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The best iPhones

The best iPhones

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Editor’s note: Black Friday doesn’t officially take place until Friday, November 28th; however, if you want to shop ahead of time, we’ve rounded up the best early Black Friday deals you can already get.

If you’ve been holding off on getting a new iPhone, now’s the perfect time to size up your options. Apple’s 2025 iPhone lineup is now available, which includes the iPhone 17, 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and a brand-new model, the ultra-thin iPhone Air. These new phones offer a number of new features over their predecessors, such as upgraded cameras, faster chips, better battery life, and even better screens — Apple Intelligence, however, is still a work in progress.

Alongside the new hardware, Apple also launched iOS 26 (yes, the numbering system has changed and we’re jumping from iOS 18), which includes a new Liquid Glass user interface, live translation, wallpapers in messages, and more. The software marks Apple’s biggest visual redesign since iOS 7, and despite some very polarizing reactions, we think it looks fine.

If your current iPhone is humming along, there’s no need to rush out and get a new one. But if you’re questioning whether it’s the year to replace your iPhone that’s a few generations old, then I think the answer is an easy yes. There are real gains to be had this time around, especially in the basic iPhone 17, which features a higher-refresh-rate display than last year’s model for smoother-looking animations, plus double the base storage to 256GB — all without raising the price, despite the current tariff situation.

What we’re looking for

There’s no shortcut to properly testing a phone; I put my personal SIM card (physical or otherwise) in each phone I review and live with it for a minimum of one full week. I set up each phone from scratch, load it up with my apps, and go about living my life — stress testing the battery, using GPS navigation on my bike while streaming radio, taking rapid-fire portrait mode photos of my kid — everything I can throw at it. Starting over with a new phone every week either sounds like a dream or your personal hell, depending on how Into Phones you are. For me, switching has become so routine that it’s mostly painless.

The most expensive, souped-up iPhone isn’t automatically the best one for everyone. What I look for is a happy medium — features that will satisfy most people at the best price. Sometimes, that’s last year’s model.

Battery performance can vary significantly between current iPhone models, primarily due to the size of the phone. Everyone wants a phone that can last a full day, and these recommendations reflect that.

One size does not fit all. Some people like a small phone, others want the biggest screen money can buy. This list includes iPhones for people in both camps.

The best iPhone for most people

$799

The Good

  • Always-on display makes it vastly more useful
  • High refresh rate makes using the phone smoother
  • The cameras are solid
  • Battery lasts well through the day
  • The price isn’t going up
  • No redesign, but the green is nice

The Bad

  • Zoom capabilities are weak compared to the Pro
  • Gets hot during heavy gaming sessions
  • Apple Intelligence is still somewhere between useless and MIA

Screen: 6.3-inch 2622 x 1206 OLED, 120Hz refresh rate / Processor: A19 / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.6 main with sensor-shift IS; 48-megapixel ultrawide; 18-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: 40W wired, 25W wireless MagSafe / Qi2 / Weather-resistance rating: IP68

The iPhone 17 marks a turning point for the standard model. After years with a lower-quality screen, the cheapest model finally got two major upgrades for 2025: an always-on display and a high-refresh-rate panel. These features make it feel meaningfully better than the iPhone 16 and prior models in everyday use, bringing it closer than ever to the Pro models. And at the same $799 starting price as the previous generation, this year’s update is a no-brainer.

While the iPhone 17’s 48-megapixel main camera is carried over from last year, the ultrawide camera has been changed from a 12-megapixel sensor to a 48-megapixel sensor, and it delivers sharper and more vibrant photos. The device features an 18-megapixel Center Stage selfie camera, which is also in the Air and 17 Pro. Your selfies may not look materially better, but the front camera’s square sensor elevates the user experience, making it possible to take horizontal selfies while holding the device vertically (no need to rotate the phone).

The iPhone 17’s always-on display lets you quickly glance at notifications.

The iPhone 17’s always-on display lets you quickly glance at notifications.
Photo by Amelia Holowaty Krales / The Verge

Apple also gives you double the storage — 256GB versus 128GB in the base iPhone 16 — and improved battery life. The standard 17 still lacks a proper telephoto camera, and the A19 chip is slower than the A19 Pro found in the Pro models. Still, it’s a big step up in almost every way, even if it looks basically the same as every iPhone from the past six years.

Read our full iPhone 17 review.
A navy blue iPhone on a wooden backgroundA navy blue iPhone on a wooden background

$1099

The Good

  • Solid battery life
  • Brighter screen outdoors
  • Center Stage camera
  • Faster charging
  • Doesn’t get blazing hot
  • Orange

The Bad

  • What’s up with Siri?
  • Heavier than last year

Screen: 6.3-inch 2622 x 1206 OLED, 120Hz refresh rate / Processor: A19 Pro / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.78 with sensor-shift IS; 48-megapixel 8x telephoto with OIS; 48-megapixel ultrawide; 18-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: 40W wired, 25W MagSafe / Qi2 / Weather-resistance rating: IP68

The iPhone 17 Pro introduces a bold redesign and a number of notable upgrades, including the lineup’s most advanced camera setup yet. It also features rounded edges, and similar to last year, it’s on equal footing with the 17 Pro Max in terms of performance. The biggest differences are that the Pro Max offers a larger display, a larger battery, and up to 2TB of storage.

Whereas the iPhone 17 is for most people, the 17 Pro is geared more toward creators. The device has three 48-megapixel cameras, including a 48-megapixel telephoto, and it offers several pro features aimed at those who want to take the best possible photos and videos. Some of those features include Genlock support, which lets videographers sync up timecodes across multiple cameras, and support for ProRes RAW recording. It also sports the upgraded Center Stage selfie camera found in other 2025 iPhone models.

The iPhone 17 Pro offers a smaller form factor compared to the 17 Pro Max.

The iPhone 17 Pro offers a smaller form factor compared to the 17 Pro Max.
Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

Despite the additions and improvements, there’s little here that makes the 17 Pro an absolute must-upgrade. However, it comes in an irresistible orange, which is apparently the new “it” color.

Read our full iPhone 17 Pro review.

The iPhone with the best battery life

$1199

The Good

  • Solid battery life
  • Brighter screen outdoors
  • Center Stage camera
  • Faster charging
  • Doesn’t get blazing hot
  • Orange

The Bad

  • What’s up with Siri?
  • Heavier than last year

Screen: 6.9-inch 2868 x 1320 OLED, 120Hz refresh rate / Processor: A19 Pro / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.78 with sensor-shift IS; 48-megapixel 8x telephoto with OIS; 48-megapixel ultrawide; 18-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: 40W wired, 25W MagSafe / Qi2 / Weather-resistance rating: IP68

The iPhone 17 Pro Max’s redesign isn’t just about looks. Apple hollowed out the device’s aluminum frame to fit in the biggest battery yet in an iPhone. Apple says the device offers up 39 hours of video playback, which is 12 more hours than last year’s iPhone 16 Plus, our previous battery champ. The device can easily push through a full day and then some, though your mileage will vary depending on how often you play mobile games, watch videos, and doomscroll on social media.

The bigger iPhone 17 Pro Max means a bigger battery.

The bigger iPhone 17 Pro Max means a bigger battery.
Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

There are other benefits to going with the 17 Pro Max. It has the largest display among the latest iPhone lineup — 6.9 inches — and offers up to 2TB of storage, giving creators more room than ever for storing their media. If you want the most iPhone you can possibly get, including the longest battery life, then the 17 Pro Max is the way to go.

