just exist in silos. It works with third-party apps like MyFitnessPal if you want to integrate nutrition tracking as well. For those in the U.S., you will also be able to sync medical records to view lab results, medications, and more all in one place.

Building AI heavily into the experience is Google Health Coach, which leverages Gemini to help you build a weekly plan. After a quick onboarding conversation explaining your goals, daily routines, what equipment you have access to, injuries, and more using natural language conversation, the Coach will provide personalized guidance. As details change, you can also express this to the virtual coach to get modifications. Share more and Health Coach will continue to adapt and get smarter. It can do things like provide customized workout plans, help you get better sleep, and provide summaries of your health.

What this change means

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This change not only impacts Fitbit users but also Google Pixel Watch owners, who will also use this redesigned app. The change solidifies Google’s ownership of Fitbit and rebrands the app to carry its name and the power of Gemini AI. However, note that, as with Fitbit and the Fitbit Premium subscription, you will need a Google Health Premium subscription to unlock all the benefits. Among the upgrades with Premium is the ability to ask Health Coach personalized questions, get adaptive fitness plans, detailed health insights, access to medical record summaries, a library of workouts and mindfulness sessions, and more. This remains similar to the experience with Fitbit, which kept many features behind a Premium paywall as well.

With the base version of the Google Health app, you’ll get basic activity tracking, sleep tracking, health tracking including vitals, and health and wellness logging, but not much else. It won’t be nearly as comprehensive. The good news? Those who already subscribe to Google AI Pro and Ultra get Google Health Premium included, adding more value to those existing or new AI subscriptions. It’s a big change, but one that many Fitbit owners saw coming since the account migration was announced back in 2023. It was only a matter of time before Google retired the Fitbit app, and that day has finally come. You might think there’s no need for a Fitbit anymore, but with these upgrades, there very well might still be.

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Apple has agreed to settle a class action lawsuit that was filed in the U.S. District Court in San Jose, California, which accused the company of false advertising over Apple Intelligence. During its Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), Apple typically shows off new features that will arrive later on its devices, and the 2024 version was no different. One of the features Apple announced at WWDC 2024 was a smarter Siri powered by Apple Intelligence, planned to launch with the introduction of iOS 18.

However, the tech company hit a snag along the way and was forced to delay some of the Siri Apple Intelligence features, and even went ahead to pull down related ads. However, the company’s actions landed it in a soup as a lawsuit was filed accusing it of false advertising. According to the lawsuit, the company promoted these advanced Siri features, creating “a clear and reasonable consumer expectation that these transformative features would be available upon the iPhone’s release,” which, in turn, “drove unprecedented excitement in the market.” 

The lawsuit claimed Apple violated consumer law by advertising its products based on features that “did not exist or were materially misrepresented”. For instance, Apple’s iPhone 16 ads were promoting AI features that were unavailable. The American tech company reached an agreement to settle the lawsuit in December 2025, according to court filings, and as part of the settlement, it denied any wrongdoing and agreed to pay a total of $250 million to iPhone users, marking an end to several class action lawsuits that were consolidated last year. The company told MacRumors that it reached a settlement in order to “stay focused on doing what we do best.”

The payout only applies to select iPhone users

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While there’s $250 million that Apple has agreed to pay as part of the settlement, not every iPhone user will get a slice of the pie. However, the select few who are eligible for compensation stand to be paid $25 to $95 for each eligible device, depending on the number of class members who submit a claim. Eligible iPhone models include all of the iPhone 16 series (including the iPhone 16, 16e, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max) and the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max that were bought between June 10, 2024, and March 29, 2025. 

If you have an eligible device but you didn’t purchase it in the specified period, then you won’t be paid. The good news is that you don’t have to second-guess whether you’re eligible for the payout. MacRumors says the settlement has already received preliminary approval, and eligible iPhone users will receive an email notice within the next 45 days. So keep checking that email in case you’re eligible for the payout, and be sure to submit a claim once you receive the notification.

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Over the past couple of years, Beats has heavily focused on improving its earbuds lineup by introducing an all-new Powerbeats Pro 2, a revamped Powerbeats Fit, and Beats Solo Buds. However, the brand once known for its bold headphones has been a little slow to release new models, as the Beats Studio Pro flagship is now three years old. If you look at Beats’ history, the company usually takes some time in between releases to upgrade its products, even though it’s always launching special editions to keep its offering fresh.

Beats’ acquisition by Apple in 2014 also slowed down new releases, even though the company now has its strongest lineup ever. Still, while in the early 2010s it felt like everybody had a Beats product, the same can’t be said nowadays. With streets filled with AirPods Max and Marshall headphones, Beats is missing momentum in a category it used to dominate. Not only does it only offer two headphonesthe Beats Solo 4 and the Beats Studio Pro —  but the current lineup has started showing its age. That’s why Beats should refresh these headphones and bring its popular and timeless Beats Pro back.

