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Apple’s latest product cycle brings a mix of major hardware changes and smaller software improvements, with the iPhone 18 lineup, iOS 27, and new devices marking a significant period for the company.
The September 9 event introduced the iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable iPhone. The move puts the company into a market where Samsung already holds a seven-year lead. Foldable smartphones currently account for just 2.5% of overall smartphone sales, while devices in the category typically cost USD 2,000 and up.
One of the key changes in iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max is a mechanical variable aperture system. iPhone 18 Pro offers four optical settings: f1.48, f1.8, f2.8 and f4.
Mechanical aperture systems appeared earlier on Samsung, Huawei, Honor and Xiaomi smartphones. Huawei’s Mate 60 Pro introduced a ten-step aperture between f1.4 and f4, while Xiaomi’s 14 Ultra offered stepless aperture control from f1.63 to f4.
Apple’s implementation could give photographers greater control over exposure, particularly when balancing shutter speed and ISO settings.
Apple released iOS 27 on September 14 after announcing the software in June. The update addresses several visual and usability issues associated with iOS 26 and introduces numerous smaller changes across everyday functions.
Apple also improved Siri through its artificial intelligence services. The company previously promised Siri improvements in June 2024, followed by a two-year period with limited progress before a partnership with Google brought Gemini on-device models into the picture.
However, iOS 27 installs 36GB of LLM Apple Foundation Models on compatible devices to support its AI services. Users cannot remove or reduce this installation.
Also Read: Apple Pay Finally Comes to India: What iPhone Users Can Expect From October
iOS 27 also marks a transition for Apple hardware. The operating system drops support for the iPhone XS and XR, while iPhone 11 through iPhone 15 can run the software. Siri AI requires the iPhone 15 Pro or newer.
On the Mac side, macOS 27 drops support for every Intel Macintosh. Apple also ends support for iPads using the A12 Bionic chip, which powered tablets between 2018 and 2020.
The 2019 Mac Pro, which started at USD 5,999 and could reach USD 52,000 fully loaded, also reaches an operating-system limit with this update.
For supported devices, iOS 27 represents a more solid upgrade than iOS 26, while Apple continues refining its software and expanding AI capabilities.
