It's always been said that accessories complete a look, so Apple has always made sure it has something to complement its iPhones.
Alongside the launch of its latest iPhone 16 line-up, the US tech giant also unveiled the latest iterations of its accessories, the AirPods and Apple Watch, which are also a key part of Apple's services unit – a big cog in the company's revenue stream in the past several years.
The National tests out new versions of these gadgets to find out if it's the right time to upgrade them, especially if you have an iPhone 16.
Watch Series 10
The newest Apple Watch is special: it marks the 10th anniversary of the device that created another pivotal moment in technology and watch history.
Apple Watch Series 10 – we would've preferred and expected Series X, similar to the iPhone X – now features the company's biggest screen on its digital timepiece, as well as its thinnest. Well, 46mm and 42mm are a mere 1mm over the previous three generations, but we can still say it's definitely come a long way since it was unveiled in 2014.
That allows for more information to be displayed on its OLED screen – have fun playing with complications on the watch faces – in addition to a new wide-angle feature that shows content up to 40 per cent brighter when viewed from certain angles. Its brightness, however, remains at a maximum of 2,000 nits, which can still be overwhelmed by really extreme sunlight.
Here's the caveat: Apple says you need to wear your Watch for at least 10 nights within a 30-day period in order for it to detect sleep apnoea. Each day, the app will let you know if you had elevated breathing disturbances the night before; more disturbances over those 30 days will prompt a notification that you may possibly have sleep apnoea.
So far, in the few days we've made a run through it, we fortunately have not received any notifications of elevated breathing disturbances. This feature is only available on the Series 9 and 10, and Ultra 2 models.
A PDF will then be produced that you can take to your doctor to discuss it further. Remember, the Apple Watch is not a medical device and that any health metrics measured with it should only be for reference; consult a health professional if you feel there is something amiss with your health, whether as a result of Watch metrics or not.
Sleep apnoea is a potentially dangerous disorder as it causes you to stop breathing while asleep. Over time, this condition can cause serious complications, but often very manageable, especially with close adherence to prescribed treatments, according to the Cleveland Clinic.
Aside from physical health, the Apple Watch also has improved tools for mental well-being. The State of Mind app lets you log emotions and moods, and help identify factors that contribute to stress. The same depression and anxiety assessments can be accessed on your device and shared with professionals, should you wish to seek more attention.
And, as a bonus for the upcoming World Mental Health Day on October 10, Watch users can earn a new limited-edition award; simply log in 10 mindful minutes with any app that adds data to the Health app on your iPhone to get it.
Series 10 also boasts faster charging times, promising up to 80 per cent in half an hour, compared to its predecessors' 45 minutes. Our test showed that it hit 72 per cent, which isn't bad.
The device still promises “all-day” battery life, which in other words means up to 18 hours of normal use; it did last well into the night from a full charge in the morning.
There's been some clamour for years now to bump up the Apple Watch's battery, but it seems to be designed for a cycle in which you'll have to charge it while sleeping – except when you want to keep track of your health metrics overnight, which would then force you to charge it practically anytime you're not wearing it. Maybe an “all-two-day” battery life would be better, similar to the Ultra variants?
AirPods 4
The new AirPods 4 comes in two options, the base option and a higher-end that features active noise cancellation (ANC); we have the latter, and that's what makes it stand out.
They've been cleverly redesigned – the buds are smaller and look sleeker, and Apple claims they're more comfortable compared to the AirPods 3, which we can attest to, fitting snugly into our ears. However, as all ears aren't built the same, others may say otherwise. Having used the AirPods Pro, we look for the soft touch of the silicone eartips.
The charging case, equipped with USB-C, has also been given a makeover, as it's now a slimmer, helping you to stow the device away in smaller pockets or spaces more easily.
An argument can be made that active noise cancellation on audio buds is a great deal, since it serves as some sort of earplug especially when venturing out or just when you wish to block out noise anywhere you are.
That being said, the ANC on the AirPods 4 works well, enough to shield you from unwanted sounds and noise. However, it doesn't block out, as expected, like the AirPods Pro, whose silicone tips help seal your ears better.