Beats Pro is still iconic, and a new model is long overdue

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Released in 2010, the heavy-duty, aluminum DJ Beats Pro headphone was sold for nearly a decade. It was the headset every DJ, early podcaster, and cool person would have. With flip-up earcups, dual 3.5 mm headphone jacks, and a twist-lock cable, it also offered passive noise isolation, washable ear cushions, and an unpowered studio monitor sound with a massive low-end response and high volume ceiling, which made it great even in extremely loud environments. A new version with today’s technology, inspired by these great features, could once again be very popular.

After all, Beats has been taking the lead for earbuds and headphones inside Apple. For example, the Beats Studio Pro were the first Apple headphones to feature Lossless support, while Powerbeats Pro 2 introduced heart rate monitoring a few months before Apple brought it to AirPods Pro 3.

Since Apple recently had a weak AirPods Max 2 release, as the product remains largely unchanged when compared to its original 2020 model, Beats has the perfect scenario for new momentum. It could offer new, bold headphones with its signature bass, bigger cushions, and a design people actually like. They could fold and fit inside a case, unlike AirPods Max’s terrible Smart Charging Case. By taking advantage of Apple’s audio chips and great integration with iOS and Android devices, Beats could give new life to an iconic product and make creators wear them everywhere again, all while making the big product changes we expected from Apple.

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It’s a sad day for Amazon Fire TV device owners and HBO Max subscribers. Effective immediately, Fire TV streaming devices and smart TVs need to be running Fire OS 6 or later to access the HBO Max app. AFTVnews first reported the announcement, and we’re willing to bet that Amazon’s continued rollout of its Vega smart TV OS is one of the reasons the company pulled the plug on HBO support. Vega OS is based on Linux rather than Android, and is ranked as one of the worst smart TV operating systems.

Eventually, Vega OS will completely replace Fire OS as the brand’s go-to interface for apps, the Alexa voice assistant, and smart home controls. While we understand part of the reason behind this decision, it can become challenging for developers like HBO Max to continually revamp apps to run on older hardware. The result is that millions of Fire OS device owners will lose access to a tentpole streaming platform — unless they’re able to upgrade to Fire OS 6.

As of today, Fire OS 5 is the software cutoff for popular products like the Amazon Fire TV Stick (2014), Fire TV Stick Basic Edition (2017), and Element 4K Fire TV (2017). If you happen to own a smart TV running the first- or second-generation of Amazon’s Fire OS software (2014-2015), you’ll lose access to HBO Max as well.

Navigating the balancing act that is innovation vs. long-term device support

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Amazon has been on a bit of a bricking kick in 2026 thus far. Just last month, a class action lawsuit was filed against the company for software tethering, which is when a developer limits device functionality by ending updates. Consumers were upset when Amazon ended support for its first- and second-generation versions of the Fire TV Stick, released in 2014 and 2016. Amazon also announced that as of May 20, 2026 it would be ending support for Kindle devices released before 2012.

Then, in January 2026, the company quietly ended support for its Fire TV Blaster — a device that allowed you to control AV components via infrared, without direct line-of-sight from a Fire TV product. While Amazon operates an immense recycling program, the unfortunate reality is that many of these gadgets will end up becoming e-waste in the years to come. It can also be pretty frustrating to see how quickly tech giants move on to something new and shiny (like Vega OS), while leaving legacy users behind.

Still, there’s something to be said about keeping up with the times. Streaming apps like HBO Max are packed to the brim with content, features, and settings, all of which require increasingly better processors and memory to operate. After all, no one wants to deal with always-buffering movies or potentially compromised user data. But it would be great if Big Tech could strike a better balance between cutting-edge and cutting off.

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The Mac has a thriving community of developers creating cool and interesting apps. And this isn’t limited to apps with subscriptions or large corporations. A dedicated indie community develops small, useful utilities that add features to macOS that don’t exist natively. The apps are free to download and open-sourced (the code is available for free to the public for anyone to download and use in their own projects). You can download these apps from GitHub, the preferred platform for hosting open-source projects.

Because it’s such a large community, with new apps and features being developed and released publicly for years, you have a rich selection of apps to choose from. These small applications can solve annoyances in macOS that Apple won’t address, such as hiding apps from the menu bar or fixing mouse scrolling issues. Then there are apps that enhance the default feature set, such as advanced window tiling, improved app switching, and an AirDrop alternative for Android and Windows. We’ve picked some of the best open-source Mac apps that are well-loved by enthusiasts, available for free, and open-sourced on GitHub.

