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How to make your iPhone’s alarm ring at full volume even when your calls are muted
Apple has finally decoupled alarm and ringtone volumes on the iPhone, addressing a long-standing complaint that turning down the ringtone (or muting calls) could also silence alarms, causing users to oversleep. The change arrives with iOS 27 and gives users independent control over how loudly alarms and timers sound, regardless of other volume settings, meaning…
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When is it no longer worth repairing your phone and buying a new one instead
An Engadget guide sets out how to decide whether a damaged smartphone is worth repairing or should be replaced, as rising memory prices linked to the AI boom push new device costs higher and flagship phones now regularly exceed $1,000. The advice matters because repair costs can vary enormously depending on the fault, and getting…
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Sony launches WH-1000XM4C with enhanced audio profile and lower price
Sony is reviving its acclaimed WH-1000XM4 headphones as the WH-1000XM4C, alongside two new budget models, rather than releasing an entirely new upper-midrange headset. The XM4C keeps the original’s design and features, including QN1-chip noise cancellation and multipoint Bluetooth, but adds Sony’s newer sound profile, 10-band and gaming EQs, and Quick Access streaming shortcuts. This unusual…
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Turn off automatic CarPlay connection in iPhone settings
Apple’s CarPlay is designed to reconnect automatically to a paired iPhone whenever a driver gets into their car, but users who want a break from it, or wish to save battery, can easily switch this off. The feature is popular because it replaces manufacturers’ often clunky infotainment systems with an iOS-based interface, but there are…
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Sony brings back WH-1000XM4 headphones with new audio for $300
Sony has taken an unusual approach to refreshing its headphone lineup by reviving the well-regarded WH-1000XM4 rather than launching an all-new upper-midrange model. The reissued version, dubbed the WH-1000XM4C, keeps the original’s design and core features but adds Sony’s newer sound profile and EQ options, arriving this autumn at $300 — undercutting both the original…
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Apple unveils foldable iPhone at September event, priced above $2,000
Apple is widely expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone at an event on 9 September, more than five years after Samsung launched the first foldable smartphone. The device, reportedly dubbed the “iPhone Ultra”, is one of the most anticipated Apple launches in years, arriving as Tim Cook hands the CEO role to John Ternus…
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PS2 or GameCube: Which retro console emulates better?
An Engadget explainer compares emulation quality for the GameCube and PlayStation 2, two consoles now a quarter of a century old, weighing up their respective flagship emulators, Dolphin and PCSX2. The comparison matters for retro gaming enthusiasts deciding which platform to revisit on modern PCs, and it highlights how hardware architecture from the early 2000s…
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How to find and hide an app on Android Auto
Android Auto, used by around 250 million people worldwide, has a common quirk where apps occasionally vanish from its launcher without explanation. This isn’t usually a fault with Android Auto itself but a result of the phone’s battery optimisation settings, which quietly deactivate apps that haven’t been opened recently to save power. The fix is…
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Google’s trade-in programme beats Apple and Amazon on value
Google has launched its Pixel 11 lineup, with prices starting at $899 for the base model and rising to $1,900 for the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, but the company is offering unusually generous trade-in values that could significantly offset the cost for buyers upgrading from an older phone. This matters because trade-in rates at rivals…
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How to change Siri’s voice
Apple’s iOS 27 update will introduce a more expressive Siri voice, but the full customisation feature will only be available on the latest hardware, as the company continues trying to close the gap with Google and Samsung on AI assistant capabilities. Users don’t need to wait for the September update to make basic tweaks, however,…