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Tech News
The piece is a fictional 'day one' briefing addressed to Apple's John Ternus, satirizing the company's ongoing struggles across hardware, services and AI. It jokes about delayed Siri upgrades, price hikes on new iPhones, rebranding an AirPods camera as a 'sensor,' low morale on the Vision Pro team, and new EU App Store commission rules taking effect in a month.
Apple is set to unveil its first foldable phone, the iPhone Ultra, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro line at next week's event. While earlier rumors suggested a delay into late 2026 or even 2027, the most recent supply chain reports from Weibo leaker Fixed Focus Digital and Cailian News Agency indicate the device remains on track for a September release, though with very constrained initial stock.
Apple's upcoming September 9 event is expected to bring new iPhones, Apple Watches, and other devices, which will likely push more than ten current products out of the lineup. Items rumored for discontinuation include the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, Apple Watch Series 11, Apple Watch Ultra 3, AirPods 4 models, Apple TV 4K, and both HomePod versions.
Reports suggest Apple will unveil AirPods 5 at its September 9 event alongside new iPhones and Apple Watch models. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the lineup will include two variants—one with Active Noise Cancellation and one without—continuing the standard earbuds line last updated in 2024. Camera-equipped AirPods, previously rumored for this cycle, are now expected to wait until 2027.
Apple will reportedly launch new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models next week, powered by the new A20 Pro chip and a C2 modem. Rumored upgrades include a redesigned main camera module, a smaller Dynamic Island, new color options like dark cherry, and larger batteries, with the Pro Max expected to get exclusive camera and battery advantages.
A CNET editor recalls testing the iPhone 7's IP67 water resistance rating a decade ago by submerging it in a swimming pool beyond Apple's recommended limits. The phone largely survived the dunk with minor cosmetic damage, marking a major shift from earlier iPhones that could be ruined by any water exposure.
According to a Bloomberg report, Apple may break from its usual pattern of releasing all new iPhones together, instead launching standard iPhone 18 models next spring while saving the Pro, Pro Max and a rumored foldable iPhone Ultra for a September debut. The new phones are also said to feature smaller dynamic islands and variable-aperture cameras.
Reports indicate Apple will delay its next major iPhone release until March 2027, when the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18E are expected to arrive together, rather than launching in the usual fall window. That leaves the iPhone 17, which debuted with improved displays, cameras and durability, as Apple's current entry-level flagship for an extended stretch, especially as rivals like Samsung and Google have raised prices on their budget phones due to rising RAM costs.
Apple has increased the monthly cost of Apple TV in the US by $2 to $15, with the annual plan rising $20 to $119. The Apple One Individual bundle, which includes Apple TV, iCloud Plus, Apple Music and Apple Arcade, also goes up to $22 a month from $20, though Family and Premier tiers stay unchanged. New and existing subscribers are affected immediately, though current customers get about a month's notice before their bill changes.
Apple unexpectedly updated its Mac Mini and Mac Studio desktops this week, timing the release alongside the teaser for its September 9 iPhone event themed 'Surprise and Shine.' The move deviates from Apple's usual September pattern, coinciding with John Ternus taking over as CEO. Separately, Walmart began accepting Apple Pay across US stores, marking another win for Apple this week.
The Vergecast team discussed Apple's refreshed Mac Mini, Mac Studio, and new M6/M5 Ultra chips, questioning whether Apple's AI inference claims are more marketing than substance. They also previewed Apple's newly announced event, expecting no iPhone 18 but debating whether the foldable form factor is ready for an iPhone Fold, and examined Meta's settlement imposing new restrictions on teen accounts.
A hands-on video from reviewer Vincent Zhong shows Huawei's new wide-format Pura X View can detect whether it's held in the left or right hand and shift on-screen elements accordingly. The keyboard, call accept/reject buttons, and some music player controls all reposition to match the holding hand, and the power button appears usable to flip e-reader pages.