Did you ever drive a Scion? Status-obsessed people may have scoffed at your budget-friendly car, but you probably knew at the time it was just a Toyota with a different nameplate on it. According to a new report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple may be looking to turn the Beats brand into a similar repository for lower-priced goods.
A couple weeks ago, hidden code was found, seemingly exposing a secret Apple project aimed at developing gaming controllers—perhaps not unlike some of the cool and fun-to-use third-party accessories that already exist. And Gurman now says his anonymous inside sources have told him Apple “has indeed been working on gaming controllers for the iPhone for a bit over a year.”
However, Gurman claims, the controllers Apple has in mind may never carry Apple branding. The controller idea is being developed under the aegis of Beats, Gurman writes. At the same time, he says, Apple has begun to use Beats as a potential spigot for experimental, un-Apple-like product possibilities.
Beats does indeed make a ton of good headphones that don’t get quite as much press as AirPods. But Gurman says Apple increasingly sees Beats as a way to “capitalize on the third-party accessories market” more broadly, without impacting the Apple brand.
Marketing a gaming controller is tricky if you’re Apple, Gurman says, because in order to sell well, it can’t exactly require the consumer to be at, let’s say, the Vision Pro income level. That means Apple may steer clear of premium materials and high-status finishes that make an Apple product read as an Apple product the second you see it.
“The culture and lifestyle around gaming controllers also could fit naturally under the Beats umbrella,” Gurman claims.
Apple’s new CEO John Ternus used the opening of the company’s Surprise and Shine event Wednesday to make its AI strategy clear: the iPhone is already the best AI device out there, and Apple cares more about data privacy than its rivals.
The comments come as Ternus takes the reins at Apple from Tim Cook, who is now executive chairman, and offer a clear picture of how the company plans to compete in the AI era. Instead of building new hardware for AI, Apple wants to make the iPhone the central way consumers interact with the new technology.
During his introduction at the Cupertino event, Ternus described the ideal AI device, or “intelligent personal hub,” as he called it. He said such a hub would have a broad understanding of a user’s personal context, always be with them, and have both a powerful processor capable of running AI models on-device and an internet connection to access models in the cloud.
The device would also have a large display, high-quality cameras and microphones so it could see and hear the world around it, along with long battery life, Ternus continued.
Plus, “you’d want it to be super easy to use without a big learning curve. And finally, you’d want it to work seamlessly with your other devices, apps, and services, so it feels like one integrated experience,” he said.
“In other words, you would arrive at something remarkably familiar, because there’s no product in the world better designed to be your intelligent personal hub than iPhone,” Ternus said.
Ternus also emphasized how Apple cares more about data privacy, adding that “others see [users’ personal] data as something to collect and store.” It was one of the sharper statements Apple has made about how it intends to differentiate its AI platform from the competition.
“…Honestly, trust only goes so far when your data is no longer yours to control; that’s why Apple Intelligence runs on device whenever it can,” Ternus concluded.
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Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports that Schiller’s decision — he will remain involved in the company as an Apple Fellow working on unspecified projects — was driven in part by a desire to spend more time with his family and on philanthropy.
But apparently there was another factor in Schiller’s thinking: New CEO John Ternus and services chief Eddy Cue seek to improve App Store margins and bring in more recurring revenue.
Of course, Apple’s management of the App Store, as well as its share of App Store payments, has been an ongoing source of developer criticism and even been the subject of major lawsuits.
In Gurman’s telling, there wasn’t a big fight over Ternus and Cue’s strategy. But Schiller believed that trying to squeeze more profits from the business would only increase conflict with governments and developers, so he decided to step down and avoid getting involved.
Apple takes its sweet time adopting a new trend or technology, but when it does, it delivers one of the best implementations ever. That’s exactly what everyone is expecting from the company’s first foldable. Call it the iPhone Fold or the iPhone Ultra, the Cupertino giant has more riding on this launch than perhaps any product launched in the last few years, and it could break cover later this year.
Apple has since confirmed its September 9, 2026 event date, with the tagline “Surprise and shine,” and sent invitations on August 26. The ‘surprise’ in the tagline could be a hint about the foldable iPhone. We’re now just days away from the iPhone Ultra’s expected reveal, and here’s everything you need to know about it.
iPhone Fold / Ultra: At a glance
Specification
Details
Name
iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra
Apple yet to confirm the official name
Release date
Should be September 9, 2026
Availability possibly October–December 2026
Starting price
$1,999–$2,500
256GB / 512GB / 1TB storage options rumored
Form factor
Book-style fold (horizontal)
Similar to Samsung Galaxy Z Fold but with a wider aspect ratio when unfolded
Inner display
~7.76–7.8 inches, OLED
4:3 aspect ratio; near iPad mini-sized when unfolded
Outer display
~5.3–5.5 inches, OLED
Usable as a standard iPhone when folded
Crease
Near-invisible
Apple reportedly pursued elimination “regardless of cost”
Chip
A20 or A20 Pro
Based on expected September 2026 launch timeline
Biometrics
Side-mounted Touch ID
Face ID likely dropped to save internal space
Cameras
Dual rear (main + ultrawide), no telephoto
One front camera on inner display; one on outer display
Battery
5,000–5,500 mAh
Largest ever on an iPhone, per Weibo leakers
Frame material
Titanium and aluminum
Could use liquid metal hinge
iPhone Fold / Ultra: Latest News
August 26, 2026: Apple confirms its September 9 event.
August 24, 2026: Luxury customizer Caviar unveils several custom “iPhone Ultra” editions, priced from $13,840 to $18,840, months before Apple’s own official reveal.
July 11, 2026: A leaked regulatory filing suggests the iPhone Ultra uses a dual-cell battery (1,921mAh + 2,962mAh) totaling ~4,883mAh.
