What we expect from the upcoming Apple launch | TechCrunch

Apple is preparing for a highly anticipated product launch event, marked by a significant leadership transition as John Ternus takes over the chief executive role from Tim Cook.

The center of attention is the expected debut of the company's first foldable smartphone, entering a market segment established by competitors several years ago. Early indications suggest the premium device will command a high price point while featuring an expansive display that folds down into a pocket-sized form factor. To achieve this design, engineers have reportedly made compromises, such as substituting Face ID with a side-mounted fingerprint sensor and omitting a dedicated telephoto camera lens in favor of a standard dual-camera array.

Beyond the foldable flagship, the event is expected to showcase updates to the standard smartphone lineup with early releases of the premium iPhone 18 models. Apple is also projected to refresh its smart home ecosystem with a new HomePod speaker powered by an upgraded virtual assistant. Additionally, findings within recent software builds suggest the development of next-generation wireless earbuds equipped with low-resolution camera sensors. These integrated cameras are intended to capture real-world visual data to assist the user through voice commands, reflecting a broader push into visual artificial intelligence while attempting to navigate consumer privacy concerns.