Week 463 was posted by Charanjit Chana on 2026-09-09.
So, how did I do? I didn't ask for much in my wish list post last week. Just for the iPhone mini to return, a smaller Dynamic Island and cheaper phones.
That last one is unrealistic given the current RAM pricing crisis we're in the middle of, but had they kept the prices stayed the same, I'd have called success.
Apple iPhone 18 Pro & 18 Pro Max
Apple's flagship iPhones were up first. They continue to be a photographer's best friend.
Siri AI
Lots of promises have been made this year, but grounded in reality. I'm sure intents will take time to come through, but it's what Siri should have been years ago.
New thermal design
Just a year on after the introduction of the vapour chamber, there's already been an update that introduces 3 times the surface area for heat dissipation. Paired with graphite and copper layers it proves to help keep the iPhone cooler. The iPhone 18 Pro now achieves 17 Pro MAX battery life. 45 hours on the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Both amazing headline figures but the ability to charge for 5 minutes and gain 6 hours of video playback time is something to shout about!
Variable Aperture
The main camera on the iPhone now features a variable aperture. It adapts based on available light to help capture the right amount of light for the situation.
Pro Controls gives you more, well, control than ever before in the default Camera app. Not just for photos either, you have more control when shooting videos too.
Photographic styles get an upgrade, they're available on my iPhone 14 Pro but they get baked into the photo so I never use them. The iPhone 15 introduced a better version that was no longer baked in and now we get texture and grain controls. I use these sometimes when editing my DSLR photos so happy to see them. Apple Reference Image will let you verify photos for edits. A digital negative is one way of looking at it.
There's a smaller Dynamic Island which means that there's more space for secondary items and even for a third item.
iPhone 18 & 18 Max
Normally the phone most people should buy. There isn't one this year!
iPhone Pro Duo
Looks great unfolded and the animations are stunning. The consistent screen ratios are welcome but I can't get on board with the odd folded shape. The way it's been designed for multiple apps, it looks a bit like CarpPlay to me.
Apple Pencil support is interesting. I assume for the unfolded screen only.
Software wise, being able to pair apps looks very useful and how it adapts to folds and orientations is pretty cool.
Kids Cue is a clever feature for the outer display when taking photos. Getting a kid to look at the right place is always the biggest challenge of family photography. Shame it's limited to 2 lenses, although it's not a "Pro" phone.
Crease? What Crease?!
The nano-texture finish makes the crease disappear. I've not really used an Android foldable but I'm sure you've seen the durability tests before. I'll leave it there.
AirPods 5
The new AirPods have better ANC and the same Live Translation feature of the AirPods Pros 2 & 3. There's a volume swipe control available as an option too.
Apple Watch & Ultra Watch Ultra 4
Better sensors that can check readings 60x more than before and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 can stretch to 2 days. I think real world usage will mean you can get 3 days in between charges. Finally.
There's a suite of audio features like Live Rewind and Live Recap. All very cool, but I bet turning them off will extend battery life by a significant amount.
The white ceramic finish for the Apple Watch 12 is beautiful and I'm glad it's back. I personally think the black Apple Watch Ultra models are overrated. I'm glad I bought the natural titanium one and would never buy a dark one again.
That's my quick look at the event, what stood out to you? Get what you were wishing or hoping for?
Tags: apple, apple watch, apple watch ultra, iphone