Strands is the NYT’s latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it’s great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.
SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don’t read on if you don’t want to know the answers.
Your Strands expert
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Your Strands expert
Marc McLaren
NYT Strands today (game #251) – hint #1 – today’s theme
What is the theme of today’s NYT Strands?
• Today’s NYT Strands theme is… Generation jam
NYT Strands today (game #251) – hint #2 – clue words
Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.
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NYT Strands today (game #251) – hint #3 – spangram
What is a hint for today’s spangram?
• GrungePop?
NYT Strands today (game #251) – hint #4 – spangram position
What are two sides of the board that today’s spangram touches?
First: top, 3rd column
Last: bottom, 3rd column
Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM.
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NYT Strands today (game #251) – the answers
(Image credit: New York Times)
The answers to today’s Strands, game #251, are…
BLUR
OASIS
PAVEMENT
TOOL
NIRVANA
SUBLIME
SPANGRAM: NINETIESBANDS
My rating: Moderate
My score: Perfect
I have slightly mixed feelings about this Strands puzzle. On the one hand, the subject is NINETIESBANDS, and in many ways that’s my specialist subject. I’m a huge music fan (and former music journalist) and the ’90s was my era. Two of the bands in today’s list, PAVEMENT and BLUR, are among my favorites ever, and I have a soft spot for NIRVANA too.
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On the flip side, what on earth does ‘Generation jam’, the theme clue, refer to? I have no idea whatsoever. And setting that aside, this may prove very difficult for people who are either too young or too old to be familiar with the likes of TOOL and SUBLIME, who aren’t necessarily household names (or aren’t these days, at least). Still, rather this than yesterday’s silly emoji-based game.
Yesterday’s NYT Strands answers (Friday, 8 November, game #250)
SHAKE
WAVE
CLAP
PRAY
PINCH
FIST
POINT
PEACE
SPANGRAM: HANDGESTURES
What is NYT Strands?
Strands is the NYT’s new word game, following Wordle and Connections. It’s now out of beta so is a fully fledged member of the NYT’s games stable and can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.
I’ve got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you’re struggling to beat it each day.
Having a very, very long Wordle streak is a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, it grants me immense bragging rights over those mere mortals with their streaks in the hundreds. On the other, it turns every game into a must-win ordeal. After all, what would I be without my Wordle streak? A so-called ‘expert’ with no credentials, that’s what. I’d be laughed out of town.
I joke, of course, but having gone 1,046 games without a loss I would rather not give up my streak all the same. I nearly had to today, though, because game #1,244 (Thursday, 14 November) nearly sent me back to ground zero.
I’m pretty sure I won’t be the only one, though – because today’s Wordle answer is undoubtedly a very difficult one. And it’s all the fault of the New York Times’ puzzle setters.
To explain why, I’ll need to reveal the solution, so don’t read past this point if you haven’t played yet, because SPOILERS FOR TODAY’S WORDLE, GAME #1,244, ON THURSDAY, 14 NOVEMBER 2024 will follow. You have been warned.
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Wordle hall of shame
Let’s start with a question: what’s the hardest Wordle ever? Is it CAULK, one of the first games to upset thousands of avid Wordlers soon after the game’s meteoric rise to prominence? Or maybe BORAX, a word that many players outside of the United States had almost no knowledge of? Or JAZZY, with its repeated Zs and very-uncommon J at the start?
None of those, actually – the toughest ever is PARER, game #454 in September 2022. That’s based on the fact that it had an average score of 6.3, which to put it in context is half a guess more than its closest competitor, MUMMY (#491, 5.8).
Those average scores come from WordleBot, the in-game AI helper tool that analyzes your Wordle after you’ve played. As well as doing that, it records the average across everyone who plays, and in turn I note down those averages to keep a sort of league table. I have 956 of them listed now, giving me a pretty good idea of which Wordles people have found most difficult.
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By that measure, today’s game is some way down the list of the hardest ever, with an average of 4.9. High, but not ridiculously so. However, that only tells half of the story.
Right, let’s get into the specifics now, which means revealing today’s answer. This is your last chance to go away and play if you haven’t done so yet.
**FINAL SPOILER ALERT**
Sorry, what?
