Listen to a recap of the top stories of the day from 9to5Mac. 9to5Mac Daily is available on iTunes and Apple’s Podcasts app, Stitcher, TuneIn, Google Play, or through our dedicated RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

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The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) is out with a new campaign that presses tech companies to move faster to protect user data through end-to-end encryption, and stronger defaults and privacy settings. Here are the details.

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Apple’s Wallet app received a variety of great features in iOS 26, but one of my favorites is a convenient new way to manage and access credit cards. Here’s how to use it.

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I love the smell of candles, but I hate the anxiety that comes with an open flame. There have been multiple times I’ve had to turn around after leaving to double-check that I’ve blown out a candle. That is why the SwitchBot Candle Warmer Lamp caught my eye. It promises all the ambiance and smells of a candle with zero risk of burning the house down. Best of all, it supports Matter right out of the box, making it a native citizen in your HomeKit/Apple Home environment.

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In a new report about Apple losing at least four more AI researchers in recent weeks, in addition to a high-ranking Siri executive, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reiterated that the company is preparing to release two new versions of Siri.


First, Apple announced that it plans to release a more personalized version of Siri powered by Google Gemini this year. It is expected to be part of iOS 26.4, which should enter beta testing in February and be released to the general public in March or April.

Back in June 2024, Apple said the revamped Siri will have understanding of personal context, on-screen awareness, deeper in-app controls, and more.

Second, Siri will reportedly get even better on iOS 27, as Apple is said to be planning to turn the assistant into a full-out chatbot, allowing users to have sustained, back-and-forth conversations with the assistant. This will essentially turn Siri into ChatGPT or Gemini, except it will be built right into the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, with no app required.

Gurman said the Siri chatbot will be "competitive with Gemini 3," and "significantly more capable" than the more personalized Siri coming with iOS 26.4.

The high-ranking Siri executive who left Apple was Stuart Bowers, according to the report, which described him as "one of the company's most senior executives working on Siri." He joined Google's artificial intelligence research laboratory DeepMind.

The four researchers who left are Yinfei Yang, Haoxuan You, Bailin Wang, and Zirui Wang.
This article, "Apple Still Preparing Two New Versions of Siri as Some Employees Leave" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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A new report from Bloomberg today highlights the ongoing exodus from Apple’s artificial intelligence and Siri teams. Mark Gurman reports that Apple has lost “least four more of its artificial intelligence researchers in recent weeks in addition to a top Siri executive.”

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In a recent interview with the tech podcast TBPN, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman revealed that Apple was initially "going to rebuild Siri around Claude," the large language model and chatbot developed by the company Anthropic. In the end, though, Apple announced that it had decided to use Google's Gemini platform instead.


According to Gurman, Apple went with Google due at least in part to money.

"Anthropic was holding them over a barrel," said Gurman, in a podcast clip shared by TBPN. "They wanted a ton of money from them, several billion dollars a year, and at a price that doubled on an annual basis for the next three years."

Nevertheless, Gurman said Apple currently "runs on Anthropic" internally.

"Anthropic is powering a lot of the stuff Apple's doing internally in terms of product development and a lot of their internal tools," he explained. "They have custom versions of Claude running on their own servers internally, too."

Apple was "not going to use Google" for the revamped Siri until "a few months ago," he said.

Apple announced that it plans to release a more personalized version of Siri powered by Google Gemini this year. It is expected to be part of iOS 26.4, which should enter beta testing in February and be released to the general public in March or April. The new-and-improved Siri likely requires an iPhone 15 Pro or newer.

Back in June 2024, Apple said the revamped Siri will have understanding of personal context, on-screen awareness, deeper in-app controls, and more. At the time, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info retrieved from the Mail and Messages apps.


This article, "New Siri: Apple Almost Chose a Different Partner Before Google Gemini" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Following a January that saw Apple release a new AirTag and the Creator Studio bundle of creative apps, it is now time to shift our attention to February.


Below, we have outlined some key items to expect from Apple in February. Of course, these are only the things that are known, so stay tuned for even more.

iOS 26.3

iOS 26.3 remains in beta testing, but the update should be released soon. We expect the iOS 26.3 Release Candidate to be seeded as early as next week, and the update should be released to the general public in the first half of February.

iOS 26.3 is a relatively minor update, with only a handful of notable new features, including a new iOS-to-Android transfer tool, notification forwarding and AirPods-like proximity pairing for third-party accessories like smartwatches, and a carrier-related limit precise location setting. Apple also appears to be laying the groundwork for carriers to begin supporting end-to-end encryption for RCS messaging, which it has promised to implement.

