Tag: wireless charging

TL;DR

• Android Authority’s Harish Jonnalagadda daily-drove the iPhone 18 Pro Max for 22 days and found Apple’s variable-aperture camera (f/1.48–f/4.0), A20 Pro thermals, and battery/charging upgrades compelling for Android diehards [1].
• Under the hood, Apple’s 2nm A20 Pro, co-packaged memory, and a vapor chamber with roughly 3x the surface area change the sustained-performance curve for on‑device AI and long video sessions, which matters more than peak-spec bragging rights [2][3].
• The 2026 swing factor isn’t “AI features”; it’s whether iPhone 18 Pro Max removes old friction—battery life from a 5,391mAh cell, faster 60W PD charging, E2E-encrypted RCS, and real manual camera controls—so Android users actually switch [1][2][3][5].

What the source said

Android Authority’s Harish Jonnalagadda switched from Android to the iPhone 18 Pro Max for just over three weeks and highlighted five points: Apple’s new variable-aperture main camera (f/1.48–f/4.0) plus Pro manual controls, A20 Pro on a 2nm node with a redesigned cooling system for higher sustained performance, a larger 5,391mAh battery with better endurance, faster wired charging and 25W wireless charging, and iOS 27’s refined “Liquid Glass” look tied to a tidier Dynamic Island [1]. He also notes ongoing Chinese OEM design copycats and says Apple’s video edge remains intact in 2026 footage tests [1].

Why it matters

CIRP’s U.S. panel shows iPhone loyalty at 87% with Android‑to‑iPhone switchers at about 12% of new iPhone buyers in the March 2026 quarter, which makes small persuasion gains decisive for holiday 2026 channel outcomes [4]. That 12% slice drives carrier promos, accessory retail space at Best Buy, and the Services attach Apple tracks in Cupertino, California [4].

On product specifics, A20 Pro’s co‑packaged memory and a vapor chamber with roughly triple the area target sustained workloads like 4K/60 video and on‑device AI inference, while 60W PD charging and E2E‑encrypted RCS attacks daily‑use friction that kept many Android users on Samsung, Google, or Xiaomi phones in 2024–2025 [2][3][5]. The three‑week switcher trial from Android Authority is a field test of whether those bets resonate beyond Apple’s base [1].

Original analysis

Contrarian read

Commentary in late 2026 says “AI features decide switchers,” but battery, charging, and creator‑grade camera control move more buyers now than another chatbot pane [2][3]. The iPhone 18 Pro Max’s Dual 16‑core Neural Engine and 50% more memory bandwidth are real gains, yet behavior changes when you can shoot stabilized 4K/60 for longer without throttling, set exposure with Pro controls, and refill 0–50% in about 15 minutes at 60W—then text Android friends over E2E‑encrypted RCS without friction [2][3][5]. Tom’s Guide measured Wild Life Extreme stability up to 79.4% on Pro Max and recorded longer battery runtime than Galaxy S26 Ultra, which is exactly where first‑day switchers feel value in 2026 [3].

Back‑of‑the‑envelope math: charging and thermals

• Charging math: The 18 Pro Max battery is 5,391mAh; half the pack is 2,695.5mAh = 2.6955Ah [1]. Assuming a nominal 3.85V cell, 0–50% energy is 2.6955Ah × 3.85V ≈ 10.38Wh; with a 60W input and 80% end‑to‑end efficiency, effective power ≈ 48W, so time ≈ 10.38Wh ÷ 48W ≈ 0.216h ≈ 13 minutes, consistent with the ~15‑minute 0–50% claim in reviews [3].
• Thermal math: If peak GPU score is P, sustained ≈ 0.794 × P at 79.4% stability; that delta preserves frame pacing in long sessions, which creators notice during 20‑ to 30‑minute 4K/60 clips or multi‑round Genshin runs in 2026 [3].

