Welcome to ZDNET’s Innovation Index, which identifies essentially the most modern developments in tech from the previous week and ranks the highest 4, based mostly on votes from our panel of editors and consultants. Our mission is that can assist you determine the tendencies that can have the largest impression on the long run. Learn final week’s report here.
The annual Apple iPhone occasion, dubbed “It is Glowtime”, took over the media cycle with {hardware} releases this week, however two different corporations additionally managed to make an impression.
Apple’s new hearing aid function for the Airpods Professional 2, amongst other notable health features, gained with our panelists by a landslide. The corporate’s premium earbuds line can now measure and take a look at a wearer’s listening to — a primary for a business product — and, if wanted, act as listening to aids. The characteristic gained FDA approval on Thursday, just some days after its launch. Beginning at round $250, AirPods aren’t low-cost, however they are often way more accessible than conventional listening to aids, particularly for these with out insurance coverage. If the rollout later this fall is profitable, Apple might make unexpectedly vital waves in healthcare. Apple Watch Collection 10 can also be getting sleep apnea tracking, although Samsung’s Galaxy Watch did this first, earlier this yr.
“Updates to the iPhone get essentially the most consideration — it’s the best-selling smartphone on this planet — however Apple’s most impactful bulletins could have been its well being updates,” stated panelist Avi Greengart.
Additionally: Your AirPods Pro 2 are getting a free audio upgrade, and it’s the most important one yet
In second place is Huawei, which launched the “world’s first” tri-foldable smartphone amid Apple’s iPhone 16 frenzy. The Mate XT Final Design is larger than an open Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 6 and sports activities every kind of fancy particulars that “surprised” ZDNET’s Cesar Cadenas. However Samsung won’t must shake in its boots simply but: Huawei and its merchandise are banned within the US as a result of safety issues.
We return to Apple for spot #3, particularly the corporate’s engineering prowess, which ZDNET editor in chief Jason Hiner says “powers iPhone 16 Pro to new heights.” Pushed by the corporate’s A18 Pro chip, improved audio and video recording, kind issue, and digital camera controls stand out as a number of the gadget’s most spectacular options. Hiner calls the cellphone a “ridiculously overpowered supercomputer”, an apt description contemplating the A18-powered gadget would possibly carry out in addition to a high-end desktop. Effectively, at the least one which’s a couple of years previous.
Most significantly, first impressions of the iPhone 16 Professional’s {hardware} bode effectively for the gadget delivering on the extremely anticipated Apple Intelligence options set to launch later this fall.
Closing out the Index is the new Honor Magic V3, which ZDNET contributor Prakhar Khanna says is “the best-designed foldable cellphone I’ve examined up to now.” That is excessive reward on this workplace. Plus, it is solely 9.2mm thick when folded, making it the market’s slimmest choice (one other world’s first) and within the lead over the Galaxy Z Fold 6 (one other hit for Samsung). Khanna, who’s tried each fashions, can “confidently say the Honor is way forward relating to {hardware}.”
Additionally: Gemini Live is rolling out to all Android users – for free. Here’s how to access it
However, in fact, the inevitable catch — the Honor Magic V3 is not out there within the US, and it is unclear whether or not it ever can be. Regardless, it is definitely going to affect the market. “The foldables section in China is nearly fully divorced from the remainder of the world; extra persons are shopping for them, there’s extra competitors, and that has led to innovation,” says Avi Greengart. “Tremendous skinny (and tremendous foldy) telephones aren’t low-cost, however they present what’s attainable.” Within the meantime, the Galaxy Z Fold 6 nonetheless has its perks. Learn the remainder of Khanna’s in-depth review right here.