Personalized Siri (Beta)

Apple plans to announce a more personalized version of Siri powered by Google Gemini in the second half of February, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.

The more personalized Siri will be part of iOS 26.4, which will be available in beta in February and released to the general public in March or early April, according to Gurman. Based on that timeframe, the new-and-improved Siri should be available to all customers with an iPhone 15 Pro or newer in just a few more months.

As previewed by Apple, the assistant "should be able to tap into personal data and on-screen content to fulfill tasks," according to Gurman.

Apple first announced the more personalized version of Siri all the way back at WWDC 2024, but it was eventually delayed. At the time, Apple showed an iPhone user asking Siri about their mother's flight and lunch reservation plans based on info retrieved from the Mail and Messages apps, as one example of a new capability.

The revamped Siri reportedly experienced issues inside Apple, leading the company to turn to Google Gemini. As part of the partnership, the revamped Siri will still run on a new Apple Intelligence model that has Gemini's technology baked in.

Other Known Dates

• Thursday, February 5: Another four games are coming to Apple Arcade, including Retrocade, an app that lets you play classic arcade games like Asteroids, PAC-MAN, Breakout, Galaga, and Space Invaders. One of the other additions will be an arcade version of the popular PC game Sid Meier's Civilization VII.


• Friday, February 6: Apple will accept submissions for the 2026 Swift Student Challenge from Friday, February 6 through Saturday, February 28. Some of the winners will be invited to spend three days at Apple Park during WWDC 2026 in June.


• Sunday, February 8: Apple Music is the official sponsor of the Super Bowl LX Halftime Show, set to be held on Sunday, February 8. This year's performer is Puerto Rican rapper and singer Bad Bunny.


• Tuesday, February 10: A few years ago, Apple's Home app was rearchitected, and the company will be ending support for the original architecture on this day. If you do not update, Apple warns you might experience issues.


• Tuesday, February 24: Apple will be holding its annual shareholders meeting at 8 a.m. Pacific Time, and it will once again be held virtually. Apple shareholders of record as of January 2, 2026 can vote to re-elect the company's board of directors, ask questions, and more. Apple rarely answers any questions about future plans, so the meetings are often unremarkable from a news perspective.

This article, "What to Expect From Apple in February, Including Revamped Siri in Beta" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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This fall Apple has three flagship iPhones rumored to launch: iPhone 18 Pro, 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Fold. Per the latest reporting, there are two rumored camera advantages Apple’s Pro line will have over the foldable.

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Music lovers with Apple kit have long been forced to choose between the sound quality available from the established audio players and the slickness of the AirPods approach to connectivity – but the Technics EAH-AZ100 in-ear headphones have mostly resolved this dilemma.

They not only deliver the best sound quality I’ve ever experienced with in-ear headphones, but also an Apple-like Just Works experience when switching between devices …

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A newly surfaced resale operation is seemingly offering Apple Store–exclusive display accessories to the public for the first time, potentially giving consumers access to Apple-designed hardware that the company has historically kept confined to its retail environments.


Apple designs a range of premium MagSafe charging stands, display trays, and hardware systems exclusively for displays in its global retail stores. They have never been made available through Apple's online store or physical retail locations.

"AppleUnsold" surfaced this week as an Australia-based seller that has begun offering ‌Apple Store‌ display hardware for sale through both an independent website and an eBay storefront. From company's website:

AppleUnsold exists because too many people were asking the same question: "Where can I buy that?" The store display stands, retail accessories, Genius Bar tools and employee gear, and until now, the answer was always the same: you can't. Despite large demand, Apple simply won't sell them. That's where we come in. Display models, store exclusives and Apple-only equipment are exactly what we specialise in.

We give you access to products you simply can't find anywhere else. Every item is genuine Apple, carefully inspected and graded before listing.

Items currently offered or previously listed for sale include iPhone ‌MagSafe‌ demo chargers, Apple Watch charging docks, AirPods Max display stands, Apple Pencil trays, iPad ring stands, and display trays designed for Apple Vision Pro. The catalog also extends beyond presentation hardware to include diagnostic cables and service-related accessories, such as Apple Watch restore docks and HomePod debugging cables, which are typically reserved for ‌Apple Store‌ back-of-house use or authorized service environments.