Historical analogue: 2018’s Galaxy S9 variable aperture

Samsung’s 2018 Galaxy S9 shipped f/1.5–f/2.4 mechanical variable aperture and dropped it later, while Apple’s 2026 system spans f/1.48–f/4.0 with Pro camera controls and a computational stack tied to an A20 Pro Neural Engine scaled to 32 cores [2][3]. Tom’s Guide confirms the discrete stepping and that Apple surfaces manual choices, not just an opaque auto mode, which matters to creators editing ISO, shutter, and WB on-device [3]. Android Authority’s switcher says that combination turns a demo feature into a daily camera, not a gimmick, which rhymes with why S9’s limited two‑stop approach faded by 2020 [1].

2x2: What actually nudges an Android user toward iPhone 18 Pro Max

• Axis X (Daily friction): High vs. Low

• Axis Y (Creator control): Shallow vs. Deep

• Low friction + Deep control (iPhone 18 Pro Max):

  • 60W wired fast charge, ~0–50% in ~15 minutes, better thermals for long shoots, and RCS E2E beta in iOS 26.5 with iOS 27 expansion in 2026 [2][3][5].
  • Pro controls (aperture, shutter, ISO, WB) in the stock camera, not gated behind third‑party apps, with Apple’s UI consistency across modes [2][3].

• Low friction + Shallow control (many U.S. Android flagships):

  • Strong charging and big batteries on devices from Samsung and Google, but manual control depth varies, and Snapdragon‑based thermals were a 2025–2026 complaint for long gaming and video capture [1][3].

• High friction + Deep control (niche “pro” Android):

  • Manual tools exist on brands like vivo or Xiaomi, but heat, update cadence, and blue/green‑bubble messaging friction hurt appeal until iOS added RCS E2E in 2026 [1][5].

• High friction + Shallow control (mid‑range):

  • Neither camp wins top‑end switchers here; the 2026 fight is premium [1][3].

Named-stakeholder breakdown

• Apple: Thermal headroom and first‑party manual camera controls build a creator moat, and a $1,299 Pro Max price sticks when paired with tested battery gains and 60W PD in 2026 [2][3].
• Samsung: Needs to answer “sustained” versus “peak”; Tom’s Guide’s stability delta versus S26 Ultra flags long‑session gaming and video risk in holiday 2026 [3].
• Google (Pixel 11 Pro XL era): AI chops remain strong, but Pixel’s “Looks” presets give less after‑the‑fact flexibility than Apple’s manual stack, which now pairs with variable aperture in 2026 [1].
• BBK/Xiaomi/vivo: Copying “Liquid Glass” skins is easy, but matching a 3x‑area vapor chamber plus coherent Pro controls is the bar for 2027 shipments [1][2].
• U.S. carriers (Verizon, AT&T, T‑Mobile): 60W PD and better endurance reduce RMAs and support calls, and RCS E2E on iOS cuts mixed‑household messaging pain in Los Angeles, New York, and beyond in 2026 [2][5].

What others are missing

Most coverage chases “first 2nm” headlines and camera samples, but the quiet story is packaging and thermals as Apple’s on‑device AI infrastructure play for 2026–2027 [2]. Apple placed DRAM alongside A20 Pro and attached a vapor chamber with roughly 3x surface area, then doubled Neural Engine cores to 32 and widened memory bandwidth by 50% to hold clocks under AI and 4K/60 loads without throttling [2][3]. Those choices keep Apple Intelligence and pro video edits local longer and pair with Pro controls that assume creators run extended sessions, not 30‑second clips [2][3]. For Android power users who shoot and edit on the phone, that packaging‑plus‑controls combo is the real linchpin of the iPhone 18 Pro Max in 2026, not a single AI demo [1][2][3].

What to watch next

1. By December 31, 2026, Apple exits RCS E2E “beta” on iOS 27 for Verizon, AT&T, and T‑Mobile customers in the U.S., with carrier support pages updated to note full availability [5].
2. By MWC 2027 (February 24–27, 2027, Barcelona), at least two Android flagships from OPPO, vivo, or Xiaomi ship globally with a mechanical variable‑aperture main camera, not a software blur, and list f‑stop ranges on spec sheets [3].
3. By June 30, 2027, Qualcomm or MediaTek announces a smartphone SoC with co‑packaged memory (or equivalent bandwidth‑focused packaging) explicitly marketed for better sustained AI/video performance in press materials [2][3].

