News

Apple debuts iPhone Air: Pro performance in slim design

Most power-efficient iPhone ever made

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Apple has officially debuted the iPhone Air, its thinnest iPhone ever that delivers the same pro-level performance.

It was launched alongside Apple’s latest iPhones, the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Rather than just a replacement for the “Plus” model in between the base and Pro variants, the iPhone Air is standalone model that marks the start of a new era.

Price wise, it sits right between the base model and the Pro models. But the iPhone Air delivers the same performance expected from such flagship device — or perhaps even better.

Breakthrough design

The phone features a grade 5 titanium design to pave the way for a strong and durable yet lightweight form factor at just 5.6mm thin.

It is also reinforced by Ceramic Shield 2 in front and Ceramic Shield at the back. In front is a 6.5-inch 120Hz Super Retina XDR display with ProMotion, 3,000 nits peak brightness, and Always-On Display capability.

Meanwhile, the plateau at the back is not just a camera bump; it houses some of the major components of the device, also helping the iPhone Air retain its thinness.

Adding to its incredibly thin and light build is the iPhone Air being only eSIM compatible.

Most power-efficient iPhone ever made

Complementing the unique design is the fact that the iPhone Air is power-packed with features. It is powered by high-performance A19 Pro, N1, and C1X chips, making it the most power-efficient iPhone ever made.

The efficient A19 Pro chip with a 6-core CPU and 5-core GPU improves performance and efficiency for everyday tasks. In particular, the GPU has an upgraded architecture to deliver next-level mobile gaming.

The neural accelerators inside the iPhone Air also can also reach up to three times the peak compute of the A18 Pro chip. Apple said that’s MacBook Pro-levels of compute on a handset, making the Air perfect for GPU-intensive workloads.

Moreover, the new Apple-designed N1 wireless networking chip enables Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread. This also improves the performance and reliability of features like Personal Hotspot and Airdrop.

Furthermore, the C1X cellular modem uses 30% less energy but is even faster than the C1 modem found on the iPhone 16 models.

As for its battery life, the iPhone Air promises all-day use. It also comes with Adaptive Power Mode in iOS 26.

iPhone Air cameras

As for its cameras, the iPhone Air likewise has a 48MP Fusion Camera System with 12MP 2x Telephoto integration.

And with a large f/1.6 aperture, the rear camera also excels in challenging conditions, such as low light or at night.

In front is an 18MP Center Stage front camera that is the same across the iPhone 17 series. This front camera also enables ultra-stabilized video at up to 4K HDR.

iPhone Air accessories

Launched alongside the iPhone Air are accessories tailor-made for it, including two new cases.

The first is an ultra-thin translucent iPhone Air Case with MagSafe. The other is an iPhone Air bumper which matches the available colors of the new device.

Furthermore, there is a Crossbody Strap with embedded flexible magnets and stainless steel sliding mechanisms. This comes in 10 different colors.

Lastly, there is an iPhone Air MagSafe Battery that seamlessly attaches to the back of the device. This quickly charges the phone when its battery is low. When used together, users can get up to 40 hours of video playback.

iPhone Air price, availability

The iPhone Air starts at US$ 999 and is available in three storage configurations: 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB. Available colors are Space Black, Cloud White, Light Gold, and Sky Blue.

Pre-orders begin on Friday, September 12 with general availability starting September 19th.

Automotive

Mercedes-Benz celebrates 140th anniversary at the Presidential Car Museum

A generation’s worth of presidential Benz models under one roof

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Last month, Mercedes-Benz Philippines kicked off its 140th -anniversary “Welcome Home” campaign. Designed to celebrate the iconic Chedeng and introduce a new generation to the brand, the campaign attracts old and new customers alike. Now, the brand’s 140th year is also hitting history buffs with a special showcase at the Presidential Car Museum in Quezon City.

Since President Cory Aquino’s term, the official presidential car has been a Benz, offering comfort and protection for the current head of state. It is here where Mercedes-Benz wants to celebrate the legacy of the brand, especially in the annals of Philippine history.

Amid the cars of Presidents Aquino, Ramos, Estrada, and Macapagal-Arroyo, Mercedes-Benz is displaying a replica of the Benz Patent-Motorwagen Replica, which is the world’s first automobile introduced by Karl Benz in 1886. The replica will be on display until December 2026.

Outside the Presidential Car Museum, Mercedes-Benz is running discounts through the end of July. There are also special aftersales services for those who already own a Benz. Finally, the brand will continue to run activations throughout the anniversary, so expect to hear a lot more about the Chedeng throughout the year.

SEE ALSO: Mercedes-Benz holds a Welcome Home campaign to celebrate 140 years

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Samsung releases teaser with Spider-Man: Brand New Day Easter eggs

Spot also teases upcoming Galaxy foldable devices

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Samsung has just premiered a new spot that showcases clips directly from Spider-Man: Brand New Dayjust a few weeks before the movie hits cinemas later this month.

The clip showcases Spider-Man as he fights crime and puts his phone through the wear and tear of superhero life.

In the spot, the Fabricator creates a number of devices for Spider-Man built to stand up to the pace and unpredictability of life behind the mask. This includes what clearly looks like a Galaxy Z Flip phone.

This provides a behind the scenes look into how Peter Parker ultimately landed on a Samsung phone — as fans speculated from the first trailer.

Meanwhile, Ned can also be seen using the Spidey Tracker to try and catch Spider-Man throughout the city on his Samsung phone.

The campaign pretty much formalizes Jacob Batalon — who plays Ned Leeds — as Samsung’s Team Galaxy’s newest ambassador.

The clip ends with the text “A brand new shape for a Brand New Day”, which is also a callback to what the brand has been teasing regarding the future of its Galaxy foldable devices.

Samsung to release latest devices at Galaxy Unpacked

Next week, Samsung is set to launch its latest devices at Galaxy Unpacked 2026.

Ahead of the launch, customers who wish to reserve as early as now can get a US$ 30 credit during pre-order, for a total of up to US$ 1,230 in savings.

Customers can also enter a sweepstakes for a chance to win one of 10 US$ 500 Samsung.com gift cards towards their purchase.

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Apps

iOS 27 public beta gives us our first taste of Siri AI

You can access the beta for free.

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Normally, public betas come and go with nary a peep from anyone but dedicated fans and testers. After all, why care about a beta when the final release is likely just around the corner? This one, however, is special. Today, Apple launched the iOS 27 public beta, and it’s our first taste of the redesigned Siri AI.

Recently, WWDC 2026 unveiled Apple’s latest attempts at entering the AI segment. Whereas previous iterations to incorporate AI failed to make an impact, Siri AI promises to provide users with helpful feedback that’s actually helpful.

Now, in the public beta for iOS 27, users all over can finally access the new assistant. To get to the beta, you need to be a part of the beta program, which you can easily sign up for on beta.apple.com. Once signed up, you can get the update from Software Update in Settings. You’ll see options for a developer beta and a public beta. Choose iOS 27 Public Beta.

At face value, Siri AI offers much of what you’d get from a traditional AI-powered assistant. However, it does slightly differ because it integrates the entire phone. The assistant contextualizes your information (including emails, messages, and photos) to give you the most accurate feedback that you might need.

If that’s not enough, Siri AI also has its own chatbot app. If you’re more used to ChatGPT, the assistant should give you that bit of familiarity.

Now, if you don’t want to go for a beta, Apple is expected to launch iOS 27 in its final form sometime in September.

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