Read our full iPhone 17 Pro Max review.

The best iPhone for people who hate bulky phones

iPhone Air on a couch cushioniPhone Air on a couch cushion

$999

The Good

  • Easier to carry thanks to its slim profile
  • Remarkably light and more pleasant to use for long periods of time

The Bad

  • Battery drains quicker than a standard phone
  • No ultrawide camera

Screen: 6.5-inch 2736 x 1260 OLED, 120Hz refresh rate / Processor: A19 Pro / Cameras: 48-megapixel f/1.6 main with sensor-shift IS; 18-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: 30W wired, 20W MagSafe / Qi2 / Weather-resistance rating: IP68

The iPhone Air is Apple’s biggest redesign since the iPhone X was released in 2017. It’s shockingly thin and light, at 5.6mm and 165 grams, respectively. Thanks to its titanium frame and Ceramic Shield 2 display, it’s more durable than you might expect, too. The device feels deceptively small, despite having a 6.5-inch display. You really have to see and feel the phone yourself to get the appeal.

The iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone ever, though it still has a chunky camera hump.

The iPhone Air is the thinnest iPhone ever, though it still has a chunky camera hump.
Photo by Vjeran Pavic / The Verge

But the thinner design comes with a few substantial compromises compared to the other models available this year. One of the biggest is that the Air features a single 48-megapixel camera on the back. That’s not to say the device’s camera is bad. But it’s a far less versatile system than even the far more affordable iPhone 17, which has a dual-camera setup. The second compromise is on battery life, which is just okay. It’s not terrible, but it’s not great, either.

At $999, you’re paying a lot for middling battery life and camera performance. Those who primarily care about design, though, may be more forgiving about those shortcomings.

Read our full iPhone Air review.

The best inexpensive-ish iPhone

A hands-on photo of Apple’s iPhone 16E.A hands-on photo of Apple’s iPhone 16E.

$599

The Good

  • Reliable performance
  • Good, if limited, camera system
  • It’s the cheapest new iPhone you can buy

The Bad

  • No MagSafe
  • $599 feels like $100 too much
  • No ultrawide

Screen: 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR / Processor: A18 Cameras: 48MP Fusion with 1x and 2x optical zoom, 12-megapixel selfie / Battery: Not advertised / Charging: 20-watt wired, 7.5W Qi, no MagSafe/ Weather-resistance rating: IP68

This recommendation comes with a heavy sigh. Yes, the 16E is the cheapest new iPhone Apple sells. Yes, it’s a good phone. It has a capable camera, reliable performance, full water resistance, wireless charging, and will be supported with software updates for years to come. But its $599 price tag starts to feel like too much when you consider what it’s missing.

There’s no MagSafe, which you can kind of add by way of a MagSafe case, but it’s a bummer not to have it built in when it has basically become a standard iPhone feature. There’s no ultrawide camera, no Dynamic Island housing timely information, no camera control button (not a huge loss, honestly), and no Ultra Wideband for precise object tracking. It does support Apple Intelligence, but that doesn’t feel like much of a consolation, given that it’s very much still a work-in-progress.

The 16E will most likely receive more years of software support than a previous-gen model like the iPhone 14 or 15. And sure, Apple Intelligence might turn into something useful someday. The 16E is a good choice if you want the path of least resistance to blue bubbles and FaceTime at your fingertips. But if you’d like MagSafe, a more advanced camera, and some of the other bells and whistles that got lost on the way to the 16E, then it’s not a bad idea to look at one of the older iPhones.

Read my full Apple iPhone 16E review.

Apple’s latest iPhone lineup is available now, but there are already reports about what’s next. One report suggests Apple is readying a book-style foldable iPhone for 2026, which allegedly looks like two iPhone Air models put side by side. Apple is reportedly still working to flatten the crease that appears when the phone is unfolded, but has otherwise settled on a design. Looking ahead to 2027, a report claims Apple is planning a redesigned “all-screen” iPhone to celebrate the device’s 20th anniversary. These upcoming releases are allegedly part of Apple’s three-year plan — starting with the new iPhone Air — that’s aimed at refreshing its smartphone lineup.

Update, November 19th: Updated to reflect current pricing / availability. Brandon Russell contributed to this article.

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wired earbuds enjoying all of the shine. A yearning for wired audio is bringing its good friend along for the ride: the king of all things MP3. The one, the only, the iPod.

That’s right, the iPod is f*cking back. Not in an official sense, of course—it was discontinued officially in 2022—but it’s back in a very unofficial capacity. By nostalgia’s standards, the iPod is relevant once more, and you’ve probably got your phone (or the icky apps in it) to thank for that.

Okay, but how “back” is it?

The iPod is pretty back, to be honest. As the AP notes, secondhand sites like eBay are basically loaded with listings for used iPods, and on a more empirical level, Back Market, which also sells used and refurbished electronics, tells the AP that used iPod sales jumped 48% since 2024.

Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing the iPod everywhere, not just in a literal sense, but in a spiritual one. As I’ve written about before, digital audio players (DAPs) are seemingly a real category again, and new DAPs come in all shapes and sizes. There are DAPs shaped like cassette players, big utilitarian rectangles, and tiny little MP3-playing hunks of plastic. None of them has the iPod’s iconic click wheel, of course, but the spirit that the iPod helped popularize is still there. It’s a dedicated device that carries your music and almost nothing more.

