iMore Show 749: The New Penny Loafer

The iMore show brings you everything you need to know about the week in iPhone, iPad, Watch, TV, Mac, and Apple!

This week on the iMore Show, we're talking about Apple's latest software updates, new rumors, and the arrival of AirTags!

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Links

• Apple already producing M2 chip for a launch later this year, says report | iMore
• iOS 14.5 adds unlock iPhone with Apple Watch, AirTag support, and more | iMore
• macOS Big Sur 11.3 adds AirTag, new controller support, and more | iMore
• tvOS 14.5 adds color balancing, new controller support, and more | iMore
• watchOS 7.4 adds support for Face ID mask unlock, ECG in more countries | iMore
• Apple Q2 2021: Apple sees $89.6 billion in revenue in March quarter | iMore
• The first generation Magic Keyboard works with the M1 iPad Pro after all | iMore

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Hosts

• Joe Keller
• Karen Freeman

Be part of the show!

Send in your comments, questions, feedback, or follow-up to:

• Email: imoreshow@imore.com
• Twitter: @iMore with hashtag #askimore
• Web: Leave a comment below!

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These Zelda Switch controllers will make you yell, "HYAHH!"

When playing The Legend of Zelda games, your success is all about wielding the right tool, which translates in real life to having the best Zelda Switch controller. You can celebrate Zelda's 35th anniversary this year with one of plenty of Zelda-themed controllers to choose from. As you know, it's dangerous to go alone, take one of these!

A wireless work of art

PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller - Midnight Ride

Staff Pick

This is a beautiful-looking controller from PowerA with 30 hours of gameplay on a full charge. It's wireless to help you keep the handheld freedom the Switch offers. Motion controls are even included, so you get all the same playability you'd get from the Joy-Cons or Pro Controller.

$44 at Amazon $44 at Walmart

Gorgeous and green

PowerA - Enhanced Wireless Controller - Link Silhouette

A wireless controller in another Zelda design is the PowerA Link Silhouette controller. It has the same motion controls and battery life as the Midnight Ride controller but has more of your traditional Legend of Zelda colors. The map as a background to Link and Epona's silhouette brings beautiful detail to this design.

$50 at Best Buy $49 at Amazon

A wild choice

PowerA - Wired Controller - Breath of the Wild

In the style of Breath of the Wild, this wired controller comes with a velcro strap so you can wrap up the cord and keep it tidy when you're done playing. It's an affordable option with a 10-foot cord and is officially licensed by Nintendo.

$25 at Best Buy $25 at Amazon

Simple and beautiful

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller - Hylian Shield

Enjoy the beauty of the royal symbol and a clean controller with this Hylian Shield design. The directional pad has a nice golden touch. This wired option also has programmable buttons on the back and a place to plug in your headphones.

$20 at Amazon

Polished Hylian

PowerA Wired Controller - Chrome Zelda

Another great pick from PowerA is this shiny Chrome Zelda controller. It has a beautiful shiny blue color and features the Hylian Crest. The fully removable cable is 8 feet long.

$40 at Amazon

Change of direction

Hori Pad Controller The Legend of Zelda

This Hori Pad controller is also Nintendo licensed. It is a subtle design with dark gray Zelda symbols on a black controller with a gold Hylian Crest in the center. The directional pad can be individual buttons, or you can place a cover on it to have the + pad instead. The back features a place to safely keep the pad in case you want the buttons.

$77 at Amazon

Going retro

PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller – Retro Zelda

If you want to take it back to the very beginning of it all, take this! The retro design celebrates the 8-bit days of gaming and has a brilliant pop of green of the buttons and joysticks on a flat black controller with the classic line, "IT'S DANGEROUS TO GO ALONE! TAKE THIS." written in a shiny black. It has a 10-foot cord and an audio jack spot for a headset.

$25 at Walmart

Which will you take?

There are various options for choosing the best Switch controller to fit your Zelda needs. Many of these options include PowerA controllers as they are Nintendo licensed with long battery life for wireless controllers and a long cord if they're wired. Luckily they have created many designs, so you have options!

