Latest Answers - Page 2

ShopSavvy Answers are well-researched expert answers to common questions about popular products

Can I take my iPhone 17 Pro swimming in a pool or ocean?

Published: January 28th, 2026

While the iPhone 17 Pro has an IP68 water resistance rating, Apple explicitly recommends against swimming with it. The rating is designed for accidental exposure, not intentional water activities.

Understanding IP68

The IP68 rating means the iPhone 17 Pro survived laboratory testing in:

Fresh water only (not chlorinated or salt water)
Still conditions (no waves, jets, or movement)
6 meters depth maximum
30 minutes duration

Why Swimming Isn't Safe

Pool Water Concerns

Chlorine and pool chemicals gradually degrade the rubber seals that protect against water intrusion. While your phone may survive initial exposures, repeated contact weakens the seals over time, eventually leading to failure.

Ocean Water Risks

Saltwater is corrosive to electronic components, particularly:

USB-C charging port contacts
Internal circuitry
Seal adhesives

Important: If your phone contacts saltwater, rinse immediately with fresh water.

Moving Water Dynamics

IP68 testing uses static water. Swimming generates pressure through arm strokes, waves, and jet currents that can force water past seals designed to handle still water conditions.

Warranty Coverage

Apple's warranty does not cover liquid damage. The company states that water resistance can degrade over time and recommends against intentional water submersion.

Safe Water Practices

The IP68 rating protects against:

Rain and splashes
Accidental spills
Brief, unintentional submersion

For swimming, snorkeling, or water photography, use a dedicated waterproof case or dry bag designed for that purpose. Don't rely on the built-in water resistance for extended water activities.

How good is the iPhone 17 Pro zoom camera compared to previous models?

By ShopSavvy Team

Published: January 28th, 2026

The iPhone 17 Pro telephoto camera represents a major upgrade with 4x the pixels and a 56% larger sensor than the previous generation.

Technical Specifications

Sensor resolution: 48MP (up from 12MP on iPhone 16 Pro)
Sensor size: 56% larger for better low-light performance
Optical zoom: 4x (100mm equivalent)
Optical-quality zoom: 8x (200mm equivalent via sensor crop)
Maximum digital zoom: 40x

Quality at Different Zoom Levels

4x Optical Zoom: Photos are noticeably sharper with significantly more detail than the 16 Pro's 5x shots. The larger sensor and higher resolution capture more information in every frame.

8x Optical-Quality Zoom: Apple's cropped 8x mode produces 12MP images from the 48MP sensor, delivering results that approach true optical quality for most viewing scenarios.

10x and Beyond: This is where the 17 Pro excels. At 10x, reviewers describe the quality difference as dramatic. The 17 Pro produces clean, detailed images where the 16 Pro shows visible pixelation.

The 5x Trade-Off

Apple replaced the 5x optical zoom with 4x and 8x options. The 4x focal length (100mm equivalent) is actually more versatile for everyday photography. It's a classic portrait and landscape focal length that professional photographers have relied on for decades.

Complete Camera System

The iPhone 17 Pro is the first iPhone with 48MP sensors across all three rear cameras (main, ultra-wide, and telephoto), enabling improved detail and Apple's Fusion Camera technology at all focal lengths.

For users who frequently shoot zoomed photos, the telephoto improvements represent one of the most meaningful upgrades in this generation.

Does the iPhone 17 Pro aluminum body scratch easily?

By ShopSavvy Team

Published: January 28th, 2026

The iPhone 17 Pro's aluminum body is highly scratch-resistant for normal use, though the camera area requires some care.

Main Body Durability

Apple's anodization process gives the aluminum a Mohs hardness rating of 9, just one step below diamond. Testing confirms:

Keys and coins won't scratch the main body
Daily handling poses no durability concerns
Flat surfaces hold up well over time

Camera Area Vulnerability

The one weak point is the camera plateau. The raised edges around the camera module have a less secure anodized coating and can pick up scratches from:

Rough surfaces or abrasive materials
Being placed face-down on tables
Contact with sand or grit

About Those Viral Scratch Photos

Apple addressed the "scratchgate" controversy by explaining the marks on store display units were material transfer from worn MagSafe risers, not actual scratches. Real-world testing shows wear patterns comparable to other premium phones after similar use periods.

