BBC StocksIt’s finally happening — this week, we are (probably) about to see Apple’s first foldable iPhone, more than five years after Samsung launched its first foldable phone. Apple’s annual iPhone release events are always interesting in one way or another, but this year’s presentation is one of the most anticipated in a while. As Tim Cook hands off the CEO role to former Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus, people have high expectations for Apple’s next devices, especially since the company is embracing an entirely new form factor.
While Apple is usually tight-lipped about its product launches, there are inevitable leaks, giving us insight into what we might see during the September 9 Apple event. The foldable iPhone is most exciting, but we’re also anticipating news about AirPods, HomePods, and the non-foldable iPhone 18 line.
If Apple has made its consumers wait over half a decade for it to enter the foldable market, its first attempt had better be good — especially since reports indicate the phone will cost more than $2,000. At least it’s not as pricey as the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro headset, and unlike headsets, people actually buy smartphones.
The good news is that early testers of the device have reported positive experiences. According to Bloomberg’s Apple insider Mark Gurman, the foldable iPhone has a premium feel, fits nicely into a pocket, and opens into a wide, iPad-like display. The phone is expected to sport a 5.5-inch cover display, expanding to 7.8 inches when unfolded. When folded, it will look shorter and wider than a typical iPhone.
To make hardware that remains sleek enough to pocket when folded, Apple has made concessions, reportedly skipping the telephoto camera. However, it will have a dual-lens rear camera system with a main and ultra-wide lens, similar to what’s on Apple’s more basic iPhones. Rumors suggest Apple will include MagSafe but will forego Face ID, relying instead on a Touch ID fingerprint button on the phone’s side.
Like other foldable phones, the iPhone Ultra is expected to support side-by-side multitasking, allowing two apps to run simultaneously, one on each half of the unfolded screen. Even though it will resemble a small iPad when opened, it will still run iOS rather than iPadOS. The same chip reportedly powers Apple’s budget MacBook Neo laptop.
A pain point for foldable phone users has been the visible crease. Apple has supposedly created a display where the crease isn’t as visible. If foldables aren’t your thing—or if you don’t want to spend double the price on your next phone—Apple is also expected to release new devices in the iPhone 18 line. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are predicted to arrive six months after the September event, marking a first for Apple in releasing premium models before the standard one.
With Apple’s Gemini-powered Siri AI update, the company is also expected to refresh the HomePod, a smart speaker competing with Amazon’s Echo line. References to unreleased products, including new HomePods, were spotted in a macOS preview build. The most surprising find is that Apple appears to be working on AirPods with built-in cameras. In a video from the preview, someone wearing the AirPods picks up a book, with a voiceover saying, ‘With Visual Intelligence, your world becomes savable. See something you like? Just ask me to save it for later.’ Gurman has reported that the cameras essentially act as eyes for Siri and aren’t designed to take photos or video. Instead, they capture visual information in low resolution.
Amanda Silberling, a senior writer at TechCrunch covering technology and culture, has also written for publications like Polygon, MTV, the Kenyon Review, NPR, and Business Insider. She is the co-host of the podcast ‘Wow If True’ about internet culture, with science fiction author Isabel J. Kim. Before joining TechCrunch, she worked as a grassroots organizer, museum educator, and film festival coordinator. She holds a B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania and served as a Princeton in Asia Fellow in Laos.
Source: TechCrunch
