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Apple Reportedly Taps Samsung Display for First Foldable iPhone Screens

Screen mass production is supposed to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, so the foldable iPhone can go on sale in 2026.

As we saw earlier this year, Samsung Display knows folds. And apparently, that innovation has led them to a major win — producing crease-free displays for the iPhone’s first foldable cellphone in 2026.

Samsung Display (SDC), which is an entirely separate company from Samsung itself that produces screens for many other companies, will reportedly begin mass production of its flexible folding screens later this year in time for Apple’s foldable iPhone launch in summer 2026, as reported by Korea JoongAng Daily.

Rumors that Apple will launch its first folding iPhone, possibly called the iPhone Flip, in 2026 are growing stronger, but Tuesday’s report seems to indicate that Apple will not be producing its crease-free screens in-house. Industry insider Ming-Chi Kuo says the move could mean Apple trusts SDC to «ensure stable mass production of the foldable iPhone in 2026.»

In a phone market increasingly populated with foldables, Apple has taken its time to do it right (and they’d better). And why not deploy a company like Samsung Display, which boasts innovations such as a double-folding display and even stretchable screens? 

Technologies

Represent Sauron With This Incredible Special Edition Drop TKL Mechanical Keyboard at 35% Off

Put the great evil eye on your desk with this beautiful Lord of the Rings themed keyboard for $130.

If you’re looking for a new keyboard, but want to get something a little bit special, then maybe a special edition would help. There are lots of options out there, but there’s only a handful that’ll let you show off your love for The Lord of the Rings.

Amazon has a deal on the Drop + The Lord of the Rings Black Speech TKL mechanical keyboard right now that knocks it down to $130. That’s a 35% discount, and it’s a great price for a stunning keyboard that most LOTR fans will adore.

This gorgeous keyboard has all the normal symbols in tiny font next to the amazing Black Speech spoken by Sauron and his collective of Uruk-Hai and other powerful allies.

The TKL keyboard fits better on smaller desks, and it’s got an LED backlight for a really menacing feel. It comes in a sturdy aluminum case, Holy Panda X mechanical switches for an incredible feel and sound and the whole package just looks amazing.

Hey, did you know? CNET Deals texts are free, easy and save you money.

All of this means that this is easily one of the best keyboard deals going on right now. The quality is solid, it looks fantastic and the discount is great.

Why this deal matters

Getting your hands on a nice keyboard can cost a lot of money, especially if you’re looking at a special edition. The Lord of the Rings is a timeless classic, and new fans are constantly finding it, which makes this a cool keyboard for any age. With this discount, it’s a no-brainer.

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Technologies

IPhone 16E vs. iPhone 15 Pro: Affordable Alternatives to the iPhone 16

For those who want an iPhone cheaper than the iPhone 16, consider one of these two phones.

The iPhone 16 is an excellent handset for Apple aficionados, but $799 can be pretty pricey for a lot of people. But there are a couple of good options that are both cheaper and have Apple Intelligence: the iPhone 16E and the iPhone 15 Pro. Both have 6.1-inch displays, but the Pro has a few more perks. The 16E starts at $599, but Apple no longer sells the 15 Pro. However, you can snag a used version of the 15 Pro for anywhere between $538 and $684 or get a refurbished one from Apple for $759. On top of that, both phones will get iOS 26 when it’s available this fall. This guide will help you understand which one is worth it for you. However, we should add that July is typically a bad time to buy a new iPhone, as there will likely be a new model in September, and older models might get an additional price drop. 

One of the biggest selling points of the iPhone 16E is that it offers a decent bang for the buck. It is Apple’s most affordable iPhone, but it still has many of the same features as the regular iPhone 16, such as the latest A18 chip and Apple Intelligence, which introduces generative emoji, smarter notifications and, eventually, an improved Siri. 

Yet, it might be worth looking at the company’s older iPhones, such as the iPhone 15 Pro. A new iPhone 15 Pro isn’t as cheap as the iPhone 16E, but it has much better features, such as a nicer camera, a higher-resolution screen, a titanium body and better charging capabilities. You can get the 15 Pro at a lower price than if you buy it used or refurbished. 

How do these phones compare? We’ve outlined a few features for you to find out which one is the best iPhone for you.

Display 

The iPhone 16E and the iPhone 15 Pro feature the same 6.1-inch screen size at a similar display resolution, but there are still a few differences. The iPhone 16E runs at a 60Hz refresh rate — similar to all of the non-Pro iPhone models — and it can reach a 1,200-nit peak brightness. It also has a similar display notch to the iPhone 14, and doesn’t support the Dynamic Island that serves up contextual information on other iPhone 15 and 16 models. It’s functional and should work fine whether you’re using the phone indoors or outdoors, but the Pro’s screen has several additional perks.

