Blog

Comprehending the “Slow Charger” Alert on iPhone: Implications and Remedies

# Comprehending iPhone Charging Rates: Rapid vs. Gradual Chargers

If you possess an iPhone operating on iOS 26, you might have noticed a novel feature that shows the estimated duration to achieve 80% battery on your lock screen. However, if your device signals ‘Slow Charger,’ it indicates that you are utilizing a charger with insufficient power.

## Recognizing Slow Chargers

The ‘Slow Charger’ alert generally occurs when using an outdated power adapter or cable that fails to support rapid charging. To attain peak charging speeds, it is advisable to employ a charging brick rated at 30 watts or higher, in conjunction with a suitable USB-C cable.

Current iPhones, including the most recent models, come with larger batteries compared to those from five years prior. If you’ve recently transitioned from an older iPhone and switched from the Lightning connector to USB-C, it is probable that your former charging accessories cannot facilitate fast charging.

For example, older USB-A chargers, characterized by a rectangular port, can provide a maximum of 7.5 watts, and frequently only 5 watts. At this capacity, charging an iPhone 17 could require three hours or longer to achieve full charge.

## Obtaining Fast Charging

With appropriate accessories, iPhone fast charging can maintain speeds between 20 watts and 30 watts. At this rate, you can power your device from zero to 50% in under thirty minutes. The brand of the power adapter is not monumental; any USB-C charger compatible with Power Delivery will likely be adequate.

Apple endorses its new Dynamic Charger for the iPhone 17, tailored for efficiency in speed and power usage. Nevertheless, more economical alternatives from brands like Anker or Belkin also offer effective fast charging capabilities.

## Wireless Rapid Charging

The ‘Slow Charger’ notification can also arise when employing Qi wireless charging, especially if using a first-generation Qi charger delivering less than 10 watts. For swift wireless charging, seeking out official MagSafe accessories or those marked with Qi2 standards is advisable. The latest iPhones can accommodate wireless charging velocities up to 25 watts.

For instance, the Belkin MagSafe charger can power your iPhone at speeds reaching 25 watts and features a spot for AirPods. Alternatively, a more budget-conscious choice is a basic wireless charging pad that can charge an iPhone at 15 watts.

## No Immediate Need for Upgrades

Regardless of whether your iPhone shows a Slow Charger status, using a slower charger does not present safety hazards or risks to your device. The main concern is convenience. If you usually charge your phone overnight, a charger that requires three hours for a complete charge may not be problematic.

However, if you seek the quickest charging speeds for your workspace or kitchen, the previously mentioned options will assist you in achieving that, whether through wired or wireless means.

Read More
Samsung’s DRAM Deficit May Drive Up Costs of Upcoming Galaxy Smartphones

The firm’s tactical transition towards more “lucrative” productions appears to have influenced its DRAM output, resulting in a deficiency. Reports suggest that Samsung is facing a DRAM production shortfall due to its heightened emphasis on high-bandwidth memory (HBM) manufacturing for AI servers. This transition has, as reported, escalated expenses and could have repercussions for the upcoming “low to mid” range Galaxy smartphones. While there was conjecture concerning a possible price surge for the Galaxy S25 series, it ultimately did not come to fruition.

The deficiency is linked to a substantial increase in HBM production, which offers greater profitability than conventional DRAM. Samsung’s transition towards HBM aims to accommodate the rising demand for AI and AI servers, but it has left DRAM production short on essential resources. This circumstance may influence Samsung’s “low to mid-priced devices,” possibly affecting the Galaxy A series and potentially future FE models.

Although the DRAM shortfall presents difficulties, Samsung’s initiatives in HBM production have likewise led to price increases for SSDs. Nonetheless, consumers can rest assured that there is no imminent price hike for future Galaxy S series smartphones. In spite of previous speculation, Samsung did not elevate prices for the Galaxy S25 series, including the S25 Ultra, maintaining a price of $1,299.

Samsung’s emphasis on HBM manufacturing signifies its strategy to leverage more profitable opportunities, yet it must tackle the DRAM shortfall to avert possible effects on its product range. As the company maneuvers through these obstacles, consumers look forward to the Galaxy S26 series, which might experience a postponed release.

