2018 iPhone

OtterBox launches handsome textured cases for 2018 iPhone models

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OtterBox Figura, Vue, Statement Series (felt) and Statement Series Moderne are available for your 2018 iPhone.
OtterBox Figura Series, Vue Series, Statement Series (felt) and Statement Series Moderne are available for 2018 iPhone.
Photo: OtterBox

While OtterBox is best known for big, massively protective cases, it also offers ones for people looking for something more fashionable. Today it introduced four new cases with a range of textures and colors.

These are designed for the iPhone XR, XS and XS Max.

Mophie’s iPhone battery case is a great alternative to Apple’s

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Mophie Juice Pack Access iPhone battery pack comes in a variety of colors.
Mophie Juice Pack Access iPhone battery pack comes in a variety of colors.
Photo: Mophie

The wait is over for the Mophie Juice Pack Access. This series of cases extends the battery life of the 2018 iPhone models while still allowing the Lightning port to be used. And the iPhone can be wirelessly charged while in this battery case.

Mophie unveiled this product last month, and it just became available today.

Weak Chinese economy is dragging down iPhone, Fed says

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Hong Kong police arrest smugglers with $1 million of iPhones and other devices
iPhone sales are slowing because the Chinese economy is, not because Apple made a dud.
Photo: Ed Hardy/Cult of Mac

Sales of iPhones seem to be weaker than in previous years, and the Chairman of the Federal Reserve has an explanation: a drop in consumer spending in China.

The implication is that the slowdown in iPhone sales isn’t a result of anything Apple has done.

You can still snag almost any iPhone XR on launch day

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Nearly every configuration of the Apple's latest handset is still available hours into launch day. What does this say about iPhone XR sales?
Nearly every configuration of the Apple's latest handset is still available hours into launch day. What does this say about iPhone XR sales?
Photo: Apple

Apple began taking pre-orders for the iPhone XR early this morning, and there are still plenty of them left hours later. Contrast this with the iPhone XS launch which saw some configurations sell out in minutes.

While this doesn’t automatically indicate that demand for the iPhone XR is slow, it’s not a very good sign either.

Why iPhone XS is a brilliant name for Apple’s new phone

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iPhone X
Turns out iPhone XS shouldn't be pronounced "iPhone 10 S."
Photo: Ste Smith/Cult of Mac

You might be pronouncing the name of Apple’s next smartphone incorrectly. And this goes beyond the confusion resulting from people not calling the iPhone X the “iPhone 10”. But it’s related.

It turns out the “S” in the iPhone XS doesn’t mean what you think it means.

World’s largest carrier spills big 2018 iPhone secret

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iPhone X home screen
iOS 14's Home screen could be very different.
Photo: Apple

The world’s largest carrier just confirmed one big rumor about the 2018 iPhone lineup.

China Mobile has published an image that all but confirms a new Apple smartphone capable of supporting two SIM cards simultaneously. A separate teaser from rival China Telecom also hints at dual-SIM functionality for a next-generation iPhone.

iPhone 9 is not the name for Apple’s 6.1-inch handset

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We might have just found out all the 2018 iPhone prices.
The iPhone on the right might be not be called what we've been thinking.
Photo: MobileFun

We know almost all of the specifications of the 2018 iPhones that are being announced this week, but the names remain something of a mystery. A mystery that might have been solved thanks to a leak from the wireless service provider China Mobile.

This confirms two of the product names from previous rumors, but the third comes out of left field.

No one knows what 2018 iPhone models will cost

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This could be the iPhone XS Plus and iPhone XS, Apple's 2018 iPhone models.
What will these two devices cost? Your guess is probably about as good as any analyst's.
Photo: Lee Gunho

A hot topic of debate among Apple analysts is the prices for the three iPhone models expected next week. And there have been some leaks suggesting prices for the 2018 models. Thing is, none of these agree.

At this point, there’s enough disparity between what the rumors say and the various analysts’ predictions to question whether there’s a point of paying attention to any of them.  

2018 iPhones could cost just the same as the 2017 models

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We might have just found out all the 2018 iPhone prices.
We might have just found out all the 2018 iPhone prices.
Photo: MobileFun

With most of the specifications of the 2018 iPhones already known, the largest remaining question is price. Possibly answering that burning question is a report coming out of Europe that indicates that the three upcoming iOS models will cost just the same Apple’s three most recent offerings.

Possible new name for the 6.5-inch iPhone takes it to the Max

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This could be the iPhone XS Plus and iPhone XS, Apple's 2018 iPhone models.
If a new rumor is correct, the device on the left won't be called the iPhone XS Plus.
Photo: Lee Gunho

We’ve already head reports that Apple is going to ditch the “Plus” description for its larger iPhones. Now there’s word that the replacement term could be “Max.”

If true, this means that the company will announce a week from today the iPhone Xs with a 5.8-inch display and the iPhone Xs Max with a 6.5-inch one.

Concept ad shows the magic of 6.1-inch iPhone 9

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Here's what the advertising for the iPhone 9 might look like.
Here's what the advertising for the iPhone 9 might look like.
Screenshot: Lee Gungho

The 6.1-inch iPhone that’s expected to be unveiled next week has the potential to become Apple’s top seller.   Advertising will play a big part of making it so, and a clever graphic artist went ahead and created a TV ad for this upcoming large but inexpensive iOS smartphone.

Watch it now:

Don’t buy an iPhone!

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This could be the iPhone XS Plus and iPhone XS, Apple's 2018 iPhone models.
Get ready for iPhone Xs and iPhone Xs Max.
Photo: Lee Gunho

Don’t worry, this isn’t an anti-iPhone rant. You should buy Apple’s smartphones, just not right now. Try to hold out a few weeks if your current one is dying or even if it’s dead. That’s because the release of the 2018 iPhone models is just around the corner.

