Blogroll

Apple has raised the prices of its iPhone 16, 17, 17e, and Air, quietly making the changes to coincide with its announcement of the new iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and foldable Duo. Some of them are now even more expensive than they were at launch.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 18 Pro price report: Apple confirms price hikes

Historically, the release of a new iPhone has been accompanied by a price cut on older models, making the devices more attractive to savvy shoppers. Unfortunately, it seems as though their patience has instead been punished this year, with multiple past iPhones getting a $100 bump in price instead.

The iPhone 16 had been available for $699 before Apple's event on Wednesday, having received a $100 price cut when the iPhone 17 was released last year. That reduction has now been reversed, putting the iPhone 16 back up to $799 — the same price it was when it launched two years ago in 2024.

Meanwhile, the iPhone 17, 17e, and Air are now more expensive than they were at launch. The budget iPhone 17e was originally available for $599 when it was announced in March this year, but it will now set you back $699. Apple's iPhone 17 launched at $799 last September, but its price has now been increased to $899. Finally, the iPhone Air launched at $999 alongside the iPhone 17, but will now cost buyers $1,099.

Top smartphone deals of the week

If the $1,999 iPhone Duo isn’t in your budget, this is a great time to take advantage of discounts on previous-generation iPhones and Android devices.

• Get the iPhone 17 for $0 down at T-Mobile

• Samsung Galaxy S26 FE + $200 Amazon Gift Card — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200)

• Google Pixel 11 Pro — $1,019.70 $1,099 (save $79.30)

• Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — $1,049.99 $1,299.99 (save $250)

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 — $1,649.99 $1,899.99 (save $250)

To top it off, the newly announced iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are also $100 more expensive than last year's 17 Pro and Pro Max at launch, starting at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively. 

Some commentators had expected Apple to launch the iPhone 18 Pro at $1,099, absorbing higher manufacturing costs to keep it in line with the iPhone 17 Pro's pricing. It was a reasonable conclusion to draw considering Apple's past pricing trends. However, it seems the tech giant isn't prepared to reduce its profit margin quite that much this year. (Apple's recent Q3 2026 results reported a net quarterly profit of $29.8 billion, with net iPhone sales having increased 22 percent to $54.25 billion.)

While unwelcome, Apple's price hikes aren't a complete surprise. The AI boom has significantly increased demand for memory chips, driving up manufacturing costs as tech companies compete for limited supplies. In June, Apple's former CEO Tim Cook told the Wall Street Journal that though the company was trying to "mitigate" the impact on customers, "price increases are unavoidable."

Bloomberg subsequently reported last month that Apple was preparing to raise the prices of its iPhones, having already done so for other products such as the iPad Air, MacBook Air, and Mac Studio.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

The NYT Connections puzzle today is not too difficult if you're a science geek.

Connections is the one of the most popular New York Times word games that's captured the public's attention. The game is all about finding the "common threads between words." And just like Wordle, Connections resets after midnight and each new set of words gets trickier and trickier—so we've served up some hints and tips to get you over the hurdle.

If you just want to be told today's puzzle, you can jump to the end of this article for today's Connections solution. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable What is Connections?

The NYT's latest daily word game has become a social media hit. The Times credits associate puzzle editor Wyna Liu with helping to create the new word game and bringing it to the publications' Games section. Connections can be played on both web browsers and mobile devices and require players to group four words that share something in common.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Each puzzle features 16 words and each grouping of words is split into four categories. These sets could comprise of anything from book titles, software, country names, etc. Even though multiple words will seem like they fit together, there's only one correct answer.

If a player gets all four words in a set correct, those words are removed from the board. Guess wrong and it counts as a mistake—players get up to four mistakes until the game ends.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Players can also rearrange and shuffle the board to make spotting connections easier. Additionally, each group is color-coded with yellow being the easiest, followed by green, blue, and purple. Like Wordle, you can share the results with your friends on social media.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 6, 2026 Here's a hint for today's Connections categories

Want a hint about the categories without being told the categories? Then give these a try:

• Yellow: Periodic table

• Green: House accessories

• Blue: Jersey rock hits

• Purple: Up-to-date

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Here are today's Connections categories

Need a little extra help? Today's connections fall into the following categories:

• Yellow: Chemical elements

• Green: What you might see sticking out of a window

• Blue: Bruce Springsteen classics

• Purple: Ending in synonyms for "Happening now"

Play our Big Guessing Game: Make your predictions now for a chance to win a new Apple Watch. Time's running out!

Ready for the answers? This is your last chance to turn back and solve today's puzzle before we reveal the solutions.

Drumroll, please!

The solution to today's Connections #1186 is...

What is the answer to Connections today

• Chemical elements: ACTINIUM, KRYPTON, LEAD, SULFUR

• What you might see sticking out of a window: AIR CONDITIONER, CATIO, CLOTHESLINE, FLOWER BOX

• Bruce Springsteen classics: ATLANTIC CITY, BADLANDS, BORN TO RUN, THUNDER ROAD

• Ending in synonyms for "Happening now": ADULT CONTEMPORARY, ALTERNATING CURRENT, REPRESENT, SEXTANT

Looking for Wordle today? Here's the answer to today's Wordle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Looking for spoiler-free NYT Connections hints or just wondering why Connections is trending today? We've got what you need to understand the clues for today's puzzle without spoiling any of the answers.

Of course, Mashable has also provided daily hints and answers for Connections, Wordle, and Strands for years, so we can help you if that's also what you need.

