Tech
Apple Event 2025: Last-minute iPhone 17 rumors tech nerds ought to know
Apple’s ‘Awe Dropping’ event is less than a day away, and while the big stars of the show are mostly set in stone with the iPhone 17 (including the iPhone 17 Air), Apple Watch Series 11, and the AirPods Pro 3, the rumor mill is still abound about what else we might see Apple announce.
Based on the rumors we’ve seen, it won’t be anything major like a Mac release or new iPads. Those are generally reserved for later in the autumn or in the spring. However, there are quite a few products that surround the iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods that are likely to make an appearance that we had only heard a little bit about before this week.
Here are some last-second rumors about other things that may come from the Apple event.
iPhone 17 battery capacity (and the iPhone 17 Air)
A Chinese regulatory filing may have outed the battery capacity of the iPhone 17 lineup. These numbers mostly line up with what we knew already, such as the iPhone 17 Pro Max crossing the 5,000 mAh boundary for the first time in iPhone history, finally joining competitors like the Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra.
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The listing also shows the iPhone 17 Air. In case you're curious, the filing says that the iPhone 17 Air will sport a 3,149 mAh battery, which will be the smallest battery in the iPhone 17 lineup.
A magnetic Crossbody Strap and more iPhone 17 accessories
Rumors started circulating over the weekend of some new iPhone 17 accessories that may make their debut at Apple’s ‘Awe Dropping’ event. One such accessory is the Crossbody Strap, which is designed to work with Apple’s TechWoven cases, which are set to replace the brand’s FineWoven cases.
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The idea here is pretty simple: there’s a loop on the TechWoven case that lets you attach the magnetic Crossbody Strap, which may also be compatible with AirPods. The rumor also says that the strap is magnetic across its entire length. This would allow you to carry your iPhone somewhere other than your pocket, which may be good if you’re wearing something without pockets.
Apple Watch SE 3 details
The Apple Watch SE hasn’t been updated since 2022, and the tech world fully expects to see the SE 3 debut tomorrow.
According to rumors, the updated watch will sport the same S11 chip that’s being used in the Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3, which would give it a similar set of features like on-device Siri processing that was missing from the SE 2. Other than that, rumors have been sparse. There was one that the SE 3 would get a plastic case instead of aluminum but Apple reportedly scrapped that one. It’ll also have fewer health features than the main watches to help reduce cost.
The M5-powered iPad Pro
Apple usually saves its iPad announcements for different events, but a noted leaker on X said that there was a chance that the M5-powered iPad Pro could make a guest appearance during the iPhone announcement. Usually, Apple saves the iPad announcements for springtime, so this would be highly unusual. Thus, take this rumor with a giant grain of salt.
However, there is something to this rumor. Apple announced the original iPad Pro on Sept. 9, 2015. That means the product is turning 10 years old, so Apple may use that as a reason to announce the latest iPad Pro earlier than normal. It also helps that iPadOS 26 is also slated to come out soon. This one is among the least believable rumors, but it’s still possible.
The AirPods Pro 4
That's not a typo — we have a new last-minute rumor regarding the AirPods Pro 4.
Yes, as we've said before, we fully expect Apple to reveal the AirPods Pro 3 alongside the iPhone 17. However, noted Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo posted a tweet on Sept. 6 that suggested the new AirPods Pro will get a fast sequel. Ming-Chi said the AirPods Pro 4 could arrive in 2026, way ahead of schedule.
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The AirPods Pro 3 are expected to arrive with a bunch of improvements, including Apple’s new H3 chip, which should bring better sound quality and improved active noise cancelling. In addition, they’re slated for a new design, heart rate monitoring, temperature monitoring, and more.
Apple has a habit of announcing all sorts of stuff at these events, and there is always a chance that Apple pulls a fast one and surprises everyone. According to Bloomberg, there’s a chance the new AirTag 2 makes an appearance along with the rumored Vision Pro hardware refresh and potentially even a new Apple TV device, along with a HomePod mini. We’ll have to wait and see what happens.
For more Apple event coverage, follow Mashable's live blog and get real-time updates on the iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11, and AirPods Pro 3 launch.
Tech
Mini Kindle Pods are trending on TikTok, but these devices arent what they seem