The World Is Basically Begging for Another iPod Audio nostalgia is a thing right now, and it’s not just wired earbuds enjoying all of the shine. A yearning for wired audio is bringing its good friend along for the ride: the king of all things MP3. The one, the only, the iPod. That’s right, the iPod is f*cking back. Not in an official sense, of course—it was discontinued officially in 2022—but it’s back in a very unofficial capacity. By nostalgia’s standards, the iPod is relevant once more, and you’ve probably got your phone (or the icky apps in it) to thank for that. Okay, but how “back” is it? The iPod is pretty back, to be honest. As the AP notes, secondhand sites like eBay are basically loaded with listings for used iPods, and on a more empirical level, Back Market, which also sells used and refurbished electronics, tells the AP that used iPod sales jumped 48% since 2024. Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing the iPod everywhere, not just in a literal sense, but in a spiritual one. As I’ve written about before, digital audio players (DAPs) are seemingly a real category again, and new DAPs come in all shapes and sizes. There are DAPs shaped like cassette players, big utilitarian rectangles, and tiny little MP3-playing hunks of plastic. None of them has the iPod’s iconic click wheel, of course, but the spirit that the iPod helped popularize is still there. It’s a dedicated device that carries your music and almost nothing more. © Mario Tama / Getty Images On a more iPod-specific note, there are also people trying to replicate the iPod experience on your phone, like this guy building an iPod maker. Or how about people marrying AirPods Max with an iPod—wires and all. It’s even inspiring new products, like this upcoming AI gadget from two ex-Apple employees who tell Wired that the iPod Shuffle was a big inspiration design-wise. Those are all just window dressing, though, compared to the loads of people who actually bother to refurbish iPods, whether for personal use, resale, or because they’re nostalgic about the days when you could walk around listening to music without your phone delivering stress-inducing emails. None of this interest in iPods is brand new, by any means—people have been modding iPods or selling them secondhand for a while now, but it feels as though it’s reached a tipping point. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly iPods feel more relevant than ever, but nostalgia doesn’t quite cover it. There’s also the Spotify of it all. Remember owning stuff? There’s no denying that nostalgia is a driving force in the iPod’s renewed relevance. Gen Z in particular has zeroed in on the early-2000s for inspiration, whether in fashion or tech, and there’s not a more iconic gadget from the early aughts than the iPod. According to Anshel Sag, a tech analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy, renewed interest in the iPod has been a long time coming. For one, Sag says there’s a resurgence in interest in wired earbuds, specifically EarPods, Apple’s wired earbuds that predate AirPods. Not only are they cheap, but they also deliver much higher fidelity than lots of wireless earbuds you can buy, even in the midrange. Then there’s the comeback of formats like vinyl and CDs, which have helped to create more interest in the idea of owning music as opposed to just borrowing it through a streaming service. Owning things! Remember that? It’s that last part, streaming, that feels particularly potent, though. As convenient as streaming music is, people have felt the slow creep of subscriptions on their wallets, and Spotify is a part of that. In January, Spotify raised its prices once again, this time reaching a month. For context, in 2023, subscription fees rose from .99 to .99, and again in 2024 from .99 to .99. Apple Music is more affordable, but not by much at per month. It’s been a slow turn of the dial, but coupled with the weight of other streaming services, the burden is palpable. And how does one deal with that burden? By opting out, of course. © Cate Gillon / Staff “I think people are evaluating all their streaming services, whether it’s music or TV or movies…because the price has ballooned,” Sag told Gizmodo. “Every time a service goes up in price, they become hyperaware of all the streaming services they’re paying for, and that includes music. Sag also says that the younger generation is also more aware of how artists make money and how much of a cut they get from streaming services. “They might not want to actually pay for the streaming service because they don’t think the artists are getting what they deserve and might otherwise just pay for the music directly from the artist and put it on their iPod, or whatever their choice of music player is.” As others have covered, it’s impossible to discount the ripple effects from the backlash against phones when it comes to nostalgic gadgets like iPods. There’s a yearning for phone-free experiences, and iPods deliver that. Sag notes that there’s also independence with gadgets like iPods or CDs and vinyl that appeals to those (particularly Gen Z) who feel bereft of things to hold onto. “There’s a demand for something that isn’t tied to a streaming connection that always sounds good, no matter where you are—and you’re in control of the experience,” Sag says. “And that’s why I think stuff like iPods is having a bit of a comeback.” Mostly, it’s what Sag calls “a perfect storm.” There’s no one answer to why iPods are back, and whether our love of them ever left is debatable, but somehow they do feel magnetic again. We’ll probably not live to see the day when new iPods exist, getting churned out of Foxconn like the next iPhone, but that’s for the best. They’d probably just have Apple Music on them anyway. #World #Basically #Begging #iPodApple,audio,iPod
© Mario Tama / Getty Images

On a more iPod-specific note, there are also people trying to replicate the iPod experience on your phone, like this guy building an iPod maker. Or how about people marrying AirPods Max with an iPod—wires and all. It’s even inspiring new products, like this upcoming AI gadget from two ex-Apple employees who tell Wired that the iPod Shuffle was a big inspiration design-wise. Those are all just window dressing, though, compared to the loads of people who actually bother to refurbish iPods, whether for personal use, resale, or because they’re nostalgic about the days when you could walk around listening to music without your phone delivering stress-inducing emails.

None of this interest in iPods is brand new, by any means—people have been modding iPods or selling them secondhand for a while now, but it feels as though it’s reached a tipping point. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly iPods feel more relevant than ever, but nostalgia doesn’t quite cover it.

There’s also the Spotify of it all.

Remember owning stuff?

There’s no denying that nostalgia is a driving force in the iPod’s renewed relevance. Gen Z in particular has zeroed in on the early-2000s for inspiration, whether in fashion or tech, and there’s not a more iconic gadget from the early aughts than the iPod.

According to Anshel Sag, a tech analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy, renewed interest in the iPod has been a long time coming. For one, Sag says there’s a resurgence in interest in wired earbuds, specifically EarPods, Apple’s wired earbuds that predate AirPods. Not only are they cheap, but they also deliver much higher fidelity than lots of wireless earbuds you can buy, even in the midrange.

Then there’s the comeback of formats like vinyl and CDs, which have helped to create more interest in the idea of owning music as opposed to just borrowing it through a streaming service. Owning things! Remember that?

It’s that last part, streaming, that feels particularly potent, though. As convenient as streaming music is, people have felt the slow creep of subscriptions on their wallets, and Spotify is a part of that. In January, Spotify raised its prices once again, this time reaching $13 a month. For context, in 2023, subscription fees rose from $9.99 to $10.99, and again in 2024 from $10.99 to $11.99. Apple Music is more affordable, but not by much at $11 per month.

It’s been a slow turn of the dial, but coupled with the weight of other streaming services, the burden is palpable. And how does one deal with that burden? By opting out, of course.

New Ipod Launch
© Cate Gillon / Staff

“I think people are evaluating all their streaming services, whether it’s music or TV or movies…because the price has ballooned,” Sag told Gizmodo. “Every time a service goes up in price, they become hyperaware of all the streaming services they’re paying for, and that includes music.

Sag also says that the younger generation is also more aware of how artists make money and how much of a cut they get from streaming services. “They might not want to actually pay for the streaming service because they don’t think the artists are getting what they deserve and might otherwise just pay for the music directly from the artist and put it on their iPod, or whatever their choice of music player is.”

As others have covered, it’s impossible to discount the ripple effects from the backlash against phones when it comes to nostalgic gadgets like iPods. There’s a yearning for phone-free experiences, and iPods deliver that. Sag notes that there’s also independence with gadgets like iPods or CDs and vinyl that appeals to those (particularly Gen Z) who feel bereft of things to hold onto.

“There’s a demand for something that isn’t tied to a streaming connection that always sounds good, no matter where you are—and you’re in control of the experience,” Sag says. “And that’s why I think stuff like iPods is having a bit of a comeback.”

Mostly, it’s what Sag calls “a perfect storm.” There’s no one answer to why iPods are back, and whether our love of them ever left is debatable, but somehow they do feel magnetic again. We’ll probably not live to see the day when new iPods exist, getting churned out of Foxconn like the next iPhone, but that’s for the best. They’d probably just have Apple Music on them anyway.