Our favorite is the PowerA Enhanced Wireless Controller - Midnight Ride. It has a beautiful design with unique color, and not being tied down with a wire makes it easier to play, however, wherever. But the wired options like the PowerA Enhanced Wired Controller – Retro Zelda are a great option to save money as long as the cord doesn't bother you. Which option is your favorite?

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The Powerbeats Pro earbuds have a long-lasting battery and are just $170

The Powerbeats Pro earbuds are some of our favorite true wireless earbuds around, mostly for the super great battery life. Right now you can find just about every color on sale, including the standard black version on sale for $169.99 at Amazon. On Amazon, the black earbuds have never dropped below today's deal price on Amazon and this even matches what we saw them drop to on Black Friday last year. Other colors on sale include Glacier Blue, Ivory, and Navy. This price is also being matched at Apple in a couple of colors.

Best Buy actually has a couple of colors going for an even better price. You can get Spring Yellow and Lava Red for just $159.99 there but other colors can run you as much as $200 or more.

We reviewed the Powerbeats Pro a year ago and gave them 4.5 stars out of 5. Lory Gil said "They're incredibly comfortable... have rich and well-balanced EQ for an amazing listening experience, and stay put in your ears."

One of the major selling points for the Powerbeats Pro is the Apple H1 chip inside of them. When these first came out, very few earbuds were making use of this tech and that's still true. The Apple H1 chip plus the Class 1 Bluetooth built in allow for some great sound, an extended range, and much fewer interuptions while you're listening to your favorite tunes. Plus, the earbuds have very low power consumption.

The low power consumption means a great battery life. You'll get up to nine hours on a single charge of these earbuds. Plu9s they come with a great charging case that can give you a total of 24 hours before you ever have to plug in to charge. You can also recharge really quick when you're in a hurry with 1.5 hours of playback after just five minutes when the battery is low.

Each earbud comes with volume and track controls, microphones for phone calls, and an automatic play/pause function. They earbuds are also sweat resistant and their unique design means they won't fall out when you're working out at the gym or going for a run.

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We now have AirTags, and Apple makes even more money

AirTags are now in the hands of the public. Oh, and in a turn of events that surprises no one, Apple made a ton of money.

What a week it's been! There's a lot going on in the world of Apple, so let's just get right to it.

First, AirTags are now out in the wild, along with the best AirTag accessories. As I mentioned last week, I ordered a standard 4-pack of AirTags (I originally wanted engraving but didn't wake up early enough to have that arrive on launch). I have some accessories on hand as well, so I'll be putting those to the test in the coming days. But as our own Joe Keller has said in his AirTag review, it's simply the best item tracker for those heavily vested into the Apple ecosystem already. For the record, even though I agree that the lack of a keyring hole is a downer, I believe that the power of the Find My network, which includes any iPhone with the Find My app on it, is a much bigger one than that of Tile or Chipolo and the biggest benefit of using AirTag.

Speaking of AirTag, you're going to need the latest iOS 14.5 software to make use of it. But iOS 14.5 also brings much more than AirTag support — you can now finally unlock your iPhone with Apple Watch (with watchOS 7.4). Even though I'm fully vaccinated, I still don't go out as much as I did pre-pandemic, but I had the opportunity to test this out earlier in the week at a doctor appointment. It works amazingly, and I absolutely love finally having this feature. However, my one qualm with it is the fact that it won't work with apps that need Face ID to authenticate, and I understand that this is because it's a different level of authentication. Still, it would be amazing if this same unlocking method could let me access 1Password or something while I have a mask on. Maybe this is a step in the right direction, or at least I'm hoping it is. I also hope to see Apple add "Unlock with Apple Watch" to iPadOS at some point, too, since that's now the only other device that could benefit from such a feature (I would say Apple TV, but then again, you're at home, why would you wear a mask?)

