GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple's newest iPhone and Apple Watch models are now available for purchase in physical and online stores. A tech columnist evaluated the new devices primarily by comparing them against previous generations already owned by many consumers.
Apple's new vice president of hardware engineering, Tom Marieb, said watching people put screen protectors on iPhones bothers him because of the effort Apple puts into its display glass. He was promoting Ceramic Shield 2, the coating debuted on the iPhone 17 line and now used on the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone Duo foldable's outer screen, which Apple says offers triple the scratch resistance of its predecessor while remaining durable over time.
Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max launched this week with starting prices of $1,199 and $1,299, higher than last year's $1,099 and $1,199 for the iPhone 17 Pro lineup. For consumers unwilling to pay the premium for faster chips, improved cameras, and a foldable design, there are simpler ways to make an existing iPhone feel new again.
Apple's iOS 27 update brings changes to Focus mode, the feature that lets iPhone users control which notifications they receive during specific activities like work or sleep. Users can still activate modes via Control Center or customize settings under the Focus menu in Settings, but the update introduces refinements to how these modes function.
Apple increased the out-of-warranty battery replacement cost for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max by $10, from $119 to $129, likely reflecting the larger battery capacities in the new models. Older iPhones, including the iPhone 6 and original SE, still qualify for the cheapest replacement at $69. Apple has not commented on the price change.
New Apple CEO John Ternus greeted customers in person at Apple's Fifth Avenue store in New York as the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max went on sale, taking selfies and signing boxes for fans who had preordered the devices. It marked his first public product launch appearance since succeeding Tim Cook, continuing Apple's tradition of CEO-attended store openings.
Apple did not ship the iPhone Duo's official wallpapers with iOS 27, but the artwork has now appeared inside the iPhone Simulator bundled with the newly released Xcode 27.1 beta. That means users can extract all four dune-and-mountain wallpapers—two light mode and two dark mode—designed for Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone.
Apple has released a simulator for the rumored iPhone Duo device as part of its Xcode 27.1 beta rollout, giving developers early access to test apps against the new form factor. The release signals Apple is preparing its developer ecosystem ahead of an eventual hardware launch.
In an interview with TechRadar, Apple's new VP of Hardware Engineering Tom Marieb described the design choices behind iPhone Duo's foldable hinge and display. He said the matte, nano-textured screen was chosen partly to disguise crease visibility over time, while the hinge's torque was carefully tuned to feel solid, like a high-end car door, even when held half-open.
Apple has released Xcode 27.1 beta 1, the first developer tool that supports building apps for the upcoming foldable iPhone Duo. The beta includes a simulator so developers can preview how their apps behave on the device's larger folding display before it ships.
Meta's Muse, an AI agent app launched earlier this month, has climbed to the top of Apple's free iPhone app rankings in the US, pushing OpenAI's ChatGPT out of first place. The surge follows Meta's expansion of Muse to Mac desktops, though that version doesn't count toward App Store rankings since it's downloaded via the web.
Blinkit, Zepto, Instamart and BigBasket began selling Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in India as soon as they launched, promising doorstep delivery in roughly 10 minutes alongside traditional retail channels. BigBasket reported over 300 units sold in the first hour, while Instamart said Bengaluru led orders, though several platforms saw stock run out within hours.