Color and Visibility

Scratch visibility varies by color:

Silver: Least visible (closest to raw aluminum underneath)
Cosmic Orange: Moderate visibility
Deep Blue: Most noticeable contrast when scratched

Protection Recommendations

For maximum durability, consider:

A protective case (the smooth aluminum is also more slippery than titanium)
Camera lens protectors if you're concerned about that specific area
Choosing Silver if you plan to go caseless

For typical careful use without a case, expect normal wear over time but no significant scratching from everyday items.

Is the iPhone 17 Pro worth upgrading from the iPhone 16 Pro?

By ShopSavvy Team

Published: January 28th, 2026

For most iPhone 16 Pro owners, the iPhone 17 Pro represents incremental improvements rather than essential upgrades. Here's a breakdown to help you decide.

What's Meaningfully Better

Battery Life

The iPhone 17 Pro is rated for 33 hours of video playback compared to 27 hours on the 16 Pro. That's a 22% improvement that translates to noticeably longer daily use.

Camera System

The telephoto lens jumped from 12MP to 48MP, offering 4x optical zoom and 8x optical-quality zoom. Photos at longer zoom ranges are significantly sharper. The front camera also improved from 12MP to 18MP.

Display Brightness

Peak outdoor brightness increased from 2,000 to 3,000 nits, making the screen much easier to see in direct sunlight.

Gaming Performance

Thanks to a new vapor chamber cooling system, the A19 Pro delivers up to 40% better sustained GPU performance without thermal throttling.

What Stayed Similar

Daily app performance feels nearly identical
Regular photo quality at 1x remains comparable
The user experience is fundamentally the same

Upgrade Recommendations

Consider upgrading if you:

Frequently shoot zoomed photos or videos
Find your 16 Pro battery doesn't last all day
Play graphics-intensive mobile games
Can get a strong trade-in value

Hold off if you:

Are satisfied with your current battery life
Rarely use telephoto zoom
Don't do intensive gaming

Coming from iPhone 14 Pro or older? The iPhone 17 Pro is a clear upgrade with substantial improvements across battery, camera, display, and performance that you'll notice daily.

How long does the iPhone 17 Pro battery last on a single charge?

By ShopSavvy Team

Published: January 28th, 2026

The iPhone 17 Pro battery easily lasts a full day of heavy use, making it one of Apple's most meaningful upgrades this generation.

Quick Answer

Apple rates the iPhone 17 Pro at 33 hours of video playback, up from 27 hours on the iPhone 16 Pro. In real-world testing, that translates to a full day of heavy use with 7-8 hours of screen-on time.

Real-World Battery Performance

Independent testers found impressive results:

7-8 hours of screen-on time with heavy use (social media, photos, navigation, streaming)
Full day of mixed use for typical users without needing a charge
21+ hours on continuous video loop tests (Pro Max)

The iPhone 17 Pro Max is the battery king, lasting approximately 15.5 hours of real-world mixed use in CNN Underscored's testing.

What Makes It Better

Three key improvements boosted battery life:

A19 Pro chip: More power-efficient than the A18 Pro, using less energy for the same tasks
Larger battery in eSIM models: Apple used the space from the removed SIM tray for extra battery capacity in US models
Vapor chamber cooling: Better thermal management means less throttling and more efficient operation

Charging Options

When you do need to charge, you have fast options:

25W MagSafe wireless: Requires a 30W+ adapter for full speed
50% in ~20 minutes: With wired fast charging (40W+ adapter)
Full charge in ~90 minutes: Using a fast charger

For most users, the iPhone 17 Pro will comfortably last from morning until bedtime, even with heavy use throughout the day.