There’ll be some big new versions released. And even if you want something that’s already available, it could become more affordable in just a week or so.

Apple A12 chip brings huge gains to performance and battery life

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A tweaked image of the A11 suggests what the improved Apple 12 princessor could look like.
A tweaked image of the A11 suggests what the improved Apple 12 processor could look like.
Photo: IFIXIT

The A11 Bionic chip from last year makes the iPhone X run faster than the new Samsung Galaxy Note 9. And now Apple is about to release the A12, a replacement with even quicker performance. 

A switch to a better manufacturing process will bring some of those performance increases, while at the same time using less power. And other improvements are expected to further boost the speed.

2018 iPhone might not work with Apple Pencil after all [Updated]

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Apple Pencil is the ultimate iPad accessory.
There are a lot of people hoping the next iPhone models will work with the Apple Pencil, but a prominent analyst says no.
Photo: Apple

A respected analyst just threw cold water on the reports that the Apple Pencil will work with next month’s iPhone models.

This contradicts several sources that pointed to support for Apple’s pressure-sensitive stylus being added to the 2018 iPhones. So we’re left guessing which is correct.

Apple might drop ‘Plus’ iPhone naming scheme

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6.1-inch 2018 iPhone concept image
Apple might kill its "Plus" models.
Photo: OnLeaks

The 2018 iPhone lineup might be missing a “Plus” model when all three new iPhones are unveiled at the Steve Jobs Theater early next month.

Apple’s marketing team has reportedly been considering whether or not to ditch the Plus suffix that has been used on larger display iPhones ever since the iPhone 6 Plus came out in 2014.

We may finally know AirPower price

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AirPower
AirPower won’t be cheap when it finally launches.
Photo: Apple

The long-awaited launch of Apple’s AirPower wireless charging pad may coincide with the launch of the 2018 iPhone lineup.

Based on a new report out of Asia, Apple engineers are in the debugging phase of the AirPower rollout. The product may not launch on the exact same day as the 2018 iPhones, but a Chinese site claims to know the planned price. And it’s not going to be cheap.

Samsung Galaxy Note 9 prepares to face the 2018 iPhones

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The Galaxy Note 9 will have to face not just the iPhone X, but also the models Apple will launch next month.
The Galaxy Note 9 will have to stand up to not only the iPhone X, but also the models Apple will launch next month.
Photo: Apple/Samsung/MobileFun

This spring’s Galaxy S9 hasn’t sold all that well, so Samsung is pinning its hopes on the Galaxy Note 9, just announced this morning.

This 6.4-inch Android device will have to compete with the iPhone X, and also the new smartphones Apple will introduce in a few weeks. Let’s see how it compares.

‘iPhone 9’ leak hints at big camera improvements

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iPhone 9 camera leak
iPhone 9 could pack Apple's best camera yet.
Photo: Slashleaks

You’ll miss out on a secondary rear-facing camera if you opt for the more affordable “iPhone 9” this fall, but the single sensor you will get could be Apple’s best yet.

An apparent spy shot of the device corroborates claims that it will pack an even larger camera lens for snapping better photos and videos. You can also expect optical image stabilization for enhanced low-light performance.

Virus briefly halts production at iPhone chip-maker TSMC

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Apple A12 replaces A11 Bionic
TSMC, the company that manufactures all iPhone and iPad processors, including the A11, had a serious virus problem this weekend.
Photo: iFixit

A computer virus infected the fabrication tools and computers at TSMC’s factories that are likely producing Apple’s next-generation iPhone processors. 

The company is still cleaning the malware off its equipment, but expects to be finished by tomorrow.

Dual-SIM iPhone could be just for China

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The dual-SIM iPhone will offer twice as many SIM card slots as any previous iOS device.
The dual-SIM iPhone will offer twice as many SIM card slots as any previous iOS device.
Photo: IFIXIT

Buried in the latest iOS 12 beta is evidence that Apple is going to release the first iPhone that can have two SIM cards installed at once. But most people won’t have the option to buy this device.

The dual-SIM iPhone will reportedly be restricted to just China.

Here’s when to expect Apple’s 2018 iPhone event

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iPhone X
The 2018 iPhone lineup could be prettier than ever.
Photo: Martin Hajek

Apple’s biggest keynote of the year is quickly approaching and, while the company hasn’t revealed the date, we have a pretty good idea of when exactly the 2018 iPhone lineup will be revealed.

After analyzing the dates of Apple’s previous unveilings and the 2018 calendar, it seems pretty likely the keynote will fall during the second week of September.

Apple R&D dumps billions into Cupertino’s secret projects

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Apple research and development
Apple research and development spends oodles of cash on secret projects.
Photo: Pexels

Apple’s spending on research and development of new products keeps growing. The company’s R&D spending  increased by hundreds of millions in the second quarter of this year, totaling more than ever before.

But where is all this money going? Some of its R&D projected are obvious, but others the company tries to keep secret.

2018 iPhone with 6.1-inch LCD might boast slender screen bezels after all

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The 2018 iPhone may sport a new type of LCD from Japan DIsplay with thinner screen bezels.
The 2018 iPhone may sport a new type of LCD from Japan Display with thinner screen bezels.
Photo: Japan Display

There’s good news and bad news about the more-affordable 6.1-inch iPhone supposedly in development. The good new is it may have bezels almost as thin as the iPhone X. The bad news is it’s not expected until November.

Apple is reportedly turning to a new type of LCD for this upcoming model. This will enable the slim bezels, but the supplier has run into production problems.