Hidden Bar

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A productive Mac user’s menu bar can get messy quickly. Every useful app likes to add a menu bar icon for fast access and quick features. In fact, many of the apps on this list use the menu bar as the primary method of interaction, such as Apple’s new weather widget. But this means you end up with dozens of apps in your menu bar that will be hidden behind the MacBook’s notch or system menus.

You don’t need to sacrifice on the menu bar apps — instead, just hide the ones you don’t use so frequently. This can be done reliably with a free and open-source app like Hidden Bar. The app adds a divider to the menu bar. Every app icon that’s on the left-hand side will be hidden automatically. The icons on the right will stay visible at all times. You can organize icons from the menu bar itself. Hold the Command button and drag the icon to either side of the divider to configure the hidden section. Clicking the divider icon will show or hide the preconfigured icons easily.

The app also has a useful section for always hiding certain apps. These can be helpful when you can’t disable a menu bar icon for an important app, but you would rather not see it all the time, either. You can trigger the hidden section using a global shortcut. The Hidden Bar app is available on the Mac App Store and from its GitHub page, where it has over 13,000 stars.

Mos

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Mos solves two of the biggest issues with using the mouse on the Mac, especially if you use a third-party mouse. The first is that, by default, the Mac has a Natural Scrolling feature that mimics scrolling with your fingers on a touchscreen. To go down on a page, you have to scroll up. This is still fine when you’re using the Mac’s feature-dense trackpad, but on a mouse, it can be a bit jarring.

The second is the scrolling speed. The Mac’s touchpad is incredibly smooth and fast when it comes to scrolling, but when you’re using a mouse, it can be incredibly slow. Mos fixes both of these issues.

It has a “Reverse Scroll” feature to invert the scroll direction only when you’re using the mouse (and keeps the default natural scrolling enabled for the touchpad). The Smooth Scrolling feature makes scrolling using a mouse wheel as smooth as using a touchpad. The app offers advanced settings to customize the scroll step, speed, and scroll animation period if you want to really speed things up. If you don’t want the fast scrolling to apply to particular productivity apps (like Excel), you can add them to the Exceptions list. You can also configure a Dash Key to increase scrolling speed on long pages (something like Control, Shift, or Option). Mos can be downloaded from the Mos official website or from GitHub, where it has over 19,000 stars.

Rectangle

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MacOS has a built-in window management tool that can help dock two windows side by side, but if you’re a power user, it’s not nearly as customizable as you’d like. The Rectangle app is a dedicated window manager that makes things a lot easier. You can resize windows with just a keyboard shortcut or by dragging them to a snap area (edge of the screen). 

The Rectangle app is quite versatile and offers many options for organizing windows into grids. For example, you can have one window take up the last two-thirds of the screen, while another app takes up the first third. When you’re multitasking with more than two windows on a large external monitor, Rectangle can be quite useful. You will find a keyboard shortcut for every window position, but it might be more useful to customize the snap areas. You can customize multiple different drag gestures at the edge of the screen. For example, dragging a window to the top-right can dock it to take up the rightmost third of the screen. 

Rectangle is a free and open-source app you can download from the official website above or the Rectangle GitHub page, where it has over 29,000 stars. 

AltTab

If you’ve switched from Windows to Mac, you might miss the app switcher from Windows. The Alt + Tab keyboard shortcut brings up a visual overview of all open windows across all apps, with a little thumbnail preview of each window. The Mac’s Command + Tab app switcher, by comparison, is boring, only showing app icons for switching between recently used apps. 

The free and open-source AltTab app brings a Windows-style Alt + Tab switcher to the Mac. It works using the Option + Tab keyboard shortcut (which you can customize). AltTab brings up a floating window over the screen with previews of every app window. You can use the Tab button to move around all the windows. You can hover over a window to get options to exit, minimize, or maximize the window. The app switcher interface is also customizable. Other than the default Thumbnails view, you can choose the App Icons style for something closer to the macOS look. There’s also an option to see all windows as just a list of all window titles. AltTab can be downloaded from the official website or from GitHub, where it has over 15,000 stars.

LocalSend

AirDrop is perhaps one of the best examples of Apple’s software integration. You can wirelessly send any file, of any size, instantly between your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. But what if you live a more cross-platform lifestyle? If you use Windows with an iPhone or an Android phone with a Mac, AirDrop doesn’t work. 

LocalSend fills in that gap. It’s a free and open-source app that’s available on every major platform, including Android, Windows, and Linux. Once it’s running on all your computers and smartphones, you can use local networking to send files between them. You just have to make sure that you’re connected to the same Wi-Fi network; it doesn’t even have to be connected to the internet for this to work. There’s no need to sign in to an account or connect to any servers. 

