TL;DR
Alibaba’s T-Head open-sourced SAIL, the software stack for its Zhenwu AI chips, at WAIC in Shanghai. It aims to lower the barrier to migrating off Nvidia’s CUDA.
Tech
AI spam filters are getting suckered by old-school text salting
security
Turns out decades-old email tricks still work against some LLM-powered email filters
Notice more spam getting through that corporate email filter lately? Attackers are using a technique known as “text salting,” which hides benign-looking words intended to confuse some AI-powered email filters, says cybersecurity firm Barracuda.
The email security outfit said on Thursday that it had detected more than one million retail-themed phishing attacks using text salting since April. It’s not a new technique by any stretch and has been used to fool traditional secure email gateways for years, but Barracuda says it can also confuse machine-learning and LLM-based security tools.
Text salting involves peppering (sorry) a malicious email with random, harmless-seeming words in order to fool an email scanning system into thinking there’s nothing off about the flavor of a message (sorry again), tricking the system into passing it to its recipient for consumption (I’ll stop with the food jokes here).
Pour a pile of salty text on top of an email and a human reader would probably get suspicious, however, so attackers typically use one or more of three flavor variations (okay, I’m done – promise) to hide the additives from human readers, but not automated scanners, per Barracuda.
Typical techniques include CSS cropping, which sets the visible window small enough that a human won’t see the hidden filler text; text manipulation to move the salty copy outside the visible screen; and zero font techniques which insert misleading words between suspicious phishing copy that’s visible to a machine but not a human.
The end result of each of those techniques is a message that reads less malicious, more gibberish to a machine, leading it to assume the email is fine, and which looks exactly as the attacker intended when viewed by a human.
Modern email security systems have largely adapted to these techniques, with newer tools able to remove hidden text to see what a reader is supposed to see, sounding alarms when a lot of hidden stuff is inserted in an email, and the like. AI, however, hasn’t managed to follow suit, says Barracuda.
“Text salting and related techniques can be used to confuse AI-driven content analysis engines by flooding the email with random terms that encourage the AI system into making an incorrect classification decision,” the company wrote in its report – just like those early 2000s SEGs. What a technological leap we’ve made!
LLMs, Barracuda explained, are typically designed to process email text and source code plainly, with no understanding of whether text is visible or hidden from a user. They can be trained to do so, but that just means most tools probably aren’t doing that by default.
So, what can enterprises do to stop the flow of salty spam to their employees? Barracuda recommends a layered approach to email security rather than relying solely on keyword detection, including checking sender reputation, authentication results, embedded URLs, HTML-rendering techniques, and differences between user-visible and hidden content.
Ditching that AI spam filter might not be a bad idea, either. ®
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Months after analysts warned that AI-driven demand for memory chips would ripple through consumer electronics, India is providing the strongest evidence yet that the disruption has arrived, with rising handset prices reshaping the smartphone market.
The memory chips in question — RAM and storage components — are the same ones tech giants need by the truckload to build AI data centers. Manufacturers like Samsung, SK Hynix, and Micron have been shifting production capacity toward high-bandwidth memory, the specialized chips used in AI accelerators, because they’re much more profitable per wafer than the standard memory used in phones and laptops — leaving less capacity, and driving up costs, for everyday consumer electronics.
India, the world’s second-largest smartphone market by shipments after China, saw smartphone shipments fall 10% year-over-year in the April-June quarter, according to market research firm Counterpoint Research, marking the steepest June-quarter decline in six years as higher memory costs pushed up handset prices.
The impact has been more pronounced in India than in China, where smartphone shipments fell just 2% in Q2, according to Counterpoint. India has been hit harder because about 60% of its smartphone market is concentrated in the sub-₹20,000 (under $210) segment, where higher memory costs have had the biggest impact on prices, Tarun Pathak, the firm’s vice president of research, told TechCrunch.
India has been a prominent market for global smartphone brands for several years. The South Asian nation, home to more than 1.4 billion people and over 700 million smartphone users, has become a bellwether for consumer demand in price-sensitive markets, making shifts in buying patterns closely watched by device makers, chip suppliers, and investors tracking the broader health of the AI supply chain.
Pathak told TechCrunch that consumers are unlikely to abandon smartphones altogether. However, many of them are expected to delay upgrades, stretching replacement cycles to around four years from about 3.5 years previously, while premium brands such as Apple and Samsung remain better insulated from the slowdown.
The uneven impact is already reshaping competition among smartphone makers. Samsung was the only major smartphone brand to post shipment growth in India in Q2, with volumes rising 2% year-over-year, according to Counterpoint. Apple, by contrast, saw shipments fall 3% — though that dip largely reflected supply constraints and inventory shortages limiting how many iPhones Apple could deliver.
Consumers buying higher-end smartphones have proved less sensitive to price increases, with financing making expensive devices more affordable, Prachir Singh, a senior analyst at Counterpoint Research, told TechCrunch.
The pain has been most acute at the lower end of the market. Shipments in the sub-₹15,000 (under $150) segment fell 45% from a year earlier, Counterpoint said. Because Chinese brands are heavily exposed to entry- and mid-tier smartphones, their combined market share fell to its lowest level for a second calendar quarter since 2020.
The tougher economics are also prompting strategic shifts. This week, Chinese smartphone brand OnePlus said it would stop launching new products in Europe and North America, while maintaining its India business, following what it described as a careful assessment. Counterpoint data shared with TechCrunch showed China accounted for 74% of OnePlus’ global smartphone shipments to distributors and retailers in Q1, up from 59% a year earlier, while India’s share fell to 19% from 30%.
In other words, OnePlus is retreating to markets where it can still turn a profit and ceding ground elsewhere — a pattern likely to repeat across other budget-focused brands as margins tighten.
Indeed, Pathak told TechCrunch that running several sub-brands only makes sense if each one sells enough volume to cover shared costs, and that math stops working once margins get this thin. “Sub-brands normally have overlaps and shared resources, and you need a minimum base to justify the cut-throat margins. Profitability is the key to deciding market operations,” he said.
Consumers feel the squeeze
That pressure on brands is trickling straight down to the people buying their phones. Kiranjeet Kaur, associate research director for mobile phones research at IDC, said the Indian smartphone market is shifting from volume-led growth to value growth — meaning fewer phones are being sold overall, but each one generates more revenue — as higher component costs make lower-priced smartphones increasingly uneconomical.
The higher component costs are already filtering through to consumers. Smartphone prices in India have risen by between 4% and 68%, depending on the model, Pathak said, and as prices rise, consumers are either moving to higher-priced devices, delaying upgrades, or turning to the secondhand market.
Financing has meanwhile become “central to affordability,” Kaur told TechCrunch. She added that brands and retailers were also building inventory ahead of the festive season to lock in lower costs before further increases in component prices.
IDC also expects India’s smartphone shipments to decline by double digits in Q2, a steeper fall than the 4.1% decline in the first quarter and the 5.3% drop in the previous quarter, Kaur said. However, she noted the firm’s estimates were not yet finalized.