July 6, 2026: Apple reportedly raises its foldable production target to around 10 million units for the year, per Nikkei Asia; IDC pegs the average selling price at $2,500.
June 16, 2026: Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports Apple is already developing a second-generation foldable, codenamed V78, for a 2027 release alongside the 20th-anniversary iPhone.
May 26, 2026: A report by Letem světem Applem (via PhoneArena) shows the purported iPhone Ultra inside a protective case, revealing almost everything about the phone’s design.
May 26, 2026: A claim from Instant Digital (via Weibo) suggests that Apple is facing problems in improving manufacturing yields during the pre-assembly process. The issue is related to Surface Mount Technology (SMT).
May 19, 2026: Chinese tipster Digital Chat Station (via Weibo) shares that Apple could adopt a similar crease-free solution as Oppo Find N6.
May 16, 2026: Chinese tipster Instant Digital (via Weibo) claims that Apple has achieved a visually crease-free foldable display with “long-term stability.” The core problem, however, is improving the hinge reliability.
May 11, 2026: A report from MacRumors states that the first foldable iPhone could arrive in just two colors at launch.
April 7, 2026: After rumors about Apple hitting a development snag with the foldable, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman pushed back by reinstating the September launch window.
March 16, 2026: Given that the device will run on iOS, and not iPadOS, it might miss out on some of the most popular apps or the advanced multitasking features built for iPads.
When will Apple release the iPhone Fold?
One of the most credible sources of information for upcoming Apple products, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, remains confident that the iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold is on schedule for a September 2026 launch, at the company’s most important fall hardware event, which has also become one of the most important events in the consumer tech industry.
As mentioned earlier, Apple has confirmed its September 9 launch event. Although the devices haven’t been confirmed yet, we could see the iPhone Ultra join the two iPhone 18 Pro models at launch.
Apple has spent years watching from the sidelines, as Samsung, Google, and a couple of other Chinese companies reveal their foldables, and it wouldn’t risk revealing its first foldable through a separate event, one that might not have as much awareness or gather as much attention as its iconic fall event.
I believe the iPhone Ultra could be the last announcement, after the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max reveal.
On the flip side, analyst Tim Long has flagged that shipments for the iPhone Fold might not begin until December 2026, implying the announcement and arrival could be separated by almost three months and corroborating a report by Nikkei Asia about Apple hitting development snags with the foldable related to engineering problems.
More recent reporting suggests the bigger risk is a staggered international rollout. Some supply chain sources claim that Apple might keep the iPhone Ultra US-only at launch. Buyers in other markets might have to wait a couple of months before getting their hands on it.
Date
Rumored milestone
Status
Sep 9, 2026
Announcement alongside iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max
Confirmed
Sep 2026
U.S. availability
Likely
Oct–Dec 2026
Wider international rollout, potentially staggered by region
Likely
2027
Full launch pushed due to engineering failures
Now unlikely — production has reportedly been raised to 10 million units, suggesting confidence in the September timeline
I think it makes sense, and for one good reason. Releasing the foldable iPhone about three months after the regular iPhone 18 Pro models ship would give customers and Apple stores a chance to catch their breath, and, at the same time, create more hype for the foldable. It would also let people decide whether to spend a fortune on an iPhone that folds in half or settle for the Pro or Pro Max.
How much will the iPhone Fold cost?
On pricing, sources largely agree: the iPhone Fold won’t be cheap, not by a long shot. Ming-Chi Kuo places the starting price between $2,000 and $2,500, a range that Gurman seems to agree with. However, we’ve also heard rumors that the starting price could be less than $2,000.
Sonny Dickson
I believe a $1,999 starting price could be the sweet spot: high enough to reflect the technology but just below the psychologically daunting $2,000 ceiling.
A recent research firm, IDC, now expects an average selling price closer to $2,500, with top-storage configurations reaching $3,000 (via 9To5Mac). Apple has reportedly raised its production target to around 10 million units for the year, up from earlier estimates of 7–8 million.
The dummy models Sonny Dickson shared on X in April 2026 make this immediately apparent. Both the cover screen and inner screen are noticeably broader than existing book-style foldables; Apple is clearly charting its own way.
According to Ming-Chi Kuo, the foldable iPhone could come with a 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner screen, both measured diagonally, both featuring an OLED panel. A MacRumors report goes further, citing specific resolutions: 2,088 x 1,422 on the 5.49-inch cover screen, and 2,713 x 1,920 on the 7.76-inch inner panel.
The inner screen could be closer to a 4:3 aspect ratio, as opposed to Fold 7’s 10:9, to better handle side-by-side app multitasking and video consumption without the black bars on the top and the bottom. While the inner screen could get Apple’s ProMotion display technology (up to 120Hz refresh rate), the cover screen could be limited to 60Hz, though that might not sit well with buyers who’re shelling out $2,000 for the smartphone.
yeux1122 / Naver
There should be a punch-hole cutout on the cover screen. The inner screen will also have a front camera, though whether it’s a punch-hole or under-display remains unconfirmed. On the back, the phone might feature a camera visor, similar to the one we’ve seen on the Pixel phones, with a double-camera array toward the left and an LED flash and microphone on the right side.
The frame could use a combination of titanium and aluminum. The most important design challenge, for Apple, is the foldable’s crease. On the crease front, Apple reportedly pursued a dual-layer ultra-thin glass structure and a liquid metal hinge to minimize it.
Prototype testing in May revealed a hinge rattling issue, but a follow-up leak on May 19 from DCS claimed Apple had since locked in both the hinge and panel design (via Notebookcheck), with the solution mirroring the near-crease-free approach used on the Oppo Find N6.
Shimul Sood / Digital Trends
On colors, the picture has narrowed. Leaked case and camera-protector leaks from Sonny Dickson point to silver/white and a darker blue or indigo option, broadly consistent with the “just two colors.” MagSafe remains a genuinely open question. Some leaked dummy units show no visible magnet ring, while later leaked third-party case designs include circular cutouts consistent with MagSafe magnets.
