AllYouCanTech

Ideal Moment for the Introduction of the iPhone Fold

The most recent speculation suggests that we are less than a year away from the debut of Apple’s inaugural foldable iPhone. Given the recent trends in the foldable market, it appears that the timing for the iPhone Fold’s release is ideal.

## The iPhone Fold launch next year will have robust momentum backing it

Apple’s very first foldable iPhone is anticipated to be unveiled in fall 2026. It will serve as a fresh addition to the flagship iPhone lineup, reminiscent of how the iPhone Air was a completely new model this year.

When the iPhone Fold (or possibly iPhone Ultra) makes its entrance, Apple will undoubtedly be perceived as “late” to the foldable smartphone arena. After all, Samsung introduced its first foldable back in 2019. The iPhone Fold will emerge a full seven years afterward. Nonetheless, all indicators suggest that Apple’s launch timing is exceptionally favorable.

Counterpoint Research recently released a report on the foldable smartphone sector, which is experiencing what could be its first genuine breakout year.

> The US foldable smartphone sector is projected to grow by 68% year-on-year in 2025, as it enters a phase of strong growth following several years of exploration.

The last term, “exploration,” serves as a more optimistic way to describe the recent challenges faced by the market. For the initial years of foldables’ availability, experts anticipated substantial growth, yet consumers appeared relatively unenthusiastic about the offerings. As a result, foldables continued to occupy a niche space. This year, however, the landscape is shifting—and renewed momentum is likely to surge with Apple’s impending entry.

## After years of refinement, foldables are finally excelling

Counterpoint’s report provides an excellent summary of the current foldable momentum:

> “The US foldable market is transitioning from novelty to necessity,” stated Liz Lee, Associate Director at Counterpoint Research. “While Samsung maintains its lead in maturity and ecosystem robustness in 2025, Motorola’s swift growth in the clamshell segment and Google’s AI-focused strategies are transforming the competition. Apple’s eventual entry in 2026 will not only broaden the market but also solidify foldables as a mainstream premium smartphone format.”

What accounts for the sudden surge in foldable popularity? The general consensus is quite straightforward: the products have finally become genuinely impressive. Samsung has even suggested as much. While celebrating strong sales of its newest Galaxy Z Fold7, the company remarked: “Now in our seventh generation, we’ve incorporated consumer feedback year after year and reached a level of experience unattainable on any other device.”

In conclusion: when the iPhone Fold launches next year, some may argue that Apple is tardy to the category, but the market seems to strongly suggest that it’s arriving at just the opportune moment.

Do you concur that Apple’s timing with the iPhone Fold is perfect, or should it have introduced a foldable sooner? Share your thoughts in the comments.

iOS 26 Shortcuts App Brings More Than 25 New Actions: Full Review of Enhancements

# Shortcuts in iOS 26: All That’s New

Upon the release of iOS 26, a multitude of enhancements and additions arrived for the Shortcuts app, featuring more than 25 entirely new actions. The Shortcuts app from Apple has become notably more robust this year, powered by innovative LLM-based actions and automations now accessible on Mac.

In contrast to numerous other app updates, Apple has released a complete list of modifications to Shortcuts, streamlining the process for users to grasp the improvements. Below is an in-depth overview of the fresh Shortcuts actions introduced in iOS 26:

## New Actions in iOS 26

### Freeform
– **Add Files to Board**

### Image Playground
– **Create Image**

### Mail
– **Find Message**

### Measure
– **Launch Measure**

### Messages
– **Find Message**
– **Find Conversation**

### Photos
– **Rename Album**
– **Search Photos**
– **Create New Memory**
– **Filter Library**

### Reminders
– **Show Quick Reminder**

### Screen Time
– **Get App & Website Data**

### Sports
– **Get Upcoming Sports Events**

### Stocks
– **Delete Symbol from Watchlist**
– **Add Symbol to Watchlist**

### Use Model
– **Use Model**: This action enables users to directly engage with Apple Intelligence models or ChatGPT for responses that can be woven into the broader shortcut.

### Visual Intelligence
– **Open Visual Intelligence**

### Voice Memos
– **Find Voice Recording**

### Weather
– **Add Location to List**
– **Remove Locations from List**

### Writing Tools
– **Adjust Tone of Text**
– **Make List from Text**
– **Make Table from Text**
– **Proofread Text**
– **Rewrite Text**
– **Summarize Text**

## Updates to Existing Actions

Numerous existing actions have also seen updates and enhancements:
– **Calculate Expression**: Now capable of evaluating expressions that incorporate units, including real-time currency conversion rates, temperature, distance, and more.
– **Create QR Code**: Now allows for customization of colors and styling.
– **Date**: Now can specify a holiday.
– **Find Contacts**: Now can filter by relationship.
– **Transcribe Audio**: Performance has been enhanced.
– **Show Content**: Now can present scrollable lists of items, such as calendar events and reminders.

For a detailed insight into all the modifications Apple has introduced to Shortcuts in iOS 26, iPadOS 26, and macOS Tahoe, users can consult the complete support document provided by Apple, which includes new glyphs, settings, and comprehensive lists of Mac automation features.

Which new Shortcuts functionalities in iOS 26 have you been liking? Share in the comments.