Kaur told TechCrunch that memory shortages and elevated smartphone prices were likely to persist until at least the end of 2027, although the pace of price increases should moderate as consumers gradually adjust to higher prices becoming the new normal.
“For Indian consumers, it is a double whammy as the weaker currency makes imports costlier, which has added to margin pressures for the market players, and they are passing on the cost to the consumer,” Kaur said.
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Many laptops try too hard to sell themselves. RGB lighting no one asked for, fans that wheeze under pressure, mysterious ports, and software bloated with trials and shortcuts. For business professionals, students, and frequent travelers, a machine that keeps things simple might be the better option. A minimalist laptop is light and compact enough to slip into a bag without a second thought. You’ll also want an uncluttered design, though port preferences vary. But this is a matter of personal choice. Apple’s bare-bones approach means you’ll need to carry adapters for certain devices. A laptop that covers your needs when it comes to ports means you won’t need to carry anything extra — but the look might not be so minimalist. Excellent battery life is another plus. This ensures you can leave the bulky charger at home, too.
Apple’s minimalist approach extends to software as well. macOS has long been renowned for arriving clean out of the box. Windows laptops tend to ship with a bit more preloaded software and might require a bit of a cleanup before they meet a minimalist’s standards. We’ve covered both platforms in our choices, and they’re all available with 13- or 14-inch displays for better portability. Larger versions are, of course, available, too, and won’t really break any minimalist rules. So here are 10 of the best minimalist laptops of 2026 for anyone who likes to keep their machine streamlined.
Apple MacBook Air 13-inch M5
The 13-inch MacBook Air may not be the budget MacBook any longer, but it has always been the benchmark when it comes to minimalist machines. It’s the envy of other manufacturers to the point that some even try to copy it. The newest M5 model hasn’t changed much in terms of aesthetics, but why would it? The aluminum chassis is clean on every surface. There are no vents, no grilles, no interruptions — just flat planes and rounded edges, with the iconic Apple logo as the only embellishment. Tom’s Hardware called it “the sum of years of refinements, with a mix of premium design, strong performance, and solid battery life,” which is a fair summary.
Minimalists have traditionally loved the 13-inch MacBook for its build and weight. At 2.7lbs, it weighs less than most hardbacks, and at under half an inch thick, it easily slides into any rucksack, briefcase, or laptop bag. You won’t need to carry the charger either, because you should get over 15 hours of battery life in real-world use. The MacBook Air M5 starts at $1,299 and is ideal for business travelers, remote workers, and students.
Connectivity is, as always, stripped down to the essentials. There’s MagSafe 3 for charging, two Thunderbolt 4 ports, and a headphone jack. The 13.6-inch Liquid Retina display is as vibrant as ever — sharp, color-accurate, and bright enough to work comfortably in most conditions. Minimalists can also rely on the bloatware-free macOS. Then there’s the new M5 chip. It’s powerful enough to handle the majority of professional demands. Documents, calls, countless browser tabs, and light creative work — it can do it all without any drama.
Apple MacBook Neo
The MacBook Neo is the laptop Apple should have made years ago. For as long as most people can remember, getting a MacBook meant spending at least $1,000. If you weren’t prepared to do that, your only option was the secondhand market. At $699, the MacBook Neo offers unbeatable value with reasonable compromises. It isn’t the best choice for power users and professional creatives. But the A18 Pro chip can manage countless tabs, constant multitasking, and video calls without the need to close anything down.
Minimalists will love that it has the exact same 2.7lb weight as the 13-inch MacBook Air, but with a slightly smaller footprint. It’s a hair thicker, however, but it still slips effortlessly into a bag. Display-wise, it’s also similar to the MacBook Air, which at this price is quite the luxury. It’s sharp, color-accurate, and bright enough for comfortable indoor use. Additionally, you’ll get close to Apple’s battery life claim of 16 hours of video playback or up to 11 hours of Wi-Fi browsing.
It arrives in a similar clean aluminum enclosure to the MacBook Air — rounded corners, flat surfaces, and the Apple logo pressed into the center — and comes in four stylish colors. You can choose from classic Silver, a soft Blush, bold Citrus, or a professional-looking Indigo. For students, first-time Mac buyers, or anyone switching from Windows, the Neo is an excellent starting point. SlashGear summed it up well: “The only thing keeping the Neo from being the perfect daily driver laptop for the average consumer is the lack of a keyboard backlight.”
Dell XPS 14 (2026)
The Dell XPS 14 may well be the most significant redesign the American company has delivered in years. It’s a beautiful laptop that excels at almost everything, and for minimalists shopping on the Windows side of the aisle, it’s definitely a compelling option. The lid is an aesthetically pleasing slab of uninterrupted dark Magnetite aluminum. It also features a more appealing XPS logo sitting where the Dell logo once did.
It has plenty more going for it than looks, though. Like most Dell laptops, the XPS 14 is highly configurable. The entry model runs on an Intel Core Ultra 5 325, which is ideal for everyday tasks. Step up to the Core Ultra X7 or X9, and you unlock the power demanded by professional workloads. There are also display options. The FHD panel is fine for everyday use, while the 2.8K OLED delivers that famed image quality the tech is known for — rich, saturated colors, perfect blacks, and a contrast ratio that LCD panels simply cannot match.
You can choose your storage and memory size, too, but the port selection is fixed — just slightly more generous than the MacBook, with three Thunderbolt 4 ports and a headphone jack. Minimalists will be happy to hear that it weighs about the same as the 13-inch MacBook Air while remaining only slightly thicker. You’ll get a comfortable full day out of the battery; TechRadar recorded just over 12 hours under moderately intensive use. And, unlike older Windows laptops, it showed very little battery drain when you close the lid. Windows 11 does come pre-installed with Dell apps and Copilot AI features that might not be ideal for a clean setup. However, most of them can be removed or disabled.
Apple MacBook Pro 14-inch (M5)
The MacBook Pro M5 delivers the kind of performance that makes it finally time to give up your old M1 Pro laptop if you still have one. It handles video editing and programming without complaint, while things like graphic design and music production are well within the capabilities of this machine. Memory is configurable at the point of purchase, which, of course, affects the price. The base model starts at $1,999 and runs all the way up to almost $10,000 for the M5 Pro Max chip with maximum processing power, 128 GB of memory, and 8 TB of storage. If you’re on the lookout for a machine your accountant will almost certainly advise against, max out by all means.
The 14.2-inch display is sharp, color-accurate, and perfect for creative professionals. However, pure minimalists should note that Apple is actually quite generous with the ports on this machine. As it’s a laptop for workstations, it has everything a professional needs: a full-size SD card slot, an HDMI port, MagSafe charging, three Thunderbolt 4s, and a headphone jack. That means no adapters, no dongles, and no extra clutter on the desk.
For all of its power, it’s still remarkably portable. At 3.4lbs, it’s not much heavier than the smaller MacBooks, and its 0.6-inch thickness mirrors the Dell XPS 14 — so it will still slide into a bag without a second thought. Apple rates the battery at 24 hours, which is, of course, overstated. RTINGS tested real-world use at 16 hours. Either way, a full working day is never in doubt, and for minimalists who need real horsepower, the MacBook Pro 14 is the best choice.
Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition
Early in 2026, SlashGear listed the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 13 Aura Edition as one of the best laptops you can buy. The Gen 14 has since been released, and the headline upgrade is the Space Frame, a modular build that makes the battery, keyboard, ports, and SSD all replaceable. The aesthetics are still minimal. The carbon fiber and magnesium chassis is black, flat, and completely unadorned. There are no color options, no decoration, and nothing unnecessary. It’s also among the lightest business laptops on the market. It weighs about 2.2lbs, and at just 0.6 inches at its thickest point, it’s easily portable.
The base model of the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 Carbon Gen 14 Aura Edition starts at $2,199. With it comes a Core Ultra 5 processor and 32GB of RAM. More headroom is available if you step up to the Core Ultra 7, which unlocks configurations with up to 64GB of RAM. You also get the choice of a sharp, color-accurate screen with the 2.8K OLED display or a standard IPS panel that handles everyday business use without issue. You have every connection you’ll need, too. There are three Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, an audio jack, and even a USB-A port, which is becoming increasingly rare on slim laptops at this price point. However, ZDNET tested the battery at just seven hours, which is fairly modest for this class. Its saving grace is rapid charging — it can get to 80% capacity in about an hour.
HP OmniBook 5 14
The MacBook Air is a machine that usually sets battery life standards. However, some laptops outshine it. The HP OmniBook 5 14 is one. In fact, it doesn’t just outshine it; it shines so brightly that the MacBook Air is practically a night light in comparison. PCMag tested it at what it called an “astounding” 34 hours and 48 minutes. This is the best result for any conventional laptop it had recorded in years, beating the next-best machine by an incredible 14 hours. When the battery finally runs low, fast charging gets it back up to 50% in just 45 minutes.
What’s more, the glacier-silver aluminum chassis is clean and uncluttered and has a premium feel to it. But it doesn’t come with a premium price tag. At $899.99, it’s one of the most affordable minimalist laptops out there, but it can still put in a good performance. It’s a natural fit for students or business professionals who want a beautiful everyday machine — and at 3lbs and 0.6 inches thick, it slides into a bag without adding much bulk or weight — perfect for commuting or carrying around campus.
It’s not just the chassis that looks beautiful, though. The 14-inch OLED panel delivers deep contrast, vivid colors, and HDR support, while the Snapdragon X Plus processor handles everyday tasks and light photo editing without complaint. It isn’t built for professional creative work, gaming, or specialist software, and it does ship with a handful of trials and preloaded apps that minimalists will want to clear out before settling in. Other than that, it’s a very tempting machine.
Acer Swift Go 14 (8845HS)
The Acer Swift Go 14 is not a laptop that goes out of its way to impress. The aluminum chassis is plain and uncluttered. There are no decorative flourishes and no unnecessary details. You might go so far as to say it looks bland. Minimalist, but bland. However, it’s a cute and breezy Windows alternative to the MacBook Air, and it gets the job done. With a build more solid than the budget price suggests, it’s sturdy enough to carry around without having to baby it. It’s also compact and slim, and sits comfortably in any bag, with the 2.9lb weight barely noticeable.
The Go 14 starts at $699 for the base Ryzen 5 8645HS model with 8GB of RAM. But the Ryzen 7 8845HS model features one of the most powerful laptop processors. It might be the more sensible choice because PCMag‘s testing shows that it outperforms several pricier Intel rivals, and it’s still under $800 for 16GB of RAM and 1TB of storage. You can also go bigger with up to 32GB of RAM and a 2TB SSD available. The display is impressively bright, while the 14-inch matte IPS touchscreen hits 98% sRGB coverage for solid color accuracy.
Port-wise, everything you need is built in, including two USB4 ports, an HDMI 2.1 port, two USB-A ports, a headset jack, and a microSD slot. With all those ports, the sides might not have the minimalist aesthetic of a MacBook, but this means no adapters and no dongles. The battery life also means there’s no need to carry a charger on the go. At well over 15 hours, it comfortably lasts an entire working day, and maybe even two.
Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406)
The Asus Zenbook S 14 has a distinctive look. Clean geometric lines run across the lid to form the tasteful Zenbook logo pressed into the Zumaia Gray or Scandinavian White Ceraluminum. This is the Taiwan-based corporation’s own ceramic-aluminum alloy. It gives the laptop a texture and solidity that standard aluminum can’t match. Yet, at 2.65lbs and barely half an inch thick, it’s among the slimmest and lightest on this list.
The 14-inch 3K OLED touchscreen is high quality, too. It’s sharp, vivid, and color-accurate, and the 120Hz refresh rate keeps motion smooth. HDR peak brightness reaches 1,100 nits for content that demands it. There’s minimal glare on the screen, too, so you can comfortably use it in an office with overhead lights. Professionals will be happy to know that in Laptop Mag‘s testing, the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V handled multiple Chrome tabs, Photoshop, and Steam simultaneously without any sign of slowdown. It’s basically a showpiece for Intel’s Lunar Lake AI PC chips, but the battery keeps pace, too. Separate tests have shown between roughly 14 and 16 hours of use.
You’ll find two Thunderbolt 4 ports, one on each side of the device, which is very useful for desk setups. They sit alongside a USB-A port, an HDMI 2.1 port, and an audio jack. The Asus Zenbook S 14 (UX5406) starts at $1,600, with the base model featuring the Intel Core Ultra 7 258V that Laptop Mag tested, along with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD. However, you can step up to the UX5406AA for $2,000, which brings a more powerful Intel Core Ultra 9 386H processor.
Lenovo Yoga Slim 7i Aura Edition Gen 11
For minimalists looking for the smallest footprint in their bag, the Yoga Slim 7i makes a strong case. At just 2.15lbs, it’s slightly lighter than the Lenovo ThinkPad X1 and easily beats the lightest MacBooks. That minimal weight has something to do with the 14-inch Plastic-OLED (POLED) display. It’s thinner, lighter, and more shock-resistant than standard glass OLED. Additional protection comes from its scratch- and drop-resistant Gorilla Glass 3, while the magnesium alloy chassis has been tested to U.S. military standards for durability. So, despite the low weight, it’s no pushover. At just 0.55 inches thick, it also rivals every laptop here for portability.
The display is bright. In fact, it’s the brightest laptop Tom’s Hardware tested, and the visuals are rich, color-accurate, and smooth. However, it’s one for those who keep to standard workloads. The Intel Core Ultra 7 355 can handle everyday tasks well, but push it toward CPU-heavy creative work and it starts to trail. In terms of battery life, it’s around the same as the MacBook Air; you should get more than 16 hours out of it. The port lineup also seems to have taken a leaf out of Apple’s book. There are just three Thunderbolt 4 ports. It takes things even further by omitting the headphone jack, which might disgruntle some — even minimalists. But, at $1,889.99 with 32GB of RAM and a 1TB SSD, it’s one that is worth the price if you don’t need heavy processing power.