AppleUnsold says on its website that all items are genuine Apple products and that inventory consists of both new and used hardware. The company also notes that supply is limited and dependent on availability, with many items frequently selling out.

The seller originally operated exclusively through eBay and continues to maintain a presence there alongside its standalone storefront. The AppleUnsold eBay account shows a 100% positive feedback rating based on a limited number of completed transactions. Customer feedback on specific listings includes confirmations that purchased items appear to be authentic Apple hardware.

Apple's retail fixtures and internal tools are not authorized for consumer resale, and the company treats such hardware as proprietary retail property. Historically, Apple has taken action to restrict unauthorized sales of internal-use products, and it is not clear where AppleUnsold is sourcing stock from or how its business model works.
This article, "Retail Accessories Apple Won't Sell You Now Available via New Site" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Alongside the ongoing Amazon low on AirPods Pro 3 and deep deal on AirPods 4 with ANC, today’s 9to5Toys Lunch Break is kicking off a near unheard of 52% price drop on Apple’s latest Trail Loop in blue with the black finish. Those offers also join a new low on the latest black model Trail Loop as well as a chance to save $100 on the most affordable M4 Mac mini with 24GB of RAM again and this giant Elevation Lab AirTag 2 mount/case sale from $8. You’ll also find some notable deals on MacBook Air, up to $620 off iPhone 16 Pro, and even more waiting below. 

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Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman is well known for having numerous sources inside of Apple, and in a new interview he shared some interesting comments about the company’s reliance on Anthropic.

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On this week's episode of The MacRumors Show, we discuss Apple's newly launched AirTag 2 and Apple Creator Studio.


Earlier this week, Apple announced the second-generation ‌AirTag‌, marking the first major update to its item tracker since the product's introduction in 2021, with improvements focused on tracking range, audio output, and device support rather than changes to its physical design.

The new ‌AirTag‌ uses a second-generation Ultra Wideband chip that extends Precision Finding range by up to 50%, adds support for Precision Finding on compatible Apple Watch models for the first time, and includes an upgraded Bluetooth specification designed to improve general tracking range. Apple also says the built-in speaker is up to 50% louder, making it easier to locate items in noisy environments.

• AirTag 1 vs. AirTag 2 Buyer's Guide: All 15+ Differences Compared

Externally, the ‌AirTag‌ remains visually similar to the original and continues to use a replaceable CR2032 coin battery with more than a year of battery life, while Apple has made a significant number of internal changes. The second-generation ‌AirTag‌ is priced the same as before at $29 for a single unit or $99 for a four-pack, is compatible with existing ‌AirTag‌ accessories, and requires devices running iOS 26.2.1 or later.

Apple also launched Creator Studio, a new all-in-one subscription aimed at content creators. For $12.99 per month, or $129 per year, Creator Studio provides access to Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage, consolidating tools for video editing, music production, image editing, and live performance. The bundle replaces Apple's long-standing one-time purchase model for these apps with a subscription approach, while keeping standalone versions available for users who do not want access to the full package.

Beyond bundling existing apps, Creator Studio introduces a set of AI-powered features that are exclusive to subscribers. These include transcript and visual search in Final Cut Pro, enhanced beat detection and new dynamic titles, AI-assisted session players and harmonic analysis in Logic Pro, and new design and warp tools in Pixelmator Pro, which is now available on iPad for the first time. The subscription also unlocks premium AI features in Apple's free productivity apps, including Keynote, Pages, and Numbers, with Freeform support coming later.

Creator Studio is available now via the App Store, with a one-month free trial for all users and a three-month trial for customers who purchase a qualifying new Mac or ‌iPad‌. The subscription supports Family Sharing for up to six people, and features discounted pricing for students and educators.

The MacRumors Show has its own YouTube channel, so make sure you're subscribed to keep up with new episodes and clips.



You can also listen to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Overcast, or your preferred podcasts app. You can also copy our RSS feed directly into your podcast player.



If you haven't already listened to the previous episode of The MacRumors Show, catch up to hear our discussion about Apple's plan to turn Siri into a chatbot with iOS 27, alongside plans for new hardware such as an AI pin.

Subscribe to ‌The MacRumors Show‌ for new episodes every week, where we discuss some of the topical news breaking here on MacRumors, often joined by interesting guests such as Kayci Lacob, Kevin Nether, John Gruber, Mark Gurman, Jon Prosser, Luke Miani, Matthew Cassinelli, Brian Tong, Quinn Nelson, Jared Nelson, Eli Hodapp, Mike Bell, Sara Dietschy, iJustine, Jon Rettinger, Andru Edwards, Arnold Kim, Ben Sullins, Marcus Kane, Christopher Lawley, Frank McShan, David Lewis, Tyler Stalman, Sam Kohl, Federico Viticci, Thomas Frank, Jonathan Morrison, Ross Young, Ian Zelbo, and Rene Ritchie.

