The acceleration within the AI space has sparked a revolution in the PC segment. We have seen major chipmakers embark on the "AI PC" journey, which involves dedicated client designs that mix Windows applications with dedicated and local AI subsystems, and then we have dedicated boxes for AI, which are made primarily for local acceleration of models and agents. Last year, NVIDIA introduced its DGX Spark PC, the first PC of its kind to tackle LLMs and Agents in what is dubbed to be an "AI Supercomputer". Soon after the launch, other manufacturers started to label their own Mini PCs […]
Apple has officially introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, bringing some of the biggest upgrades to the Pro lineup in years. The new models focus heavily on cameras, performance, battery life, cooling, and AI features.
The biggest camera change is the new 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture. Apple is also introducing a redesigned Dynamic Island, its new A20 Pro chip, a larger vapor chamber, and the next generation of Apple Intelligence features through iOS 27.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be available in black, silver, glacier, and a new burgundy finish.
Pre-orders open on September 12, while sales will begin on September 18.
iPhone 18 Pro Gets a New 48MP Camera With Variable Aperture
Camera improvements are one of the main highlights of the iPhone 18 Pro series.
Apple has added a variable aperture to the 48MP Fusion Main camera for the first time. The system uses six laser-cut blades that can change the aperture depending on the lighting and the type of shot.
This gives users more control over depth of field and exposure. The camera can also automatically select an appropriate aperture, while users who want more control can manually choose from four aperture settings.
Apple says the new sensor and image-processing system can improve low-light photos, preserve more detail in group shots, and produce sharper images.
Developers will also be able to access the aperture system through an API, opening the door for more advanced camera apps.
New Pro Camera Controls Give Users More Manual Options
Apple is also adding a new Pro controls experience to the Camera app.
Users can adjust settings such as aperture, shutter speed, and white balance. A histogram is also available to help check exposure before taking a photo.
The updated Photographic Styles add texture and grain controls, giving photographers more ways to change the look of their images without relying entirely on third-party editing apps.
Video recording gets some useful additions as well. Cinematic effects can now be applied after recording to compatible videos captured at up to 60 frames per second.
Time-lapse recording also supports 4K and Dolby Vision HDR, while the updated Audio Mix system is designed to produce cleaner voices and can separate music more effectively.
Apple Introduces a New Way to Verify Photos
One of the more unusual additions is Apple Reference Image, a feature designed to help users check whether a photo has been changed.
When Reference mode is used, the iPhone captures signed sensor information from the image. Apple says this data can then be processed through Private Cloud Compute to create an unalterable reference image.
The reference version can be viewed next to the normal photo in the Photos app. This gives users a way to compare the two versions and check whether changes were made.
Apple is also preparing APIs so third-party apps across iOS, iPadOS, and macOS can support Reference images.
Metadata and upcoming SynthID support can provide additional clues when identifying AI-generated or AI-edited images.
Dynamic Island Becomes More Useful
Apple has redesigned the Dynamic Island on the new Pro models.
The updated version can display up to three Live Activities at the same time while still supporting Face ID for unlocking the phone, approving purchases, and signing into apps.
It is a relatively small change, but it should make the Dynamic Island more useful for people who regularly track multiple activities.
A20 Pro Is Built for Higher Performance
Powering both phones is Apple’s new A20 Pro chip.
The chip is built on a 2nm process and includes a six-core CPU with integrated Neural Accelerators. Apple says it offers 50 percent more memory bandwidth than the previous A19 Pro.
The seven-core GPU is claimed to be up to 40 percent faster than the A19 Pro, which should help with demanding games, graphics work, and other intensive tasks.
Apple has also redesigned the Neural Engine. The A20 Pro uses two 16-core Neural Engines, giving it 32 cores in total and double the AI processing capability of the previous generation.
Both iPhone 18 Pro models also use Apple’s N1 wireless chip, which brings Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread connectivity.
The phones also feature the new C2 cellular modem system. Apple says it can improve cellular reliability while offering faster uploads than the previous C1X modem with lower power consumption.
New Vapor Chamber Helps Sustain Performance
Apple has made a major change to the thermal design as well.
