Category: Breaking

Apple finally brought back its entry-level phone, the iPhone 16e. The three-year gap from the previous model release gave Apple time to implement a big refresh, including the addition of Apple Intelligence, supported by the A18 chipset, an Apple modem, a larger battery capacity, more storage options, and Face ID, to name a few. 

The best part — it is all packaged into a $599 price tag, hundreds of dollars cheaper than the base iPhone 16 model. 

Also: Adobe Photoshop finally launches a mobile app – and it’s free

To find out how the iPhone 16e compares to the rest of the lineup, I switched out my iPhone 16 Pro, which I have been using every day since its release in September, to the iPhone 16e. My findings: I am equally as impressed as I am bewildered. I will go in-depth below. 

1. The software ft. Apple Intelligence

From the software standpoint, the iPhone 16e delivers everything it promises. The transition from the iPhone 16 Pro to the iPhone 16e was absolutely seamless because both have the same silicon, which allows them to run the latest iOS to its full capacity, including all of the Apple Intelligence features. 

This means that despite the lower price tag and not having as many GPU cores as other A18 variants in the iPhone 16 lineup, the iPhone 16e still enabled me to access all of the same Apple Intelligence features, including Writing Tools, Notification Summaries, Image Playground, Clean Up, and my favorite, Genmoji. 

Also: 3 ways Amazon just leapfrogged Apple, Google, and ChatGPT in the AI race

Most importantly, when the full suite of Apple Intelligence features rolls out, iPhone 16e users will have access to it in its entirety. Users with an iPhone 15 model or lower cannot access it. 

Apple Intelligence is meant to be a “personal intelligence” system grounded in your personal information and context. It can retrieve data from across your apps and reference the content on your screen. iPhone 16e users will have access to this advanced assistance while still saving a couple of hundred dollars on the initial device. 

2. Cameras (or lack of) 

The front camera of the iPhone 16e is the same as the other iPhone 16 lineup: a 12MP front-facing camera, meaning that your selfies will be exactly the same. However, a quick glance at the back of the iPhone 16e reveals that the camera system is significantly more primitive than that of the iPhone 16 Pro. 

Also: Visible will give you the new iPhone 16e for free. Here’s how.

The iPhone 16e features a 48MP wide camera on the back with an integrated 2x Telephoto, which, although an upgrade from the previous model, might be a deal-breaker for photo enthusiasts. As expected, I found that the iPhone 16 Pro’s dual‑camera system produces more polished photos than the 16e’s dual-functioning camera. My biggest struggle has been not having the 12MP Ultra Wide camera, which I constantly use on the iPhone 16 Pro to take .5x photos.

Because of the lower-grade camera, some of the more advanced features found on iPhone 16 Pro, such as shooting ProRaw or cinematic video, are unavailable. However, the smartphone can still take beautiful photos, so if you are not looking to take the highest-quality photos and just want to capture memories, this is still a solid option. 

3. Missing Dynamic Island/Camera Control

The biggest difference in the form factor of the iPhone 16e, other than the slightly smaller 6.1-inch size, is the lack of a Dynamic Island and Camera Control button. Even though the lack of these two elements makes it look more like the iPhone 14 and, therefore, a bit dated, their absence didn’t impact my day. In fact, it made me think about when I use either of the features, and the answer is rarely. 

Also: Missing MagSafe on your iPhone 16e? Here’s how to easily add it: 2 ways

On the iPhone 16 Pro, I do enjoy using the Camera Control button to open the camera and snap photos more conveniently without having to click the shutter button in the middle of the screen. However, because the iPhone 16e includes a Control Button, all I did was map the camera to it and was able to use it the same way I rely on Camera Control. 

Honorable Mentions

The iPhone 16e has some other compelling features not mentioned above, including: 

• Its lightweight: Having a phone in my back pocket as light as the iPhone 16e is so refreshing after carrying around much heavier models for years. The iPhone 16e weighs 5.88 ounces (167 grams), and the iPhone 16 Pro Max weighs 7.03 ounces (199 grams). 
• Apple C1 Modum: The iPhone 16e also features Apple’s first in-house 5G modem, the Apple C1. This modem is a step away from the traditional Qualcomm processor and is meant to grant users a fast and reliable 5G connection. In the long run, it should optimize battery life. In my experience, my service has been exactly the same, which is the intended goal. 
• Battery Life: The iPhone 16e offers up to 26 hours of video playback, which is the metric Apple uses to measure battery life. This means that older model users will see a massive improvement. For example, iPhone 11 users will get six more hours of battery life with the upgrade. The iPhone 16 offers up to 26 hours of video playback, only a bit more. 

Overall, it is a solid phone for people willing to forgo some of the bells and whistles of the rest of the iPhone 16 lineup. From my testing, the biggest sacrifice will be the ultra-wide lens and advanced photography and videography features, but if you are not interested in photography, this may not be an issue for everyday shots. 

Wi-Fi for $35 on a cross-country flight? That’s currently the going rate on American Airlines.

However, changes might be on the way. The Fort Worth, Texas-based airline is officially trialing free Wi-Fi beginning next week, the airline announced internally on Friday and also confirmed with TPG.

The test will cover just three routes (in both directions): Charlotte to Raleigh, North Carolina; Miami to Chicago; and Charlotte to Jacksonville, Florida.

Guide: Oneworld airlines, lounges and elite status

It wasn’t immediately clear why these routes were chosen, and American also didn’t say how long the test would last. The internal memo says that “through this test, we’ll be assessing customer take rates for inflight Wi-Fi, evaluating our provider and aircraft capacity, and – perhaps most important – measuring the impact to customer satisfaction via NPS scores.”

American says that this test will be used to determine how much bandwidth is consumed and whether it has the technical capability to roll out free Wi-Fi more broadly. It also says that it is responding to competitor pressure with this move.