The iPhone 15 Pro’s display can run at a variable refresh rate between 10Hz and 120Hz, changing based on what activity you’re doing. You can expect to see the smoother 120Hz refresh rate when scrolling through websites, playing games and other applications that benefit from smoother animations. According to Apple, it will hit the lower end of that range to conserve battery life when you aren’t using the phone. The display also hits a higher 2,000 nits of peak brightness (outdoors) and includes the Dynamic Island that shows information like the music player or countdowns around the space of the front-facing camera’s display cutout. 

Processor

The iPhone 15 Pro has the A17 Pro chip, which is a six-core CPU with two performance and four efficiency cores that makes it great for graphics and gaming. The iPhone 16E, on the other hand, ships with the latest A18 chip, which gives it a touch more power and speed. In practice, the A17 Pro is still a very capable chip that will serve you well for years to come. The A18 chip, however, will likely receive software and new feature updates for a slightly longer period of time. Both processors are capable of running Apple Intelligence and more advanced iPhone games like Resident Evil 4 Remake and Death Stranding.

Apple Intelligence

One of the iPhone 16E’s biggest highlights is that it supports Apple Intelligence, which was previously only available in Apple’s high-end offerings like the iPhone 15 Pro and the iPhone 16. Apple Intelligence offers plenty of benefits, such as smart writing tools, a Clean Up tool that removes unwanted elements from photos and a potentially smarter Siri in a future update. The iPhone 15 Pro, as mentioned, has had this from the start, so the two are fairly equal in this department.

Camera

The biggest visual difference between the iPhone 16E and the iPhone 15 Pro is that the latter has three cameras instead of one. The iPhone 15 Pro has a 48-megapixel wide lens, a 12-megapixel ultrawide lens and a 12-megapixel telephoto lens with 3x optical zoom. It also has a large 48-megapixel sensor that helps immensely in low light. The iPhone 16E, on the other hand, only has a single 48-megapixel rear camera. It has to rely on sensor-cropping for improved zoomed-in shots. Both have 12-megapixel front-facing cameras. 

Charging

Another downside to the iPhone 16E is that it lacks support for MagSafe wireless charging and is only compatible with Qi charging capped at 7.5 watts. The iPhone 15 Pro, on the other hand, supports 15-watt MagSafe charging. Not only can it wireless charge at twice the speed, it also supports a whole range of magnetic accessories that the iPhone 16E won’t be able to use unless it has a third-party MagSafe-compatible case. 

Both phones use USB-C for wired charging, with Apple citing that both can recharge their battery to 50% in 30 minutes when connected to a 20-watt adapter. In CNET’s review testing for the iPhone 16E and iPhone 15 Pro, both phones tested slightly better than this. The iPhone 16E recharged from 0% to 59% in 30 minutes, and the 15 Pro recharged from 0% to 62% after being updated to iOS 17.0.3.

Pricing (and a note on buying refurbished)

Obviously, the iPhone 16E offers a lower price as it retails for just $599. Apple, however, is now officially selling a refurbished version of the 15 Pro for just $759, which is cheaper than the $799 iPhone 16. Sure, that’s more expensive than the 16E, but the Pro’s extra features might be worth a higher price for you. Additionally, while buying phones in a secondary market has its issues (the phone might not always be in great shape), Apple’s official refurbished program has an excellent reputation that is akin to buying the product new. 

Check out the following chart to see how the iPhone 16E and the iPhone 15 Pro stack up in other aspects.

Apple iPhone 16E vs. Apple iPhone 15 Pro

Apple iPhone 16E Apple iPhone 15 Pro
Display size, resolution 6.1-inch OLED display; 2,532×1,170 pixels; 60Hz refresh rate 6.1-inch OLED; 2,556×1,179 pixels; 120Hz adaptive
Pixel density 460 ppi 460 ppi
Dimensions (inches) 5.78 x 2.82 x 0.31 in. 5.77 x 2.78 x 0.32 in
Dimensions (millimeters) 146.7 x 71.5 x 7.8 mm 146.6 x 70.6 x 8.25 mm
Weight (ounces, grams) 167g (5.88 oz.) 187g (6.6 oz)
Mobile software iOS 18 iOS 17
Camera 48-megapixel (wide) 48-megapixel (wide), 12-megapixel (ultrawide), 12-megapixel (3x telephoto)
Front-facing camera 12-megapixel 12-megapixel
Video capture 4K 4K
Processor Apple A18 A17 Pro
RAM/Storage RAM unknown + 128GB, 256GB, 512GB 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB
Expandable storage None None
Battery/Charger Up to 26 hours video playback, 21 hours streamed video playback, 90 hours of audio playback. 20W wired charging, 7.5W Qi wireless charging Undisclosed; Apple claims up to 23 hours of video playback (20 hours streamed)
Fingerprint sensor None, Face ID None (Face ID)
Connector USB-C USB-C (USB 3.0)
Headphone jack None None
Special features Action button, Apple C1 5G modem, Apple Intelligence, Ceramic Shield, Emergency SOS, satellite connectivity, IP68 resistance 5G (mmw/Sub6), Action Button, Always-On display, IP68 rating, MagSafe, Dynamic Island, 5x optical zoom (120mm equivalent),satellite connectivity, eSIM, Thread networking technology
Price off-contract (USD) $599 (128GB) $999 (128GB, $1,099 (256GB), $1,299 (512GB), $1,499 (1TB)
Price (GBP) £599 (128GB) £999 (128GB), £1,099 (256GB), £1,299 (512GB), £1,499 (1TB)
Price (AUD) AU$999 (128GB) AU$1,849 (128GB), AU$2,049 (256GB), AU$2,399 (512GB), AU$2,749 (1TB)