While we are focused more on meanings than hints in this story, sometimes learning that many of the words have completely unrelated meanings is a clue in and of itself. Connections frequently includes clues that involve words within words and other visual clues.

SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 10, 2026 Actinium meaning

A rare, soft silver radioactive chemical element.

Krypton meaning

A colorless, odorless chemical element and noble gas.

Lead meaning

A toxic dark gray chemical element.

Sulfur meaning

A bright yellow chemical element.

Atlantic City meaning

A popular coastal New Jersey city.

Badlands meaning

Dry, eroded area of land that has gone unused.

Born to Run meaning

A popular 1975 song and album released by Bruce Springsteen.

Thunder Road meaning

A 1975 Bruce Springsteen hit song.

Air conditioner meaning

A machine used to cool down a space.

Catio meaning

An enclosed outdoor space used to house pet cats.

Clothesline meaning

An outdoor rope connected at two points used to hang up wet clothing.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Flower box meaning

A long, rectangular box used to hold and display flowers or other plants in a window.

Adult contemporary meaning

A genre of music consisting of slow to mid-tempo songs.

Alternating current meaning

An electric current that reverses direction and changes magnitude over time.

Represent meaning

To act on behalf of.

Sextant meaning

A navigation tool used to measure angles.

Have you learned the meanings and still want the things? Check out the hints and answers for today's NYT Connections puzzle.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? Get all the Strands hints you need for today's puzzle.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Connections.

Today's NYT Strands hints describe awards.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

SEE ALSO: Wordle today: Answer, hints for September 10, 2026 NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Victory lap

The words are related to success.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe awards.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is We Have a Winner.

NYT Strands word list for September 10

• Pennant

• Prize

• We Have a Winner

• Trophy

• Medal

• Crown

• Laurels

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you're sarcastic.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

SEE ALSO: Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more: Play games on Mashable SEE ALSO: NYT Connections hints today: Clues, answers for September 10, 2026 Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once. 

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

SEE ALSO: NYT Pips hints, answers for September 10, 2026 Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Ironically.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

The letter Y appears twice.

Want more tech and digital culture news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with...

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

The Wordle answer today is...

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is...

DRYLY

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints.

Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

Meet The Mashable 101: Our list of the content creators shaping the internet today

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

Hope is the epic monster movie that The End of Oak Street failed to be. Bear with me; this is more than a "they're both monster movies" comparison.

Both films focus on a humble neighborhood under siege by rampaging beasts. Both feature gruesome violence as mankind gets swatted down the food chain. Both center on heroes who are alarmingly bad at recognizing danger. But only one satisfies as eye-popping entertainment with something worthwhile to say.

Where The End of Oak Street was a clumsy Spielberg pastiche lacking sense and humanity, Hope is a rollicking, action-packed thrill ride that roars with the intensity of Hollywood blockbusters without compromising its unnerving commentary.

Why choose between thought-provoking cinema and a bonkers popcorn movie? Na Hong-jin's Hope is both.

Hope is a Jaws descendant that deserves the title.

From South Korean writer/director Na Hong-jin (The Wailing, The Yellow Sea) comes a monster movie that steals smartly from Spielberg's Jaws, without feeling like a rip-off.

Like Jaws, Hope kicks off with a small town police chief — in this case, Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) — who finds a curious corpse in the rural lands outside of his town. Local hunters have called him over a dead cow, whose side is sliced wide open with confoundingly large claw marks. Could it be a bear? A tiger? Or spies from North Korea looking to sow confusion?

While the chief heads into town to investigate further, his cousin, a brash young hunter named Sung-ki (Zo In-sung), leads others into the woods to investigate. Like Brody from Jaws, Bum-seok is determined to protect his people from this mysterious beast, but he is alarmingly ill-equipped to manage it.

Na sets up some subtle visuals that suggest this ineptitude as soon as Bum-seok struts onscreen. The cow carnage before him suggests a foe that is massive, mighty, and savage. By contrast, Bum-seok wears a sharply pressed policeman's uniform, with flared pant legs that accent his kicky little leather boots. He is a man of order, not chaos. So, much like the sea-fearing Brody on Quint's boat, Bum-seok becomes a fish out of water in his own town when the monster comes calling.

Like Spielberg, Na takes his time revealing the full majesty and horror of this monster. Nearly an hour passes before the beast is revealed onscreen. But along the way, Na gives his audience plenty to scream over.

Hope is an exhilarating, surprising, and totally gnarly action movie. Police outpost chief Bum-seok (Hwang Jung-min) looks for a monster in "Hope." Credit: NEON

For the film's first leg, Na binds his audience to Bum-seok, in both quest and perspective. Like him, we are eager to understand this creature, more eager perhaps to see it for ourselves. But Na toys with us. When Bum-seok gets back to town, he realizes the monster is already here.

He races through its path of destruction, past shattered market stalls, crumbling walls, and bloodied corpses that litter the street. He follows the sounds of smashing, gunfire, and screams. His neighbors rush past him, firing an array of heavy artillery. And still, he is always too many steps behind to see what's causing this destruction. Our idea of the monster is shaped by details in the wreckage, like how big a hole it leaves in a concrete wall or how far it throws an entire pick-up truck.

This frenzied pursuit sequence spins through streets, battered businesses, and down gulleys. Along the way, Bum-seok will be mocked for his confusion and team up with a reluctant ally, who carries a bow and arrow. And in every frame, the excitement mounts. By withholding the monster, Na urges the audience to be children again, with our imaginations running wild at the bump in the night.