“With the creation of our new Customer Experience organization led by Chief Customer Officer Heather Garboden, American Airlines is more committed than ever to enhancing every aspect of our customers’ travel journey,” a statement from American shared with TPG reads. “Staying connected in the skies is critical to today’s passengers and through this limited-time complimentary Wi-Fi test, we are exploring opportunities to build upon our high-speed Wi-Fi offerings to stay competitive in the industry and give our customers what we know they want.”

American has long been a major holdout on the free (or discounted) Wi-Fi bandwagon. Despite having most of its fleet outfitted with streaming-capable Wi-Fi, the carrier has been the stingiest when it comes to connectivity.

Flight passes routinely go for upward of $20, and the airline’s new pricing scheme that allows you to redeem miles for a pass is rarely a good deal. (As always, you’ll want to compare the redemption rate against TPG’s valuation of 1.65 cents per AAdvantage mile.)

In fairness, American has trialed and then introduced time-limited, ad-sponsored Wi-Fi passes, though that connectivity is usually limited to 15 or 20 minutes of browsing.

In fact, back in 2017, American promised free messaging would be coming “soon” — but that day has yet to materialize.

Inflight surfing: American debuts new Wi-Fi redemptions but stops short of making it free

At the time, Delta Air Lines became the first of the “Big Three” U.S. airlines — American, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines — to offer free messaging to all travelers. This allowed flyers to connect to the internet to use apps such as iMessage and WhatsApp without paying for a full Wi-Fi pass.

American announced the next day that it would match Delta’s move “soon” without providing a concrete timeline.

Even Southwest Airlines and United, which have much of their fleets outfitted with slower and less reliable Wi-Fi than American’s fleet, now offer free messaging.

While American may finally be gearing up to make Wi-Fi free, it’s playing a game of catch-up. JetBlue has long offered free internet access on board, and Delta is now doing it, too.

Alaska Airlines, Southwest and United all currently offer $8 Wi-Fi passes on many flights, and United will soon even make its connectivity free once it rolls out Starlink Wi-Fi.

American’s Wi-Fi infrastructure could theoretically support free Wi-Fi. Most of the airline’s mainline jets are connected to Viasat satellites, the same provider that Delta uses to enable free Wi-Fi.

Of course, Viasat will need to have enough bandwidth to support many more users, but the provider’s third-generation satellite constellation should be able to do it.

Even if American decides to flip the switch on free Wi-Fi, it still won’t offer seatback screens across its domestic fleet for using it. So, no matter what happens, make sure to bring your own entertainment device when flying with American.

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As I write this on Friday, more than 1.3 million people are actively playing Monster Hunter Wilds on Steam. So far only around 13,000—or 1%—have stopped playing long enough to review it, but those who have are largely frustrated. Steam reviews sit at a disappointed “mixed,” largely citing performance issues as the reason.

And I get it. Even though I’ve had a blast playing Monster Hunter Wilds for the last two weeks on a pre-launch build, I’ve had to look past some bizarrely low-res textures and frequent framerate dips to enjoy my hunting time.

After Capcom’s big talk about weather systems and a dynamic, changing world, I kept waiting for something in Wilds to truly wow me; for its ambitions to dramatically and meaningfully change the experience in some fundamental way. Because if Monster Hunter Wilds did manage that feat, I’d be willing to overlook the pop-in, the weird half-transparent vignetting on geometry, and the lackluster framerate even in fairly sparse environments. But that hasn’t happened. So as much fun as the hunting may be, I’m left wondering why this game runs so dang badly.

In 2017, I played Nintendo’s The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild on a Wii U at a comically low 1152×648 resolution (on my 4K TV!) and it barely managed to run at 30 fps at the best of times. I didn’t care one bit. I was entranced. I played it for hours a day after work for a straight month. The world was packed with so much to discover and used physics and sound simulation and wind and weather in meaningful, open-ended ways that encouraged me to experiment and discover things for myself. Its ambitions far exceeded both my expectations and the reasonable limits of its hardware.

It’s becoming an annual tradition. Each February or March, World of Hyatt announces its annual category changes about a month before implementing them. As soon as Hyatt releases the list of category changes, loyalists — myself included — carefully examine the list to see if properties we love or hope to eventually visit will soon require more or fewer points for a stay.

Each year, some travelers bemoan the decline of the World of Hyatt program after the category change announcement. But, as TPG director Carly Helfand said while discussing this year’s changes, “Every year I notice at least one that I’ve enjoyed staying at that’s getting cheaper, which also makes it a little more bearable. This time it’s the Calistoga Motor Lodge & Spa — it’s a really good option in wine country.”

Like Carly, I also look through the list to find appealing properties that will drop a category. Plus, although points costs have increased significantly over the years for some properties, I believe there’s still plenty of value in redeeming Hyatt points. Here’s why.

Hyatt still has an award chart

Over the years, many loyalty programs have moved to dynamic award pricing. Dynamic award pricing isn’t inherently bad, but it usually leads to the program’s points or miles eventually decreasing in value. And it almost always makes getting outsize value from your rewards more difficult.

The excellent news is that Hyatt didn’t decide to remove or change its award chart this year. World of Hyatt knows its award chart is a differentiator, especially when competing against programs with larger footprints.

Since World of Hyatt uses an award chart, you can predict how much you’ll need to redeem for upcoming stays. Plus, having an award chart means you can often escape peak pricing during events or high season.

Related: Your guide to the World of Hyatt award chart

World of Hyatt uses peak, standard and off-peak pricing for each category, but I’ve booked far more off-peak award nights than peak award nights. The difference between off-peak and peak award rates is also minimal: just 3,000 points for Hyatt Category 1 properties, 6,000 points for Hyatt Category 4 properties and 10,000 points for Hyatt Category 7 properties. Even once you consider that Hyatt points are worth much more than most other hotel points, this is a less significant difference than you’ll find in most other hotel loyalty programs.