#World #Basically #Begging #iPodApple,audio,iPod">The World Is Basically Begging for Another iPod Audio nostalgia is a thing right now, and it’s not just wired earbuds enjoying all of the shine. A yearning for wired audio is bringing its good friend along for the ride: the king of all things MP3. The one, the only, the iPod. That’s right, the iPod is f*cking back. Not in an official sense, of course—it was discontinued officially in 2022—but it’s back in a very unofficial capacity. By nostalgia’s standards, the iPod is relevant once more, and you’ve probably got your phone (or the icky apps in it) to thank for that. Okay, but how “back” is it? The iPod is pretty back, to be honest. As the AP notes, secondhand sites like eBay are basically loaded with listings for used iPods, and on a more empirical level, Back Market, which also sells used and refurbished electronics, tells the AP that used iPod sales jumped 48% since 2024. Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing the iPod everywhere, not just in a literal sense, but in a spiritual one. As I’ve written about before, digital audio players (DAPs) are seemingly a real category again, and new DAPs come in all shapes and sizes. There are DAPs shaped like cassette players, big utilitarian rectangles, and tiny little MP3-playing hunks of plastic. None of them has the iPod’s iconic click wheel, of course, but the spirit that the iPod helped popularize is still there. It’s a dedicated device that carries your music and almost nothing more. © Mario Tama / Getty Images On a more iPod-specific note, there are also people trying to replicate the iPod experience on your phone, like this guy building an iPod maker. Or how about people marrying AirPods Max with an iPod—wires and all. It’s even inspiring new products, like this upcoming AI gadget from two ex-Apple employees who tell Wired that the iPod Shuffle was a big inspiration design-wise. Those are all just window dressing, though, compared to the loads of people who actually bother to refurbish iPods, whether for personal use, resale, or because they’re nostalgic about the days when you could walk around listening to music without your phone delivering stress-inducing emails. None of this interest in iPods is brand new, by any means—people have been modding iPods or selling them secondhand for a while now, but it feels as though it’s reached a tipping point. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly iPods feel more relevant than ever, but nostalgia doesn’t quite cover it. There’s also the Spotify of it all. Remember owning stuff? There’s no denying that nostalgia is a driving force in the iPod’s renewed relevance. Gen Z in particular has zeroed in on the early-2000s for inspiration, whether in fashion or tech, and there’s not a more iconic gadget from the early aughts than the iPod. According to Anshel Sag, a tech analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy, renewed interest in the iPod has been a long time coming. For one, Sag says there’s a resurgence in interest in wired earbuds, specifically EarPods, Apple’s wired earbuds that predate AirPods. Not only are they cheap, but they also deliver much higher fidelity than lots of wireless earbuds you can buy, even in the midrange. Then there’s the comeback of formats like vinyl and CDs, which have helped to create more interest in the idea of owning music as opposed to just borrowing it through a streaming service. Owning things! Remember that? It’s that last part, streaming, that feels particularly potent, though. As convenient as streaming music is, people have felt the slow creep of subscriptions on their wallets, and Spotify is a part of that. In January, Spotify raised its prices once again, this time reaching a month. For context, in 2023, subscription fees rose from .99 to .99, and again in 2024 from .99 to .99. Apple Music is more affordable, but not by much at per month. It’s been a slow turn of the dial, but coupled with the weight of other streaming services, the burden is palpable. And how does one deal with that burden? By opting out, of course. © Cate Gillon / Staff “I think people are evaluating all their streaming services, whether it’s music or TV or movies…because the price has ballooned,” Sag told Gizmodo. “Every time a service goes up in price, they become hyperaware of all the streaming services they’re paying for, and that includes music. Sag also says that the younger generation is also more aware of how artists make money and how much of a cut they get from streaming services. “They might not want to actually pay for the streaming service because they don’t think the artists are getting what they deserve and might otherwise just pay for the music directly from the artist and put it on their iPod, or whatever their choice of music player is.” As others have covered, it’s impossible to discount the ripple effects from the backlash against phones when it comes to nostalgic gadgets like iPods. There’s a yearning for phone-free experiences, and iPods deliver that. Sag notes that there’s also independence with gadgets like iPods or CDs and vinyl that appeals to those (particularly Gen Z) who feel bereft of things to hold onto. “There’s a demand for something that isn’t tied to a streaming connection that always sounds good, no matter where you are—and you’re in control of the experience,” Sag says. “And that’s why I think stuff like iPods is having a bit of a comeback.” Mostly, it’s what Sag calls “a perfect storm.” There’s no one answer to why iPods are back, and whether our love of them ever left is debatable, but somehow they do feel magnetic again. We’ll probably not live to see the day when new iPods exist, getting churned out of Foxconn like the next iPhone, but that’s for the best. They’d probably just have Apple Music on them anyway. #World #Basically #Begging #iPodApple,audio,iPod

enjoying all of the shine. A yearning for wired audio is bringing its good friend along for the ride: the king of all things MP3. The one, the only, the iPod.

That’s right, the iPod is f*cking back. Not in an official sense, of course—it was discontinued officially in 2022—but it’s back in a very unofficial capacity. By nostalgia’s standards, the iPod is relevant once more, and you’ve probably got your phone (or the icky apps in it) to thank for that.

Okay, but how “back” is it?

The iPod is pretty back, to be honest. As the AP notes, secondhand sites like eBay are basically loaded with listings for used iPods, and on a more empirical level, Back Market, which also sells used and refurbished electronics, tells the AP that used iPod sales jumped 48% since 2024.

Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing the iPod everywhere, not just in a literal sense, but in a spiritual one. As I’ve written about before, digital audio players (DAPs) are seemingly a real category again, and new DAPs come in all shapes and sizes. There are DAPs shaped like cassette players, big utilitarian rectangles, and tiny little MP3-playing hunks of plastic. None of them has the iPod’s iconic click wheel, of course, but the spirit that the iPod helped popularize is still there. It’s a dedicated device that carries your music and almost nothing more.

The World Is Basically Begging for Another iPod Audio nostalgia is a thing right now, and it’s not just wired earbuds enjoying all of the shine. A yearning for wired audio is bringing its good friend along for the ride: the king of all things MP3. The one, the only, the iPod. That’s right, the iPod is f*cking back. Not in an official sense, of course—it was discontinued officially in 2022—but it’s back in a very unofficial capacity. By nostalgia’s standards, the iPod is relevant once more, and you’ve probably got your phone (or the icky apps in it) to thank for that. Okay, but how “back” is it? The iPod is pretty back, to be honest. As the AP notes, secondhand sites like eBay are basically loaded with listings for used iPods, and on a more empirical level, Back Market, which also sells used and refurbished electronics, tells the AP that used iPod sales jumped 48% since 2024. Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing the iPod everywhere, not just in a literal sense, but in a spiritual one. As I’ve written about before, digital audio players (DAPs) are seemingly a real category again, and new DAPs come in all shapes and sizes. There are DAPs shaped like cassette players, big utilitarian rectangles, and tiny little MP3-playing hunks of plastic. None of them has the iPod’s iconic click wheel, of course, but the spirit that the iPod helped popularize is still there. It’s a dedicated device that carries your music and almost nothing more. © Mario Tama / Getty Images On a more iPod-specific note, there are also people trying to replicate the iPod experience on your phone, like this guy building an iPod maker. Or how about people marrying AirPods Max with an iPod—wires and all. It’s even inspiring new products, like this upcoming AI gadget from two ex-Apple employees who tell Wired that the iPod Shuffle was a big inspiration design-wise. Those are all just window dressing, though, compared to the loads of people who actually bother to refurbish iPods, whether for personal use, resale, or because they’re nostalgic about the days when you could walk around listening to music without your phone delivering stress-inducing emails. None of this interest in iPods is brand new, by any means—people have been modding iPods or selling them secondhand for a while now, but it feels as though it’s reached a tipping point. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly iPods feel more relevant than ever, but nostalgia doesn’t quite cover it. There’s also the Spotify of it all. Remember owning stuff? There’s no denying that nostalgia is a driving force in the iPod’s renewed relevance. Gen Z in particular has zeroed in on the early-2000s for inspiration, whether in fashion or tech, and there’s not a more iconic gadget from the early aughts than the iPod. According to Anshel Sag, a tech analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy, renewed interest in the iPod has been a long time coming. For one, Sag says there’s a resurgence in interest in wired earbuds, specifically EarPods, Apple’s wired earbuds that predate AirPods. Not only are they cheap, but they also deliver much higher fidelity than lots of wireless earbuds you can buy, even in the midrange. Then there’s the comeback of formats like vinyl and CDs, which have helped to create more interest in the idea of owning music as opposed to just borrowing it through a streaming service. Owning things! Remember that? It’s that last part, streaming, that feels particularly potent, though. As convenient as streaming music is, people have felt the slow creep of subscriptions on their wallets, and Spotify is a part of that. In January, Spotify raised its prices once again, this time reaching a month. For context, in 2023, subscription fees rose from .99 to .99, and again in 2024 from .99 to .99. Apple Music is more affordable, but not by much at per month. It’s been a slow turn of the dial, but coupled with the weight of other streaming services, the burden is palpable. And how does one deal with that burden? By opting out, of course. © Cate Gillon / Staff “I think people are evaluating all their streaming services, whether it’s music or TV or movies…because the price has ballooned,” Sag told Gizmodo. “Every time a service goes up in price, they become hyperaware of all the streaming services they’re paying for, and that includes music. Sag also says that the younger generation is also more aware of how artists make money and how much of a cut they get from streaming services. “They might not want to actually pay for the streaming service because they don’t think the artists are getting what they deserve and might otherwise just pay for the music directly from the artist and put it on their iPod, or whatever their choice of music player is.” As others have covered, it’s impossible to discount the ripple effects from the backlash against phones when it comes to nostalgic gadgets like iPods. There’s a yearning for phone-free experiences, and iPods deliver that. Sag notes that there’s also independence with gadgets like iPods or CDs and vinyl that appeals to those (particularly Gen Z) who feel bereft of things to hold onto. “There’s a demand for something that isn’t tied to a streaming connection that always sounds good, no matter where you are—and you’re in control of the experience,” Sag says. “And that’s why I think stuff like iPods is having a bit of a comeback.” Mostly, it’s what Sag calls “a perfect storm.” There’s no one answer to why iPods are back, and whether our love of them ever left is debatable, but somehow they do feel magnetic again. We’ll probably not live to see the day when new iPods exist, getting churned out of Foxconn like the next iPhone, but that’s for the best. They’d probably just have Apple Music on them anyway. #World #Basically #Begging #iPodApple,audio,iPod
© Mario Tama / Getty Images