Open the app, choose any file that you want to send, and select the nearby device (make sure the app is installed on the other device and is active). Files will be transferred over local Wi-Fi at a fast rate. All transfers are encrypted using HTTPS, so you don’t need to worry about data security. You can also implement PIN verification for peace of mind. LocalSend can be downloaded from the project’s website or from GitHub, where it has over 80,000 stars. 

Handy

For remote workers, typing for hours on end can get exhausting. The Handy app wants to help make things a bit easier; it uses state-of-the-art AI models to transcribe your speech into text. All of it for free, and with local processing. It’s a simple speech-to-text app. You press and hold a keyboard shortcut to start the recording, begin speaking, and as soon as you release the key, Handy processes your text and pastes it into the text field. You can dictate anything you want, from emails to Slack messages to entire blog posts. 

Handy has two AI models: Nvidia Parakeet V3, which is designed primarily for English speakers and European languages. It’s fast and accurate. There’s also OpenAI’s Whisper model, which is best for multilingual users, as it supports more than 99 languages. Handy’s default keyboard shortcut is Option + Space, but you can customize it to anything you want in the settings. 

If you’re planning to dictate long messages, you can also disable the Push to Talk feature from settings to switch to the toggle mode. Here, you press the shortcut once to start recording and press it again to stop. Then, Handy takes over to transcribe and paste the text. You can download Handy from the official website or from the GitHub project page, where it has over 20,000 stars. 

IINA

VLC is a legendary open-source video player that has been going strong for 25 years. While it’s a versatile media player, it’s not natively designed for macOS, and its design hasn’t changed much in the past two decades. IINA is an open-source video player that will play anything you throw at it, and it has a native macOS design that fits the rest of the Mac aesthetic. IINA uses the open-source Mpv media player that can play almost every media format. You can also play any online stream or YouTube playlist.

The app’s interface supports a native dark mode, helping make the interface easier on the eyes when you’re playing media. The app uses Apple’s hardware acceleration features for speedy output. Even if you’re playing 4K movies, it won’t skip a beat.  It has all the basic features you’d expect from a media player. It supports playlists, chapters, and there’s native support for customizable subtitles. In fact, there’s a dedicated section to automatically load subtitles from online sources and to customize the font and the text style. With the native Picture-in-Picture support, you can watch media on top of any app. IINA is available on its official website, and you can also download it from the GitHub page, where it has over 44,000 stars.

Homebrew

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How do you usually download apps? From the Mac App Store, from the developer’s website, or for open-source apps, you use GitHub. If you install apps from a third-party source, you have to first download a DMG file, then extract the app and move the app file to the Applications folder. You have to do this dance every time. What if you could download multiple apps together and update them with just one command? That is the function of the Homebrew app. It’s a package manager for Mac that has a large repository of apps and packages.

The Homebrew app is essentially a Terminal command, and you don’t need to be a coder to use the app. To install Homebrew, just paste the command from the website’s home page. Then, you can simply type “brew install (name of the app)” to install the software (as long as it’s available in the Homebrew repository). You can use the “brew search” command to find an app, or you can use Homebrew’s repository page to search through. You can also use the “brew update” command to install all pending updates for apps installed via Homebrew. Homebrew is open-sourced on GitHub, where it has over 47,000 stars. 

Latest

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You install apps from multiple sources on the Mac. Some come from the Mac App Store, some directly from the website, and some use apps like Homebrew. Updating apps individually, especially when you’re trying to get work done, can become a chore. Latest can help. It’s a simple app that brings together updates from the Mac App Store and apps that use the Sparkle network, covering a large swath of Mac apps.

When you open the app, you’ll see a list of all available updates on the left. You can choose an app and review the release notes to see what’s new in the update — then you can click the Update button to quickly install it. The app does one job and does it well. It works best for free apps, and it doesn’t offer any other features like installing or uninstalling apps. The Latest app is available from the project’s website and from GitHub, where it has over 4,500 stars. 

MonitorControl

MonitorControl is one of those classic small Mac utilities that fills the gap that the Mac has surprisingly left empty. If you use your MacBook with an external display (or two), you’re aware of this limitation. You can easily change the brightness and the volume of your MacBook’s built-in speaker. But to change the brightness on your external monitor, you have to use the built-in controls, which can be below or behind the panel. 

MonitorControl takes over these monitor controls and lets you change them via the Mac software. The app appears as a menu bar utility, with sliders for the monitor’s brightness and volume. Optionally, it can also take over the keyboard’s function row, and you can change brightness using the F1 and F2 keys on the keyboard. If you use your MacBook alongside an external display, there’s a setting option to sync the brightness changes between the MacBook’s screen and your monitor (using data from the ambient light sensor or changes made via the keyboard). The Monitor Control app can be downloaded from the GitHub page, where it has over 33,000 stars.

