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Apple's iPhone 18 Pro is expected to largely follow the design language used since the iPhone X in 2017, with incremental yearly changes. Reports suggest that next year's 20th-anniversary iPhone will introduce a significant redesign, potentially moving toward a single-slab-of-glass design, though it remains unclear whether this will be a standalone model or the next Pro flagship.
An Android Authority writer who used the iPhone 17 for nearly a year switched to the Pixel 11 as their main phone for over a month and compared the two. They highlight the Pixel 11's 10.8MP telephoto camera with 5x optical zoom, a feature the iPhone 17 lacks, as the standout advantage, praising its detail, natural colors and low noise, especially in portraits.
A federal jury in San Diego ruled that Apple's Taptic Engine, used in iPhones and Apple Watches, infringed two haptics patents held by Taction Technology, awarding Taction more than $5.7 billion in damages. The jury found the infringement was not willful, and Apple has said it plans to appeal the verdict.
Apple has overhauled the Apple Pay checkout screen used in apps and websites for iOS 27, letting users swipe directly between saved cards or tap to open a grid view showing all eligible cards at once. The new sheet surfaces card details like rewards, balances and pay-later options, which merchants and developers can customize based on order needs.
A leak from Aaron Perris indicates Apple's upcoming iPad mini refresh will include an A20 Pro chip and thinner bezels, alongside previously reported OLED display and water-resistant design. A commentator argues the device should also adopt the split-screen with picture-in-picture multitasking feature seen on the iPhone Duo.
A tech commentary compares foldable phone screen sizes to compact tablets, noting devices like the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra offer displays close in size to the iPad Mini's 8.3-inch screen. The piece argues that folding phones combine smartphone portability with tablet-like screen space, and can eliminate the need for a separate cellular data plan that many tablets require.
Reports indicate that sales of Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 have increased following Apple's announcement of the iPhone Duo, its rumored foldable device. Samsung has responded by lowering prices on some of its foldable phones in certain markets. Foldables remain a small slice of the overall smartphone market, with IDC estimating 20.6 million foldable shipments last year against 1.25 billion total smartphone shipments.
Apple's Visual Intelligence, introduced with iOS 18.1 as part of Apple Intelligence, lets compatible iPhones (15 Pro, 15 Pro Max or newer) identify objects, landmarks and business signage through the camera. Users can activate it via the Camera Control button, the Action button, Siri, or a Control Center shortcut, then get details through Siri, Google Image Search or ChatGPT. It also extends Live Text's existing ability to detect and act on text in the camera view, such as translating, reading aloud or opening links and contact details.
Apple has unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, drawing comparisons online to Microsoft's Surface Duo foldable line. Critics have accused Apple of copying the name, but Apple previously used 'Duo' for its PowerBook Duo laptop in 1992, predating Microsoft's product by decades.
Apple has released new Silicone and TechWoven cases with MagSafe for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, in colors including Burgundy, Mulberry, Chambray Blue and Black, priced at $49 and $59. Third-party brands such as ESR, Spigen, Nomad and Burton Goods have also released their own case lines, with ESR debuting a Vegan Leather Magnetic Case featuring a built-in zinc alloy stand, and budget options starting at $14.
Reports on Apple's foldable iPhone Duo say its screen uses a matte coating that reduces glare and makes the fold line less visible than on rival foldables. Early hands-on impressions describe the crease as more noticeable by touch than by sight, but reviewers note this only reflects the device's current, unused state.
iOS and iPadOS lack native printer driver support, meaning iPhones cannot communicate directly with USB printers even when connected through USB On-The-Go adapters. No iPhone apps exist that enable direct USB printing, unlike some Android alternatives, forcing users toward workarounds like PrintCentral Pro or Printopia that require a computer as an intermediary.