iPhone 18 Pro Launch Date Leaked: Apple to Skip Base Model, Introduce iPhone Ultra Apple fans have been eagerly awaiting the company’s next iPhone lineup, with rumors consistently pointing to a September release. However, recent leaks suggest a significant shift in the company’s strategy. According to multiple reports, the iPhone 18 base model will not be launched this year. Instead, Apple is expected to focus solely on the Pro variants—iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max—as well as a new iPhone Ultra model. The iPhone Ultra, described as Apple’s first foldable smartphone, is rumored to feature a dual-screen design. This innovation would mark a major departure from Apple’s traditional approach, positioning the Ultra as a flagship competitor to Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series. Meanwhile, the base model iPhone 18 is speculated to be delayed until early 2027, with an iPhone 18e variant potentially launching in January 2026. Leaked details from MacRumors indicate two possible launch dates for the Pro models and Ultra. The first scenario suggests a September 9 launch, followed by pre-orders starting September 12 and sales beginning September 18. Alternatively, the devices could debut on September 15, with pre-orders opening September 18 and sales commencing September 25. Both scenarios align with Apple’s historical practice of releasing new iPhones on the first weekday of September. Speculations about the iPhone 18 Pro’s hardware highlight a potential upgrade to the A20 Pro chip, fabricated using 2nm process technology. The device is expected to feature a 6.3-inch LTPO OLED ProMotion display with a 120Hz refresh rate and a Dynamic Island design. The camera setup would include a 48MP triple rear array with variable aperture technology, supporting telephoto and ultra-wide lenses.#apple #samsung #iphone_18_pro #huawei #iphone_ultra
China boycotts top AI conference after ban on papers from US-sanctioned entities China’s largest federation for science and technology professionals announced a boycott of the Conference on Neural Information Processing Systems (NeurIPS), a leading artificial intelligence conference, following a policy change by the California-based foundation that organizes the event. The decision to exclude submissions from entities under U.S. sanctions, including Chinese tech companies like Huawei and SMIC (0981.HK), sparked significant backlash in China, which is engaged in a fierce competition with the United States to advance cutting-edge AI technologies. NeurIPS, a key platform for global researchers to share peer-reviewed work and recruit talent, now faces criticism for its new stance, which aligns with U.S. legal requirements. The Chinese Association for Science and Technology (CAST) stated it would halt funding applications for members wishing to attend NeurIPS and redirect them to domestic or internationally recognized conferences that respect the interests of Chinese academics. CAST also clarified that research papers accepted at NeurIPS would no longer qualify as valid outputs for its funding programs, though they would still be acknowledged for their academic impact if evaluated by Chinese academic societies. This move underscores the growing influence of geopolitical tensions on AI research, as both the U.S. and China leverage state power to shape each other’s technological capabilities. The U.S. has intensified scrutiny of Chinese scientists at American universities, investigating alleged ties to entities in mainland China. Sanctions have been imposed on hundreds of Chinese universities and companies, restricting their access to advanced U.S. technology.#us #china #cast #neurips #huawei