Performance and software
Under the hood, the iPhone Fold or Ultra will most likely run on one of Apple’s A20 chips, built on TSMC’s 2nm fabrication process. With more transistors on the chip, the chips could be up to 15% faster and 30% more efficient than the A19 series (via WCCFTech). Whether the foldable gets the regular A20 or the A20 Pro chip remains a point of contention.
Given what the company might charge for the device, customers will likely hold out for the A20 Pro chip; it doesn’t matter if it’s a binned version to control the performance and thermals. What’s less debated, however, is the packaging. Apple could use TSMC’s Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) technology, which stacks RAM directly onto the chip wafer alongside the CPU, GPU, and Neural Engine.
The result could be faster RAM access, leading to better performance, less heat generation, and improved on-device Apple Intelligence performance. For those wondering, the iPhone Fold could ship with 12GB of LPDDR5X RAM, the same amount as the iPhone 17 Pro and the purported iPhone 18 Pro. Storage could span across three tiers: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.
On the connectivity front, we could get Apple’s second-generation C2 modem (same as the iPhone 18 Pro), the successor to the C1X modem on the iPhone 17e, which would also bring mmWave 5G support to the foldable. The device could also be eSIM-only, given the limited internal space.
As I mentioned earlier, the iPhone Fold or Ultra will most likely feature Touch ID instead of Face ID, a compromise that might sting at first, but given that fingerprint authentication is already present on existing iPads, it shouldn’t take long to get the hang of.
Out of the box, the iPhone Fold is expected to run iOS 27, and a special version of the operating system no less, built around utilizing the additional screen real estate on the foldable.
Apple
Like the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone Ultra will also run on iOS 27 out of the box. Alongside the new Apple Intelligence features, Siri AI, and deeper cross-app context already available in the public beta, the operating system update could also bring several improvements, particularly useful on a foldable.
Overall, split-screen multitasking could make the most headlines. Per reports, the phone should be able to run two apps side-by-side, perhaps with iPadOS-like layouts that better use the larger inner display. Code found in iOS 27’s beta version suggests that the software should be able to recognize whether the phone is open, closed, or positioned at a particular hinge angle.
Cameras and battery
On paper, the iPhone Fold or Ultra’s camera systems don’t look as good as the iPhone 18 Pro, or the iPhone 17 Pro for that matter, and for a device that might cost twice as much, that isn’t a trade-off worth ignoring.
The iPhone Fold is expected to come with two 48MP sensors on the back, similar to the baseline iPhone 17, one with a wide lens and another with an ultrawide lens. What’s missing here, you might ask? It’s the telephoto lens found on the Pro models, and I think it’s likely due to space constraints in the foldable’s chassis that Apple might not include a dedicated zoom lens.
A November 2025 JP Morgan forecast (via MacRumors) also claimed that Apple might drop the LiDAR module and optical image stabilization on the foldable. While the first might be okay, the second could be a dealbreaker, especially for a smartphone that costs around or over $2,000. If I were to presume, the company will lean on computational photography and the A20’s NPU to compensate for the lack of hardware.
The same forecast also says about a 24MP under-display selfie camera on the inner screen. Whether it will retain Center Stage functionality from the iPhone 17 series isn’t clear yet, and neither is the resolution of the punch-hole camera on the cover screen.
Here’s everything we know about the iPhone Fold so far:
– 5.5” cover / 7.8” inner display – Nearly invisible crease – Touch ID – Apple C2 modem – 48MP dual rear camera – 5400~5800mAh battery – iOS 27 with Split View
Talking about the battery, the iPhone Fold is rumored to ship with the largest battery on an iPhone, ever. According to Chinese tipster Fixed Focus Digital (via Weibo), the foldable could sport a 5,000 to 5,500 mAh battery, which, if true, could be bigger than the Fold 7’s 4,400 and the Pixel 10 Pro Fold’s 4,821 mAh battery.
However, a more recent, more specific leak from Digital Chat Station, citing a regulatory filing from Apple’s battery supplier, points to a dual-cell design instead, with two separate cells rated at 1,921mAh and 2,962mAh for a combined ~4,883mAh. But the figure itself is a step down from the original 5,000–5,500mAh estimate, and somewhat ironically, it would actually be smaller than the standard iPhone 18 Pro Max’s rumored ~5,567mAh battery,
The Razr Fold has a 6,000 mAh battery, but Cupertino’s foldable might beat it in usage time, mainly due to better hardware-software optimization and its chip’s superior efficiency. Initial rumors hinted at a silicon-carbon battery in the purported foldable, but none of the most credible sources have supported the notion.
Contrary to earlier rumors, recent pictures of the iPhone Fold, from a leaked case listing (via PhoneArena), suggest it might feature MagSafe charging after all. However, if that doesn’t happen, the iPhone Fold will be the first high-end iPhone to move out of the production line without MagSafe, since the iPhone 11 Pro, a genuinely baffling omission at $2,000.
Bottom line
The iPhone Fold is shaping up to be one of the most consequential product launches in Apple’s history, and one of the most expensive. While the company might actually achieve a crease-free display and create an ultra-durable foldable that passes the test of time, the compromises are hard to ignore, especially at an asking price north of $2,000.
Apple needs to do what it does best: stick to its core instincts and make the product work at all costs. With the September 9 event now locked in, we won’t have to wait much longer to find out if it does.
It’s been a little over a week since Apple’s WWDC keynote, and the iOS 27 beta is already out in the wild. While Apple spent plenty of time talking about its Gemini-powered Siri, the thing I was most excited about was getting the update onto my iPhone 16e and seeing what it was actually like to live with.