Read More
Google Declares Gemini’s Debut on Google TV Streaming Device This Winter

Gemini is poised to upgrade Google TV Streamer this winter with interactive AI and enhanced on-screen functionalities. Google is set to deploy Gemini to additional devices, such as Google Home and Google TV Streamer, in the near future. The firm has announced that Gemini will be available on Google TV and other platforms “this winter.” Gemini will elevate Google TV with advanced, interactive AI and richer visual feedback.

Google has been progressively introducing Gemini to more services throughout the year. The company has begun rolling out Gemini to Google Home devices following its announcement in October 2025, and now, a recent report verifies that Gemini is also on its way to the Google TV Streamer sooner than anticipated.

As noted by 9to5Google, Google confirmed on its Nest Community forum that Gemini is en route to Google TV Streamer and other devices “this winter.” Earlier, the company provided only a broad “later this year” estimate, but has now clarified the timeline, giving us hope that the upgraded Google Assistant will be available on our preferred streaming device in the upcoming months.

Although Google has been expanding Gemini’s reach across its applications and services, it is currently compatible with only a select few Google TV models, such as the TCL QM9K Google TV. A Reddit user recently mentioned seeing the Gemini setup interface on their Sony Bravia TV, but, overall, availability remains limited for the time being.

Fortunately, we now have confirmation that Google’s leading streaming device will soon feature AI integration. This should also clear the way for Gemini to become available on other Google TV streaming devices, including Walmart’s onn and Nvidia Shield TV.

Gemini on Google TV will provide an upgraded experience compared to the existing Google Assistant. Users will be able to pose intricate questions in natural language, like “What occurred in the last episode of Riverdale?” and even ask for recipes or other details, all displayed prominently on the TV screen.

For those who may not know, the Google TV Streamer is the company’s top streaming device and acts as Google’s competitor to the Apple TV 4K. It is capable of 4K HDR streaming with Dolby Vision and HDR10+. The device also supports emerging smart home standards like Matter and Thread and features a customizable remote button, allowing you to assign it to any function.

Gemini arriving soon

Google TV Streamer provides 4K HDR playback with Dolby Vision and Atmos support. It is driven by a quicker processor and boasts 32GB of built-in storage. Google has confirmed that Gemini AI integration for the device will debut this winter, making the streamer even more appealing.

Read More
Google Pixel 10a Design Unveiled: An Initial Glimpse of the Approaching Affordable Smartphone

Pixel 9a. While we are still in the early stages of speculation, the design elements currently visible suggest that the A-series device may once again come with a plastic back.

Based on renders and related details provided by Android Headlines, speculation suggests that the Pixel 10a will incorporate a somewhat enhanced variant of the Tensor G4, which is the identical chip utilized in the Pixel 9a. This may disappoint anyone hoping that the Pixel 10a would have the same chip as the flagship Pixel 10 — as has been the trend over the years.

It may include a larger battery

Read More

Apple Unveils Comprehensive Research Dataset to Improve AI Image Editing Model Development

Apple has introduced the Pico-Banana-400K, a research dataset comprising 400,000 images created with Google’s Gemini-2.5 models. This dataset is featured in a study titled “Pico-Banana-400K: A Large-Scale Dataset for Text-Guided Image Editing,” published by Apple’s research division. It is offered under a non-commercial research license, permitting use solely for academic and AI research objectives.

The impetus for developing Pico-Banana-400K arises from challenges associated with current datasets, which typically depend on synthetic creations or limited human-curated selections. Apple’s researchers observed that these datasets commonly present domain shifts, imbalanced distributions of edit types, and inconsistent quality control, which obstruct the advancement of effective editing models.

In constructing Pico-Banana-400K, Apple chose a variety of authentic photographs from the OpenImages dataset, ensuring representation of humans, objects, and textual environments. They identified 35 distinct types of modifications users might request, clustered into eight categories, such as:

– **Pixel & Photometric:** Incorporate film grain or a retro filter
– **Human-Centric:** Generate a Funko-Pop–style toy version of an individual
– **Scene Composition & Multi-Subject:** Alter weather conditions (sunny/rainy/snowy)
– **Object-Level Semantic:** Move an object (change its position/spatial relation)
– **Scale:** Zoom in

The researchers uploaded images into the Nano-Banana model along with appropriate prompts. Following the generation of edited images, they employed Gemini-2.5-Pro to evaluate the outcomes, approving or dismissing them based on adherence to instructions and visual quality.