The A20 Pro uses a package design that places the processor and memory side by side, allowing the chip to connect directly to a larger next-generation vapor chamber.
Apple says the new vapor chamber has three times the surface area of the cooling system used in the iPhone 17 Pro.
This is designed to keep performance levels higher for longer during demanding workloads. Apple claims sustained performance can improve by as much as 40 percent compared with the previous generation.
For gamers and users running heavy apps, this could be more important than a short burst of peak performance.
iPhone 18 Pro Max Gets a Major Battery Boost
Battery life is another area where Apple is promising a noticeable improvement.
The eSIM-only iPhone 18 Pro can deliver up to 36 hours of video playback, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max reaches up to 45 hours.
Apple has also changed the battery design to make better use of the internal space. The eSIM-only models have additional room for a larger battery because they do not need a physical SIM slot.
The iPhone 18 Pro can reach around 50 percent charge in approximately 15 minutes using wired charging, while wireless charging can reach 50 percent in about 30 minutes.
Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro Max can provide around seven hours of video playback after just five minutes of wired charging.
iOS 27 Brings a Smarter Siri
The new Pro phones ship with iOS 27, which adds another major part of Apple’s AI strategy.
Siri AI is rolling out in beta and is designed to understand more personal context and interact more naturally with users.
It can use information from areas such as messages, emails, and photos to help find relevant information. Siri can also understand what is shown on the screen and take actions based on that content.
The Camera app gets a Siri mode that can provide information about objects and scenes in front of the camera.
Apple is also adding more AI-powered image tools, including Spatial Reframing, Extend, and an improved Clean Up feature.
Image Playground can now create more realistic-looking images, while Safari’s Notify Me feature can alert users when information on a website changes, such as a product coming back in stock or a price dropping.
Apple says these AI features use a mix of on-device processing and Private Cloud Compute to keep user information protected.
Four Colors and Up to 2TB Storage
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will be offered in four finishes:
Black
Silver
Glacier
Burgundy
Storage options start at 256GB and go up to 2TB, with 512GB and 1TB options available in between.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299 in the U.S.
Apple is also offering monthly payment options and trade-in deals. Customers trading in eligible older iPhones can receive credit toward the new models, with some carrier promotions offering up to $1,200 in credits.
New Cases and Straps Join the iPhone 18 Pro
Apple is launching several new accessories alongside the phones.
The lineup includes Silicone Cases, TechWoven Cases, Clear Cases, FineWoven Wallets, Crossbody Straps, and a new Wrist Strap.
The Wrist Strap is designed to make carrying the iPhone or compatible AirPods easier without keeping the device in a pocket or bag. It will be offered in six colors.
The TechWoven Case will cost $59 in the U.S., while the Clear and Silicone Cases will each start at $49. The FineWoven Wallet is priced at $59.
iPhone 18 Pro Uses More Recycled Materials
Apple says the new Pro models contain 40 percent recycled content overall.
The battery uses 100 percent recycled cobalt, while the enclosure contains 85 percent recycled aluminum. Apple also says 50 percent renewable energy is used across the supply chain during manufacturing.
The packaging remains fiber-based and can be recycled at home.
iPhone 18 Pro Price and Release Date
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will open for pre-orders on September 12 at 5 a.m. PT, with retail availability starting September 18 in more than 65 countries and regions.
A wider release in another group of countries and regions will follow on September 25.
iOS 27 will become available as a free update on September 14 for supported iPhones.
Apple Intelligence will also arrive with iOS 27 on September 14, although individual features will depend on language, region, and device support. Siri AI will initially launch as a beta in English, with additional languages planned for October.
Overall, the iPhone 18 Pro lineup is more than a routine yearly refresh. Apple has put significant attention into the camera system, sustained performance, battery capacity, cooling, and AI. The variable-aperture camera and improved thermal system are particularly interesting upgrades, while the A20 Pro gives the new phones a stronger foundation for demanding apps and on-device AI.