PearCleaner

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The Mac offers an easy way to uninstall apps. All you have to do is move the app to the Trash, empty it, and you’re done. While this works for most apps, it tends to leave things behind. Even after the process, you might still be left with cache and hidden files stuck in the Library folder. With hundreds of apps installed over time, all this data can add up — and it’s just taking up space on your Mac without being helpful. Deleting unused, large apps can also help speed up your old MacBook. 

PearCleaner is a free open-source app that completely uninstalls the app and removes all related data that might be lurking behind. It’s a simple tool that shows all installed apps and how much space they’re taking up. When you click an app, you’ll see the application file and the associated data. And you can delete all of it with just a click. It’s also customizable, so if you want to keep some of the data around (like a save file for a game or a project file for a music app), you can uncheck it before deleting the app. Pearcleaner can be downloaded from its official website or from GitHub, where it has over 12,000 stars.

Methodology

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To compile this list, we focused on curating a selection of free apps that add genuine utility for Mac users and are developed by the passionate Mac developer community. We limited our search to apps that are available for free and are open-sourced on GitHub (a Microsoft-owned brand), which is a trusted network for distributing open-source software. We also narrowed our search to apps that have gained interest among Mac enthusiasts over the years. 

We limited the list to apps that have received 4,000 stars or more on GitHub (a sign that thousands of Mac users are interested in following the project’s updates). Furthermore, we also used a combination of personal testing, reviews from reputable sources, and feedback from Mac enthusiasts from the r/MacApps subreddit to inform our list. 

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The term “Hollywood magic” describes how Hollywood studios (and other studios for that matter) create the fictional worlds you see in a TV show or movie. Sets, props, and camera tricks are all used to sell the illusion — no AI-generated nightmare fuel necessary. Sometimes studios create bespoke set pieces, and other times they dress up mundane items.

The show “Star Trek: The Next Generation” was full of standout characters and upped the visual sheen from its precursor, at least from the second season onwards. One of the more intriguing characters was Geordi La Forge, played by LeVar Burton (fans of “Reading Rainbow” represent). While Geordi had plenty of standout moments, the one thing everybody remembers about him was his iconic VISOR, a prosthetic device worn over the eyes that let him see. Yes, he was born blind, and the device looked ridiculous. Fans thought it looked like a hair clip being worn like sunglasses. And as it turns out, they were mostly right.

The book Star Trek: The Next Generation 365 (a guidebook for the series that includes interviews and behind-the-scenes pictures) reveals that the design for the VISOR was inspired by a hair clip, specifically one worn by the roommate of the show’s scenic artist, Michael Okuda. He was intrigued by how the clip’s teeth pattern “caught the light,” so he borrowed it, spray-painted it gold, and showed the transformed hair clip to Gene Roddenberry himself. The rest is TV history. While Burton never actually wore the test clip (as far as we know), without it, Geordi could have looked very different.

History loves suffering and irony

Sci-fi properties like “Star Trek” have inspired plenty of real-life inventions. We might not have portable language translators if it weren’t for the universal translators of “Star Trek.” And given recent advances in technology, we might soon add the VISOR to that list since smart glasses can help blind people read. The actual VISOR prop, however, had the opposite effect.

According to a BBC interview, using the VISOR was “a living hell” for LeVar Burton, as it reduced his active vision by “85-90%.” He claims he bumped into just about everything, from light stands to cables. In the show, he played a blind man who could see thanks to the VISOR, but on set, he couldn’t see thanks to the VISOR prop itself.

Previously, we said that “Star Trek: The Next Generation” received a visual revamp starting with the second season. Props and sets looked better, and William Riker (Jonathan Frakes) grew facial hair. While Geordi’s VISOR looked more convincing, it was also heavier. According to Burton, the only way to keep it screwed onto his head was, well, with actual screws. These kept the VISOR nice and secure, but the flanges on the interior dug into his temples — not enough to cause any actual damage, but enough to give him headaches after 15 or 20 minutes. And that went on for six years. Talk about suffering for art.

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Owning a great pair of wireless headphones can be a real treat. Top audio brands are always competing to make the best-sounding, most comfortable buds and cans on the market, including Sony. Revered for sound quality and next-level noise canceling, we’re pleased to report that one of the manufacturer’s best pairs of earbuds currently has a $50 discount: the Sony WF-1000XM5. Normally priced at $330, the buds are marked down to $278 on Amazon.

Consumer Reports (CR) is a publication we trust when it comes to consumer tech recommendations, and the WF-1000XM5 earned high praise from the site. We’re not surprised, especially since the in-ears also made it onto our best wireless earbuds for audiophiles list. Sony managed to make one of the coziest pairs of buds money can buy, while also loading up its product with advanced audio features, including LDAC support and DSEE Extreme — a Sony-exclusive algorithm for upscaling lossy sound files.

