Those of you who keep up to date with your iPhone rumours will know that things are set to change from later this year. While we'd normally expect to see a full suite of new handsets every Autumn, things could be very different this time out.

According to a slew of rumours from the last year or so, the base model iPhone will be left out of the Autumn event. That will leave only the Pro models and the long-awaited iPhone Ultra – the brand's first foldable phone – launched at that event.

Instead, the base model iPhone 18, the iPhone 18e and the iPhone Air 2 are all slated to arrive early in 2027. That could give rise to one of the most phone-heavy release years the brand has ever had, with six models slated to drop.

That would see those three married with another trio in the following Autumn, with the iPhone 19 Pro models and an iPhone Ultra 2. It's a lot to take in, and it also confirms that Apple is anticipating a yearly release cycle with its Ultra device.

Some had called that into question, after the launch of the iPhone Air. That – at least according to these rumours – seems to be on a two-yearly launch cycle, and some predicted that a foldable would follow suit.

The leak also suggests that all three of the models launching in the early part of 2027 will come with no major upgrades to the screen specs. That will disappoint some users, though it is likely a necessary evil to combat price hikes in the wake of the RAMageddon crisis.

Personally, I'm more annoyed about the splitting of the model family. Having the Pro version of a device launch prior to the standard version just feels clumsy and confusing.

It seems that RAMageddon is about to claim another victim – and this one is going to hurt millions of us. Fresh rumours and reports over the price of the iPhone 18 Pro suggest it's going to hit consumers in the wallet like never before.

It comes after Tim Cook confirmed that price rises were "unavoidable" across the Apple portfolio. The reason seems clear – ongoing RAM and component shortages arising from the unprecedented needs of AI data centres.

Now, the folks over at the Wall Street Journal have taken an educated guess at the cost of the new handset. That could see a start price of US$1,399 (approx. £1,050 / €1,220 / AU$1,995) for the handset. It's worth noting that Apple often prices its devices to the same number irrespective of location, so the actual figure could be more bleak here in the UK and Europe.

Sticking with the US pricing for ease, that would represent a US$300 price hike over the current entry point for the iPhone 17 Pro. It's going to be a pretty gnarly pill to swallow for consumers, particularly after a few years of miniscule or no rises.

What's more concerning is that it's likely to shape a trend across the wider phone market. It's no secret that Apple's size and influence makes it a bit of a figurehead.

If the cost of an iPhone goes up to account for the RAM shortage, you can bet your bottom dollar that every other phone will also go up to match it. That makes the whole thing less appealing, and could have some really devastating consequences for the market at large.

It feels like an inevitability at this point – particularly as there seems to be no sign of the RAM shortage easing in the near future – but it's still a nuisance for cash-strapped tech lovers.

If you've ever wanted an iPhone but didn't fancy buying one from Apple, there may well be a solution for you. That's because Honor has just shown off it's Android 17 update – and it looks very familiar.

Blink and you'd be forgiven for mistaking this for Apple's Liquid Glass operating system. In fact, even if you stared at it longingly, I'd give you a pass – this is practically a clone of Apple's design language.

It's not uncommon for brands – especially those based in China – to take some fairly blatant inspiration from Apple when designing their hardware and software. However, it's fair to say this one goes further than most.

Those glass-like halos surround apps and buttons, control panels and notification all in broadly the same manner that you'd find them on iOS. Even the large clock display shown looks identical to the standard iPhone one, though I suspect that's customisable to a degree.

Check out videos of the design here: 1 / 2 / 3 / 4

The MagicOS 11 update is currently being tested on devices in the Honor Magic 8 series. It's expected to launch later in the year for other models, meaning a full launch should only be weeks away.

Personally, I'm not a fan of this. While I understand why brands follow the lead of Apple so closely, I can't help but feel it narrows the pool of what's available.

I've said it time and time again here at T3, but there's a lot less innovation and differentiation between handsets these days, and it's something I'd love to see changed. Who wants to effectively choose between the same offering from Apple, Google, Samsung, Honor, Oppo and more, when we could have something different designed with ingenuity from each brand?

I'm sure the new software will prove popular when it launches, and that's almost certainly enough to justify it. I just hope that brands spring forward from here with a bit more of their own personality.

If you've been around the tech space for a while, you'll know that the near-constant back-and-forth between Apple and the European Union is almost perpetual. The two often find themselves at loggerheads, which has caused some high-profile moments over the years.

Now, it seems to be rearing its head once again. Mentioned briefly at WWDC 2026 and noted in the footnotes of its press briefing, Apple confirmed that the new Siri AI feature would "not be available initially in the EU."

Well, that's a half truth, actually. It'll be available across MacBooks, Apple Watches and Apple Vision Pro, but will be held back for iPad and iPhone users.

Why? Well, it all comes down to the EU's Digital Markets Act. That's nothing new, and is designed to ensure fair competition in digital spaces, but forcing larger technology gatekeepers to follow rules around open app stores, data sharing and more.

Now, that's not too much of an issue for Android phones, where that kind of open functionality has been a feature for years. But Apple has made a big deal of its walled garden design, so it's more of a change there.

According to a press release from the brand, Apple offered a range of solutions to effectively find a middle ground, which were rejected by the EU. That release goes on to regale horror stories about some – notably unnamed – AI agents stealing data and altering files.

Personally, I'm slightly sceptical. While I have no doubts that Apple wants to keep its users walled into its own services, I can't help but feel that these claims are somewhat embellished – particularly with other brands seemingly able to comply.

Still, there's one ray of light for those of us in the UK – it's not set to affect us. The issue only arises for those in the 27 member states of the EU, leaving the UK unaffected.

After two years of waiting, Siri AI is now here. Announced (again) at WWDC 2026, the new AI-powered assistant looks set to be the big highlight of the event, complete with the promise of some killer features.

For starters, the system is built on the brand's next-gen Apple Intelligence platform. That's built in collaboration with Google's Gemini, which should offer a more stable base than Apple's previous attempt. It's pretty recognisable, too, so anyone who has spent a long time using Gemini in the past will feel right at home.

The new Siri can use personal context, as well as context from what's on your screen, in order to provide a more natural, conversational experience. In the presentation, we see the user ask where a location in an image is, with Siri able to recognise it and share a location.

It'll also be able to recognise the people and faces in your image library, making it easier than ever to find images. You can say things like "find the picture of John from our trip to the park in April" and it should be able to do just that.

The voice has also changed, with a lot more expressiveness in its delivery. It's quite cool, if a little cringey, especially when you hear it trying to use modern slang and language. It's a bit like hearing your Granny do the same.

You can even adjust the pace and expressivity of the voice, as well as change the accent, to really tailor the assistant to exactly how you'd like them to respond.

There are lots of dedicated changes for the system on Apple Watch, Apple Vision Pro and MacBooks, too. Most notably, that includes the ability to speak to Siri from the Spotlight window on Mac, and to simply look at the Siri window and start speaking on Vision Pro.

While today's WWDC event is likely to showcase a lot of software from Apple, there's another event expected later this year with more significance. That's because the brand is slated to drop a bevy of hardware this Autumn, including its first attempt at a foldable phone.

That's expected to debut as the iPhone Ultra, and has been leaked once again. Notable and respected tech industry insider, Sonny Dickson, has shared a new suite of images of a dummy unit of the handset.

The images themselves show off a fairly similar design to others we've seen before, though this unit definitely looks a lot more finalised. The unit features a shorter, fatter design than other units currently on the market, which more closely resemble the aspect ratio of standard phones when folded.

Personally, I'm not such a fan of this stubbier appearance, but it does make it a better alternative to something like the iPad Mini. See, where most standard foldable phones open out to something almost square, this device will open out to a more traditional tablet aspect ratio.

That's likely to be the big sell for Apple, with a product which could feasibly replace both an iPhone and an iPad for most users. It's a marked departure from Apple sales of old, where the goal was to embed users in a multi-device ecosystem.

Elsewhere, Dickson suggests that the device will only be available in one colour – white. That's another shocking suggestion, with other devices at least offering a darker hue.

We also see the previously suggested top-mounted volume buttons, which sit atop the back panel. That also houses the power button on the side, which should ensure the placement of those buttons doesn't change when the device is folded or unfolded.

Regardless of what you think of it, this device is certain to shake up the market when it launches.

Splitting a restaurant bill could finally become painless if a new Apple Wallet feature arrives as expected in iOS 27.

According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple is working on a tool that can scan a receipt, work out who owes what and send payment requests automatically using Apple Cash. It could end up being one of the most useful iPhone upgrades yet.

The feature is expected to live inside Apple Wallet. You would simply take a photo of a receipt, the software then identifies items and assigns them to different people before calculating exactly what everyone owes.

If it works as claimed, it could put an end to the post-meal maths session that seems to follow every group dinner.

Plenty of apps have tried to solve this problem already. Most still require us to manually enter costs or convince everyone involved to download the same app. Apple's advantage, Wallet is already on millions of iPhones.

The feature is also reportedly tied to Apple Cash, allowing payment requests to be sent automatically once the bill has been divided up. No more trying to remember who ordered the extra round of drinks then.

Apple Watch could be getting this upgrade too. The report claims payment approvals may be handled directly from the smartwatch, while Messages integration could make it easier to send and manage requests between friends.

There is one potential catch. Apple Cash is currently only available in the US, so it's not yet clear how the feature might work in other areas including the UK. Apple could expand Apple Cash, adapt the feature for other payment systems or limit some functionality outside the US.

With WWDC just around the corner, we may not have long to wait to find out if this rumoured feature makes the final cut. And if it does, splitting the bill could finally stop being the worst part of eating out with friends.

It's no secret that the camera quality of phones has gotten better and better over the years. It's a big part of the reason why many have ditched owning a 'proper' camera, with the ease of having it in your pocket worth more than the increased resolution.

But just how good are they really? Well, we're about to find out, as Apple TV is putting the iPhone 17 Pro to the test in a big way.

This weekend, the MLS fixture between LA Galaxy and Houston Dynamo will be filmed entirely using those devices, for the first time ever. That's not a typo – there won't be a professional broadcast camera hidden just out of sight, just a stack of the same iPhone you could go out and buy.

