Apple tests Chinese memory for the first time, Tim Cook bids farewell to the Sun Valley conference, Samsung reveals the date for its foldable iPhone competitor, the iPhone Ultra enters mass production, Claude Cowork arrives on iPhone, Google beats Apple to the launch of Pixel 11, iPhone 18 Pro may become thicker, a larger battery for the iPhone Air 2, Apple Intelligence features require a higher subscription, an iPhone 17 Pro Max enters a time capsule until 2276, Apple’s $30 billion deal with Broadcom, Siri AI arrives on Apple Watch, WhatsApp adds a green dot, and other exciting news on the sidelines…
Apple tests Chinese memory chips amid political controversy
Apple has begun testing DRAM memory chips developed by the Chinese company CXMT, a move that could pave the way for their adoption as a future supplier if they obtain the necessary approvals. So far, Apple has not made a decision to use these chips in its products, but it is conducting technical tests to ensure their quality while continuing to communicate with US authorities to ensure no future restrictions are imposed on the Chinese company. This step comes at a time when memory chip prices have risen globally due to the increasing demand for artificial intelligence technologies, leading to higher costs for many devices. Apple hopes that having an additional supplier will give it greater flexibility in negotiating with its current suppliers and reduce the impact of price hikes, especially for devices intended for the Chinese market. However, the future of this partnership remains unclear due to ongoing political tensions between the United States and China.
Tim Cook and John Ternus attend the Sun Valley conference before Apple’s leadership transition
Current Apple CEO Tim Cook and incoming CEO John Ternus participated in the annual Sun Valley conference, which brings together top technology, media, and finance leaders to discuss the latest developments and hold closed-door meetings. This is Cook’s final appearance at the conference as Apple’s CEO before John Ternus officially takes over the position on September 1st, while Cook moves to the role of Executive Chairman. Eddy Cue is also attending the conference, alongside an elite group of leaders from technology and AI companies, such as OpenAI, Google, Meta, Amazon, and Netflix. The Sun Valley conference is known as one of the most important gatherings that, over the years, has paved the way for a number of major acquisitions and partnerships in the technology and media sectors.
Samsung sets July 22 to unveil its new phones
Samsung announced that it will hold a Galaxy Unpacked event on July 22 to unveil its latest devices. The highlight is expected to be the Galaxy Z Fold 8 with a new, shorter, and wider design, resembling the design expected for Apple’s first foldable iPhone. The company hinted at this change through a teaser featuring the slogan “A new shape unfolds.” Leaks indicate that the foldable iPhone will come with a 7.8-inch internal screen and a 5.5-inch external screen, with two rear cameras and a power button integrated with Touch ID instead of Face ID; Apple is expected to unveil it in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series. Samsung is also expected to announce new versions of its foldable phones, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7, as well as new Galaxy Watch models, while Google is also preparing to unveil its new Pixel phones on August 12, about a month before Apple’s expected announcement.
Foldable iPhone Ultra enters mass production
New reports from sources within Apple’s supply chain indicate that the foldable iPhone Ultra has already entered mass production after finalizing its design, reinforcing expectations for a September launch without any delays. Despite previous rumors about manufacturing and screen hinge issues, sources confirm that these obstacles have been largely overcome. Apple has also increased its production plan for this year to about 10 million units, compared to previous estimates of 7 to 8 million.
The phone is expected to feature a 7.8-inch internal screen, a 5.5-inch external screen, an A20 processor, and a power button with Touch ID instead of Face ID, with a price tag likely ranging between $2,000 and $2,500. Although some analysts suggest a delay in its market release until October, the latest reports indicate that Apple is still aiming to announce it in September alongside the iPhone 18 Pro phones.
Claude Cowork arrives on iPhone and the web to execute tasks automatically
Anthropic announced the expansion of the Claude Cowork feature to be available on the web and the iPhone app, with a gradual rollout starting for Max plan subscribers. This feature allows Claude to access files and connected tools and execute tasks automatically on behalf of the user, even if none of their devices are connected to the internet, as it works in the background via the cloud and sends a notification when it needs user approval to complete a specific task. Although the company emphasizes that the best experience remains on the desktop app because it gives Claude access to local files and the browser, the new expansion allows for easy use of the feature via the web and phone. Anthropic has also integrated the chat interface with Cowork into a single window instead of separating them into independent tabs, while extending the doubling of usage limits until August 5 for service subscribers.
Google sets August 12 to unveil Pixel 11 phones before the new iPhone launch
Google announced that it will hold an event on August 12 to unveil the new Pixel 11 phone series, about a month before Apple’s expected announcement of the iPhone 18 phones and the first foldable iPhone. Leaks indicate that the series will include four models, including the foldable Pixel 11 Pro Fold, with a thinner design, smaller screen bezels, and an updated camera frame.