Available in black, silver, and pink, it also looks like you’ll get the $50 discount if you buy the XM5s at Best Buy and Walmart, or directly through the manufacturer. Sony’s $330 WF-1000XM6 buds will eventually replace the XM5 model, but it looks like you’ll be able to choose between the two generations for a bit longer. That gives the XM5 more time to drop to its lowest-recorded price, which was $180 back in April 2025.

Terrific noise canceling and sound quality meet a limited-time markdown you don’t want to miss

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The WF-1000XM5 earbuds carried over the memory foam ear tips from their previous generation, and Sony made a few design tweaks to improve comfort, too. Right out of the box, the XM5 buds deliver a powerful, bass-friendly sound profile that bodes well for genres like rock, rap, and hip-hop. But if you’d like to dial back the low end, you can use the free Sony Sound Connect app to choose a new audio preset or to create your own with the app’s graphic EQ.

If you’ve been waiting for the right time to pull the trigger on a new pair of headphones or earbuds from a major brand and you’re willing to give Sony a spin, this is the perfect opportunity. The company is currently offering the last three generations of its award-winning headphones brand new, alongside its XM5 and XM6 earbuds. It even looks like the XM5 headphones are cheaper than the XM4 model, but that could change any day.

Sony’s pantheon of consumer tech is constantly growing, and the manufacturer is still considered a heavy hitter when it comes to headphones and earbuds, as well as TVs, soundbars, Bluetooth speakers, and, who could forget the almighty PlayStation? If the XM5 buds have been on your radar, though, don’t wait — these kinds of deals don’t last forever.

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The iPhone has been around for almost two decades now. From the hype of the original model to its first redesign with the iPhone 4, bigger phones with the iPhone 6 lineup, and so many milestones, it’s hard to predict when one iPhone will surpass the previous generation in sales. However, it seems that it’s true with the recent iPhone 17 lineup.

In an interview with Financial Times, Apple CFO Kevan Parekh revealed that “The iPhone 17 family is now the most popular line-up in our history” and that the company believes it gained market share in Q2 2026. While the CFO didn’t give specifics as to why, it’s safe to assume that the redesign of the iPhone 17 Pro and the pro features added to the basic iPhone 17 have contributed to the success of the lineup.

Separately, Apple CEO Tim Cook told Reuters that demand for the lineup is “off the charts,” and that despite the impressive sales, Apple is having a hard time getting more A19 series processors manufactured, in addition to the memory shortage that continues to impact Apple products and revenue. For example, the company is now selling a single configuration of the M3 Ultra Mac Studio, and reports suggest Apple might delay some releases due to the increased prices of RAM.

Here’s why the iPhone 17 is a success

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After smaller updates with the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16, Apple did a remarkable job of making the iPhone 17 lineup a compelling upgrade. Looking at the regular model, the company doubled the minimum storage capacity from 128 GB to 256 GB, increased battery life, greatly improved the cameras (including an all-new 18 MP selfie shooter with a square aspect ratio), and added more capable chips. Two other important additions to the base model have been ProMotion, which has a higher refresh rate of up to 120 Hz, and always-on display, a feature that has been available for the Pro iPhone models since the iPhone 14 Pro.

The strength of the regular models may not have shown up in sales data until a little later, however, as early buyers seemed focused on the iPhone 17 Pro models at first. But that also makes sense, given that Apple made several improvements to its top-tier offerings in lineup as well. In addition to better battery life, an improved processor, and upgraded cameras, iPhone 17 Pro models went back to an aluminum design and added a vapor chamber that makes heat dissipation incredibly efficient with these models. Previously, when the processor would get too hot, the display would dim and the battery would drain faster. With the iPhone 17 Pro models, display dimming happens much less frequently and the battery is a lot more consistent.

In short, compared to their predecessors, the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, and 17 Pro Max are significant upgrades with a clearer value proposition than years past. Apple was able to do a remarkable job with this generation, and that is translating into successful sales.

iPhone 18 rumors suggest smart money buys the iPhone 17

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In addition to the iPhone 17 series taking such a clear step forward, there are reasons for buyers to be focused on Apple’s current lineup instead of looking ahead to the next generation. For one, Apple’s rumored iPhone roadmap shows a new release cycle for its base-model smartphones, with the company purportedly set to introduce the standard iPhone 18 in early 2027 instead of late 2026. With this change, Apple could focus on the Pro and Foldable models in late 2026, then give the base model iPhones their own stage a few months later.