The brand has been incorporating the devices into its workflow for a few month now, kicking off with some of its baseball coverage in September 2025. However, those are normally part of a larger slew of more professional kit.

So, will it work? Well, there's only one way to find out – tune in and watch the game on Saturday at 7:30pm PT (3:30am BST).

The game is available to watch for Apple TV subscribers in over 100 countries, and I suspect this one might see higher viewing figures than most, given the interest in the technology. Anyone who isn't already subscribed can sign up for a one-week free trial, just in time to catch the game.

Personally, I'm really excited to see this. While there are all manner of examples of 'good enough' footage from phones, this is one of the first like-for-like tests with real-world significance.

If the output is up to par with professional systems – or, at the very least, not so far behind that the average Joe notices something wrong – it could make it much easier to showcase a wide variety of content without such significant overheads.

For many years now, the new iPhone has had to compete with the best and brightest in the Android world. Usually, that's meant the top spec Samsung phone, though in recent years other players have entered the fray.

For 2026, it looks like a new challenger is ready to battle the brand's most innovative phone in years. The iPhone Ultra is expected to debut this autumn, marking the first ever foldable phone to come from Apple.

Alongside it, seemingly, will be the Honor Robot Phone. That was first shown off at Mobile World Congress earlier this year, drawing eyes from around the world thanks to its unique look.

That effectively fuses a traditional handset with the gimbal camera head from a device like the DJI Osmo Pocket 4. Previously, the device has managed to keep out of the hands of users, sitting behind glass at other events.

However, the brand brought the device to the Cannes Film Festival and gave it out so some creators. There's not lots to gleam from it, but combined with a confirmed Q3 2026 launch window, it certainly suggests that the handset is very close to being in a usable state.

With the launch window seeming to coincide with that of the iPhone Ultra, the tail end of 2026 could be a big one for new phone designs. Apple will be hoping to show its own, reserved innovation by entering that new space, while Honor seeks to challenge the very concept of what a phone can be.

That device is also said to enjoy the fruits of Honor's partnership with ARRI, offering stabilised gimbal tracking shots and core elements of the brand's Image Science. All signs point towards this being a pretty serious videography device, then.

It looks set to be one of the most interesting phone launches in a long time.

Apple has been working on an iPhone Fold for a while now, with more recent rumours referring to it as the iPhone Ultra. Now a new leak appears to point towards it also receiving a screen like no other when it comes to longevity.

A leakster on Weibo shared that the new iPhone Ultra (Fold) will feature a foldable screen that is the most easy to fix of any folding screen yet. The post suggests that when it gets released – and tear-down videos start hitting the internet – it will become clear what this leak was all about.

It calls the screen "highly modular", suggesting this could be upgraded easily.

The Apple foldable display should offer the industry's easiest flexible screen to disassemble and repair, claims the leak.

While this tech is already available with the likes of the Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold – it looks like Apple wants to differentiate itself by offering a display that's more fixable.

Legislation has been moving towards more recyclable and fixable technology for some time now. Until now Apple's fixed built-in battery has flown in the face of this. But it sounds like the company plans to offer a better aligned device in the Ultra by making it very easy to fix.

At this stage it isn't clear if this means it will be so easy to fix anyone can do it themselves. Or it may be referring to how easy the job is for professionals which, presumably, will make it more affordable to do for iPhone Ultra owners that need a screen repair.

Of course making an ultra fixable folding screen also makes you wonder about how breakable the company expects it to be.

What will the iPhone Ultra feature?

Leaks and rumours so far suggest we can expect the iPhone Ultra to arrive this coming autumn with a screen that can change between a smaller 5.3-inch form and an expanded 7.8-inch mode.

The device should measure just 4.5mm thick when unfolded, and roughly 9mm to 9.5mm when folded.

The Ultra should be a mere 0.15mm and a crease angle under 2.5 degrees. All that should mean a screen that's as close to seamless looking as they come.

Under the surface is expected to be an A20 processor, or newer, with 12GB of RAM and a 5,000mAh battery. The rear camera could be a double 48MP dual-lens setup while the front facing offering is likely to have 18MP folded and 18MP unfolded dual lenses.

How much will the iPhone Ultra cost?

The price of a totally new category of iPhone is expected to be high. Apple has introduced new models in the past and the price has been top-end, to get access to these premium new features.

So expect an iPhone Ultra to set a new bar for pricing with around a $2,000/£1,485 starting point.

Smartphone manufacturers keep pushing the boundaries of mobile photography with increasingly impressive results. But while some Android brands are a little more extreme, Apple tends to be restrained with the iPhone.

If you want to take the iPhone camera to new lengths (literally), then the Reeflex converter lens could be the answer for you, with some impressive results shared – and claiming to rival the power of serious Sony cameras costing thousands.

Reeflex has been around for a couple of years, looking to evolve mobile photography beyond the cameras you have on your phone, thanks to its conversion lenses. New to the range is a 300-600mm ultra telephoto, effectively adding massive zoom range.

It's the sort of thing that we've seen from some Android manufacturers like Vivo with the X300 Pro and Oppo with the Find X9 Ultra. The idea is to magnify the image to reduce the need for digital zoom, and reduce the loss in quality in the process.

That's where Reeflex comes in, with its new lens currently on Kickstarter, which the company says is optimised for use with the iPhone 17 Pro. Using it with the 48-megapixel telephoto camera, you'll get the equivalent of 300mm (12x), while at 12-megapixels it will deliver 600mm (24x).

The argument for this type of lens is that it's basically pocketable, so you can take it everywhere, which can't be said for specialised telephoto lenses for cameras, which are much bulkier. Yes, a traditional camera has a larger sensor and more glass, but it also costs much more.

To fit this lens you'll need a case, with Reeflex using a 17mm screw thread to line it up with the telephoto camera on your phone. It's not just the iPhone 17 Pro that it supports – it also works with iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro – as well as recent Samsung Galaxy S Ultra phones too.

The body is aerospace-grade aluminium, while it contains precision lanthanum glass. It weighs 308g and is compatible with magnetic accessories, like additional filters to expand the creative options it offers.

To provide some reassurance that this isn't just a Kickstarter campaign that won't deliver, this isn't the first time that Reeflex has created this type of lens – the previous was a 240mm and before that a selection of lenses and filters.

Currently, the Reeflex 300-600mm telephoto is listed for €259 in limited quantities, with a normal price of €380 expected. This campaign started in April and has 24 backers, with deliveries expected in June 2026.

When iOS 27 arrives later this year, it could bring about an important decision for iPhone users. That's because the brand will offer a suite of different AI services to power features on the device.

That would allow users to select the service of their choice to power a range of AI features on the device. That includes tasks like text and image generation, and is said to also affect iPadOS and macOS.

It's also said to work for Siri, where the current chatbot of choice is ChatGPT. Under the new format, users could switch out the AI provider, allowing integration with things like Google Gemini and Anthropic Claude.

It's set to leave users with a big decision to make over where they pledge their AI allegiance. Up to now, most devices have favoured an in-house AI – Gemini as the default on Android phones, for example, or Galaxy AI on Samsung phones – with other apps available as a third-party option.

This is different because Apple doesn't really have its own AI platform in the same way. Apple Intelligence exists, sure, but it's not on the same level as the other platforms, which is likely to be a big part of the reason why this system is being implemented in the first place.

According to the report – which comes from trusted Apple insider, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman – the brand is set to include a disclaimer over the content generated by third parties. There's also said to be a specific section within the App Store for compatible apps.

Another quirky addition is set to let users employ different voices for each of the AI models. Crucially, that does suggest that users will be able to mix it up, with different platforms working at the same time.

It's certainly going to be an interesting change if and when the new features are launched later this year.

Apple is set to pay out a collective US$250m (approx. £184m / €213m / AU$345m) to some iPhone users. The settlement is designed to settle a class action lawsuit, which accused the company of misleading people about its new artificial intelligence features.

That surrounds the brand's Apple Intelligence offering, which was first unveiled at WWDC 2024 in June of that year. That included the promise of an enhanced, AI-powered Siri, some thirteen years after it was first showcased.

The trouble is, that's still not here. Recent reports from trusted industry insiders suggest that the feature will be launched at WWDC this summer, some two years after it was first unveiled.

According to a report from the BBC, Apple did not admit any wrongdoing when agreeing the settlement deal, which will pay between US$25 (approx. £18 / €21 / AU$34.50) and US$95 (approx. £70 / €80 / AU$131) to users. The settlement specifically appeases those in the USA who bought an iPhone 15 and an iPhone 16 between June 2024 and March 2025.

That's only a very small pool in the grand scheme of things, but it represents the demographic who filed the action in this case. Still, it's not hard to see why the brand would want to put this to bed quickly.

2026 looks set to be a landmark year for the brand, with long-term CEO, Tim Cook, moving into a new role and opening the door for fresh blood in the form of John Ternus. In the same year, the brand looks set to launch its first ever foldable phone, expected to be called the iPhone Ultra.

That's said to be part of a new wave of 'Ultra' products, including a MacBook Ultra and AirPods Ultra. And that's before we get to 2027, where the 20th anniversary of the iPhone looks set to bring about a revised design.

Apple is preparing to add end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging between iPhone and Android devices, so those messages will be as secure as native messages sent with iMessage or Google Messages.

The messaging situation between iPhone and Android has been a bit of a mess for years. While Apple was quick to evolve iMessage to a more complete messaging system, it was locked away for iPhone users only.

Google in the meantime adopted RCS messaging, designed to be a universal messaging protocol that supported chat functions – and moved beyond the previous SMS system. But the two didn't play nice together.

Support for RCS was long discussed between the two brands, but confirmation finally came in 2023 that it would be supported by Apple. The problem, however, was encryption, lacking the end-to-end encryption that native systems benefit from.

Now though, according to 9to5Google, that's coming with iOS 26.5, said to have appeared in beta form in the latest release candidate.

Why is encrypted RCS messaging important?

This is important, because it means that messaging using RCS between iPhone and Android will be encrypted, so only the sender and receiver will be able to read the message and no one else along the chain will be able to.

It was previously thought that this encryption would appear with iOS 26.3, but now it looks like it will finally arrive when iOS 26.5 drops.