(Image credit: ShutterStock)
Today’s answer is UVULA.
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No, me neither.
I do sort of know what it means, actually. Or at least I knew before I played it that it was a real word, albeit a fairly obscure one with a very strange spelling. For the unaware, it’s the soft dangly bit between your tonsils at the back of your throat. I thought it was the ridge at the top of your mouth, maybe, but at least I was in the right area.
Others will not be so lucky. Twitter is already alight with people complaining that either they had no idea what it means or that it was just too obscure.
You have got to be kidding me Wordle 1,244 6/6⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜🟩🟨🟨🟨🟨🟩⬜⬜🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩November 13, 2024
Wordle 1.244 X/6⬜🟨⬜🟨⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜⬜⬜⬜🟨⬜⬜🟩🟨🟨🟨⬜🟩How am I supposed to know THAT ???????? #nyt #wordleNovember 13, 2024
As well as its relative obscurity as a word, UVULA suffers from having an incredibly unusual format, with UVU at the start; that’s not found in any other answer. Plus, it contains two letter Us – and as I show in my analysis of every Wordle answer, that’s a very rare occurrence too, with only 10 games among the original 2,309 solutions having that format.
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All of this added up to make it a very tough game. Its average of 4.9 puts it just outside of the top 20, but I think that’s misleading – people are probably solving it through brute force in the end, because there are no other words that have that format. With a word like PARER, in contrast, there are lots of alternatives and it’s therefore easy to keep guessing until you eventually fail. Here, you will ultimately reach a point where nothing else fits!
That’s what happened to me, anyway. I usually solve Wordle in about 10-20 minutes, sometimes 30-40 if it’s a difficult one and I’m playing carefully. Here, I must have stared at the board and played around with various letter combinations for two hours. That’s genuinely no exaggeration. My family thought I’d gone mad.
I nearly gave up – I was completely stumped. However, I have a daily column to write so kept going and eventually scored a five. My streak was genuinely in doubt, though – I could easily have wasted a couple of guesses on similarly obscure words that weren’t correct.
(Image credit: New York Times)
NYT blues
So why is this the NYT’s fault and not mine?
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Well, it’s worth noting that this is – for the second day in a row – a non-canon Wordle answer. By that I mean that it was not among the 2,309 answers originally dreamed up by the game’s creator Josh Wardle and his partner, but has instead been added by the NYT.
Yesterday’s PRIMP (see below) was also one of these, and in total we’ve now had 10 of them: GUANO (game #646), SNAFU (#659), BALSA (#720), KAZOO (#730), LASER (#1038), PIOUS (#1054), BEAUT (#1186) and MOMMY (#1208).
Notice anything about those words? Yes – they include some of the toughest in recent memory.
I can easily work out the average for Wordle as a whole, and right now it stands at 3.964 across those 956 games that I have a score for. However, if you look at the average for those 10 games added by the NYT you’ll see that it’s a mighty 4.35. It’s official: the NYT is making Wordle harder!
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There is a reason for this, of course – in that Josh Wardle used up most of the obvious answers. LASER (average: 3.3) and PIOUS (3.8) are the only two below 4.0, and are also the most common words among them, MOMMY aside. That last word is an outlier, meanwhile, because it contains three Ms, an incredibly unusual format (and it had an average of 5.0 as a result).
Elsewhere, KAZOO was a 5.1, PRIMP yesterday was 4.5, BALSA 4.4 and SNAFU 4.3, so it certainly appears as though the NYT’s editors are choosing tougher words when given the chance.
There’s nothing wrong with this, really – and I like a challenge as much as anyone. UVULA is a perfectly fair word, albeit an undeniably difficult one to solve in Wordle. But I wasn’t feeling anywhere near as charitable when I was sat staring at a seemingly impossible game, and I doubt you will be if you just lost your streak today, either.
Apple is facing a legal claim accusing it of effectively locking 40 million British customers into its iCloud service and charging them “rip off prices.”
Consumer group Which? says the legal action – which it has launched – could result in a £3bn payout if it is successful, equivalent to £70 per customer.
