Mobile Mayhem: Apple’s iPhone Air, Samsung’s Tri-Fold Leak, TikTok’s Shakeup & More

Key Facts:

Apple: Apple broadened its latest iPhone rollout (iPhone 17 series and new iPhone Air) to more markets on Sept 26, and even reopened its flagship Ginza store in Tokyo to showcase them ^[1] ^[2]. Kaiann Drance, Apple’s VP of iPhone Marketing, said “iPhone 17 is a big upgrade with powerful features…our best front camera yet” ^[3]. The company also acknowledged an iOS 26 bug affecting new “Apple Intelligence” AI tools on iPhone 17, promising a fix via an upcoming iOS 26.0.1 update ^[4] ^[5].
Samsung: Samsung launched an expanded Galaxy line-up in Australia on Sept 26, including the new Galaxy Tab S11 series tablets and the midrange Galaxy S25 FE phone ^[6]. (For example, the premium Tab S11 Ultra is shown below.) Samsung Australia’s mobile chief Eric Chou said these devices “furthers our commitment to democratise AI to empower Australians” ^[7]. Leaks also surfaced: official-looking animations hint at Samsung’s rumored tri-fold smartphone (codenamed “Galaxy G Fold”) with a gigantic interior display, multi-window DeX support, and even a 100× digital-zoom periscope lens ^[8] ^[9]. Code leaks reveal Samsung’s upcoming One UI 8.5 (Android 16) may add pro camera tools like LUT color filters for log video and 3D photo/video capture ^[10] ^[11]. Meanwhile, rumors suggest next year’s Galaxy S26 lineup may drop the base model, with the “S26 Pro” as the new entry device – likely with only modest spec bumps (e.g. unchanged main camera, 1080p display) according to one leak ^[12] ^[13].
Chinese OEMs: At Xiaomi’s Sept 25 launch, CEO Lei Jun boldly claimed the new Xiaomi 17 series “has surpassed the iPhone 17 series in many areas” ^[14]. Industry analysts agree Xiaomi is moving upmarket; Canalys analyst Chiew Le Xuan calls the 17 Pro Xiaomi’s “boldest attempt yet to position its flagship directly against Apple” ^[15]. Xiaomi also confirmed it’s pursuing its own chips – VP Xu Fei said the company will invest about 50 billion yuan (≈$7 billion) over 10 years in in-house processors ^[16], though it will continue using Qualcomm/MediaTek chips for now. Other Chinese brands are active too: OnePlus announced that the upcoming OnePlus 15 will be the first phone to use Qualcomm’s new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chip ^[17]. Vivo leaks indicate its new V60e (a rebrand of the V60 Lite) will pack a 200 MP main camera, 6500 mAh battery and IP68/69 ratings ^[18]. Subsidiaries like iQOO (by Vivo) are also busy – leaked specs for the iQOO 15 promise a 2K 144 Hz display, Vivo’s in-house Q3 chip, and a 7000 mAh battery with 100 W wireless charging ^[19] ^[20]. OPPO, Honor, Realme and others are similarly pushing new models (e.g. OPPO’s F31 5G launching Sept 27 in India ^[21]).
Software & OS: Google’s September Android security patch fixed a whopping 111 vulnerabilities (including two critical flaws) ^[22]. In contrast, Apple’s iOS 26 update had a hiccup: some iPhone 17 users found their new on-device AI tools (“Apple Intelligence”) wouldn’t download. Apple says support is aware and will address it in a follow-up iOS release ^[23] ^[24]. Leaked beta code for Samsung’s Android 16 (One UI 8.5) suggests new camera software features: users will finally get built-in color-grading LUTs for HDR “Log” video ^[25], plus a 3D capture mode for photos/videos in the stock Camera app ^[26].
Market Trends & Forecasts: The smartphone market shows only modest growth. IDC data indicates Q2 2025 shipments rose about 1% year-on-year (to ~295 million phones) ^[27]. Samsung saw the strongest growth (+7.9% to 58M units) and remains #1 ^[28], while Apple’s volume was roughly flat. IDC’s Anthony Scarsella noted that 1% growth “stands as a critical indicator that the market is poised to return to growth” ^[29], despite tariff- and economy-driven weakness at the low end. Industry analysts also report Chinese brands gaining ground at higher price tiers; Xiaomi and rivals like Oppo/Vivo “have been strengthening their foothold in the 4,000–6,000 yuan segment while making inroads into the premium tier” ^[30].
Regulatory & Business: Major regulatory developments are unfolding. In the U.S., President Trump on Sept 25 signed an order clearing the sale of TikTok’s U.S. unit to a consortium led by Oracle and Silver Lake ^[31]. (Trump even suggested media moguls like Rupert Murdoch and tech leaders like Oracle’s Larry Ellison will oversee the new TikTok, ensuring U.S. data security ^[32].) In the EU, the new Digital Markets Act (DMA) is now biting: sources report the EU Commission is drafting its first DMA fine against Google for favoring its own search services ^[33]. Apple, meanwhile, is publicly urging the EU to roll back parts of the DMA, claiming it causes feature rollouts to stall and introduces app security risks ^[34]. On the corporate side, smaller OEMs are making strategic moves: UK startup Nothing announced a $100M joint venture with India’s Optiemus to expand phone manufacturing (with 1,800 jobs) in India ^[35]. Honor (formerly Huawei’s sub-brand) even launched a trade-in program in Bangladesh to ease upgrades; an Honor executive explained “affordability is the biggest barrier” and the exchange offer “will make it easier for customers to own their desired HONOR devices” ^[36].