My take

If you shoot video, edit on mobile, or value all‑day reliability in 2026, the iPhone 18 Pro Max finally earns a trial run—even if you’ve been a Samsung or Pixel loyalist since 2018 [1][3]. The difference is architecture: a 2nm A20 Pro tied to a larger vapor chamber and first‑party Pro controls that respect user skill growth, plus a 5,391mAh battery that pairs with 60W PD for quick top‑offs [1][2][3]. Add E2E‑encrypted RCS and you remove the cross‑platform messaging tax that annoyed mixed households for years in the U.S. and Europe [5]. AI features will headline keynotes, but sustained performance and creator UX are what flip SIMs in late 2026 retail data [2][3][4].

Sources

1. I switched from Android to the iPhone 18 Pro Max for 3 weeks — Android Authority (https://www.androidauthority.com/switch-from-android-iphone-18-pro-max-biggest-takeaways-3721758/) — Three‑week switcher diary with variable aperture, Pro controls, thermal notes, and charging/battery observations.
2. Apple debuts iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max — Apple Newsroom (https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/09/apple-debuts-iphone-18-pro-and-iphone-18-pro-max/) — Official 2nm A20 Pro specs, Dual 16‑core Neural Engine (32 cores), vapor chamber, bandwidth claims, pricing, and charging details.
3. iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max review — Tom’s Guide (https://www.tomsguide.com/phones/iphones/iphone-18-pro-and-pro-max-review) — Independent benchmarks (Geekbench/3DMark), 79.4% stability, battery runtime, 60W PD tests, and aperture measurements.
4. iPhone Loyalty Rate Climbs to 87% as Switching to Android Slows — MacRumors (https://www.macrumors.com/2026/07/17/iphone-loyalty-rate-climbs-to-87/) — CIRP’s 87% iPhone loyalty and ~12% Android‑to‑iPhone switcher share in March 2026.
5. End‑to‑end encrypted RCS messaging begins rolling out today in beta — Apple Newsroom (https://www.apple.com/newsroom/2026/05/end-to-end-encrypted-rcs-messaging-begins-rolling-out-today-in-beta/) — Confirms iPhone RCS with E2E encryption and the 2026 beta rollout context.
6. iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max review — TechRadar (https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/iphone-18-pro-and-iphone-18-pro-max-review) — Corroborates A20 Pro internals, Apple’s C2 modem details, and connectivity perspective in 2026.

TL;DR

• Shokz’s new OpenDots 2 ($199.95) and budget OpenDots Air ($129.95) advance clip-on open earbuds with IP boosts, Dolby Audio on the flagship, and a lighter Air model that undercuts the $299 Bose Ultra Open by $100 while keeping an awareness‑first design. [1][8][5][15]
• The headline isn’t “Dolby and Bluetooth 6.1”; it’s daily‑carry credibility: IP57 on the buds (IP54 case), Find My/“Find Hub” breadcrumbing, and a bone‑conduction mic that finally makes open earbuds decent for calls on city streets. [8][2][9][4]
• If clip‑ons claim even 1% of the ~300M‑unit TWS market in 2026, Shokz could be staring at a ~$170M annual run‑rate from this subline alone; the pricing, features, and retail push support the math. [7][3][5]

What the source said

On June 4, 2026, The Verge reported that Shokz introduced two clip‑on open earbuds, OpenDots 2 ($199.95) and OpenDots Air ($129.95), that project sound toward the ear canal without sealing it. Air is lighter at 6.3g/earbud, uses dual 11.8mm drivers (“Bassphere”), and runs nine hours (36 with case), while OpenDots 2 adds Dolby Audio, a bone‑conduction call mic, 10 hours of battery (40 with case), Qi wireless charging, and support for Google’s “Find Hub” app for last‑seen location. Both models support Bluetooth 6.1, multipoint (two devices), app EQ (including a “privacy mode”), and app‑based find‑my within Bluetooth range; neither includes ANC. Colors differ by model and region across US/Canada retail listings. [1][3][4][5]