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Technologies

The Apple Watch Series 10 Is Hands-Down My Favorite Smartwatch, and It’s 24% Off Right Now

This sleek smartwatch is a CNET Editors’ Choice Award winner — and I’ll never go anywhere without it.

I’ve tested dozens of smartwatches over the years, and whenever I’m done with a review, I like to go bare-wristed for a few days to give myself a break. But after wrapping up my review of the Apple Watch Series 10, I noticed something totally unexpected: For the first time ever, I didn’t want to take the device off.

I’ve always been on the lookout for a hybrid watch that strikes the right balance between a traditional wristwatch and a smartwatch. Plenty of wearables over the years have promised just that, like the Withings Scanwatch range. The Series 10, which tops our list of the best smartwatches for 2025 and is a CNET Editors’ Choice Award winner, strikes the ideal balance for me because it doesn’t compromise on connectivity, fitness tracking features or the overall look. 

That’s because of the LTPO 3 technology that lets the screen refresh at 1Hz and gives the Series 10 a ticking second hand on a few watch faces, even when the display isn’t actively being used. It makes Apple’s device feel like a regular watch when I’m not actively using it, which is different from any other smartwatch I’ve tested. 

I like being able to change up the look by switching between the Reflections watch face, with its sweeping «analog» second hand, and Activity Digital, with its digital seconds counter. I wish there were more watch faces that supported this ticking second hand. There is Flux, but I’ve found myself siding with Redditors who think it’s kind of goofy. (If you’ve found a color combination that makes it feel less comical, let me know!)

The ticking second hand isn’t just an aesthetic choice, or for the times when I’m anxiously checking to make sure I’m not too early for my next meeting. It’s also practical for folks in different professions, like health care workers who need to have a second hand even after the display times out.

SMARTWATCH DEALS OF THE WEEK

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More than the ticking second hand, it’s the display itself

I was skeptical that the Series 10’s wide-angle OLED display would make that much difference to the viewing experience. Apple says it’s up to 40% brighter than earlier watch displays when you’re looking at it off-axis. So of course I had to compare it to every other Apple Watch in my review cabinet, including the Series 9. 

When using my eyes alone I’m not able to quantify how much brighter it appears as a percentage, there’s no question the Series 10 is easier to see and looks brighter than other Apple Watch models with the same watch face. 

The Series 10 doesn’t have the same battery life or rugged construction, but I miss its display when I have to switch to the $799 Apple Watch Ultra 2. 

Apple Watch Series 10 specs

  • Case sizes: 42mm, 46mm
  • Battery life: Up to 18 hours
  • Screen: LTPO3 OLED Always-On Retina display
  • Refresh rate: 1Hz
  • Brightness: Up to 2,000 nits
  • Water resistance: Up to 50m

Why I never want to take it off 

It’s not just the display that’s made it hard for me to remove the Series 10 from my wrist. There’s almost every health and fitness tracking feature I could want, from a range of cycling tools to sleep apnea notifications, which is part of the reason this watch tops our list of the best smartwatches for 2025.

Then there’s WatchOS 11, which brings helpful safety tools like Check In to my wrist, so I no longer have to manually send the «I’m home!» message to friends and family. If only it worked with recipients who don’t use iMessage: I truly hope Apple will add compatibility for RCS messaging for this indispensable safety tool, just like FaceTime works on Android through a web link.

I now understand what people mean when they say they feel naked when they leave their house without their phones. Except for me, it’s a watch.

The Apple Watch Series 10 with cellular connectivity is normally listed at $499, but you can get one for as much as $119 off right now, so it’s a great time to snatch one up for yourself or to give as a gift. Prices vary quite a bit depending on case size, finish and band type, so be sure to click around to see all your options, and double-check the price of your selected configuration before finalizing your purchase. If you’re looking for more gift ideas, don’t miss our favorite tech gifts under $100. 

Impulse Buys Under $25 on Amazon That Make Surprisingly Great Gifts

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