On a more iPod-specific note, there are also people trying to replicate the iPod experience on your phone, like this guy building an iPod maker. Or how about people marrying AirPods Max with an iPod—wires and all. It’s even inspiring new products, like this upcoming AI gadget from two ex-Apple employees who tell Wired that the iPod Shuffle was a big inspiration design-wise. Those are all just window dressing, though, compared to the loads of people who actually bother to refurbish iPods, whether for personal use, resale, or because they’re nostalgic about the days when you could walk around listening to music without your phone delivering stress-inducing emails.

None of this interest in iPods is brand new, by any means—people have been modding iPods or selling them secondhand for a while now, but it feels as though it’s reached a tipping point. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly iPods feel more relevant than ever, but nostalgia doesn’t quite cover it.

There’s also the Spotify of it all.

Remember owning stuff?

There’s no denying that nostalgia is a driving force in the iPod’s renewed relevance. Gen Z in particular has zeroed in on the early-2000s for inspiration, whether in fashion or tech, and there’s not a more iconic gadget from the early aughts than the iPod.

According to Anshel Sag, a tech analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy, renewed interest in the iPod has been a long time coming. For one, Sag says there’s a resurgence in interest in wired earbuds, specifically EarPods, Apple’s wired earbuds that predate AirPods. Not only are they cheap, but they also deliver much higher fidelity than lots of wireless earbuds you can buy, even in the midrange.

Then there’s the comeback of formats like vinyl and CDs, which have helped to create more interest in the idea of owning music as opposed to just borrowing it through a streaming service. Owning things! Remember that?

It’s that last part, streaming, that feels particularly potent, though. As convenient as streaming music is, people have felt the slow creep of subscriptions on their wallets, and Spotify is a part of that. In January, Spotify raised its prices once again, this time reaching $13 a month. For context, in 2023, subscription fees rose from $9.99 to $10.99, and again in 2024 from $10.99 to $11.99. Apple Music is more affordable, but not by much at $11 per month.

It’s been a slow turn of the dial, but coupled with the weight of other streaming services, the burden is palpable. And how does one deal with that burden? By opting out, of course.

New Ipod Launch
© Cate Gillon / Staff

“I think people are evaluating all their streaming services, whether it’s music or TV or movies…because the price has ballooned,” Sag told Gizmodo. “Every time a service goes up in price, they become hyperaware of all the streaming services they’re paying for, and that includes music.

Sag also says that the younger generation is also more aware of how artists make money and how much of a cut they get from streaming services. “They might not want to actually pay for the streaming service because they don’t think the artists are getting what they deserve and might otherwise just pay for the music directly from the artist and put it on their iPod, or whatever their choice of music player is.”

As others have covered, it’s impossible to discount the ripple effects from the backlash against phones when it comes to nostalgic gadgets like iPods. There’s a yearning for phone-free experiences, and iPods deliver that. Sag notes that there’s also independence with gadgets like iPods or CDs and vinyl that appeals to those (particularly Gen Z) who feel bereft of things to hold onto.

“There’s a demand for something that isn’t tied to a streaming connection that always sounds good, no matter where you are—and you’re in control of the experience,” Sag says. “And that’s why I think stuff like iPods is having a bit of a comeback.”

Mostly, it’s what Sag calls “a perfect storm.” There’s no one answer to why iPods are back, and whether our love of them ever left is debatable, but somehow they do feel magnetic again. We’ll probably not live to see the day when new iPods exist, getting churned out of Foxconn like the next iPhone, but that’s for the best. They’d probably just have Apple Music on them anyway.

#World #Basically #Begging #iPodApple,audio,iPod">The World Is Basically Begging for Another iPod

Audio nostalgia is a thing right now, and it’s not just wired earbuds enjoying all of the shine. A yearning for wired audio is bringing its good friend along for the ride: the king of all things MP3. The one, the only, the iPod.

That’s right, the iPod is f*cking back. Not in an official sense, of course—it was discontinued officially in 2022—but it’s back in a very unofficial capacity. By nostalgia’s standards, the iPod is relevant once more, and you’ve probably got your phone (or the icky apps in it) to thank for that.

Okay, but how “back” is it?

The iPod is pretty back, to be honest. As the AP notes, secondhand sites like eBay are basically loaded with listings for used iPods, and on a more empirical level, Back Market, which also sells used and refurbished electronics, tells the AP that used iPod sales jumped 48% since 2024.

Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing the iPod everywhere, not just in a literal sense, but in a spiritual one. As I’ve written about before, digital audio players (DAPs) are seemingly a real category again, and new DAPs come in all shapes and sizes. There are DAPs shaped like cassette players, big utilitarian rectangles, and tiny little MP3-playing hunks of plastic. None of them has the iPod’s iconic click wheel, of course, but the spirit that the iPod helped popularize is still there. It’s a dedicated device that carries your music and almost nothing more.