However, I expect we’ll continue to see Hyatt bring select brands and properties in at dynamic award rates, as we saw with Mr & Mrs Smith and The Venetian Resort Las Vegas. If this is what Hyatt needs to do to maintain an award chart for most of its properties, I won’t fret over it. If I choose to stay at these properties, I’ll opt to earn Hyatt points instead of redeeming them.

Related: Should I get the World of Hyatt Credit Card or transfer points from Chase instead?

Hyatt’s annual award category update is reasonable

Let’s be honest: It’s reasonable for World of Hyatt to update the award category for some of its properties once a year.

Sure, it’s been sad to see some properties slowly climb in category each year. And I’m personally bummed to see that the only Category 1 Park Hyatt — the Park Hyatt Chennai — will finally move up to Category 2. But as occupancy, average daily rates and other factors shift for a property, it’s only reasonable for its category to shift.

I also appreciate how Hyatt handles its annual category changes, especially as many other loyalty programs make no-notice devaluations. Hyatt usually announces its planned category changes about a month before they go into effect, so members have ample time to accrue Hyatt points and book any final stays they want at the current award rates. Plus, Hyatt refunds points for any bookings that drop in award category between when you book and when you stay.

In short, if we want the World of Hyatt program to maintain its award charts, we must accept that properties will sometimes change categories. Hyatt announces and handles these category changes in the best possible way, which I appreciate.

Related: 5 ways to book Hyatt award stays without enough points in your account

Hyatt points are still extremely valuable

TPG’s February 2025 valuations peg the value of Hyatt points at 1.7 cents each. However, I personally think this valuation is incredibly conservative, as I’ve gotten an average of 3.91 cents per point when redeeming Hyatt points for stays within the last year.

Three properties I’ve redeemed Hyatt points at within the last year will increase in category on March 25: Lindner Hotel Prague Castle, Hyatt Centric The Liberties Dublin and Hyatt Place Frankfurt Airport. Interestingly, none of these properties gave me an above-average redemption rate when I stayed.

For example, this February, I redeemed 40,000 points for an eight-night stay at Lindner Hotel Prague Castle that would have otherwise cost $1,124. This meant I got a modest redemption rate of 2.81 cents per point. However, once this property moves to Category 2, I would need to redeem 64,000 points for the same stay. This would drop my redemption rate to 1.75 cents per point, barely above TPG’s February 2025 valuation of Hyatt points.

The good news is that all of my highest redemption rates within the last year were at properties that aren’t changing in category on March 25, such as the Lindner Hotel Cologne Am Dom, Hyatt Place Austin Airport, Park Hyatt Maldives Hadahaa and Hyatt Place Dallas / Las Colinas. And I’ve booked some excellent redemptions for later this year in South Africa and Sweden that will give me more than five cents per Hyatt point.

So, although you may find these category changes decrease your redemption rate at some properties, I suspect you’ll still get good redemption rates overall. This is particularly true if you’re willing to occasionally book paid rates at World of Hyatt properties or use another program for some stays. I still see World of Hyatt as one of the best Chase Ultimate Rewards transfer partners. And I suspect I’ll eventually transfer my Bilt Rewards Points to World of Hyatt — especially if we ever see a Hyatt transfer bonus on a Bilt Rent Day.

Related: 5 easy ways to maximize Hyatt award redemptions

Bottom line

One year, a TPG staffer proclaimed that his Hyatt free-night certificates felt nearly worthless after the annual category change announcement. He’s certainly allowed to feel this way, but I didn’t agree at the time and don’t agree now. I still get ample value when redeeming World of Hyatt points and free night certificates.

Get your award bookings in by March 25 at the current rates for any properties that are jumping a category. But also take some time to consider what properties you want to redeem Hyatt points at this year. For example, I’m considering all the properties I fear might increase in category. This year seems like a great time to visit, as they could go up in category next year.

Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from Apple, including the first iPhone 16e reviews, five key features of the 16e, leaked iPhone designs, new Airpods Pro features, AirTags upgrade, cheaper iMac M4, and Jony Ive on a desert island.

Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Apple in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes.

Reviewing The iPhone 16e

With the iPhone 16e now on sale in key territories, the reviews of Apple’s latest smartphone are coming in. It’s pricier than expected, and it has more features than the mythical iPhone SE 2025 could have had, yet it still has to be below the vanilla iPhone 16. This is a phone borne out of a lack of competition:

“On Android, you can buy a $500 phone with a fast refresh-rate screen, two rear cameras, seven years of software support, and wireless charging. On iOS, you can buy this $599 phone with one rear camera, a standard 60Hz screen, wireless charging (but no MagSafe), and an ample but unstated amount of software support. Apple has no competition when it comes to phones running iOS. The company can gatekeep these conveniences behind a higher price tag, and that’s simply the way things will be. “

(The Verge).

Behind The iPhone 16e Headlines

While the digerati is closely examining the key elements of the iPhone 16e, there are several additions to the 16e package that are worth highlighting. Forbes’ senior contributor David Phelan dives into the hardware and the software to find them:

“Visual Intelligence is the part of Apple Intelligence that lets you point the iPhone’s camera at something and receive information such as opening hours, for instance. One of the updates in the iPhone 16e is the ability to launch Visual Intelligence through the Control Center or the Action Button. This is something neither the iPhone 16 nor the iPhone 15 Pro can do.”

(Forbes).

The New Bar In The iPhone 17 Design

Will Apple’s design language be edited to change the current squared-off camera island to a full-blown across-the-device bar? It would undoubtedly accommodate the larger lenses rumoured to feature in the iPhone 17 family. Yet, it creates an awkward look far removed from the svelte luxury the Apple brand has become known for:

“Again, these stretch the width of the phone, with the lower panel picked out in a different color. The color doesn’t indicate that there will be a different hue on the final unit. Rather it may fit with a previous rumor that the top panel wouldn’t be glass. In Majin Bu’s images, it could be the red areas indicate the glass, which allows for wireless charging, while the surrounding areas on the Pro models are made of metal.”

