Apple's fall event showcased the iPhone Duo foldable device and new Siri AI but notably omitted an anticipated smart home display that had been rumored for months. While the iPhone Duo can tent into a display mode, it falls short as a dedicated smart home hub due to its high $1,999 price, limited speaker quality, and smaller size compared to competitors like Amazon Echo Shows. Apple may be delaying the device until Siri AI matures further and pricing becomes more competitive.
Samsung is offering a $300 discount on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, bringing the price down to $1,600, as Apple prepares to announce its first foldable iPhone expected to cost $2,000. The Z Fold 8 features a redesigned lighter body, large AMOLED display, Snapdragon 8 Elite processor, and dual-camera system, with additional discounts available through Amazon and for higher storage models.
Apple's September 9 event will be hosted by new CEO John Ternus and is expected to feature the company's first foldable iPhone (rumored iPhone Ultra), alongside iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models. The event will also showcase iOS 27 with an improved Siri AI assistant, and may exclude the base iPhone 18 model from the fall lineup.