Mobile Devices - Page 7

Amazon has expanded the range of products it can deliver via drone in the US to include products with lithium-ion batteries, such as smartphones.

Neowin spotted a post on X from Amazon announcing the move, and that the retail giant now has permission from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to deliver electronics carrying these batteries.

To begin with, only Amazon Prime customers in Texas and Arizona can order delivery in this way. Amazon promises it can drop a phone on your doorstep in 60 minutes, or less, thanks to its speedier MK30 drone that was introduced at the end of 2024.

Apple is expected to unveil its new ultra-thin iPhone 17 Air smartphone later this year, with new leaks confirming its 5.5mm thickness, 145g weight... but then a smaller 2800mAh battery.

In a new post on X by insider @Jukanlosreve, we're hearing the new iPhone 17 Air will have a smaller 2800mAh battery, "however, there's a possibility that a high-density battery will be used despite the 2800mAh capacity" that would increase the capacity by 15-20% or so.

In previous rumors, we heard that the new Apple iPhone 17 Air would have a maximum thickness of 9.5mm with the camera bump included, or 5.5mm without the camera bump.

Apple has reportedly been hard at work on new robotics technology for a number of years now, with its new Smart Home Hub to reportedly feature a robotic arm, and an AI assistant with its "own personality".

In reports from earlier this year, a new video was published on the Apple Machine Learning Research website that showed a robot prototype that looked like Pixar mascot Luxo Jr, interacting with the researcher in a lifelike way.

Fast-forward to today, with Bloomberg insider Mark Gurman writing in his recent Power On newsletter that "there's Apple's push into robotics, which will include a tabletop machine with a robotic arm (building on the company's still-pending plans for a smart home hub). That would feature an AI assistant with its own personality".

Apple is ramping up into the 20th anniversary of the iPhone with a bunch of new products, including the foldable iPhone Ultra and a new 2027 iPhone rumored with a major design overhaul.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman explains that Apple'ls new design is "extraordinarily complex" with the 2027 iPhone being so complex, that it can ONLY be manufactured in China using its state-of-the-art production techniques, even though Apple has been slowly moving iPhone production into India and Vietnam.

We heard rumors of the new 2027 iPhone last month, but Gurman says that the new iPhone will feature a truly edge-to-edge display with the front-facing camera and FaceID system placed under the display, completely eliminating the cutouts on the iPhone. Not just that, but we can expect virtually no bezels, which will make the new iPhone look super-slick in the years to come.

Samsung is working on its next-gen foldable smartphones, including its new flagship Galaxy Z Fold 7 smartphone which is said to be thinner than expected, at just 3.9mm when unfolded.

In a new post on X by insider @UniverseIce, the Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be 3.9mm when opened and 8.9mm when closed, compared to the previous rumors on the Fold 7, which reported around 4.5mm when opened, and around 9mm to 9.5mm when closed. This is compared to the thinnest foldable smartphone right now with the Oppo Find N5, which is 8.93mm when closed.

Samsung is expected to unveil the new Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 at its Unpacked 2025 event in July, where we should expect a thinner foldable, Qualcomm's Snapdragon 8 Elite chipset, and a 200-megapixel rear-facing camera.

Apple believes it's possible that we could live in a world where iPhones don't exist, and while you may think that reality is many, many years away, the company believes it could be a lot sooner than expected.

In a Google vs Department of Justice antitrust case testimony, Apple's services chief Eddy Cue discussed the possibility of iPhones becoming obsolete in just 10 years from now. How did this come up? Cue was mentioning how artificial intelligence will continue to evolve and become ingrained in our everyday lives, eventually becoming part of the average person's daily routine. The top Apple executive continued and added that iPhones may not be the vehicle that humans use to interact with AI, and by extension, suggesting that iPhones may not even be needed in the future.