Lenovo ThinkPad X9 14 Aura Edition
Business laptops often don’t prioritize the display, but that’s not the case with the Lenovo ThinkPad X9. It’s a solid business laptop with some quirks. The 14-inch 2.8K OLED screen not only delivers signature deep blacks and vivid colors, but it also has a smooth 120Hz refresh rate and a brightness of 475.6 nits, as measured by Tom’s Hardware. That reading is rather impressive for an OLED, and it was only beaten by the non-OLED MacBook Air. The rest of the laptop looks good, too. It has a recycled aluminum chassis that comes in either Thunder Grey or Glacier White and a ribbed bottom that gives it a tactile, premium feel. The 2.7lb weight and 0.5-inch thickness complete the minimalist-friendly look.
But the X9 can also handle a decent workload. It won’t handle the CPU-intensive tasks that Apple and Snapdragon rivals can, but the Intel Core Ultra processors take care of everyday productivity without issue. Bloatware is unusually clean for a Windows laptop, too. You’ll find mostly Lenovo’s own utilities, plus a handful of Microsoft apps, but nothing you can’t clear out with some light spring cleaning. However, battery life on the 2.8K model was recorded at just 10 hours. Step down to the 1,200p OLED to trade some visual quality for longer battery life. That standard model starts at $1,699, while the 2.8K display with its Core Ultra 7 processor, 32GB of RAM, and 1TB SSD starts at $2,399.
Methodology
We reviewed coverage from specialist tech publications, including Tom’s Hardware, PCWorld, PCMag, RTINGS, and Wired, as well as reviews from SlashGear and its sister websites. We specifically looked for laptops that combined lightweight, portable designs with clean, uncluttered aesthetics, bloat-free software, and good battery life. However, they also had to be powerful enough for the users most likely to choose a minimalist laptop, such as students, travelers, and business professionals.
Alibaba’s chip design unit T-Head announced at the World AI Conference in Shanghai on Saturday that it is open-sourcing SAIL, the full software stack for its Zhenwu series of AI chips. The move is designed to lower migration barriers for developers currently locked into Nvidia’s CUDA ecosystem. T-Head said programmers can adapt SAIL to mainstream AI frameworks in under seven days.
The vast majority of AI developers globally write software using CUDA, Nvidia’s proprietary toolkit for programming GPUs. That dependency effectively locks them into buying Nvidia hardware, a dynamic that has helped the company reach a $3.4 trillion market cap. Xi Jinping used the same conference on Friday to argue that no single country should monopolise AI, and T-Head’s open-sourcing of SAIL is the infrastructure-level expression of the same argument: if China wants AI independence, it needs to break the CUDA lock-in at the software layer, not just build alternative chips.
T-Head is not alone. Huawei open-sourced CANN, the software platform for its Ascend AI processors, in 2025. Moore Threads has pursued a similar strategy with its own GPU stack. All three are competing for the same developer migration: getting AI engineers to write code that runs on Chinese hardware without losing access to frameworks like PyTorch. The challenge is less technical than habitual. CUDA has a 17-year head start and the largest library ecosystem in the industry.
For Alibaba, the timing is loaded. Anthropic accused Alibaba’s Qwen lab of running the largest AI distillation campaign ever against a US company last month, and the Pentagon added Alibaba to its Chinese military companies blacklist in June. Open-sourcing SAIL positions the company as a contributor to open AI infrastructure while it fights those designations in court. The 560,000 Zhenwu chips Alibaba has already shipped to over 400 customers now have a publicly available software layer, which makes the ecosystem stickier and harder for any single government to shut down.
Apple has continued to put the prices up for its online services, with iCloud+ rising in cost in a number of territories.
Over the course of a few days, Apple has been increasing the prices of its various online services. Not to be left behind, iCloud+ has now upped its prices to join the rest of the roster.
The change, revealed by Apple’s iCloud+ pricing support page, doesn’t outright say what countries are affected by the pricing. However, comparisons with previous pricing, including via the Wayback Machine, shows it affects eight countries in total.
The affected countries, seeing higher iCloud pricing, include:
- Egypt
- Indonesia
- Japan
- New Zealand
- Nigeria
- Philippines
- Turkiye
- Vietnam
The price increases vary between territories, but fall in the range of 17% to 30%. For example, the 50GB plan was 150 yen per month but is now 180 yen, up 20%.
Pricing in other markets, including the United States and United Kingdom, remains unchanged. The perks of iCloud+ also hasn’t changed, including Hide My Email, iCloud Private Relay, a custom email domain, and HomeKit Secure Video support.
While Apple hasn’t explained why the prices have changed, it is most likely the company periodically accounting for changes in currency conversion.
Other price upgrades this week include Apple One, Apple Music, and AppleCare+.
Status Audio released its flagship Pro X Wireless Earbuds in 2025. Priced at $249, the Pro X combines Knowles balanced armature drivers with a dynamic driver, hybrid active noise cancellation, AI-powered VoiceLoom speech enhancement, and other premium features.
For 2026, Status Audio has partnered with YouTuber and Headphones.com reviewer Cameron Oatley, most commonly known from his GoldenSound YouTube Channel to create a special GoldenSound Edition of the Pro X Wireless Earbuds.
The GoldenSound Edition combines Status Audio’s existing hardware with a custom tuning profile and design aesthetic developed by GoldenSound. It retains the Pro X’s Hybrid Triple Driver Acoustic System, which uses a 12mm dynamic driver alongside two Knowles balanced armature drivers.
“Built upon extensive research and an understanding of how the human ear affects real-world sound, and made possible by Status Audio’s hardware and processing, the Pro X GoldenSound Reference Edition is tuned to disappear and leave nothing between you and the music,” said Cameron Oatley, host and founder of GoldenSound.
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For the Pro X, Cameron Oatley applied a custom tuning profile designed to reflect his signature sonic approach, with an emphasis on transparency, soundstage accuracy, and tonal balance. The goal is to position the Pro X not merely as a consumer earbud, but as a wireless in-ear monitor worthy of the GoldenSound seal of approval.
In addition to its revised tuning, the Pro X GoldenSound Edition introduces an exclusive gold-and-black finish with a metal-plated chassis. The new finish complements the Pro X’s redesigned, more ergonomic form factor, which is 21% smaller than previous models and sits more flush against the ear and jawline.
The Pro X supports Bluetooth 5.3 with Bluetooth LE, along with LDAC at up to 990 kbps, AAC, SBC, and LC3 codec support. Bluetooth multipoint allows it to remain connected to two compatible devices, while Auracast support adds access to compatible shared audio broadcasts. Google Fast Pair and Microsoft Swift Pair are also included for faster setup with supported Android and Windows devices.
Battery life is rated at up to eight hours per charge with active noise cancellation switched off, extending to as much as 32 hours with the charging case. The case supports both USB-C charging and Qi wireless charging, providing useful flexibility at home or while traveling.
