AllYouCanTech

iPhones and iPads Launch EU Energy Labels: Essential Insights Unveiled

**Apple’s Latest Energy Labels: Adherence to EU Standards**

For those residing in the European Union and visiting Apple’s website today, you’ll see a new piece of information alongside iPhones and iPads: vibrant energy labels that rate each model’s efficiency, longevity, and repairability. This update is not optional; it reflects Apple’s adherence to a new EU regulation that has recently come into force.

The labels designate a grade ranging from A to G for energy efficiency and durability metrics, such as impact resistance and repairability. However, Apple has raised concerns about the clarity of the regulation.

### Insights on the Fresh EU Regulations

With today’s updates, Apple released a 44-page technical document outlining its labeling approach, citing the regulation’s ambiguity. The document states:

> “The EU’s recent Energy Labelling regulation for smartphones and tablets sets forth several interim testing methods that contain vague language. Consequently, some metrics on the energy label are shaped by the decisions made by manufacturers and test laboratories interpreting the regulation. This document aims to clarify Apple’s selected testing methodology and the resultant scores, which were, in some instances, voluntarily adjusted lower to reflect potential differences in interpretation. We are eager to collaborate with other stakeholders to resolve test method ambiguities moving forward.”

Apple is not completely content with how certain grades are determined. The company asserts that its current iPhone models would meet the highest “A” grade on the energy efficiency index. Nonetheless, it has voluntarily adjusted its own rating down to a “B,” which it describes as being cautious. The worry is that independent laboratories might interpret the EU’s testing protocols differently, which could lead to a lower public score.

This cautious downgrade strategy also extends to iPhone drop resistance ratings. Apple contends that the EU’s standardized drop tests might not truly reflect real-life durability, as they rely on various factors, such as the kind of wood and steel employed for impact surfaces.

### What the Labels Indicate and Where to Locate Them

The energy labels encompass six primary categories:

– Energy efficiency per charge
– Battery longevity (number of complete charge cycles)
– Repairability
– Ingress protection (water and dust resistance)
– Drop impact resistance
– Battery life per cycle (hours of usage per full charge)

For consumers, the most prominent feature is a new icon (a vibrant little tag) that appears on iPhone and iPad product pages for EU countries, including on every product’s purchase page. Clicking or tapping the icon displays the full label, which can also be accessed in the environmental section of each product’s technical specifications.

Moreover, there is a downloadable PDF with additional information, including battery capacity in milliamp-hours (mAh), the device’s scratch resistance rating on the Mohs hardness scale, and the guaranteed minimum number of years each product will continue to receive security updates.

In addition to the website updates, Apple will now provide a printed version of the energy label inside the box with each new iPhone and iPad sold in the EU, starting with products produced from this point onward.

Apple Investigates Purchase of AI Search Firm Perplexity, Based on Report

As Apple races to catch up in the generative AI arena, a recent report indicates that the company is contemplating its largest acquisition to date.

According to Bloomberg, Apple executives have engaged in internal conversations regarding a potential offer for Perplexity AI, a rapidly expanding AI startup renowned for its conversational web search platform.

## This would represent Apple’s largest acquisition to date

As stated by Mark Gurman, these discussions are still in the preliminary phase and may not lead to an official bid, but the concept has allegedly been discussed among Apple’s mergers and acquisitions head Adrian Perica, services chief Eddy Cue, and the company’s top AI leadership.

Perplexity recently concluded a funding round that valued it at $14 billion, which would make an acquisition a groundbreaking step for Apple, significantly higher than the $3 billion Beats acquisition in 2014.

Here’s what Gurman says about the potential acquisition:

> “Acquiring Perplexity would provide Apple with a boost in AI talent, an established brand in the AI realm, and a consumer product. A deal could also help enhance future recruitment efforts.”

While the report mentions that Apple has conducted several meetings with Perplexity in the past few months, and its internal AI divisions have been closely assessing the technology, Apple chose not to comment, and Perplexity stated it has “no awareness of any ongoing or future M&A discussions.”

## The rationale for acquiring Perplexity

Firstly, there’s the potential risk of Apple’s $20 billion annual search agreement with Google being dismantled due to the US government’s ongoing antitrust litigation. Eddy Cue himself hinted at this during his testimony earlier this year, asserting that the industry is shifting away from conventional web search towards AI-powered responses.