A staggered iPhone 18 release cycle could also help with several other factors, from making the iPhone 17 cycle a lot stronger to giving the company more time to deal with the current AI-driven RAM shortage. Additionally, there are several rumors suggesting the iPhone 18 won’t be a major upgrade compared to the iPhone 17, with Apple potentially narrowing the gap between its base-model flagship and the more budget-friendly iPhone 18e by using cheaper materials in the former and possibly removing MagSafe.

Even though rumors suggest Apple will add its own 5G modem to all iPhone 18 models, support 5G over satellite, and include a few other perks, everything points to the next models not being as big of an upgrade as the iPhone 17 series has been. The company seems focused on selling as many iPhone 17 models as it can, as Singles’ Day in China and Black Friday in the U.S. — both in November — would contribute another round of sales for the iPhone 17. Besides that, with many software improvements expected to arrive with iOS 27, the current generation of iPhones will only look better, and users will still have several years of upgrades ahead.

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For as much time as the average person spends at home in the kitchen, appliances have historically remained the least intelligent devices in smart home setups. Most refrigerators sit in a corner and cycle cold air, which is realistically the only thing they need to do. However, Dreame is attempting to disrupt the status quo with its new N1 Refrigerator concept. Unveiled at the Dreame NEXT event in San Francisco on April 27, 2026, this particular fridge is the first major home appliance to integrate Google Gemini and a 3nm process chip.

For most, a fridge running an advanced AI model alongside bionic cameras may feel like a costly gimmick, but for those who struggle with food waste or finding nutritional advice that works for their specific body type, this combination could be a genuine breakthrough. By using hyperspectral sensors to track the freshness of 10,000 different ingredients, Dreame wants to help users stop throwing away expensive groceries. Of course, this all depends on being comfortable with biometric sensors on fridge door handles and cameras in the snack compartment.

With Google Gemini continue to integrate itself into Google Home, signifying a noteworthy upgrade for smart homes, this is a sensible time to bring a product line into Google’s smart home ecosystem. Regardless, it’s a potentially valuable use of AI technology that helps users rather than adding bloat to yet another “dumb” appliance with features no one will ever use. But even with that in mind, would the N1 Refrigerator concept actually be worth the money?

Silicon Valley processing power for your snacks?

Dreame has entered a strategic partnership with Google Cloud to bring Google Gemini directly to a refrigerator, expanding the list of reasons smart home users should consider Google Gemini. But not all of these processes can be done via the cloud alone, which is why many smart fridge options have issues with lag. This is why Dreame is considering making use of a 3nm process chip, which is silicon usually reserved for high-end smartphones and is a big step above the standard 14nm chips used by industry leaders in the appliance industry right now.

Dreame claims a 3nm chip allows the N1 refrigerator to identify more than 10,000 types of food with a 97% recognition accuracy in ideal conditions. The idea that users won’t have to look at expiration dates or question the freshness or nutritional value of produce is great on paper, but keep in mind that this is still just a concept.

According to Dreame, the N1 uses bionic cameras and a 32-channel hyperspectral sensor to scan groceries for freshness and nutritional content. With this technology built-in, it can suggest meal plans for kids or realistic weight management goals. As for the inevitable privacy concerns that will arise, the fridge uses on-device AI and federated learning, meaning it processes data locally rather than on a remote server.

Biometric checkups

The technology in the N1 handle doubles as a quick health screening tool. It runs millimeter-wave radar technology that recognizes users as soon as they touch the door, which some may find invasive and other will likely appreciate. This sensor system captures 20 different health indicators in a single scan, determining which member of the family is present based on their body dimensions. It then synchronizes this information with smartphone and smartwatch apps to build a complete metabolic profile, predicting body weight trends with a supposed profiling accuracy rate of at least 85%.

It’s a proactive approach to body weight management that does feel rather invasive on the surface, but this product is aimed at users who are serious about maintaining a healthy lifestyle and probably already track their fitness goals on their smart devices. It might, for example, suggest to drink more water after an intense workout, breaking down information barriers between a user’s body requirements and what they’re actually consuming.

All of the onboard data processing is important, but what about when the data is shared with another device that processes data in the cloud? Apple’s recent announcement that its next-gen Siri offering will be powered by Google Gemini raises even more questions about onboard data being shared to more devices, especially when personal data from a device that feeds the family — possibly including children — is involved.

The robotic edge

Beyond new silicon chips and software, Dreame also introduced OxyPause Technology, which keeps produce from rotting. It uses a solid-state electrode membrane to maintain oxygen levels at roughly 5% inside a dedicated preservation drawer. Dreame claim this environment can extend food’s shelf life to 21 days.