Also, this past Friday is when everyone could start pre-ordering the new iPad Pro (2021), M1 iMacs, and Apple TV 4Ks and Siri Remotes. But if you're hoping for a new 12.9-inch iPad Pro, you'll want to put that order in fast, as they're already seeing mid-June delivery. All of these products will be available starting May 21. So the big question is, did any of you purchase one? I definitely am not getting a new iMac since I just bought one a few months ago (27-inch), but I am a little tempted with the iPad Pro. Still, I may hold out, at least until we see what iPadOS 15 brings — after all, what good is the M1 if there won't be drastic software changes to take advantage of that kind of power?

One of the news reports we saw surface this week involves Apple's next-gen silicon, the M2 chip, which supposedly may launch later this year. Production started this month for the M2 chip, and shipments may begin as early as July, so we should expect them sometime in the second half of the year. I'm predicting this will be for the 16-inch MacBook Pros, because well, that machine hasn't been updated since it launched in 2019. That first generation is getting a little long in the tooth, so an even more powerful M-chip seems like the perfect fit. Of course, I could be entirely wrong, and maybe this will be for the 27-inch iMac or even a new Mac Pro. Either way, I'm excited to see how the M1 chip evolves.

And finally, Apple had its Q2 2021 earnings call, and from that, we've learned that Apple made a lot of money, obviously. In fact, they made $89.6 billion this past quarter — in layman's terms, that's a lotta dough. So yeah, Apple is far from dying, as the haters always say. In fact, Goldman Sachs even admits defeat over its previous "sell" rating for Apple stock, now giving it a "neutral" rating. So if you have some $AAPL, keep on holding!

Anyways, it's been quite an exciting few days, and we look forward to all the new Apple products in the coming weeks. Until next time!

- Christine Romero-Chan

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Which size Apple Watch should you get?

Apple Watch 44mm

Bigger better?

From $309 at Apple

Pros

• More real estate
• Larger battery, longer battery life

Cons

• More expensive
• Too big for some

The 44mm Apple Watch is the largest Apple Watch version to date, replacing the 42mm versions on the Apple Watch Series 1 through Apple Watch Series 3. This model is the one with more official bands available.

Apple Watch 40mm

Petite size

From $279 at Apple

Pros

• Less expensive
• Only size you can get the modern buckle for

Cons

• Smaller display
• Slightly less battery life

The 40mm Apple Watch has a screen size that's slightly bigger than the 38mm Apple Watch Series 3, but that's mainly because the display is so much larger. Smaller wrists will love this model as well as your pocketbook.

Make no mistake, both versions of the Apple Watch, 40mm and 44mm, are identical except for the display size. Features remain the same.

Apple Watch 40mm vs. 44mm: Time to compare

Unlike traditional watches, which measure case size horizontally, Apple measures the Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch Series 5, and Apple Watch Series 6 vertically. The smaller of the two Apple Watch sizes has a height of 40mm; the larger, 44mm. When it comes to width, the smaller Apple Watch is 34mm wide; the larger, 38mm. When comparing Apple Watch 40mm vs. 44mm, below are the details of the dimensions.

	44mm	40mm
Display area	977 sq mm	759 sq mm
Display size	448x368 pixels	394x324 pixels
Official Apple band exclusives	3	3
Entry-level GPS	$279	$309
Entry-level Cellular	$329	$359

The size differences of the Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch Series 5, and Apple Watch Series 6 models might not sound like very much — 3-4mm here or there — but 4mm out of 40mm is one-tenth of the Apple Watch's dimensions.

The rounded rectangular shape of the Apple Watch makes it hard to compare directly with your average round watch. Still, neither of the Apple Watches would be considered overly wide or high in the traditional watch world. Big watches are typically closer to 45mm wide.

Even if you think you want to go small, you can still consider both sizes — neither is enormous — though those with smaller wrists may find the 40mm fits more comfortably on the wrist.

The Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch Series 5, and Apple Watch Series 6 two case sizes also translate to two different display sizes. Both are Retina-quality, which means the pixels are invisible to the naked eye at normal viewing distance. The bigger Apple Watch simply has more of those pixels:

• The 40mm Apple Watch has a display size of 394x324 pixels
• The 44mm Apple Watch has a display size of 448x368 pixels

When it comes to picking pixel density with Apple Watch 40mm vs. 44mm, watchOS will fill whatever size display you choose, and for many people, it won't make any difference. That said, if you want more pixels, which translates into bigger text and images, it's worth considering.