Secondly, Perplexity possesses what Apple currently lacks: a consumer-centric AI search product with real-time web access and brand recognition in the AI sector, all at a much lower (though still exorbitant) cost compared to direct rivals like OpenAI. Perplexity even boasts its own iPhone assistant that, despite the system’s deliberate constraints, performs significantly better than Siri and ChatGPT in various tasks.

Perhaps this is the reason, beyond a complete acquisition, that Apple is also reportedly investigating a possible partnership that could integrate Perplexity into Safari as a search alternative or incorporate it into Siri’s responses.

One significant challenge: Samsung. The report indicates that Samsung is nearing the finalization of its own substantial partnership with Perplexity, which could complicate any exclusive deal with Apple. Notably, Bloomberg reported earlier today that Meta has also engaged in acquisition talks with Perplexity but appears to have abandoned the idea in favor of its recent $14B investment in Scale AI.

Do you believe Apple should acquire Perplexity? If not them, who do you think Apple should pursue for acquisition? Share your thoughts in the comments.

Apple Unveils Original Casting Tape for Ms. Casey from “Severance”

### Severance Season 3: What We Know Up to This Point

For those impatiently anticipating [Severance](https://apple.co/4mI15ey) season 3, Apple has released a small piece of content to ease the craving. The company has shared an uncommon video on its YouTube channel: the initial audition tape of Dichen Lachman ([Jurassic World: Dominion](https://apple.co/44rVXUA)) for the character of Ms. Casey. Check it out below.

#### Mild Season 1 Spoilers Below

The two-minute [video](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fgtlNQDP-XA) features Lachman performing two scenes that fans of the series will immediately recognize: one depicts the early wellness session with Irving B., and the other shows Ms. Casey quietly observing Helly R.

What makes the video particularly enjoyable for fans is seeing how distinct her portrayal was at this initial phase. Ms. Casey, as presented in the completed show, became known for her stoic, near-robotic delivery. However, in this early version, Lachman portrays her with a bit more emotion, highlighting character development from audition to final product.

There are also some nuanced variations in the dialogue, with lines that either didn’t make the cut or were later adjusted into something slightly more impactful or unsettling.

#### Now, What’s Happening with Season 3?

Apple officially [confirmed](https://9to5mac.com/2025/06/04/severance-season-3-heres-everything-we-know-so-far/) season 3 of [Severance](https://apple.co/4mI15ey) right after the season 2 finale, and it is already in production. Writer Beau Willimon ([House of Cards](https://apple.co/4egyJnN), [Andor](https://apple.co/4lkrr4P)), who was brought in to resolve issues toward the end of season 2, is expected to assume a larger role in crafting season 3.

For the more anxious fans, the promising news is that showrunner Ben Stiller ([Tropic Thunder](https://apple.co/4093RzG), [The Secret Life of Walter Mitty](https://apple.co/45RdZRx)) has indicated that it won’t take as long as the almost three-year gap between seasons 1 and 2. The downside is that most projections still suggest a late 2026 or even 2027 release for season 3 on Apple TV+.

[Watch Severance seasons 1 and 2 on Apple TV+](https://apple.co/4mI15ey).

Apple TV+ is [available for $9.99 per month](https://tv.apple.com/channel/tvs.sbd.4000?itscg=30200&itsct=tv%5C_box%5C_link&at=1000l3cvR) and includes popular TV series and films like [The Studio](https://tv.apple.com/show/the-studio/umc.cmc.7518algxc4lsoobtsx30dqb52?itscg=30200&itsct=tv_box_link&mttnsubad=umc.cmc.7518algxc4lsoobtsx30dqb52&at=1000l3cvR), [The Morning Show](https://tv.apple.com/show/the-morning-show/umc.cmc.25tn3v8ku4b39tr6ccgb8nl6m?itscg=30200&itsct=tv_box_link&mttnsubad=umc.cmc.25tn3v8ku4b39tr6ccgb8nl6m&at=1000l3cvR), [Shrinking](https://tv.apple.com/show/shrinking/umc.cmc.apzybj6eqf6pzccd97kev7bs?itscg=30200&itsct=tv_box_link&mttnsubad=umc.cmc.apzybj6eqf6pzccd97kev7bs&at=1000l3cFK), and

iOS 26 to Allow Third-Party Applications to Create Their Own AirDrop Alternatives

### Apple Eases Control on Local Wireless Sharing with iOS 26

Apple’s stronghold on local wireless sharing is finally relaxing, albeit somewhat reactively. With iOS 26, developers will have access to a new API that enables third-party applications to discover and connect with nearby devices over Wi-Fi, independent of an internet connection. Here’s how it functions.