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Can AirPods Pro 3 be used as hearing aids?

By ShopSavvy Team

Published: January 28th, 2026

This is actually one of the most significant features of the AirPods Pro 3, even though it doesn't get as much attention as things like noise cancellation. Yes, they can function as FDA-authorized hearing aids for people with mild to moderate hearing loss.

This Is a Big Deal

Traditional hearing aids cost anywhere from $2,000 to $7,000 per pair. And there's a stigma around wearing them. Many people who need hearing help don't get it because they don't want "hearing aid" devices.

The AirPods Pro 3 flip that script. They're $249, they look like normal earbuds that millions of people wear every day, and they're FDA-authorized to help with hearing loss. That's genuinely groundbreaking.

How It Actually Works

It's not just making everything louder. Here's the process:

You take a hearing test built into your iPhone (takes about 5 minutes in a quiet room)
The test measures your hearing at different frequencies
If you have mild to moderate loss, the hearing aid feature becomes available
The AirPods then boost specific frequencies based on YOUR hearing profile

So if you've lost some high-frequency hearing (super common as we age), the AirPods amplify those frequencies while leaving lower frequencies alone. It's personalized to your ears.

Setting It Up

Go to Settings > Accessibility > Hearing on your iPhone. You'll need iOS 18.1 or later. Take the hearing test when prompted, and if your results show mild to moderate loss, you can enable hearing aid mode.

What It's Good For

Conversations: The real-time processing helps you hear people talking more clearly
Phone calls: Your hearing profile is applied to calls
TV and music: Media gets adjusted too
Transparency mode: Hear the world around you better

What It's NOT Good For

Severe hearing loss - this is designed for mild to moderate cases only
Replacing a professional audiologist evaluation
All-day use with limited battery

The Honest Take

If you have significant hearing loss, the AirPods Pro 3 won't replace proper hearing aids fitted by a professional. But for the millions of people with mild hearing loss who haven't done anything about it? This is an accessible, affordable, stigma-free option that might actually help.

Check current AirPods Pro 3 prices

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Do AirPods Pro 3 fit differently than AirPods Pro 2?

By ShopSavvy Team

Published: January 28th, 2026

If you're coming from AirPods Pro 2, the Pro 3 will feel different in your ears right away. Apple didn't just tweak the design - they basically started over.

What's Actually Different

The earbuds themselves are shaped differently. They sit deeper in your ear canal and the part that sticks out has a different angle. Apple says they scanned 10,000 ears and spent 100,000+ hours researching this design.

The biggest change you'll notice is the ear tips. They're now a hybrid design with silicone on the outside and memory foam on the inside. Apple added a fifth size too - XXS - so there's now five options instead of four.

Some People Love the New Fit

A lot of users say the Pro 3 feel more secure. The hybrid tips seal better, which helps both with noise isolation and keeping them in place during workouts. If you had issues with Pro 2s falling out during runs, these might solve that.

Some People Hate It

The new design pushes differently against your ear. Some folks find that the top part of the earbud presses uncomfortably against the upper ear. After about an hour, this can get annoying.

Others just find the deeper insertion uncomfortable. If you don't like things sitting far into your ear canal, the Pro 3 design might not be for you.

Give Them Time

Here's the thing - the hybrid tips actually break in a bit. They soften over the first week or so. A lot of people who found them uncomfortable on day one said they felt much better after a few days. Don't return them after one listening session.

Finding Your Fit

Run the Ear Tip Fit Test (Settings > Bluetooth > tap your AirPods > Ear Tip Fit Test). It'll tell you if you have a good seal. If not, try different sizes. Pro tip: it's totally normal to use different sizes in each ear. Most people's ears aren't identical.

If none of the five included sizes work, third-party foam tips are available. Or, honestly, some ear shapes just work better with the Pro 2 design.

Check current AirPods Pro 3 prices

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How do AirPods Pro 3 compare to Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra?