The World Is Basically Begging for Another iPod Audio nostalgia is a thing right now, and it’s not just wired earbuds enjoying all of the shine. A yearning for wired audio is bringing its good friend along for the ride: the king of all things MP3. The one, the only, the iPod. That’s right, the iPod is f*cking back. Not in an official sense, of course—it was discontinued officially in 2022—but it’s back in a very unofficial capacity. By nostalgia’s standards, the iPod is relevant once more, and you’ve probably got your phone (or the icky apps in it) to thank for that. Okay, but how “back” is it? The iPod is pretty back, to be honest. As the AP notes, secondhand sites like eBay are basically loaded with listings for used iPods, and on a more empirical level, Back Market, which also sells used and refurbished electronics, tells the AP that used iPod sales jumped 48% since 2024. Anecdotally, I’ve been seeing the iPod everywhere, not just in a literal sense, but in a spiritual one. As I’ve written about before, digital audio players (DAPs) are seemingly a real category again, and new DAPs come in all shapes and sizes. There are DAPs shaped like cassette players, big utilitarian rectangles, and tiny little MP3-playing hunks of plastic. None of them has the iPod’s iconic click wheel, of course, but the spirit that the iPod helped popularize is still there. It’s a dedicated device that carries your music and almost nothing more. © Mario Tama / Getty Images On a more iPod-specific note, there are also people trying to replicate the iPod experience on your phone, like this guy building an iPod maker. Or how about people marrying AirPods Max with an iPod—wires and all. It’s even inspiring new products, like this upcoming AI gadget from two ex-Apple employees who tell Wired that the iPod Shuffle was a big inspiration design-wise. Those are all just window dressing, though, compared to the loads of people who actually bother to refurbish iPods, whether for personal use, resale, or because they’re nostalgic about the days when you could walk around listening to music without your phone delivering stress-inducing emails. None of this interest in iPods is brand new, by any means—people have been modding iPods or selling them secondhand for a while now, but it feels as though it’s reached a tipping point. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly iPods feel more relevant than ever, but nostalgia doesn’t quite cover it. There’s also the Spotify of it all. Remember owning stuff? There’s no denying that nostalgia is a driving force in the iPod’s renewed relevance. Gen Z in particular has zeroed in on the early-2000s for inspiration, whether in fashion or tech, and there’s not a more iconic gadget from the early aughts than the iPod. According to Anshel Sag, a tech analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy, renewed interest in the iPod has been a long time coming. For one, Sag says there’s a resurgence in interest in wired earbuds, specifically EarPods, Apple’s wired earbuds that predate AirPods. Not only are they cheap, but they also deliver much higher fidelity than lots of wireless earbuds you can buy, even in the midrange. Then there’s the comeback of formats like vinyl and CDs, which have helped to create more interest in the idea of owning music as opposed to just borrowing it through a streaming service. Owning things! Remember that? It’s that last part, streaming, that feels particularly potent, though. As convenient as streaming music is, people have felt the slow creep of subscriptions on their wallets, and Spotify is a part of that. In January, Spotify raised its prices once again, this time reaching a month. For context, in 2023, subscription fees rose from .99 to .99, and again in 2024 from .99 to .99. Apple Music is more affordable, but not by much at per month. It’s been a slow turn of the dial, but coupled with the weight of other streaming services, the burden is palpable. And how does one deal with that burden? By opting out, of course. © Cate Gillon / Staff “I think people are evaluating all their streaming services, whether it’s music or TV or movies…because the price has ballooned,” Sag told Gizmodo. “Every time a service goes up in price, they become hyperaware of all the streaming services they’re paying for, and that includes music. Sag also says that the younger generation is also more aware of how artists make money and how much of a cut they get from streaming services. “They might not want to actually pay for the streaming service because they don’t think the artists are getting what they deserve and might otherwise just pay for the music directly from the artist and put it on their iPod, or whatever their choice of music player is.” As others have covered, it’s impossible to discount the ripple effects from the backlash against phones when it comes to nostalgic gadgets like iPods. There’s a yearning for phone-free experiences, and iPods deliver that. Sag notes that there’s also independence with gadgets like iPods or CDs and vinyl that appeals to those (particularly Gen Z) who feel bereft of things to hold onto. “There’s a demand for something that isn’t tied to a streaming connection that always sounds good, no matter where you are—and you’re in control of the experience,” Sag says. “And that’s why I think stuff like iPods is having a bit of a comeback.” Mostly, it’s what Sag calls “a perfect storm.” There’s no one answer to why iPods are back, and whether our love of them ever left is debatable, but somehow they do feel magnetic again. We’ll probably not live to see the day when new iPods exist, getting churned out of Foxconn like the next iPhone, but that’s for the best. They’d probably just have Apple Music on them anyway. #World #Basically #Begging #iPodApple,audio,iPod
© Mario Tama / Getty Images

On a more iPod-specific note, there are also people trying to replicate the iPod experience on your phone, like this guy building an iPod maker. Or how about people marrying AirPods Max with an iPod—wires and all. It’s even inspiring new products, like this upcoming AI gadget from two ex-Apple employees who tell Wired that the iPod Shuffle was a big inspiration design-wise. Those are all just window dressing, though, compared to the loads of people who actually bother to refurbish iPods, whether for personal use, resale, or because they’re nostalgic about the days when you could walk around listening to music without your phone delivering stress-inducing emails.

None of this interest in iPods is brand new, by any means—people have been modding iPods or selling them secondhand for a while now, but it feels as though it’s reached a tipping point. It’s hard to pinpoint why exactly iPods feel more relevant than ever, but nostalgia doesn’t quite cover it.

There’s also the Spotify of it all.

Remember owning stuff?

There’s no denying that nostalgia is a driving force in the iPod’s renewed relevance. Gen Z in particular has zeroed in on the early-2000s for inspiration, whether in fashion or tech, and there’s not a more iconic gadget from the early aughts than the iPod.

According to Anshel Sag, a tech analyst for Moor Insights & Strategy, renewed interest in the iPod has been a long time coming. For one, Sag says there’s a resurgence in interest in wired earbuds, specifically EarPods, Apple’s wired earbuds that predate AirPods. Not only are they cheap, but they also deliver much higher fidelity than lots of wireless earbuds you can buy, even in the midrange.

Then there’s the comeback of formats like vinyl and CDs, which have helped to create more interest in the idea of owning music as opposed to just borrowing it through a streaming service. Owning things! Remember that?

It’s that last part, streaming, that feels particularly potent, though. As convenient as streaming music is, people have felt the slow creep of subscriptions on their wallets, and Spotify is a part of that. In January, Spotify raised its prices once again, this time reaching $13 a month. For context, in 2023, subscription fees rose from $9.99 to $10.99, and again in 2024 from $10.99 to $11.99. Apple Music is more affordable, but not by much at $11 per month.

It’s been a slow turn of the dial, but coupled with the weight of other streaming services, the burden is palpable. And how does one deal with that burden? By opting out, of course.

New Ipod Launch
© Cate Gillon / Staff

“I think people are evaluating all their streaming services, whether it’s music or TV or movies…because the price has ballooned,” Sag told Gizmodo. “Every time a service goes up in price, they become hyperaware of all the streaming services they’re paying for, and that includes music.

Sag also says that the younger generation is also more aware of how artists make money and how much of a cut they get from streaming services. “They might not want to actually pay for the streaming service because they don’t think the artists are getting what they deserve and might otherwise just pay for the music directly from the artist and put it on their iPod, or whatever their choice of music player is.”

As others have covered, it’s impossible to discount the ripple effects from the backlash against phones when it comes to nostalgic gadgets like iPods. There’s a yearning for phone-free experiences, and iPods deliver that. Sag notes that there’s also independence with gadgets like iPods or CDs and vinyl that appeals to those (particularly Gen Z) who feel bereft of things to hold onto.