The delay in supporting encryption is down to Apple using the default RCS profile up to this point, rather than using Google's encryption. The evolution of Universal Profile 3.0 from the GSMA has put the pieces in place so that Apple can deploy encryption using a universal standard, rather a proprietary Google solution.

For some parts of the world, the evolution of RCS messaging on iPhone came too late, with many phone owners choosing to use WhatsApp instead.

Even with this latest addition, iMessage users are still expected to see green bubbles when chatting with Android users.

With the first ever foldable phone from Apple expected to debut later this year, it's no surprise that the rumour mill has been turning furiously. In the last few weeks, it feels like fresh information has been arriving on a daily basis, giving us a good idea of what could arrive in the autumn.

Now, we've got the best look yet at the new device, with YouTuber, Unbox Therapy, posting a full hands-on video with a dummy unit of the iPhone Ultra. That shows off the design of the phone, which is certain to turn some heads.

Of course, the first thing you'll notice is the form factor. That's a shorter, stubbier design, which is described as 'passport-like' in the video.

Perhaps more of a concern for most users will be the thickness. The body of the unit – which is where the official figures will be taken – is already a little thicker than the iPhone 17 Pro Max when folded.

But the real issue comes at the camera bump. That adds a significant amount of thickness to the overall unit, similar to how it did with the iPhone Air.

In practice, that means it's unlikely to sit nicely on a desk, and is liable to get caught in your pocket when you try and stash it away. It's a shame, really, as you'd have expected Apple – arriving so late to the party here – to at least take the crown in the design stakes.

The only hope is that the chunkier footprint is a necessity to house some seriously excellent camera tech. It's a must for a phone debuting at this price point, and will be crucial for the long-term success of the range.

Elsewhere, we see slightly odd placement for the volume keys, which are mounted on the top of one panel. The speakers are also slightly peculiar, with one at the top of one panel and the other at the base of the opposite unit, presumably in a bid to offer stereo audio in as many orientations as possible.

We’re now into May, and you know what that means, don’t you? We’re a month away from WWDC 26 – Apple's annual developer conference – which will take place from 8 June. It’s always a pretty exciting time of year if you’re someone who likes to know what future features are coming to your Apple devices, whether you have an iPhone or a MacBook, but this year is set to be particularly interesting.

Apple announced its version of artificial intelligence, Apple Intelligence, back at the conference in 2024, and while many features have arrived, like Clean Up and Visual Intelligence, we have yet to see a smarter, more contextualised version of Siri on devices.

What will Siri Mode in the camera app potentially offer?

Thankfully though, it looks like that is going to change with iOS 27, out this year.

The latest report suggests the assistant won’t just appear in its own app and as a chatbot, but it might also be baked into the native Camera app, too.

According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg (via 9to5Mac), there could be a new Siri Camera Mode added to the camera app, sitting alongside the Photo and Video modes and highlighted by a redesigned shutter button featuring the Apple Intelligence logo.

The Bloomberg report said: “Apple Inc. is planning to embed artificial intelligence more deeply into the iPhone’s camera app, adding a new Siri mode alongside the standard photo and video options in its upcoming iOS 27 operating system.”

Gurman added that Apple is planning to add the Visual Intelligence feature to the camera app itself. Currently, Visual Intelligence can be accessed via the Camera Control, Action Button, Lock Screen or Control Centre, depending on what you’ve set up.

It was also noted in Gurman’s report that Siri mode in the camera will add additional features to Visual Intelligence. Gurman said it would include “the ability to scan a nutrition label on food packaging to log dietary information”, for example.

The news comes after the Apple expert previously reported that three new features would be coming to the Photos app with iOS 27, including Expand, Enhance and Reframe.

Nothing is confirmed as yet, of course, but thankfully it’s not too long to wait until WWDC26 where we should learn more details.

This autumn, Apple will once again bring a new suite of iPhone models to market. The range looks set to be shaken up a little, with the base model reportedly pushed in favour of the brand's first foldable phone.

But we should still see the iPhone 18 Pro range. That model looks set to get a decent suite of new upgrades in the camera department, which should make it an attractive prospect for most people.

The latest report from Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suggests that the iPhone 18 Pro will "include some of the biggest camera hardware upgrades in the lineup's history."

That comes as part of a report which details a deeper integration with Visual Intelligence in the new iOS 27 camera app. That will see a dedicated 'Siri' setting alongside models like Photo, Video and Portrait, built directly into the app.

That will allow users to simply point the camera at an object and use ChatGPT or other services to gain information.

It's not just software which is expected to change, either. Previous reports have suggested that the main camera on the device will feature a variable aperture, allowing users to have better, physical control over the depth of field.

A separate report has also suggested that the telephoto camera will enjoy a wider maximum aperture. That should offer better background separation and greater light gathering potential, which would be handy for long-distance low-light shooting.

It's not yet clear if that is enough to make up the earlier claims made by Gurman. While those would certainly be decent upgrades, I'd expect the biggest upgrades in the history of the iPhone to feature a little more.

We'll be keeping our eyes peeled over the coming weeks and months to see what else comes out of the woodwork, ahead of the expected launch in the autumn.

Many leaks and rumours have pointed to the debut of Apple's foldable phone journey this year. It comes after years of tidbits about different models and variants which may be in the works.

The first of those – the iPhone Fold – is rumoured to be launching later this year, as part of the brand's usual Autumn launch event. But according to the latest reports, it seems another rumoured foldable device is being canned.

That device has been known as both the folding iPad and the folding MacBook at different times, and is said to feature a 20-inch display when unfurled. The model was supposedly first in development in 2023, and has continually had the reported launch date pushed back.

Now, the latest issue of Mark Gurman's Power On newsletter suggests that it could be canned altogether. He says, "This device has been a Ternus priority but may end up being a wacky experiment that doesn’t see the light of day, according to several people who have worked on it."

There's no word on why that's happened, though many have suggested it could come down to cost. The iPhone Fold is expected to launch with a price tag in the US$2,000 range, and that's likely to have wider appeal than the foldable iPad.

It's also possible that the brand is looking to minimise the number of new frontiers it is entering. The recent launch of the Apple Vision Pro wasn't exactly a rip-roaring success, and the brand will be looking to minimise the number of products which fall into that category – especially in the first few months of a new leadership.

Regardless, it is something of a shame. While many have accused the brand of resting on its laurels in recent times, these rumours really felt like a beacon of light. I'm sure there will be more new goodies from Apple in the future, but this one doesn't sound like it's going to materialise.

2027 will mark the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, and every rumour seems to suggest a big change is coming. That's corroborated once again by new leaks, which suggest that the brand could pull from the playbook of some Android phones for its anniversary model.

That's because the brand looks set to introduce a quad-curved display on its anniversary handset, which is a stark departure from the usual right-angled designs. The news comes from trusted leaker, Digital Chat Station, who shared details on Weibo.

If you're struggling to picture what that might look like, there are a wealth of Android phones which utilise such a panel. The Oppo Find X8 Pro is an example which comes to mind, but there are lots of others which have made use of the design over the years.

Apparently those are going to be gentler than other previous iterations. It's being described as a 'micro-curve' which is said to be less intense than the waterfall designs of years gone by.

It's not just gaining some curves, either. According to the leak, the model is also attempting to remove the polarising filter layer on top of the OLED display. That would help to make things slimmer, as well as improving the brightness by removing one of the barriers between the pixels and your eyes.

The design has been reported on previously, and works by incorporating that filter directly into the encapsulation layer. It's a clever design, which should also reduce power consumption for any given brightness.

One major trade off is the reflectivity of the display, where the lack of a polarizer can make it tougher to deal with reflections. Still, Apple added an anti-reflective coating in the latest iPhone 17 range, which may well be able to assist with that issue. One thing's for sure – it looks like a very different iPhone will arrive net time out.

No sooner does one iPhone launch than rumours for the next start. In fact, sometimes, the rumours can start years before. That’s been the case for the folding iPhone, but we’ve also been hearing for some time that Apple is planning to increase the resolution of one of its rear cameras.

It was first mentioned in May last year that the iPhone could feature a 200-megapixel camera at some point in the future, matching that of the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Now, the latest report from GSM Arena has picked up on a post from a reliable leaker suggesting there may be a little bit of time still to wait.

What's the timeline for a new telephoto sensor on iPhone?

According to Digital Chat Station, Apple is testing a 200-megapixel periscope telephoto camera for its iPhone, but it could still be a few years away.

For anyone following iPhone rumours, this may not come as a huge surprise as a Morgan Stanley investor note recently said similar.

The note suggested the 200-megapixel sensor was unlikely to arrive before 2028, suggesting it wouldn’t appear before what would numerically be called the iPhone 19 Pro, though may instead be the iPhone 21 Pro.

It’s thought Apple will adopt the iPhone 20 branding next year to tie in with the 20th anniversary of the iPhone which first landed in 2007.

For now, absolutely nothing is official so this is certainly something worth taking with a pinch of salt. Apple increased the resolution of the telephoto sensor last year with the iPhone 17 Pro from 12-megapixels to 48-megapixels, too, so a further jump to 200-megapixels a year later would be quite surprising.

The iPhone 17 Pro’s telephoto lens does offer 8x zoom however, and it’s pretty good so if we have to wait a little longer for a higher resolution then that’s probably okay.

EU battery regulations are coming in less than 12 months that will change the manufacture and sale of mobile devices forever.

New rules will be enforced in the European Union from February next year making removable batteries a legal requirement for all portable gadgets, including smartphones. And while other regions might not have similar restrictions, manufacturers will invariably change designs universally or face a ban in EU member countries.

That includes Apple, Samsung and other major makers of Android phones.

The battery does not need to be easily swappable, but the device has to be built in such a way that any user can remove and replace it with only basic skills. In addition, replacement batteries have to be made readily available for every device sold, and will continue to be available for at least five years after a device's original release date.

Some manufacturers have already made changes to their phone and tablet designs with the new regulations in mind. However, all products released after 18 February 2027 will need to be compliant (via The Olive Press).

The new rules are part of the EU's drive to reduce e-waste, with approximately five million tonnes of electronic waste being discarded each year. Europe has already enforced regulations on system software updates, requiring at least five years of patches per device, to lengthen the lifespan of phones and other personal electronics.

Gaming handhelds are also thought to be included in the new guidelines, with very few exemptions. Nintendo is expected to introduce a new version of the Switch 2, for example, with a battery that can be more easily replaced.