By ShopSavvy Team

Published: January 28th, 2026

So you're trying to decide between the three big flagship earbuds? Let me break down how the AirPods Pro 3 stack up against the Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra Earbuds.

Noise Cancellation - AirPods Win

This is a big shift. Bose used to own this category, but the AirPods Pro 3 now have the best noise cancellation of the three. Apple claims twice the ANC of the Pro 2, and independent tests back this up.

In real-world plane testing, the ranking went: AirPods Pro 3 first, Sony second, Bose third. The Sonys do excel at blocking high-frequency noise thanks to their foam tips, but overall, Apple takes this round.

Sound Quality - Sony Wins

If pure audio quality is your top priority, the Sony WF-1000XM5 are still the earbuds to beat. They have deeper bass, more detailed mids, and better soundstage. Music sounds more nuanced and engaging.

The AirPods Pro 3 sound good - clean and balanced - but audiophiles typically prefer Sony's tuning. Some people think the new AirPods have too much bass compared to the more neutral Pro 2.

Bose goes for warm, bass-heavy sound. Great if you like that, less great if you want accuracy.

Features - AirPods Win by a Mile

This isn't even close. The AirPods Pro 3 have heart rate monitoring, FDA-approved hearing aid functionality, Live Translation, and seamless Apple ecosystem integration.

Sony and Bose offer customizable EQ and spatial audio, but they don't have anything like Apple's health features.

However: If you use Android or care about high-resolution audio, Sony supports LDAC codec for better streaming quality. AirPods are stuck with AAC.

Price

AirPods Pro 3: $249
Sony WF-1000XM5: $299 (but often on sale for $250)
Bose QC Ultra: $299

The AirPods are actually the most affordable option.

The Bottom Line

Get the AirPods Pro 3 if: You use iPhone, want the health features, or prioritize noise cancellation.

Get the Sony WF-1000XM5 if: Sound quality is everything to you, or you use Android and want LDAC support.

Get the Bose QC Ultra if: You prioritize comfort and prefer Bose's warm sound signature.

Check current AirPods Pro 3 prices

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Are there any known issues or problems with AirPods Pro 3?

By ShopSavvy Team

Published: January 28th, 2026

No product is perfect, and the AirPods Pro 3 have their share of issues that some owners have run into. Here's the honest rundown so you know what to expect.

The Static/Crackling Thing

This is probably the most discussed issue online. Some people hear static or crackling when they have noise cancellation turned on but aren't playing any audio. It's subtle, but once you notice it, it's hard to ignore.

Apple hasn't officially acknowledged this or promised a fix. They've released firmware updates that mention "bug fixes" but don't specifically call out the static issue. For some people it went away after updates. For others, it hasn't.

What you can try: Reset your AirPods by holding the button on the case for 15 seconds. Make sure your firmware is current. Toggle ANC off and back on. Sometimes these basic steps help.

The Fit Problem

Apple redesigned the earbuds, and the new shape sticks up more into your ear than the Pro 2 did. Some people find this uncomfortable after about an hour of wear.

The good news: Apple includes five tip sizes now, including a new XXS. Most people find a comfortable fit after trying different sizes. Also, the tips seem to break in a bit over the first week or two.

The "Bloodgate" Reports

This sounds dramatic, and honestly it affects very few people. The heart rate sensor (that little black circle inside the earbud) sits against your ear canal. For some folks with sensitive ears or certain ear shapes, it can cause irritation with extended use.

If you have sensitive ears, buy from somewhere with a good return policy so you can test them out.

Sound Quality Complaints

Some audio enthusiasts say the Pro 3 sound different from the Pro 2 - more bass, more treble, less neutral overall. If you loved how the Pro 2 sounded, you might need time to adjust. Others think the Pro 3 sound fuller and more engaging.

Should You Worry?

Honestly? Most people are happy with their AirPods Pro 3. These issues affect a minority of owners, and the reviews are overwhelmingly positive. But it's worth knowing what's out there before you buy.