(Forbes).

New AirPods Pro Feature For The United Kingdom

UK AirPods Pro users have been able to use the Hearing Test feature of the wireless earbuds; now they have access to the full hearing air functionality, turning the AirPods into medical assistive devices:

“Regular hearing aids are designed to work for longer periods, but AirPods Pro 2 will need recharging after a matter of hours, which may not be ideal. However, a quick charge by placing the earbuds in the AirPods case for five minutes gives another hour of usage. The new feature is available right now—it doesn’t need a new iOS update to be delivered, Apple makes it happen server-side.”

(Forbes).

Find Your New AirTags In The Spring

Apple is preparing to release the next generation of AirTags in late-May early-June. The new geo-location tiles could appear at Apple’s Worldwide Developer’s Conference, which is historically set for early June. The new features build on the current successful design:

“With a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip, the AirTag 2 is expected to have up to 3× longer range compared to the current AirTag. The chip debuted in the iPhone 15 and the Apple Watch Ultra 2. On the iPhone 15 and iPhone 16 models, there is a Precision Finding for People feature that can help you to find your friends in crowded places, and it offers a range of up to 200 feet/60 meters.”

(Kosutami via MacRumors).

A New Option For Your Next iMac

The ever-present, albeit with variable stock, Refurbished section of the Apple Store has a new arrival. The M4-powered iMac, launched in Oct. 2024, is now available. Not only does Apple put them through a complete series of checks and parts replacement, but it also offers a full warranty and the option for Apple Care+.

“Apple’s base model starts at $1,299 new, but you can find it for just $1,099 refurbished. All color-matched accessories are included too. Since all M4 Macs now start at 16GB of RAM, the base model is a better option than it used to be. However, perhaps most buyers’ top upgrade option is storage, and Apple offers various expanded SSD configurations too. Be sure to pay attention to discounts though, as they may vary based on the storage tier you choose.”

(9to5Mac).

And Finally…

The long-running Desert Island Discs radio show in the UK has invited former Apple design Guru Sir Jony Ive to pick the eight records, a book and a luxury he would take to the titular island. Along with chatting about his life, it will be no surprise that there’s a U2 track in the mix. As for the rest, those of you who look like they’re in the UK can listen to the BBC Radio broadcast online:

(BBC Radio).

Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.

Hotel credit cards are often overlooked when compared to their airline card counterparts.

Mid-tier hotel cards, with annual fees of up to $100, can be an incredibly valuable addition to any wallet, whether you’re an infrequent traveler, a road warrior or a nonstop jet-setter.

These cards tend to have relatively low annual fees yet can provide outsize value in the form of award nights, elite status, increased earning potential and other perks.

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless® Credit Card is Marriott’s mid-market personal card option, issued by Chase.

New cardholders can earn a $150 statement credit after making the first purchase in the first 12 months from account opening on top of 100,000 bonus points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first three months from account opening.

Here are three other reasons to consider applying for the Bonvoy Boundless card.

Award night

By far, one of the card’s best perks — and what makes the $95 fee seem fairly insignificant — is the perk of an annual award night. Here’s how it works (and why it’s so valuable).

Each year, upon account renewal, cardholders receive an award night certificate valid at Marriott hotels valued at up to 35,000 Bonvoy points a night.

While you certainly can’t redeem this certificate everywhere, there are thousands of options at 35,000 points a night or less. TPG’s February 2025 valuations peg the value of 35,000 Marriott points at $298, which is more than three times the $95 annual fee.

With Marriott’s switch to dynamic pricing in 2022, you may find it harder to use these certificates, especially during high-demand periods. However, you can combine a certificate with up to 15,000 points from your account to “upgrade” to a higher-priced award room, which should allow for some added flexibility.

Related: 7 great uses of Marriott 35,000-point free night certificates

15 elite nights and automatic elite status

Similar to other mid-tier hotel cards from Hilton and Hyatt, Marriott offers automatic elite status with the Bonvoy Boundless.

The Bonvoy Boundless card comes with automatic Bonvoy Silver status. While that is Marriott’s lowest tier and won’t earn you lavish perks such as suite upgrades, it will still get you a 10% points bonus, late checkout and free Wi-Fi.

In addition, to help you jump-start your way to higher tiers of status (such as Gold and Platinum), this card automatically gives you 15 elite night credits per calendar year. You can also earn an additional credit toward elite status for every $5,000 you spend on the card.

Even better, you can get one set of elite night credits from a Marriott personal card and one more set of elite night credits from a Marriott business card, like the Marriott Bonvoy Business® American Express® Card. Combining the Boundless with the business card would earn you Gold status — and place you just 20 nights away from Platinum.

TPG staffers are also fans of the benefits that come with the Bonvoy Boundless. Senior writer Katie Genter says:

The Marriott Bonvoy Boundless card is an easy choice for me to renew each year. In exchange for its $95 annual fee, I get 6 points per dollar spent when I use my card at hotels participating in Marriott Bonvoy, a free night award valid for a night at a property with a redemption level of up to 35,000 points every year after your account anniversary, 15 elite night credits each calendar year toward higher tiers of Marriott Bonvoy status and more. But honestly, the free night award valid for a night costing up to 35,000 points provides enough value to justify the card’s annual fee, so I expect to keep this card for the long term.

Related: Does it make sense to hold multiple Marriott Bonvoy credit cards?

Trip and baggage insurance coverage

The Bonvoy Boundless card also comes with a robust set of travel and baggage protection benefits that come in handy in the unfortunate event that some of your belongings get misplaced. These tend to be perks that you don’t feel like you need — until something goes wrong.

With baggage delay insurance, Chase may reimburse you for essential purchases up to $100 a day for up to five days. And if a bag is lost, Chase may cover you for up to a whopping $3,000 per passenger.