Apple has rejected the suggestion its practices are anti-competitive, saying users are not required to use iCloud, many rely on third-party alternatives and insisting it “works hard to make data transfer as easy as possible.”
It is another example of the “growing tide of large class actions against Big Tech” which has “operated without sufficient constraint”, Toby Starr from legal firm Humphries Kerstetter told the BBC.
“Although most of these claims are in their infancy and take a long time to resolve, there will be more decisions coming out over the next couple of years and there will be settlements – these will start to affect the tech giants’ businesses,” said Mr Starr.
A price to pay
Users of Apple products get a small amount of digital storage for free – and after that are encouraged to pay to use its iCloud service to back up photos, videos, messages, contacts and all the other content which lives on their device.
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Prices for this storage range from £0.99 a month for 50GB of space to £54.99 a month for 12TB.
Apple does not allow rival storage services full access to its products.
Which? says over a period of nine years dating back to 2015 Apple has been effectively locking people into its services – and then overcharging them.
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“By bringing this claim, Which? is showing big corporations like Apple that they cannot rip off UK consumers without facing repercussions,” the body’s chief executive Anabel Hoult said.
“Taking this legal action means we can help consumers to get the redress that they are owed, deter similar behaviour in the future and create a better, more competitive market.”
Apple has strongly denied Which’s accusations.
“We reject any suggestion that our iCloud practices are anti-competitive and will vigorously defend against any legal claim otherwise,” it said in a statement.
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‘Very high value damages’
Though being launched by Which?, the legal action is being funded and taken forward by international law firm Willkie Farr & Gallagher.
Which? said they would be paid fees as the case progressed, getting additional payments if it was successful – but they would not be getting a percentage of any damages.
Alan Davis, from law firm Pinsent Masons, said there were very likely to be more, similar cases in the future.
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“It is inevitable that further claims of this nature will continue to be brought given the very high value of the aggregate damages and the role of and incentive for litigation funders to support these claims which might not otherwise be brought without that financial support,” he told the BBC.
He added the absence of any infringement decisions under EU or UK competition law meant it would be down to the claimant to prove the market abuse it was alleging was actually taking place.
If you’re in the market for a new Mac (or Apple display), there’s a lot of choice ahead of you. Maybe you’re interested in a lightweight MacBook Air from the selection of the best MacBooks — or maybe one of the desktop Macs. Either way, there’s a wide variety of Apple products on offer, including some external desktop monitors.
Below you’ll find the latest information on each model, including if it’s a good time to buy and when the next one up is coming.
MacBook Pro
Chris Hagan / Digital Trends
The MacBook Pro represents the high-end of Apple’s MacBook lineup, and it was updated it in October 2024. This revamp brought the M4 chip series to the flagship laptop, including the M4, the M4 Pro, and the M4 Max.
However, it was much more than just a chip update, as Apple increased the memory capacity at every level (including double the starting RAM of the previous MacBook Pro). There’s a black color option for the entry-level M4 MacBook Pro, a brighter display with a nano-texture option, an improved webcam, more ports with Thunderbolt 4 connectivity, plus longer battery life. And let’s not forget the mini-LED display that can range up to 1,600 nits of peak HDR brightness and 1,000 of SDR brightness.
Given the recent update, we wouldn’t expect a new MacBook Pro until at least fall 2025, which would fit in with Apple’s rumored plans to update this laptop on a regular, annual basis. This new model is likely to be a modest upgrade, with a much larger refresh rumored for 2026. This could get an OLED display and a thinner chassis, while Apple also is expected to bring out a foldable MacBook at some point in the coming years.
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MacBook Air
Luke Larsen / Digital Trends
Apple’s slimmest laptop received its most recent changes in March 2024 when Apple launched the M3 MacBook Air. The M3 chip brings hardware-accelerated ray tracing and better performance compared to the previous MacBook Air, as well as better microphones and Wi-Fi 6E connectivity. That’s wrapped up in Apple’s thinnest and lightest laptop chassis, along with a 500-nit display and comfortable keyboard.
The MacBook Air is the next Mac in line for an update, with a new version expected to launch in spring 2025. While we can be certain that this will come with the M4 chip, there’s not a lot else we know for sure about it. There are murmurings that Apple is working on an OLED MacBook Air, but this isn’t due to launch for a few years.