The usual controls are there on the AirPods 4's stems: squeeze once to answer a call or play/pause music, twice to skip a track forward and thrice to skip a track backward. Unfortunately, you can't toggle noise control modes and other using the stems, as you have to manually do them on your iPhone or Mac.
Apple, however, added a new neat trick: head gestures. When you receive a call, you can either nod your head up and down to accept it, or shake your head sideways to reject it. It's pretty accurate, and further gives credence to hands-free usage. You also still get Spatial Audio, which mimics an immersive theatre-like environment, just like in the Pro and Max models.
Here's where it gets questionable: Apple says the AirPods Pro 4 – both models – can give you up to five hours of listening time, down from the six hours on the AirPods Pro 3. Apple has never fully explained why this is the case, but we're assuming the added features have something to do with this. And if ANC is active, that's down further to four hours.
And with the charging case increasing that up to 30 hours, this means you can charge them up to five times before everything is drained. AirPods have always been quite accurate when it comes to playback time, so we're not really worried about this.
As for charging, Apple says a five-minute charge can provide up to one hour of use. And if you're going to charge them wirelessly, keep in mind that the AirPods 4 are only compatible with Qi-certified chargers and not with MagSafe accessories.
To summarise, the AirPods 4 have, compared to the non-ANC model and aside from ANC, adaptive audio, transparency mode and conversation awareness, staples on Apple audio tech. You get all of that for Dh749 – a couple of hundred dirhams compared to the base option's Dh549.
Considering that the AirPods Pro 2 is up there at Dh949, the AirPods 4 with ANC is a very, very good deal. You will, however, miss out on the AirPods Pro 2's upcoming Hearing Aid, Hearing Test and Loud Sound Reduction services, which are a huge help for those with hearing challenges.
Defence review at a glance
• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”
• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems
• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.
• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%
• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade
• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels
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THE SPECS
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo
Transmission: eight-speed automatic
Power: 258hp at 5,000-6,500rpm
Torque: 400Nm from 1,550-4,400rpm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.4L/100km
Price, base: from D215,000 (Dh230,000 as tested)
On sale: now
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How to wear a kandura
Dos
- Wear the right fabric for the right season and occasion
- Always ask for the dress code if you don’t know
- Wear a white kandura, white ghutra / shemagh (headwear) and black shoes for work
- Wear 100 per cent cotton under the kandura as most fabrics are polyester
Don’ts
- Wear hamdania for work, always wear a ghutra and agal
- Buy a kandura only based on how it feels; ask questions about the fabric and understand what you are buying
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
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Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
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The specs
Engine: Two permanent-magnet synchronous AC motors
Transmission: two-speed
Power: 671hp
Torque: 849Nm
Range: 456km
Price: from Dh437,900
On sale: now
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Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
Company profile
Name: Back to Games and Boardgame Space
Started: Back to Games (2015); Boardgame Space (Mark Azzam became co-founder in 2017)
Founder: Back to Games (Mr Azzam); Boardgame Space (Mr Azzam and Feras Al Bastaki)
Based: Dubai and Abu Dhabi
Industry: Back to Games (retail); Boardgame Space (wholesale and distribution)
Funding: Back to Games: self-funded by Mr Azzam with Dh1.3 million; Mr Azzam invested Dh250,000 in Boardgame Space
Growth: Back to Games: from 300 products in 2015 to 7,000 in 2019; Boardgame Space: from 34 games in 2017 to 3,500 in 2019
THE DEALS
Hamilton $60m x 2 = $120m
Vettel $45m x 2 = $90m
Ricciardo $35m x 2 = $70m
Verstappen $55m x 3 = $165m
Leclerc $20m x 2 = $40m
TOTAL $485m
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MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
box
COMPANY PROFILE
Company name: Letstango.com
Started: June 2013
Founder: Alex Tchablakian
Based: Dubai
Industry: e-commerce
Initial investment: Dh10 million
Investors: Self-funded
Total customers: 300,000 unique customers every month
The specs: 2018 Volkswagen Teramont
Price, base / as tested Dh137,000 / Dh189,950
Engine 3.6-litre V6
Gearbox Eight-speed automatic
Power 280hp @ 6,200rpm
Torque 360Nm @ 2,750rpm
Fuel economy, combined 11.7L / 100km
The%20specs
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The drill
Recharge as needed, says Mat Dryden: “We try to make it a rule that every two to three months, even if it’s for four days, we get away, get some time together, recharge, refresh.” The couple take an hour a day to check into their businesses and that’s it.