And, as a Lenovo Legion Go S owner who has already had to open it up to repair a broken trigger, I know just how hard it can be to access some components without damaging others. So I wholly approve of any measures to make it more simple.

While we're all still riding high from the excitement of the Artemis II mission, there's been another shift in the space race with Amazon and Globalstar announcing a merger agreement, expanding Amazon's satellite ambitions – while also outlining a new deal with Apple.

There's a lot to take in here: for a couple of years, Amazon has been building its low orbit satellite network, known as Amazon Leo. It's aims are to boost connectivity in areas off the grid, rivalling Elon Musk's Starlink, although currently not operating at the same scale.

The merger will see Amazon take control of Globalstar and in the process, take over and expand on the agreement that Globalstar had with Apple. For those who don't remember, Globalstar is the company that provides Apple's satellite services on iPhone and Apple Watch.

So in star wars terms, there's a lot happening. For Apple users, this sees an agreement with Amazon for current and future Apple devices to continue to use those satellites, as Globalstar gets integrated with Amazon Leo.

"We're excited to support Apple users through the Leo D2D [Direct-2-Device] system, and look forward to working with mobile network partners to help extend coverage to every corner of the planet," said Panos Panay, senior vice president of devices and services at Amazon.

Why does Apple need a satellite partner – and why not Starlink?

Apple first announced satellite connectivity in 2022 with the iPhone 14, choosing to work with Globalstar and investing in the company in the process. It reportedly rejected Starlink for the service following an ultimatum from Elon Musk, according to The Information (via 9to5Mac).

While Musk didn't get the agreement he wanted with Apple directly, Starlink and T-Mobile went on to announce their own connectivity agreement, something that Starlink has established with a range of mobile operators worldwide.

Amazon's challenge is to now grow Leo, with a mid-2026 scheduled launch date and plans to launch "a few thousand more" satellites in the coming years according to CEO Andy Jassy.

On top of that – and something that brings Amazon back into competition with Starlink – is Amazon's launch of an aviation antenna, which can supply up to gigabit download speeds for commercial aircraft. Delta has already signed, with the service expected to go live in 2028.

Starlink has agreements with airlines such as Qatar and British Airways to provide high-speed in-flight connectivity, but if nothing else, the growth of Amazon Leo is likely to lead to more colourful outbursts from Musk as various deals fall into place.

If you're an iPhone user hoping for a landmark design change in the near future, it seems you may be sorely disappointed. That's according to fresh leaks, which suggest that the next couple of releases from the brand will look very familiar.

The suggestion comes from leaker, Fixed Focus Digital (via DigitalTrends), who purports that the design of the base model iPhone 18 won't be too different. The post suggests that the size may change slightly – a classic Apple move to ensure older generation cases can't be reused on newer models – but otherwise things will stay the same.

That goes against other reports, which had suggested that the model could sport a smaller Dynamic Island. The suggestion is now that such a feature will be reserved for the Pro-grade devices, with the base models enjoying the usual version of the front-facing camera.

It also suggests that the second iteration of the iPhone Air will arrive this year. That will sit alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and the inaugural iPhone Fold model, contradicting other suggestions that the Air would be held until spring 2027.

That may come as a surprise to some, as the model was well-documented to have not sold particularly well. However, the report suggests that the model actually outsold the iPhone Plus variant it replaced, which seems to be enough to warrant a second bite of the cherry.

That's also not expected to offer any groundbreaking differences in design, so those hoping for something fresh and new in that department may be out of luck. Still, there is at least a sliver of hope, with the iPhone's 20th anniversary coming up next year.

That's expected to move the needle a lot more, and could hopefully herald a new generation of iPhone design – something which is long overdue in the eyes of many!

Every year new products arrive, we get treated to a new selection of colour options. That applies to most devices, from smartphones to smart rings and while there are some that simply offer black, white, and a hero colour, others have a selection to choose from.

Apple and Samsung are especially good at offering a range of colour options, with the latest iPhone 17 available in five, while Samsung’s Galaxy S26 comes in six if you consider the Samsung exclusive ones. But there is one colour that we haven’t seen on iPhone for a while – since the iPhone 14 in fact.

What is PRODUCT(RED) and will it come back?

That colour is PRODUCT(RED). In case it’s not obvious, it’s a bright red colour and it has been a colour option for a number of Apple products since 2006 when the company partnered with the (RED) brand, which was co-founded by U2 singer Bono. The partnership was created to raise money for The Global Fund, which aims to help tackle diseases like HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis in Africa.

As reported by Macrumors however, the last PRODUCT(RED) device to be offered by Apple – the silicone case for the iPhone 14 – is no longer available anymore having sold out last month. With no new PRODUCT(RED) devices having launched recently, it seems this marks the end of an era.

Don’t worry, that doesn’t mean Apple has stopped supporting The Global Fund – the Macrumors report says the annual Apple Pay donation program raised $3 million in 2025 but if you’re looking for a bright red iPhone or Apple Watch, you’ll be out of luck now.

Still, it might not be forever. Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro has been rumoured to be coming in a red colour option but it is thought it will be more of a burgundy rather than a bright red like the PRODUCT(RED) devices offered. I had an iPhone 7 in PRODUCT(RED) and I have to say, I am a little sad it’s the end of this era. Still, you never know what the future holds.

Recently, we wrote about Samsung bringing AirDrop support to its current generation of flagship phones. That's a major milestone for the brand, allowing for greater connectivity with Apple handsets than ever before.

It makes use of the Android Quick Share functionality – to all intents and purposes, the same feature just for Android phones – but combines it with the ability to share files with iPhones with ease. That's a feature which debuted on the Google Pixel 10 series, and has since been unveiled for Samsung Galaxy S26 series handsets.

Older devices from the Korean brand weren't supported when the functionality was announced, but there's good news. It appears that some users of older handsets have started to spot the functionality in their software.

As shared on Reddit, a slew of users noted seeing details about the feature on their Samsung Galaxy S25 series handsets. There's just one slight problem – none of them were actually able to get it working.

Quick Share Airdrop Update for Galaxy S25 from r/GalaxyS25

The consensus among the thread seemed to be that it was waiting on the One UI 8.5 software update, which is currently rolling out to top tier devices in beta. That means similarly early software should soon be available for the older generation of handsets, which should allow this functionality to fulfil its potential.

Either way, it's a refreshing place to be. If you're still utilising an older Galaxy handset, it's good to know that major new features will still make their way down the pipeline – even if they do take a little longer to get there.

For the wider Android ecosystem, this stands to be one of the most important changes in a long time. For decades, people have had to split themselves between ecosystems or face convoluted workarounds to quickly share files and content. This change negates that, and it looks as though it'll be a feature welcomed across large parts of the industry.

If poorly-kept secrets won prizes, the iPhone Fold would have more gold than Usain Bolt. Rumoured for years, it now looks likely that the brand will unveil its first foldable phone later this year.

In the latest edition of his Power On newsletter, Mark Gurman suggested that the design of the new model is "going to be the most significant overhaul in the iPhone's history."

But he also goes on to say that it's "basically a copy of what other phone makers have been doing for years."

If that feels like a juxtaposition, it's because it kind of is. I get what Gurman is getting at – the iPhone has never even existed in this form factor and, as such, it will be the most significant design change.

But that doesn't mean it's going to do anything dramatic in the context of the wider industry. In fact, from the sounds of it, the design might even borrow from existing big players like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Honor Magic V5 which is ironic given how the industry has so closely followed Apple's lead for years.

Historically, it hasn't been uncommon for Apple to arrive later than competitors into an industry, but this does feel unusually distant. Other brands are more than five generations into their offering, and have been able to refine the experience over that time.

It will be interesting to see how the brand styles that out in its marketing material. It's also going to need to pack in a world-beating spec sheet in order to be given proper consideration among the rest of the market. Apple will be keen to avoid another situation like the Apple Vision Pro, which was marketed with lots of promise it never really delivered on in practice.

Gurman rounds off saying it could be an iPad replacement, and I do wonder if that's the marketing angle the brand will opt to use. It seems unlike them – historically Apple has been strong on its ecosystem and wanting all devices in all hands – but it seems the most likely option at this stage.

Google is bringing its Live Translate feature to iPhone, allowing users to get live translations through their AirPods in real time – without the need to look at their phone. Google says that the service supports more than 70 languages.

The live translation feature first appeared on Android in 2025, but now iOS users who want to use Google Translate can get that experience too, for more seamless translation when listening to foreign languages.

A similar service is also offered by Siri through Apple Intelligence, but only with AirPods, while Google's service will work through any wireless headphones. Google also supports many more languages, so it's a lot more versatile than Apple Intelligence that only supports 12 languages.

While Apple's translation happens on device – so no connection is needed – the Google service relies on cloud processing, so if you're roaming with high data costs that might be a consideration.

To get the service to work on your iPhone you'll have to download the Google Translate app, open it up and tap "Live Translate" with your headphones connected. It should then translate through your headphones so you can keep up with the conversation.

The update means iPhone users have a choice of translation services, so you can choose the version that works best for you.

At the same time, Google has confirmed that the service is expanding its Android coverage too, spreading to more countries including France, Germany, Italy, Japan, Spain, Thailand and the UK.

The addition of more Google features on iPhone comes as Apple prepares to boost Siri with Gemini integration, with the promised "next-gen" Siri expected to be previewed at WWDC and likely to roll-out as part of iOS 27 in September.

Google's open approach to its services means that Gemini and other AI services are available to Apple device users too – with Google also recently announcing switching tools to help move AI chats to Gemini.

The aim is to make sure that you can access your historic chats, with Gemini learning details to build your Personal Intelligence profile.

The battle for AI dominance rolls on, with Google's Gemini being ranked alongside the likes of ChatGPT and Claude, while Apple Intelligence is still some way behind.

For the 10-year anniversary of the iPhone, Apple not only announced the regular iPhone 8 that featured the same design as its predecessors, but it also revealed the iPhone X. The X was the first to feature Face ID, and it has defined the design of the iPhone for the last nine years, even if things have changed quite a bit in that time.

Now there are rumours floating around for the device that will define the next decade of iPhone’s design, reportedly planned to tie in with the year the iPhone turns 20.

