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.
Samsung TVs use HDMI-CEC, branded Anynet+, to let connected devices like consoles and soundbars share control of power, input switching, and volume through a single remote. The convenience can backfire when devices send unexpected signals, causing TVs to switch inputs or power on unintentionally, issues that can often be fixed by checking cable connections, firmware, and CEC settings on both ends. Samsung's system supports up to 12 devices, but disabling CEC to solve one problem can break HDMI eARC audio functionality, since eARC depends on Anynet+ being active.
Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, a foldable phone launching October 23 starting at $1,999, whose hardware resembles rivals like Samsung's Z Fold 8. What sets it apart is a version of iOS and apps specifically reworked for the folding screen, including repositioned app icons and smoother transitions between the cover and inner displays.
Leaker Instant Digital reports that Apple and Samsung Display have signed a three-year exclusive supply agreement covering foldable displays for the upcoming iPhone Duo and future models. Each panel is said to cost roughly $250, making it one of the priciest single components in the device. No official bill-of-materials breakdown exists yet, though Apple has detailed the device's recycled materials and sustainability specs.
Counterpoint Research forecasts that Apple will secure a 27% share of foldable smartphone panel shipments in 2026, the year its iPhone Duo debuts, trailing Samsung's 33% but edging out Huawei's 25%. By 2030, Apple's shipments are projected to jump 167% from their partial-year 2026 base, pushing its share to 42% while Samsung and Huawei both lose ground.
Amazon is currently selling Samsung's new Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 for $699.99, and buyers who purchase it now receive a complimentary $100 Amazon gift card. The promotion effectively lowers the cost of acquiring the rugged smartwatch through the retailer.
Following the debut of Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, at $1,999, commentary suggests Apple should now build smaller flip-style and larger tablet-style foldables similar to Samsung's Z Flip and Lenovo's X1 Fold. The idea is that Apple has proven it can engineer a durable hinge and thin foldable body, making it easier to scale that design up or down for new devices.
Vivo's X Fold 6 foldable is expected to expand beyond its home market into Europe, positioning it as a direct competitor to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra. Reports suggest the device could ship with double the storage of Samsung's flagship while matching its price point.
Leaked details point to a new Samsung Galaxy Buds model internally called 'T1,' reportedly aimed at workout use. The leak suggests a larger battery capacity and touch-based controls, though Samsung has not confirmed the product or a launch timeline.
Samsung released a new commercial for the Galaxy Z Fold 8 starring a man named 'Tim Cook from Palmerston North,' timed to coincide with Apple's iPhone Duo announcement. The ad parodies Apple's cinematic product-launch style, with this Tim Cook declaring 'the future is here,' and includes a jab referencing Apple CEO Tim Cook's recently updated profile picture.
WIRED's review of the Samsung Galaxy S26 FE finds strong daylight photos, a useful 3X optical zoom telephoto lens, and good 4K/8K video with stabilization features like horizontal lock and My FanCam framing. However, at $700 for the base 128 GB model, the reviewer says it's priced too close to the superior standard S26, which often sells for the same amount with a faster chip, more storage, and a better telephoto camera.
A comparison of the flagship-sized iPhone 18 Pro Max and Galaxy S26 Ultra shows both share a 6.9-inch screen but differ in build: Apple mixes aluminum and glass while Samsung uses an all-glass back. Samsung's phone is lighter and thinner, has a marginally higher-resolution AMOLED display, and retains the S Pen stylus, while Apple's OLED screen edges ahead on peak brightness at 3,000 nits versus 2,600 nits.