Apple reduces the cost of iPhone 18 Pro screens, develops a smarter way for notifications, the two selfie cameras on the iPhone Ultra might be in the same corner, Apple delays the launch of the standard iPhone 18 until next year, iPhone Ultra screen protectors reveal an asymmetrical screen design, Samsung nears Apple in the field of hearing health, iPhone Ultra is the internal name for the foldable phone, Grok Bot arrives on macOS and iOS, iPhone 18 Pro starts with 256GB capacity, leaks reveal six iPhone 18 models, and other exciting news on the sidelines…
Apple may pay publishers for news to improve Siri
Apple is in talks with a number of news organizations to reach agreements that would allow Siri to access up-to-date news and information, aiming to improve its ability to provide accurate answers and keep up with current events. According to reports, Apple is considering multi-year agreements under which organizations would receive payments when Siri uses their content, with the budget for these payments potentially reaching hundreds of millions of dollars. This move comes ahead of the launch of the new AI-powered Siri with iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 this fall, especially after Apple faced previous criticism when its notification summary feature provided incorrect and misleading news, which led the company to suspend news summarization for over a year to work on improving its accuracy.
Rising Google phone prices may reveal Apple’s pricing plans for the iPhone 18 Pro
Google has raised the prices of its new Pixel 11 phones by $100 compared to last year, with an increase in base storage capacity for some models, but it has reduced the RAM in some Pro versions from 16GB to 12GB, meaning the user will pay more to get higher specifications.
At the same time, Google is focusing heavily on trade-in and installment offers, making the actual price seem lower to the buyer. Analysts believe this move could be an indicator of what Apple will do with the iPhone 18 Pro, especially with the global rise in memory chip prices due to increased demand for them in AI data centers. Some forecasts suggest the price of the iPhone 18 Pro could rise by up to $300, but Apple might offset part of the increase by raising the base storage capacity, while it is unlikely to reduce the memory of Pro devices, as it has become important for running Apple Intelligence features and the new Siri.
Apple may allow trade-in offers to be saved in the Wallet for 90 days
Apple is working on a new feature that may allow customers to save the value of their device trade-in offer within the Apple Wallet app for up to 90 days, according to internal discoveries in an app used by Apple, its employees, and store partners. Information indicates that an employee can display a QR code for the customer to scan with their iPhone to save the offer, after inspecting the device and verifying its condition and value. This duration differs from the current online trade-in system, which requires the device to reach Apple within 14 days to maintain the estimated price. The idea might be for the customer to have their device inspected at an Apple Store, save the offer in the Wallet, and then return within 90 days to purchase a new device and take advantage of it. However, Apple has not officially announced the feature yet, and its presence in the system does not necessarily mean it will be released to users, nor is there confirmation that the trade-in value will remain fixed throughout the 90-day period.
Apple reduces the cost of iPhone 18 Pro screens despite rising memory prices
Apple has succeeded in negotiating to obtain OLED screens for iPhone 18 Pro phones at prices significantly lower than the previous generation, as it is said it will pay Samsung and LG about $68 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max screen, compared to about $110 to $120 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max screen. Apple is seeking to reduce the cost of some components to offset the significant rise in memory chip prices, for which demand has increased due to the expansion of tech companies in building data centers for artificial intelligence.
However, forecasts indicate that iPhone 18 Pro prices may rise by between $200 and $300 compared to the previous generation, reaching $1399 for the iPhone 18 Pro and $1499 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max, although Apple’s savings in screen and other component costs might help reduce this increase. Apple is expected to officially unveil the phones next September.
Apple develops a smarter way to reduce annoying notifications and improve their summaries
A new Apple patent has revealed a system that can monitor what the user is doing on their device in real-time, then automatically decide whether it is necessary to interrupt them with a notification or if it is better to wait. For example, if the user is busy on a call or repeatedly opening a specific app, the system can determine if the notification is worth the interruption, while leaving it undisturbed if it is not important.
The patent also suggests using user activity to provide more accurate notification summaries, instead of summarizing them without knowing what the person is doing or the surrounding context, which might help Apple avoid errors like the fake news headlines that caused criticism of the notification summary feature previously. If Apple implements this idea in the future, it could make the notification summary and "reduce interruptions" features smarter and more useful, but there is no guarantee yet that this technology will reach user devices, because Apple registers many patents that do not necessarily turn into actual products or features.
The two selfie cameras on the iPhone Ultra might be in the same corner
New leaks indicate that Apple might place the two selfie cameras on the foldable iPhone Ultra in the same corner, so that one camera is directed outward and the other inward. Leaked screen protector images show a camera cutout in the upper right corner of the external screen when the phone is closed, which might mean that the two cameras will be located in one area instead of being placed in different locations. This design could help Apple save space inside the phone, especially since its expected thickness is about 4.5 millimeters when opened.
However, these leaks cannot be considered a final confirmation, because accessory manufacturers sometimes rely on leaked schematics that may not be accurate. The iPhone Ultra is expected to be unveiled next month, with a 5.5-inch external screen and a 7.8-inch internal one, an A20 Pro chip, a fingerprint sensor integrated into the side button instead of Face ID, a 5000 mAh battery, and two 48-megapixel rear cameras.
Apple delays the launch of the standard iPhone 18 until next year
Pegatron, one of Apple’s suppliers, has indirectly confirmed that the standard iPhone 18 will not be released this year, in a major change from Apple’s usual strategy. According to a new report, Apple will unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max next September, along with the foldable iPhone Ultra, while the standard iPhone 18 will arrive in the first quarter of 2027, alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2. This means Apple might launch six new models in two phases instead of releasing the entire collection in September as it has been accustomed to over the past years. This strategy has been echoed in several previous reports, but Pegatron’s new indication adds additional support to these expectations.
iPhone Ultra screen protectors reveal an asymmetrical screen design
Leaked images and a video of iPhone Ultra foldable screen protectors have revealed new details in the phone’s design, most notably that one side of the screen features rounded corners, while the corners near the hinge are square, which is consistent with the design of a foldable phone with a hinge on one side.
