Latest news with #MiniLED
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Omdia Forecasts Flat TV Shipments in 2025, but Mini LED Poised for Explosive Growth at 82.9%
LONDON, June 26, 2025--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Omdia's latest 1Q25 TV Sets Forecast reveals TV shipments are expected to remain nearly flat in 2025, totaling 208.7 million units (-0.1% year-on-year). Despite overall modest demand, Mini LED, and extra-large screen sizes are set to grow quickly, driven by retailers and brands focusing on premium features. Omdia's latest TV sets analysis highlights two key regions expected to buck the global trend and deliver shipment growth in 2025: North America – forecasted to hit 49.9 million units (+1.6% year-on-year) thanks to competitive pricing strategies from channel brands, ample inventory, and a diverse range of technologies (LCD, OLED) and features (QD, Mini LED, smart OS). China – forecasted to reach 38.3 million units (+3.2% year-on-year) boosted significantly by ongoing consumer electronics subsidies and rising demand for larger screens. "Although overall shipment growth remains flat, key technologies and larger screen sizes will see significantly higher growth rates. These differentiators will be crucial for both emerging Chinese brands and established players aiming to capture and defend market share," explains Hisakazu Torii, Chief Analyst, TV Sets, Omdia. Top 5 positive YoY unit growth of TV technology, size, and features for 2025: Mini LED: 82.9% 90-inch +: 57.4% QD LCD: 36.0% 80 – 89-inch: 26.5% 75 – 79-inch: 12.3% Despite headwinds from US tariffs, North American shipments are expected to grow due to sufficient inventory built up since last year and aggressive pricing strategies from Chinese and channel brands. Overall shipments in North America will reach 49.9 million units in 2025, a 1.6% year-on-year unit growth. Consumers in this region benefit from a broad range of screen technologies, features, and brands offered at competitive prices. This diversity ensures a stable, accessible market environment, though it could become vulnerable if inventory tightens or prices rise significantly during the year. In China, shipments will reach 38.3 million units in 2025, a YoY growth rate of 3.2%, thanks to consumer electronics (CE) subsidies launched in August last year. While demand for larger screens (75-inch and above) continues to surge at 24.2% YoY, shipments for smaller screens (65-inch and below) are expected to decline 6.0% YoY. Strategic demand pull-in to drive inventory adjustments in Latin America TV shipments in Latin America experienced significant growth starting 4Q24 (15.2% YoY) and continuing into 1Q25 (9.2% YoY), prior to the announcement of US tariffs. The region had already enjoyed positive shipment momentum in the previous two years (2023-2024), supported by favorable currencies, stable inflation rates, strong economies, and lower unemployment rates. "The recent spike in shipments, however, reflects growing concerns regarding potential negative impact of US tariffs. Retailers and brands have strategically accelerated shipments into the Latin America aiming to secure inventory earlier and at lower cost, particularly with the FIFA World Cup 2026 approaching next year," said Torii. In the other regions (excluding North America, China and Latin America), shipments are expected to decline by -1.2% YoY in 2025. These markets lack strong promotional factors (such as major sporting events), face less aggressive pricing strategies, and continue to deal with inflation and currency volatility, and increased costs. ABOUT OMDIA Omdia, part of Informa TechTarget, Inc. (Nasdaq: TTGT), is a technology research and advisory group. Our deep knowledge of tech markets combined with our actionable insights empower organizations to make smart growth decisions. View source version on Contacts Media Contact: Fasiha
The Wire
3 days ago
- Business
- The Wire
Hisense Ignites Global Football Fever in India with FIFA Club World Cup 2025™