If Cue's suggestion proves to be true, Apple could be in some pretty big trouble, as currently iPhone sales account for approximately 50% of the company's quarterly revenue. So, what will replace the iPhone? Previous reports citing Apple's CEO Tim Cook state the company's CEO has been fixed on a specific vision for the past decade, and that has been "lightweight spectacles that a customer could wear all day."

Apple is slated to make room for its foldable iPhone by delaying the launch of next year's iPhone, the regular iPhone 18.

A new report from The Information has claimed Apple is about to shake up its release schedule for its iPhones, with the publication writing the Cupertino company is planning to release its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 line-up, specifically the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Air. Those devices are slated to be released in the fall of 2026. But what about the regular iPhone 18? The Information writes Apple could delay the launch of the regular iPhone 18 until spring of 2027, which, if true, will have many benefits for the company.

Delaying the launch of the regular iPhone 18 will enable Apple to emphasize its two new ambitious devices: the iPhone 18 Air and the iPhone Fold. The delay of the regular iPhone 18 would also put some focus on the higher-end iPhone models, which will be the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. So, what can users expect out of Apple's first foldable device? The specifications for the highly anticipated iPhone Fold are as follows: a box-style form factor, similar to the Pixel 9 Pro Fold, a 5.49-inch outer screen, and a 7.76-inch foldable display.

Apple is currently hard at work on its foldable iPhone which we've heard is called the iPhone Ultra, and now analyst Mark Gurman has teased to stand out from other foldables in more ways than one.

In his latest Power On newsletter, Bloomberg writer Mark Gurman explains that Apple will be launching its first foldable iPhone in 2026, and that it'll be a higher-end handset "rather than a niche alternative design). Gurman says that Apple will "stand out from the foldable phone competition with hopefully crease-free (or as close to that as possible) that is "less noticeable even the phone is in the open position to the point where it's nearly invisible".

Apple is also reportedly looking to offer a "much higher-quality" hinge, something that we've been hearing about in previous rumors that Apple would be using a liquid metal hinge that would resist deformation, improving durability and minimizing the crease on the foldable display.

Apple CEO Tim Cook has told analysts that almost all iPhone sales between April and June this year won't be made in China.

Apple is doing its best to avoid the newly implemented tariffs implemented by President Trump, which are particularly aimed at China's manufacturing prowess. The idea behind the tariffs is to bring manufacturing back to the United States by making it expensive for US-based companies to outsource manufacturing to other countries, particularly China.

However, technology manufacturers, along with many other various companies, can't simply switch to US-based manufacturing overnight and still maintain steady product launches, but what they can do is increase the manufacturing of products in countries where it has already established manufacturing lines. Cook has told analysts that nearly all iPhone models sold in the US during April and June 2025 will be shipped from India, as Apple is looking to avoid as much as it possibly can the 45% tariff on Chinese imports.

Samsung was expected to reveal its first tri-fold smartphone in the coming months, but according to the latest rumors, the new "Galaxy G Fold" tri-fold smartphone will launch in Q4 2025.

In a new report from The Bell, we're hearing that Samsung will be launching its flagship tri-fold Galaxy G Fold alongside a more affordable Galaxy Z Flip FE smartphone. These new foldable smartphones were expected to launch in July or August, but now the Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Galaxy Z Fold 7 will be launching with the Galaxy G Fold and Galaxy Z Flip FE in Q4 2025.

The release window for Samsung's new foldables is in a constant state of flux, as its tri-fold "Galaxy G Fold" will be a competitor to Huawei's Mate XT tri-fold smartphone available in China. First, it was expected in Q3 2025, but now we're a couple of months closer to the holidays in Q4 2025.

Apple has been hit hard by President Trump's tariffs on China, as that is where the company manufactures most of its products. Now, reports indicate the iPhone 18, scheduled to launch next year, won't be the same price as the upcoming iPhone 17 - it will be more.