Why it matters

Three stakeholders are on the hook here. First, commuters and hybrid workers in 2026 who avoid sealed tips need call‑worthy, awareness‑preserving audio that doesn’t look like a gym band at a desk; IP57 buds, a bone‑conduction mic, and last‑known location tracking answer that brief in concrete ways. [8][2] Second, retailers like REI and B&H get a credible Bose Ultra Open alternative under $200: OpenDots 2 sits under Bose’s $299 MSRP while the Air captures budget buyers at $129.95. [5][15][3] Third, Google’s Find My Device network (labeled “Find Hub” in product copy) gains more headphones that “remember where you last had them,” even if full network tracking still varies by device type and OS version. [9][10][2]

Original analysis

Shokz upgraded its open earbuds: what really changed

Consensus says “Dolby + Bluetooth 6.1 = big leap.” Here’s the contrarian read: the practical wins are ingress protection, call quality, and findability—not a codec badge. OpenDots 2 bumps the buds to IP57 and the case to IP54, adds a dedicated bone‑conduction mic to tame street noise, and integrates last‑known location via Google’s “Find Hub.” Those switches move the category from jogger‑toy to all‑day wearable across US office commutes and urban errands. [8][2][4]

Dolby on open earbuds is nice, but keep perspective. Dolby processing here is app‑enabled spatial/voicing enhancement, not a hardware‑codec cure‑all for leakage. Meanwhile, Bluetooth 6.1 is real—Bluetooth SIG lists the 6.1 core spec as adopted—yet the SIG cautions against consumer‑facing version marketing because features like LC3 or Auracast still depend on chipset and OS stacks. Translation: a “6.1” badge doesn’t guarantee LE Audio perks across iOS/Android/Windows in 2026, though platform support is improving quarter by quarter. [11][12][13][16]

Back‑of‑envelope calculation

• Baseline: Canalys data (via MacTech) pegged TWS shipments at 78.3M units in Q1 2025; annualized, that implies ~313M units before seasonality. Haircut to 300M for conservatism. [7]
• If clip‑on open‑ear grabs 1% share in 2026, that’s ~3.0M units. Assume Shokz takes one‑third on brand lead and retail breadth, or ~1.0M units. Blend ASP across Air ($129.95) and OpenDots 2 ($199.95) to a round $170. Revenue ≈ 1.0M × $170 ≈ $170M; at 2% niche share, ~$340M. The shelf now hosts Bose Ultra Open, Shokz, and coverage from SoundGuys on competitive models, which signals real category pressure. [3][5][6][15]

Named‑stakeholder breakdown

• Shokz: Raises ceiling with IP57 buds, IP54 case, a bone‑conduction mic, and Find Hub tie‑in; protects margin at $199.95 while opening the door at $129.95; spans fitness (OpenRun heritage), earhook (OpenFit lineage), and daily clip‑on (OpenDots). [5][8][3]
• Bose: Ultra Open Earbuds carry a $299 MSRP and brand halo; visible price pressure undercuts that spread when $199.95 and $129.95 alternatives sit on the same shelf at REI or Amazon. [15][3]
• Soundcore (Anker): AeroClip competes around $129–$169 street and looks strong on discount cycles, but it lacks the “IP57 + Find Hub + Dolby” trio Shokz now touts on its flagship. [6]
• Google: More headphone SKUs feeding Find My Device/“Find Hub” increase Android stickiness—even if most models today only show last‑known spots vs Apple’s AirPods‑grade network ubiquity. [9][2][10]
• Bluetooth SIG and silicon vendors: The 6.x cadence adds features and lowers latency on paper, but fragmented OS adoption keeps the story messy; expect OEM boxes to print “6.1” while reviewers footnote what actually works on Pixel, Galaxy, and Windows PCs. [11][12][13]