Apple Watch 40mm vs 44mm: Depth perception

Unlike the Watch's two height options and two display densities, there's no difference when it comes to the thickness (or thinness) of the Apple Watch 40mm vs. 44mm.

That's because, unlike traditional mechanical or digital watches, the Apple Watch case has to hold a Retina display, the system-in-a-package (chipset), battery, and sensors. If you're trying to figure out which Apple Watch will best fit under the tight cuffs of your shirt, they're both about the same.

Apple Watch 40mm vs. 44mm: Hers and his

Because there are two sizes, and because some of Apple's bands are unique to one size or another, some have tried to simplify the size discussion down to "hers" and "his."

People come in all shapes and sizes, though, and so do tastes. Some women will want the bigger Apple Watch, and some men, the smaller. Some people with small wrists will want the bigger watch and vice versa.

All this to say — get the size you prefer. Try both on, and see which one better fits your wrist, style, and personality. That's why Apple has sizes, after all, and why both sizes come with identical features.

Apple Watch 40mm vs. 44mm: Band Bias

Since Apple only offers some bands in some sizes, if you have your heart set on a certain band, you may have to be willing to go with the size that matches it. That said, you can get 3rd-party knockoffs for everything in every size and then some, so it doesn't truly matter if you're looking for the best Apple Watch bands.

40mm-specific bands:

• Modern Buckle
• Hermès Single Tour (certain colors)
• Hermès Double Tour

44mm-specific bands:

• Leather Loop
• Hermès Single Tour (certain colors)
• Hermès Single Tour Deployment Buckle

Apple Watch 40mm vs. 44mm: Battery life

The 44mm Apple Watch SE, Apple Watch Series 4, Apple Watch Series 5, and Apple Watch Series 6 have a slightly bigger battery than the 40mm watch due to more room in the casing. If battery life is most important to you, this is something to consider.

Apple Watch 40mm vs. 44mm: Which should you buy?

If you want the largest and clearest screen available on an Apple Watch, and want to purchase a leather loop band, then the 44mm is the one for you. You will also benefit from a larger battery and, therefore, more battery life with the 44mm.

If you have a smallish wrist, want the modern buckle band, or simply want the least expensive Apple Watch, then the 40mm will suit you perfectly.

If you are still undecided, try them both on, see how they feel, and how they look on your wrist. You can then make the decision that works best for you.

Apple Watch 44mm

Big brother

From $309 at Apple From $309 at Best Buy

Look at that!

If you have vision requirements that benefit from bigger graphics, you want a longer-lasting battery, or if you like bigger watches in general, get this one..

Apple Watch 40mm

Small fry

Smaller, yet powerful

From $279 at Apple From $279 at Best Buy

If you have a small wrist and want the Apple Watch to look comfortable on it, you should consider this Apple Watch.

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Can the Withings Move track your ZZZ's?

Best answer: Yes, the Withings Move is outfitted with a sleep tracker that keeps tabs on your sleep cycles, duration, quality of sleep, and interruptions.

Track your ZZZ's with the Withings Move

The Withings Move does have a sleep tracker. If you wear your watch to bed, Withings Move will automatically track your light and deep sleep cycles, duration of sleep, sleep quality, and any interruptions to your sleep throughout the night.

It will deliver a Sleep Score for your overall night's rest that you can view on the affiliated Health Mate app. This is great for tracking your sleep trends over time to ultimately help you get better rest.

Sleep Scores and Smart Wake

Withing's Sleep Score uses an exclusive algorithm that automatically scores your night based on your sleep cycles, duration, regularity, and interruptions. Because Withings Move knows if you are in light or deep sleep, it can choose the best time to wake you up according to your individual sleep schedule.

This feature is called Smart Wake-Up. You simply set a wake-up time in the app, and Withings Move will gently coax you awake with a light vibration.