With trip delay reimbursement, if you are traveling on a common carrier that is delayed by more than 12 hours or requires you to stay overnight, Chase may reimburse you for incidentals like meals or lodging, up to $500 per ticket.

Note that these protections only apply if you charge your trip to the card and submit a formal claim for reimbursement. Nevertheless, this is a solid set of protections for a card with a $95 annual fee.

Related: Credit card travel insurance: When it will and won’t help

Bottom line

A solid welcome bonus and various perks that can easily be worth hundreds of dollars make the Marriott Bonvoy Boundless well worth its $95 annual price tag.

Note that Chase restricts access to the Bonvoy Boundless credit card with its 5/24 rule. The issuer likely won’t approve you for the card if you’ve opened five or more personal credit cards across all issuers in the last 24 months. Additionally, there are Marriott-specific rules when it comes to eligibility for any new Bonvoy credit card, so you’ll want to make sure you’re eligible before you apply.

However, with hotel prices remaining high and the Boundless card offering a terrific welcome bonus, now is a great time to apply if you do qualify.

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Apply here: Marriott Bonvoy Boundless Credit Card

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Microsoft is officially shutting down Skype (RIP). Even if you haven’t used the app in years, it’s possible Skype was your introduction into modern video chats. The app made it easy to call friends and family via video no matter where in the world you all were. As long as you had a stable internet connection, you could Skype.

Once Microsoft pulls the plug on Skype for good, legacy users will need a new platform to turn to. Microsoft will encourage you to switch to Teams, and you can. But there are better alternatives out there.

The goal (and challenge) of choosing a video calling platform is to convince other people to join you. The last thing you want is to pick an app that no one uses, then force everyone in your circle to adopt that choice. The less friction, the better. That’s why platforms that work with people’s existing accounts and platforms are best here: There are some great options out there, from Viber to Signal, that offer good video calling features, but you’ll have a lot more luck calling your friends if you meet them where they are. I’ve focused this list with that in mind.

Google Meet

If your goal is to find the easiest video call solution for the average person in your contacts list, my go-to would be Google Meet. In 2025, chances are high the person you’re trying to reach has a Google Account—even if it isn’t their platform of choice.

Because many of us have Google Accounts already, it doesn’t really matter what devices or platforms you’re working from. Whether one of you has a Mac, another a PC, or you’re on competing ends of the iOS versus Android debate, Google Meet works on just about any device. It free, of course, but you do get some perks if you pay—including higher quality video.

My main issue with Google Meet, though, is it’s not all that intuitive. The service seems designed more for business and professional use than casual conversation, so it isn’t necessarily as ideal as Skype was in its heyday. (Just the fact that Google calls the default option “meetings” on the web app makes me feel like I’m working, instead of calling a friend or family member.) Plus, there’s a 60 minute limit on calls at a time for free users: That’s fine for shorter calls, but if you tend to sit on video chats for hours, you’ll be picking up the phone a number of times.

If your friend has their Google Account properly set up, though, calling them is as easy as it was on Skype—or about as easy as opening the traditional phone app. However, if their Google Account isn’t setup for calls, you need to share the call link with them instead, which is fine, but adds some friction to what should be a simple experience. Again, though, you’re not going to find a perfect video call solution if the other person isn’t already using that platform.

If you’re on your computer, you can use the Google Meet web app for most purposes. If you prefer video chatting on mobile, there are apps for both iOS and Android—though Meet may already be installed on your Android device.

Google Meet supports video calls with up to 100 participants, as many as Skype did.

WhatsApp

Like Google, WhatsApp is insanely popular around the world. If you’re not using WhatsApp, someone you know is, which makes it a close second on this list (if not tied for first).

WhatsApp’s standardization gives it the same advantage as Google Meet: There is a very good chance the person you want to video call has an account. I don’t use WhatsApp, but I have a WhatsApp account. Better yet, the app doesn’t have a time limit for calls, so you can talk as long as you want.

Like Google Meet, WhatsApp is available just about everywhere you access the internet. You can use it on an iPhone or Android device, or access it via the web app. WhatsApp even has a desktop app, unlike Google Meet, which potentially makes it the better Skype replacement. I personally used Skype on my Mac back in the day, and the experience of calling someone on WhatsApp using the app is a bit more reminiscent of that experience than Google Meet’s web app is.

WhatsApp doesn’t support as many participants as Skype did: The app will let you hold calls with up to 32 other people, which, while far less than 100, is still a lot of people for video calls.

Facebook Messenger

If not one Meta app, why not another? Messenger has been the go-to option for Facebook users for years, simply because it’s built right into Meta’s flagship social network. But in recent years, the company’s efforts to spin the app into a dedicated messaging service have been successful. I don’t use many Facebook account these days, but I do check my Messenger app more often than not.

Again, you have the built-in user base here. Facebook might be the largest network of the three mentioned so far. You might have to add your friend before giving them a ring, but seeing as the social media platform contains more than 35% of the world’s population, you shouldn’t be shocked if the person you want to call is a member.

I quite like Messenger’s video calling experience, especially on desktop. The Mac app definitely offers a video chat interface that veteran Skype users will enjoy. However, it’s a little frustrating you can’t start a video call without already having a chat thread going first. If the person or group you want to call already has a conversation going, great: just hit the video call icon to start a chat. However, if not, you’ll need to send a message to your friend or friends first, then call them. I suppose it’s nice to give them a heads up, but, again, friction!

Facebook Messenger used to support video calls of up to 50 people through a feature called “Rooms,” but Meta has since discontinued that option. There are no time limits on Messenger calls.

FaceTime

If you have an Apple account and the person you’re trying to chat with also has an Apple account, just FaceTime them. The service is easy to use, end-to-end encrypted, and comes with a number of features you might expect from a more business-facing platform than FaceTime—like screen sharing and remote screen controlling. There’s hardly anything easier than hitting the FaceTime button on an iMessage thread, or tapping your friend’s name in the FaceTime app: seconds later, you’ll be chatting.