Pico-Banana-400K encompasses images generated via single-turn edits, multi-turn edit sequences, and preference pair comparisons of successful and unsuccessful results, enabling models to learn from negative instances. While recognizing certain limitations of Nano-Banana regarding fine-grained spatial editing and typography, the researchers aspire for Pico-Banana-400K to provide a solid basis for training and evaluating future text-guided image editing models.

The study is accessible on arXiv, and the dataset is available on GitHub.

Read More
Apple Music Product Manager to Lead Reddit AMA on Newly Launched Features

The Apple Music subreddit has declared an AMA (Ask Me Anything) event featuring Adam Silver, who has played a significant role in the platform’s product advancement for almost ten years. This occasion offers a rare chance for users to interact directly with Silver and converse about the newest features of Apple Music.

Silver has been leading Apple Music for seven years, managing the launch of numerous groundbreaking features such as AutoMix, Lyrics Translation & Pronunciation, Music Pins, and the Sing with iPhone Mic capability. The AMA is set for October 30 at 2:15 p.m. ET, and Silver has shown his eagerness for the event in his invitation, urging users to present questions regarding the latest release and the development journey of the platform.

In his note, Silver mentioned, “Hello! A little about me: I’ve been with Apple Music for 7 years, concentrating on our main experience. It’s a significant duty, and I feel incredibly fortunate to be involved with a product I’m truly passionate about. This latest release was exciting to roll out, and I’m keen to hear your thoughts and address any inquiries. Please feel free to ask me about this release, how any of the features operate, our approach to product development, or anything else on your mind. I’ll do my utmost to share what I know or direct you to those who are best informed.”

As the AMA nears, the subreddit post has already attracted over 400 comments, reflecting a strong interest from the community. Users are encouraged to get involved early if they have particular questions related to Apple Music. However, it is crucial to recognize that Silver may not respond to technical support questions or critical feedback regarding the platform during the session. Instead, the emphasis will be on the insights regarding the recent features and the overarching philosophy of product development.

To join the AMA, users are required to have an active Apple Music subscription, available for $10.99 per month, with a one-month free trial offered to new subscribers. This AMA represents a valuable chance for Apple Music users to obtain deeper insights into the platform and its future trajectory directly from one of its pivotal leaders.

Read More
New Functions Unveiled at the TikTok U.S. Creator Summit Today

**TikTok Unveils AI-Driven Features to Enrich Creator Experience**

TikTok has revealed major enhancements to its platform, featuring an innovative subscription-based revenue-sharing framework and two new AI-driven tools intended to simplify the content creation workflow for creators. These enhancements are crafted to support creators in both the pre-production and post-production phases, improving their capability to connect with audiences efficiently.

### AI Outline

The initial feature, AI Outline, is designed for creators seeking help in organizing their content before recording. By merely inputting a description—like “Baking classes for novices”—the AI Outline tool provides a detailed outline encompassing video titles, hashtags, hooks, and a proposed format for the content.

As per TikTok’s information, “AI Outline creates an outline that divides the video into six sections that creators can personalize.” This adaptability enables creators to tweak elements such as title length, sharpen the hook, and alter the script concept to fit their distinct style. This feature is presently accessible to creators aged 18 and up in the U.S., Canada, and select regions, with intentions for increased availability soon.

### Smart Split

The second tool, Smart Split, caters to creators utilizing videos exceeding one minute in duration. This feature will be globally available on TikTok Studio Web. Smart Split allows creators to upload their material and pick the specific segments they want to keep. The tool then automatically clips, reframes, captions, and transcribes the longer video into numerous shorter clips suitable for TikTok.

TikTok states, “Smart Split can assist creators in segmenting their day-in-the-life vlog or a podcast episode into shorter clips.” Creators can opt for a specific video length or let Smart Split automatically decide the length. Furthermore, users can choose from various caption formatting styles and reframe their content before directly publishing from TikTok Studio Web.

### Monthly Rewards

Alongside these new features, TikTok has revised its revenue-sharing structure for its Subscription offering. Creators can now earn up to 90% of profit distributions. The subscription model enables creators to cultivate more invested communities while monetizing through a monthly charge for exclusive benefits.

According to TikTok’s press release, “Now, after fees, creators receive 70% of TikTok’s revenue share, and those who fulfill other criteria (10K followers, 100K views in the past month, and 3+ subscription-only videos uploaded in the last month) can unlock an additional 20% monthly reward on top of that, totaling up to 90% of the revenue.”