Critics out of the film's world premiere at the Cannes International Film Festival were divided about the computer animation that brings Hope's creatures to life. IndieWire reported the film got a new cut and a polish on its CGI since then. Having not seen the Cannes cut, I squealed with absolute joy when the first monster was revealed in the theatrical release of Hope. And for all those critters that came after, I was likewise giddy.

Sure, not all of the GCI is seamlessly composited into the locations of town and forest that Hope traverses. But Na's collection of creatures is intriguing and unexpected, brought to life by captivating animation that makes these bumps in the suspension of disbelief pass in forgettable flickers.

Hope pivots hard in its second act.

Not long after the monster is revealed, Bum-seok teams up with rookie cop Sung-ae (Squid Game's Hoyeon), who's got a brash mouth to match her booming assault rifle. After a jaw-dropping car chase that makes The Bourne Identity look like Driving Miss Daisy, they finally, fatally fell the monster. But we're only over an hour into this 156-minute movie. So, what next?

Well, for one, Na will lead us back to the woods, where Sung-ki and the other hunters are about to have close encounters of their own. More action will spark there, while back in town, Bum-seok chases answers to all the questions raised by the monster attack. Here, Na weaves in new characters, who are quirky and influenced by small-town superstition. (Think Widow's Bay.) And as they find answers, Bum-seok and Sung-ae find disturbing truths about who's really to blame for the devastation before them.

In the second half, Hope allows its audience more room to breathe than it does its human heroes. Comical monologues about hunting and defecation keep things light, even as the realizations turn dark. From there, Na pulls us out of Bum-seok's perspective, to one more knowing, and empathetic.

The looks Na grants of the monsters are no longer strictly to scare us. The following conflict between man and beast becomes one where we not only revel in the outrageous and brutal action that turns armed men into ribbons of flesh and rivers of blood. But we are also urged to consider the origins of this violence — in between the screams and laughter that Na earns with each new chase or challenge.

Hope is confusing, but strategically so.

The absolutely outstanding action sequence of monster-made mayhem should be reason enough for genre fans to buy a ticket. Na's vision of action makes room for thrills, surprises, scares, and laughs with generous abandon. Yet Hope offers more than an absolutely outrageous spectacle.

Again, I point to the failings of The End of Oak Street. Yes, it too offered violent beasts and gory action sequences. But the disdain — or maybe indifference — that American filmmaker David Robert Mitchell had for the family at the center of his movie makes watching them less fun and more torturous. The fact that they never got any better at recognizing the threat around them felt more an insult to the audience than a rich terrain for slasher trope scares.

By contrast, Hope has an empathy for its foolish humans, even as it presents them in brief sketches. Unlike Jaws, we never learn much about the police chief's life outside of this very bad day on the job. When Sung-ae is introduced, it's with a fearless attack on the monster, and virtually no context about her character. Likewise, other locals will pop into the plot, only to disappear for a stretch, then return as a corpse (or part of one).

There were moments where I felt my brain leaping to bridge the gap between what I saw and what I knew. But here's the thing: 1) These little details don't matter, and 2) the confusion Na causes with such leaps reflects the confusion his townsfolk are enduring as they try to survive. The details of their backstory are not as crucial to who they are in their actions and to each other. Essentially, the first half of Hope urges us to look for clues of what is going on. The second half suggests that we might have been focusing on the wrong ones.

All this leads to a climax that is rigorously exciting, with a chase scene that had my heart thumping so hard it should count as a cardio workout. Here is where Michael Fassbender, Alicia Vikander, and Taylor Russell pop up in surprising roles I won't spoil here. But if you know they're in it going into the movie, there's no mistaking them onscreen.

Admittedly, not every sequence needs the time Na gives it to play out. Some beats feel redundant, especially in the final sequence. There, it seems either Na is second-guessing his audience's capacity for understanding, or is indulging in the sci-fi flourishes of Hope. But in any case, Hope's runtime flies by.

Chasing the audience across a village marketplace, through mountainside forests, into stranger caverns, and down a seemingly endless highway, Na offers a monster movie that is unique, captivating, and explosive fun. His monsters and men are sketches, but beautifully realized through a terrific cast and thoughtful visual effects that spur our imaginations rather than offer easy answers. What Na has made here is a marvel that smartly plucks from Spielberg's playbook to create something fresh, fun, and challenging.

I didn't just laugh, gasp, scream, and squeal watching this movie. I was thrust full-bodied back into what it was like being a kid seeing a Godzilla movie or Jaws for the first time. I've seen hundreds or thousands of movies and monsters since then. But with a keen awareness of audience and a passion for action and creatures, Na brought it all back. Hope made me feel like a kid again as I watched it, then dared me to confront the hard truths at its heart. Through that journey, Hope becomes the kind of movie that doesn't let go, and cheers to that.

Hope was reviewed out of the Toronto International Film Festival. It opens in theaters in the U.S. on Sept. 9.

If you type a lot of commands in Bash, it can be time-consuming to navigate, correct, and add strings to achieve the desired output. I've found my fair share of typing errors, multi-instruction commands, and complex interpreters. There are ways to speed up the typing process without wearing you out or giving you headaches, from short codes and hotkeys to cool shortcuts and hidden features.

After so many months of speculation, Apple finally unveiled the foldable iPhone Duo. When the "Surprise and Shine" keynote wrapped, one of Mashable's senior reporters even got to check out the device in a crowded Apple Park demo room.

View this post on Instagram

The iPhone Duo will be officially released on Oct. 23, and you'll have to wait until then for a proper review. However, I have spent a lot of time with the device's biggest competition, the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8.