Marks leadership in large-screen and MiniLED display technologies New Delhi, Delhi, India (NewsVoir) Hisense, a global leader in consumer electronics and official partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, is lighting up the world's biggest sporting arenas with its bold pitch-side message 'HISENSE 100" TV, GLOBAL No.1.' The message, prominently displayed across FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ stadiums, highlights Hisense's leadership in large-screen and MiniLED display technologies. According to Omdia Q1 2025 data, Hisense ranks No.1 globally in 100-inch and above TVs (56.7%) and MiniLED TVs (29.3%), validating its dominance in the premium TV category. The brand has maintained its leadership in the 100' TV segment consistently across 2023, 2024, and Q1 2025. As the Official Partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, Hisense is leveraging the global stage to deepen its emotional connection with fans and enhance brand visibility. In line with this global momentum and its commitment to sports and entertainment enthusiasts in India, Hisense has also launched its latest smart TVs -U7Q Mini-LED and E7Q Pro. 'We are proud to bring the energy of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ and the excitement of global football fever into Indian homes. With AI-powered picture processing, premium gaming-centric features, and immersive display technologies, we're delivering a stadium-like experience that resonates with sports lovers and families alike,' said Mr. Pankaj Rana, CEO, Hisense India. Hisense India continues to invest in long-term growth. Its product portfolio includes TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and more. The brand is also building strong retail partnerships across the country. About Hisense India Hisense India is a subsidiary of Hisense Group, a global leader in consumer electronics and home appliances. With a presence in over 160 countries, Hisense is known for its innovation, cutting-edge technology, and high-quality products spanning televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and more. Globally, Hisense holds the No.1 position in the 100' TV category (Source: Omdia 2023-24). Committed to delivering exceptional value and world-class experiences, the brand is focused on product innovation and manufacturing, robust retail partnerships, and long-term growth in the market. For more information, please visit: (Disclaimer: The above press release comes to you under an arrangement with Newsvoir and PTI takes no editorial responsibility for the same.).
Fashion Value Chain
3 days ago
- Business
- Fashion Value Chain
Hisense Ignites Global Football Fever in India with FIFA Club World Cup 2025™
Hisense, a global leader in consumer electronics and official partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, is lighting up the world's biggest sporting arenas with its bold pitch-side message 'HISENSE 100″ TV, GLOBAL No.1.' The message, prominently displayed across FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ stadiums, highlights Hisense's leadership in large-screen and MiniLED display technologies. Hisense and FIFA World Cup 2025 According to Omdia Q1 2025 data, Hisense ranks No.1 globally in 100-inch and above TVs (56.7%) and MiniLED TVs (29.3%), validating its dominance in the premium TV category. The brand has maintained its leadership in the 100″+ TV segment consistently across 2023, 2024, and Q1 2025. As the Official Partner of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™, Hisense is leveraging the global stage to deepen its emotional connection with fans and enhance brand visibility. In line with this global momentum and its commitment to sports and entertainment enthusiasts in India, Hisense has also launched its latest smart TVs -U7Q Mini-LED and E7Q Pro. 'We are proud to bring the energy of the FIFA Club World Cup 2025™ and the excitement of global football fever into Indian homes. With AI-powered picture processing, premium gaming-centric features, and immersive display technologies, we're delivering a stadium-like experience that resonates with sports lovers and families alike,' said Mr. Pankaj Rana, CEO, Hisense India. Hisense India continues to invest in long-term growth. Its product portfolio includes TVs, refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and more. The brand is also building strong retail partnerships across the country. About Hisense India Hisense India is a subsidiary of Hisense Group, a global leader in consumer electronics and home appliances. With a presence in over 160 countries, Hisense is known for its innovation, cutting-edge technology, and high-quality products spanning televisions, refrigerators, air conditioners, washing machines, and more. Globally, Hisense holds the No.1 position in the 100″ TV category (Source: Omdia 2023-24). Committed to delivering exceptional value and world-class experiences, the brand is focused on product innovation and manufacturing, robust retail partnerships, and long-term growth in the market. For more information, please visit:
Business Insider
5 days ago
- Business
- Business Insider
TCL is known for great value TVs, but its new flagship QLED rivals premium brands. Here's why it's so impressive.