I’ve been using the beta every day since then, and one thing has become pretty clear: not every new feature lived up to the hype for me. Some felt more interesting during the announcement than they do in everyday use, while others simply haven’t found a place in my routine. But a few features have been the complete opposite. They’re the ones I’ve found myself returning to again and again without even thinking about it. After spending more than a week with iOS 27, these are the three features that have stood out the most — and the biggest reason I’m still excited about this update.
The fitness app finally feels like a fitness app
I’m a bit of a fitness nerd. Whether it’s squeezing in a workout after a long day or making sure I close my Activity rings, I’m always keeping an eye on my progress. That’s why the Fitness app is one of the apps I use the most on my iPhone, and honestly, I’ve felt for a while that it deserved a refresh. The old design wasn’t bad by any means. It was clean, familiar, and easy to navigate. But it also felt a little static, especially compared to modern fitness apps that do a much better job of making your workout data feel engaging and meaningful. There was plenty of information there, but not always in the most exciting way.
Shimul Sood / Digital Trends
The redesigned workout experience in iOS 27 changes that. Everything feels better organized, and the information I care about is much easier to spot at a glance. More importantly, the app finally feels built around the workout itself rather than just a place to store data. For example, I went on a 10km run this morning, and one of the first things I noticed afterward was how prominently my route map was displayed. Instead of digging through menus to find it, the map was right there, front and center. It reminded me of a presentation you’d expect from dedicated fitness apps like Strava. This isn’t the biggest change in iOS 27, but it makes reviewing a workout feel far more rewarding. That’s really what I like about the redesign. The Fitness app finally feels more alive. Rather than simply showing me numbers and charts, it does a better job of highlighting the moments and milestones that make working out feel satisfying.
The cleanup tool finally cleaned up its act
I never thought I’d be talking about photo editing tools as one of my favorite parts of iOS 27, but here we are. The updated Cleanup tool and the new Reframe feature have genuinely made me spend more time editing photos directly on my iPhone 16e. And honestly, that’s saying something. Before this update, Apple’s Cleanup tool was one of those features I wanted to like but rarely used. Compared to the object-removal tools on Pixel and Samsung phones, it often struggled with anything more complex than a simple background distraction. The results were hit-or-miss, and most of the time I’d rather leave the photo alone than risk making it look worse. Thankfully, that has changed.
Shimul Sood / Digital Trends
Over the past week, I’ve used Cleanup on everything from random objects in the background to people accidentally walking into a shot, and the results have been surprisingly good. One example that genuinely impressed me was when I tried removing a book that was partially covering my face in a photo. I expected the tool to either leave behind a blurry mess or distort my face. Instead, it removed the book cleanly and reconstructed the missing area so well that it looked like the book had never been there in the first place.
Shimul Sood / Digital Trends
For the first time, Apple’s Cleanup tool feels reliable enough that I actually want to use it. The new Reframe feature is interesting for a different reason. Using generative AI, it can virtually adjust the framing of a photo after it’s been taken, giving you a little more flexibility if you didn’t quite nail the shot. I don’t see myself reaching for it every day, but that’s okay. It feels more like a feature you’ll appreciate when you need it, rather than one you’ll use constantly. And that’s what I like about both additions. One solves a problem I run into regularly, while the other serves as a safety net for moments when a photo isn’t quite framed the way I want.
Every “what is that?” now has an answer
Of all the new AI-powered additions in iOS 27, on-screen awareness is probably the one I’ve used the most. And yes, the moment you hear about it, you’ll probably think, “Wait, isn’t this just Circle to Search?” Honestly, that’s not a bad comparison. Circle to Search is easily one of my favorite features on my Google Pixel 10a. I use it all the time. If I’m scrolling through Pinterest and spot a chair I’d love to buy, I can instantly search for it. If I’m watching a YouTube video and notice a pair of sneakers someone is wearing, I can quickly find out what they are. Sometimes I’ll come across a landmark in a travel reel, a gadget in a review video, or even an unfamiliar dish in a food post, and Circle to Search gives me answers in seconds without forcing me to switch apps or start a new search from scratch.
Shimul Sood / Digital Trends
That’s the same reason I’ve grown to like on-screen awareness on the iPhone. Instead of manually copying text, taking screenshots, or opening Safari to search for something, I can simply ask Siri about what’s currently on my screen. For example, while reading an article, I used it to learn more about a company mentioned in the article. When browsing online stores, I used it to identify products and compare them with similar options. I even found myself using it while planning a trip after spotting a location in a social media post and wanting to learn more about it. What makes the feature feel useful is that it understands both the visual and textual information on your screen. Siri can analyze what you’re looking at and use that context to answer questions or help you take action. Apple is also opening this up to developers through dedicated APIs, allowing apps to expose relevant information that Siri can understand and interact with. This feature removes a lot of tiny bits of friction throughout the day. And those are often the features that turn out to be the most valuable.
A week later, these are still my favorites
I’m still spending time with iOS 27 on my iPhone 16e, and if there’s one thing I’ve learned over the past week, it’s that the best features aren’t always the ones that are advertised. Sometimes they’re the smaller additions that become part of your daily routine. For me, that’s exactly what happened with these three features. Whether it’s the refreshed Fitness app making my workout data more enjoyable to revisit, the improved Cleanup tool saving photos I would’ve otherwise ignored, or on-screen awareness helping me find information without jumping between apps, they’ve all earned a place in my everyday use.
There’s still plenty of iOS 27 left for me to explore, and I’m sure I’ll discover more favorites as I continue using the beta. But if you’re wondering which features have stood out after a week of real-world use, these are the ones I’d point to first.
Apple’s rumored iPhone Ultra could debut in September with a wider foldable design that aims to feel like an iPhone when closed and an iPad when opened.
The foldable is tipped to feature a nearly crease-free display, an advanced hinge, and a 4.5mm unfolded profile — just 0.3mm thicker than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7.