The Status Audio and GoldenSound collaboration includes all the established technologies and features found in the standard Pro X, as outlined in the following chart.
Specifications
| Status Audio Models | Pro X / Pro X Golden Sound Edition |
| Product Type | Wireless Earbuds |
| Price | $249 – Pro X (Standard Edition) $279 – Pro X (GoldenSound Edition) |
| Drivers | 12mm dynamic driver + 2 x Knowles balanced armature drivers per earbud |
| Frequency Response | 20Hz to 40kHz |
| High-Resolution Wireless Audio Certified | Yes – Via Japan Audio Society |
| Noise Cancellation | Hybrid ANC up to -52dB |
| Ambient Aware / Transparency mode | Yes |
| Microphones | 6 beamforming microphones |
| VoiceLoom AI speech enhancement | Yes |
| Battery Life | Up to 8 hours per charge (ANC off)
Up to 32 hours with the charging case |
| Charging | USB-C and Qi wireless |
| Connectivity | Bluetooth 5.3 with LE Support |
| Bluetooth Codec Support | LDAC (up to 990 kbps), AAC, SBC, LC3 |
| Bluetooth Multipoint | Yes |
| Bluetooth Auracast | Yes |
| Google Fast Pair | Yes |
| Microsoft Swift Pair | Yes |
| IPX Rating | IP55 water and dust resistance |
| Companion App | iOS and Android support for EQ adjustments and earbud tracking |
| Finish | Standard Edition – Black, Moonbeam GoldenSound Edition – Gold-and-Black |
The Bottom Line
Status Audio is not pretending that the Pro X GoldenSound Edition is an entirely new earbud, and that is precisely what makes the collaboration interesting. The triple-driver acoustic system, wireless platform, noise cancellation, microphones, and battery performance remain unchanged.
The distinction is Cameron Oatley’s custom tuning, which targets greater tonal neutrality, transparency, and spatial accuracy, along with an exclusive gold-and-black finish. Unlike many cosmetic partnerships, GoldenSound brings an established background in audio engineering, critical listening, and objective measurements to the project.
At $279, the GoldenSound Edition is aimed at listeners who were already considering the Pro X but want a more reference-oriented tuning or prefer the limited-edition design. It may also appeal to headphone and IEM enthusiasts who want audiophile priorities in a practical wireless format without sacrificing ANC, multipoint connectivity, Auracast, or LDAC support.
Existing Pro X owners will have less reason to upgrade because the underlying hardware has not changed, and the revised tuning should not automatically be described as better until it has been independently measured and auditioned.
For new buyers, however, the additional $30 could be a reasonable premium if GoldenSound’s tuning delivers a more balanced and accurate presentation rather than merely a different flavor.
Price & Availability
The Status Pro X GoldenSound Edition will be available for $279. Pre-orders are open now at the Status Audio website with initial shipments expected to start in September 2026.
The original Status Audio Pro X is available for $249 at Amazon.
The Status Audio GoldenSound Edition will be demonstrated at CanJam London from July 18 – 19, 2026.
Related Reading:
The app also offers workouts, which auto-adjust the speed to your pace via sensors under the belt. It felt awkward, since I couldn’t figure out how to slow the pace without the device totally stopping. You switch between modes within the app or on the display, and you can stop and start the machine using the app or remote. I like to use the machine in manual mode, and I tend to use the app more than the remote, because the remote connectivity is inconsistent.
The machine feels like it will have a long lifespan. Its heft makes it harder to move around than the Sperax, and while the folding capability is a win in general, if you plan to slide this under something, make sure the folded height (5.4 inches) will work. Here’s my full review. —Kristin Canning
Most Versatile Walking Pad
-Reviewer-Photo-SOURCE-Adrienne-So.jpg)
Urevo
Strol 2S Pro Treadmill
WIRED
- Doubles as a treadmill with an adjustable handrail
- Impressive speed and incline ranges
- User-friendly companion app that syncs to unit
TIRED
- Speed may not be fast enough for users who want to run
- Workout data was occassionally wonky on the app
The Urevo Strol 2S Pro doubles as a treadmill and feels shockingly stable underfoot for how relatively lightweight it feels. I’ve tested several affordable treadmills, and they tend to feel wobbly at higher speeds, but this one remained firmly in place even as I ran on it at top speed and incline (7.6 mph and 9 percent). That top speed isn’t fast enough if you’re looking to really sprint, but it’s definitely ample for a good workout.
If you want to use the treadmill as a walking pad, you can keep the handrail down, which limits the top speed to 4 mph (though you can still use the full incline functionality). There’s a display on the front of the machine that cycles between time, distance, calories, incline, and speed. To access faster speeds, you have to put the handrail up, which requires you to use a hex tool to tighten it into place. The handlebar has a display as well, and you can control the machine’s basic functions from there. There’s also a tablet holder you can attach.
Tech
‘It almost defied belief’: here are the 5 best OnePlus phones ever, as the ‘flagship killer’ leaves the US and Europe
After months of speculation, it’s official: parent company Oppo is pulling OnePlus devices out of US and European markets. While existing customers are still going to get after-sales support and software updates from OnePlus, we’re not going to see any more new phones, tablets, or smartwatches in these regions in the future.
Oppo is branding this as a “strategic” move, but the decision is based on simple economics. OnePlus has always struggled to maintain the all-important carrier relationships in the US, and is being squeezed by Samsung, Apple, Google, and Chinese manufacturers in terms of sales.
We’re not here to dissect what went wrong in this particular article though — we’re here to celebrate some of the fantastic smartphones that OnePlus has made down the years, since the company was founded back in 2013. There have been dozens of OnePlus handsets launched since then, but these are our five favorites (in order of release).
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1. OnePlus One (2014)
We had to start with the OnePlus One really, as it set the tone for OnePlus, and epitomized everything the fledgling company was about. Boldly marketed as a “flagship killer” and with the tagline “never settle” — as in, never settle for a poor compromise between price and performance — it really did shake up the market in a significant way.
Our review praises the value-for-money proposition — it was less than half the price of the flagship Samsung Galaxy, at the time — as well as the top-notch specs (a Snapdragon 801 and 3GB of RAM) and the customization features available in CyanogenMod, which is the operating system that the first OnePlus phone came running.
It almost defied belief that a phone this well made, with such good internal specs, could cost this little — and from nowhere, OnePlus was suddenly on the scene in a big way. As a historical note, it’s also funny looking back to see the 5.5-inch screen described as being relatively big, in 2014 terms.
2. OnePlus 7 Pro (2019)
There were some excellent handsets between the debut phone from OnePlus and the OnePlus 7 Pro in 2019 — it was hardly a fallow time for the company — but this was the first handset to really wow us since the OnePlus One. That was partly down to its great party trick: a pop-up selfie camera.
Thanks to that pop-up camera, there was no need for a notch or cut-out on the front screen, and it looked gorgeous from the front (and the back, as it happens). It was a phone that genuinely turned heads when you took it out of your pocket, and our review waxed lyrical about the performance levels and charging speeds, too.
