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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.
Samsung has launched the Galaxy S26 FE with nearly identical specs to last year's S25 FE, including the same 6.7-inch OLED display, 4,900mAh battery, and triple rear camera. The main changes are an upgraded Exynos 2500 chipset, a slightly wider selfie camera, new color options, and a redesigned camera island, but the phone now starts at $699.99, a $50 increase over its predecessor.
New real-world images shared on Weibo reveal the unreleased Xiaomi 18 Fold in a dark red color, showing its triple-rear-camera module for the first time after earlier leaks kept the cameras hidden. The design closely resembles Huawei's Pura X Max, and the device is expected to debut with Xiaomi's new in-house XRing O3 chipset sometime in September.
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%.
Apple has sent out invitations for a launch event on September 9 at 10am PT, widely expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone alongside new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models. Reports suggest the foldable device, rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra, will use a book-style design similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8. Updated Apple Watches and a refreshed Apple TV 4K may also be announced at the same event.
New CAD renders from OnLeaks and Android Headlines reveal the standard Galaxy S27 in a light purple finish, closely resembling one of the Galaxy Z Fold 8's colors. Unlike the redesigned Galaxy S27 Ultra leaked a day earlier, the base model appears to retain nearly identical dimensions and a 6.3-inch display similar to the Galaxy S26, with only a slight increase in thickness.
New leaked photos shared on Weibo by tipster Digital Chat Station show what appears to be Xiaomi's upcoming book-style foldable, featuring a wide inner display, noticeable bezels, and a punch-hole front camera. The design closely matches Xiaomi's own HyperOS 4 teaser image, lending credibility to the leak ahead of the device's confirmed September debut as the Xiaomi 18 Fold.
A CNET poll of 2,605 US adults found that three-quarters have no interest in purchasing a foldable Apple device, even as rumors point to Apple unveiling its first foldable iPhone, dubbed the iPhone Ultra, at a September event. Analysts expect the device to cost between $2,000 and $2,500, but survey respondents said they'd only be willing to spend an average of $781 on such a phone.
CNET has outlined its expectations for major smartphone launches through 2026, following recent releases from Samsung, Google and Apple. The report suggests Apple may split its iPhone 18 launch, debuting a foldable iPhone Ultra soon while delaying the standard iPhone 18 to early next year, as RAM shortages and AI competition pressure manufacturers to balance innovation with pricing.
A hands-on review of Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 finds that its new 4:3 aspect-ratio inner display finally reduces the black bars that plagued earlier foldables during widescreen video playback. However, the reviewer discovered they preferred using the device unfolded in portrait mode for reading and typing, only to find the inner selfie camera cutout repeatedly interferes with that experience.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports that Apple will raise prices by at least $100 on the iPhone 18 Pro and other devices unveiled at its September event, pushing the Pro model to roughly $1,200. The increase is linked to an AI-driven RAM shortage squeezing supply across phones, laptops and consoles, and follows earlier price hikes this summer on select MacBooks, iPads and HomePods.
Mark Gurman reports that Apple insiders who've handled the upcoming foldable iPhone Ultra praise its pocketability, hinge durability, iPad-style app layouts on its roughly 7.8-inch inner screen, and its usefulness as a camera viewfinder. The device, expected to launch soon with a 5.5-inch outer display, is rumored to cost over $2,000 and use Touch ID rather than Face ID, with only a main and ultra-wide camera.