‌The MacRumors Show‌ is on X @MacRumorsShow, so be sure to give us a follow to keep up with the podcast. You can also head over to The MacRumors Show forum thread to engage with us directly. Remember to rate and review the podcast, and let us know what subjects and guests you would like to see in the future.
This article, "The MacRumors Show: Apple Launches AirTag 2 and Creator Studio" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple today shared a short film to usher in the Chinese New Year, aka Lunar New Year, which begins February 17 and will be celebrated through March 3.


"A girl, a talking dog, and a meticulously thought out scheme make up this heartwarming tale about finding family," says Apple. "Apple joins forces with director Bai Xue for an imaginative blend of cinematography and stop-motion to usher in Chinese New Year."

The video was shot on the iPhone 17 Pro, and there is also behind-the-scenes footage.
This article, "Apple Shares 2026 Chinese New Year Short Film Shot on iPhone 17 Pro" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple has released its annual Shot on iPhone short film in celebration of Chinese New Year. This year’s film, “Glad I Met You,” tells a heartwarming story of finding family with a stray dog.

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Apple Creator Studio now has an official Instagram account, as spotted by Scott Buscemi.


Apple Creator Studio is a new subscription bundle that provides access to Final Cut Pro, Logic Pro, Pixelmator Pro, Motion, Compressor, and MainStage on the Mac and/or iPad, with U.S. pricing set at $12.99 per month or $129 per year.

A subscription also unlocks "intelligent features" and "premium content" in apps like Numbers, Pages, and Keynote, plus the Freeform app later this year.

If you are interested in Apple's creative apps, you may wish to follow the account, which will presumably share tips and tricks and more.
This article, "You Can Now Follow Apple Creator Studio on Instagram" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple's AirPods Pro 3 returned to their all-time low price of $199.00 this week on Amazon, accompanied by other solid discounts like $60 off AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation, $29 off AirTag 4-Pack, and a few deals across Anker and Nomad charging accessories.

Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with some of these vendors. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.

AirPods

• What's the deal? Take up to $60 off AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon brought back a few low prices on multiple AirPods models this week, including the AirPods Pro 3 for $199.00 and the AirPods Pro with Active Noise Cancellation for $119.00. In regards to the AirPods Pro 3, this is a match of the all-time low price on this model.

AirTag

• What's the deal? Take $29 off AirTag 4-Pack


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Apple unveiled the second generation AirTag this week, but if you want the best discount on the product you'll do best looking at the first generation model on Amazon. The retailer has the AirTag 4-Pack for $69.99 right now, down from $99.00.

Anker

• What's the deal? Save on Anker accessories


• Where can I get it? Amazon


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

Amazon introduced a few notable discounts on multiple Anker accessories this week, with popular products like the MagSafe-compatible Charging Cube ($50 off) and Power Station with Retractable Lantern ($79 off) on sale at low prices. You can find even more accessories on sale in our original post.

Nomad

• What's the deal? Take up to 49% off Nomad accessories


• Where can I get it? Nomad


• Where can I find the original deal? Right here

On the heels of the launch of its newest Stratos Band for Apple Watch with an icy blue glow color, Nomad this week introduced an overstock sale, with major discounts across a few different product categories. This includes iPhone 17 cases, MagSafe-compatible charging stations, iPad folios, and much more.

If you're on the hunt for more discounts, be sure to visit our Apple Deals roundup where we recap the best Apple-related bargains of the past week.

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This article, "Best Apple Deals of the Week: AirPods Pro 3 Return to $199 Record Low Price, Plus AirTag 4-Pack at $69.99" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple TV’s hit neo-noir detective series Sugar is back for season 2 this year, with Colin Farrell returning. Here’s the just announced release date.

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A second-generation iPhone Air is "not expected this year," according to a Nikkei Asia report today that cites people familiar with Apple's supply chain.


The report said Apple plans to release an iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and foldable iPhone later this year, followed by the base model iPhone 18 in the first half of next year. The report said Apple does have a revamped iPhone Air in the pipeline, but the publication does not expect it to launch until at least 2027.