Stick to the schedule, says Mike Addo: “We have an entire wall known as ‘The Lab,’ covered with colour-coded Post-it notes dedicated to our joint weekly planner, content board, marketing strategy, trends, ideas and upcoming meetings.”
Be a team, suggests Addo: “When training together, you have to trust in each other’s abilities. Otherwise working out together very quickly becomes one person training the other.”
Pull your weight, says Thuymi Do: “To do what we do, there definitely can be no lazy member of the team.”
Neymar's bio
Total club appearances 411
Total goals scored 241
Appearances for Barca 186
Goals scored for Barca 105
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Dust and sand storms compared
Sand storm
- Particle size: Larger, heavier sand grains
- Visibility: Often dramatic with thick "walls" of sand
- Duration: Short-lived, typically localised
- Travel distance: Limited
- Source: Open desert areas with strong winds
Dust storm
- Particle size: Much finer, lightweight particles
- Visibility: Hazy skies but less intense
- Duration: Can linger for days
- Travel distance: Long-range, up to thousands of kilometres
- Source: Can be carried from distant regions
The specs: 2018 Mercedes-Benz E 300 Cabriolet
Price, base / as tested: Dh275,250 / Dh328,465
Engine: 2.0-litre four-cylinder
Power: 245hp @ 5,500rpm
Torque: 370Nm @ 1,300rpm
Transmission: Nine-speed automatic
Fuel consumption, combined: 7.0L / 100km
VEZEETA PROFILE
Date started: 2012
Founder: Amir Barsoum
Based: Dubai, UAE
Sector: HealthTech / MedTech
Size: 300 employees
Funding: $22.6 million (as of September 2018)
Investors: Technology Development Fund, Silicon Badia, Beco Capital, Vostok New Ventures, Endeavour Catalyst, Crescent Enterprises’ CE-Ventures, Saudi Technology Ventures and IFC
The specs: 2018 Chevrolet Trailblazer
Price, base / as tested Dh99,000 / Dh132,000
Engine 3.6L V6
Transmission: Six-speed automatic
Power 275hp @ 6,000rpm
Torque 350Nm @ 3,700rpm
Fuel economy combined 12.2L / 100km
Primera Liga fixtures (all times UAE: 4 GMT)
Friday
Real Sociedad v Villarreal (10.15pm)
Real Betis v Celta Vigo (midnight)
Saturday
Alaves v Barcelona (8.15pm)
Levante v Deportivo La Coruna (10.15pm)
Girona v Malaga (10.15pm)
Las Palmas v Atletico Madrid (12.15am)
Sunday
Espanyol v Leganes (8.15pm)
Eibar v Athletic Bilbao (8.15pm)
Getafe v Sevilla (10.15pm)
Real Madrid v Valencia (10.15pm)
The burning issue
The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.