“There’s a demand for something that isn’t tied to a streaming connection that always sounds good, no matter where you are—and you’re in control of the experience,” Sag says. “And that’s why I think stuff like iPods is having a bit of a comeback.”

Mostly, it’s what Sag calls “a perfect storm.” There’s no one answer to why iPods are back, and whether our love of them ever left is debatable, but somehow they do feel magnetic again. We’ll probably not live to see the day when new iPods exist, getting churned out of Foxconn like the next iPhone, but that’s for the best. They’d probably just have Apple Music on them anyway.

#World #Basically #Begging #iPodApple,audio,iPod
A lot of these travel mugs tend to take the form of a sippy cup. But when sitting at home, my ideal pick is the Fellow Carter, which sips like a normal drinking vessel and is stainless steel—not plastic. It’s ceramic-lined on its interior to avoid coffee-oil buildup or any hint of metallic tang. If you like sippy cups, Fellow also offers a nice 3-in-1 lid system ($57) with straw and slider lids.

What I tend to do is drop a four-cup batch of coffee into the Carter, and screw the lid off and on when I take a sip. Sixteen ounces of coffee can stay warm for hours without introducing a lot of oxidation or heat. The coffee in a thermal-insulated drinking container tends to taste better, longer, than any coffee that’s been subjected to the heat and air of a coffee warmer.

This said, while the Carter is prettier than most travel mugs, it’s never going to be my favorite mug (which, for the record, is a Grinderman tour mug from 2010.) The Carter also doesn’t release aromatics quite as well as a more open-topped mug. I could, technically, keep coffee warm in the Carter and then pour it into another mug I am more sentimental about. But in practice, I don’t. I just drink out of the Carter. It’s still a good morning.

Other Coffee Mug Warmers We Recommend

Ember Mug 2 for $150: Oh, the Ember. It is likely the most sophisticated and technologically advanced of self-warming mugs. It has an app. It’ll light up a little LED or even notify your phone when your coffee is ready to drink. Honestly, one can go back and forth on its virtues and excesses. It’ll “wake up” when you pour coffee in. It’ll go to sleep when you’re not around. And unlike other picks here, it’s a true self-heating mug with a battery, and it can travel with you on your dog walk. But after using the Ember for years, WIRED reviewer Simon Hill turned instead to the Ohom Ui 3. Why? In part, it’s that the Ember only works with a proprietary mug that’s not dishwasher-safe or dunk-proof. Replacement mugs and heating elements are expensive. But mostly it was a yen for simplicity: Not everything needs an app, and thermal mugs are now good enough that I sort of prefer them while on the go. Still, the Ember mug has had fervent fans at WIRED, it’s a nifty device, and its makers are continually working to improve it. Arguably, the people at Ember are thinking harder about coffee warming than anyone alive, and I’ll always happily test the next and the next version to see what’s up their sleeve.

Bestinnkits Mug Warmer for $26: This utilitarian little mug warmer turns on when you have a mug atop it, and turns off when you don’t. The scale is its only “smart” feature. No Alexa, no Siri, no app. This is a nice feature, and great for safety. This said, it does mean the warmer doesn’t start warming till your cup’s atop it, vs a warmer like the Cosori or Mr. Coffee that can preheat before your cup is there and thus keep temp immediately. It’s a decision, and it’s yours to make. The cost difference is somewhat negligible among them all.

#Dont #Drink #Lukewarm #Coffee #Warmershopping,kitchen,buying guides,food and drink,coffee">You Don’t Have to Drink Lukewarm Coffee Ever Again. Get a WarmerA lot of these travel mugs tend to take the form of a sippy cup. But when sitting at home, my ideal pick is the Fellow Carter, which sips like a normal drinking vessel and is stainless steel—not plastic. It’s ceramic-lined on its interior to avoid coffee-oil buildup or any hint of metallic tang. If you like sippy cups, Fellow also offers a nice 3-in-1 lid system () with straw and slider lids.What I tend to do is drop a four-cup batch of coffee into the Carter, and screw the lid off and on when I take a sip. Sixteen ounces of coffee can stay warm for hours without introducing a lot of oxidation or heat. The coffee in a thermal-insulated drinking container tends to taste better, longer, than any coffee that’s been subjected to the heat and air of a coffee warmer.This said, while the Carter is prettier than most travel mugs, it’s never going to be my favorite mug (which, for the record, is a Grinderman tour mug from 2010.) The Carter also doesn’t release aromatics quite as well as a more open-topped mug. I could, technically, keep coffee warm in the Carter and then pour it into another mug I am more sentimental about. But in practice, I don’t. I just drink out of the Carter. It’s still a good morning.Other Coffee Mug Warmers We RecommendEmber Mug 2 for 0: Oh, the Ember. It is likely the most sophisticated and technologically advanced of self-warming mugs. It has an app. It’ll light up a little LED or even notify your phone when your coffee is ready to drink. Honestly, one can go back and forth on its virtues and excesses. It’ll “wake up” when you pour coffee in. It’ll go to sleep when you’re not around. And unlike other picks here, it’s a true self-heating mug with a battery, and it can travel with you on your dog walk. But after using the Ember for years, WIRED reviewer Simon Hill turned instead to the Ohom Ui 3. Why? In part, it’s that the Ember only works with a proprietary mug that’s not dishwasher-safe or dunk-proof. Replacement mugs and heating elements are expensive. But mostly it was a yen for simplicity: Not everything needs an app, and thermal mugs are now good enough that I sort of prefer them while on the go. Still, the Ember mug has had fervent fans at WIRED, it’s a nifty device, and its makers are continually working to improve it. Arguably, the people at Ember are thinking harder about coffee warming than anyone alive, and I’ll always happily test the next and the next version to see what’s up their sleeve.Bestinnkits Mug Warmer for : This utilitarian little mug warmer turns on when you have a mug atop it, and turns off when you don’t. The scale is its only “smart” feature. No Alexa, no Siri, no app. This is a nice feature, and great for safety. This said, it does mean the warmer doesn’t start warming till your cup’s atop it, vs a warmer like the Cosori or Mr. Coffee that can preheat before your cup is there and thus keep temp immediately. It’s a decision, and it’s yours to make. The cost difference is somewhat negligible among them all.#Dont #Drink #Lukewarm #Coffee #Warmershopping,kitchen,buying guides,food and drink,coffee

3-in-1 lid system ($57) with straw and slider lids.

What I tend to do is drop a four-cup batch of coffee into the Carter, and screw the lid off and on when I take a sip. Sixteen ounces of coffee can stay warm for hours without introducing a lot of oxidation or heat. The coffee in a thermal-insulated drinking container tends to taste better, longer, than any coffee that’s been subjected to the heat and air of a coffee warmer.

This said, while the Carter is prettier than most travel mugs, it’s never going to be my favorite mug (which, for the record, is a Grinderman tour mug from 2010.) The Carter also doesn’t release aromatics quite as well as a more open-topped mug. I could, technically, keep coffee warm in the Carter and then pour it into another mug I am more sentimental about. But in practice, I don’t. I just drink out of the Carter. It’s still a good morning.