Apple has finally stepped into the foldable phone market with the new iPhone Duo, marking the company’s first iPhone with a folding display. The phone brings a large inner screen, a smaller cover display, Apple’s latest A20 Pro chip, and a completely redesigned version of iOS built for its folding design.
After years of rumors around a foldable iPhone, Apple has now made it official. Interestingly, many of the leaked details turned out to be accurate, although the rumored names were clearly off.
iPhone Duo Has Two ProMotion Displays
The iPhone Duo uses a 7.6-inch folding display on the inside and a 5.4-inch screen on the outside. Both panels support Apple’s ProMotion technology and can reach up to 3,000 nits of peak brightness.
Apple has also worked on the visible crease. A custom nano-texture finish is designed to make the folding area look flatter and less noticeable during normal use.
The inner display also uses a scratch-resistant coating and sits over a titanium plate. For the outer design, Apple has used Ceramic Shield 2 on the front and Ceramic Shield on the back.
The phone is rated IP68 for protection against dust and water.
Titanium Hinge and Touch ID Return
One of the more interesting parts of the iPhone Duo is its titanium hinge. Apple has built a magnet system into the hinge that helps the phone snap shut when folded.
Instead of Face ID, Apple has placed Touch ID in the side button, which makes sense for a foldable design. The company also says users can unlock the phone through an Apple Watch.
The iPhone Duo comes in two finishes: Star White and Night Sky.
A20 Pro Brings More Performance
Inside the iPhone Duo is Apple’s new A20 Pro chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The chip is manufactured using a 2nm process and features a 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU and dual 16-core NPU.
Apple says the A20 Pro offers up to a 20% faster CPU and up to 40% faster GPU compared with the previous A19 Pro. Its Neural Engine also delivers twice the compute power, while unified memory bandwidth has increased by 50%.
That gives the iPhone Duo flagship-level hardware rather than making it a foldable that simply focuses on its screen.
iPhone Duo Gets a Dual 48MP Camera Setup
Apple has equipped the iPhone Duo with a 48MP Fusion main camera and a 48MP ultrawide camera.
The main camera includes an optical-quality 2x telephoto mode, while the ultrawide camera can also be used for macro photography.
For selfies and video calls, there is a 12MP Center Stage camera on the cover display. Apple has also placed a selfie camera underneath the inner folding screen.
Apple has not yet provided detailed hardware information about that under-display camera.
Battery Life Looks Promising
The iPhone Duo supports Apple’s C2 modem, including mmWave 5G in the US. Its N1 chip adds support for Bluetooth 6 and Wi-Fi 7.
Apple claims up to 31 hours of video playback when using the inner screen and up to 44 hours when using the outer display. With both screens being used equally, Apple estimates up to 24 hours of use.
Charging is also fairly quick. Wired charging can take the battery to 50% in around 20 minutes, while MagSafe or Qi2 wireless charging can reach 50% in about 30 minutes.
The iPhone Duo is also eSIM-only worldwide.
iOS 27 Has Been Reworked for the Foldable
The hardware is only part of Apple’s foldable approach. iOS 27 has been specially adjusted for the iPhone Duo.
The interface can react to the phone’s position as it folds, turns or flips. Apple has also moved several controls toward the sides of the display to leave more vertical space for apps and other content.
When unfolded, the home screen can show two pages at the same time.
Apple has redesigned the status bar as well. Important information such as Wi-Fi, cellular signal and battery status is placed inside a flexible circular interface in the corner.
The Dynamic Island has also been redesigned for the sides of the displays and can expand to show alerts and Live Activities.
The large inner screen supports Split View, allowing two apps to run side by side. Users can also save frequently used app combinations for quicker access.
iPhone Duo Price and Release Date
The iPhone Duo is not going to be a cheap entry into Apple’s foldable lineup.
The 256GB model starts at $1,999. The 512GB version costs $2,199, while the 1TB model is priced at $2,599. The top-end 2TB version reaches $3,199.
Pre-orders will open on October 16, with the iPhone Duo officially reaching stores on October 23.
Apple Finally Has a Foldable iPhone
The iPhone Duo is a major change for Apple’s smartphone lineup. Rather than simply folding an existing iPhone design, Apple has built a new interface around the two-screen experience and paired it with its latest A20 Pro hardware.