With a rumored price above $2,000, the iPhone Ultra would enter a foldable market already dominated by Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7 and upcoming Fold 8 series.
Fresh off WWDC 2026 and Apple’s cozy relationship with Gemini-powered Siri features, the rumor mill has already moved on to Apple’s next big swing: its first foldable iPhone. According to a new video and renders shared by Jon Prosser, the so-called iPhone Ultra could finally make its debut alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup this September.
If the renders are anywhere close to reality, Apple doesn’t appear interested in copying the narrow foldables of the past. Instead, the iPhone Ultra is said to embrace a much wider design philosophy. The idea is that when folded shut, it should feel like a regular iPhone in your pocket. Open it up, and it transforms into something much closer to a compact iPad.
The design philosophy also feels strikingly familiar. After years of criticism over the narrow cover screens on earlier Fold models, Samsung finally embraced a wider, more phone-like display with the Galaxy Z Fold 7. That change made the Fold feel much more like a regular smartphone when closed. Based on these latest renders, Apple appears to be borrowing that exact roadmap.
Prosser also claims Apple is preparing a remarkably thin foldable with a nearly invisible crease and a hinge mechanism reportedly imbued with Apple’s trademark obsession with over-engineering. Whether that translates into a meaningful real-world advantage remains to be seen, but Apple has rarely entered a new hardware category without first addressing the industry’s most obvious complaints.
The rumored dimensions are particularly ambitious. When unfolded, the iPhone Ultra could reportedly measure just 4.5mm thick, making it thinner than even Apple’s ultra-slim iPhone Air. That’s undeniably impressive, though it would still be around 0.3mm thicker than Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 7, which currently sits at an astonishing 4.2mm when unfolded. Even so, for Apple’s first foldable attempt, matching Samsung this closely on thickness would be a notable achievement.
Of course, that kind of engineering won’t come cheap. Early whispers point to a price tag north of $2,000, putting it firmly in luxury-device territory. Then again, premium pricing has never stopped Apple fans before.
What’s particularly interesting is the timing; Samsung isn’t standing still. By the time Apple enters the foldable race, Samsung will have the Galaxy Z Fold 7 firmly established and will launch the next chapter with the Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the rumored Fold 8 Wide. If those devices continue Samsung’s push toward wider displays and thinner bodies, Apple won’t be entering an empty field — it’ll be stepping into a category that’s already rapidly maturing.
For years, foldables have largely been Samsung’s playground. The iPhone Ultra could change that overnight. Whether Apple ends up leading the category or simply joining it fashionably late is the question we’ll be asking for the rest of 2026.
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With a weighty base, an adjustable Qi2/MagSafe charging pad, and a fold-out Apple Watch charger around the back, this Zens 2-in-1 is ideal for folks with an iPhone and Apple Watch. The Apple Watch pad folds out of the back, tucking your watch out of sight and allowing room for the strap to droop. The pad works great with StandBy mode. You can also fold the pad flat and charge AirPods or other phones if you need to, just not at the same time as your iPhone. Sadly, this has a barrel port for the provided cable and charger (USB-C would be better), the Apple Watch charger can be a little stiff and tricky to fold out, and it’s pricey, but I love the quality, look, and feel.
Photograph: Julian Chokkattu
Belkin
UltraCharge 2-in-1 Foldable Magnetic Wireless Charger (Qi2 25W)
Belkin’s UltraCharge 2-in-1 unseats our previous favorite, the BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1, which is still a great option. However, the latest model features Qi2 25W charging support to charge compatible devices even faster. It also has a folding design, allowing you to take it with you on the go, but it also works great as a permanent charger for your desk or nightstand. Over on the back, there’s a spot to place AirPods or any wireless earbuds with wireless charging. What’s also great is the spare USB-C port—you can pop in a cable to charge your Apple Watch at 5 watts (or another device); it just won’t charge very fast. (Belkin also has a 3-in-1 version of this model if you want a dedicated spot for the Apple Watch.) Best of all, Belkin includes a very compact 45-watt power adapter and a USB-C to USB-C cable, which is better than many other wireless chargers that cost more. It’s a nifty little thing, and looks great in blue. —Julian Chokkattu
iOttie Velox Duo for $33: This was our 2-in-1 pick for a while. The black-and-gold combo looks great, the magnet is strong, and there’s a weighted base. On the downside, it only charges iPhones at up to 7.5 watts. The permanently attached USB-C cable is a good length, but you do have to provide a wall adapter.
More 3-in-1 Chargers to Consider
We have tested several other 3-in-1 Apple charging stations. Here are a few we liked:
Photograph: Simon Hill
Noco X Grid XDS3 for $130: Well-made, with an eye-catching design, this 3-in-1 charger has a wide base that’s great for stability. It’s easy to remove your iPhone one-handed too, though it does have a relatively large footprint. It’s a bit bulky to travel with. You can stick your Qi2 phone to the pad in portrait or landscape, and the large bottom 5W pad is suitable for AirPods or even a second phone. It supports Apple Watch fast charging, but I didn’t like the way my Apple Watch tended to tilt to one side, and the charging pad positions are fixed (you can’t change the angle). You get the adapter, generous 6.5-foot braided USB-C cable, though, and plug adapters for different countries in the box.