Apple is rumored to be adopting TSMC's 2nm manufacturing process for the A20 chip, according to Digital Chat Station, which is a claim that has been previously backed up by analysts Ming-Chi Kuo and Jeff Pu. With the adoption of this new bleeding-edge chip will come a price hike at least on the production side, as the chip is much more expensive to manufacture than the current generation. The question is whether Apple is willing to eat into its profits or make consumers pick up the bill for the performance increase.

Moreover, there is President Trump's looming tariffs, which Apple could use as the "perfect" excuse to increase the price of its iPhone from the long-time-standing $999 price point. As for the tariffs, President Trump recently added Apple's iPhone to the list of products exempt from the tariffs, which includes phones, computers, and chips. However, these exemptions are temporary and could change over the coming weeks depending on how negotiations between the US and China go.

It's no surprise the number of stolen phones is on the rise, considering how ingrained smartphones have become in today's society. With everyone depending on their device, much of a user's identity is attached to it, which means it can be stolen along with the smartphone.

Between April 2024 and April 2025, global monthly searches for "report stolen phone" increased by 3.5%, increasing from 2,900 to 3,000. While these numbers are relatively small compared to the number of people with smartphones, it's worth taking the necessary precautions to prevent identity theft if you ever become one of those statistics. Below is a list of hidden iPhone settings that you can enable to reduce the chances of your identity being stolen.

Phone snatching often occurs while the device is in active use and unlocked. Reducing your auto-lock time limits the window of opportunity for a thief to access your personal data.

US President Donald Trump wants to bring as much manufacturing as he possibly can to the United States, and among many other products, Apple's iPhone is near the top of a very long list.

Trump's newly imposed tariffs targeting China are being used as a strong-arm maneuver to get the nation back to the negotiation table so a more favorable deal with the US can be worked out. Additionally, the high tariffs against China are to incentivize US companies to move manufacturing to the US by making it not financially viable for their products to be made in China.

Currently, Trump is aiming to implement a 145% tariff on imports from China, which is where Apple manufactures anywhere between 90% and 95% of its iPhones. Additionally, more than half of Apple's sales are iPhones, with a commanding 55.6% of its total hardware sales.

Apple could release its huge 18.8-inch foldable device alongside, or close to the reveal of its 7.8-inch foldable iPhone Ultra that we've been hearing about, sooner, rather than later.

In a new research note covering all things post-tariff scenarios for Apple, investment firm GF Securities' lead analyst Jeff Pu says both the 18.8-inch and 7.6-inch foldable devices have seen development progress, and should enter mass production in Q4 2026.

Pu said last month that Apple had two foldable devices that had recently entered the New Product Introduction (NPI) phase at manufacturer Foxconn, and if mass production is expected in Q4 2026, then we could see the foldable iPad and iPhone in late 2026 and if not, 2027 for sure.

Ahead of Apple's official unveiling of its upcoming iPhone 17 line-up, a dummy unit for the company's rumored iPhone 17 Air has surfaced, showcasing what will be Apple's thinnest iPhone ever released.

Bloomberg reporter and Apple insider Mark Gurman put to bed some Apple rumors over the weekend, which previously suggested Apple was introducing a two-tone color design for its iPhone 17 Pro, with the Bloomberg reporter clarifying the upcoming device will have a mono-color design, meaning the camera area will be the same color as the rest of the device.

As for the elusive iPhone 17 Air, a dummy unit has appeared in the hands of X user Majin Bu, who posted a selection of photos of the unit showing it also features a mono-color design. Notably, the color of dummy units isn't indicative of the final design of the device, as dummy units are mostly used for dimensional purposes by accessory manufacturers to prepare their products ahead of the launch. The color of the dummy unit won't influence the dimensions.

Apple will launch the iPhone 17 later this year without many changes to the design, and while the new iPhone 17 Air will be an ultra-thin experience, from the front it shouldn't look any different... but the company has a major design overhaul teased for the iPhone 18.

In a new post by Bloomberg insider Mark Gurman in his latest Power On newsletter, we're learning that Apple is reportedly preparing a "major shake-up" for the iPhone and its huge 20-year anniversary in 2026. Gurman says that we can expect a foldable iPhone -- something that has been rumored as the iPhone Ultra recently, with more on that here -- but a "bold new Pro model" that makes more "extensive use of glass".