The biggest question now is whether Apple’s polished software experience and premium hardware will be enough to justify a starting price of nearly $2,000. At that price, the iPhone Duo is clearly aimed at buyers who want Apple’s foldable experience without making major compromises on performance or features.
MSI has begun shipping the XpertStation WS300, a deskside AI system built on NVIDIA’s DGX Station architecture and powered by the new Grace Blackwell Ultra Desktop Superchip.
The WS300 is aimed at organisations building and deploying large AI models locally rather than relying on cloud computing. The system pairs NVIDIA’s GB300 Grace Blackwell Ultra chip with up to 748GB of memory, allowing larger foundation models to remain resident without constant CPU‑GPU data movement. The system can even be paired with a second WS300 via NVIDIA’s ConnectX‑8 SuperNICs, allowing the two units to operate as a clustered AI workstation.
The WS300 is designed for enterprise AI development, fine‑tuning and multimodal inference, which is becoming more important now as many companies are looking to move towards local infrastructure and reduce reliance on cloud providers.
While the WS300 is not a consumer product, it marks another step in the rollout of Grace Blackwell hardware beyond data centres. The system is now available through ASI, D&H and Newegg for enterprise customers.
KitGuru Says: Nvidia has made a fortune selling AI hardware to datacentres. Now, the market is expanding to give companies more direct control over the hardware, reducing the need to constantly rely on cloud computing providers, and paving the way for higher security for the enterprises that need it.
If you think NVIDIA's margins are obscene, you haven't seen anything yet, quite literally. After all, Precigenitics, a biotech company that focuses on live-cell drug discovery, has just inked a $2.3 million deal at a potential margin of over 95 percent! You can fabricate microfluidic environment chips for around $30 to over $500, but Precigenetics has just sold 11 of these chips at $200,000 each For the benefit of those who might not be aware, instead of analyzing traditional, static cellular snapshots, or destroying cells during testing, Precigenetics uses a photonic-AI platform - called Cell Cinema - to continuously image […]
Qualcomm, one of the largest suppliers of chips for consumer electronics, ranging from smartphones and laptops, to standalone VR headsets and more, is set to raise the prices of its processors in yet another blow to the consumer electronics market.
According to a new report from Bloomberg, Qualcomm is set to raise its chip prices by “double digit” percentages. Unfortunately for Valve, the Steam Frame standalone VR device is built around a Qualcomm chip.
It is not just Valve that would be impacted by a significant increase in Qualcomm chip prices. Qualcomm chips are used in all kinds of devices, from ARM-based laptops to smartphones, TVs, and more, so such a move would impact most major tech companies. Aside from increased prices, there is also likely going to be a chip shortage in the coming year too, as most companies rely on TSMC for manufacturing their processors, and TSMC can't keep up with the increasing demand from customers like Apple, Qualcomm, Nvidia and others. The end result will be less chip supply for consumer electronics, as well as increased prices.
The good news for Steam Frame buyers is that Valve already has units produced and ready to go, which won't be impacted by any component cost increases. However, future supply could be impacted, so if you don't get one during the first wave, you could be left paying more later. The same goes for the Steam Machine if RAM and SSD prices continue to climb.
KitGuru Says: The Steam Machine and Steam Frame were both incredibly promising looking products when they were announced last year. Unfortunately, the hardware market has continued to get worse since then.