So, how do these two flagship foldables compare?

iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: Cost

Before the Apple iPhone event, rumors pegged the iPhone Duo's price somewhere between $2,000 and $2,300, so the final $1,999 price tag was a pleasant surprise. Of course, that's still a massive investment for most people, as is the Z Fold 8, which has a starting price of $1,899.99. Both phones come with 256GB of storage and can be upgraded with more.

The 2TB version of the iPhone Duo will cost a whopping $3,199, whereas the Z Fold 8 doesn't have a 2TB version.

Top smartphone deals of the week

If the $1,999 iPhone Duo isn’t in your budget, this is a great time to take advantage of discounts on previous-generation iPhones and Android devices.

• Get the iPhone 17 for $0 down at T-Mobile

• Samsung Galaxy S26 FE + $200 Amazon Gift Card — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200)

• Google Pixel 11 Pro — $1,019.70 $1,099 (save $79.30)

• Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — $1,049.99 $1,299.99 (save $250)

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 — $1,649.99 $1,899.99 (save $250)

iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: Design The Galaxy Z Fold 8 has a boxier design. Credit: Joe Maldonado / CNET Group

To be honest, I wasn't sure what to make of the iPhone Duo's design based on the leaks. The rounded corners and D-shaped outer display reminded me of the Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold, and not in a good way. However, after its big reveal, I have to admit that I was totally wrong: I think Apple nailed the design.

The iPhone Duo has a sleek, futuristic look, and when unfolded, it takes on a more sculptural shape. By comparison, the Z Fold 8 looks a little boxy and utilitarian.

Both phones are also remarkably thin. Unfolded, the Duo is Apple's thinnest phone ever at just 5.2mm. The Z Fold 8 is even thinner, a mere 4.5 mm when unfolded. The Z Fold 8 is also significantly lighter.

iPhone Duo vs. Z Fold 8: Displays and creases The folding iPhone Duo on display. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Here's how the displays compare specs-wise:

• iPhone Duo: 7.6-inch inner Super Retina XDR display and 5.4-inch outer Super Retina XDR display

• Galaxy Z Fold 8: 7.6-inch inner AMOLED display and a 5.5-inch outer AMOLED display

Crucially, the iPhone Duo has Apple's premium nano-texture display. Because this minimizes reflections on the device, the crease should be even less visible on the Duo, and it all but disappears in early photos and videos of the device. The combination of Liquid Glass, Super Retina XDR, and nano texture results in an impressive display that will be very hard to beat.

That being said, the Z Fold 8 also has impressive AMOLED displays and a nearly invisible crease. There's a reason Apple tapped Samsung to manufacture the iPhone Duo's flexible display, after all.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2026 recap: Everything announced, including foldable iPhone Duo iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: The cameras The camera array on the Galaxy Z Fold 8. Credit: Joe Maldonado / CNET Group

In my review of the Galaxy Z Fold 8, I noted that the device's cameras were its biggest drawback. If you want a Pro-level camera array, you'll need to upgrade to the pricier Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra.

In comparison, the iPhone Duo appears to make fewer compromises on its cameras. Let's start by breaking down the specs:

• iPhone Duo cameras: 48-megapixel main camera, 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera, 12MP Center Stage selfie camera, and an under-display FaceTime camera

• Galaxy Z Fold 8 cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 10MP selfie camera

While 50MP might seem to automatically beat 48MP, don't be so sure. Image quality has as much to do with the phone's processor as the cameras themselves, and Apple's new A20 Pro chip sounds like a killer. However, Apple is just now introducing AI photo editing features in iOS 27 that have been standard on Samsung Galaxy phones for a couple of years.

We obviously haven't been able to test the iPhone Duo's selfie cameras yet, but this is another area where Apple has an apparent edge.

I hated the Z Fold 8's 10MP selfie camera, which is so useless I wondered why Samsung included it at all. It merely takes up space on the inner display. The under-display FaceTime camera will probably have quality issues as well, but it won't take up precious pixel space. Apple also has an additional Center Stage selfie camera on the rear of the device. On other iPhones, the Center Stage camera has been great for taking vertical and horizontal selfies without flipping the phone in your hands, among other perks.

Apple StandBy mode Credit: Apple

During the iPhone Duo introduction, Apple was keen to show the device acting as a smart alarm clock on a nightstand. This is part of the phone's StandBy mode, which allows you to "turn your iPhone Duo into a clock, photo frame, or a display for the weather, calendar or your favorite widgets." (Please don't leave

The Galaxy Z Fold 8 also supports multitasking and side-by-side apps, of course. But while the Z Fold 8 is primarily designed for multitasking, Apple StandBy mode is a fun twist. The prospect of using your iPhone Duo as a smart picture frame while you're at your desk is certainly interesting.