What might we be able to expect from the iPhone 20?

According to leaker Digital Chat Station on the Chinese microblogging site Weibo (picked up by 9to5Mac), one of the designs within Apple’s rumoured iPhone roadmap is said to include a model with a quad-curved display.

There have been a number of reports suggesting Apple is planning something special for the 20th anniversary of iPhone, which of course makes sense, but according to Digital Chat Station’s post, the design process for a quad-curved display is progressing. Meanwhile, it seemingly ties in with reports that the iPhone 20 might ditch physical buttons for haptic ones – something that has been rumoured previously.

It’s also been suggested that Apple will move to an all-screen design by placing the other components, like the Face ID sensors, beneath the screen. Again though, this has been rumoured for years.

Naturally, nothing has been confirmed by Apple as to whether it is working on a special model or, of course, what that model could offer, so this report from Weibo should be taken with a pinch of salt for now. Keep in mind that Apple has been rumoured to be working on a folding phone for years and we have yet to see that appear so it’s always diffcult to know how much of the speculation is plausible and how much is fantasy.

A quad-curved display wouldn’t be new either – a number of Android phones adopted that design years ago before switching back to standard displays, but either way, we’d at least hope for something special for the iPhone 20, whatever that may be.

The head-to-head between Samsung phones and iPhones is a tale as old as time. The two brands have been battling for the industry top spot for generations, with many siding staunchly with one or the other.

Up to now, the ability to share content between the two systems has been relatively convoluted. But a new initiative launching today could make that process a whole lot smoother.

That's because a new feature called AirDrop over Quick Share is coming, and it stands to unite the two systems. The feature should be fairly easy to understand from the name alone – AirDrop is Apple's system for sharing content quickly and seamlessly among its devices, and Quick Share is the Android equivalent.

According to the report on 9to5Google, the feature will debut on Samsung Galaxy S26 series devices today, with the early rollout kicking off in Korea. That will come to the USA later in the week, with other regions including Europe, Hong Kong, Japan, Latin America, North America, Southeast Asia and Taiwan also set to enjoy it.

There's also said to be support for other devices in the Galaxy ecosystem, though there's no word on when that will arrive. It's worth noting that Samsung won't enable the new feature by default, though – users will need to head into their Quick Settings to enable 'Share with Apple devices'.

It's also not a new feature, with it debuting as part of the Google Pixel 10 launch last year. However, seeing the functionality expand to Samsung handsets should be seen as a good sign for all Android phone users.

Having two of the biggest players on the platform utilising the feature makes it much more widely accessible, and should encourage others to follow suit. That's a tantalising prospect for me, as someone who uses an Android device with a MacOS laptop. For as long as I can remember, the sharing of devices has been a real pain point, but it looks like that's finally going to disappear.

It’s currently Sleep Month here at T3, and after a few weeks filled with mattress reviews and advice on the best sleep gadgets, it’s now time to turn our attention to sleep hacks. One area I’ve been looking into recently is something most of us rely on every single day – our alarm sound.

Rather than talking about what time you should set your alarm or how long you should stay in bed after it goes off, I thought it’d be interesting to take a closer look at the actual alarm tones we wake up to. To help with that, the behavioural science experts at Startle analysed over 140 smartphone alarms, testing them to find out which ones are the best – and worst – for waking up your mind and body.

Below you’ll find the top picks for both iPhone and Samsung alarms, so if you’re still using one of the harsher default sounds, it might be time for a quick change.

According to the research, the ideal alarm sound should have a melody you can hum or sing along to, a dominant frequency of around 500 Hz (or the key of C5), and a tempo that’s not too fast or too slow – with 100–120 beats per minute.

If you’re one of the billions of people using an iPhone or Samsung phone, the findings are quite revealing. The study suggests that around 60% of the default iPhone alarms should actually be avoided, whilst 26% of Samsung’s built-in alarms may also not be ideal for waking up gently.

iPhone

After analysing the data, the experts found that Sencha came out as the best iPhone alarm sound. Its gentle melody, played in the key of C with a tempo of 110 BPM and a frequency close to 500 Hz, makes it far less likely to jolt you awake or leave you feeling groggy.

Other iPhone tones that scored well include By the Seaside, Steps and Uplift, all of which share similar melodic qualities that help the body wake up more gradually.

Samsung

For Samsung users, the top choices are Synth Bell and Roller Disco, both of which tick the boxes for the ideal wake-up sound and could help reduce the effects of sleep inertia – that groggy feeling you get straight after waking.

Dr Ritz Birah, psychologist and sleep expert at Panda London, explains why the alarm you choose can make such a difference to how you start the day:

“Abrupt, high-pitched or purely mechanical alarms are more likely to trigger the sympathetic nervous system, creating a startle response that wakes the body quickly but leaves the brain lagging behind. In contrast, alarms with melodic and rhythmic qualities engage wider areas of the brain involved in attention and auditory processing, allowing for a more gradual increase in alertness and better cognitive performance in the minutes after waking.”

So if you’ve been waking up feeling groggy lately, your alarm sound might actually be part of the problem. Switching to a more melodic tone could be a surprisingly simple way to start your mornings on a slightly better note.

Beats has wasted no time accessorising Apple’s freshly announced handset, unveiling its Beats iPhone 17e Case with MagSafe in two new colourways, Bedrock Blue and Lime Stone.

The launch follows the brand’s now-familiar playbook of rolling out companion cases alongside new iPhones, giving fans of the headphone maker a quick way to keep their Apple setup looking cohesive.

Apple’s new iPhone 17e arrives as the latest entry point into the lineup, bringing features that edge it closer to the flagship models.

The phone pairs a 6.1-inch Super Retina XDR display with Apple’s latest A19 chip, alongside a 48MP camera system and storage starting at 256GB.

It also introduces MagSafe support to the “e” series for the first time, opening the door to a wider ecosystem of accessories, including Beats’ new case.

Built to protect without the bulk

Designed specifically for the iPhone 17e, the case combines a rigid polycarbonate back with flexible sidewalls to improve shock absorption while keeping the overall profile slim.

Beats says the accessory underwent extensive testing during development to help protect the phone without adding unnecessary bulk, a balance that accessory makers are constantly trying to strike.

The exterior uses a matte finish to reduce fingerprints and scuffs, while a microfiber lining inside helps prevent minor abrasions over time.

Built-in magnets ensure MagSafe compatibility, so the case should snap neatly onto chargers and accessories while maintaining efficient wireless charging.

An open bottom keeps swipes and access to the USB-C port unobstructed.

Beats has released cases for multiple previous iPhone generations, so the 17e version feels more like a continuation of a proven formula than a reinvention, but the new colours add a welcome splash of personality for anyone bored of the usual black-and-clear options.

The Beats iPhone 17e Case with MagSafe is available to order now from Apple, priced at £45 in the UK, $45 in the US, €45 in the EU and AU$69 in Australia.

Apple has been working on an iPhone Fold for a while now, if rumours and leaks are proven accurate. Now in the latest report, it looks as if Apple could not only be revealing a foldable iPhone later this year, but potentially the best quality foldable screen we've seen to date.

The brand typically waits to perfect new tech before launching it, letting Android devices work out the kinks with early adopters first. And so it seems with its first foldable.

Folding screen tech is already well advanced, with multiple generations of Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold phones ever improving the format. The ultimate goal is to have a screen that folds out and leaves no visible fold line, but while we're close to that now (with Oppo thought to be revealing something during next week's MWC), it might be Apple that brings it into the mainsteam.

What will the iPhone Fold feature?

Leaks and rumours so far suggest we can expect the iPhone Fold to arrive this coming autumn with a screen that can change between a smaller 5.3-inch form and an expanded 7.8-inch mode.

The device should measure just 4.5mm thick when unfolded, and roughly 9mm to 9.5mm when folded.

The latest Fixed Focus Digital leak on Weibo suggests the fold will be a mere 0.15mm and a crease angle under 2.5 degrees. All that should mean a screen that's as close to seamless looking as they come.

Under the surface is expected to be an A20 processor, or newer, with 12GB of RAM and a 5,000mAh battery. The rear camera could be a double 48MP dual-lens setup while the front facing offering is likely to have 18MP folded and 18MP unfolded dual lenses.

How much will the iPhone Fold cost?

The price of a totally new category of iPhone is expected to be high. Apple has introduced new models in the past and the price has been top-end, to get access to these premium new features.

So expect an iPhone Fold to set a new bar for pricing with around a $2,000/£1,485 starting point.

When you take straw polls of the best open-world games ever made, The Witcher 3 always features near the top – it's one of the most ambitious and well-realised gaming worlds ever built. It's also graphically stunning and beautifully designed, meaning it's never been ported to mobile platforms, so you need a console or PC gaming handheld to play it on the go.

If you're yearning for a bit of its wry tone and fantasy immersion, though, then I'd recommend you check out Reigns: The Witcher – a far simpler way to get into Geralt of Rivia's world, and one that you can play on your phone for basically pennies.

For just a fiver, this game takes the "swipe left or right" format that made the original Reigns such a runaway success, and transplants it onto The Witcher with a nice degree of light-hearted humour. I've had access for about a day, and I've already lost a couple of hours to it, which is a very good sign.

Rather than actually constructing a detailed new story for Geralt, the game frames your short adventures as stories being told by the bard Dandelion. He navigates Geralt through a huge array of "either-or" choices, all of which have effects on some popularity meters.

If any of those meters empties completely or fills completely, you're likely to die very quickly, so the game is all about keeping them all balanced through your choices. In the morally grey world of The Witcher, that ends up being a really apt way to approach things.

Another fun layer is offered by a simple rhythm game that sometimes comes up if you get into a fight with a monster. This lets you time moves along a board to coincide with either attacks of your own or damage from the monster, and is a simple but fun enough way to make fights a risk.

From running into characters like Triss Merigold and Yennefer to collecting a wide array of grisly death scenarios, I've so far found things really fresh on each run. In the background, slowly growing Dandelion's reputation also lets you earn new scenarios and objectives to concentrate on during runs.

Those runs last a matter of minutes (especially if you make stupid choices), so this is a quintessential mobile game (although it's also on PC). I'll be pulling it out on trains and buses for the next little while, of that I'm sure. You can grab it on the Apple App Store here for £5.99 or $5,99, the Google Play Store here for £5.49, or on Steam here for £4.99.