The leaks also indicate that the screen itself will remain with rounded corners and equal bezels, with a design that is shorter and wider than traditional iPhones. The protector also shows a single cutout for the front camera on the right side instead of the center, which might be possible thanks to the phone’s reliance on Touch ID instead of Face ID, thus not needing the large sensor array for facial recognition.
Expectations indicate that the iPhone Ultra will come with a 5.5-inch external screen and a 7.8-inch internal one, an A20 Pro chip, a 5000 mAh battery, and two 48-megapixel rear cameras, along with two 18-megapixel selfie cameras, and it may be released in September with a price starting at $2000.
The 20th-anniversary iPhone made entirely of glass is still coming in 2027
Despite reports that Apple canceled the 20th-anniversary iPhone with an all-glass design, new leaks indicate that the project is still under development and is expected to be launched in the fall of 2027. The Chinese leaker Digital Chat Station says that Apple is working on two versions in Pro and Pro Max sizes, with slightly larger screens and the same aspect ratio, while the glass extends from the front to the back and curves on the sides, with a small metal strip in the middle, giving the phone an appearance that makes the screen look bezel-less. The leaks also indicate that Apple is testing a 6.96-inch screen for the Pro Max version, while maintaining almost the current chassis dimensions. An analyst recently claimed the project was canceled, but Mark Gurman denied this, explaining that Apple only canceled a more ambitious version that relied on a larger amount of glass, while the basic design is still under development.
Samsung nears Apple in the field of hearing health
Samsung announced that the hearing aid feature in Galaxy Buds has received approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), meaning the earbuds will provide functions similar to hearing aids starting from the last quarter of 2026. The feature allows people suffering from mild to moderate hearing loss to perform a self-hearing test that takes about five minutes, then use the result to adjust the earbuds and amplify sounds that are difficult to hear, such as high-pitched sounds and whispers, while reducing ambient noise. The feature will be available in the Galaxy Buds3 Pro and Galaxy Buds4 Pro, with the need for a modern Samsung phone that supports One UI 8 or later. Apple had preceded Samsung in this field since 2024, when it added the hearing aid feature to AirPods, then expanded its availability to more than 150 countries and regions, but Samsung has now begun offering most of the similar functions.
Grok Bot arrives on macOS and iOS
SpaceXAI has announced the launch of the Grok Bot tool, a group of AI agents that work continuously to perform tasks across apps and websites. These bots can learn from users, save work steps, and then execute them later independently; they can also collaborate with each other within group chats to distribute tasks. The service is currently available in a beta version for subscribers of the advanced SuperGrok and Cursor plans, with a waiting list for companies wishing to join later.
iPhone 18 Pro starts with 256GB capacity
A new report indicates that the iPhone 18 Pro will start with a base storage capacity of 256GB, which is the same capacity offered by the iPhone 17 Pro, without an additional increase this year. Despite the capacity remaining the same, the device’s prices are expected to rise by $200 to $300 due to higher component costs, especially memory and storage chips. Apple will announce the iPhone 18 Pro in September, amid the ongoing chip shortage crisis that has already pushed it to raise prices for Mac, iPad, and other products.
Leaks reveal six iPhone 18 models
The fifth beta version of iOS 27 included internal codes pointing to six as-yet-unannounced iPhone devices, including the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, iPhone Air 2, and the foldable iPhone Ultra. This is the first time the full lineup of the iPhone 18 family has appeared within system files, which strengthens the validity of rumors that have been circulating for months. Apple plans to launch the Pro and Ultra versions in September, while it will delay the release of the standard iPhone 18, 18e, and Air 2 until the spring of 2027 as part of a staggered launch strategy.
Miscellaneous News
◉ The US Supreme Court granted Apple a short 24-hour delay in its dispute with Epic Games over App Store fees. The decision allows Apple to delay submitting its proposal regarding the fees it wants to charge developers when directing users to external purchase options, while judges study the case. This ongoing dispute since 2020 revolves around Apple’s rules that limit directing users outside the store, and the company has been found in violation of the previous ruling, but the debate is still ongoing about whether it has the right to charge "reasonable" fees on these links.
◉ Apple announced the appointment of Nick Gatlin, former Executive Vice President of American Airlines, as the new head of government affairs. He will partially succeed Katherine Adams, who will retire at the end of the year, and will work under the supervision of Jennifer Newstead, with Adams remaining as an advisor until October. Gatlin has long experience in dealing with both Republicans and Democrats, and Apple sees him as capable of building balanced relationships with decision-makers, which is gaining importance as the midterm elections approach and the balance of power shifts in Washington; he will also work closely with Tim Cook before leadership transitions to John Ternus.
◉ A new report revealed that Apple employees internally call its foldable phone the "iPhone Ultra," but this does not necessarily mean it will be the official name at launch. Analyst Max Weinbach believes the name does not suit the product, because "Ultra" devices usually represent the most powerful version in each category, while the foldable phone might not clearly outperform the iPhone Pro. However, the name remains an indicator that Apple is thinking of placing it in a distinct and special category.
◉ Microsoft is testing a new feature that allows logging into the Edge browser using an Apple account instead of creating a Microsoft account. Two experimental flags appeared in the Edge Canary version that allow logging in via an Apple account and adding a special button for that in the profile menu, alongside the option to log in with a Google account. The feature has begun to gradually reach users of the beta version on Windows and macOS, but Microsoft described it as a "limited launch," meaning its appearance might be delayed slightly for some users.
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