For further information on these updates, check TikTok’s newsroom announcement

Read More
9to5Mac Daily: October 28, 2025 – Newest Speculations Regarding iPhone 18 and News on iPad Applications

**9to5Mac Daily: Your Go-To for Daily Apple News and Insights**

In the rapidly changing realm of technology, staying informed is essential, particularly for Apple fans. 9to5Mac Daily acts as a trustworthy source for the newest news, insights, and conversations related to Apple products, software updates, and industry developments. This enlightening podcast is crafted to keep listeners updated and engaged with daily summaries of key stories.

**Podcast Availability**

Listeners can conveniently access 9to5Mac Daily on numerous platforms, including [iTunes](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/9to5mac-daily/id1331816080), Apple’s Podcasts app, [Stitcher](https://www.stitcher.com/podcast/9to5mac-daily), [TuneIn](https://tunein.com/radio/9to5Mac-Daily-p1089524/), [Google Play](https://play.google.com/music/m/I5d4dzs7dauazmfxvvrynyiuram?t=9to5Mac_Daily), and via a

Read More
Apple’s Services Division Expected to Exceed Earnings of Tesla, Pepsi, and Disney

Financial Times highlights that if the forecasted figures for the quarter are correct, Apple’s services division will have generated over $108.6 billion in revenue during the latest fiscal year. This would also signify the first instance where Apple’s services sector surpasses the $100 billion mark within a 12-month period. To provide some perspective, Apple’s services division alone is set to yield more yearly revenue than firms such as Tesla, Disney, and Pepsi, which report annual revenues of $97.6 billion, $91.3 billion, and $91.8 billion, respectively.

Apple’s services income receives a significant lift from Google

<div class="slide-key image-holder gallery-image-holder credit-image-wrap " data-post-url="https://www.bgr.com/2010467/apple-services-division-on-track-earn-more-tesla-pepsi-disney/" data-post-title="Apple's Services Division Is On Track To

Read More
Budget-Friendly $34 Stand Provides Seamless Desk Upgrade

In the current digital landscape, enhancing workspace productivity and comfort through efficiency and ergonomics is essential. One of the most straightforward yet impactful improvements to your desk configuration is the inclusion of a monitor mounting arm. This accessory not only lifts your monitor away from the desk, thereby clearing valuable surface area, but also provides positional flexibility, improving your viewing experience.

Conventional approaches to monitor placement, such as positioning them directly on desks or affixing them to walls, carry certain drawbacks. Desks may become cluttered, and wall mounts typically represent a fixed solution, complicating workspace reconfiguration. A monitor mounting arm, such as the HUANUO Single Monitor Mount, offers a flexible alternative. This mount is designed to be affixed to the edge of your desk with either a C-clamp or grommet setup, facilitating easy installation and adjustment.

The HUANUO Single Monitor Mount, available for only $34, accommodates monitors from 13 to 32 inches and weighing up to 19.8 pounds. It works with VESA-standard mounting systems, making it compatible with a broad spectrum of monitors, including some top gaming monitors available today. Offered in both black and white, this mount integrates effortlessly into different desk configurations.

Installing the monitor arm is simple and requires minimal DIY expertise. The VESA-compatible plate makes the process of attaching the monitor easy, and the entire assembly can be completed in just a few minutes. This is particularly advantageous for those who frequently modify their workspace design or need to move their monitor across various locations.

Besides clearing space on your desk, a monitor mounting arm can significantly improve ergonomics by allowing you to adjust the monitor’s height, tilt, and angle according to your preferred viewing position. This can minimize eye strain and enhance posture, fostering a more comfortable and productive work environment.

For those worried about accessing USB ports on their monitor while it is elevated, it is recommended to plan cable management thoughtfully to prevent cords from dangling. Despite this issue, the advantages of a monitor mounting arm, especially for compact desks, are substantial. It creates additional room for other devices, larger mouse pads, or decorative elements, making your workspace more organized and visually appealing.

In summary, investing in a monitor mounting arm like the HUANUO Single Monitor Mount is a budget-friendly method to enhance your desk setup. With its low price and quick installation, it provides a practical approach to optimizing desk space and advancing ergonomics, all while keeping the flexibility to adjust your workspace as required.

Read More