We'll have to wait and see how it works IRL.

iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: Which is the better foldable? Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

We can't answer this question until we've properly tested the foldable iPhone Duo. But some things to consider as you mull whether to preorder the device:

• The Galaxy Z Fold 8 is our favorite Android foldable released yet

• The iPhone Duo's design and camera features will be very hard to beat

• Both phones have impressive displays, though the nano-texture coating may give Apple a slight edge

• Apple emphasized that the iPhone Duo was designed for durability in the long-term, and it's IP68 dust and water-resistant; the Z Fold 8 has a slightly less impressive IP48 certification

iPhone Duo vs. Galaxy Z Fold 8: By the numbers

Want to see the full list of specs side by side?

iPhone Duo specifications:

• Inner display: 7.6-inch inner and 5.5-inch outer AMOLED displays with 120Hz refresh rate

• Cameras: 48-megapixel main camera, 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera, 12MP Center Stage selfie camera, and an under-display FaceTime camera

• Processor: Apple A20 Pro chipset

• Colors: White, deep blue

• Dimensions: 164.6 x 117.8 x 5.2mm unfolded / 84.1 x 117.8 x 11.3mm folded

• Weight: 254 grams

• RAM: 12GB to 24GB RAM

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, or 2TB storage

• Charging: 60W wired, 30W wireless

• Peak brightness: Up to 3,000 nits

• Water resistance: IP68 water and dust resistant

Galaxy Z Fold 8 specifications

• Display: 7.6-inch inner and 5.5-inch outer AMOLED displays with 120Hz refresh rate

• Cameras: 50MP wide, 50MP ultrawide, 10MP selfie camera

• Processor: Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 for Galaxy chipset

• Colors: Lavender, cream, graphite, and pistachio

• Dimensions: 123.9 x 161.4 x 4.5 mm unfolded / 123.9 x 81.9 x 9.7 mm unfolded

• Weight: 201 grams

• RAM: 12GB to 16GB RAM

• Storage: 256GB, 512GB, or 1TB storage

• Battery: 4,800mAh battery

• Charging: 45W wired, 20W wireless

• Peak brightness: Up to 3,000 nits

• Water resistance: IP48 water and dust resistant

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

I am happy to pay for Android apps, but everyone should be able to do certain tasks regardless of budget. These features once required paid apps, but now you can enjoy them for free — often with a better experience than money can buy. Once you know which apps to download, you too can stop paying for these types of apps.

We live in an increasingly digital world, but as Olivia Newton-John said, sometimes you just need to get physical. Here are three projects that let you interact with Home Assistant in a physical way.

Ever wonder what your camera roll would look like in 1985? There’s a ChatGPT prompt for that.

The AI tool’s latest trend has social media users turning current pictures into imagined throwbacks, complete with vintage outfits, big hair and that slightly faded family-album finish.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Want to see yourself posing for a mall portrait, heading to an arcade date or hanging out with friends at the roller rink? Start a new ChatGPT conversation and attach a clear, well-lit photo of yourself or the people you want pictured. Then describe the setting, clothes, hairstyle and lighting you have in mind.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Don’t forget to tell it what to keep: your recognizable face, natural skin tone, age and facial structure. You’re asking for an ’80s wardrobe, after all — you still want to look like yourself.

Not sure where to start? See below for a list of prompts to try or customize. Swap in the clothes and locations you’d actually want in your photo. Thank us later.

For a classic 1985 makeover This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"Using my uploaded photo, imagine me in an American snapshot taken in 1985. Preserve my recognizable identity, facial features, natural skin tone and current age. Give me a distinctly mid-1980s hairstyle suited to my hair texture, an oversized patterned shirt, high-waisted jeans and period-appropriate accessories. Place me outside a neighborhood record store with a window display of vinyl records. Use direct camera flash, subtle analog grain, slightly faded colors and soft photographic detail. Add a small red-orange date stamp reading ‘09 09 85’ in the lower corner. Avoid modern objects and any other added text.”

For a group photo

"Use the uploaded reference photo to recreate our group hanging out in an American suburban living room in 1988. Preserve each person’s individual facial features, age and natural skin tone. Give us distinct casual outfits with denim, patterned sweaters and colorful shirts. Include a wood-paneled wall, a patterned sofa, a cassette player and a boxy television. Arrange us naturally, as though a friend has just taken a quick flash photo."

For a solo studio portrait This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"Use my uploaded photo to create a realistic portrait of me at an American shopping-mall photography studio in 1986. Preserve my recognizable facial features, natural skin tone, age and facial structure. Give me a denim jacket over a simple T-shirt and a softly feathered hairstyle suited to my hair texture. Use a mottled blue studio backdrop, soft portrait lighting and subtle film grain. The finished image should feel like a print from a family album.”

For a road-trip photo This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"Create a realistic photograph of me standing beside a parked 1980s American coupe at a roadside stop in 1987. Use my uploaded photo to preserve my recognizable face, age and natural skin tone. Give me straight-leg jeans, a tucked-in T-shirt, a lightweight windbreaker and sunglasses resting on my head. Use late-afternoon sunlight and the slightly faded colors of a printed vacation photo. Keep visible cars, signs and accessories appropriate to the year."

For a couple This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"Using our uploaded photo as the reference, create a candid picture of us on a date at an American arcade in 1985. Preserve both people’s recognizable faces, natural skin tones, ages and facial structures. Dress us in casual denim, colorful tops and period-appropriate sneakers. Include arcade cabinets, softly glowing screens and a direct camera-flash effect. Keep our poses relaxed and our skin texture realistic."

For a roller-rink night This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"Transform my uploaded photo into a realistic snapshot of me at an American roller rink in 1984. Keep my identity, age, facial structure and natural skin tone consistent with the reference. Dress me in a colorful athletic top, high-waisted shorts, striped socks and quad roller skates. Place me beside the rink railing with colored lights and skaters in the background. Use subtle motion blur behind me and the look of a flash photograph."

If the first result needs work

Love the outfit, but the face looks a little off? Tell ChatGPT exactly what needs fixing. For example: "Bring my face closer to the original reference. Keep my original face shape, eyes, nose and smile. Leave the outfit and background as they are."

