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Tech News
Reports suggest Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro lineup will introduce a variable aperture lens on the main camera, a first for the iPhone. It remains unclear whether both the Pro and Pro Max models will get this feature, or just the larger Pro Max, and the wide-angle and telephoto lenses are expected to keep fixed apertures.
A Bloomberg report from Mark Gurman outlines Apple's iPhone lineup roadmap ahead of next week's launch event, covering the iPhone 18 Pro models and a foldable 'iPhone Ultra' arriving this fall, plus 2027 releases including an iPhone Air 2, redesigned Pro models marking the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, and a second-generation foldable device. The foldable Ultra is expected to fold to roughly passport size, include Touch ID and an advanced hinge, and cost over $2,000.
A screenshot spotted by Joe Lenington on X shows the Google Pixel Tablet running Android 17 now displays Quick Share's Apple-device file-sharing interface, previously limited to select smartphones. Google's official FAQ page hasn't been updated to list the tablet, but fine print confirms the feature covers tablets as well as phones.
9to5Mac's daily podcast episode for September 4 rounds up ongoing speculation about a possible iPhone Ultra model and the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro. The episode is hosted by Chance Miller and distributed through Apple Podcasts, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play and RSS feeds.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman published fresh details on Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, set to debut September 9. He says the phones will get a mechanical aperture camera system for adjusting light and depth, a second-generation vapor chamber for cooling, improved battery life, and in-house C2 modems.
Apple, Xiaomi, HUAWEI, vivo, OPPO, and HONOR have all scheduled September events expected to unveil new top-tier phones rebranded from 'Ultra' to 'Pro Max' naming. Expected models include the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Xiaomi 18 Pro Max, HUAWEI Mate 90 Pro Max, vivo X500 Pro Max, OPPO Find X10 Pro Max, and HONOR Magic 9 Pro Max, each carrying new flagship chipsets and upgraded camera systems.
A supply chain report from Nikkei Asia says Apple is currently producing only a few hundred iPhone Ultra foldable units per day, far below the tens of thousands needed daily to hit normal launch targets. An extra trial production run in August, meant to verify the device's hinge performance and surface flatness, reportedly pushed back commercial manufacturing by several weeks.
A reviewer tested Google's $1,099 Pixel 11 Pro against Apple's iPhone 17 Pro across various lighting conditions in Delhi, including well-lit and shadowy scenes at Lodhi Garden. Both phones were tested with default camera processing, with Google's camera brightening shadows more while Apple's rendered more natural tones.
Apple will hold its 'Surprise and shine' launch event on September 9th at Apple Park, streamed live via its website, Apple TV, and YouTube. Reports suggest the standard iPhone 18 will be delayed until next year alongside an iPhone 18E and refreshed iPhone Air, while the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to debut with larger batteries, a smaller Dynamic Island, and possibly a variable aperture camera.
Apple's hardware engineering leader John Ternus is emerging as a frontrunner to eventually succeed Tim Cook as CEO. Unlike speculation that Apple's next leader would need to pioneer a device beyond the smartphone, reports suggest Ternus may simply continue steering the iPhone business that remains Apple's core product.
Market research firm TrendForce projects Apple will raise iPhone 18 prices due to a global RAM shortage, with memory costs for the 256GB Pro model expected to nearly quadruple year-over-year. The report estimates the iPhone 18 Pro Max could start between $1,299 and $1,399, while the foldable iPhone Ultra may launch between $2,099 and $2,299, potentially reaching $3,000.
Market research firm TrendForce forecasts that Apple's next iPhone lineup will carry significantly higher price tags, driven by a global RAM shortage that has pushed memory costs for a 256GB Pro model up nearly 400% year-over-year. The firm expects Apple to absorb some of that cost increase rather than pass it all on, but still predicts the rumored foldable iPhone Ultra could launch between $2,099 and $2,299, potentially reaching $3,000.