Things get trickier though when you consider the friends who don’t have iPhones—especially those who live outside your country. It’s suddenly not so easy when you try to call a friend who doesn’t have their international number tied to their Apple Account.

Still, that doesn’t mean you should count out FaceTime entirely. Apple lets you create a FaceTime link that anyone can use to join a call—even those on Android or PC. It’s adds an extra hurdle than if you were calling another Apple user, but it still works, which makes this method perhaps the easiest for those of us with iPhones or Macs: Forget about the other apps, just make a FaceTime link, send it to your friends, and wait for them to join your call.

FaceTime supports the same number of callers as WhatsApp, 32, with no time limits. Perhaps its biggest drawback is the lack of a native text chat feature: Google Meet supports a native chat, like Skype, while WhatsApp and Messenger are built out of chat apps, so you can send messages there as well. FaceTime, however, is its own entity: If you’re all on Apple devices, you can continue the conversation on iMessage, but it isn’t quite the same.

Teams

Microsoft, unsurprisingly, wants you to switch from Skype to Teams. In some ways, that makes sense: The company owns both platforms, so moving from Skype to Teams should be the simple answer. However, Teams is so obviously built with work conferencing in mind (hence the name), that if you’re looking for a standard app for casual video calling, this one could be a bit overkill. (It’s not like I’d recommend to switch to Slack for casual video calls, either.)

If your callers are all Windows users with corresponding Microsoft Accounts, Teams might work. The app does support up to 100 people, and you can chat for 60 minutes at a time. (One-on-one chats are available for 30 hours at a time.) You can also access Teams on a number of different devices—not just Windows machines. If your device has a camera, you can probably use Teams for video calls. The addition of a built-in chat function is helpful, as well.

Still, personally, I’d suggest trying one of the other options over Teams.

Zoom (not recommended)

Many of us in the working world (as well as those of us who jumped on video chats during the pandemic) are quite acquainted with Zoom. The app is perhaps one of the first you think of when you consider video calls, though it’s not necessarily one you pick up for casual use.

Zoom does offer large video calls—up to 100 participants—for free, but that comes with some limits. While many free video calling platforms end after 60 minutes, Zoom’s free calls end at 40 minutes. Unless you’re already paying for the service, it really isn’t a convenient option for those times you want to catch up with friends or family on video.

From bonus points on your next hotel stay to generous sales of airline miles, we’re always looking for travel deals that help you earn more points and miles and redeem them for maximum value. In other words, we want to help you book the vacation of your dreams.

Right now, we’re seeing Apple AirTags on sale at rock-bottom prices and an American Airlines promotion that could give you a head start on status and a Flagship Lounge pass. Plus, these Amex Hilton cards are offering best-ever welcome bonuses. And if you’re a Bilt member, don’t miss a 200% Hilton Honors transfer bonus and more deals on Rent Day on March 1. But that’s not all.

We help our readers each week by rounding up ongoing promotions so they don’t have to scour the internet for the best reward redemptions and offers. This includes everything from frequent flyer programs and hotel rewards programs to credit card offers and rental car deals. Here’s our latest list of noteworthy new points and miles promotions for March.

Airline loyalty program promotions (March 2025)

Airline loyalty programs can offer trip discounts on certain dates, the chance to earn more miles for future travel and deals to rack up points toward elite status. Below are some of the best offers we found for March.

Earn bonus rewards on ITA Airways and Lufthansa

ITA Airways Volare and Lufthansa Miles & More are running a reciprocal earning promotion to celebrate their new partnership. When you fly with one the carriers, you’ll earn bonus points or miles on the other.

• Earn up to 6,000 bonus Miles & More miles when you fly ITA in any travel class: Earn 2,000 bonus miles on two continental flights and/or 4,000 bonus miles on two intercontinental flights. Activate this offer by March 13, and fly between March 1 and April 15.
• Earn up to 3,500 bonus nonqualifying Volare points when you fly at least two routes with Lufthansa Group airlines (including Lufthansa, Swiss, Austrian Airlines and Brussels Airlines): Earn 1,000 bonus points for two routes to domestic/European destinations and/or 2,500 bonus points for two routes to intercontinental destinations. Flights must be taken between March 1 and April 15, regardless of the booking date. Find more information here.

Related: Best airline credit cards

Hotel loyalty program promotions (March 2025)

Hotel loyalty programs occasionally offer discounted stays, ways to earn extra points and deals at various properties. Here are some March deals to consider when booking your next stay.

Earn 10,000 Marriott Bonvoy points at the Renaissance Paris Vendome Hotel

Croissants, eclairs and macarons? Yes, please. Plus, you could take 10,000 extra Marriott Bonvoy points home with you when you stay at this hotel in the heart of downtown Paris.

Double your Best Western Rewards points on stays in Scandinavia

If your spring travel plans will take you to Scandinavia, this promo could help you earn double the Best Western Rewards points.

• Earn double base points on qualified stays in Denmark, Norway and Sweden. A qualified stay is defined as a stay of at least one night at any Best Western-branded hotel at a rate eligible for earning points, with the exception of a stay booked through an online travel agency, through a tour operator or at a special discounted rate.
• First, register online or at the front desk at any Best Western-branded hotel in Scandinavia.
• You can use this offer up to twice between now and March 31.

Related: Best hotel credit cards

Credit card promotions (March 2025)

Card issuers sometimes offer deals and discounts for certain cardholders on everything from airfare to dining. Here are some of the offers we’ve rounded up this week. Remember that you must activate these offers on your card and use your enrolled card to make the purchase to earn bonus rewards.

Targeted Chase Offer at Turo

Need a rental car for your next vacation? This offer, which we spotted on the Chase Freedom Flex® and the Chase Sapphire Preferred® Card, could save you money when you use car-sharing service Turo.