For the last few years, TCL and Hisense have been going head-to-head for supremacy in the midrange TV market. The two companies have proven that they understand what's needed to offer a value-driven television that doesn't skimp on image quality. But with the release of its new flagship QM8K TV, TCL isn't competing just with Hisense anymore. It's going after high-end offerings from Sony, Samsung, and LG — and the QM8K QLED 4K TV has the performance chops to pull it off. Compared to last year's QM8, the 2025 QM8K delivers significantly improved Mini LED backlight control, wider viewing angles, and an even brighter screen. But with that step up in performance comes an increased price. The QM8K's list price is $500 more than the QM8 was when it launched in 2024. This puts the TV just under the suggested list price of Samsung's latest flagship QLED, the QN90F. Considering its capabilities, the QM8K's cost isn't unreasonable at all, and it's already getting great deals. Compared to other 2025 TVs I've seen, the QM8K holds its own as one of the best, particularly for bright room performance at its price. However, the biggest knock against the QM8K has nothing to do with rival options from other brands. Instead, it's the fact that the 2024 QM8 is still available at an incredible discount. This new model is a better TV, but given the current price difference, the older QM8 remains an enticing option. The QM8 will eventually sell out, though, and I expect the QM8K to get even better deals as the year goes on. Once that happens, the QM8K will become one of the easiest TV recommendations of 2025. The TV's design is more premium and comes with some welcome features The QM8K comes in four sizes, ranging from 65 inches (the sample size provided by TCL) to 98 inches. There isn't a new 115-inch model this year; instead, the older QM891G will carry over to 2025. The pedestal stand, which I prefer over wide-set feet, is solid and supports the TV well. It's a slight change in design from last year's QM8, and it isn't quite as heavy, which I appreciate. There are two height options (for the 65-, 75-, and 85-inch models) at 2.94 inches or 1.8 inches, although the stand is quite deep, at 14.5 inches. If you're planning to put a soundbar in front, make sure your console depth can accommodate both. At two inches, the TV is slightly slimmer than last year's model but still thicker than OLEDs from LG and Samsung. That said, TCL has made some strides regarding the panel's border. On most TVs, the frame of a display consists of a bezel and a black border that runs along the edge of the screen. This thin black border is visible even when a TV is on, so the entirety of its screen isn't used to display its picture. However, the QM8K uses TCL's new ZeroBorder panel, which virtually eliminates that black space. This means that nearly the entire screen is used to display the TV's picture. The remote has also been redesigned. It has a silver face with squared-off corners instead of the curved edges of previous iterations, and the button organization and sizing have adjusted slightly. Thankfully, it is still backlit. When picked up, the buttons glow just enough to be seen easily in a dark room and stay unobtrusive. On the downside, TCL has stuck with just two HDMI 2.1 ports for this model. HDMI one and two are 2.1, while ports three and four (also the eARC port) are HDMI 2.0. This means that if you route your game console or computer through an AVR or soundbar connected to the eARC port, you won't be able to get 4K/120Hz (or 144Hz with your PC). Instead, you'll have to use the HDMI one or two ports to unlock higher refresh rates. The QM8K has a built-in Bang & Olufsen sound system that includes up-firing Dolby Atmos speakers and some rear-firing woofers to handle the lower frequencies. While I always recommend adding a soundbar or an AVR with a surround sound setup to get the best audio performance, the QM8K's sound is pretty good for a TV. Dialogue is clear, and the TV is capable of a high volume without added distortion. You won't get a cinematic rumble, but that's a physics limitation you'll run into on any TV's built-in speakers. A notable audio feature that I was unable to test is the QM8K's support for Dolby Flex Connect. This allows multiple compatible speakers to be connected wirelessly to the QM8K to create a fuller, surround sound experience. The first Flex Connect speaker scheduled to be released is the TCL Z100, expected later this summer. I heard a demo of the system with four Z100 speakers connected and placed around a room. These speakers also work alongside the TV's built-in speakers. The TV runs a setup process, determining the location of the speakers and setting the levels. It was an impressive demo, and I'm optimistic about Flex Connect's potential to make surround sound setups easier and more accessible. The QM8K has exceptional brightness with fantastic backlight control The TV world is in the midst