Twelve South HiRise 3 Deluxe for $100: Twelve South’s 3-in-1 is an elegant wireless charger for the nightstand and gives the iPhone plenty of breathing room to rotate it to landscape mode and take advantage of StandBy. I like that the iPhone charger can swivel up and down. On the base is a fast charger for the Apple Watch that you can flip up, and the back has a spot for the AirPods or another wireless earbuds case. It’s nice and weighty and doesn’t slide around easily. It comes with a proprietary, removable charging cable, along with a charging brick, and international plug adapters for the US, UK, EU, and AU.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Anker Prime 3-in-1 Charging Station for $150: Sporting a tree design similar to our top pick from Belkin, the very latest Qi2 25W charging, fast Apple Watch charging, active cooling, and an interactive display, this is perhaps the most feature-packed 3-in-1 charger on the market. You can connect via Bluetooth and configure in the app to set wallpapers for the clock, schedule night mode to dim the display and turn off the cooling, and track your charging stats in a table. I’m just not sure it’s worth the premium. The finicky touch display is flat, so you have to sit up to see it, and it looks a bit cheap to me. It also feels superfluous when your iPhone already offers Standby mode.
Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 Wireless Charging Dock with MagSafe for $112: This was our old 2-in-1 pick for iPhone and Apple Watch. I like the soft-touch finish, the pad on top can move through 70 degrees, and the shelf for your Apple Watch works with any strap. The braided USB-C cable is permanently attached, but you get a 30-watt wall charger in the box. I don’t remember having issues when I first tested, but using it again, I found the weight of the camera end of my iPhone 14 Pro caused it to slowly droop when in StandBy mode. It’s also kinda pricey.
Zens Office Charger Pro 3
Photograph: Simon Hill
Zens Office Charger Pro 3 for $85: I’m a fan of some of the interesting, out-of-the-box designs that Zens turns out, but this 3-in-1, while well-made and perfectly functional, doesn’t really stand out. It’s Qi2 certified (15W for iPhone, 5W for Apple Watch, 5W for AirPods), looks nice, and comes with the cable and charger, though it has a barrel port.
Lululook 3-in-1 Charging Station for $60: This is a perfectly competent 3-in-1 with Qi2 certification (15W for iPhone, 5W for Apple Watch, 5W for AirPods). It’s compact, you can angle the iPhone pad, and I like the gold finish of my review unit, but I prefer the Twelve South above, or the ESR if you don’t want to spend as much.
Belkin BoostCharge Pro 2-in-1 MagSafe-Compatible Wireless Charging Pad for $80: Qi2 support provides magnetic alignment for your iPhone and delivers 15 watts of charging, and there’s a spot for AirPods on this compact dual pad. A USB-C port allows you to charge something else, such as an Apple Watch, and you get a 5-foot USB-C cable and 30W power supply in the box. There is also a 3-in-1 pad ($110) that adds an Apple Watch charger on the right side.
Photograph: Simon Hill
Nomad Base One Max for $150: This was our 3-in-1 pad pick, but stock is running low, and it is being discontinued. The MagSafe charger keeps your iPhone out of sight and supports 15-watt charging, the Apple Watch charging puck sticks up for Nightstand mode, but it’s not a fast charger. I tried it with a loop band and a normal strap, and I could fit the AirPods Pro case in the spot behind the Apple Watch puck to recharge it just fine. The metal chassis is heavy and, paired with the anti-slip rubber base, this thing stays put. It comes with a 2-meter USB-C to USB-C cable, which is great if you want to plug it into your new iPhone 16 to juice it up faster, but I wish it came with a 30-watt charging adapter. Nomad sells this one that we’ve tested and like.
QDOS SnapStand 3-in-1 for £80: This clever design feels sturdy and comes flat, and you can fold out and angle a magnetic pad for charging your iPhone (StandBy mode works fine). There’s a pop-out Apple Watch charger around the back, and the base has a pad for your AirPods. You get a black USB-C cable, but you’ll need a charger (at least 25W). I like that it’s partly made from recycled materials, and it folds away very neatly, but the charging speeds are relatively slow (7.5 watts for the iPhone and 2.5 watts for the Apple Watch).
Anker MagGo Wireless Charging Station Stand for $90: This good-looking 3-in-1 charging tree is more affordable than our top pick, boasts Qi2 certification for 15-watt charging, and comes with a charger and cable. It just misses out on a place above because of the offset pad for the Apple Watch. It is slippery, so your Apple Watch may tilt, though I never had an issue with it not charging. Anker included stickers to combat this, but they are a fiddly and inelegant solution. It’s also a shame that the main pad for your iPhone is fixed, so you can’t adjust the angle. But these are minor gripes.
Anker 3-in-1 Cube with MagSafe for $90: This dinky, dense, 2.5-inch cube from Anker was our previous compact pick. It has a MagSafe pad on top (15 watts), and the top section hinges to a 60-degree angle, revealing a charging surface for your AirPods. The wee pop-out shelf on the side has a built-in Apple Watch fast charger. You get a 5-foot cable and a 30-watt charger in the box.
Satechi 3-in-1 Magnetic Wireless Charging Stand for $130: This compact, attractive 3-in-1 is a little smaller than the Belkin, so it doesn’t take up too much room, and it folds down compactly for travel. The aluminum build is attractive and sturdy (the iPhone mount is made of stainless steel). This is on reviews editor Adrienne So’s bedside table, and it recharges her Apple Watch Ultra 2 from 70 percent to full in around 30 minutes.
Case-Mate Fuel 3-in-1 Foldable for $50: Finished in a classy gray material, this 3-in-1 charges an iPhone in a case or any Qi smartphone, and it’s easy to fold flat and pack in a bag. It also has a built-in Apple Watch charger and a spot for AirPods. A cable and a 45-watt charger are included. I also tested the solid Case-Mate Fuel 4-in-1 ($150), which is quite good, but the unnecessary LEDs and Fuel logo put me off.
Best 4-in-1 Chargers
Zens 4-in-1 Modular Wireless Charger with iPad Charging Stand for $78: If you also own an iPad, why not a 4-in-1 charging station? Zens’ modular design has a main stand for your iPad, a MagSafe pad in front to float your iPhone, and a slight indentation to charge AirPods below. The Apple Watch charger is a separate section that attaches magnetically (on either side) and holds your Watch in horizontal Nightstand mode. It feels durable with a grippy, rubbery, flecked black finish made from recycled plastic. You get a 65-watt power adapter, power cable, and adapter plugs for the US, UK, and EU, which is quite handy. The main drawback with this is the large size, and you have to connect a cable to the USB-C port on the side to charge your iPad.