#### Wi-Fi Aware

As noted by iHelpBR, the essence of this news revolves around Wi-Fi Aware, which will enable nearby devices to locate one another and establish a direct peer-to-peer connection via Wi-Fi, even if they aren’t on the same network.

This is the same basic principle that Apple’s AirDrop has utilized for years, but now it’s being made available to all. Here’s what Apple’s Swetank Saha has to say about the new feature:

> “With Wi-Fi Aware, you can unlock new experiences and enable your apps to seamlessly discover and connect to nearby devices. Some examples include: media streaming, high-speed file transfer, accessory control, screen sharing, and if necessary, you can do all of these simultaneously.”

During the WWDC25 session “Supercharge device connectivity with Wi-Fi Aware”, Saha showcased its practical application: you launch an app on both devices, view a list of nearby peers, and tap to start a connection. There’s even an optional confirmation code step, similar to AirDrop, to ensure you’re connecting to the correct device.

#### Not Just for File Transfers

While rapid local file sharing is the clear primary use case, Apple is positioning this API as a resource for much more than just that. Developers could leverage it for virtually any application that would benefit from a swift, local connection without reliance on the cloud, including screen sharing, streaming media between devices, and updating or configuring accessories such as smart glasses or drones.

And since Wi-Fi Aware is an open standard, apps aren’t confined to Apple-to-Apple transfers. In theory, a developer could create something that enables functionality between iPhones and Android devices that run the same app. It’s not AirDrop for Android, but it’s the closest Apple has come to facilitating that type of cross-platform interaction.

#### Reading Between the (Regulatory) Lines

Officially, Apple isn’t linking this action to regulatory pressure, but the timing is hardly coincidental. The European Union has been urging Apple to enhance iOS’s interoperability with third-party hardware and services, specifically highlighting local sharing as an area that needs to become more accessible.

This API allows Apple to tick that box without actually opening up AirDrop itself.

New Hues Anticipated for iPhone 17 Standard Version: Two Rival Choices Unveiled

**Apple’s iPhone 17: An Overview of Possible New Colors and Features**

As revealed by leaker Majin Bu, Apple is in the process of evaluating two new color options for the iPhone 17 base models: Purple and Green. Nonetheless, it seems that only one of these shades will be chosen for the official unveiling later this year, with Purple reportedly holding the advantage.

### Purple vs. Green

Reports suggest that both Purple and Green are being considered for the aluminum-bodied iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Plus. The Purple tone has generated considerable enthusiasm within Apple, described internally as a “vibrant hue” that pairs beautifully with the aluminum frame. Bu portrays the Purple as “a lively and contemporary shade designed for those seeking a device with a bold identity.” In comparison, the Green alternative is characterized as providing a “fresh and organic tone, perfect for a minimalistic yet impactful aesthetic.” Despite the allure of both shades, speculation indicates that Purple is the more probable choice for the final launch.

Traditionally, Purple has been a favored option for iPhones, making appearances as a mid-cycle offering or as one of the debut colors for models like the iPhone 12, 13, and 15. Conversely, Green has been less commonly featured in the iPhone series.

### What Else to Anticipate

In addition to color selections, the iPhone 17 base models are expected to showcase notable enhancements. Specifically, Apple is anticipated to roll out a larger display and integrate 120Hz refresh rates for the first time in its base models. This improvement promises to facilitate smoother scrolling, enhanced animations, and superior battery management.

Furthermore, the iPhone 17 is rumored to operate on the new A18 chip and will include a single rear camera, marked by a pill-shaped horizontal bump that spans the width of the device. While the color options remain uncertain until the official announcement in September, the expected features suggest that the iPhone 17 will represent a significant upgrade for Apple fans.

As the launch date nears, the anticipation surrounding the prospective color selections and technological innovations continues to escalate. Which color would you choose for your next iPhone? Have you ever owned a Green or Purple iPhone?