By this stage, OnePlus wasn’t quite giving us the same jaw-dropping value for money with its flagship phones as it did with the OnePlus One, but this phone still held its own in terms of pricing with the best flagships on the market in 2019. The screen had been upped to 6.67 inches in size, and — notably — boasted a 90 Hz refresh rate too.
3. OnePlus Open (2023)
You could make a strong argument that despite the best efforts of Samsung and Google, OnePlus was the first phone maker to get a foldable phone right in every department: the OnePlus Open was awarded 4.5 stars out of 5 in its TechRadar review, with the biggest pros listed as the displays, the cameras, and the thin and light build.
As we put it at the time: “The OnePlus Open is the only big foldable phone that doesn’t feel like a compromise. It looks and feels like a normal phone, and the camera is the best you’ll find on any foldable.” Of course, it was still expensive (what book-style foldable isn’t), but this was finally a folding phone that could justify the cost.
OnePlus was able to improve on what had gone before in this form factor in multiple areas, including the foldable’s hinge and crease, and it still managed to score highly in all the categories that matter on any type of smartphone. Meanwhile, the OxygenOS software responded nimbly and seamlessly to the folding design too.
4. OnePlus 13 (2024)
Admittedly our list is a little biased towards later models: that’s no criticism of the many fantastic earlier handsets, but OnePlus really has been hitting it out of the park in the last couple of years. As our reviewer for the OnePlus 13 put it: “I’m dumbfounded, I can’t find anything wrong with this phone.”
It had a huge 6,000 mAh battery, it ran super-smooth thanks to its Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and it had an IP69 rating — a first for a OnePlus phone. The handset also boasted a gorgeous 6.82-inch display, and powerful triple-lens rear cameras. This handset was a real return to top-tier OnePlus.
You can probably guess what the main downside was for customers in the US — it wasn’t possible to buy the OnePlus 13 in local carrier stores, which didn’t help with brand awareness and recognition. Looking back, this may be one of the phones that made up Oppo’s mind about exiting international markets: it was a device that deserved to sell in much higher numbers than it actually did.
5. OnePlus 15 (2025)
We’ll close out this list with last year’s OnePlus 15, which earned a rare 5-stars-out-of-5 ranking in its TechRadar review. There was so much to love about this phone: the battery life, the performance, the design, the software, the durability… it basically checked all of the boxes you would want, and there was really nothing bad to say about it.
The phone also shows that OnePlus was making great handsets right up until the end (in the US and Europe). It was other issues that were the problem — again, the OnePlus 15 couldn’t be found inside carrier stores in the United States, which meant it wasn’t as visible to consumers, and you had to pay more up front to get it.
While this wasn’t quite the last OnePlus phone to launch internationally, it still stands as a testament to the quality of the handsets the company has put out down the years. It more than holds its own against anything Apple, Google, and Samsung have ever made, and it’s a shame that most of the world won’t see these handsets any more.
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The moment Wales have dreaded for months has arrived with Matchday 3 of Nations Championship 2026 – a clash with the Springboks in South Africa. Rassie Erasmus hasn’t yet put out anywhere near a full-strength team, yet the world champions have cruised to a pair of bonus-point victories that place them right at the top of the Southern Hemisphere standings.
Although there have been plenty of positives for Wales, who beat the Barbarians and Fiji after closing out their Six Nations campaign with a shock victory over Italy, they were brought back to earth with a bump last weekend. They conceded five tries in a 35-21 beatdown by Argentina, who simply overpowered Steve Tandy’s men.
Cue the most muscular team in rugby. South Africa meted out Wales’ heaviest ever home defeat the last time the sides met, a 73-0 hammering in Cardiff last November. The 10 changes that Erasmus has made to the starting lineup means a repeat of sorts is unlikely in Durban on Saturday, but Wales will still be braced for the worst.
Fly-half Vusi Moyo is one of four Springboks debutants, along with Jaco Williams, Ruben van Heerden and Carlu Sadie, while Pieter-Steph du Toit continues to deputise for injured skipper Siya Kolisi. Wales’ own captain Dewi Lake has been deemed fit enough to start following a groin concern, while Louis Rees-Zammit returns to the starting lineup at right wing as part of a raft of six changes.
Read on as we explain how to watch South Africa vs Wales for free in the 2026 Nations Championship.
Can you watch South Africa vs Wales for free?
Yes. South Africa vs Wales is being shown on free-to-air Rugbypass TV in the US, on ITVX in the UK, and on Virgin Media Play in Ireland.
Free-to-air Welsh-language coverage is also available from S4C via BBC iPlayer.
Traveling abroad right now? You can use a VPN to watch South Africa vs Wales for free as if you were right at home.
Use a VPN to watch South Africa vs Wales live streams
A VPN is handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it’s back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual service. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with up to 75% off.
How to watch South Africa vs Wales live streams in the US
South Africa vs Wales, along with all 42 Nations Championship games, is available to live stream for FREE on Rugbypass TV in the US.
You can tune in via the Rugbypass TV website or app, and it works with Chromecast, Airplay, Apple TV and Android TV.
Outside of the US? Use a VPN while you’re traveling away from home to unlock your stream.
How to watch South Africa vs Wales live streams in the UK
In the UK, South Africa vs Wales is free-to-air on ITV1, with live streaming available via ITVX.
All you need is an account, a TV license and a UK postcode (e.g.HA9 0WS). Sign up here!
Fans who’d prefer to watch South Africa vs Wales with Welsh commentary can tune in for free on S4C via BBC iPlayer.
If you’re out of the UK but still want to tune in, explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access your accounts from anywhere.
How to watch South Africa vs Wales live streams in Ireland
South Africa vs Wales is free-to-air on Virgin Media One in Ireland, with live streaming available via the Virgin Media Play platform.
Outside Ireland? You’ll need to download a VPN, as detailed above, to tap into your free Nations Championship stream from abroad.
How to watch South Africa vs Wales live streams in Australia
In Australia, South Africa vs Wales is exclusive to Stan Sport.
Stan Sport costs AU$20/month on top of a Stan subscription, which itself starts at AU$12/month.
Not in Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN like NordVPN to watch the action as if you were back home.
How to watch South Africa vs Wales live streams in New Zealand
In New Zealand, Sky Sport NZ is showing the South Africa vs Wales game.
You can access Sky Sport through satellite TV or get a live stream, with the Sky Sport Now subscription service starting at NZ$29.99 per day or NZ$59.99 per month.
Those outside of New Zealand for any part of the Nations Championship can use NordVPN to gain access to their home streaming service.
How to watch Springboks vs Wales live streams in South Africa
The Springboks vs Wales game is being shown on Supersport in South Africa.
You’ll need a DStv access package to watch the Nations Championship, with prices starting at Rs99/month for the streaming version.
Abroad right now? Just use a VPN and tell your device that you’re back home and you’ll be good to go.
How to watch South Africa vs Wales live streams in Canada
In Canada, South Africa vs Wales is being shown on Premier Sports.
A monthly pass costs CA$29.99. You’ll need either the CA$79.99 six-month pass or the CA$139.99/year annual subscription to tune into the whole tournament.