If it went a little too big on the hair and clothes, try: "Make the clothing and hair more understated, like an ordinary weekend snapshot from 1985."

Once you get a version you like, you can keep the look and change the location. OpenAI recommends making small, targeted revisions and spelling out what should stay the same.

Of course, this isn’t ChatGPT’s first social media makeover. We’ve seen the caricature trend turn users into cartoon versions of themselves, and the "make it more" trend had people repeatedly asking ChatGPT to exaggerate images until things got ridiculous. This time, the assignment is a little more nostalgic.

Before you post, check faces, hands and background details against your original photo. Some participants in a Reddit discussion of the trend have complained that the results don’t really look like them, so take a second look! Then comes the real decision: whether to leave that hairstyle in 1985 or bring it to your next salon appointment.

Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo can do many things, including side-by-side screen multitasking and hands-free video viewing at different angles.

Yet the company also pitched the $1,999 device as a "delightful bedside clock" during its Apple Event 2026 presentation on Wednesday.

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, said the Duo has the "ability to wake you up with a gentle glow timed perfectly with your alarm."

In the imagery shared by Apple, the partly folded Duo rests on a nightstand — exactly where numerous health and wellness experts say it should not be.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2026: Everything announced, including iPhone Duo Why you shouldn't sleep with your phone

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, for example, recommends keeping your phone in another room and relying on a digital clock instead. That's because research suggests sleeping next to a phone can worsen sleep quality in different ways.

First, there's the temptation of one last scroll, whether that's to check your social media feed or browse a shopping app for last-minute deals. Five minutes can quickly turn into 50, whittling down the amount of sleep you get.

Then, even if you expect pre-bedtime screentime to be relaxing, there's always the risk of mental stimulation that keeps your brain buzzing well after the phone is off for the night.

Experts also suspect that nonstop notifications during the day prime people to anticipate them at night, too. On its own, that dynamic may diminish sleep quality. But so will checking your phone after you've randomly woken up.

Apple surprises with pitch to use Duo as alarm clock

The emphasis on Duo as a bedside clock is surprising coming from Apple, given the company's emphasis on health and wellness. Among Apple's announcements on Wednesday were a raft of new Apple Watch health features designed to optimize and maximize physical well-being.

The new Apple Watch Ultra 4, for example, debuts a readiness feature that analyzes metrics like recent activity, training load, and — you guessed it — a sleep score to determine how a user should tackle their day.

Perhaps Apple has been rattled by the growing popularity of smart or screen-free alarm clocks like the Dreamie, Hatch Sleep Clock, and Hatch Restore 3, which can displace the smartphone as the first and last device people interact with every day.

Yes, you can really sleep without your phone

Whatever the case, sleeping without a phone in your bedroom isn't as nerve-wracking as it seems.

My own recent attempt at this led to one of the best nights of sleep I've ever enjoyed — and a permanent shift in my behavior. My phone stays in another room overnight and I use a screen-free alarm clock. To catch any emergency calls, I put my phone in do-not-disturb but turn the ringer on and all the way up so favorites can break through the silence if needed.

It can feel like an annoying hack just to get a peaceful night's rest, but it's far better than waking up, reaching for my phone, and getting pulled into text or email messages before I'm even out of bed.

Are you ready for some football?! If not, your parents are probably asking for the password to all the streaming services you set up for them. The 2026-2027 NFL season is once again spread across multiple streamers, so many that it might be hard to keep track of who’s playing where. Fear not, because we’ve found all the places to cheer for your favorite team, how to watch, and a couple of other perks to stream the upcoming NFL season.

At a glance:

• The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are $100 more expensive than last year's Pro models; pre-orders begin Sept. 12 ahead of a Sept. 18 launch.

• The iPhone 18 Pro features a new A20 Pro chip to better support AI features and Siri AI.

• While the design is largely the same, the new phones come in four color options: burgundy, black, silver, and glacier blue. Last year's iPhone 17 Pro didn't have a black option.

• The new phones have major camera upgrades, including a physical variable aperture, smart focus tracking, cinematic video effects, and improved low-light photography.

The new iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple's most powerful smartphone model, was officially announced on Wednesday at the big "Surprise and Shine" event.

And if you take a look at the device, you may notice that — aside from the new color options — the new iPhone Pro Max looks a lot like the old iPhone Pro Max.

It's true. Visually, the iPhone 18 Pro Max sports a very similar design in the same-sized body as its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

However, when it comes to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, it's what's on the inside that counts.

So, before you pre-order the new iPhones, here's the head-to-head between the two devices.

Cost

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are priced at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively. That means the phones both arrive with a $100 starting price increase over last year's model, which isn't too bad given the global memory crisis.

This is the one area where the iPhone 17 Pro models had a clear advantage.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

Color options The iPhone 18 Pro Max comes in black, silver, glacier blue, and burgundy. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Let's get the aforementioned color options out of the way first. Visually, this is the big difference between the new iPhone 18 Pro Max and the old iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max comes in four colors. There's a new burgundy and glacier blue, as well as a silver color that looks to be a slightly different shade than the iPhone 17 Pro Max's silver. And finally, a black model returns after being conspicuously (and controversially) absent from the iPhone 17 Pro Max options.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max comes in silver, deep blue, and the viral cosmic orange color options. So, if you were really drawn to that Halloween-esque orange color, this fall, it's all about burgundy.

Display, size, and design

As mentioned, these phones have the same overall design. Both of these Apple smartphones sport a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display in an aluminum body.

