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Tech News
According to the report, Apple will unveil a second-generation iPhone Air next spring, adding a second rear camera and a larger battery after the original model's lukewarm sales. The piece notes the original iPhone Air shipped with a mono speaker, USB 2 connectivity, and slower charging speeds than the Pro lineup despite its near-Pro pricing.
Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station, cited by 9to5Mac, says the standard iPhone 18 will ship with a larger battery and a new 2-nanometer A20 chip but will cost more than its predecessor, and won't get the smaller Dynamic Island seen on Pro models. The phone is expected to launch early next year alongside a second-generation iPhone Air and the iPhone 18e, skipping Apple's fall event lineup. No specific price figure was given.
Apple's fiscal Q4 results showed total revenue of $114.5 billion, up 12% year over year, with iPhone revenue hitting a quarterly record of $57.58 billion. This came despite launching only two new models, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, compared with four models in the same quarter last year, since the base iPhone 18 and the iPhone Duo are not due until later.
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.
Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station claims Apple's upcoming iPhone 18e, expected next spring alongside iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2, will carry a non-Pro version of the A20 chip and a possibly upgraded 24MP front camera. Other specs, including a 60Hz 6.12-inch OLED display and 48MP rear camera, are said to carry over unchanged from the iPhone 17e.
A writer who picked up Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo at the Fifth Avenue store describes using it for a day, noting trade-offs like Touch ID instead of Face ID, an under-display FaceTime camera, and limited app optimization. They argue these shortcomings are less disruptive than expected, and say app support has already improved since launch as developers update their software for consumers rather than early reviewers.
Android Authority's battery benchmarks show the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra's new 5,000mAh silicon-carbon cell outperforms last year's 4,400mAh lithium-polymer battery in most tests, but the improvement is smaller than the raw capacity increase suggests. The report attributes this partly to the phone's new 200MP camera and faster processor offsetting battery gains, particularly in photo-shooting endurance.
A cost comparison examines whether leasing a new iPhone annually or buying and trading it in is cheaper for people who upgrade every year. Using Apple's current trade-in offers as a proxy for next year's values, buying and trading an iPhone 18 Pro would cost about $414 net versus $600 for a 12-month lease, saving roughly $186. The analysis also lists the trade-in value each model would need to hit for buying to beat leasing, based on today's Apple trade-in rates.
A 9to5Mac writer who switched from an iPhone Air to the iPhone 18 Pro reports that the newer Pro model offers superior cameras, longer battery life, and faster performance powered by the A20 Pro chip. The reviewer also notes the vapor chamber prevents overheating issues previously experienced with the Air, and cites more responsive Siri AI performance.
Apple has clarified that its new Texture and Grain adjustments in Photographic Styles, introduced alongside the iPhone 18 lineup, can only be applied to photos captured with iPhone 18 Pro models and iPhone Duo's Ultra Wide, Main, and Center Stage cameras. Earlier press materials had implied broader availability on older devices like the iPhone 16 and iPhone Air, but Apple has since revised those statements to specify the narrower scope. A Reddit user confirmed the limitation, showing the controls only worked on an iPhone 16 Pro Max when editing sample photos taken with an iPhone 18 Pro.
Analyst Mark Gurman reports Apple's roadmap through early 2027 includes three new iPhones—the iPhone 18, iPhone Air 2, and budget iPhone 18e—all built around an A20 chip, with the Air 2 gaining a second ultra-wide camera. The plans also cover refreshed iPads, including an OLED iPad Air and a budget model for students, new Apple Pencils, updated MacBook Air laptops, and a MacBook Neo successor.
Apple has opened trade-in credit for iPhone Air and iPhone 17 ahead of new successor models, offering up to $585 for either device despite the iPhone Air costing $200 more at retail after this week's price hikes. The iPhone 17 now starts at $899 and the iPhone Air at $1099, yet both receive identical trade-in valuations.