Mac mini
Chris Hagan / Digital Trends
In October 2024, Apple gave the Mac mini its most significant overhaul in 14 years. The device’s case was completely redesigned to take on the appearance of a downsized Mac Studio, with a footprint about half the size of the previous model. Apple skipped the M3 chip entirely and upgraded the Mac mini from the M2 to the M4 and M4 Pro chips, which has resulted in an impressive performance leap. Elsewhere, the memory capacity has been increased at every tier, there’s support for up to three external displays, there’s a new port arrangement that features Thunderbolt 5 on the M4 Pro model, and you get two USB-C ports on the front of the computer (the USB-A ports have been removed).
Apple won’t bring out another Mac mini until fall 2025 at the earliest. There’s not much in the way of rumors for future Mac mini models, but we’ll update this page as soon as we hear more.
iMac
Caleb Denison / Digital Trends
In October 2024, the iMac became the first Apple computer to get the M4 chip (following the iPad Pro in May 2024). Aside from the speedy new chip, you can now buy it in a new range of colors, with increased memory bandwidth, more starting memory, an improved webcam, as well as Apple’s nano-texture glass option that cuts down on reflections and glare (this was previously only available on the Pro Display XDR and the iPad Pro).
As with several other M4 Macs, the iMac’s next update is likely to arrive around fall 2025. There is talk that Apple is working on a larger iMac, perhaps with a 30-inch or 32-inch display and mini-LED tech, and this might debut alongside the next iMac in 2025. That said, this project has reportedly been delayed many times, so don’t bet the house on it arriving any time soon.
Mac Studio
Mark Coppock / Digital Trends
The latest update to the Mac Studio arrived in June 2023. Today, it comes with M2 Max and M2 Ultra chips, huge amounts of memory, wide support for its external displays, as well as compatibility with high-impedance headphones, Wi-Fi 6E, and Bluetooth 5.3. It’s a highly capable computer inside a very compact chassis, making it ideal for high-end workloads even if you don’t have a lot of desk space.
Apple has skipped the M3 generation in the Mac Studio, so its next update should bring the M4 Max and M4 Ultra chips alongside a significant increase in performance. Reports have suggested that the M4 Ultra will have 32 CPU cores and 80 GPU cores, double the core counts you can find in the MacBook Pro’s M4 Max chip.
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Mac Pro
Brittany Hose-Small / AFP via Getty Images
Like the Mac Studio, the Mac Pro received its most recent update in June 2023. This was a sizable change for Apple’s most powerful Mac, as it was the first time it came outfitted with Apple silicon chips (in this case, the M2 Ultra). Buying this model today gets you the most modular (and expensive) Mac on the market, including support for PCIe expansion, huge amounts of memory, massive support for external displays, and high-end CPU and GPU performance.
Looking ahead, the M4 Ultra is a certainty, and this is expected to arrive in mid-2025, according to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman. There are rumors that this might result in the Mac Pro getting a maximum memory capacity of 512GB, up from the current 192GB.
There’s also the question of the Mac Pro’s design. The current chassis was designed for the 2019 model, which featured Intel chips that ran hot, as well as expandable, discrete graphics cards. That’s no longer the case, and it’s arguable that the Mac Pro doesn’t need to be as large or as focused on cooling as it currently is now that it uses Apple silicon chips. There aren’t many rumors that Apple will soon redesign the Mac Pro’s chassis, so don’t expect that to come next year, but don’t be surprised if it’s somewhere on the horizon.
Apple Studio Display
Apple
The 27-inch Studio Display is Apple’s more accessible monitor (at least compared to the Pro Display XDR, anyway). It comes with a 5K resolution and 600 nits of brightness, an internal A13 Bionic chip that handles Center Stage and Spatial Audio, a nano-texture glass option that cuts down on reflections and glare, one Thunderbolt 3 slot and three USB-C ports, plus two different stand options.
There’s a bit of confusion surrounding the date we can expect a new version of the Studio Display. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo believes we could see it in 2025 or 2024 (the latter date being very unlikely now), whereas display industry expert Ross Young thinks Apple has suspended its plans for a Studio Display with a 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate. Aside from that, not much else is known about what we might see in the next Studio Display.
