GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple has released the iPhone Duo, its first foldable phone, featuring a passport-style hinge and large displays, priced at over $2,000. Unlike Samsung, which has iterated on foldables for seven years mostly among tech enthusiasts, Apple's mainstream user base means early feedback could shape how folding phones evolve industry-wide.
Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro at its recent event, starting at $1,199 and adding a variable aperture camera and a faster A20 Pro chip. The comparison to the iPhone 14 Pro, released four years earlier, shows major shifts including the switch from Lightning to USB-C, a brighter display capable of 3,000 nits versus 1,000 nits, and an upgraded Dynamic Island that can display three activities simultaneously.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports Apple is building two game controllers for the iPhone, likely to be sold under its Beats subsidiary rather than the Apple brand itself. The report follows earlier findings by MacRumors of references to two first-party controller devices buried in macOS 26.7 code, even though the products are apparently intended for iOS.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has confirmed earlier code discoveries suggesting Apple is building its own gamepad accessories for iPhone, identified internally by model numbers T6502 and T1057. The devices reportedly include a D-pad, thumbsticks, haptic motors, and possibly motion-sensing hardware, though their final design remains unknown. Gurman suggests the controllers may ultimately launch under the Beats label, with Beats executives leading the project.
In an interview with MKBHD, Apple's Craig Federighi addressed concerns that the foldable iPhone Duo could overlap with the iPad, particularly the iPad mini. He compared it to how users naturally settled into distinct usage patterns for iPad and Mac, predicting the same will happen with iPhone Duo and iPad. Federighi also emphasized that Apple built iOS for the Duo's form factor from scratch rather than stretching an existing interface to fit.
Apple's iOS 27, rolling out broadly after its beta period ends, includes several under-the-radar upgrades to Safari powered by Apple Intelligence. One standout is a 'Notify Me' feature that lets users describe specific content changes—like a price drop—they want tracked on a webpage, with Safari periodically scanning for that update. These Apple Intelligence features require an iPhone 15 Pro or newer, and are also coming to iPadOS 27 and macOS 27.
Apple's newest Pro-series iPhones bring a variable-aperture main camera, a new chip, improved battery life, and a black color option, but starting prices rose by $100 across the lineup, including older models. Alongside them, Apple released AirPods 5 with better active noise cancellation and stem-based volume controls on the pricier version, starting at $129.
Apple opened pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max ahead of their September 18 launch, but shipping estimates for many Pro Max configurations have already slipped into October. The standard Pro remains widely available for day-one delivery, while only the priciest 2TB storage option across both models still ships on launch day.
A tech reviewer rounded up recommended fast chargers for the newly preordered iPhone 18 Pro, including Anker's Nano 45W and 70W models, Apple's 40W Dynamic Power Adapter, and ESR's CryoBoost 3-in-1 MagSafe stand. The Apple adapter reportedly delivers the fastest charging, taking the phone to 50% in 15 minutes, while the ESR stand also charges an Apple Watch and AirPods simultaneously.
Apple's Control Center houses both Do Not Disturb and Focus modes, with Do Not Disturb actually functioning as one type of Focus alongside Personal, Work and Sleep options. Users can customize each Focus mode individually, choosing exactly which apps and contacts can send notifications while that mode is active. Setup happens through Settings > Focus, where filters, smart activation and time-sensitive notification exceptions can also be configured.
Apple's Wallet app allows iPhone and Apple Watch owners to add a digital version of their driver's license alongside other IDs like passports. The feature uses encryption and biometric authentication via Face ID or Touch ID, letting users control exactly what information is revealed—for example, only confirming legal drinking age rather than sharing a full birthdate. Adoption remains limited, as only some businesses, venues, and airport checkpoints currently accept these digital credentials.
Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo introduces an easy split-screen multitasking system, letting users drag an app into half the screen while still seeing the home screen, save app pairs, and even split a video alongside an app. Meanwhile, iPadOS 27 continues to force users into an all-or-nothing choice between full-screen apps and its more complex windowing system.