Casemaker dbrand has released a full set of accessories for Apple's newly announced iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro/Max, including the MNML minimalist case, the Ghost clear case with a lifetime no-yellowing guarantee, the grippy Grip case, the rugged Tank case, customizable Skin vinyl wraps, and the Prism screen protector. Pricing ranges from around $39 for MNML to $59.95 for Ghost, with some products supporting both new iPhone models.
Apple Music and Spotify both include adjustable audio quality and equalizer settings that can noticeably improve sound on an iPhone. Users can raise streaming quality tiers in each app's settings menu, then fine-tune sound using built-in EQ presets or custom sliders. Volume normalization features like Apple's Sound Check and Spotify's Volume normalization can also be toggled to balance loudness across tracks.
Analyst Jeff Pu has lowered his 2026 shipment estimate for Apple's foldable iPhone Duo from 7 million to 6 million units, citing hinge-related production constraints rather than weak demand. Pre-orders for the device, which starts at $1,999, open October 16 with deliveries beginning October 23. By comparison, Pu expects roughly 72 million iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max units to ship this year.
WSJ personal tech columnist Nicole Nguyen will hold a live, text-based Q&A session on Wednesday, September 16, from 1 to 2 p.m. ET. Subscribers can submit questions about upcoming Apple products and features, including a rumored dual-device iPhone concept, iOS 27, and a revamped version of Siri.
Apple has released iOS 27 for iPhone models back to the iPhone 11, and users are advised to create a local, computer-based archive before installing it. This is because iCloud backups only retain the most recent version, so restoring to a prior iOS release becomes impossible once a device has been backed up under iOS 27.
Apple's iOS 27 update introduces a new 'Siri' mode in the Camera app that uses AI to identify and act on what the camera sees, such as translating text or adding event details to a calendar. The update also lets users customize which controls appear in each camera mode, while iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max owners get exclusive tools including manual aperture, shutter speed, white balance, a histogram viewer, and upgraded Photographic Styles with texture and grain adjustments.
Users updating to iOS 27 report faster battery drain and warmer devices, but this is a temporary side effect of background processes like re-indexing data, downloading assets, and updating apps. Apple notes this is expected after major updates, and the effect is larger this time due to a full re-indexing needed for Siri AI features, which can take several days.
Analyst Mark Gurman reports Apple's roadmap through early 2027 includes three new iPhones—the iPhone 18, iPhone Air 2, and budget iPhone 18e—all built around an A20 chip, with the Air 2 gaining a second ultra-wide camera. The plans also cover refreshed iPads, including an OLED iPad Air and a budget model for students, new Apple Pencils, updated MacBook Air laptops, and a MacBook Neo successor.
MagSafe, Apple's magnetic accessory system, has become a signature iPhone feature since 2020, while only a few Android devices like Google's Pixel with Pixelsnap or the HMD Skyline ship with built-in magnets. Android users without native support can still use MagSafe accessories by adding a phone case with embedded magnets or attaching a magnetic ring, provided their device supports wireless charging.
Analyst Jeff Pu reports that most iPhone 18 Pro models are shipping immediately, with the Pro Max facing delays of at most three to four weeks depending on color and storage configuration. He interprets this as a sign of softer demand compared to prior iPhone launches, based on pre-order availability data.
Apple released iOS 27 with Siri AI upgrades on Sept. 14, and some users are noticing faster battery drain afterward. Apple has confirmed this is expected behavior, explaining that devices need time post-update to index files, download assets, and update apps in the background.
A reverse engineer discovered a hidden Extensions Framework in iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate that lets Siri hand off voice and text requests to third-party AI models like Claude, with Siri acting as a middleman for system tasks requiring privacy access. A separate, deeper integration point called Model Manager Services could let providers such as a GPT-5.6 model replace Apple's server-side Siri AI entirely, though Apple hasn't confirmed any such partnership.
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