Apple has quietly launched a new Mac mini powered by its M6 chip, a machine that has become a favorite among users running agentic AI workloads locally. The update comes with another price increase and arrives unexpectedly, just weeks before Apple's anticipated iPhone 18 launch event where a first foldable iPhone is also expected.
A CNET poll of 2,605 US adults found that three-quarters have no interest in purchasing a foldable Apple device, even as rumors point to Apple unveiling its first foldable iPhone, dubbed the iPhone Ultra, at a September event. Analysts expect the device to cost between $2,000 and $2,500, but survey respondents said they'd only be willing to spend an average of $781 on such a phone.
CNET has outlined its expectations for major smartphone launches through 2026, following recent releases from Samsung, Google and Apple. The report suggests Apple may split its iPhone 18 launch, debuting a foldable iPhone Ultra soon while delaying the standard iPhone 18 to early next year, as RAM shortages and AI competition pressure manufacturers to balance innovation with pricing.
New leaks about Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone, expected to launch under the Ultra branding at over $2,000, suggest several notable omissions. The device reportedly skips a telephoto lens in favor of dual 48MP Main and Ultra Wide cameras, ditches the Action button and mute switch entirely, replaces Face ID with a Touch ID sensor built into the side button, and appears to lack MagSafe charging support based on dummy units without the familiar magnetic ring.
A Weibo leaker known as Fixed Focus Digital claims Apple is adapting the glass-assembly process used for the iPhone Air to build next year's iPhone Pro models, which are expected to feature an all-glass, quad-curved bezel-free design for the device's 20th anniversary. The leaker says Apple has made progress improving heat dissipation while trying to keep the device slim, though it's unclear how thin the final design will be.