Pro Display XDR
Julian Chokkattu / Digital Trends
We first saw the Pro Display XDR in 2019, when it launched alongside the then-redesigned Mac Pro. It’s Apple’s most capable monitor, and it comes with a 32-inch 6K screen, up to 1,600 nits of peak brightness (for HDR content only), 576 local dimming zones, a nano-texture glass option, one Thunderbolt 3 and three USB-C ports, and two stand options.
Out of all the products in this article, the Pro Display XDR has gone the longest without an update, as it hasn’t been changed since it launched in 2019. Seeing as it was released in tandem with the Mac Pro, we’d expect the same to happen this time around, and with the Mac Pro slated for a 2025 refresh, the Pro Display XDR might be updated at the same time. Rumors have suggested that it will get an onboard chip just like the Studio Display, which should bring a few more software features to the table. Other than that, not much else is known at this point.
In this article, we’ll be comparing flagship smartphones from Google and ASUS. We’ll compare the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra. The ZenFone 11 Ultra arrived earlier this year, in March, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL dropped in August. These two smartphones are considerably different in almost every way. Well, the ZenFone 11 Ultra’s software is based on stock Android, though, so aside from Google’s Pixel features you’ll get a similar software feel. Other than that, there are not many similarities.
These two smartphones both look different and feel different in the hand. Their specifications are also quite different. We’ll first list those specs, and will then start to compare the devices across a number of categories. We’ll compare their designs, displays, performance, battery life, camera performance, and audio output. With that being said, let’s get to it.
Specs
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra, respectively
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra: Design
Both of these smartphones are made out of metal and glass, and the frame on both of them is flat all around. The implementation of that flat frame is different, though. It’s thinner on the ZenFone 11 Ultra, and the backplate is curved towards the edges on the ZenFone 11 Ultra. It’s flat on the Pixel 9 Pro XL. Both smartphones have a flat display, though, and a centered display camera hole. The thing is, that camera hole is placed lower on the Pixel 9 Pro XL.
Their physical keys are placed on the right-hand side. The Pixel 9 Pro XL includes a power/lock button above the volume up and down keys. It’s the other way around on the ZenFone 11 Ultra. The buttons are quite clicky on both smartphones. The bezels around the display are also very thin on both of them. The Pixel 9 Pro XL corners are more rounded than they are on the ZenFone 11 Ultra, though.
If we flip them around, you’ll see more differences in the camera design department. Google’s handset has a pill-shaped camera island, which is horizontal. The ZenFone 11 Ultra has a squarish camera island in the top-left corner. Both phones do include three cameras inside their camera islands, though. They are very similar in dimensions, and in weight too. The ZenFone 11 Ultra is only 3 grams heavier. Both smartphones are also IP68 certified, and both are quite slippery.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra: Display
There is a 6.8-inch 2992 x 1344 LTPO OLED display included on the Google Pixel 9 Pro XL. That display is flat, and it offers an adaptive refresh rate of up to 120Hz (1-120Hz). HDR10+ content is supported here, and the display’s peak brightness goes up to 3,000 nits. The screen-to-body ratio is at around 88%, while the display aspect ratio is 20:9. The display is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2.
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ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra
The ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra features a 6.78-inch fullHD+ (2400 x 1080) LTPO AMOLED display. That panel is also flat, and it also offers an adaptive refresh rate, but up to 144Hz (1-144Hz). Do note that it’ll go that high only during gaming in specific games. HDR content is supported, while the peak brightness goes up to 2,500 nits. The screen-to-body ratio is at around 88%, while the display aspect ratio is 20:9. This display is protected by the Gorilla Glass Victus 2 as well.
Both of these displays are really good, actually. They’re both sharp and vivid with good viewing angles. The Pixel 9 Pro XL does offer a higher resolution, but the vast majority of you won’t even notice the difference. The display on Google’s handset also does get slightly brighter during use. The touch response is good on both of these displays, though, and chances are you’ll be happy with either one.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra: Performance
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL is fueled by the Google Tensor G4 processor. That is Google’s 4nm processor, and it comes paired with 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM inside of this phone. Google also included UFS 3.1 flash storage here. The ZenFone 11 Ultra is fueled by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 3, a 4nm processor by Qualcomm. ASUS offers up to 16GB of LPDDR5X RAM here and UFS 4.0 flash storage. The storage is not expandable.
