GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple has released iOS 27 to all eligible iPhones after a summer beta period, adding a redesigned conversational Siri assistant, new Apple Intelligence tools, and a slider to adjust the Liquid Glass interface's transparency. The update also includes performance gains such as faster app launches, quicker photo loading, and improved AirDrop speeds.
Apple has begun taking pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Series 12, while retailers continue discounting older models. AirPods Pro 3 remain $50 off at $199, AirTag 2 is $20, and the M5 MacBook Air is up to $150 off at Amazon, alongside a record-low price on the 2026 Apple Studio Display and discounted Anker MagSafe chargers.
iMazing, the Mac and PC utility for managing iPhone and iPad data, is running a 20% discount for 9to5Mac readers ahead of a major upcoming release. That update will mark the tool's first step toward supporting Android devices, expanding beyond its Apple-only roots. Since iMazing 3 launched in 2024, the app has added features like Apple Watch support, spyware detection, screen recording, and enhanced Messages and WhatsApp export tools.
Most major phone makers, including Apple, Google and Samsung, have phased out the 3.5mm headphone jack in favor of USB-C for wired audio, charging and data transfer. Apple made the switch starting with the iPhone 7 in 2016, followed by Google in 2017 and Samsung in 2019, with Apple finally adopting USB-C for the iPhone 15 due to EU regulation. Sony remains an exception, still including a 3.5mm jack on its upcoming Xperia 1 VIII.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max pre-orders have slipped from launch-day delivery to estimates spanning late September into October, just days after orders opened. The Pro Max faces the longest wait, with US Apple Store estimates showing October 6-13 delivery across all colors and storage sizes, while the standard Pro shows September 29-October 6.
Ahead of the iOS 27 release, iPhone owners are being urged to free up roughly 18 to 25GB of storage, ensure at least 50 percent battery or a charger connection, and stay on Wi-Fi before installing. Users can also choose between manual updates or Apple's automatic overnight installation option found in Settings.
Apple's Background App Refresh feature, found in Settings > General, lets iPhone users control which apps can update content while running in the background. Users can toggle it for Wi-Fi only, Wi-Fi and cellular, or turn it off entirely, and can also customize it on a per-app basis. Importantly, disabling this setting does not stop an app from sending notifications.
AppleCare has evolved from a simple flat-fee warranty into a tiered subscription system covering nearly every Apple product, including accessories like AirPods and Beats. Pricing varies by device, with theft and loss protection available only for iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch, and a new AppleCare One plan bundling three devices for $19.99 monthly, with $5.99 for each additional device.
CNET compared Apple's newly announced iPhone Duo foldable against Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8, finding the two devices closely matched given their similar passport-style shape and near-identical pricing. Samsung's phone is thinner both folded and unfolded and charges faster over a wired connection, while Apple's Duo offers full dust and water resistance versus the Fold 8's more limited IP48 rating, plus MagSafe wireless charging that Samsung's device lacks.
Apple is publicly releasing iOS 27, the newest iPhone operating system, after months of beta testing since June. The update's headline feature is an overhauled Siri chatbot built around new AI capabilities, and testers have reported gains in overall speed and stability.
Apple's built-in Screen Time feature lets iPhone users restrict access to distracting apps through two main tools: Downtime, which blocks all but selected apps and contacts during set hours, and App Limits, which caps daily usage for specific app categories or individual apps. Users can customize schedules by day, receive warnings before restrictions kick in, and sync these limits across all Apple devices tied to their Apple Account.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman predicts that foldable phones, currently just 2% of the global smartphone market, will become the majority of new phone sales within ten years. He suggests Apple could eventually extend the format across its lineup, from a larger iPhone Duo Max down to a foldable iPhone SE as manufacturing costs decrease.