Comparison table (specs that matter)

• Price: OpenDots Air $129.95; OpenDots 2 $199.95; Bose Ultra Open $299; Soundcore AeroClip $129–$169 street. [5][15][6]
• IP: Air IP55 (case not rated publicly); OpenDots 2 IP57 buds, IP54 case; Bose lists water resistance without a formal IP code; AeroClip typically IP55. [5][4][6][15]
• Battery (per charge/with case): Air 9h/36h; OpenDots 2 10h/40h; AeroClip 8h/32h. [3][8][6]
• Mics: OpenDots 2 adds a bone‑conduction element to a 3‑mic array; Air uses dual mics; Bose uses beamforming mics. [5][8][15]
• Findability: OpenDots 2 shows last‑known location in Google’s Find Hub app; both models support in‑app “ring to find” within Bluetooth range. [2][4][5]
• Weight: Air 6.3g/earbud; OpenDots 2 6.4g/earbud. [1][4][5]

2×2: Open‑ear buyers by primary job‑to‑be‑done

• Calls‑heavy + public spaces: OpenDots 2 (bone‑conduction mic, IP57 buds, Find Hub breadcrumbing). [8][2]
• Music/podcasts + budget: OpenDots Air (dual 11.8mm drivers; $129.95; 6.3g/earbud). [5][1]
• Sound‑first + brand cachet: Bose Ultra Open (voicing and industrial design at $299 MSRP). [15]
• Gym/running + earhook stability: Shokz’s broader open‑ear line (OpenFit/OpenRun heritage) remains the sport default for 5K‑to‑marathon training. [3]

The subtle but important shift is interchangeability and wear intelligence. Air inherits Dynamic Ear Detection—left/right auto‑swap and multipoint—so you grab a bud, clip it, and it just orients and routes across two devices, reducing daily friction on Android and Windows. That small workflow win matters more than a codec badge on a retail box in 2026. [5][1][3]

What others are missing

The Find My Device/“Find Hub” wrinkle. Product pages and retailers call out “Google’s Find Hub app,” which shows last known location for OpenDots 2 even when you’re out of Bluetooth range, while the Shokz app can ring the buds if you’re nearby; that middle tier is weaker than Apple’s AirPods‑class network tracking but stronger than nothing. For a form factor that can pop off a collar or vanish into a jacket pocket on the F train in New York, this reduces the perceived risk of trying clip‑ons and directly supports sell‑through at chains like REI. The wording mismatch (“Find Hub” vs “Find My Device”) mirrors Google’s own Android Help pages that now reference a “Find Hub network,” so expect that branding to persist through 2026. [2][9][10]

What to watch next

1. By Black Friday 2026, Bose Ultra Open Earbuds will see a permanent MSRP cut or evergreen $249 price at major US retailers to defend share against OpenDots 2; confirm via historical pricing trackers and Bose’s own site. [15]
2. By Q1 2027, Shokz will ship a mid‑tier OpenDots model with Dolby Audio at ≤$149 to close the price/spec gap between Air and 2; watch Shokz’s regional product pages and PR wires for new SKUs. [5][3][8]
3. By mid‑2027, at least one Shokz clip‑on model will explicitly advertise LE Audio features (LC3 and/or Auracast) as Android and Windows stabilize Bluetooth 6.x feature support; verify via SIG qualifications and OS release notes. [11][12][13]

My take

I’d buy the OpenDots 2 over Bose Ultra Open in mid‑2026. The $100 delta funds features you feel daily—IP57 buds, wireless charging, last‑seen location in Google’s app, and better call pickup—while preserving the awareness advantage that makes open earbuds safer in traffic on Market Street in San Francisco. Dolby is garnish; the meat is that Shokz removed enough friction to make clip‑ons a credible default for work and commute. If Shokz moves faster on LE Audio and cleans up the “Find Hub vs Find My Device” messaging, it can own this form factor by early 2027 and force Bose to compete on price, not just polish. [8][2][11]