Apple's next-gen iPhone 18 Pro could be a single piece of glass, with its compute stick at the bottom, and cameras on the rear... something that has been rumored since the iPhone 8 in 2016.

Apple is thirsty for the health market, with some rumored upgrades coming from the company that would add an AI doctor into its Health app, using its wearables to monitor users' health and alert them to any issues, or help them with their general health along the way.

In a new report from Bloomberg insider Mark Gurman, Apple "has some moon-shot initiatives in the works that could indeed transform the health industry. That includes a 15-year-plus project to create a noninvasive glucose monitor. The idea, which originated while Steve Jobs was still alive, is to add a sensor to the Apple Watch that can inform users if they are prediabetic, helping them potentially avoid the full-blown condition".

This project remains "active" at Apple notes Gurman, and has reached "key milestones" but they're still "many years away" from delivering this new feature. Apple has hit some issues regarding health sensors, including for blood oxygen and hypertension. The blood oxygen monitoring feature was dropped from the Apple Watch over a patent fight, while the hypertension feature has had issues in development.

Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone Ultra smartphone will reportedly use a liquid metal hinge that will resist deformation, improving durability and help minimize creases in the foldable screen.

In a new post by a Chinese leaker, we're learning that Apple has used a metallic glass (amorphous metal) for the hinge mechanism inside of the foldable iPhone, something we've heard analyst Ming-Chi Kuo refer to Apple's use of "liquid metal" which is a common marketing term for the same thing.

The difference between regular glass and metallic glass is that traditional metals feature a regular, repeating crystalline atomic structure, compared to metallic glass that features a disordered arrangement of atoms that just so happens to be more resistant to bending, deformation, and denting -- perfect for an ultra-premium foldable iPhone.

Apple has long been rumored to be preparing to release a foldable iPhone, but one major problem has prevented the company from doing so - the dreaded crease.

Previous rumors about Apple's foldable developments indicated that the company gave its engineers a list of stipulations that needed to be met, one of which was to solve the problem of the crease seen on every major foldable smartphone device. One insider I reported on last month stated Samsung Display will provide the foldable screen for Apple's upcoming device, and that Apple's unnegotiable requirement to "make the crease disappear" meant having to obtain new materials and to take a step back from the entire design of the phone.

Now, a Chinese leaker has stated Apple has selected metallic glass (amorphous metal) for the iPhone Fold's hinge mechanism, which industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has referred to as "liquid metal". According to a report, the metallic glass differentiates itself from traditional metals in its disordered arrangement of atoms, which are more resistant to bending, deformation, and denting. The metallic glass is made through rapid cooling, and its structure means its 2.5% harder than titanium alloy, but it's also smooth and has a glossy finish that makes it look similar to stainless steel.

Several articles have surfaced online sourcing a leak about Apple's upcoming iPhone 17 Pro, with the reports citing a leak that claims the 17 Pro will support 8K video recording. These reports are citing a mistranslation.

Firstly, here's the rumor. The Weibo-based account Fixed Focus Digital posted on Wednesday that the iPhone 17 Pro is "something to look forward to," adding Apple has implemented a "special process" by using a mixture of "aluminium and glass" to create a gradient presumably for the backplate of the device. The account also stated the following: "If you have 8K in hand, you should look forward to the iPhone 17 series even more." According to comments by other accounts, that last sentence was mistranslated and taken as the iPhone 17 series will come with support for 8K video recording. Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to be the case.

According to the comments, the "8K" is actually Chinese internet slang for ¥8000 RMB, which is approximately $1,100 to $1,200 USD. So, the user is referring to the price of the device, not the camera capabilities. This means the sentence should read like this, "If you're someone who's holding onto a phone worth ¥8000 (or paid that much), you should definitely look forward to the iPhone 17 series."