Journey Glyde 4-in-1 Portable Charger for $170: Former reviews editor Adrienne So almost voted for this multidevice MagSafe power bank to get a separate recommendation until she noticed the price. It’s a 10,000-mAh-capacity power bank that can charge up to four devices at a time and uses the Qi2 charging standard. However, our pick for this spot is so much cheaper, and the Glyde does not have a kickstand.
Scosche Baselynx 2.0 Modular Charging Station for $90: What if three spots are not enough? Scosche has you covered with this modular charging station. The basic stand is a 2-in-1 for your iPhone and AirPods, but you can add an Apple Watch charger, a toast rack-style vertical station with USB-C ports, or even an AC outlet with USB-C port, for a big combined charger ($220). The trouble is, it gets quite big and expensive as you add modules, and I don’t love the way it looks, but it’s a neat idea.
Avoid These Chargers
Photograph: Simon Hill
Not every charger will be a winner. Here are the ones we didn’t like.
Infinacore T3 Pro: The T3 Pro is a 3-in-1 stand that looks and feels very cheap, and it got warm when charging my iPhone. Its saving grace is that it is cheap. It also has Qi2 certification and works with StandBy mode. I also tried the fold-out triple pad Infinacore T3 Wireless Charging Station. Aside from the ugly plastic design, the weak magnets meant it did not work well when folded into the triangular configuration (this also blocks a pad).
Groov-e Asteria Wireless Charging Station with Alarm Clock: There’s a wee clock on the front of this charging station, which can accommodate an iPhone, AirPods on a pad around back, and an Apple Watch up top. It feels and looks very cheap, slides around a little too easily, the magnet is weak, and the clock seems redundant when you can set your iPhone in StandBy mode. I also tried the Triton 3-in-1 folding pad, and it was okay. They are very affordable, but you must provide your own power adapter.
Zike 3-in-1 Z557C Stand: This 3-in-1 charger works perfectly well, but there are several better options above. The iPhone pad allows for StandBy mode but is not adjustable. The Apple Watch pad flips up or can be laid flat, and there’s a spot for AirPods on the gray felt pad. It has a barrel port, so you must use the supplied power adapter. What I really dislike about this charger is the ridiculously bright, utterly pointless white LED on the front that stays on the entire time.
Alogic Matrix Ultimate: This 3-in-1 charger has a folding design, supports fast charging, includes a detachable 5,000-mAh power bank, and comes with a nice pouch, but it is kinda bulky, and the white finish picks up dust and smudges very easily. I have also had issues with other Alogic batteries failing and not supplying the stated capacity.
STM Goods ChargeTree Go: This charging tree station folds flat and can charge a trio of Apple gadgets. But there’s no quick-charge support, my Apple Watch kept sliding out of place during the night, and there’s no adapter included. It’s not cheap either.
A Quick Primer on MagSafe
Most of the wireless chargers in this guide are MagSafe wireless chargers or Qi2 certified. That means they take advantage of the magnets embedded in the back of the iPhone 12, iPhone 13, iPhone 14, iPhone 15, iPhone 16, and iPhone 17 range. I cannot stress this enough: If you buy a case, ensure it is aMagSafe case. We have several third-party options in the linked case guides above. A normal iPhone case will weaken the pull of the magnets in the device and will not stick to MagSafe accessories well.
What’s the point of MagSafe? You don’t have to worry about misalignment with the wireless charger, meaning you won’t wake up to a dead iPhone. Technically, this perfect alignment enables chargers to deliver faster 15-watt charging. MagSafe is also available in the AirPods charging case (depending on your model). Apple’s AirPods and AirPods Pro with the wireless charging case will work with nearly all of the standard Qi wireless charging pads on these chargers (as will many third-party wireless earbuds), but if you have AirPods with MagSafe, then you can hook them up to the magnetic mounts as well. If you don’t have a MagSafe iPhone, then your device won’t be able to attach to these chargers, though we do have some recommendations for older iPhones (and the iPhone 16e).
Qi2 is the latest wireless charging standard, and Apple worked with the Wireless Power Consortium to develop it. Compared to the original Qi standard, it brings MagSafe-style magnetic charging, faster charging rates, and improved efficiency—but where MagSafe is an Apple technology designed for Apple products, any device can support Qi2. Apple updated the iPhone 12 and newer to support Qi2, so Qi2 should be a term you look for when shopping for a magnetic wireless charger. Qi2 Android phones are still thin on the ground right now—it’s officially available in Google’s Pixel 10 series—though Qi2 Ready phones add magnets using a compatible case. Expect more Qi2 Android phones soon. A Qi2 charger can charge your iPhone and any other Qi2 phones.
While Qi2 charging generally goes up to 15 watts, the Qi2.2 update, branded as Qi2 25W, can go up to 25 watts. But support for Qi2 25W is currently very limited, and includes the iPhone 17 range and the Pixel 10 Pro XL.
StandBy mode was introduced in iOS 17. When you place your iPhone on a charger in landscape orientation, it will turn the screen into a dock of sorts, showing the clock (with different designs you can choose from), photos from your library, or widgets. If you have an iPhone that supports an always-on screen, you can choose to have the display automatically turn off after some time when the iPhone isn’t in use or if the room is dark. Head to Settings > Standby to customize it.
Nightstand mode has long been around on the Apple Watch. Basically, when the watch is sitting upright and charging, the clockface will stay on so you can always tell the time. You can customize this on your Apple Watch by heading to Settings > General > Nightstand mode.
