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Apple's iPhone 18 Pro introduces a mechanical variable aperture that adjusts how much light hits the sensor, reaching as wide as f/1.48. The system works automatically but can also be controlled manually in the Camera app, letting users influence depth of field and low-light performance directly.
Apple is preparing to unveil its first foldable iPhone, a device expected to carry a premium price tag. The reveal is notable because it will mark John Ternus's debut as Apple's new chief executive, stepping into the leadership role for this major product launch.
Samsung R&D executive Hee-Cheul Moon publicly welcomed Apple's upcoming entry into foldable phones, framing it as validation of Samsung's early lead in the category. However, he pointedly stressed that device weight is the critical factor for customer satisfaction, an apparent dig at reports that Apple's foldable will weigh roughly 235g compared to the Galaxy Fold 8's 201g. Market analysts project Apple could capture 40% of the foldable market within a year, edging past Samsung's current 38% share.
Apple's standard iPhone 17 starts at $799, while the Google Pixel 11 and Samsung Galaxy S26 both launch at $899, a $100 gap that has flipped the usual value equation in the flagship smartphone market. Rising RAM and storage costs, plus heavier investment in on-device AI, are cited as reasons behind the higher pricing from Google and Samsung, and rumors suggest Apple may delay the iPhone 18 launch, potentially extending this pricing advantage.
TrendForce reports Apple's smartphone production rose 14% year-over-year to about 52 million units in Q2 2026, giving it a 19% global share behind only Samsung's 62 million units. The overall global smartphone market fell 8% to 275 million units, a smaller drop than analysts had expected, prompting TrendForce to raise its full-year 2026 forecast to 1.07 billion units.
Case maker Dbrand has already listed close to 50 grip cases for the rumored foldable iPhone Ultra, even though Apple hasn't officially unveiled the device. The phone is widely expected to debut at Apple's September 9 event, with a foldable design similar to the Samsung Z Fold or Google Pixel Fold and a price tag potentially exceeding $2,000.
There is no single button in iOS that resets the Camera app back to its original settings, according to a new how-to guide. Instead, users who want to undo accumulated tweaks or clean up a second-hand iPhone must manually revert each camera option one by one.
Huawei has unveiled the Mate XT 2, an updated version of its trifold smartphone that refines the original design and borrows some interface and hardware ideas from Samsung's foldable devices. The device carries a price tag exceeding $3,000, positioning it firmly in the ultra-premium tier of the smartphone market.
Huawei unveiled the Mate XT2, a tri-folding smartphone that unfolds from a 6.5-inch display into a 10.2-inch 3K screen, now paired with an optional built-in privacy display. The device runs HarmonyOS and uses Huawei's new Kirin 9050 Pro chip, said to be 42 percent faster than its predecessor, alongside a four-camera setup led by a 50-megapixel main sensor and 3.5x periscope zoom. Pricing starts around $2,980 and climbs to roughly $4,470 for a 2TB collector's edition.
Chinese memory chipmaker CXMT told investors it is expanding its foothold in premium memory-chip segments, pointing to progress in smartphone and AI-related chip technologies as evidence. The company framed these advances as proof it is closing the gap with established global memory manufacturers.
Xiaomi's new $500 Redmi Note 17 Pro Max includes full-resolution 50MP photo capture and a manual/pro camera mode, features absent from Google's $900 Pixel 11. Google reserves these tools for its pricier Pixel 11 Pro lineup, even though the base Pixel has hardware capable of supporting them.
Dutch phone maker Fairphone has launched its Gen 6+ device in the US market, built around a 6.31-inch OLED screen and designed so users can replace parts themselves rather than send devices out for repair. CTO Chandler Hatton says the company set out to prove that modular, long-lasting smartphones are achievable despite skepticism from the industry.