The Move seems to track sleep based on movement

Take note that the Withings Move does not have a heart rate monitor and that the Move seems to track sleep based on movement for the most part. If you're a sleeper that doesn't move much during the night, your sleep insights are likely going to be more accurate than those that tend to do gymnastics in their sleep.

That being said, if you're chilling in your chair after a long day, watching TV, and not moving much, the Move might mistake that for sleeping. You might want to make sure your band is the proper size to reduce movement as well. So, yes, the Withings Move does have a sleep tracker, and overall, reviewers seem to agree that the sleep tracker is relatively accurate.

Our pick

Withings Move

$70 at Amazon $107 at Walmart

Sleep Scores + Smart Wake

The Withings Move has a sleep tracker that keeps track of your sleep cycles (light and deep), duration, sleep quality, and interruptions to deliver an overall Sleep Score for the night.

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Keep your iPad 10.2-inch safe with this kid-proof cases

Cases are essential for Apple iPads regardless of the owner, but they are essential if you have kids. If you want to keep your 10.2-inch iPad safe and accident-proof, these are the best 10.2 inch iPad cases for kids. One stands above the others in versatility, design, overall protection. Our recommendation is the Fansong Full Body Case. This model offers the most features for your money.

Best Overall: Fansong Full Body Case

The Fansong Full Body Case is perfect for everyone. No matter the viewing angle, you can hold it with the hand strap or pull out the kickstand with the option for 360 degrees of rotatable viewing. This case comes in four colors: black, blue, red, and purple.

The adjustable hand strap will ensure your iPad won't drop. However, if that doesn't work, the adjustable shoulder strap will be a great backup. The shoulder strap is also good for securing your iPad to the front car seats. Then, your kids can use it to watch movies and shows in the car. The full coverage of the case will protect it from any minor spills, bumps, and drops. With the most features and the most protection, this case is an excellent choice for anyone who wants to protect their iPad.

Pros:

• Adjustable hand strap with 360-degree rotation
• Adjustable shoulder strap
• Full coverage case
• Built-in 360-degree kickstand
• Apple Pencil holder
• Mature design

Cons:

• It may be hard to get the case off

Best Overall

Fansong Full Body Case

• Starting at $25 at Amazon

Coverage for everyone

Whether the iPad is for you or your kids, it will be protected and versatile for any need.

Best Kids Design: MENZO Kids Case

This case may only come in one color, but it's incredibly functional while still having an adorable design. Three handles with slip-resistant material make this case harder to drop, even from the most buttery fingers. Even if it's dropped, you can be sure no harm will come from the fall. It has coverage on all sides; plus, protection is extended to the front.

The only thing that is missing on this case is a screen protector; it has everything else to keep it safe. When given a choice, any kid would probably choose this case because of the character on the back. However, parents, teachers, and adults would love this for kids since it has all the protective features necessary.

Pros:

• Fun design
• Three handles
• Shoulder strap
• Protected on all sides
• Fold-in kickstand
• Comes in six colors

Cons:

• No screen protector

Best Kids Design

MENZO Kids Case

• $15 at Amazon

Cute and protective

With the Menzo Case, you will have a cute, functional case to protect it from your even cuter kids.

Best Color Options: Fintie Case

With the number of color options for this case, a picky kid will still have the perfect fit. The built-in handle and kickstand are essential for on-the-go use or when you need those different viewing angles. This case covers everything except for the screen in a kid-safe material.

It's advertised to be the same material as the sole on high-end sneakers, and it's slip-resistant. Even if laid on its face, the raised front of the cover will protect it from any scratches without the screen protector. This may be a simple case regarding looks, but it will keep your iPad safe from drop-prone kids.

Pros:

• Seven color options
• Built-in kickstand/handle
• Coverage on sides and back
• Handle with slip-resistant grips

Cons:

• No screen protection
• No shoulder strap

Best Color Options

Fintie Case

• From $16 at AmazonFrom $16 at Walmart

  Biggest color selection

This case is great for anyone who wants options for colors and a good amount of coverage.