Apple has tossed its heretofore predictable M-series chip launch cadence into the air, adding a hefty dose of unpredictability into the proverbial mix. Now, however, the legendary tipster Mark Gurman is out with yet another scoop, disclosing an early 2027 launch window for the M6 iPad Pro and a redesigned Apple Pencil. Apple's early 2027 launch window is already becoming crowded with a growing array of products We reported recently that Apple has significantly revamped its silicon-related plans, settling on the launch of the M5 Ultra and the base M6 later this year, and then jumping straight to the base M7, […]
NVIDIA has announced RTX Spark, its brand-new PC platform, designed in collaboration with Microsoft, as it starts a new chapter of its client brand. NVIDIA RTX Spark May Look Like The Standard AI SoC Affair For PCs, But It's Much Bigger Than That Today at GTC Taipei 2026, a conference hosted by NVIDIA and presented by CEO Jensen Huang, the company unveiled its brand new chip for the PC segment, which they are calling RTX Spark. According to NVIDIA, the RTX Spark reinvents the PC. This project was initiated three years ago with Microsoft, Arm, MediaTek, and other ecosystem partners. […]
Huawei's newest AI chip, the Ascend 950PR, might not deliver strong compute performance relative to NVIDIA for domestic hyperscalers, but it offers a major upgrade with CUDA compatibility. Huawei's Ascend 950PR Sees Massive Interest, Mainly With CUDA-Like Programming Brought In With CANN Next The Chinese computing industry has been trying to challenge NVIDIA's market dominance, and while the focus has been on upgrading offerings in terms of architecture and onboard features, it hasn't worked out to a large extent. Reports suggest that Chinese hyperscalers remain strongly inclined toward NVIDIA's hardware, and a key reason isn't just the compute gap; CUDA […]
The Trump administration is exploring options to address AI chip exports, and initial reports suggest the proposed regulations are far more aggressive than the industry anticipated. The US Is Planning New AI Chip Export Regulations, By Looking at Compute Power Being Shipped Out The debate around AI chip exports has emerged several times since chip manufacturers like NVIDIA and AMD achieved significant compute breakthroughs. This matter was also under intense focus by the Biden administration, which introduced the "AI Diffusion" act that addresses AI chip exports by categorizing countries into different levels, each with its own caveats. The Diffusion Act […]
The debate over the future of Taiwan's chip industry has resurfaced, but for those who haven't noticed, fabless manufacturers have already begun preparing for the worst. Taiwan's Chip Production Shift Is Driven By the Worries of Big Tech CEOs Amid Their Dependency On the Region We have extensively discussed the topic of US-Taiwan and the grand shift of supply chains from the East to the West, but the NYT's latest report has revealed aspects that indicate the geopolitical constraints on Taiwan's chip industry are being taken much more seriously. But one of the more important events to spot in the […]
ASML has reportedly achieved a critical breakthrough in its EUV lithography technology, boosting the power of its light source to 1000W.This leap from the current 600W standard is projected to increase per-machine chip output by 50% by the end of the decade, enabling foundries to process approximately 330 wafers per hour, up from the 220-wafer limit of today's systems.
Generating EUV light remains one of the most complex engineering feats in modern manufacturing. In ASML's laser-produced plasma (LPP) system, microscopic droplets of molten tin are fired through a vacuum and struck by a CO₂ laser. According to Reuters, to achieve the 1,000W threshold, ASML implemented two significant architectural changes: droplet acceleration, which enables the system to fire roughly 100,000 droplets per second (twice the current rate), and two-pulse laser shaping, which uses two smaller laser bursts instead of the single pulse currently in use.
ASML's roadmap suggests this is just the beginning, with internal targets already set for 1500W and, eventually, 2000W. Assuming the same ratio, that would triple the current production rate.
By scaling the power of the 13.5 nm light beam, ASML aims to directly lower the cost-per-chip for advanced AI and logic processors while extending the economic viability of the sub-2 nm era.
KitGuru says: The “photon bottleneck” has long been the primary limiter for EUV economics. By hitting the 1000W mark, ASML is effectively telling the world that it can keep Moore's Law alive through raw power scaling. For companies like TSMC, a 50% increase in wafer production without expanding their footprint is certainly welcome news.
Well, it appears that the chip startup Taalas has found a solution to LLM response latency and performance by creating dedicated hardware that 'hardwires' AI models. Taalas Manages to Achieve 10x Higher TPS With Meta's Llama 8B LLM, That Too With 20x Lower Production Costs When you look at today's world of AI compute, latency is emerging as a massive constraint for modern-day compute providers, mainly because, in an agentic environment, the primary moat lies in token-per-second (TPS) figures and how quickly you can get a task done. One solution the industry sees is integrating SRAM into their offerings, and […]
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