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.
Apple released iOS 27 on September 14, featuring Siri AI and other upgrades. Users may experience temporary battery drain after installation due to background indexing and setup processes, which Apple confirmed is normal. Heavy iPhone usage post-update can also contribute to battery depletion, though performance should stabilize once setup completes.
iOS 27 updates cause temporary battery drain and device heat due to background indexing processes, particularly for Siri AI re-indexing, which may last several days. Performance returns to normal once setup completes, potentially with improved battery efficiency.
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.
Apple launched the AirPods 5 with Active Noise Cancellation now standard at the entry-level $129 price point, down from the $50 premium required on AirPods 4. The upgrade brings 50% more noise cancellation, improved durability (IP57), studio-quality audio recording, and extended battery life, though the core H2 chip and open-ear design remain unchanged from previous generations.
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.
CNET compares the iPhone Duo foldable to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, noting they share similar passport-style designs and $100 price difference. The Duo offers superior dust protection and wireless charging, while the Fold 8 has slightly better wired charging and dual selfie cameras. Samsung's known durability issues may influence consumer choice between the $1999 Duo and $1900 Fold 8.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 improves upon the Ultra 3 with extended battery life (up to 50 hours vs. 42 hours), advanced health tracking with enhanced heart rate sensors and new metrics like readiness scores, and the S11 chip enabling AI features such as Siri recap and audio intelligence. The design remains largely unchanged with subtle refinements for comfort, while maintaining durability and premium aesthetics.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro ($1,199) introduces significant upgrades over the iPhone 14 Pro from four years prior, including a faster A20 Pro chip, improved cameras with variable aperture, brighter 6.3-inch display, USB-C connectivity, and extended battery life. While recent iPhone owners may not need to upgrade, iPhone 14 Pro users gain substantial improvements across performance, imaging, and hardware features.
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 unveiled the Apple Watch Series 12 at its Surprise and Shine event, featuring the new S11 chip for more frequent health sensor readings and AI features, while maintaining the same $399 starting price and 24-hour battery life as the Series 11. The Series 12 is virtually identical in design to its predecessor but adds a ceramic case option and improved sensor placement; it begins shipping September 18.
A project that adds battery level reporting and backlight controls to Keychron K10 Pro keyboards on macOS by implementing firmware modifications to expose battery data over HID channels and a native macOS agent that displays the level in the menu bar and Control Center.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max ($1,299) and Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra ($1,300) are premium flagship phones with comparable specs. Both feature large OLED displays, high-capacity batteries, and advanced camera systems, though the S26 Ultra is lighter and includes a unique Privacy Display feature. The iPhone 18 Pro Max offers a variable-aperture camera and Apple's new AI-powered Siri with Gemini integration.
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.
Dyson has withdrawn its $500 CameraJet toothbrush from sale after complaints emerged about battery failures and overheating issues within ten days of launch. Major retailers including Darty, Boulanger, and Fnac have been instructed to remove the product and offer refunds to customers. In the US, Dyson acknowledged problems with a small batch where the battery compartment was not sufficiently sealed.
Apple removed GLONASS satellite positioning support from the Apple Watch Ultra 4, which now supports GPS, Galileo, QZSS, and BeiDou instead. The change may improve positioning accuracy, reduce processing demands, and extend battery life, since GLONASS's single-frequency L1 signal is less effective on dual-frequency devices. The Apple Watch Series 12 retains GLONASS support.
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's first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, supports MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging at up to 25W, reaching 50% battery in about 30 minutes wirelessly or 20 minutes with wired charging. The $1,999 device features dual displays (5.4-inch outer, 7.6-inch inner), dual batteries, and Apple Pencil support, with preorders starting October 16 and availability on October 23.