• Earn $30 cash back when you spend $150 or more in a single purchase with Turo, including taxes and after any discounts, by May 23.
• This offer is only valid on purchases made through the Turo app or on turo.com, excluding gift cards.

Related: Your ultimate guide to Chase Offers

Ongoing travel deals

In addition to these new offers, many others from previous weeks are still available:

• Get 20% bonus points back when you redeem World of Hyatt points for free nights at participating Homes & Hideaways by World of Hyatt properties and complete your stay by March 9. See the full terms and conditions here.
• Earn triple base points for qualifying stays at Hyatt House and Hyatt Place hotels or double base points at most other Hyatt brands. Register by March 10, and complete your qualifying stay(s) by March 28.
• Targeted ANA Mileage Club members can earn double base miles on select routes to or from North America. Check your email to see if you’re targeted, then register, book and fly by March 12.
• Save 20% on eligible stays of two to 10 nights booked directly through Accor channels. Plus, you’ll earn 20% more Accor Live Limitless points when you book with the ALL app. Book by March 13, and stay between March 28 and June 7.
• Earn 3,000 bonus World of Hyatt points per night (up to 30,000 bonus points total) at participating Hyatt Vacation Club properties. Register here by March 24; complete your stay by March 30.
• Enjoy up to 25% off and complimentary breakfast at participating Fairmont properties around the world. Book by March 30 for stays through May 31.
• Earn up to 8,000 bonus Lufthansa Miles & More miles when you rent a car with Avis, depending on rental length. You must book your Avis rental through this page by March 31 and complete your rental by June 30.
• Earn double IHG One Rewards base points starting on your second paid stay, then keep earning double on unlimited stays through March 31. Register here before booking.
• Earn 2,000 bonus miles (valid for one year) when you join Emirates Skywards. Register at this link using code “CONDOR” by March 31.
• Earn double Choice Privileges base points on up to four qualifying stays at participating properties booked directly through Choice or Book by Google. Register for this promotion here, then book and stay by April 7.
• Earn 1,000 Marriott Bonvoy bonus points and one bonus elite night credit for each eligible paid night you stay at participating properties booked directly through Marriott — with no limit to how much you can earn. Register through April 14 for stays through April 28.
• Earn 5,000 bonus IHG One Rewards points for joining the program and completing your first stay. You must register for your account through this page and complete your first stay within 21 days of joining. You have until April 30 to register and stay.
• Receive a $50 Best Western gift card when you stay two nights between now and May 11 at any Best Western hotel in the U.S., Canada or the Caribbean. You can use this promotion up to two times, for a maximum of two $50 gift cards per member. Gift cards will expire Aug. 3.
• Earn 20% bonus ALL points on qualifying bookings you make through the app by June 30. Download the app here.

Additionally, there are many stand-alone Amex Offers and Chase Offers still available across a variety of credit cards. Keep in mind that these offers are targeted. You need to activate them prior to making an eligible purchase to receive cash back, bonus points or miles.

Targeted Amex Offers

• Get $100 back as a statement credit when you spend at least $500 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at participating Hilton properties in Nevada. This offer expires March 17.
• Earn $150 back as a statement credit when you spend $750 or more at participating Hilton properties in Mexico, the Caribbean and Latin America by March 31.
• Earn an additional 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent (up to 50,000 bonus points) on qualifying Regent Seven Seas Cruises bookings. Book through rssc.com, by calling 1-844-473-4368, through a Regent Seven Seas travel adviser or through Amex Travel by March 31.
• Earn 10% back (up to $125 back) on prepaid hotel purchases at Expedia by using this link. This offer expires April 6.
• Earn a $250 statement credit after spending $1,000 or more on room rate and room charge purchases incurred at the time of reservation for Homes & Villas by Marriott Bonvoy properties. This offer expires April 13.
• Earn $200 back as a statement credit when you spend at least $1,000 on one or more Norwegian Cruise Line purchases (excluding onboard purchases, shore excursions and Norwegian gift cards) at ncl.com or by phone at 1-888-438-7114. This offer expires April 13.
• Earn $60 as a statement credit when you spend at least $300 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at participating Hilton properties in the U.S. and U.S. territories. This offer expires April 30.
• Earn $50 as a statement credit when you spend at least $250 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at participating Hilton properties by April 30.
• Earn a one-time $60 statement credit when you spend a minimum of $300 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at participating Viceroy Hotels and Resorts in U.S. cities. Book at viceroyhotelsandresorts.com by May 5.
• Earn a one-time $300 statement credit when you spend a minimum of $1,500 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at participating Viceroy Hotels and Resorts in the U.S. and Mexico. Book at viceroyhotelsandresorts.com by May 5.
• Earn an extra 5 Membership Rewards points per eligible dollar spent (up to 50,000 bonus points) on your AmaWaterways purchase. This offer ends May 6.
• Earn a $200 statement credit after spending a minimum of $900 on one or more room rate and room charge purchases at Four Seasons properties in the U.S. and select international destinations. This offer expires May 29.
• Earn an additional 5 Membership Rewards points per dollar spent (up to 50,000 bonus points) on qualifying Oceania Cruises bookings. Book through oceaniacruises.com, by calling 1-855-623-2642 or through an Oceania Cruise travel adviser by June 1.

