South Korean tech site ET News has released a report suggesting the foldable iPhone will get an annual refresh starting in 2026. It would replace the Pro Max as the top-of-the-line iPhone model and get updated every year just like the rest of the core lineup.
The launch date for the “iPhone Fold” is still up in the air — so while ET News is betting on 2026, we don’t know if that will turn out to be accurate or not. Either way, the hype around this rumored new model is continuing to build with every new leak we get.
While foldable phones have been around for a long time now and many of the world’s biggest smartphone manufacturers have taken a shot at it, most consumers are still waiting for the tech to mature a little more. This means no screen bubbles, no creases, no hinge issues — basically no problems that affect the display quality or the durability of the phone.
For a lot of people, Apple is the company most likely to make this happen. Despite an arguably uneventful few years, Apple’s reputation for top-quality hardware still stands, and many people believe that a foldable phone from Apple will be the sign that the tech is finally ready to go mainstream.
This new intel, if accurate, offers convincing support for this theory — Apple wouldn’t just be releasing an experimental foldable or a limited edition product that won’t see a refresh for years, it would be a core product with new models coming every single year. That suggests some serious confidence in the tech.
For all the leaks, tips, and rumors we’ve heard, however, it’s important to remember that Apple has never released any official information on a foldable project. It likely won’t say anything until the day the phone is announced, which means everything we think we know so far is uncertain and subject to change.
Google Play is borrowing one of the Nintendo Switch’s most useful little tricks. A new Sidekick tool called Playbacks captures a short clip after something interesting has already happened, sparing players from running a screen recorder throughout an entire game.
Playbacks is part of Google Play Store v53.8 and keeps saved clips on the phone. Google first announced it earlier this month, but the new Play Store update marks its arrival for players. Anyone who has watched a perfect win vanish because the record button came too late already understands the appeal.
Samsung’s scandal over its Game Optimizing Service, or GOS, has returned with a bill attached. South Korea’s Fair Trade Commission has tentatively fined the company 20.1 billion won, or about $15.1 million, over gaming claims made for the Galaxy S21, Galaxy S22, and Tab S8.
The regulator says Samsung promoted the devices as gaming powerhouses without disclosing that GOS placed preset CPU and GPU limits on certain demanding games. Samsung disputes that conclusion, calling GOS a legitimate way to manage heat.
Apple's next cheaper iPhone could get a brand-new processor while keeping its most stubborn display compromise. Digital Chat Station tips the iPhone 18e for a 2027 release with a 2nm A20 chip and a 6.12-inch OLED screen still limited to 60Hz.
The rumored camera setup includes a single 48MP rear camera and a possible 24MP selfie camera. There's new hardware to consider, but buyers hoping Apple would extend that upgrade generosity to smoother scrolling could be disappointed.