Other Coffee Mug Warmers We Recommend

Ember Mug 2 for $150: Oh, the Ember. It is likely the most sophisticated and technologically advanced of self-warming mugs. It has an app. It’ll light up a little LED or even notify your phone when your coffee is ready to drink. Honestly, one can go back and forth on its virtues and excesses. It’ll “wake up” when you pour coffee in. It’ll go to sleep when you’re not around. And unlike other picks here, it’s a true self-heating mug with a battery, and it can travel with you on your dog walk. But after using the Ember for years, WIRED reviewer Simon Hill turned instead to the Ohom Ui 3. Why? In part, it’s that the Ember only works with a proprietary mug that’s not dishwasher-safe or dunk-proof. Replacement mugs and heating elements are expensive. But mostly it was a yen for simplicity: Not everything needs an app, and thermal mugs are now good enough that I sort of prefer them while on the go. Still, the Ember mug has had fervent fans at WIRED, it’s a nifty device, and its makers are continually working to improve it. Arguably, the people at Ember are thinking harder about coffee warming than anyone alive, and I’ll always happily test the next and the next version to see what’s up their sleeve.

Bestinnkits Mug Warmer for $26: This utilitarian little mug warmer turns on when you have a mug atop it, and turns off when you don’t. The scale is its only “smart” feature. No Alexa, no Siri, no app. This is a nice feature, and great for safety. This said, it does mean the warmer doesn’t start warming till your cup’s atop it, vs a warmer like the Cosori or Mr. Coffee that can preheat before your cup is there and thus keep temp immediately. It’s a decision, and it’s yours to make. The cost difference is somewhat negligible among them all.

#Dont #Drink #Lukewarm #Coffee #Warmershopping,kitchen,buying guides,food and drink,coffee">You Don’t Have to Drink Lukewarm Coffee Ever Again. Get a Warmer

A lot of these travel mugs tend to take the form of a sippy cup. But when sitting at home, my ideal pick is the Fellow Carter, which sips like a normal drinking vessel and is stainless steel—not plastic. It’s ceramic-lined on its interior to avoid coffee-oil buildup or any hint of metallic tang. If you like sippy cups, Fellow also offers a nice 3-in-1 lid system ($57) with straw and slider lids.

What I tend to do is drop a four-cup batch of coffee into the Carter, and screw the lid off and on when I take a sip. Sixteen ounces of coffee can stay warm for hours without introducing a lot of oxidation or heat. The coffee in a thermal-insulated drinking container tends to taste better, longer, than any coffee that’s been subjected to the heat and air of a coffee warmer.

This said, while the Carter is prettier than most travel mugs, it’s never going to be my favorite mug (which, for the record, is a Grinderman tour mug from 2010.) The Carter also doesn’t release aromatics quite as well as a more open-topped mug. I could, technically, keep coffee warm in the Carter and then pour it into another mug I am more sentimental about. But in practice, I don’t. I just drink out of the Carter. It’s still a good morning.

Other Coffee Mug Warmers We Recommend

Ember Mug 2 for $150: Oh, the Ember. It is likely the most sophisticated and technologically advanced of self-warming mugs. It has an app. It’ll light up a little LED or even notify your phone when your coffee is ready to drink. Honestly, one can go back and forth on its virtues and excesses. It’ll “wake up” when you pour coffee in. It’ll go to sleep when you’re not around. And unlike other picks here, it’s a true self-heating mug with a battery, and it can travel with you on your dog walk. But after using the Ember for years, WIRED reviewer Simon Hill turned instead to the Ohom Ui 3. Why? In part, it’s that the Ember only works with a proprietary mug that’s not dishwasher-safe or dunk-proof. Replacement mugs and heating elements are expensive. But mostly it was a yen for simplicity: Not everything needs an app, and thermal mugs are now good enough that I sort of prefer them while on the go. Still, the Ember mug has had fervent fans at WIRED, it’s a nifty device, and its makers are continually working to improve it. Arguably, the people at Ember are thinking harder about coffee warming than anyone alive, and I’ll always happily test the next and the next version to see what’s up their sleeve.

Bestinnkits Mug Warmer for $26: This utilitarian little mug warmer turns on when you have a mug atop it, and turns off when you don’t. The scale is its only “smart” feature. No Alexa, no Siri, no app. This is a nice feature, and great for safety. This said, it does mean the warmer doesn’t start warming till your cup’s atop it, vs a warmer like the Cosori or Mr. Coffee that can preheat before your cup is there and thus keep temp immediately. It’s a decision, and it’s yours to make. The cost difference is somewhat negligible among them all.

#Dont #Drink #Lukewarm #Coffee #Warmershopping,kitchen,buying guides,food and drink,coffee

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it’ll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today’s Hurdle, don’t worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Royalty.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

QUEEN

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A huge fight.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 12, 2026

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BRAWL

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Rope.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 12
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 12, 2026

Hurdle Word 3 answer

NOOSE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A particle.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

QUARK

Final Hurdle hint

An extension.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable

Hurdle Word 5 answer

ANNEX

If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

#Todays #Hurdle #hints #answers #April">Today’s Hurdle hints and answers for April 12, 2026 If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine. There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it’ll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle. Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators todayIf you find yourself stuck at any step of today’s Hurdle, don’t worry! We have you covered. SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers Hurdle Word 1 hintRoyalty. SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is 0 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted. Hurdle Word 1 answerQUEEN Mashable Top Stories Hurdle Word 2 hintA huge fight. SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 12, 2026 Hurdle Word 2 AnswerBRAWLMashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators todayHurdle Word 3 hintRope. SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 12 SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 12, 2026 Hurdle Word 3 answerNOOSEHurdle Word 4 hintA particle.Hurdle Word 4 answerQUARKFinal Hurdle hintAn extension. SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable Hurdle Word 5 answerANNEXIf you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more. #Todays #Hurdle #hints #answers #April

Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it’ll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today’s Hurdle, don’t worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Royalty.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

QUEEN

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A huge fight.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 12, 2026

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BRAWL

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Rope.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 12
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 12, 2026

Hurdle Word 3 answer

NOOSE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A particle.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

QUARK

Final Hurdle hint

An extension.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable

Hurdle Word 5 answer

ANNEX

If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

#Todays #Hurdle #hints #answers #April">Today’s Hurdle hints and answers for April 12, 2026

If you like playing daily word games like Wordle, then Hurdle is a great game to add to your routine.

There are five rounds to the game. The first round sees you trying to guess the word, with correct, misplaced, and incorrect letters shown in each guess. If you guess the correct answer, it’ll take you to the next hurdle, providing the answer to the last hurdle as your first guess. This can give you several clues or none, depending on the words. For the final hurdle, every correct answer from previous hurdles is shown, with correct and misplaced letters clearly shown.

An important note is that the number of times a letter is highlighted from previous guesses does necessarily indicate the number of times that letter appears in the final hurdle.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

If you find yourself stuck at any step of today’s Hurdle, don’t worry! We have you covered.

SEE ALSO: Hurdle: Everything you need to know to find the answers

Hurdle Word 1 hint

Royalty.

SEE ALSO: Apple’s new M3 MacBook Air is $300 off at Amazon. And yes, I’m tempted.

Hurdle Word 1 answer

QUEEN

Hurdle Word 2 hint

A huge fight.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 12, 2026

Hurdle Word 2 Answer

BRAWL

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Hurdle Word 3 hint

Rope.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections Sports Edition today: Hints and answers for April 12
SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for April 12, 2026

Hurdle Word 3 answer

NOOSE

Hurdle Word 4 hint

A particle.

Hurdle Word 4 answer

QUARK

Final Hurdle hint

An extension.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Games available on Mashable

Hurdle Word 5 answer

ANNEX

If you’re looking for more puzzles, Mashable’s got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

#Todays #Hurdle #hints #answers #April

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