In internal tests, Dreame found that OxyPause Technology increased anthocyanin retention by over 231% after 15 days of storage. In terms of physical improvements over the standard smart fridge formula, a robotic arm can take groceries from a user and sort items internally. All great features, but these feel more like showing off than evolutionary additions.

The N1 Refrigerator is also setting out to reduce plastic waste with its sparkling water system. It applies Henry’s law to it’s internal plumbing, mixing gas and water quicker to provide bubbles without the wait. Dreame estimates this could cut out 10,950 plastic bottles for a family of three over 10 years, saving them $5,110 in bottled water costs. Looking over the N1 Refrigerator concept, the 3nm chip and robotic arm need to be tested in real-world situations to see their true benefits, but the OxyPause Technology looks promising for families trying to cut down on food waste. Regardless of this becoming a real commercial product or not, the Dreame Next event provided an interesting peek into one potential future of smart kitchen appliances.

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Tech enthusiasts looking to enter the Apple ecosystem for the first time or upgrade some of their gadgets should check out a new Verizon promo that lets qualifying users get three of Apple’s newest products for free (iPhone 17, Apple Watch, and iPad 11), plus a $100 gift card from the carrier. There is a big catch here, one that frequent carrier customers may recognize. Such carrier promotions come with a minimum contract period to take advantage of the deal. Verizon’s promotion is no different. The carrier will offer the three products for free if qualifying consumers stay with Verizon for 36 months, or three years. An early exit would mean the consumer has to pay the remaining balance in full, and that’s because the price of the three devices is spread over 36 months, with Verizon awarding monthly bill credits that cover the cost of the hardware for the three-year period.

That’s the deal’s biggest catch, but there are other things to consider. For example, Verizon advertises the deal to new subscribers. “Switch and get Mom” an iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11, and iPad “on us,” Verizon says on its deals portal, with the promo expiring on May 13. However, Verizon also offers the deal to existing subscribers who add a new line, as long as they choose one of the three Unlimited plans: Welcome, Plus, or Ultimate. That new line has to remain on the chosen Unlimited plan for the duration of the three-year period.

Finally, there’s another condition that customers need to be aware of. They’ll be purchasing cellular versions of the iPad 11 and Apple Watch, which will require their own data lines.

What iPhone 17, iPad 11, and Apple Watch models can buyers choose?

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BGR has simulated an order for Verizon’s limited deal on Apple hardware to understand what the consumer can purchase for free, and the value of the monthly bill credits. Verizon will only cover the 256 GB iPhone 17, the 42 mm Apple Watch Series 11 (buyers can also choose the 40 mm Series 10, SE 3, and SE 2), and the 128 GB iPad 11. The bill credits for the 36-month period amount to $23.05 per month for the iPhone 17, or a total of $830. Verizon will also award consumers $13.88 per month, or $500 over three years for each of the Apple Watch and the iPad 11.

Buyers can choose the colors they want for the iPhone 17, Apple Watch, and iPad 11 without incurring additional costs. But if they want more storage or the larger 44 or 46 mm Apple Watch sizes, they’ll have to pay extra each month, as Verizon’s bill credits are capped at the figures above. The 512 GB iPhone 17 will cost $5.55 extra per month. The 256 GB iPad 11 will cost $2.77 extra per month, while the 512 GB variant will incur an additional $8.33 per month over three years. Finally, the 46 mm Apple Watch Series 11 will add a $0.83 per month charge to the monthly bill. The same monthly cost applies to the 44 mm variant of the Apple Watch SE 3 and SE 2 models.

What about the monthly cellular costs?

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Customers should know they’ll have to pay sales tax up front for the three Apple products, as well as activation fees for the three cellular lines, one for each product. BGR’s simulation shows that Verizon will waive $40 of the $120 total activation fees. As for the Verizon $100 electronic gift card, the promo applies to online orders. Customers will need to make their claim online, within 60 days of the initial order.

During checkout, buyers will need to choose their desired cellular plans for the three products. For the iPhone, they can choose between Unlimited Ultimate ($95 per month), Unlimited Plus ($80 per month), and Unlimited Welcome ($65 per month). The Ultimate plan offers 50% off plans for two watches or tablets, while the Plus plan gives you 50% off one watch or tablet plan. That’s something to keep in mind, considering that the deal requires data plans for both the Apple Watch and iPad.

Verizon offers two subscriptions for the smartwatch, $15 or $25 per month, and three plans for the tablet, including $20, $40, and $50 per month options. It’s up to the buyer to choose what fits their needs, after taking into account potential savings that come from the Unlimited Ultimate and Plus plans. Buyers who don’t want to commit to a 36-month contract with a carrier should also know they can buy five brand-new Apple products for $1,925 before taxes: iPhone 17e, Apple Watch SE 3, AirPods 4, iPad 11, and MacBook Neo.

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