Sources

1. Shokz upgraded its open earbuds with better sound and a lighter design — The Verge (https://www.theverge.com/tech/942054/shokz-clip-on-opendots-2-air-earbuds-wireless-headphones) — Launch details, pricing, battery, weight, Dolby on 2, Dynamic Ear Detection, Find Hub mention.
2. SHOKZ OpenDots 2 product page — B&H Photo (https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/1975297-REG/shokz_e320_st_bk_us_opendots_2_open_ear_clip_on.html) — Confirms Bluetooth 6.1, Find Hub last‑known location, app features.
3. Shokz Introduces OpenDots 2 and OpenDots Air — PR Newswire (https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/shokz-introduces-opendots-2-and-opendots-air-expanding-open-ear-clip-on-earbuds-for-everyday-listening-302791659.html) — Official launch (June 4, 2026), model positioning, key features.
4. OpenDots 2 overview — Shokz Canada (https://ca.shokz.com/pages/opendots-2) — Bassphere 2.0, Dolby on 2, triple‑mic with bone‑conduction, Bluetooth 6.1, IP57/IP54, weight 6.4g.
5. OpenDots Air product page — Shokz Canada (https://ca.shokz.com/products/opendots-air) — Air pricing, Bassphere (no Dolby), feature comparison vs OpenDots 2, Dynamic Ear Detection.
6. Shokz expands its clip-on earbuds with the OpenDots 2 and affordable OpenDots Air — SoundGuys (https://www.soundguys.com/shokz-clip-on-earbuds-opendots-2-air-158377/) — Independent confirmation of prices, IP ratings, and competitor context (e.g., AeroClip).
7. Apple continues to dominate the global true wireless stereo market with 23% market share — MacTech (https://www.mactech.com/2025/05/21/apple-continues-to-dominate-the-global-true-wireless-stereo-market-with-23-market-share/) — Cites Canalys: 78.3M TWS units shipped in Q1 2025 for market sizing math.
8. The Shokz OpenDots 2 open earbuds offer new controls, upgraded Dolby Audio and better bass — What Hi‑Fi (https://www.whathifi.com/headphones/wireless-earbuds/the-shokz-opendots-2-open-earbuds-offer-new-controls-upgraded-dolby-audio-and-better-bass) — Confirms Dolby, IP57/IP54, wireless charging on OpenDots 2.
9. Android Help: Be ready to find a lost Android device — Google (https://support.google.com/android/answer/3265955?hl=en-en) — Explains “Find Hub network” and last‑known locations in Google’s ecosystem.
10. Shokz OpenDots 2 — REI (https://www.rei.com/product/C13271/shokz-opendots-2-open-ear-clip-on-earbuds) — Retail copy referencing “Google Find Hub” and Fast Pair/Swift Pair support.
11. Core Specification 6.1 Adopted — Bluetooth SIG (https://www.bluetooth.com/specifications/specs/core-specification-6-1/) — Official status for Bluetooth 6.1.
12. Bluetooth Core 6.1 is here (SIG blog) — Bluetooth SIG (https://www.bluetooth.com/blog/delivering-on-the-bi-annual-release-schedule-bluetooth-core-6-1-is-here/) — Confirms 6.1 timing and cautions on consumer version marketing.
13. Bluetooth Core 6.0 feature overview — Bluetooth SIG (https://www.bluetooth.com/core-specification-6-feature-overview/) — High‑level features in the 6.x family, including LE Audio context.
14. I tested the new Shokz OpenDots 2 for three weeks — Tom’s Guide (https://www.tomsguide.com/audio/headphones/shokz-opendots-2-review) — Hands‑on impressions, pricing, and position vs Bose.
15. Shop Bose Ultra Open Earbuds — Bose (https://www.bose.com/p/earbuds/bose-ultra-open-earbuds/ULT-HEADPHONEOPN.html) — Official $299 MSRP and product positioning.
16. Bluetooth Core Specification v6.1 — Reference document for 6.1 feature deltas and adoption details (no direct URL provided).