GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple's newly announced iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max claim the largest battery life increase in the device's history, driven by redesigned batteries, the more efficient A20 Pro chip, and software tuning. Per Apple's specs, streaming playback rises from 30 to 33 hours on the standard Pro and from 35 to 40 hours on the Max, while a new 'real-world usage' metric rates the Pro at 24 hours and the Pro Max at 30 hours.
Apple published the complete release notes for iOS 27, confirming the update arrives on September 14. The notes detail a more conversational Siri with app actions, onscreen awareness and a dedicated Siri app, plus new Apple Intelligence features across Photos and other apps for compatible iPhone models starting with the 15 Pro line.
Apple introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max with a redesigned 48MP Fusion Main camera featuring variable aperture, a first for iPhone, letting users or apps adjust between four aperture settings from f/1.48 to f/4.0. The devices also gain a new A20 Pro chip along with thermal design improvements and new pro-focused camera software tools exclusive to the Pro line.
Apple has extended its $100 price increase from the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max to older, unchanged models. The iPhone 17 now starts at $899, the iPhone Air at $1099, the iPhone 17e at $699, and the iPhone 16 at $799, all up from their previous prices despite receiving no updates.
Apple has reintroduced a black color option for its iPhone Pro lineup, ending a one-year gap after the iPhone 17 Pro launched only in orange, silver, and blue. The black finish returns alongside other color choices like burgundy for the newer Pro model.
Apple announced at its fall iPhone event that the overhauled Siri AI, currently available in English through iOS 27 and related betas, will add support for French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish next month. The English version rolls out publicly on September 14, while broader language support follows in October. Apple also confirmed daily limits on cloud-based AI prompts, with iCloud+ subscribers getting higher usage caps.
After unveiling the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro at its 'Surprise and shine' event, Apple raised prices by $100 on all previous-generation iPhones still sold. The iPhone 16 jumped from $699 to $799, the 17E from $599 to $699, the base iPhone 17 from $799 to $899, and the iPhone Air from $999 to $1,099.
Analyst Mark Gurman says the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will come in four colors: Black, Light Blue, Silver, and Burgundy. This marks a shift from last year's iPhone 17 Pro, which shipped with only three color options and no black variant. Gurman also noted the foldable iPhone Duo is expected in dark blue and white.
Apple's standard iPhone 17 starts at $799, while the Google Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26 both launch at $899, a $100 gap that has flipped the usual value equation in the flagship smartphone market. Rising RAM and storage costs, plus heavier investment in on-device AI, are cited as reasons behind the higher pricing from Google and Samsung, and rumors suggest Apple may delay the iPhone 18 launch, potentially extending this pricing advantage.
Rising memory chip prices driven by the AI boom are pushing up the cost of new smartphones, even as many flagship models already exceed $1,000. This is prompting consumers who damage their phones to weigh repair costs, often under a few hundred dollars, against the appeal of new features found only in devices like the Pixel 11 and iPhone 17.
A 14-second clip circulating online shows what appears to be dark cherry and blue iPhone 18 Pro models displayed alongside an iPhone 17 Pro Max at what looks like a retail store. Analysts flag several red flags suggesting the footage is staged with dummy units rather than genuine pre-release hardware.
Apple hardware is heavily discounted as part of Amazon and Best Buy's Labor Day 2026 sale, with under 24 hours remaining. Deals include AirTag 2 at $20, AirPods Pro 3 at $50 off, AirPods Max 2 at $100 off, a $150 cut on the M5 MacBook Air, record-low pricing on the new M6 Mac mini ahead of shipping, and Amazon lows on iPhone 17 Pro models.