of a brightness battle, and even though OLED displays continue to boost their outputs, QLED TVs with Mini LED backlights like those used on the QM8K still lead by a decent margin. In fact, the QM8K is one of the brightest TVs available, able to reach a peak HDR luminance of around 5,000 nits — nearly 500 nits higher than I measured on last year's QM8. With my X-Rite i1 Pro 3 spectrophotometer, I recorded 4,999 nits from a 5% HDR window (a white box taking up 5% of the screen on a black background). Now, that measurement does require some qualification. It was in the TV's Vivid mode with the color temperature set to Normal. Though blazingly bright, that mode isn't very accurate as it creates an image that's way too blue. To get the most accurate image out of the box, you should use the TV's Filmmaker mode. The QM8K's grayscale still leaned slightly blue using this preset, but this error wasn't visible to the eye. In Filmmaker mode, the TCL was still able to achieve an impressive 3,648 nits on a 10% window (the brightest window in that mode), and with a far more accurate image. For comparison's sake, the brightest OLED available right now maxes out at around 2,400 nits using the same test and settings. This makes the QM8K an excellent TV for bright-room viewing where you need to overcome glare. It also allows the TV to produce HDR highlights (like explosions) in high-brightness content with the intensity that the filmmakers intended. For HDR, the TV supports Dolby Vision, HDR10+, HDR10, and HLG. You can learn more about these formats in our HDR TV guide. When watching movies and TV shows, skin tones look natural, green plants and trees are lush, and colors have a wonderful vibrancy. This is easily seen in colorful films like "La La Land," where the TV exhibits rich yet accurate saturation on the vivid hues of various cars during the opening number and Emma Stone's bright yellow dress in the dance scene at night later in the film. If you do decide to use a preset other than Filmmaker mode, such as Gaming mode, I suggest changing the color temperature to Warm 5. Other settings are less accurate and too blue. Like other TVs in TCL's QM series, the QM8K uses a Mini LED backlight with local dimming. This feature allows the TV to dim and brighten specific areas across its screen, called zones, to achieve better contrast and deeper black levels. However, even the most expensive Mini LED models can't match the infinite contrast provided by an OLED TV, since OLEDs can dim each individual pixel, and Mini LEDs are restricted to a more limited number of zones. You can learn more in our QLED vs. OLED comparison. In practice, this makes Mini LED TVs susceptible to an issue called blooming. Image blooming is caused when light spreads from a bright portion of an image into the darker zone surrounding it, creating a halo effect that shouldn't be there. Each year, companies make progress in containing blooming, usually by increasing the number of dimming zones and improving the processing used to control them. The QM8K makes a big leap in this regard, offering an impressive upgrade over its predecessor. This improved performance comes from a suite of backlight optimizations that TCL is calling its Halo Control System. A new lens enables better control over the directionality of the light, and the optical distance between the backlight and the diffuser plate is smaller than before, which means there's less opportunity for unwanted light scatter before hitting the screen. A 23-bit backlight controller allows for greater granular control over levels of brightness (TCL says it's up to 65,000 levels of brightness). This degree of backlight control is similar to what Sony offers on its premium Bravia 9 Mini LED TV, which costs notably more than the QM8K. The result is some of the best delineation between light and dark portions of the screen that I've seen on a Mini LED TV. The backlight doesn't cause the halos that can typically be seen around subtitles. I also didn't notice blooming in a scene around bright parts of a spaceship cruising through space, which is normally prone to halos. I moved directly from my LG C5 OLED review to the QM8K, and while the TCL's contrast control still isn't quite at the level of an OLED, it's exceptionally close. I probably wouldn't have noticed much of a difference between the two TVs if I hadn't just been using the C5 for a few weeks. Another area where the QM8K rises above its predecessor is with its viewing angles. QLED TVs have always struggled with off-axis viewing, causing image quality to noticeably fade when sitting to the side of the screen rather than right in front. The QM8K has wider viewing angles than many competitors. There isn't a dramatic color shift off-axis, but brightness does still decrease (although not to an amount that makes the TV look washed out). The Google TV OS is reliable, and the gaming interface is easy to use Google TV has become the dominant