Apple's iPhone 18 Pro, arriving two years after the iPhone 16 Pro, features over 50 upgrades including a new A20 Pro chip, variable-aperture camera, smaller Dynamic Island, and record battery life of 36 hours. The $1,199 starting price is $200 higher than the iPhone 16 Pro's launch, though base storage doubled to 256GB. For iPhone 16 Pro owners, the cumulative changes across two generations—including design, display, cameras, and charging speed improvements—make it a worthwhile upgrade.
Fujifilm's Instax Pal 2 is a $170 palm-sized instant camera that resembles traditional film cameras with a viewfinder and frame advance lever, unlike its baby monitor-like predecessor. It features a 10-megapixel sensor, 1-inch LCD, app-based operation via Bluetooth or USB-C, microSD card slot, and five filters, though it requires a separate printer for physical prints.
iOS 27 introduces three major Camera app upgrades for iPhones: Siri mode for AI-powered visual intelligence features like translation and calendar integration, fully customizable controls across all camera modes, and iPhone 18 Pro-exclusive features including manual pro controls, enhanced Photographic Styles 3, and Apple Reference Mode for capturing digital negatives.
Fujifilm launched the Instax Pal 2, a $170 pocket-sized digital camera with a 10-megapixel sensor, LCD screen, autofocus, and face detection, representing a significant upgrade over the original Pal and competitors like the Kodak Charmera. The camera features a retro design with a functional film-advance lever, optical viewfinder, and connectivity via Bluetooth and USB-C to Fujifilm's mobile app for effects and printing.
Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold is the company's fourth-generation foldable phone, featuring a traditional closed shape with an almost-square open display, IP68 water resistance, and an excellent triple camera system. Priced from £1,799, it runs Android 17 with AI tools and offers extended support until 2033, though battery life is slightly shorter than rivals and the display crease is more visible than competitors.
Fujifilm announced the Instax Pal 2, a redesigned compact digital camera with an analog-inspired look featuring an optical viewfinder, Animation mode for creating flipbook-style animations, and integration with the Instax Pal app for remote control and printing. Unlike its unusual predecessor, the Pal 2 resembles a miniaturized film camera and launches this month for $169.95 in the US.
Samsung is preparing to launch the Galaxy S27 series in early 2027 with four models including the S27, S27 Plus, S27 Pro, and S27 Ultra, featuring major upgrades to display, processor, and battery. The S27 Ultra will introduce a new pill-shaped camera design, while Samsung will skip its Edge series lineup. The flagships will compete against Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and other premium smartphones.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max feature a new variable aperture camera, A20 Pro chip, and improved battery life, with prices starting at $1,199 and $1,299 respectively. Both models share most features including the same display technology and camera system, with key differences in size, weight, battery capacity, and modem options between regions. The Pro Max offers superior battery life and a larger 6.9-inch display but represents a significant size and weight increase over previous generations.
T-Mobile is offering the iPhone 18 Pro for free with up to $1,200 in monthly bill credits on an Experience Beyond plan, accepting trade-ins in any condition. The iPhone 18 Pro features a mechanical aperture camera, the A20 Pro chip with improved cooling, and larger battery capacity. Credits are spread over 36 months and require account to remain active.
An article exploring the author's reconsideration of Russian camera lenses and optics after initially dismissing them based on limited experience. The author acknowledges their tendency to make quick judgments (thin-slicing) and decides to reassess Russian lenses by obtaining a high-quality example to fairly compare against the opinions of Russian lens enthusiasts.
Apple is now accepting pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, featuring a new variable aperture camera, faster A20 Pro chip, improved cooling, and longer battery life, starting at $1,199 and $1,299 respectively. Pre-orders are available in over 65 countries through Apple's online store, carriers like Verizon and AT&T, and retailers including Best Buy and Walmart, with deliveries beginning September 18.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro represents a three-year upgrade from the iPhone 15 Pro, featuring a larger 6.3-inch display with improved outdoor brightness, an aluminum frame replacing titanium, and a triple 48MP camera system compared to the older model's mixed megapixel setup. Key additions include a smaller Dynamic Island, Camera Control button, and a Camera Plateau design, though the new model is heavier and slightly thicker.
The iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable iPhone, lacks 10 features found on the iPhone 18 Pro models, including a dedicated telephoto camera, variable aperture, higher-resolution front camera, Action button, Face ID, LiDAR Scanner, and advanced camera features like ProRAW and spatial video. The iPhone 18 Pro launches September 18, while the iPhone Duo releases October 23.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max offer targeted upgrades over the iPhone 17 Pro models, featuring the faster A20 Pro chip with improved AI performance, a variable-aperture Main camera with 50% better low-light performance, and enhanced video capabilities including 4K Dolby Vision at 60 fps. Battery life increases to 36 hours (Pro) and 45 hours (Pro Max), with faster wired charging and a higher $1,199 starting price.
The iPhone 18 Pro features a new variable aperture camera that adjusts like the human eye, allowing photographers to control light exposure and create starburst effects with bright light sources. While the phone also includes a slimmer Dynamic Island, larger battery, and new A20 Pro chip, the variable aperture is primarily valuable for professional photographers rather than casual social media users.
The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 is an impressive foldable smartphone with a wider format, slim design, and strong performance, but it falls short of perfection due to a missing telephoto lens, thermal throttling issues, lack of S Pen support, and a steep $1,899 starting price that limits its appeal beyond dedicated foldable enthusiasts.
Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, featuring the A20 Pro chip, a 48MP camera with variable aperture, and significant battery life improvements (36 hours on Pro, 45 on Pro Max). The update focuses on internal upgrades rather than design changes, with prices starting at $1,199, $100 more than the iPhone 17 Pro.
The Insta360 Luna Pro is a $600 gimbal camera with a single 20mm Leica lens and 1-inch sensor, positioned as a rival to DJI's Osmo Pocket 4. It features true 4K recording in portrait mode for social media content, delivers crisp high-quality video with good depth, and includes accessories like a detachable remote and optional fill-light.
Honor unveiled the Magic 9 Pro Max flagship smartphone, featuring a distinctive large camera system designed in collaboration with ARRI and inspired by the company's iconic cinema cameras. The device adopts an iPhone-like camera island design and will launch in China on September 28, with a global release expected later.
Apple added customizable Camera app controls to iOS 27 Release Candidate, allowing users to add or remove widget-like controls from a list including Flash, Live Photo, Aspect Ratio, Timer, Exposure, Styles, Filters, Depth Control, Night Mode, Center Stage, File Format, and Shared Library. The feature, reported by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman in May, is now available to all iPhone models running iOS 27 ahead of the public release on September 14.