Recently, I wrote about the Noble Audio Sceptre – a simple DAC designed to plug into your phone and boost the quality of your audio. Now, there's another device offering a similar result – but this one is much smaller.

It's called the iFi Go Link 2, and its effectively a dongle with a braided cord, which links a USB-C port with a 3.5mm jack input for headphones. The device is designed to bolster the often sub-par audio quality found on many phones, laptops and tablets.

It's especially pertinent for anyone who is listening to Hi-Res or Lossless music. That sort of thing is very common these days, with big players like Spotify and Apple Music, as well as smaller offerings from Tidal, Qobuz and more, all offering higher quality streaming options.

This model is the brand's most compact DAC to date, coming in 8% smaller and 29% lighter than the original Go Link model. Don't think those reduction come at the cost of quality, though – you'll enjoy up to 62% lower distortion here, compared to the original model.

The Go Link 2 offers up to 32-bit/284kHz playback, which is more than enough to replicate almost any grade of audio you'll find in exquisite detail. The S-Balanced output also reduces crosstalk by 50%, which should make for better separation and cleaner audio.

It also gains full compatibility with the iFi Nexis app. That means it can receive over-the-air firmware updates in minutes, and enjoys a pair of digital filters – hybrid and linear – which users can utilise to fine-tune the sound to their taste.

Priced at £/€/US$59 (approx. AU$110), the iFi Go Link 2 is a really affordable option for those looking to boost the quality of the audio on their devices. If you're really into good quality sound, this is an excellent way to get it without busting the bank.

Apple could be following in the footsteps of Samsung in the future with the iPhone getting the privacy display tech that was recently shown off on the Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Recent rumours leaked - by trusted leakster Ice Universe - suggest that this privacy tech could be coming to Apple MacBook laptops in the relatively near future. If they're developing it for a whole new class of Apple device, it makes sense that the even more simple jump from smartphone to smartphone would be incoming. In fact you'd expect that to happen first, right?

Here's the Samsung video showing off the tech working in a real world example on a busy train.

How does a privacy display work?

Interestingly this privacy display idea is already available as a retrofit for many phones. You can go online right now and find a whole host of providers offering screen covers that reduce the viewing angle on your smartphone to deliver this privacy.

The difference with this newer, baked-in, version of the tech is that it's software integrated too. So rather than this being a permanently on solution, as is the current case, the updated built-in version can be controlled via the phone. This is a combination of software and hardware that allows you to turn the system on and off as needed.

Even more excitingly, this could work intelligently. Imagine this turning on when the phone detects you're commuting, on a certain network, or in a busy environment using sensitive apps. That would mean you could use your phone as usual, confident that anything sensitive will automatically enable restricted viewing, so only you can see what you're doing.

This level of just-works ease is typical of Apple, so expecting it to land in a future iPhone isn't a big jump. When you also consider that Apple OLED display tech comes from Samsung, which has launched this new privacy tech, it's almost hard to imagine it won't hit iPhones in the near future.

When will privacy display land on iPhone?

Since this requires both hardware and software to work, this isn't something that will appear on current iPhone models. So, should it be coming, we won't be able to expect to see it until the next generation of iPhone.

The iPhone 18 could be the first Apple smartphone to feature a privacy display upgrade. Whether Apple keeps this for top-end models or will roll it out across all the iPhone options remains to be seen.

Recently, Apple announced that it was set to hold an experience day in three cities around the world. There's no word on exactly what was to launch there, but given the flurry of rumours in recent weeks and months, we could offer a few educated guesses.

The successor to the iPhone 16e should be here soon, for example, as well as a band of new MacBook Pro models. Now, a new report suggests that the event could be the culmination of a few days of press releases, with no actual livestreamed keynote.

It was suggested by John Gruber, in a post on Daring Fireball yesterday. Gruber is a prominent voice in the world of Apple, and posits this suggestion based on experience with how Apple usually does business.

In the post, he says, "What strikes me is that March 4 — the “experience” day — is a Wednesday. So my spitball guess is that they announce all these products via Newsroom press releases, day-by-day.

"Then the “experience” will be a hands-on thing with in-person demos. Spread the announcements out across a few days, but then have in-person events for members of the media to get a hands-on experience with all of them, station-by-station, without needing to produce an Apple Event keynote film."

If Gruber's theory proves true, I think I can see why. Recently, brand CEO, Tim Cook, spoke about the upcoming 50th anniversary of Apple, and confirmed that – while he couldn't share details – there would be some kind of celebration.

Now, I would have put money on that being something more low-key, and the brand flooding its usual resources into new product releases. But perhaps I've got that wrong. Instead, the brand could offer a handful of new products, and then put on a major production to celebrate its birthday.

Whatever happens, it seems likely to be an exciting few months for the Cupertino-based brand.

iPhone users rejoice! There's a new software update which has arrived for Apple's handsets, which brings another significant suite of upgrades to the phones.

iOS 26.3 is the third major update in the iOS 26 family, and brings a handful of noteworthy changes. That includes a new way to switch between Android phone and iPhone, which should make the process of switching between ecosystems much easier.

Elsewhere, the update brings about some more minor tweaks to the Astronomy and Weather wallpaper gallery. If you're thinking that it seems like a more modest update, remember that we've already seen another pair of 26.x updates, which brought other changes in their wake.

However, there is one notable thing missing from the release. Apple's long-overdue AI-powered Siri was widely expected to arrive here, but there is no sign of it.

That was first announced at WWDC back in June 2024, and the subsequent period of almost two years has seen no end of pushbacks. Recently, it was announced that the feature would arrive powered by Google Gemini, rather than Apple's in-house Intelligence service.

AI-powered Siri hits another stumbling block

According to a new report by The Verge, the features in question have been delayed once more. Those are said to be coming in later versions like iOS 26.5, and even in the iOS 27 update.

The latter is a big deal, because iOS 27 is likely to only be mentioned at WWDC, with a full release later in the Autumn alongside new iPhone models.

That would mean some features will take more than two years from first announcement to final unveiling, which is a timeframe ill at ease with how Apple likes to work. The brand is more commonly known for only bringing things to market when they're good and ready, and this mishap seems to have cost the brand a lot in terms of reputation.

After a succession of recent mis-steps – Apple Vision Pro, Liquid Glass legibility issues and more – it feels like the brand really could use a win here. Each time it gets pushed further back, the pressure mounts even more, and the need for this upgrade to prove itself becomes greater and greater.

We'll be keeping a very close eye on proceedings over the next few months.

There have been a number of rumours surrounding the iPhone 18 Pro models of late. Most have suggested we could see Apple introduce under-display Face ID to this year’s models, which has caused some contradicting reports as to what will happen to Dynamic Island.

The latest report talks about price, however. All too often we see prices rising for succeeding devices and sometimes those prices increase even when there are minimal improvements. It’s suggested Apple is looking to keep the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max the same as their predecessors, however, and we are thrilled.

Could the iPhone 18 Pro really see no price increase?

The price talk comes after Jeff Pu, an equity analyst with investment firm GF Securities, published a research note that was then obtained by MacRumors. According to Pu, his company’s “supply chain research” suggests Apple is focused on “cost management”, with the MacRumors report noting that Pu believes the starting prices of the new iPhone 18 Pro models will be “unchanged” or at a “similar level”.

Pu isn’t the only analyst to suggest the prices of this year’s top iPhone models could remain the same as the iPhone 17 Pro models, with Ming-Chi Kuo also noting that the Cupertino company is looking to “avoid raising prices as much as possible”.

Kuo suggested prices would remain “flat” compared to last year’s models, while Pu believes Apple has been negotiating with both Samsung and SK Hynix in order to get “favourable” memory chip deals. The MacRumors report also said Pu wrote that he expected Apple to find a way to lower costs of other components like the camera modules and display.

For now, nothing is confirmed of course, nor will it be until later this year. Typically Apple announces the new iPhones in September, with pricing announced at the same time. It is therefore several months before we find out if Pu and Kuo are right, but we’re keeping fingers crossed.

It is often said that Apple is a company which like to look forward, not backwards. But even a brand of that magnitude can't shy away from a major birthday – and that's exactly what is coming up this year.

The brand was originally founded on April 1, 1976, meaning its 50th birthday is just a few short weeks away. And while the brand might have dismissed such a frivolity at other times, it seems this occasion is one its looking to mark.

The brand has changed substantially from how it looked back then. In fact, in 1976, its only offering was the Apple I – a personal computer which didn't even come with a case, leading to a handful of quirky DIY solutions. It's a far cry from the gorgeous design-led approach of modern MacBooks.

Speaking in an all-hands meeting – and shared by notable Apple insider, Mark Gurman of Bloomberg – brand CEO Tim Cook, said, "50 years. It’s an extraordinary accomplishment. We’ve been going back through old archives, old photographs. We’ve been going back through the products, the services, the people, and I am struck by how much Apple has changed things, how much Apple has changed the world, how much Apple has given to the world. Are we going to celebrate it? You better believe it. We’re not ready to say exactly how yet, so stay tuned."

What will Apple do to celebrate its 50th birthday?

Realistically, I'm not anticipating any new products to celebrate this milestone. While it would be nice to have something big to commemorate it, I just don't see a limited edition iPhone or MacBook Pro model fitting into how Apple does things.

Instead, I'd bet big on a slew of accessories. Those, I'd wager, will be more centred around the 50th birthday than the Apple I, specifically. Expect Apple Watch bands, phone cases and that sort of thing, all with a natty colourway and birthday cake design.

What I'd love to see is some kind of MacBook case depicting the now iconic Apple 1 motherboard, though I'd wager that it's probably a little niche for the modern Apple crowd.

Of course, there's also the possibility that I've missed the mark altogether. With just a few weeks until the event, we'll know soon enough.

The iPhone 17e is expected to launch at the same price as the iPhone 16e, maintaining its position as Apple's cheapest iPhone model. The phone will receive some updates, however, meaning that you'll get more for your money than last time around.

According to Mark Gurman, writing in his Power On newsletter, the new model will have the A19 chip and MagSafe charging, while it will also get the latest wireless chips.