While one leaker on the Chinese social media platform Weibo has insisted that the iPhone Air will receive a spec bump this year, most reports from sources such as Bloomberg and The Information have pointed to an early 2027 launch. If so, the iPhone Air 2 would likely be released alongside the base model iPhone 18.

Last year, The Information reported that Apple was aiming to add a second rear camera to the next iPhone Air. That report added that the next iPhone Air could weigh less, have a larger battery capacity, and gain a vapor chamber cooling system like the iPhone 17 Pro models have. And Bloomberg expects the device to have a 2nm chip.

While several reports indicated that the iPhone Air has been in low demand, the extreme popularity of the iPhone 17 base model and the iPhone 17 Pro models led iPhone revenue to a new all-time high last quarter, according to Apple.
This article, "Will the iPhone Air 2 Launch This Year? The Latest Report Says No" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple CEO Tim Cook yesterday reiterated the structure of its partnership with Google to use Gemini AI models for the next generation version of Siri.


During the company's Q1 2026 earnings call yesterday, Apple CEO ‌Tim Cook‌ and CFO Kevan Parekh were asked several questions about Apple Intelligence and the company's recently announced deal with Google to power the personalized version of ‌Siri‌ using Gemini.

We basically determined that Google's AI technology would provide the most capable foundation for AFM (Apple Foundation Models), and we believe that we can unlock a lot of experiences and innovate in a key way due to the collaboration. We'll continue to run on the device and run in Private Cloud Compute and maintain our industry-leading privacy standards in doing so. In terms of the arrangement with Google, we're not releasing the details of that.

That description closely matches language from Apple and Google's earlier joint announcement, which said that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ would continue to operate on Apple hardware and Private Cloud Compute.

Cook also addressed Apple's own artificial intelligence development efforts, noting that the company continues to build its own technology alongside the Gemini partnership, but clarified that those efforts do not replace Google's role in the personalized ‌Siri‌ system.

You should think of it as a collaboration. And we'll obviously independently continue to do some of our own stuff, but you should think of what is going to power the personalized version of Siri as a collaboration with Google.

When asked about monetization and return on investment, Cook framed ‌Apple Intelligence‌ as a feature integrated across Apple's platforms rather than a discrete revenue driver.

We're bringing intelligence to more of what people love and we're integrating it across the operating system in a personal and private way, and I think that by doing so, it creates great value, and that opens up a range of opportunities across our products and services. And we're very happy with the collaboration with Google as well, I should add.

Neither Cook nor Parekh disclosed how many users currently have access to ‌Apple Intelligence‌ features or whether those capabilities are driving hardware upgrades. Apple previously acknowledged that ‌Apple Intelligence‌ is limited to devices with sufficient memory and processing capacity, which constrains availability somewhat.
This article, "Apple Explains How Gemini-Powered Siri Will Work" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple celebrated its best quarter ever yesterday, but in the company earnings call, CEO Tim Cook teased that the company has even bigger things ahead with new innovations later this year.

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Apple CEO Tim Cook believes that his company will have opportunities to deliver "innovations that have never been seen before" this year.


"As I said at the beginning of my remarks, this was, in so many ways, a remarkable quarter for Apple, and we're excited for all the opportunities we'll have in the year ahead to deliver innovations that have never been seen before and enrich the lives of users every step of the way," said Cook, on an earnings call on Thursday.

Cook hypes up Apple's future on every earnings call, but "innovations that have never been seen before" is particularly bold wording compared to his usual comment about how the company's product pipeline is stronger than ever.

Only time will tell if Apple actually delivers.

Will the foldable iPhone have any breakthrough features, such as a rumored crease-free screen?

Will the more personalized version of Siri go above and beyond the likes of ChatGPT in any ways?

Will the long-rumored Apple smart glasses do anything unique compared to the Meta Ray-Bans?

Will the rumored Apple smart home hub, security camera, and Face ID video doorbell give companies like Google and Ring a run for their money?

These are some of 2026's burning questions, and we look forward to seeing what Apple has in store throughout what should be quite a busy year.
This article, "Apple Teases 'Innovations That Have Never Been Seen Before' This Year" first appeared on MacRumors.com

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Apple is widely expected to bifurcate the launch of the iPhone 18 lineup. Sources including Ming-Chi Kuo, Bloomberg, and The Information  have reported that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Fold will launch later this year, followed by the base model iPhone 18 next spring.

A new report from Nikkei Asia today corroborates that timeline.

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