The height, width, and depth of the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro Max are exactly the same. The only real difference between the two here is in their weight. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is slightly heavier than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, weighing 8.78 ounces versus 8.22 ounces, respectively.

Why is the new model heavier? Likely because of the larger battery and new variable aperture components.

Cameras Credit: Apple

This is the first big difference between the two devices.

Yes, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro Max both have a 48MP Pro Fusion camera system with a 48MP Fusion Main lens, 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide lens, and 48MP Fusion Telephoto lens. 

However, the iPhone 18 Pro Max introduces a physical variable aperture on its main camera lens. This provides way more control when it comes to lighting and depth of field, and it will make a noticeable difference in the quality of the photo and video output.

In addition, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has smart focus tracking, cinematic mode video effects, and improved low-light video. There's also a new image authentication feature called Apple Reference Image that verifies that the image was captured by the iPhone camera and isn't AI-generated.

Credit: Apple

The new iPhone 18 Pro Max has new Pro Controls features as well, which gives users the ability to manually tweak lens aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and more.

Battery

Another huge difference between the two devices is the battery. In fact, Apple says that the iPhone 18 Pro Max has "the largest increase of battery life ever on iPhone."

The iPhone 18 Pro Max can last for 45 hours of video playback on a single charge. That's 6 more hours than its predecessor.

Dynamic Island Credit: Apple

Visibly, you may not be able to notice this, but the physical cutout on the iPhone 18 Pro Max display, where the Dynamic Island is housed, is smaller than on the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The sensor region where the cutout is located is roughly 16.57mm. On the iPhone 17 Pro Max, this region was 20.76mm.

Why does that make a difference? By shrinking the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple was able to add a third activity display within the feature. So, even though the physical Dynamic Island is smaller on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple is able to pack more into the feature because of this. And this 3-in-1 Dynamic Island is only available on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models.

Processing power Credit: Apple

The biggest and most unappreciated difference will be what powers the devices.

Apple says it completely redesigned its Silicon chipset, with the A20 Pro chip, to make it its most powerful and most efficient iPhone yet. In addition to that, it completely redesigned its vapor chamber system in order to keep the iPhone 18 Pro Max cool and deliver the highest possible thermal performance.

While the iPhone 17 Pro Max's A19 Pro chipset is certainly powerful in its own right, the A20 Pro chip was designed at a time when Apple is simultaneously launching many of its new Apple Intelligence features, such as the completely reimagined voice assistant Siri AI.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

Top smartphone deals of the week

If the $1,999 iPhone Duo isn’t in your budget, this is a great time to take advantage of discounts on previous-generation iPhones and Android devices.

• Get the iPhone 17 for $0 down at T-Mobile

• Samsung Galaxy S26 FE + $200 Amazon Gift Card — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200)

• Google Pixel 11 Pro — $1,019.70 $1,099 (save $79.30)

• Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — $1,049.99 $1,299.99 (save $250)

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 — $1,649.99 $1,899.99 (save $250)

The early days of people having internet in their homes were pretty wild. Viruses were pretty much everywhere, and unlike now, many users had no clue what to do with them. I was a tween in the early '00s, but I remember intervening when my mom's PC had what felt like hundreds of them, with pop-ups and ads covering up the entire desktop, impossible to remove.

Weeks after announcing its sale to AI image-generator Midjourney, astrology app Co-Star revealed it's launching a dating app for book lovers called Readme.

First reported on Sept. 4 in journalist Emily Sundberg's newsletter, Feed Me, Readme (unrelated to Feed Me) is for "people who read (or want to date people who read)." It's the brainchild of Co-Star's founder and CEO, Banu Guler, and strategist and cultural analyst Emily Segal. Guler shared the news on X on Tuesday:

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"Obviously everyone knows that existing dating app culture is profoundly broken," Segal told Sundberg. Dating app fatigue and cynicism are well-documented, but while many singles are sick of the apps, they don't know where else to turn.

"Readme emerged from a running observation between me and Banu, that even though our friends were constantly in bookstores, we never actually saw anyone have that meme-famous 'meet cute at a bookstore' experience," Segal continued.

The two realized they could create something themselves that would mimic that experience, and believe that someone's taste in books tells you a lot more about their true spirit "than an awkwardly workshopped line on a conventional dating app profile." (Segal recently coined the term "tasteslop," which has a three-pronged definition: Slop made out of things considered tasteful; Tasteful things deployed in service of slop; and repeated discussion in the tech world about the significance of taste.)

Segal told Sundberg that Co-Star users have wanted a dating app, but that astrology, which is Co-Star's main focus, "is only one piece of the puzzle."

It's unclear how the cosmos will play into Readme, but considering it's an offshoot of one of the most well-known astrology apps, it'd be surprising if the zodiac was absent. And fans of Co-Star have claimed the app has "read them to filth," so the name might be a nod to that. Whether AI will factor into the app is also in question, given that Midjourney now owns Co-Star.

The launch party is happening this week, where surely more details will be revealed.

The iPhone 18 line and first foldable iPhone are officially here, which means brand new cases are, too.

The first few weeks after a new phone's release can mean more limited case options. The good news? iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max phones are compatible with iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max cases. The foldable iPhone Duo, however, is another story. As the iPhone Duo size is completely unique, the case options are limited to just Apple and a few other brands as of launch day.

SEE ALSO: Where was the regular iPhone 18? The missing product in Apple's event.

Still, we gathered up the best cases available for the new iPhones so far, whether you're looking for something cute, something protective, or something that brings the best of both worlds. Check them out below.

