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Tech News
CNET photographed scenes at a Bay Area garden using Apple's iPhone Duo and Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8, two book-style foldables that start around $1,900-$1,999 for 256GB. Neither phone includes a telephoto lens; the Duo has dual 48MP wide and ultrawide cameras while the Z Fold 8 has dual 50MP wide and ultrawide cameras, alongside differing selfie camera setups on their cover and inner screens.
On his first earnings call as Apple CEO, John Ternus reported $418 billion in fiscal 2026 revenue, up 12% year over year, calling it the company's best fiscal year. He said chip and memory shortages have constrained supply of iPhone, iPad and Mac devices and warned the constraints, along with possible further price increases, could extend into 2027. iPhone revenue hit a record $57.6 billion for the quarter, driven by the iPhone 18 Pro line and early sales of the new foldable iPhone Duo.
CNET ran 120 hours of battery testing across 2026 smartphone models and found the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max led the pack, alongside foldables like the Motorola Razr (2026) and Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, which use silicon-carbon batteries for added capacity without bulkier hardware. The newly released iPhone Duo tied for the top result in one test, while overall average battery life across 2026 phones matched results from 2024 and 2025.
RedMagic has released its 12 Pro flagship phone outside China, marking an earlier global rollout than the company's usual practice. A ZDNET reviewer ran Geekbench 7 benchmarks comparing it to a Pixel 9 Pro and found the RedMagic device nearly doubled multi-core scores and edged out single-core performance, falling only slightly behind Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max in single-core tests.
A physical dummy unit built from leaked CAD files gives an early look at Samsung's Galaxy S27 Ultra, comparing its size and design against the iPhone 18 Pro, Pixel 11 Pro, and current Galaxy S26 Ultra. The leak shows the camera bar moved higher on the back, while dimensions and the S Pen slot remain largely similar to the S26 Ultra.
Apple will release its fiscal Q4 2026 results after today's market close, followed by a conference call with new CEO John Ternus and CFO Kevan Parekh. Apple had previously guided for 9-11% year-over-year revenue growth despite supply constraints on iPhone, Mac and iPad, which would put quarterly revenue between $111.69 billion and $113.74 billion. The call is scheduled for 2:00 p.m. PT and will be streamed on Apple's Investor Relations website.
ESR has released its Xtend line of chargers featuring built-in retractable cables, including a 45W wall charger that supports up to 60W via AVS and a 100W car charger with two cables. The 45W model offers 3.1 feet of retractable cable, longer than typical competitors, plus a separate USB-C port for other cables, and comes in black, white, and burgundy finishes. It's priced at $49.99 normally, currently discounted to $35.99 for white and $41.99 for burgundy on Amazon.
A tech review piece examines Apple's newly launched iPhone 18 Pro Max, highlighting its 2nm chip, upgraded cameras, larger RAM and faster-charging battery. It then surveys the Android market to identify which single device best matches the iPhone on hardware, software polish and wide carrier availability, concluding one phone stands out as the nearest equivalent.
Android Authority published a cost comparison examining when fixing a smartphone, such as replacing a battery or screen, remains cheaper than buying a new device, factoring in insurance and repair pricing. The piece was prompted partly by reports that a display replacement for Apple's new foldable iPhone could cost nearly as much as a new iPhone 18 Pro. It also notes that slowing year-on-year smartphone innovation and longer software support windows make older phones more viable to keep repairing.
Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo, priced at $1,999, features a 5.4-inch cover screen and a 7.6-inch inner display, measuring 11.3mm thick when folded and weighing 254 grams. A hands-on size comparison shows the Duo is notably shorter than the $1,299 iPhone 18 Pro Max, which has a 6.9-inch screen, is 8.75mm thick, and weighs 249 grams, despite the two devices having similar weight.
A reviewer spent roughly 30 minutes testing Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo in an Apple store, following earlier excitement from the device's launch video. They highlighted the nanotexture coating on the inner foldable display as particularly impressive, especially compared to the glossier outer screen, and noted the device includes a new gesture for a split-screen view.
Android Authority contrasts Google's approach of weaving Gemini AI into core Android functions like messaging and photography with Apple's more restrained AI rollout on the iPhone 18 Pro. The piece notes Apple has focused on building on-device processing to keep AI features local and private rather than pushing users toward cloud-connected tools.