ASUS’ handset does have a more powerful processor, and faster storage too. You’d be hard-pressed to notice the difference, however. Both smartphones are quite snappy during regular, day-to-day use, the performance is very good on both. That Tensor chip is really well-adapted to this smartphone. Everything is smooth, ranging from jumping between apps to messaging, emailing, browsing, consuming multimedia, and so on.
The ZenFone 11 Ultra is the better choice for intense gaming, however, even though the Pixel 9 Pro XL can run basically any game. Those demanding ones do run better on the ZenFone 11 Ultra. If you’re not really a gamer, either of these two phones will do the trick, really, even though the ZenFone 11 Ultra is technically more powerful.
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Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra: Battery
There is a 5,060mAh battery included inside the Pixel 9 Pro XL. ASUS’ handset, on the flip side, uses a 5,500mAh battery. With that being said, the ZenFone 11 Ultra does offer better battery life, as its battery capacity may indicate. In fact, it offers outstanding battery life, while the battery life on the Pixel 9 Pro XL is also really good. In all honesty, chances are that you’ll be happy with the output from both smartphones.
Getting up to 7 hours of screen-on-time is possible even on the Pixel 9 Pro XL, with specific usage, so you can imagine how high the ZenFone 11 Ultra can go. We have crossed the 8-hour screen-on-time and still had juice left in the tank. Do note that intense gaming, intense camera use, intense GPS use, and so on, will have a considerable impact on battery life, of course. That’s why your mileage may vary, each of us uses our phones in different ways, so… there you go.
The Google Pixel 9 Pro XL supports 37W wired, 23W wireless (with the Pixel Stand), 12W Qi wireless, and 5W reverse wireless charging. The ZenFone 11 Ultra supports 65W wired, 15W Qi wireless, and 10W reverse wired charging. ASUS’ handset does charge faster, via a wired, while the Pixel 9 Pro XL will charge faster wirelessly… if you own a Pixel Stand. Neither phone comes with a charger in the box, though.
Google Pixel 9 Pro XL vs ASUS ZenFone 11 Ultra: Cameras
There are three cameras on the backs of both smartphones. Google’s device has a 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.31-inch sensor), a 48-megapixel ultrawide unit (1/2.55-inch sensor, 123-degree FoV), and a 48-megapixel periscope telephoto camera (1/2.55-inch sensor, 5x optical zoom). The ZenFone 11 Ultra includes a 50-megapixel main camera (1/1.56-inch sensor), a 13-megapixel ultrawide camera (1/3.0-inch sensor, 120-degree FoV), and a 32-megapixel telephoto camera (1/3.2-inch sensor, 3x optical zoom).
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Google Pixel 9 Pro XL
With that being said, the Pixel 9 Pro XL does offer better photos overall. They’re simply better balanced, and if we pixel peep, you’ll notice more detail from all three of its cameras, basically. Google’s image processing is really good, not to mention that the phone has better camera hardware overall. Literally every single camera on the back includes a larger camera sensor that allows more light to enter.
The Pixel 9 Pro XL also has the advantage of having an actual periscope telephoto camera, while the ZenFone 11 Ultra includes a regular telephoto shooter. Don’t get me wrong, the pictures from the ZenFone 11 Ultra end up looking good and vibrant, but they’re not as good as what the Pixel 9 Pro XL offers. They also have a tendency to apply a bit too much saturation and sharpening while processing.
Audio
You’ll find a set of stereo speakers on both of these smartphones. The ones on the Pixel 9 Pro XL are a bit louder, but the sound quality coming from both sets is good and also comparable. So, chances are you’ll be good either way.
If you need a headphone jack, only the ZenFone 11 Ultra offers it. You will need to hook up your wired headphones via the Type-C port on the Pixel 9 Pro XL in order to use them. The Pixel 9 Pro XL also offers Bluetooth 5.3, while the ZenFone 11 Ultra supports Bluetooth 5.4.
