Technologies
Here’s What Makes Apple’s New 40-Watt Power Adapter Unique
You can get a 60-watt boost of power, if you connect the right gear.
There’s something special about Apple’s new little charger plug that released with the iPhone 17 lineup. It’s called the 40W Dynamic Power Adapter, and it looks like a pretty basic USB-C charger plug — but I’ve learned it’s pretty unique in how it dishes out power, giving a limited 60-watt boost to certain devices.
If you have one of the newer iPhones, such as the iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone 17, you may want to add this $39 accessory to your charging setup. But it also matters which model phone you have and which cables you’re using.
And if you’re using MagSafe for wireless charging, newer iPhones can also get a faster charge — but it depends on your setup. Original MagSafe cords won’t get you the same results as the 2024 MagSafe model, which can deliver up to 25 watts. (If your MagSafe has a smooth rubber cord, you might want to pay attention.)
In this week’s episode of One More Thing, embedded above, I go into how Apple’s new power adapter works and how to get the fastest charge from the latest iPhones, whether you plug it in or charge wirelessly.
If anything, I hope this video sparks some interest in knowing what kind of wattage your phones can handle and what your adapters are built to deliver. Or maybe, the next time you want to grab a cheap cord or adapter on sale, it’ll have you taking a closer look at the specs.
If you’re looking for more One More Thing, subscribe to our YouTube page to catch Bridget Carey breaking down the latest Apple news and issues every Friday.
Technologies
Energizer Laptops Are Coming With Really Big Batteries. Good Luck Trying to Fly With Them
A French company is rolling out Energizer-branded laptops with its largest featuring a high-capacity 192Wh battery.

The Energizer brand is all about long-lasting power, and that has clearly figured into the design of a series of Energizer EnergyBook laptops that have been announced by French design company Avenir Telecom.
Avenir has been making cellphones, chargers and cables with the Energizer brand. Now its first foray into laptops includes batteries that have so much power they’re not likely to be allowed on many flights.
The company hasn’t yet released pricing or even weight information on the laptops, but it says that largest of its three laptops, the EnergyBook Pro Ultra, has a four-cell 13,000 mAh/192Wh battery that can offer seven days of standby time and 28 hours of office use or 11 hours of gaming and graphic design.
You probably won’t be spending those hours on a plane: The Federal Aviation Administration forbids laptop batteries bigger than 100 watt hours in most cases, but makes some exceptions for spare batteries in the 101Wh to 160Wh range, but only with airline approval. The Pro Ultra blows through both restrictions at 192Wh. The FAA also mandates that laptops with lithium batteries must be carried in the passenger cabin.
Avenir touts the Ultra as having the largest laptop battery ever, but the limitations on air travel may be why more laptop makers haven’t taken that route.
The EnergyBook Ultra includes an AMD Ryzen 5 processor, 16GB of DDR4 RAM, a 512GB SSD and an 18-inch 1080p screen. The other laptops are the EnergyBook Pro 15 and the Pro XL 18.5. Other specs, including battery size, weren’t provided for the other models.
The Pro and XL will be released on Oct. 15, but there’s no release date set for the Ultra as it’s currently undergoing certification testing, a representative told CNET.
Technologies
Amazon Clears Out Apple Watch Series 10 Inventory With Up to $170 Off for Prime Day
With Series 11 now here, Prime Day is bringing steep markdowns on the previous-gen — but still great — model.
If you’ve been eyeing a new Apple Watch, October Prime Day is your chance. Amazon is clearing out Apple Watch Series 10 models with discounts as deep as $170. With the Apple Watch Series 11 now officially out, these markdowns are a great chance to upgrade your gear. Given that deals on Apple products don’t stick around for long, we recommend that you buy sooner rather than later.
Right now, you can pick up the 42mm GPS + Cellular version for $329, $170 down from $499 or step up to the 46mm GPS + Cellular model for $480, originally $529. For those who prefer a fancier look, the 46mm with gold titanium case is down to $629.
The Series 10 builds on Apple’s previous sleek design and fitness features. you’ll get heart-rate tracking, crash and fall detection, ECG readings, plus Apple’s wide app ecosystem. The display is wide enough to read outdoors. With the GPS + Cellular versions, you can take calls, stream music, or check texts even without your iPhone nearby and you don’t need an active cellular plan right away.
Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.
Interestingly, the GPS-only Series 10 models are also discounted at $329, but only by $70. In this case, the cellular models are actually the better buy since you’re paying the same and still get the added flexibility of optional cellular connectivity.
And if you’re looking to get ahead on your holiday shopping while saving some money, we’ve rounded up some great deals on tech, things under $100 for your home or to gift and even Lego sets, or browse our comprehensive 100 Days of Holiday gift guide.
Read more: Best October Prime Day Apple Deals: Beat the Crowd and Snag AirPods, MacBooks and iPads at Discounted Prices
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Why this deal matters
Deep discounts on Apple products are rare, and the Series 10 compares well to the newer Series 11. If you don’t need the absolute latest model, Prime Day is the perfect chance to pick up an Apple Watch Series 10 deal without paying the full price.
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Technologies
Today’s NYT Strands Hints, Answers and Help for Oct. 3 #579
Here are hints and answers for the NYT Strands puzzle for Oct. 3, No. 579.
Looking for the most recent Strands answer? Click here for our daily Strands hints, as well as our daily answers and hints for The New York Times Mini Crossword, Wordle, Connections and Connections: Sports Edition puzzles.
Today’s NYT Strands puzzle features some very short answers, and some very long ones. Some of the answers are tough to unscramble, so if you need hints and answers, read on.
I go into depth about the rules for Strands in this story.
If you’re looking for today’s Wordle, Connections and Mini Crossword answers, you can visit CNET’s NYT puzzle hints page.
Read more: NYT Connections Turns 1: These Are the 5 Toughest Puzzles So Far
Hint for today’s Strands puzzle
Today’s Strands theme is: Who’s in charge?
If that doesn’t help you, here’s a clue: Running the place.
Clue words to unlock in-game hints
Your goal is to find hidden words that fit the puzzle’s theme. If you’re stuck, find any words you can. Every time you find three words of four letters or more, Strands will reveal one of the theme words. These are the words I used to get those hints but any words of four or more letters that you find will work:
- MEAL, LAME, SELF, NAME, MANE, MAGE, HEADER, DARE, MANGER, DARE, DARED, DIRECT, SUPER, CHIDE
Answers for today’s Strands puzzle
These are the answers that tie into the theme. The goal of the puzzle is to find them all, including the spangram, a theme word that reaches from one side of the puzzle to the other. When you have all of them (I originally thought there were always eight but learned that the number can vary), every letter on the board will be used. Here are the nonspangram answers:
- BOSS, HEAD, CHIEF, MANAGER, DIRECTOR, SUPERVISOR
Today’s Strands spangram
Today’s Strands spangram is LEADERSHIP. To find it, look for the L that is four letters to the right on the top row, and wind down.
Toughest Strands puzzles
Here are some of the Strands topics I’ve found to be the toughest in recent weeks.
#1: Dated slang, Jan. 21. Maybe you didn’t even use this lingo when it was cool. Toughest word: PHAT.
#2: Thar she blows! Jan.15. I guess marine biologists might ace this one. Toughest word: BALEEN or RIGHT.
#3: Off the hook, Jan. 9. Similar to the Jan. 15 puzzle in that it helps to know a lot about sea creatures. Sorry, Charlie. Toughest word: BIGEYE or SKIPJACK.
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