GoKawiil
Tech News
Reported battery capacity figures for Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro suggest only incremental improvements over the current lineup, according to leaks circulating ahead of launch. The numbers imply Apple still trails some rivals, including Samsung, on long-term battery durability and capacity growth.
Apple's iOS 27 update introduces the ability to shrink or expand the clock on the iPhone lock screen, building on previous features like removable controls and movable widgets. Users can now toggle between a compact clock near the top and an enlarged version that takes up roughly a third of the screen, adjustable through the Wallpaper settings menu.
Apple's iOS 27 rollout is causing some iPhone users to see faster-than-normal battery drain in the days following installation. The company attributes this to background processes like search-index rebuilding, app refreshes, and data prep for Siri and AI features, which typically resolve within one to three days. Users with large photo libraries or heavy AI usage may see the effect last longer.
A bug in iOS 27 can temporarily freeze an iPhone when users quickly swipe down the Notification Center and Control Center in succession. Affected phones show icons stuck at the top of the screen and stop responding to taps or swipes, though the issue is not permanent.
Photographer Tyler Stalman published his annual iPhone camera review, focusing on the iPhone 18 Pro's new variable aperture system, updated Cinematic mode, expanded Photographic Styles, and Apple Reference Image. He found the f/1.48 wide aperture lets in more light, lowering ISO needs and reducing reliance on Night mode, and noted Apple's unusual placement of the aperture blades above the main lens element.
Snap has begun taking preorders for its consumer Spectacles, now offering a separate 5G cellular carrying case through Verizon partnerships in the US, plus Orange in France and EE in the UK. Alongside this, Snap launched Specs Intelligence, a proactive AI assistant app for iPhone and Mac that works independently of the glasses but integrates with them when paired.
WhatsApp is developing a feature that would let iPhone users manage up to three separate accounts within one app, according to WABetaInfo. This builds on the second-account support the app introduced last June after months of beta testing. Each account would retain its own chat history, notifications, privacy settings, backups, and media.
Apple has issued the first developer beta of iOS 27.2, just days after iOS 27's public release, expanding Siri AI support to French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish. The beta also adds simultaneous front-and-rear camera use in FaceTime and a redesigned Podcasts home tab with New Episodes and Continue Playing rows.
Apple confirmed to CNET that its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, will launch on Oct. 23 running iOS 27.1 instead of the base iOS 27 version. The company said this build adds features specifically designed for the foldable form factor, while other iPhones are already testing the next update, iOS 27.2. Preorders for the Duo open Oct. 16, and all devices will eventually be able to move to iOS 27.2 later this year.
A newly discovered bug in Apple's just-released iOS 27 lets users lock up their iPhone by rapidly swiping to open Notification Center and then Control Center in quick succession. The glitch freezes touch response and disables the power-off slider, and it has spread quickly on social media as a prank people are playing on friends' phones.
iOS 27.2 beta 1 contains references to a new erase feature that overwrites an iPhone's entire storage, including unused space, with blank data rather than just destroying encryption keys. 9to5Mac found the option is currently restricted to devices sold in China, and Apple warns it takes longer and may affect device lifespan. Code references suggest the same capability is being built for iPad, HomePod, and Apple Vision Pro as well.
Apple's iOS 27.2 beta 1 introduces user profiles for the Apple TV app on iPhone, letting multiple people on one account switch between separate viewing histories and content settings. The feature, previously limited to tvOS since December's tvOS 26.2 update, now lets parents create child profiles without an Apple Account and restrict content to age-appropriate ratings directly from a phone or iPad.