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Leaks suggest Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro will retain several advantages over the more expensive iPhone Ultra, including a variable aperture main camera, longer battery life on the Pro Max variant, and continued support for Face ID. The Ultra's ultra-thin foldable design reportedly forces trade-offs, such as dropping Face ID for Touch ID and using a smaller battery than the Pro Max.
A longtime Apple user dug up his original 2011 iPhone 4 and found it still powers on using its old 30-pin dock connector, but its outdated hardware and software make it functionally useless today. The device runs only on 3G networks, has an 8GB capacity and slow A8 chip, and can no longer access iCloud, Safari or most apps due to modern security requirements. He concludes the phone's best remaining role is as a basic iPod, with recycling as the more practical option.
Leaked images shared by Weibo user Peter show what appears to be an engineering prototype of the Xiaomi 18 Fold, a book-style folding phone with a camera island resembling the rumored iPhone Ultra design. The device reportedly comes in a dark cherry color, echoing speculation about one of the iPhone 18 Pro's colorways.
Apple has confirmed a product event for September 9 at the Steve Jobs Theater, with invitations carrying the tagline 'Surprise and shine.' The showcase is expected to include updated iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models, and possibly Apple's first foldable iPhone, reportedly using a book-style design similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8.
A worldwide shortage of memory chips, driven largely by demand for AI infrastructure, is squeezing hardware manufacturers just as major companies prepare new product launches. Apple has already unveiled Mac minis and Mac Studios with new M6 chips, with an iPhone event expected in September featuring the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, a foldable iPhone, and new Apple Watches. Makers are responding to rising component costs by either raising prices on devices or reducing memory and storage specifications to keep costs down.
New outline renders shared by leaker Ice Universe suggest Samsung's upcoming Galaxy S27 Pro will adopt the same iPhone 17 Pro-style camera plateau expected on the Galaxy S27 Ultra, replacing Samsung's traditional vertical camera island. However, the Pro model appears to omit the S Pen slot and has the speaker grille and microphone positions swapped compared to the Ultra.
Ahead of Apple's expected September 9 unveiling of its first foldable iPhone, research firm IDC forecasts the device will ship more than 10 million units within its debut year despite a rumored price around $2,500. The estimate aligns with a separate Counterpoint Research forecast projecting Apple will capture 25% of foldable smartphone shipments in 2026, as Samsung's share slips from 40% to 32%.
Counterpoint Research says Apple placed five models in the world's top 10 best-selling smartphones for Q2 2026, with the base iPhone 17 taking the top spot at 6% of global unit sales. The iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17e, and iPhone 16 also made the list, while Samsung was the only other brand represented with five models including the Galaxy S26 Ultra.
Apple confirmed its September event with the English tagline 'Surprise and shine,' widely seen as hinting at a foldable iPhone reveal. A Twitter user noticed that Google Translate's rendering of the Chinese-language version of Apple's event teaser reads 'A new chapter unfolds, dazzling and brilliant,' which some fans see as an intentional nod to a folding device.
Apple has launched a custom hashmoji tied to the #AppleEvent hashtag on X, appearing whenever users post with that tag, ahead of its September 9 event themed 'Surprise and shine.' The event is expected to reveal the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, a first foldable iPhone, plus new Apple Watch and AirPods models.
Apple has scheduled its annual product launch for Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. PT in Cupertino, streamed live from the Steve Jobs Theater. The event is expected to introduce a new foldable iPhone alongside updated Pro and Pro Max models, new Apple Watches, and AirPods, with cheaper iPhone variants reportedly pushed to a spring release.
Leaker Evan Blass posted images on X suggesting Apple's rumored foldable iPhone Ultra will come in three colors, including an unexpected red variant, alongside previously rumored black and white options. The images reportedly show inconsistencies with iOS 27's interface, using an outdated iOS 26 battery icon, raising doubts about their authenticity even if AI-generated.