If you’re out of Canada but still want to catch the action, explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access your accounts from anywhere.
What is the South Africa vs Wales start time?
The scheduled South Africa vs Wales kick-off time on Saturday, July 18 is 5.40pm SAST local time in Durban, which is 8.40am PT / 11.40am ET / 4.40pm BST.
That’s 1.40am AEST on Sunday, July 19 in Australia.
What is the South Africa vs Wales head-to-head?
The Springboks have won 36 of their 44 previous encounters with Wales. Wales have won seven and the other ended in a draw.
In South Africa, the head-to-head stands at 12-1.
Can I watch South Africa vs Wales on my mobile?
Of course, most broadcasters have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone’s browser. For example, Rugbypass TV, ITVX, BBC iPlayer and Virgin Media Play all have dedicated apps.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example: 1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service). 2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad. We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Key takeaways
- Features: Dynamic Island could be smaller and cameras might have a variable aperture — plus, there are rumors of a bigger battery. However, there is concern over memory component shortages and their high prices.
- Colors: Apple could launch light blue, dark cherry and dark gray versions or variations thereof.
- Price: After Apple hiked prices on Macs, iPads, HomePods and the Apple TV, it’s looking like iPhones won’t be immune to higher costs.
- Release date: Apple might split the iPhone 18 launch between fall 2026 and spring 2027.
The flow of rumors about Apple’s upcoming iPhone 18 lineup is nonstop now that its debut is just a few short months away. There was even leaked footage of iPhone 18 Pro drop tests that were then taken down. Current high RAM prices are especially of concern, as that could affect both specs and pricing of the new handsets.
The iPhone 18 lineup is shaping up to be one of Apple’s most consequential in years and also one of its most complicated. The Pro and Pro Max models are expected to arrive in September, joined for the first time by Apple’s long-rumored foldable device, widely referred to as the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra, which is expected to start above $2,000.
Read more: Win a New Apple Watch as CNET Guessing Game: Apple Edition Returns for Round 2
The standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18E and a second-generation iPhone Air, meanwhile, are reportedly being pushed to spring 2027, a significant departure from the all-in-one-fall-event model Apple has followed for years. If you’ve been waiting to upgrade to a standard iPhone, that shift changes the calculus considerably.
Previously, the iPhone 17 series impressed us with its surprisingly feature-packed base model, the incredibly slender iPhone Air, the boldly redesigned iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max and the entry-level iPhone 17E. We’re hoping the iPhone 18 lineup will surprise us, too.
The company is only a year or so away from the 20th anniversary of the original iPhone’s launch. While the company sells more phones in the US than rival Android phones, Apple is consistently behind Samsung in global sales and just ahead of Chinese phone-makers like Xiaomi. A lot is at stake for Apple with the next iPhone, including building interest in a possible foldable device, such as the rumored iPhone Fold.
Some of the hottest rumors include Dynamic Island shrinking, along with the possibility that the iPhone 18 and 18 Pro will have the same RAM as the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. Also, word is that Apple could split the launch of its iPhone 18 lineup, with the premium models coming out this year and more entry-level models following next year. Here’s a look at all the rumors and leaks we’ve uncovered about the potential iPhone 18 series.
Latest rumors
iPhone 18 design differences
We had CNET’s creative director show us what a light blue-colored iPhone Pro might look like.
We’re hearing there likely will be three models: the base iPhone 18, the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max. There also may be iPhone models not in this series, like a second-generation Air or the much-rumored folding iPhone. That could mean a total of six iPhone models that are in the works if you include the also-rumored 18E.
Designs for the iPhone tend to remain the same year after year, and current rumors suggest this trend will continue. The screen sizes of the three handsets look to be the same as before — 6.3 and 6.9 inches, respectively — with minor design differences in the camera bumps on the back. A Weibo tipster also appears to hint that Apple’s brightness requirements are incredibly demanding, which might result in OLED supply issues. This leads some to suspect it has a much brighter screen.
The base iPhone 18 is rumored to have a smaller camera bump compared to its predecessor, while the Pro and Pro Max will retain the wider “plateau” to accommodate their three rear cameras.
According to a leak from the Chinese social media site Weibo, the Pro model could get a “subtle transparent finish” on the rear glass panel. A Chinese leaker reportedly said that the iPhone 18 Pro could have a more unified design versus the two-tone look it has now. Some rumors also suggest that it could have a heavier, thicker build.
It might also come in three new colors: light blue, dark cherry and dark gray. Earlier rumors pointed to a coffee brown color; however, that option appears to have been scrapped, according to supposed dummy units shared by Sonny Dickson on X.
Other rumors suggest that changes may be coming to the iPhone’s Dynamic Island. Gurman and Weibo user Digital Chat Station suggest that Apple may reduce the size of the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 models. This could result in a small pinhole cutout for the camera, as the Face ID sensors may be located beneath the display.
The Information also recently reported that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will feature under-screen Face ID, confirming the Bloomberg rumor. Additionally, the outlet said the front camera would be moved to the top left corner of the screen and, as a result, would miss the Dynamic Island cutout.
Contrary to that claim, X account Ice Universe alleges that the Dynamic Island cutout on the iPhone 18 Pro models will remain, but will instead be “approximately 35% narrower” than on current iPhone 17 Pro models. This relates to how the Dynamic Island looks by default: the area enlarges when Live Activities or other information are displayed, just like the existing Dynamic Island. MacRumors suggests that the new iPhone will only have partial under-screen Face ID, which still requires a Dynamic Island.
On June 29, there was a cyberattack targeting Apple’s Indian manufacturing partner, Tata Electronics, which apparently resulted in leaked footage and images of the iPhone 18 Pro undergoing some drop tests. According to MacRumors, the images showed a silver-gray iPhone 18 Pro with a uniform rear look instead of the two-tone look of the current 17 Pro model. The site said that the lenses appeared to protrude more, and that the Apple logo has a reflective finish.
Watch this: No Regular iPhone 18? Why Apple May Split the iPhone Event
Another piece of evidence that supports the shrinking Dynamic Island claim is recently leaked images from the X account @earlyappleleaks. The photos show what appears to be an iPhone 18 Pro prototype with a much smaller Dynamic Island cutout. Similarly, X account Ice Universe shared a photo of what it claims to be an iPhone 18 Pro screen protector. It, too, shows a much smaller Dynamic Island.
We’ve tested under-display cameras on several phones over the years. The part of the display in front of the camera features fewer screen elements and translucent wiring, allowing the selfie camera to “see through” the screen, much like looking out a window with open blinds. While the idea of a display with minimal or no cutouts is a worthy one, under-display cameras often result in poor image quality. However, maybe Apple is the company that will finally figure out how to integrate a high-quality camera under the display.