name in smart TV operating systems over the past couple of years, since Roku has seemingly fallen out of favor with the major TV manufacturers. And there's good reason behind it. Google TV navigation is fast and smooth, and its catalog of streaming apps is robust, including options like F1 TV, which isn't supported on LG's webOS or Samsung's Tizen OS. If you're in Google's ecosystem, the TV integrates easily. (The QM8K also has Apple HomeKit integration and supports Amazon Alexa.) Setting the OS up is simple, especially if you have an existing Google account, and signing into apps can be done by scanning QR codes on the screen and signing in with your device (with a few exceptions). Including adding and signing into a half dozen apps, I moved through setup and updates in less than 10 minutes. TCL also includes its Game Master UI on the QM8K. Thanks to Auto Low Latency Mode (ALLM), the QM8K automatically switches into game mode when it senses the signal from a gaming console. This also allows for the Game Master UI to be called up on screen, where you can adjust any gaming settings, including VRR (the QM8K supports AMD FreeSync Premium Pro), a Shadow Enhancer to improve shadow detail by lifting the brightness a little bit, an Aiming Aid, and a frame rate display. The QM8K supports a refresh rate of up to 144Hz at 4K resolution when connected to a compatible gaming PC. This is toward the high end of what TVs offer right now, but it's not quite as fast as the 4K/165Hz mode that some top-tier LG and Samsung models have. Should you buy the TCL QM8K QLED 4K TV? The QM8K is an impressive TV and a notable step forward for TCL. It rightfully stands toe-to-toe with the best TVs of the year so far. It has exceptional brightness and backlight control, improved HDR and color accuracy, and some nice quality of life tweaks. But with all of those upgrades comes a higher price, with the 65-inch QM8K listing at $500 more than the 2024 model cost at launch. This puts it near the price range of OLED competitors, like the LG C5 and Samsung S90F. While neither of those TVs can match the QM8K's brightness, both handle black levels and overall contrast better. However, there's a big caveat to my criticism about the QM8K's list price. Historically, TCL TV prices drop significantly a couple of months after release, and indeed, the 65-inch QM8K is already seeing deal prices under $2,000. That makes it a much better value. Still, it's important to remember that last year's 65-inch QM8 remains available for only $900. The QM8K is certainly the better TV — and by a good bit — but that is a steep price difference. If the QM8K's improved contrast control and better viewing angles aren't huge selling points for you, the cheaper 2024 QM8 is a better option while it's still in stock. But the QM8K is unquestionably one of the year's top new TVs, especially for bright rooms.
Digital Trends
18-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Digital Trends
You Asked: Big OLED vs. Huge Mini-LED? Your WWDC 2025 Questions Answered!
On today's episode of You Asked: Should you pick the LG G4 or Sony Bravia 9 for a bright room? What were some of the biggest takeaways from Apple's jam-packed WWDC event? And one more fun debate: go with an 83-inch OLED or a 98-inch Mini LED TV? Sony Bravia 9 vs. LG G4: Best for bright rooms? @eskenor asks: Would you recommend the Sony Bravia 9 or LG G4 for a room with a decent amount of sunlight? That's a tough one. On one hand, the LG G4 is tremendous — one of the best TVs in the last two years and pretty close to perfect. But so is the Sony Bravia 9, which is about as good as it gets for a Mini LED TV, though it's not OLED. In most side-by-side comparisons, I'd say go with the LG for all the things OLED is known for: rich, pure color and unbeatable contrast. We tested its handling of glare and reflections pretty extensively when we compared it to the Samsung S95D and its glare-free panel. And yes, with a lot of light, you will get some unwanted reflections on the screen. Shining an LED studio light directly at the TV is extreme, but you get the point. Since the Sony is the brighter TV, the biggest difference will be in viewing HDR content in a bright room. The Bravia 9 can really push the highlights so they stand out, even with lots of ambient light. So that would be my pick between those two. However, I wouldn't be doing my job if I didn't mention the Samsung S95D OLED as another option. We did a full video comparing it to the G4 in a well-lit room. Also, this year Samsung's QN90F, their top 4K Mini LED TV, has that same glare-free panel as the S95D. So you get the added brightness of Mini LED plus extra help for bright rooms. Big OLED vs. bigger mini-LED? @jnewbold asks: I currently have the C4 77-inch and love it, but I'm moving to a bigger place next year. Would you get an 83-inch C4 or a 98-inch QM8 for dark room 4K Blu-ray watching? I've been with OLED for a long time, but big is