GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple has taken its online store offline ahead of its September event, a signal that new hardware announcements are imminent. Expected reveals include the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the foldable iPhone Duo, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, and fifth-generation AirPods, marking the first major product event under new CEO John Ternus.
Apple is holding a media event at its Cupertino headquarters where it is widely expected to introduce its first folding iPhone, reportedly called the iPhone Ultra and priced above $2,000. The company is also expected to reveal Pro iPhone models, new Apple Watch and Watch Ultra devices, and updated AirPods, with the base iPhone 18 likely delayed until next year.
Samsung R&D executive Hee-Cheul Moon publicly welcomed Apple's upcoming entry into foldable phones, framing it as validation of Samsung's early lead in the category. However, he pointedly stressed that device weight is the critical factor for customer satisfaction, an apparent dig at reports that Apple's foldable will weigh roughly 235g compared to the Galaxy Fold 8's 201g. Market analysts project Apple could capture 40% of the foldable market within a year, edging past Samsung's current 38% share.
A CNET survey found that 52% of US adults would consider upgrading their smartphone mainly for longer battery life, while 55% cited price as their top motivator. The findings arrive just before Apple's Sept. 9 event, where the company is expected to unveil its first foldable phone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and Ultra models.
Apple is holding a keynote widely expected to unveil its long-rumored foldable iPhone Ultra, alongside possible reveals of iPhone 18 Pro models, an Apple Watch Series 12, and potentially an Ultra 4. Leaks from Bloomberg and accessory makers like Dbrand, which had already listed cases for the unannounced device, fueled speculation ahead of the event.
Apple's standard iPhone 17 starts at $799, while the Google Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26 both launch at $899, a $100 gap that has flipped the usual value equation in the flagship smartphone market. Rising RAM and storage costs, plus heavier investment in on-device AI, are cited as reasons behind the higher pricing from Google and Samsung, and rumors suggest Apple may delay the iPhone 18 launch, potentially extending this pricing advantage.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone may be named the iPhone Duo rather than 'Fold' or 'Ultra,' pricing it from $2,000 for 256GB up to nearly $3,000 for 2TB. The device is expected to feature an A20 Pro chip, C2 modem, dual 48MP rear cameras, a 12MP front camera, Apple Pencil support, and a landscape-folding design, launching in October in dark blue and white.
Ahead of Apple's launch event, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will carry a $100 price increase, starting at $1199, while the new foldable iPhone Duo will start at $1999 with higher-storage models near $3000. These figures come in below the steeper increases many analysts had predicted earlier this year.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple's upcoming Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will use the microphone, GPS and other sensors to build daily activity recaps, including summaries of conversations. These recaps will live inside the new Siri app, and users can set the listening feature to run continuously or only in specific locations.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple's first foldable iPhone will be named the iPhone Duo and will support the Apple Pencil. The device is expected to launch in October starting at $2,000 for 256GB storage, with a 2TB option priced around $3,000, in Dark Blue and White colors.
Apple's Surprise and Shine event is set to reveal its first foldable phone, reportedly named iPhone Duo rather than the earlier rumored iPhone Ultra, alongside the expected iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports the device will start around $2,000 for 256GB and reach $3,000 for 2TB, launching around October with Apple Pencil support at launch.
A federal court rejected claims by rival startup Project Bluebird that X Corp. had abandoned the TWITTER, TWEET and Bird Logo trademarks after Elon Musk rebranded the platform. Project Bluebird had filed intent-to-use applications for TWITTER and TWEET and rebranded its own app from twitter.new to tweet.app following the ruling. The court pointed to X's Apple App Store listing, which still describes the app as 'formerly known as Twitter,' as evidence of continued bona fide trademark use.