GoKawiil
Tech News
CNET has outlined its expectations for major smartphone launches through 2026, following recent releases from Samsung, Google and Apple. The report suggests Apple may split its iPhone 18 launch, debuting a foldable iPhone Ultra soon while delaying the standard iPhone 18 to early next year, as RAM shortages and AI competition pressure manufacturers to balance innovation with pricing.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is preparing to unveil the AirPods 5 as soon as its expected September 9 event, alongside a foldable iPhone, iPhone 18 Pro models, and updated Apple Watches. The new earbuds will reportedly come in two versions—a standard model and one with active noise cancellation—replacing the entry-level AirPods last updated in 2024.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple will raise prices by at least $100 on the iPhone 18 Pro and other devices unveiled at its September event, pushing the Pro model to roughly $1,200. The increase is linked to an AI-driven RAM shortage squeezing supply across phones, laptops and consoles, and follows earlier price hikes this summer on select MacBooks, iPads and HomePods.
According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, Apple is likely to raise iPhone 18 Pro prices by roughly $100, bringing the base model to about $1,199, rather than the steeper $1,299-$1,399 some analysts predicted. That would mirror recent $100 price hikes from Samsung and Google on their flagship phones amid rising memory and component costs.