All articles tagged with #iphone
The iPhone Ultra, Apple’s rumored first foldable high-end iPhone, is said to launch over $2,000 but will reportedly drop key features including a telephoto camera, Action button/mute switch, Face ID, MagSafe, and a physical SIM, in favor of Touch ID in the side button and eSIM-only support.
Early impressions from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman suggest Apple’s first foldable iPhone Ultra impresses testers with a passport-style form factor, durable hinge, and an iPad-like internal layout (roughly a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover). Testers praised its use as a camera viewfinder and strong performance in gaming, productivity, and entertainment, but noted potential drawbacks like the absence of a telephoto lens and a switch back to Face ID/Touch ID considerations. The device is expected to be unveiled Sept. 8 alongside iPhone 18 Pro models, with limited initial supply and a price above $2,000, and Apple may raise prices on other iPhones due to rising memory costs.
Apple is reportedly lining up five upcoming launches: iPhone Ultra, a foldable that blends iPhone and iPad mini; HomePad smart-home hub with Photos slideshows, security camera features, and Siri AI; a revamped Apple TV 4K with a more powerful chip and AI capabilities; MacBook Ultra with touch input, OLED, Dynamic Island, and possible cellular option; and Apple Watch Series 12 / Ultra 4 powered by a new AI-optimized S-class chip.
Apple is reportedly preparing to raise iPhone prices following rivals and ongoing component-cost pressures, with the iPhone 18 Pro potentially starting around $1,199 (about a 9% increase). Apple may absorb some costs and could soften the impact with a new Apple Upgrade subscription, while watching how competitors like Samsung and Google price their devices.
A Weibo leaker claims Apple’s iPhone 20 Pro will adopt an all-glass body with quad-curved, bezel-free edges, using a glass assembly process similar to the iPhone Air but with tweaks for rounded materials and better heat dissipation. The design aims to be thinner without sacrificing performance or battery life, drawing on inspirations from the iPhone Air and Ultra for a distinctive look ahead of the iPhone’s 20th anniversary. Official details are not yet confirmed.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports early testers of Apple’s foldable iPhone Ultra praise its pocket-friendly form factor, durable hinge, and iPad-like inner display that’s easy to use, including as a camera viewfinder; however, the absence of a telephoto camera could disappoint at an expected $2,000 price. Rumors peg a 5.5-inch cover display, 7.76-inch inner display, and a dual rear camera setup (48MP primary + ultrawide) with features like Touch ID in the power button.
Bloomberg’s Gurman says the foldable iPhone will lack a telephoto camera, leaving only a main wide and ultrawide lens and making true optical zoom impossible; by contrast, iPhone 17 Pro/18 Pro Max rumors suggest 4x–6x optical zoom, so deep-zoom photography on the foldable would be disappointing.
Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports testers of Apple’s upcoming iPhone Ultra foldable say its durable hinge, large folding display and iPad-like app layouts justify a premium price; although it omits a telephoto camera and may start around $2,000, the device is positioned as a halo product that could boost foldables and draw attention to the broader iPhone lineup.
WIRED’s Reece Rogers tests iOS 27’s redesigned Shortcuts app, highlighting an AI-assisted workflow and seven practical automations such as Habit Breaking (prompt-based control to avoid doomscrolling), Quality Checking (air quality alerts), Battery Saving reminders when leaving home, Plant Watering logs with a home screen shortcut, Screenshot Text Extraction to clipboard, Plane Landing status after airplane mode, and Sound Recognizing that pauses playback. Despite some beta glitches, the piece shows how the Shortcuts overhaul can streamline daily tasks and points to deeper Apple AI integration with iOS 27 arriving this fall.
Apple’s Trade In program can credit iPhones back to the iPhone 8 (2017); iPhone 8 in good condition is worth about $35, the 8 Plus $40, and the iPhone X $60, with older models earning nothing. Newer iPhones can fetch up to $720 (e.g., iPhone 16 Pro Max). Non-Apple devices like Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and Huawei are also eligible but typically worth less (e.g., Pixel 6 Pro in good shape $50; a 128GB Pixel 9 Pro around $255, 1TB about $315). Credit can be applied to a new purchase, financing, or an Apple Gift Card, and you can trade online (with a prepaid label) or at an Apple Store. For potentially higher returns, third-party sites or direct selling may pay more, though with extra effort.
Tom’s Guide weighs the iPhone Ultra foldable against the iPhone 18 Pro Max, highlighting the Ultra’s 7.8-inch main display and external screen for easier one‑hand use and potential real multitasking, but noting the 18 Pro Max’s advantages in true optical zoom, rumored variable aperture, and longer battery life. Both are expected to run the same A20 Pro chip, making software and price the deciding factors. For now the author leans toward the iPhone 18 Pro Max due to proven performance and endurance, unless foldable software gains and pricing shift the balance toward the Ultra.
Apple bucked the global smartphone downturn, holding about a 51% market share while Samsung trails at around 40%, according to Counterpoint Research, highlighting strong iPhone demand.
Apple reportedly won’t launch a base iPhone 18 in September. Instead, three models—iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and Ultra—are expected this fall, while the base iPhone 18 and two additional models (18e and Air 2) are pushed to early 2027, likely arriving by March.
Apple is poised to unveil more than ten products at its September event, led by the iPhone 18 Pro/Pro Max/Ultra lineup and Apple Watch Series 12 with Ultra 4, plus new AirPods Pro 4 with IR cameras and four Home devices (New Apple TV 4K, HomePad, HomePod mini 2, HomePod 3). Additional possibilities include an OLED iPad mini, a home security camera, and potentially new Macs for October.
Apple’s upcoming September event is expected to introduce up to eight devices, led by the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max (with the standard iPhone 18 arriving later), plus a foldable iPhone Ultra. The lineup may also include AirPods Ultra, two Apple Watches (Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4), a refreshed HomePod/home hub, and an updated Apple TV 4K, with preorders likely around September 11–12 and the event timing around September 9 due to Labor Day. The foldable Ultra could be expensive and limited in availability, while some features (like under‑display Face ID) remain uncertain.