Yet it’s only $699 (or $599 for students). The XPS 13 makes similar trade-offs as the MacBook Neo. First, it starts with only 8 GB of RAM and 256 GB of storage. It also starts with a slower Intel Core 5 processor (note: not Intel Core Ultra). I’ll be interested to find how the performance and battery life stack up against the MacBook Neo, but Dell is clearly taking notes from Apple, which used a slower iPhone chip in the Neo instead of an M-series laptop-grade processor.
What’s nice about the Dell XPS 13, though, is that you can scale it up appropriately. The MacBook Neo is capped in both storage and memory, but the XPS 13 can be configured up to 32 GB of RAM and 1 TB of storage.
I’ve been testing a lot of $500 to $600 laptops recently from companies like Acer, Lenovo, and HP, many of which take a more conventional Windows approach to rivaling the MacBook Neo by offering better specs at lower prices. They all have 16 GB of RAM and use more powerful chips, too. But none challenge the MacBook Neo in display quality and chassis materials. That doesn’t mean there isn’t a place for something like the HP OmniBook 3, but it doesn’t play for the same audience as the Dell XPS 13 and MacBook Neo.
The Wrong Direction
Inevitably there would be a company that thinks it can ride on the success of the MacBook Neo without understanding what makes it tick. Last week, Microsoft announced two versions of its Surface Laptop for Business PCs: a higher-end 13.8-inch model and a cheaper 13-inch device. The 13.8-inch model is a more standard refresh, implementing Intel’s new Core Ultra X7 368H Panther Lake chip—and most notably, it still starts with 16 GB of RAM.
The smaller 13-inch model is where things get problematic. Despite its starting price of $1,200, that configuration only comes with 8 GB of RAM. Don’t get too caught up in the price, since business PCs always come with an up charge. The starting RAM is the eyebrow-raising spec. Unlike the new Dell XPS 13, Microsoft isn’t tricking this out with a thinner chassis and an upgraded screen—it’s just giving you less computing power and calling it good.
And to be fair, this “optional” 8 GB model is coming later this year, separate from the 16 GB and 24 GB versions. But it’s hard to imagine Microsoft being willing to sell an 8 GB laptop in 2026 if Apple hadn’t paved the way. While there’s no 2025 Surface Laptop 13 for Business for direct comparison, the consumer version of the Surface Laptop 13 started with 16 GB of RAM. This feels like a straight generational downgrade.
Apple may be late to the smart glasses market, but it could be covering all its bases with up to four potential styles for its upcoming product. According to Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, Apple could launch some or all of the four styles it’s currently testing for its smart glasses.
Gurman reported Apple is testing out a large rectangular frame that’s comparable to Ray-Ban Wayfarers, a slimmer rectangular design like the glasses that Apple CEO Tim Cook wears, a larger oval or circular frame and a smaller oval or circle option. Apple is also working on a range of colors, including black, ocean blue and light brown, according to Bloomberg.
Internally code-named N50 for now, Apple’s upcoming smart glasses will compete directly with the second-gen Ray-Ban Meta model. While similar, Apple might be differentiating its design with “vertically oriented oval lenses with surrounding lights,” according to the report. Like Meta’s smart glasses, Apple’s upcoming product will capture photos and videos, but is meant to better sync with an iPhone, allowing users to take advantage of Apple’s ecosystem for editing, sharing, phone calls, notifications, music and even its voice assistant, according to Gurman. The release of Apple’s smart glasses could even coincide with the upcoming improved Siri that should arrive with iOS 27.
Gurman reported that Apple could reveal its smart glasses as soon as the end of 2026 or early 2027, followed by an official release sometime in 2027. As for the competition, Meta released its latest model that’s better suited for prescription lenses and offers a more customizable fit.
The MacBook Air has always been the sensible choice — great battery, light enough to forget it’s in your bag. What it’s never been is the one that makes MacBook Pro owners feel slightly embarrassed. Until now, apparently.
When Apple switched the M5 MacBook Air to PCIe 4.0 NAND flash, it didn’t just make it faster than its predecessor — it made it faster than some M4 Pro MacBook Pro models too.
Digital Trends
Benchmark numbers that raise eyebrows
NotebookCheck’s hands-on review of the 13-inch M5 MacBook Air, using the Blackmagic Disk Speed Test, puts the numbers on the table:
Model
Read (5GB)
Write (5GB)
vs. M5 Air (Read)
vs. M5 Air (Write)
MacBook Pro 14 M5
6,752.1 MB/s
6,194.2 MB/s
+4.31% faster
−5.57% slower
MacBook Air 13 M5
6,473.4 MB/s
6,558.6 MB/s
—
—
MacBook Pro 16 M4 Pro
5,401.3 MB/s
6,713.2 MB/s
−19.85% slower
+2.30% faster
MacBook Air 15 M4
2,904.0 MB/s
3,023.9 MB/s
−122.91% slower
−116.89% slower
On reads, the M5 Air clears the M4 Pro MacBook Pro 16 by nearly 20%. On writes, the M4 Pro edges back by just 2.3% — a gap so small it wouldn’t show up in any real-world task you threw at it.
Chris Hagan / Digital Trends
The quiet upgrade Apple didn’t talk about much
The jump over the M4 MacBook Air is where things get a little hard to believe. Over 122% faster on reads, nearly 117% faster on writes. That’s not a spec sheet footnote — two drives this far apart don’t feel like the same product category.
Day-to-day, it adds up faster than you’d expect. That big RAW wedding shoot that used to grind away on import? Done before you’ve poured your coffee. ProRes footage off the internal drive no longer feels like a gamble.
And if you’re running local AI models, the difference between waiting and not waiting is exactly this kind of storage speed. For a laptop that starts at $1,099, none of this was supposed to be part of the conversation. Apple barely mentioned it at launch, which — in hindsight — was a strange call.
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