Best Full Coverage: Ledniceker Case

The Ledniceker case is an excellent option for people who want a shockproof case. The most crucial detail is that it has a built-in screen protector to protect from scratches and minor falls. Its kickstands aren't one piece, but that doesn't change the functionality of their viewing angles.

The handle does make it easy for kids or adults to carry it around, but it lacks a hands-free option that similar cases have. Even though it's missing the shoulder strap, this is one of the few cases with a screen protector built-in. Plus, it is very easy to install and take off.

Pros:

• Shockproof case
• Built-in screen protector
• Integrated kickstand
• Handle for easy carry
• Seven color options

Cons:

• No shoulder strap

Best Full Coverage

Ledniceker Case

• $14 at Amazon

Protect that screen

This is an excellent option if you want something simple and protective with a shockproof case.

Best Unique Feature: Poetic Kids Friendly Turtleskin Case

The Poetic case is a good fit for your older kids who don't want anything too "kiddy." It's also great for parents who don't want to replace an iPad. The bumper edges and shockproof cover protect against most small falls. The grip will also help kids hang on to the iPad a little more than a smooth design.

Something not everyone in the house may love is the sound amplification feature. Who doesn't love defying the company's sound limits... just a little? Plus, something that always proves to be a good thing for Apple products is heat vents. This feature is great to ensure that the iPad doesn't overheat too much.

Pros:

• Sound amplification
• Mature design
• Shockproof
• Textured for grip
• Heat vents

Cons:

• No screen protection
• No handles
• No straps

Best Unique Feature

Poetic Kids Friendly Turtleskin Case

• from $15 at Amazon$13 at Walmart

Turn it up

The Poetic case is excellent for turning up the volume past the iPad's limits.

Best Grip Design: Dadanism Case

This Dadanism case is great for a maturing kid or a person who wants their iPad to be protected from maturing kids. It doesn't offer as much protection, but it will protect your iPad from minor falls, scrapes, and dust, all while giving you the style you want. Plus, it features a cutout of the famous Apple logo.

Among its design features, it is easy to put on and remove from the iPad, which may not seem like a huge deal. However, if you ever want to clean the case or iPad, you don't want a product that is impossible to remove. This case also has reinforced corners for excellent bumper case protection. It is also textured perfectly for a more exceptional grip even without the handles or straps.

Pros:

• Mature design
• Reinforced corners
• Easy to put on and remove
• Textured for grip

Cons:

• No screen protection
• No handles
• No straps

Best Grip Design

Dadanism Case

• $8 at Amazon

Get a grip

This choice is great for a good grip and a sophisticated design. This is a simple choice to offer protection.

Best Alternative: AVAWO Kids Case

This Avawo case is great for kids, and the brand has been around for a while. This one, however, is designed specifically for the newest iPad. This case has almost everything you need including its shockproof cover that will guarantee minor falls and bumps won't damage your iPad.

The material is safe for kids and provides a decent grip. The case also incorporated a handle to give kids and adults something to hold onto. This option comes in four colors: black, blue, rose, and turquoise. It may not come with a screen protector or straps, but it is a great option for kids who won't be taking it outside or on too many rough surfaces.

Pros:

• Convertible handle/kickstand
• Shockproof
• Made of grip material

Cons:

• No screen protector
• No straps

Best Alternative

AVAWO Kids Case

• $13 at Amazon

Made for kids

A good case for carrying around and will protect from minor falls and bumps.

Bottom line

Let's face it, kids and adults are prone to dropping pretty much anything (some more than others). However, with any of these best 10.2 inch iPad cases for kids, maybe those drops won't hurt quite as much. The Fansong Full Body Case is a great option and our top choice for anyone who wants the most coverage and protection for their iPad. With every feature you could want in a case for yourself or a kid, it is a perfect choice and will keep any adult at ease with its total coverage. It is even available in colors that kids will love.

Credits — The team that worked on this guide

Mary DeSpain is one of iMore's Apple writers with three years of experience working with Apple products. With numerous nieces and nephews, she knows the importance of protecting products from drops, spills, and the occasional toss.

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