Among passionate TikTok communities, BookTok, may be the most influential.
BookTok is where book lovers and e-reader obsessives to come together to discuss their favorite books and device hacks. For readers who use e-readers, Kindle, Kobo, and Boox lead the charge as the most popular devices, so it's notable when a new device goes viral. "Mini Kindles" appear to be the latest device to cause a stir on BookTok, with hundreds of videos showcasing the tiny e-readers.
On TikTok, searching for "mini Kindle" (or "mini Kindle pods") brings up dozens of user videos showing someone walking into a Barnes & Noble or Target and then cutting to an unboxing of a so-called "mini Kindle". As someone who tests e-readers for a living, this confused me.
I have no reason to believe these e-readers are actually being purchased at Barnes & Noble, nor do they have any apparent affiliation with Amazon Kindles.
In fact, the devices being hyped in these videos appear to be sold by the users who post them.
In a since-deleted video, user @aurealeaf directs viewers to the website NovaLeaf, where the "NovaLeaf Mini Kindle" is listed. (Editor's note: As of this writing, the @aurealeaf account is no longer available.) Another user, @hydro_scope, directs viewers to their website with a listing for a NOVA Mini Pink Kindle. Both devices claim to be pocket-sized e-readers under the Kindle name, despite no affiliation with Amazon.
We reached out to both @aurealeaf and @hydro_scope, and we'll update this post if we receive a response.
Are mini Kindle pods actually Kindles?
These mini Kindles do not seem to be actual Kindle e-readers or associated with Amazon at all, nor does Amazon sell any mini version of the Kindle e-readers. We reached out for comment from Amazon and have not heard back at the time of publication.
By performing reverse image searches on Nova and NovaLeaf websites, I found that the "mini Kindles" listed for sale there are visual matches for devices manufactured by a company called Oilsky. They appear to be 4-inch touchscreen MP3 and 1080p video players. With built-in access to the Google Play store, the Kindle app is available to download onto the device; however, that appears to be the only connection to Amazon.
The Oilsky MP3 player and copycat versions are currently listed on Amazon. These TikTok-based sellers have their mini Kindles listed for $79.99, about $10 more than the direct Oilsky listing on Amazon. Oilsky MP3 players are not listed for sale at Barnes & Noble or Target.
In short, the viral TikTok videos are using the word "Kindle" to refer to any e-reader-like device and may be at risk of legal action from Amazon.
As of this writing, the @aurealeaf TikTok account is no longer available.
Tech
How to watch Switzerland vs. Germany online for free

TL;DR: Live stream Switzerland vs. Germany in a 2026 International Friendly for free on RTS. Access this free streaming site from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.
There are a number of really interesting International Friendlies taking place this week, including Switzerland vs. Germany.
This is a great opportunity for these sides to test out new formations, experiment with new players, and generally build some positive momentum before this summer's World Cup. We expect a competitive contest between two experienced sides, with the likes of Joshua Kimmich and Florian Wirtz expected to feature.
If you want to watch Switzerland vs. Germany in a 2026 International Friendly for free from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.
When is Switzerland vs. Germany?
Switzerland vs. Germany kicks off at 3:45 p.m. ET on March 27. This fixture takes place at the St. Jakob Park.
How to watch Switzerland vs. Germany for free
Switzerland vs. Germany is available to live stream for free on RTS.
RTS is geo-restricted to Switzerland, but anyone can access this free streaming service with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in Switzerland, meaning you can access free live streams on RTS from anywhere in the world.
Lve stream Switzerland vs. Germany for free by following these simple steps:
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Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (like ExpressVPN)
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Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)
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Open up the app and connect to a server in Switzerland
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Visit RTS
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Stream Switzerland vs. Germany for free from anywhere in the world
The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch Switzerland vs. Germany without actually spending anything. This clearly isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream select games before recovering your investment.
If you want to retain permanent access to free streaming sites from around the world, you'll need a subscription. Fortunately, the best VPN for streaming live sport is on sale for a limited time.
What is the best VPN for RTS?
ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on RTS, for a number of reasons:
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Servers in 105 countries including Switzerland
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Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more
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Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure
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Fast connection speeds free from throttling
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Up to eight simultaneous connections
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30-day money-back guarantee
A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99 (with money-back guarantee).
Live stream Switzerland vs. Germany for free with ExpressVPN.
Tech
Hurry: The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds just hit a record-low price for Amazons Big Spring Sale

SAVE 46%: As of March 27, you can get the Nothing Ear (a) wireless earbuds for $58.99, down from $109, at Amazon. That's a 46% discount or a $50.01 price cut.
If you want a pair of earbuds that stand out from the crowd without emptying your wallet, the Nothing Ear (a) should definitely be on your radar. For the Big Spring Sale, they've dropped to just $58.99, which is $50 off their usual $109 list price.
Mashable's Tech Reporter, Alex Perry, recently rounded up the reviews for these buds, and the consensus is that they deliver way more than their price tag suggests. They offer an open-midrange sound and clarity that outperform those of standard, more expensive AirPods, and they have active noise cancellation strong enough to drown out loud household distractions. Plus, you'll get around five hours of battery life even with every single battery-draining feature turned on at once, like ANC and multipoint pairing.
As always, I checked the fine print, and there are a couple of things you should know. Perry noted that the biggest critique across the board is that the charging case lacks Qi wireless charging and relies strictly on USB-C. But skipping wireless charging is a fair trade-off for a case that's as small and pocketable as Apple's AirPods. Also, according to the Amazon listing, the voice-enabled ChatGPT feature will only work on a Nothing series phone. Still, grabbing earbuds with this level of sound quality for under $60 is a total steal.
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