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The White Lotus: Season three
Creator: Mike White
Starring: Walton Goggins, Jason Isaacs, Natasha Rothwell
Rating: 4.5/5
Company%20profile
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TECH%20SPECS%3A%20APPLE%20WATCH%20SE%20(second%20generation)
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MATCH INFO
Uefa Champions League, last 16, first leg
Liverpool v Bayern Munich, midnight (Wednesday), BeIN Sports
Match info:
Burnley 0
Manchester United 2
Lukaku (22', 44')
Red card: Marcus Rashford (Man United)
Man of the match: Romelu Lukaku (Manchester United)
Players Selected for La Liga Trials
U18 Age Group
Name: Ahmed Salam (Malaga)
Position: Right Wing
Nationality: Jordanian
Name: Yahia Iraqi (Malaga)
Position: Left Wing
Nationality: Morocco
Name: Mohammed Bouherrafa (Almeria)
Position: Centre-Midfield
Nationality: French
Name: Mohammed Rajeh (Cadiz)
Position: Striker
Nationality: Jordanian
U16 Age Group
Name: Mehdi Elkhamlichi (Malaga)
Position: Lead Striker
Nationality: Morocco
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James Mustich, Workman
Specs
Engine: Electric motor generating 54.2kWh (Cooper SE and Aceman SE), 64.6kW (Countryman All4 SE)
Power: 218hp (Cooper and Aceman), 313hp (Countryman)
Torque: 330Nm (Cooper and Aceman), 494Nm (Countryman)
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh158,000 (Cooper), Dh168,000 (Aceman), Dh190,000 (Countryman)
Six large-scale objects on show
- Concrete wall and windows from the now demolished Robin Hood Gardens housing estate in Poplar
- The 17th Century Agra Colonnade, from the bathhouse of the fort of Agra in India
- A stagecloth for The Ballet Russes that is 10m high – the largest Picasso in the world
- Frank Lloyd Wright’s 1930s Kaufmann Office
- A full-scale Frankfurt Kitchen designed by Margarete Schütte-Lihotzky, which transformed kitchen design in the 20th century
- Torrijos Palace dome
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THE BIO
Born: Mukalla, Yemen, 1979
Education: UAE University, Al Ain
Family: Married with two daughters: Asayel, 7, and Sara, 6
Favourite piece of music: Horse Dance by Naseer Shamma
Favourite book: Science and geology
Favourite place to travel to: Washington DC
Best advice you’ve ever been given: If you have a dream, you have to believe it, then you will see it.
When is VAR used?
• Goals
• Penalty decisions
• Direct red-card incidents
• Mistaken identity
2025 Fifa Club World Cup groups
Group A: Palmeiras, Porto, Al Ahly, Inter Miami.
Group B: Paris Saint-Germain, Atletico Madrid, Botafogo, Seattle.
Group C: Bayern Munich, Auckland City, Boca Juniors, Benfica.
Group D: Flamengo, ES Tunis, Chelsea, Leon.
Group E: River Plate, Urawa, Monterrey, Inter Milan.
Group F: Fluminense, Borussia Dortmund, Ulsan, Mamelodi Sundowns.
Group G: Manchester City, Wydad, Al Ain, Juventus.
Group H: Real Madrid, Al Hilal, Pachuca, Salzburg.
The bio
Favourite book: Peter Rabbit. I used to read it to my three children and still read it myself. If I am feeling down it brings back good memories.
Best thing about your job: Getting to help people. My mum always told me never to pass up an opportunity to do a good deed.
Best part of life in the UAE: The weather. The constant sunshine is amazing and there is always something to do, you have so many options when it comes to how to spend your day.
Favourite holiday destination: Malaysia. I went there for my honeymoon and ended up volunteering to teach local children for a few hours each day. It is such a special place and I plan to retire there one day.
The%20specs
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Three trading apps to try
Sharad Nair recommends three investment apps for UAE residents:
- For beginners or people who want to start investing with limited capital, Mr Nair suggests eToro. “The low fees and low minimum balance requirements make the platform more accessible,” he says. “The user interface is straightforward to understand and operate, while its social element may help ease beginners into the idea of investing money by looking to a virtual community.”
- If you’re an experienced investor, and have $10,000 or more to invest, consider Saxo Bank. “Saxo Bank offers a more comprehensive trading platform with advanced features and insight for more experienced users. It offers a more personalised approach to opening and operating an account on their platform,” he says.
- Finally, StashAway could work for those who want a hands-off approach to their investing. “It removes one of the biggest challenges for novice traders: picking the securities in their portfolio,” Mr Nair says. “A goal-based approach or view towards investing can help motivate residents who may usually shy away from investment platforms.”
GAC GS8 Specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4cyl turbo
Power: 248hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 400Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 9.1L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh149,900
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