nice. I certainly agree — big is nice. And once you go big, it's hard to go back. But I'd say the same for OLED viewing. If you were coming from an average LED TV or even a Mini LED TV, I'd have no problem recommending the bigger 98-inch QM8. It's a phenomenal TV that gets better every year. It's great for bright rooms and sports, HDR looks great, and obviously, it's fun to watch movies and shows on a screen that size. I'm hyping it up so you don't think I'm about to dismiss a TV I'd love to own. In fact, we did almost this exact test last year: a 65-inch Sony A95L QD-OLED against a 98-inch TCL QM8. The takeaway was that bigger was more fun, at least from one perspective. But that was a difference of 33 inches — a huge size jump you can't ignore. If it's an 83-inch C4 next to the QM8, that's a tougher call. Given how much you've enjoyed OLED, I'd hate to see you step backward in image quality. Not to mention, dark room 4K Blu-ray viewing and OLED is a match made in home theater heaven. If you've invested in top-quality physical media, don't skimp on picture quality. Stick with the OLED and don't worry about the extra 15 inches — you probably won't miss it at all. WWDC Gareth Beavis, editorial director for Digital Trends is here to discuss WWDC 2025, what's happened this week, and the big changes to iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and a whole visual transformation across Apple's suite of operating systems. Liquid Glass Display: Love it or hate it? Number one is from Doyen Liriano, talking about iOS 26. The main change here is the new liquid glass display. For you conspiracy theorists out there: if anyone remembers 2010, Apple got an exclusive license for a new material called Liquid Metal, which was supposed to be revolutionary and more scratch resistant. It was used in golf clubs and was meant to elevate the way devices were made. It ended up being used just for the old SIM ejector tool, and that was about it. So I thought, is this finally the day it happens? But no — liquid glass is very different. It's quite a divisive change, so let's dive in and see what people thought. Dorian Liriano said on Instagram: This change doesn't seem major or impressive. I'm going to search for additional context because I'm either missing something or Apple is taking us for a ride. Jake Kamin said: To me I don't see it as groundbreaking as iOS 7. That was a completely new look from iOS 6, from skeumorphic to neumorphic. This is more or less the same just with a 'glassy' look. A neumorphic redesign but foundationally the same. Am I alone with this? I went along with this. Liquid glass is, basically as Jake says, quite similar to elements from iOS 17 and 18. When he talks about the jump from iOS 6 to 7, we saw a move from skeuomorphic design — making things look like real-world objects, like a notebook you could open with a ring binder — to a more flat, minimalist look. A digital notebook felt digital, not like a physical notebook in a digital world. So yes, there are changes to how things look. You've got clear mode alongside dark and light modes. Icons can be see-through on Mac. Some menus are translucent. In Safari, everything at the bottom is more rounded and things fade in. The dynamic island we saw on the iPhone 15 Pro Max shows how things shift and switch in context. That same mentality is at play here, with lots more dynamism. Another noticeable change is that the clock on the lock screen now extends up and down depending on the picture you choose. The phone is more context-aware, making your wallpaper feel more personal and fitting with your own edits. While these things aren't groundbreaking, they do refresh the look of your iPhone — which has been needed for quite some time, as Apple has run with the same software design for years. There have been some fun comments too. @abdul_basit_tahir said: They made Windows Vista? Can't argue with that — it does look a lot like the Windows Aero theme from Vista. @henshin587 said: I like this liquid glass style. I appreciate moving away from pure minimalism and adding visual flair, like highlights and subtle distortions in menus and icons. Very true. It does look different and gives the OS a new refresh. Yes, it echoes Microsoft's early 2000s style, but it still feels ripe for a redesign and helps unify the visual identity across devices. No, it's good. I think these are true quality-of-life changes. They're not massive. I do think we could do a little bit better from Apple, maybe with iOS 27, which I like. Then we'll see something a bit different because we do need to see a lot more from Apple Intelligence. Apple Intelligence: Where's the AI? Now let's jump on to that very quickly, because what's been amazing is Craig Federighi and Greg Joswiak have been interviewed. We've seen a lot of different outlets have had a chance to interview them and ask them about the delays to Apple Intelligence, and the changes to Siri that got the charm