Now you’ll be able to play one of the greatest zombie survival games of all time on your iPhone or iPad. is headed to the Apple and Mac App Store on December 10.
The game won’t be available on every Apple device. You’ll need any iPhone 16 model, an iPhone 15 Pro or an iPad or Mac with the M1 chip or later. You’ll also be able to try a small portion of the game before purchasing the full experience. The game comes with “universal purchase” and “cross-progression” for all your eligible devices, according to a Capcom statement.
The Resident Evil 2 remake will offer advanced controls for touchscreens and the Mac version. Both Leon and Claire will also have “a new Auto Fire feature” so you can unload your clip into whatever’s shuffling towards you.
This is just one of four Resident Evil games available for Apple devices and computers. Capcom and Apple have released versions of and Resident Evil 4 on the App Store and Resident Evil: Village on the App and Mac App Store.
Soaring private vehicle ownership and declining use of public and non-motorized transport have created mounting traffic congestion in India, the world’s most populous country, which also struggles with relatively narrower roads and inadequate parking facilities in cities. New Delhi recognizes these challenges and has been exploring new ways to address them quickly.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at an event in September, said that air taxis will soon be a “reality in India,” indicating the government’s interest in supporting the new transportation mode. The country’s aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation, also recently framed rules for vertiports to set the ground for air taxis.
The startup, founded by IIT Madras aerospace engineering professor Satya Chakravarthy in 2019, is building its electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) vehicle, the e200x, several months after developing unmanned drones for cargo and camera applications. Chakravarthy has a strong pedigree: He is also a co-founder and advisor at Indian space tech startups, including Agnikul and GalaxyEye, and at an Indian hyperloop-focused startup, TuTr Hyperloop.
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Chakravarthy told TechCrunch that ePlane secured IPs in developing the intra-city commute and cargo-focused aircraft with reasonably slow fly speed and a compact wingspan of eight meters, unlike typical air taxis with 12 to 16-meter wingspans. That will enable it to land in tighter spaces and make multiple short trips — up to 60 trips a day — on a single charge, he says. Commuters would reduce travel time by as much as 85%, at a cost of less than two times the fare they usually pay on an Uber ride, he claims.
Image Credits:ePlane Company
Most eVTOL vehicles currently are multi-copters similar to commercial drones, including air taxis carrying spokes and vertical rotors. Chakravarthy said that while this configuration is easier to develop and implement in the market, but does not cover longer distances with a single battery charge. ePlane chose a lift-plus-cruise configuration where the vehicle carries a winged architecture just like a typical plane, but with vertical rotors similar to a drone.
“This configuration has been proven to actually be very reliable because we have redundancies in terms of the vertical rotors carrying the weight of the aircraft, while wings taken with their share of balancing the weight progressively so that we don’t have a loss of lift during the transition from a vertical takeoff and hover to forward flight,” he said.
The startup has also developed technology called synergistic lift, which uses vertical rotors even in forward flight to make wings compact enough.
Chakravarthy told TechCrunch that ePlane manufactures aircraft components at its IIT Madras facility, including airframe parts and designing seats and propellers. The startup outsources cells but assembles batteries for the aircraft at its facility to manage the aircraft’s center of gravity.
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The startup aims to commercialize its electric air taxi in the middle to second half of 2026 after securing the required certifications from the Indian and global authorities and prototyping the aircraft in the first half of 2025, Chakravarthy told TechCrunch.
Ahead of testing the vehicle, ePlane has raised a $14 million Series B round co-led by Speciale Invest and Singapore’s Antares Ventures. The all-equity round also included participation from Micelio Mobility, Naval Ravikant, Java Capital, Samarthya Investment Advisors, Redstart (from Naukri), and Anicut. The round has valued the startup at $46 million post-money — over 2x its previous $21 million valuation.
The fresh capital will help ePlane, which has a workforce of over 100 people, secure global regulatory certifications and boost its commercialization efforts.
India’s success would help ePlane enter other markets, including the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Australia, and Europe.
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“We are working with a conviction that going forward, what’s good for India will be good for the world,” Chakravarthy said.
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