Targeted Chase Offers

• Earn 10% cash back (up to $62 maximum) on your Hotel Indigo stay when you spend $100 or more directly with the merchant by April 1.
• Earn 10% cash back (up to $62 maximum) at Staybridge Suites when you spend $100 or more directly with the merchant by April 1.
• Earn 10% cash back (up to $62 maximum) on your Holiday Inn stay when you spend $100 or more directly with the merchant by April 1.
• Earn 10% cash back (up to $57 maximum) on your TownePlace Suites by Marriott stay when you spend $100 or more directly with the merchant by April 1.
• Earn 10% cash back (up to $38 maximum) on your Fairfield by Marriott stay when you spend $100 or more directly with the merchant by April 1.
• Earn 10% cash back (up to $75 maximum) on your Renaissance Hotels stay when you spend $100 or more directly with the merchant by April 1.
• Earn 10% cash back (up to $43 maximum) on your SpringHill Suites by Marriott stay when you spend $100 or more directly with the merchant by April 1.
• Earn $25 cash back on your Holiday Inn Club Vacations stay when you spend $100 or more in a single purchase by April 2.

Related reading:

Speed is one of the most important attributes in tennis, as the quickest players on tour often pick up the sport’s biggest trophies.

Four-time Major champion Carlos Alcaraz has gained notoriety over recent years, thanks to his incredible speed and athleticism.

Reaching shots many of his ATP Tour rivals couldn’t dream of, the Spaniard has developed into one of the game’s most dangerous players.

He does have some competition, however, as Australia’s Alex de Minaur is another known for his athletic ability.

The pair faced off as the number one and number three seeds at last month’s Rotterdam Open, in a breath-taking affair.

In three sets, Alcaraz beat De Minaur, 6-4, 3-6, 6-2, perhaps staking his claim as the top athlete on tour.

There have been several ‘quick’ ATP players over the years, as one American legend named the fastest he’d ever seen back in 2002.

John McEnroe said Lleyton Hewitt was perhaps the ‘fastest guy he’d ever seen’ in 2002

In August 2002, Lleyton Hewitt was on top of the tennis world, having just won his second Major title at Wimbledon, taking down David Nalbandian in the final.

Match	Opponent	Score
F	David Nalbandian [28]	6-1, 6-3, 6-2
SF	Tim Henman [4]	7-5, 6-1, 7-5
QF	Sjeng Schalken [18]	6-2, 6-2, 6-7, 1-6, 7-5
4R	Mikhail Youzhny	6-3, 6-3, 7-5
3R	Julian Knowle	6-2, 6-1, 6-3
2R	Gregory Carraz	6-4, 7-6, 6-2
1R	Jonas Bjorkman	6-4, 7-5, 6-1

With his win at SW19, Hewitt extended his gap out in front as world number one and looked ahead to the US Open where he was the defending champion.

Before the tournament, legendary American star John McEnroe was asked what impressed him the most about Hewitt.

“Just the speed and his intensity, the effort level is so high,” he said.

“He’s the fastest guy I’ve perhaps ever seen, I’m not even sure [Bjorn] Borg was faster than him.

“He covers so much ground, he plays with such, his energy level is so high that it intimidates people.

“He’s not a real big guy, it’s very intimidating to deal with that type of speed.

“It makes up for the lack of power that he has, that some of the other players have.”

Six-time Major champion Boris Becker then gave his thoughts, as he explained what Hewitt did that he found ‘amazing.’

“For a young guy, his mental attitude is amazing, he’s so serious,” he said.

“He knows when the big points are coming, he knows when they’re points he can let loose a little bit.

“He really knows when to push it and when to play hard.”

What happened to Lleyton Hewitt after winning Wimbledon in 2002?

Having received praise from two of the sport’s greatest-ever players, entering the tournament as the number one seed, and defending champion, pressure was firmly on Hewitt’s shoulders in New York, 23 years ago.

He looked to have the pressure under control during the early rounds, as the Aussie advanced to the semis, for the third year running.

Round	Opponent	Score
QF	Younes El Aynaoui [20]	6-1, 7-6, 4-6, 6-2
4R	Jiri Novak [14]	6-4, 6-2, 7-5
3R	James Blake [25]	6-7, 6-3, 6-4, 3-6, 6-3
2R	Noam Okun	7-6, 6-4, 6-1
1R	Nicolas Coutelot	6-2, 6-3, 6-3

In the semi-finals, Hewitt took on Andre Agassi, a former two-time champion at Flushing Meadows.

Hewitt’s title dreams looked to be over after the first two sets, as the home favorite stormed into a 6-4, 7-6 lead on Arthur Ashe Stadium.

Surviving in a third-set tiebreaker, 7-6, [7-1], the Australian lived on, as the tie proceeded into a fourth set.

It was there that his 12-match unbeaten run at the US Open came to an end, as Agassi clinched the fourth, 6-2, sending the number one seed home.

It was at home just a few months later that Hewitt looked to bounce back, entering the Australian Open as one of the pre-tournament favorites.

He had fallen at the first hurdle in Melbourne one year earlier, losing to Spain’s Alberto Martin in the first round, but was confident of a better performance in 2003.

Reaching the fourth round with wins over Magnus Larsson, Todd Larkham, and Radek Stepanek, Hewitt faced off against Morocco’s Younes El Aynaoui, the man he had beaten in New York the previous year.

He was unable to repeat the feat, however, as the Moroccan star battled back from a set down, knocking Hewitt out of his home tournament, 6-7, 7-6, 7-6, 6-4.

In April of that year, Hewitt surrendered the number-one ranking to Agassi, as his stint at the top of men’s tennis came to an end.

The emergence of young stars Roger Federer, Andy Roddick, and Marat Safin brought his brief spell of dominance to a close, as Hewitt failed to win another Major title.

His speed had been so effective in winning the 2001 US Open and 2002 Wimbledon titles, but the big-serving and hitting of the sport’s next generation of stars proved too tough a challenge for Hewitt to overcome.

He did return to two Grand Slam finals, coming up short on both occasions, as he eventually retired in 2016 as a two-time Major champion.

• 2004 US Open F – Lost to Roger Federer, 0-6, 6-7, 0-6
• 2005 Australian Open F – Lost to Marat Safin, 6-1, 3-6, 4-6, 4-6

Hewitt remains the most recent Australian male to win a Major title as his speed and athleticism led him to two memorable Grand Slam victories.