Note: Most iPhone Duo cases on this list have live product pages, but aren't available to order just yet. We'll keep this list updated as they become available.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max cases Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Casetify Impact Case in Dark Cherry Jelly $64 at Casetify
  Shop Now Why we like it

This look won't be for everyone, but Casetify's Dark Cherry case feels kind of perfect for the new burgundy colorway (especially as it was rumored to be called "dark cherry" before its release). If you're not a fan of this design, Casetify already has plenty of others available for the 18 Pro and Pro Max.

More iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max cases

• Smartish Wallet Case — $34.99

• Casely Blue Hydrangea Case with MagSafe — $35

• Otterbox Figura Series — $39.99

• Velvet Caviar Polka Dot case — $40

• Apple Silicone Case — $49

• CaseMate Jelly Pop Carolina with MagSafe — $50

• Casetify Cloud Case — $52

• Casetify Ripple Case — $56

• Apple TechWoven Case — $59

• Nudient Bold Case — $60

• Casetify Impact Case — $64

• Otterbox Defender Series — $69.99

iPhone Duo cases Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand $129.99 at Apple
  Learn More Why we like it

Apple's iPhone Duo Folio case isn't available just yet, but we're intrigued by the design. The kickstand allows for the phone to stay propped up when folded or open, bringing together the best parts of a phone and mini tablet experience. Yeah, $129.99 is steep, but hey, so is $3,199.

More iPhone Duo cases

• Casely Shell Shocked (with MagSafe) — $40

• Velvet Caviar Midnight Stars — $40

• Velvet Caviar Snoopy Moods — $45

• dbrand Grip Case — $54.90

• CaseMate Floral Gems MagSafe — $60

• Otterbox Lumen Series — $69.99

• Spigen Ultra Hybrid Pro S (Mag Fit) — $69.99

• Apple iPhone Duo Case — $79

• MagBak Elite — $89

• Thinborne iPhone Duo case — $89.69

• Otterbox Defender Series Pro XT — $89.99

• Spigen Slim Armor Pro (Mag Fit) — $89.99

Want more tech news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

See what our readers guessed would happen at today's Apple event in our Big Guessing Game.

There's no denying that Microsoft has been stuffing many of Windows' default apps with superfluous features, turning them into bloated pieces of software filled with (mostly) AI features no one needs, with the Copilot-infested Notepad being a prime example.

On Wednesday, Apple announced a cornucopia of new products. The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Duo, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are all coming soon, and that's very exciting.

But what about after that? It turns out Apple still probably has some tricks left up its sleeve for the rest of 2026, as the rumor mill anticipates several new product launches before the end of the year. They may not all be as monumental as a foldable iPhone, but some of them are still pretty exciting.

Here are the Apple products we expect to see before the end of 2026.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2026: Everything announced, including iPhone Duo Two new MacBooks, including one with a touchscreen

Apple tends to launch new MacBook laptops between the annual iPhone event and the end of the year, and 2026 is looking no different. Two new MacBooks, in particular, stand out as products we'll see before the calendar turns.

The first is a MacBook Pro with an M6 chip, which was reported by Bloomberg earlier this year. We admittedly don't know a whole lot about this device yet, but the new chip should come with noticeable gains in performance and battery efficiency, if nothing else. This may not be a particularly revolutionary new MacBook model, which is fine, because the next one might be.

To be more specific, we're expecting a "MacBook Ultra" to launch this year. Reports and Apple's own beta software indicate it will have a touchscreen, which would be new for the MacBook line. It's possible this one will slip into early 2027, but fingers crossed it doesn't, as it'll reportedly have Dynamic Island in an OLED display and a thin chassis.

A new Apple TV 4K

Reports from the likes of Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also suggest we'll get a new Apple TV 4K refresh this year. It's been four years since the last one, so Apple's set-top box is probably due for an upgrade. The main things we know right now are that it will apparently use Apple's in-house WiFi/Bluetooth N1 chip for network connectivity, and it might have a redesigned Siri remote. It could also get Siri AI support, if that's your thing.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

HomePod Mini

You'll never believe this, but yet another report from Gurman earlier this year suggested some more Apple smart home products are on the way in 2026.

First, a new HomePod Mini is allegedly coming this year. It would be the first since all the way back in 2020. It's said to support Siri AI, contain the same N1 chip as the Apple TV 4K, and it might even come in a red color. Exciting! Those changes are on top of expected improvements, like better sound quality.

Home Hub

Last but certainly not least, Apple may have a brand new smart home product called Home Hub launching this year.

This one is supposedly a HomePod-esque device that also has a 7-inch display. It will use facial recognition to know who it looking at the display and change what it's showing, accordingly. Naturally, you'll also be able to do FaceTime calls, play music, display a gallery of your photos, and more. Reports also suggest it'll have a unique operating system that blends elements of homeOS and tvOS.

As always, things can change, and some of these devices might slip into 2027. But if you were worried that Apple was done after the "Surprise and Shine" event, worry not.

What about the iPhone 18?

If you were looking for the iPhone 18 at the iPhone launch event, then you would have been disappointed. Unfortunately for shoppers who want to spend less than $1,000 on a new phone, this is one device we do not expect to launch in 2026. Rumors point to a spring 2027 release date for the base model iPhone 18.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

There was a time when I loved Amazon Fire Tablets. Modding them and repurposing them is a hobby of mine. One reason, aside from curiosity (or the old standby of "because I can") is that Fire OS has just been getting progressively worse. So I'm fighting back the best way I know how: with knowledge and a few nifty power-user tricks.