It is also expected that all Pixel 11 phones will start with 256GB of storage instead of 128GB, with the possibility of price increases due to the significant rise in memory chip costs. In contrast, Apple is preparing to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, in addition to the first foldable iPhone, while Samsung also continues to boost competition by launching its new foldable phones before Apple’s event.
iPhone 18 Pro may come with a thicker design and an improved camera
New leaks indicate that Apple is preparing to increase the thickness of the iPhone 18 Pro chassis and the rear camera module compared to the iPhone 17 Pro, while continuing to use an aluminum frame instead of returning to titanium. According to circulated information, the phone’s thickness may increase by about 2mm, reaching between 9.9 and 10.9mm. This is due to a new camera system that includes, for the first time, a variable aperture, giving the user better control over lighting and image quality. It is said that this system is more expensive to manufacture, and suppliers are already working to increase production in preparation for the phone’s expected launch in September, alongside Apple’s first foldable iPhone.
iPhone Air 2 may get a larger battery and longer operating life
The latest leaks indicate that Apple is working on developing the iPhone Air 2, expected to be launched during the first half of 2027, with a focus on improving battery life. According to the information, the battery capacity may increase to 3500 mAh compared to 3149 mAh in the current generation, an increase of nearly 11%. The phone is also expected to feature two rear cameras instead of one, by adding an ultra-wide lens to improve the photography experience. It will be powered by the new A20 processor using 2nm manufacturing technology, providing higher energy efficiency, along with a thinner OLED screen that may give Apple extra space to install a larger battery without increasing the phone’s size.
Apple Intelligence features in the Home app require a 2TB iCloud+ subscription
Apple clarified that the new Apple Intelligence features in the Home app within iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS 27 will only work with an iCloud+ subscription of 2TB or higher. These features include creating smart summaries for security camera alerts, grouping clips from multiple cameras into one view, extracting the most important recordings, and searching using natural language. The price of a 2TB iCloud+ subscription is about $9.99 per month, and it also allows for adding an unlimited number of HomeKit Secure Video cameras, with the full storage space remaining available for photos and other files, because camera recordings do not count toward the user’s allocated storage capacity.
iPhone 17 Pro Max preserved inside a time capsule until 2276
A Cosmic Orange iPhone 17 Pro Max was placed inside a time capsule that will remain sealed for 250 years, as part of the United States’ celebrations of its 250th anniversary. The capsule was buried in Philadelphia on July 4, 2026, to be opened in 2276. The phone was chosen to represent the pinnacle of American technology in this era and contains a collection of digital files saved within the “Notes” app to give future inhabitants a glimpse into daily life in 2026. The capsule was designed using special materials and technologies to protect its contents throughout this duration, and it also includes other historical and scientific artifacts from various US states and territories, alongside contributions from government and technical institutions.
Miscellaneous News
◉ Apple announced a new partnership with Broadcom worth over $30 billion to design and produce advanced chips and wireless connectivity technologies within the United States. The deal will contribute to the manufacturing of over 15 billion chips and support hundreds of American jobs, with a $1.5 billion investment to expand Broadcom’s factory in Colorado to produce radio frequency components and connectivity technologies. This step is part of Apple’s program to support local manufacturing, as the company aims to inject $600 billion into the US economy over four years, which boosts innovation and ensures better performance for devices like the iPhone and Apple Watch.
◉ The highest European court rejected Apple’s lawsuit against the European Commission’s decision that classified the App Store and iOS platform as a “gatekeeper” under the Digital Markets Act. This classification imposes strict obligations on Apple, such as preventing the favoring of its own services over competitors, allowing the use of alternative app stores, and not merging user data across different services. The court also confirmed that Apple’s objection to the classification of the iMessage service is inadmissible, meaning the company will remain subject to the new European rules aimed at promoting competition and protecting users.
◉ The developer of the free and open-source Maestral app announced that the project will be permanently discontinued after seven years since its launch. The app was a preferred choice for Mac users because it consumes less memory and allows unlimited synchronization of accounts and devices compared to the official Dropbox app. Although it will continue to work for a short period until the certificates expire, it will not receive new updates, meaning it will stop working in the future unless another developer takes over the project.
◉ Apple added support for the smart Siri app in the third beta version of watchOS 27, allowing Apple Watch users to benefit from AI features directly from their wrist. The app appears in the middle of the app grid when pressing the Digital Crown and provides a smarter version of Siri to answer questions and execute requests. This system relies on an iPhone compatible with Apple Intelligence to process data, and conversations are synced across all Apple devices such as iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
◉ WhatsApp has started testing a new feature on the beta version of the iPhone app, where a small green circle appears next to the profile picture to indicate that the user is currently online. The mark disappears immediately upon leaving the app and works in real-time with live updates, but it only appears on the chat info page when clicking on the contact’s name, not yet in the chat list or within the chat itself. The feature respects privacy settings; if the user hides their online status, the green dot will not appear. It is expected to reach more beta testers in the coming weeks before being officially rolled out to everyone.
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