Check current AirPods Pro 3 prices

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How good is the microphone quality for phone calls on AirPods Pro 3?

By ShopSavvy Team

Published: January 28th, 2026

How do the AirPods Pro 3 actually sound on phone calls? Pretty great, honestly - though maybe not a huge leap from the Pro 2 if that's what you're upgrading from.

The Tech Behind It

Apple uses dual beamforming microphones that focus on picking up your voice while the H2 chip works to filter out everything else. When you're on a call, all that background noise - keyboards clacking, people talking nearby, even cars passing - gets substantially reduced. The person you're talking to hears you, not your environment.

Where They Shine

At the office or working from home: These are fantastic. The microphones handle typical indoor environments really well. Air conditioning hum, printer noise, people talking in the background - all of it gets pushed down so your voice stays front and center. Video calls sound professional.

Walking around town: Solid performance here too. Normal street noise doesn't really bother calls. I've taken plenty of calls walking through the city without complaints from the other end.

Where They Struggle

Wind is still the enemy. This is true for pretty much all earbuds, and the AirPods Pro 3 aren't an exception. In gusty conditions, you'll get some crackling and your voice might cut out briefly. If you're outside on a windy day, try to find some shelter or the person you're calling will notice.

Compared to the Pro 2

Here's the thing - if you're specifically upgrading for better call quality, you might be disappointed. Independent tests show the microphone performance is basically identical to the AirPods Pro 2. Apple didn't change the H2 chip, and call quality wasn't a focus of this update. The improvements are elsewhere (ANC, health features, fit).

Pro Tip: Use Voice Isolation

While you're on a call, swipe down to open Control Center and tap the Mic Mode button. Switch to "Voice Isolation" for maximum background noise reduction. It makes a noticeable difference in noisy environments.

The Verdict

Great for calls. Professional-sounding in most situations. Just don't buy them expecting better phone call quality than the Pro 2.

Check current AirPods Pro 3 prices

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Latest Answers - Page 2

Can I take my iPhone 17 Pro swimming in a pool or ocean?

Understanding IP68

Why Swimming Isn't Safe

Pool Water Concerns

Ocean Water Risks

Moving Water Dynamics

Warranty Coverage

Safe Water Practices

How good is the iPhone 17 Pro zoom camera compared to previous models?

Technical Specifications

Quality at Different Zoom Levels

The 5x Trade-Off

Complete Camera System

Does the iPhone 17 Pro aluminum body scratch easily?

Main Body Durability

Camera Area Vulnerability

About Those Viral Scratch Photos

Color and Visibility

Protection Recommendations

Is the iPhone 17 Pro worth upgrading from the iPhone 16 Pro?

What's Meaningfully Better

Battery Life

Camera System

Display Brightness

Gaming Performance

What Stayed Similar

Upgrade Recommendations

How long does the iPhone 17 Pro battery last on a single charge?

Quick Answer

Real-World Battery Performance

What Makes It Better

Charging Options

Can AirPods Pro 3 be used as hearing aids?

This Is a Big Deal

How It Actually Works

Setting It Up

What It's Good For

What It's NOT Good For

The Honest Take

Do AirPods Pro 3 fit differently than AirPods Pro 2?

What's Actually Different

Some People Love the New Fit

Some People Hate It

Give Them Time

Finding Your Fit

How do AirPods Pro 3 compare to Sony WF-1000XM5 and Bose QuietComfort Ultra?

Noise Cancellation - AirPods Win

Sound Quality - Sony Wins

Features - AirPods Win by a Mile

Price

The Bottom Line

Are there any known issues or problems with AirPods Pro 3?

The Static/Crackling Thing

The Fit Problem

The "Bloodgate" Reports

Sound Quality Complaints

Should You Worry?

How good is the microphone quality for phone calls on AirPods Pro 3?

The Tech Behind It

Where They Shine

Where They Struggle

Compared to the Pro 2

Pro Tip: Use Voice Isolation

The Verdict

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