Recently, Apple moved to offering its own wireless chips, including a modem and a networking chip, which should also feature in the phone.

The move to the A19 will put the iPhone 17e on par with the base iPhone 17 model, but there's a chance that Apple will skip out on one of the GPU processors like it did with the iPhone 16e, so there could be a minor difference in performance.

Gurman goes on to confirm that the iPhone 17e will start at $599 (£599 / €699), so it looks like it's going to be the same price as the previous phone. That was to be expected, with the iPhone 16 now $699 (£699 / €849) and the iPhone 17 at $799 (£799 / €949), there's nowhere for the price to really go.

What we know about the iPhone 17e so far

Previous rumours suggested that the iPhone 17e would be announced on 19 February, which is exactly 1 year since the launch of the previous model. However, that's a Thursday and Apple typically launches devices on a Monday or Tuesday. Tuesday is 17 February, which feels too tempting to miss…

We'd previously heard that the iPhone 17e could make the switch to Dynamic Island, getting rid of the notch from the display that houses the Face ID hardware. But in a more recent leak, this was rowed back and it's now expected that there won't be any changes to the display.

That at least means that there's still a gulf between the iPhone 17 and the cheaper iPhone 17e, with enough in the more expensive phone's locker to differentiate between the two.

The iPhone 17e will go head-to-head with the new Pixel 10a that's expected to launch in the coming week too, and given the rumoured timeframe, will launch before Samsung has the chance to announce the Galaxy S26 family of devices – at an event thought to be taking place on 25 February.

The iPhone 16e was generally well received, although the price was seen as a little too high by some.

While the RRP is worthy of consideration, network deals have made the iPhone 16e the cheapest iPhone to own by quite some margin – with the advantage of offer pretty much the same software experience as its more expensive family.

It's no secret that photography on phones has gotten really good of late. In fact, it's more likely that someone taking a photo in 2026 is doing it with a phone than a 'proper' camera.

Still, that doesn't mean you should settle for less. Now, a brand with a lot of pedigree when it comes to taking pictures has released another accessory to improve your iPhone photography.

That's because Leica has unveiled a new case for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models. Dubbed the Leica LUX case, this is made to work seamlessly with the Leica LUX grip, which was launched last year, and the Leica LUX app before that.

It also follows on from the brand's release of a range of small leather goods, which has clearly had an impact here. The case is a masterclass in timeless beauty, with a black leather back and black aluminium buttons.

Inside, a recycled microfibre coating ensures your precious device is kept safely stowed away. It also features MagSafe technology, to ensure the grip – or any other MagSafe accessory – can be attached quickly and securely.

Personally, I'm a big fan of this. While it's far from the only iPhone case out there, this one does exude a real level of classiness which can be hard to come by.

Even if you don't plan on using it with the grip and the app for a holistic photography solution, it's a really nice case. However, I can also imagine that the full setup is a dream to use, and takes an already good camera system up another level.

Priced at £85 (approx. €100 / US$115 / AU$165), this also isn't going to be the cheapest case out there, either. But these things are relative – if you're talking about a phone worth upwards of £1,000, it's worth getting a decent case to match.

Phones are getting thinner, but so many of us wrap them in covers and protectors that it’s often difficult to notice. It feels almost foolish not to take every effort to protect your handset, especially if you’ve just spent thousands of pounds or dollars on it. Yes, you can get and claim on insurance, but that will still cost you in the long run.

I spent a year using an iPhone without a case or screen protector and didn’t drop it once – perhaps knowing it lacked protection made me more careful? Or maybe it was luck. So when I watched my iPhone 17 Pro fall (in slow motion) onto the bathroom floor, I was very glad I didn’t continue without the casing.

When I picked my phone up, which had of course landed face down, I noticed a chip at the top of the display, and then a thin crack extending down the phone. This is a sight that brings tears to many eyes and that deep fear in the pit of your stomach of how much the replacement is going to be.

Luckily for me, not only did I choose to put a case on my iPhone 17 Pro, but I also put a screen protector on it. So in fact, though it looked bad, it was only the screen protector that had cracked – not my screen. Peeling the broken protector sheet off revealed that my display was completely undamaged.

A good screen projector is designed not only to protect your screen from scratches but also to disperse the impact of a drop, and break if required, so the screen underneath doesn’t. Not all screen protectors are equal, of course. Some are simple plastic builds, while others are actual glass.

With my old screen protector discarded, I replaced it with the latest Belkin ScreenForce UltraGlass2 Screen Protector. This is designed to be up to 2.7x stronger than tempered glass and yet is much thinner than many other models at just 0.29mm thick.

The handy thing about the Belkin Screen Protectors is that they come with a special tray to help apply the screen protector to your phone. You simply place your phone, screen down, into the tray on top of the screen protector and slowly pull the tab away from the phone. This removes the proactive cover while also wiping any dust off the screen. It’s a very clever little system.

Once the screen projector is on, it’s easy to forget it's there. Previous screen projectors I’ve used have been much bulkier and can sometimes suffer from reduced touch sensitivity at the edges. That’s certainly not the case here.

While I would certainly consider using my iPhone case-free in the future, I’ll always be sticking with a screen protector from now on. It will more than pay for itself with one slight slip of the hand.

2026 looks set to be a big year for the iPhone, with a slew of fairly major shake-ups suggested. That includes the relegation of the base model from the brand's autumnal launch event, in favour of a rumoured release early in the new year.

But it also looks set to house the debut of Apple's efforts in the foldable phone space. That's a release which has been rumoured for the better part of a decade, and can't come a moment too soon, with other brands forging ahead for several generations.

Now, one of the most comprehensive leaks yet has given us an unprecedented look at the handset, over half a year before it's expected to be on shelves. The information comes from a Weibo post, and gives us a slew of details about the handset.

First things first, let's talk buttons. Those are all arranged on the right hand side of the handset, similar to the layout of models like the Honor Magic V5 and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7, which will likely take some getting used to for long-term iPhone users.

The model retains the power button – which also houses a Touch ID module – and the camera button on that side, too. It could be pretty crowded on that one side, from the sounds of it.

Next, lets move onto cameras. The front-facing module makes use of a single, round hole-punch design. On the rear, a pair of sensors are built into a bar which runs horizontally along the top of the right-hand panel.

It's not dissimilar to what we saw on the iPhone Air, though the report suggests that all of the models will have this bar in black, regardless of the colour of the handset. Speaking of colours, there are said to be two options, with only a white confirmed in the report. I'd wager that black stands a good chance of being the other.

All in all, it's an exciting suite of information about the handset. While there's nothing too surprising about the information included here, it does help us to build a picture of what could be coming later this year.

In recent years, Apple has sought to shake up the formula it uses in its iPhone range. Most notably, that includes the launch of the iPhone Air, which arrived last year to bring a sleeker silhouette to the collection.

While its initial reception was decidedly mixed, there's no denying that it's the best looking handset the brand has to offer. And right now, you can pick one up on an absolutely killer deal, with over £100 off and a FREE 24 month data plan thrown in!

Okay, so that's not exactly how it's billed online, but the premise is much the same. The good folks over at Mobiles.co.uk have an offer which costs just £159 upfront, with a £29.99 monthly fee thereafter.

Even factoring in the usual price hikes in April, the deals works out to a total cost of just £893.76, as can be seen on the site. That's frankly remarkable, as the same model retails for £999 on the Apple store.

What's more, when you buy from Mobiles.co.uk, you're also getting a data plan. That's offered by ID Mobile, which I can personally vouch for having used their services for the last decade.

That plan snags you 10GB of data, and offers the usual suite of benefits offered by the brand. You'll enjoy 99% coverage in the UK, roaming in 50 destinations included, and data rollover which gives you a boost if you haven't used some of your data in the previous month.

The offer includes the 256GB version of the iPhone Air handset, which is available in four different colours. All in all, this seems like a stellar deal for a handset which exists at the cutting edge of what Apple has to offer. If you're thinking of upgrading your phone anytime soon, this is a great option.

Unless you've been living under a rock for the last few years, you'll know that Apple is widely pegged to finally enter the foldable phone game this year. The iPhone Fold has been talked about for the better part of a decade at this point, as other manufacturers have plowed ahead with releases in the space.

That includes popular picks like the Honor Magic V5, which has consistently been a top pick over its last few iterations. It also includes devices from other major brands like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold.

Now, with Apple set to enter the fray, I think it must dare to be different if it wants to make a mark. While other launches can succeed simply on the merit of being an iPhone – even the most meagre of upgrades will be purchased en masse by the brands legions of followers who simply buy the Apple logo because it's all they know – I don't think this one will.

After all, I can't see too many tech averse iPhone users opting to engage with foldable phone technology for the first time, just because. Reports suggest that it could launch with an eye-watering £2,000+ price tag (approx. €2,300 / US$2,750 / AU$3,900) which will only serve to keep more Average Joe's from taking the plunge.

Instead, I think Apple must lean into the ecosystem it has built – particularly with the Apple Pencil. That's the stylus offered for use with its range of iPad models, and is something which could dramatically elevate the appeal of the iPhone Fold.

It will be especially pertinent if, as seems to be the case, the brand is intent on making a big fuss of the crease-free inner display, as the pencil could demonstrate just how lovely that is to use. And while I've made my feelings clear on that particular issue numerous times – any display crease on a book-style foldable phone doesn't impede use – it doesn't change the fact that, if Apple wants to sell it, that's how to do so.

Of course, the device will also have to keep pace more generally, though that's pretty much a given for any handset looking to make a mark in the modern age. One thing is for certain – the eyes of the entire tech world will be firmly focused on what Apple has to offer later this year.

2026 looks set to be a year of change for Apple. If previous leaks and rumours prove true, it will be the first year where its base model for the new iPhone generation isn't launched, with the brand focusing on higher-tier devices at its autumn launch event.

That is said to include the successors the the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max models, but also the long-awaited iPhone Fold. While the rest of the tech world has plowed ahead with foldable phones for years, Apple has been notably silent, though that's said to be changing this time out.

Now, it seems the iPhone Fold could arrive as a record-breaker – at least within the brand's own history books. That's because it's said to feature the largest battery ever fitted to an iPhone handset.