Otherwise, Bloomberg’s Gurman also warns that the 18 Pro could be “underwhelming,” noting that it could feature only minor tweaks. This is a bit of a departure from prior iPhone Pros, as the Pro has usually been the more premium version of the iPhone lineup.
iPhone Air 2 rumors
There have been some conflicting rumors on whether we’ll see an iPhone Air 2. A report from The Information says the release is being delayed, perhaps due to disappointing iPhone Air sales last year. There are also those who say that Apple will still release an Air successor eventually, though it might be in 2027 rather than 2026.
Recently, leaker Jon Prosser reported that the iPhone Air 2 could have a second 48-megapixel ultrawide camera. Seeing as one of the biggest criticisms against the iPhone Air was its single wide camera, this could be welcome news. The iPhone Air 2’s Face ID unit may be redesigned to accommodate the second camera. He also said that it could have improved battery life, a similar titanium design as the first Air and come in a lavender model.
A bigger battery for iPhone 18 Pro
After years of customers asking, Apple finally chose battery over case slimness in the iPhone 17 Pro. And that model continues to surprise us, coming out on top in Patrick Holland’s recent comparison of battery life across 35 phones. We’re especially curious about whether Apple will adopt new silicon-carbon battery technology.
Based on a post on the Chinese social media site Weibo, spotted by 9to5Mac, the iPhone 18 Pro could include a battery in excess of 5,000 mAh — specifically, 5,000 mAh for models with a physical SIM card slot (as required in some countries) and 5,200 mAh for models that rely solely on eSIM (which give up more internal space that can be filled with more battery).
A recent post by Chinese Weibo-based leaker Digital Chat Station claims that Apple is trying out different battery capacities for different regions. The China model is apparently testing out a 4,056-mAh battery while the US model is testing out a 4,288-mAh battery. MacRumors suggests this is because the US model doesn’t have a physical SIM card slot and therefore has more space for a larger battery.
New cameras on iPhone 18
The iPhone 17 Pro had three rear cameras: a wide-angle lens, an ultrawide and a 4x telephoto.
The iPhone’s cameras are another feature that may receive a significant upgrade in 2026. Macworld reports that Weibo leaker Digital Chat Station said the iPhone 18 Pro Max could feature a variable-aperture camera, similar to how lenses on DSLR and mirrorless cameras work. This allows people greater control over depth of field and image brightness. The Information also reported that at least one rear camera on the 18 Pro would have a mechanical iris, another name for a lens’ aperture.
We’ve seen variable aperture phone cameras before. The Galaxy S9 launched in 2018 with a mechanical dual-aperture lens on its main camera that could switch between f1.5, allowing more light to enter and creating a shallower depth of field, and f2.4, which sharpened the subject more. But the S9’s image sensor was tiny, and photos from it were just OK. Xiaomi had a variable aperture, between f1.9 and f4.0, on the 2023 13 Ultra and 2024 14 Ultra, but each had a large 1-inch-type sensor that could take advantage of it. Sadly, to the frustration of CNET’s Andrew Lanxon, the company removed the variable aperture on the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.
Macworld also says the telephoto lenses on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could get a faster aperture, letting more light hit the sensor for better low-light shots. Additionally, MacRumors reports that all iPhone 18 models (except the 18E) would get upgraded 24-megapixel front-facing cameras for improved selfies. We should note that the iPhone 17 series and Air all have Apple’s new Center Stage selfie camera, which has a square 18-megapixel sensor and can take either horizontal or vertical photos, no matter which way you’re holding the phones.
There is also some speculation that the iPhone’s Camera Control button could be simplified. Instead of capacitive and pressure sensors, it might just be pressure-sensing for all of the Camera Control’s functions.
Updated A20 chip and iPhone 18 specs
The new iPhone models run iOS 26 and have either an A19 or A19 Pro chip: (left to right) iPhone 17, iPhone Air, iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro.
As the iPhone 17 lineup uses the A19 and A19 Pro chips, it makes sense that the upcoming iPhone 18 would use Apple’s new A20 processor. The rumored chips are said to use a new process called Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module, which incorporates the RAM directly into the same wafer as the CPU, GPU and neural engine. This apparently results in better efficiency and faster performance because everything would be located on the same chip.
We’re also hearing that the iPhone 18 lineup could use Apple’s next-gen C2 modem chip for improved wireless connectivity. Additionally, The Information reports that Apple is preparing to support 5G networks from satellites, potentially giving iPhone 18 models full satellite phone capabilities, not just for emergencies and texting.
That said, a recent rumor on Weibo suggests that the iPhone 18’s specs could be “downgraded” to be closer to an iPhone 18E model. That could also be more focused on reducing production costs on the back end.
MacRumors recently reported that the iPhone 18 could have 12GB of RAM, according to a research note by analyst Jeff Pu. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, on the other hand, has reported that Apple’s lower-end phones like the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18E could have 9GB instead (1 better than the 8GB currently on the iPhone 17 and 17E) perhaps due to the current high cost of RAM. Kuo appears to indicate that 9GB could be sufficient enough to handle all of the new AI capabilities of iOS 27.
Although this is not exclusive to the iPhone 18, Apple also recently announced that Google’s Gemini will be running its AI-powered Siri later this year.
Yep, it looks like prices are going up
Outgoing Apple CEO Tim Cook sent up a warning flare that the company would be increasing prices due to the “RAMageddon” component shortage, and sure enough, the next week prices jumped on Mac, iPad, Home Pod and Apple TV models. Although that doesn’t promise more expensive iPhones, MacRumors pointed to Chinese leakers who purport to confirm that you’ll pay more for the new models.
Although no one would argue that iPhone models have been cheap, the prices have stayed fairly consistent for years. Now, with a possible iPhone Ultra foldable in the works, the top end of the line could push well past the $2,000 mark.
iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro release date
The logo for Apple’s fall 2026 event invitation is interactive: a heat signature stays where you touch or click and hold.
For years, Apple has held its annual iPhone launch event in the fall. But according to multiple reports, Apple’s smartphone release schedule could look different in the coming years.
Bloomberg has reported that Apple plans to release the more expensive iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and its new foldable in fall 2026, while the more affordable iPhone 18 and the iPhone 18E (and maybe a potential iPhone Air 2) could debut six months later in February or March 2027.
Seeing as Apple has released the iPhone 16E and 17E in the spring of 2025 and 2026, that’s not a surprising development. It does mean, however, that if you’re holding out for a more affordable iPhone, you could have to wait until next year to plan your purchase.
Watch this: The iPhone 17’s Unexpectedly Satisfying Tips and Accessories
Jacob Wendt composes, arranges, and leads his own music while resisting the urge to make every track about the drummer. His new album, The Gallery, was recorded by Kevin Gray at Cohearent Records (aka. Hackensack West) and becomes the fourth release from Cohearent Records when it arrives in late summer.
In this episode of the eCoustics Podcast, Eric Pye (@audioloveyyc) and Mitch Anderson (@black_circle_radio) speak with Wendt and Gray about The Gallery, Wendt’s earlier album Silver Street, ensemble chemistry, getting the horns right, analog recording, and promoting independent jazz.
Sponsor: Thank you to our podcast sponsor SVS.
This episode was recorded on July 16, 2026.
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