offensive going. This tells me one thing: they need to get the message out that Apple is not creating a chatbot. They said it last year and reiterated very strongly this year. When people think about AI, artificial intelligence, they think about ChatGPT, Gemini, Perplexity. The ability to chat to something and get feedback feels like what Siri should be. So the idea of an upgraded Siri feels like it should have been here by now. Apple was very clear: they don't want a chatbot. They want the phone to use generative AI to do things better for you. It's kind of doing that now. In my view, the way Google has integrated Gemini is very similar to how Apple has done Apple Intelligence so far. You've got things like visual intelligence, being able to see what's on screen and tell you more about it. Apple has done that again and upgraded it. It is using ChatGPT though, so people are asking: where's your own generative AI? Craig Federighi was very clear, saying they had version one and version two of this. Running version two is the deeper idea they want people to use. But version one is the one they've got working and pushed — and it's just not performing to the level they want. So they have to wait for version two, which is why there's a delay. They realized they had to pivot and are asking people to wait. Consumers won't wait for very long. If you look at Gemini on Pixel phones, it's not massive. You can use the Photos app, erase people, change things a bit. The image generators on device are very good on the Google Pixel, for instance, but not so great in the Image Playground. It's fine — it doesn't always work very well. Things like Genmoji in the new iOS 26, merging two emoji into one, haven't really won me over yet. It would take quite a big upgrade for me to feel like this is a good reason to use Apple Intelligence or buy the phone for that alone. There's nothing really there that compels me. Still, there are a few changes that I think will attract some people. But overall, Apple has a long way to go until the day you can hold down the Siri button and have a genuine experience like you can with ChatGPT. I don't think we're going to get that same level of excitement yet. Apple has said 2026 for Apple Intelligence. Let's see if it can hold that, because any later and it might fall too far behind in the race for having a smart device. We don't know what's going to happen with Jony Ive and OpenAI and this new AI device. It could be the next level of smartphone or something else entirely. If Apple is lagging in that race, we'll have to see what happens. Mac vs iPad: The blurred line So that brings me to the final thing I wanted to talk about: iPadOS 26. This is something we were very excited about and for good reason. Whereas iOS 26 is mostly visual flourishes and a few tweaks under the hood — nothing massive, if I'm honest — iPadOS 26 does seem to change things. It's blurring the line between macOS and iPadOS even more than before. When the iPhone first came out and started to have computing functions, people asked: is this replacing the Mac? Incredibly, Greg Joswiak said today, in response to the question 'How do people decide between buying a Mac or an iPad right now?' — without a hint of irony — that they should buy both. I'm not sure that's entirely true, especially with the cost-of-living crisis right now. Spending thousands of dollars on multiple devices that are becoming increasingly similar isn't realistic for everyone. With the new iPadOS 26, you can do so much more. You can resize windows, stack them on top of each other, lock them into thirds or halves of the screen, so it works much more like a computer. One of our writers did an amazing piece with first impressions of the beta, and his takeaway was this: would it be something that his mother or sister, who are light iPad users and don't have a separate computer, could actually use for real computing? His answer was yes, he thinks it will let them do proper computing on the go, which is what people wanted the iPad to do in the first place. I can see why it's happening now. Screens are bigger, resolutions are higher, and the power under the hood matches that of Macs. That's been true for a while, but now you can actually use it more like a Mac. Launch Date & Beta Details Finally, to answer the last two questions: what's the launch date and when are CarPlay and iPad updates coming? We don't know the exact launch date, but it's a safe bet that the new iOS will roll out alongside the new iPhones, which is almost always mid-September. So we can confidently say iOS will arrive around then, and the iPadOS update should come at the same time. CarPlay updates will come with iOS too. Also, public betas should be available soon, probably in the next month or so. Developer betas are out now, but I'd strongly recommend caution. Unless you have a spare device or you're fine with bugs, wait for the public beta. It'll be more stable and polished.