The news, which was shared by macrumors, says that the device could be "over 5,500mAh" in size, which would just pip the iPhone 17 Pro Max. It would also beat out some of the competition – handsets like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and the Google Pixel 10 Pro Fold – though it's notably still beaten by the Honor Magic V5.

It's not entirely news, either. For a while now, rumours have suggested that the brand was working on larger battery technology for the model, in a bid to compete with others.

There's also no guarantee that the larger capacity would make any meaningful difference to performance. While the battery is larger, it also has to power more display area, which is one of the chief power draws on a modern handset. If I had to guess, I'd wager that the larger cell will only be enough to maintain the all-day battery life the brand touts for other handsets.

Still, it's good to know that it will be coming out swinging. Many of us will remember the Apple of old, which took pride in being more refined with its approach to launches, rather than unveiling things quickly. This could be another example of that ideology.

When it comes to software updates, Apple typically supports its phones, tablets and laptops for around seven years, bringing new features and bug fixes to them regularly. It is one of the leaders when it comes to support for older devices and has been for a long time, though both Samsung and Google have followed suit in recent years.

The latest news is unusual, however, even for Apple. As spotted by 9to5Mac, Apple has released iOS 12.5.8 and iPadOS 12.5.8 alongside multiple beta versions of its latest software to developers. As you might know, the latest software is iOS 26 and iPadOS 26, but iOS 12 hasn’t had an update for three years, until now.

Why is iOS 12 being updated after such a long time?

Apple’s release notes on the iOS 12.5.8 and iPadOS 12.5.8 software say: “This update extends the certificate required by features such as iMessage, FaceTime, and device activation to continue working after January 2027.”

Effectively, it means a small group of older iPhones, iPads and the iPod touch that no longer support the latest software will make sure services like iMessage and FaceTime as well as device activation will work after January 2027 when the certificate is due to expire. The last system update for these devices was released in January 2023 so the update might even help iron out any bugs that may have appeared over those years, too.

The iOS 12.5.8 and iPad 12.5.8 update will be available for the following iPhone and iPad models, as well as the 6th generation iPod touch:

• Apple iPhone 5s
• Apple iPhone 6
• Apple iPhone 6 Plus
• Apple iPad Air
• Apple iPad mini 2
• Apple iPad mini 3

With the iPhone 5s having launched in 2013, it’s 13 years old this year so this is certainly not an update anyone expected. It might not deliver the new Liquid Glass design or the ability to change the snooze duration on your alarm like iOS 26, but it is good to see Apple hasn’t completely forgotten about these older handsets.

A new iPhone is a beautiful thing, but whether you're just getting started with Apple's phones for the first time, upgrading after a long history with iOS, or simply looking for ways to spruce up and rejuvenate a handset that you've been using for years, there are probably many things your phone can do that you never even realised.

iOS updates sometimes point you towards new additions and features, but it's just as common for Apple to add new options without you ever knowing about them, which is where I come in. I've been using an iPhone as my daily driver for pretty much a decade now, and have been exploring its hidden features for most of that time.

I've gathered together a list of 11 features, settings and more that you might not know about on your iPhone right here, so read on for some eye-opening tips and tricks.

Drown out the noise wherever you are

A few years ago, Apple added a feature that I use most days – Background Sounds. This lets your iPhone act as a white noise machine, but with multiple types of audio to pick from; my favourite sounds like a rainy sky.

To activate it, head to Accessibility > Audio & Visual > Background Sounds. You can also add it to your Control Centre for quicker access, which I've found to be really handy.

Lock apps behind Face ID

Gone are the days when any app on your iPhone has to be on a home screen for all to see – you can now hide apps and lock them, too. To activate this, long press on any app and choose the "Require Face ID" button. You'll then get the option to just lock it, or also hide the app.

If you choose the latter, it'll be slotted into a "Hidden" app folder in your App Library, which itself will also need Face ID verification to open, giving you another layer of secrecy for whatever reason you might want.

Share Wi-Fi passwords easily

If you're on a good Wi-Fi network and a friend or family member wants access, rather than reading them out a hopefully laborious and cyber-secure series of numbers, letters and symbols, take these quicker options.

If they're on an iPhone, stand near them, then head to your Settings app, go to Wi-Fi, tap on the network in question, and you should see a pop-up to share the password for them.

If they're on Android, you'll instead need the Passwords app. Tap on Wi-Fi, then the network you're connected to, then the "Show Network QR Code" button to give them a QR to scan and connect.

Change your alarm's snooze time

Rather than just accepting the default snooze interval that your iPhone's alarms offer, tweak this to actually suit your requirements. Head to the Clock app, find your list of alarms, and tap into any individual one of them.

If you scroll down, you'll find the option to tweak the Snooze Duration for that alarm, anywhere from a single minute up to 15 minutes. Make your choice and live with it!

Schedule your texts

If you're a huge WhatsApp user (like many of us in the UK), look away now, but those who use Messages a lot can schedule their texts, which is really handy. Enter any conversation and start typing a message.

While doing so, you'll see a "+" icon on the left of the text box. Tap it, and you'll see the "Send Later" option in the list, which lets you select an exact time to send the message in the forthcoming couple of weeks.

Remove backgrounds from images easily

Annoyingly, this little feature isn't in the Photos app, but rather in Files. If you have an image in there, you can long-press on it to access a quick menu. In here, tap on Quick Actions, then select "Remove Background" down at the bottom of the list.

You'll quickly get a second copy of the photo with its background removed and the main subject left on a white background. Its performance can be hit or miss, but it's a really quick option in a pinch.

Exploit your spacebar

Sometimes, especially if you're typing long messages out, it can be really fiddly navigating back to a previous word or section to fix a typo or just make a change. Rather than trying to tap on the right pixel in the text box, long-press on your spacebar while typing, and you'll be able to move the text cursor around really easily.

Let your iPhone tell you what you're looking at

In your photos app, there's a handy feature for knowing more about the natural world. Images in Photos that have animals or plants in them should be recognised by your phone, and you'll see a little "Info" button under them when browsing.

Tap on this, and your iPhone will tell you more, whether it gives you the option to see other pictures with the same thing in them (like your cat) or even an AI guess as to the species you're looking at (great for holiday pics).

Make your camera smarter

The iPhone camera is a reliable app for simple snaps, but it's been given some genuine smarts in recent years – including a couple of features I'll highlight. Firstly, if you aim your camera at text in a foreign language (on a sign or menu, for instance), you should see a button pop up to let you translate it into your own. Tap to get some options related to that.

Another smaller feature that could save you one day is that the camera app can recognise laundry care symbols (which are notoriously hard to interpret), and similarly will pop up a "Look Up Laundry Care" button when it does so. Wave goodbye to accidentally shrunken clothes!

Turn web pages into podcasts

Okay, I've made that sound a little better than it is, but nonetheless you might not know that you can get Siri to read web pages to you in the Safari app. On any page that activates the "reader" mode (which simplifies the layout for easier reading), you'll get this option.

While in reader mode, tap the blue button on the URL bar, then hit "Listen to Page", and Siri will read it to you really quite nicely. This is ideal for longer articles or guides.

Bar yourself from apps

Look, I don't think it's exactly news to anyone that phones can get addictive, and too many apps take advantage of this to get you hooked. If you want to tamp down on how much you're using an app, it's easily done.

Head to the settings app, tap into the "Screen Time" section, and then tap on "App Limits". From here, use "Add Limit" to set up a limitation, which can be on a specific app or a group of them, and can follow basically whatever rules or restrictions you want to impose on yourself.

One of the major tech launches of of 2026 is certain to be the new iPhone. Expected around the autumn, the Pro-level models are shaping up to be very interesting devices indeed.

In one area in particular, it seems that Apple is ready to adopt a less is more approach. That's according to the renowned tech tipster, Ice Universe, who has shared a mock up of what the new handset could look like with a smaller Dynamic Island.

According to the tweet, Ice suggests that the Island cutout will be reduced from 20.76mm to 13.49mm. That's a reduction of around 35%, and will apply to both the iPhone 18 Pro and the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

If the mock up is anything to go by, that should mean a fairly big design change. The narrower dimensions certainly give the illusion or more space at the top of the display, though that's probably not going to make too much of a difference in real world use.

That does go against some other rumours, which had suggested that the whole Island could go missing this time out. That appears to have been debunked, though, with this leak and another from renowned display industry analyst, Ross Young, pointing to this smaller, central cutout.

There's also no word yet on whether this slimmer design will follow on to the base model iPhone 18. That's expected to launch much later than the new Pro versions this time out, with an early 2027 launch pegged by many.

In its place this autumn is expected to be the long anticipated iPhone Fold. That would mark Apple's first moves in the foldable phone space, and is certain to be a device which sparks a lot of conversation, similar to the iPhone Air earlier this year.

There's still a few months to go before the expected launch date, though, so everything could change in that time. For now, then, we'll just have to wait and see what other bits of information come about between then and now.

With 2026 now well underway, it looks set to be one of the biggest years for Apple fans. Why? Because 2026 looks set to be a landmark year for the iPhone range, including the long-awaited debut of the brand's first foldable phone in the iPhone Fold.

Now, a respected tech insider has shared details of all the models we're expecting in the Autumn. The news comes from Jeff Pu – a well-regarded inside voice in the tech space.

First things first, there are only three models anticipated at the Autumn launch event. The iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and Fold models are slated to launch, but the base model of the iPhone 18 is missing from this report, which ties in with previous reports that suggested that would not arrive until the following year.

As for the three devices we are expecting, specs are remarkably similar. All three will utilise the new A20 Pro processor, paired with 12GB of RAM.

Each of the three shares some similarities in the camera department, too. Front-facing units use 18MP sensors, with two on the fold – one for the inside display and one for the outer display.

The rear cameras are also all 48MP sensors. There are a trio on the Pro and Pro Max models – a main sensor, a periscope zoom and, presumably, an ultra-wide – and two on the Fold. That model loses the periscope zoom, which is not unheard of in the space.

The Fold also does away with Face ID, instead using Touch ID for biometric identification. It also uses a combination of titanium and aluminium in its construction, where the two Pro variants use a solely aluminium casing.

The only other noteworthy update is a long-awaited one – Siri. The analyst suggests that there are a suite of upgrades to the construction of the internal hardware, which is designed to finally enable a more powerful Siri experience.