Apple & iPhone Updates

Apple continued rolling out its newest iPhones worldwide. On Sept 26 the company re-opened its iconic Apple Ginza store in Tokyo (its first store outside the U.S.), just in time to sell the latest iPhone 17, 17 Pro/Max and the new ultra-thin iPhone Air models ^[37]. In a press statement Apple’s Kaiann Drance hailed the iPhone 17 as “a big upgrade with powerful features” (including a larger ProMotion display and improved cameras), and the “best front camera yet” ^[38]. In tandem, Apple released iOS 26 to customers, adding new “Apple Intelligence” features. However, MacRumors reports a glitch: some iPhone 17 users found certain AI tools (like Genmoji avatars and Image Playground) failing to download. Apple support is reportedly aware of the issue and working on a fix (an iOS 26.0.1 update is already in beta) ^[39] ^[40]. Overall, Apple’s ecosystem news was upbeat: analysts note strong trade-in values and upgrade subsidies are driving iPhone 17 sales, and Apple’s stock even flirted with a 2025-high after the launch ^[41] ^[42].

Samsung Galaxy Developments

Samsung’s mobile division was also busy. Besides the Australia product launch noted above ^[43], Samsung has major leaks brewing. On Sept 26 Tom’s Guide published what appear to be official promo animations of Samsung’s rumored trifold phone (nicknamed “Galaxy G Fold”). The clips show a massive interior screen running One UI, Samsung DeX support (for a desktop-like interface), and a rear camera with a 100× zoom perk ^[44] ^[45]. If true, this “Fold” could bridge the gap between phones, tablets and laptops. Meanwhile, code sleuths have found hints of new pro-camera software coming with Android 16/One UI 8.5: for example, leaks show built-in color-grading LUT filters in the video editor (a nod to filmmakers) and a 3D photo/video capture mode in the stock Camera app ^[46] ^[47]. Samsung seems poised to bundle these features into next year’s Galaxy S26 series as selling points (much as Apple bundles ProRes/Spatial Video on its iPhones) ^[48]. On the product side, Samsung published a press release on Sept 26 listing all its new models for Australia – from the high-end Tab S11 Ultra tablet to the affordable S25 FE smartphone ^[49] – and executive Eric Chou emphasized that these products leverage AI to “simplify [users’] lives” ^[50].

Xiaomi, Oppo, OnePlus & Other OEMs

China’s smartphone giants are digging in. Xiaomi’s late-September event (Sept 25 in China) was framed as a direct challenge to Apple. CEO Lei Jun told the audience “it’s time for everyone to get reacquainted with Xiaomi phones,” bragging that the new Xiaomi 17 series “has surpassed the iPhone 17 series in many areas” ^[51]. Analysts agree that Xiaomi is pushing into the premium tier – Canalys noted the Xiaomi 17 Pro is the firm’s “boldest attempt yet to position its flagship directly against Apple” ^[52]. Xiaomi also underlined its self-reliance by confirming heavy chip investments: VP Xu Fei said Xiaomi will spend about 50 billion yuan (~$7 billion) in the next decade on its own SoCs ^[53]. Of course, Xiaomi still uses Qualcomm/MediaTek (the new 17 phones run Qualcomm’s 8 Elite Gen 5 chip), but it’s signaling “no more using chips as they come,” as one report put it.

Other Chinese brands made waves too. OnePlus revealed that its upcoming OnePlus 15 (previewed at Qualcomm’s Snapdragon Summit) will be the first phone with the brand-new Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 platform ^[54]. OnePlus also introduced a new “DetailMax” image engine for improved photos. Oppo launched midrange models (e.g. the F31 5G in India) with big batteries and 50 MP cameras ^[55]. Vivo and its gaming-focused spin-off iQOO leaked specs of their flagships: for instance, the upcoming Vivo V60e (a rebadged V60 Lite) is tipped to have a 200 MP camera, 6500 mAh battery and IP68/69 water resistance ^[56]. iQOO’s next-gen 15 model is expected to debut Origin OS 6 (Vivo’s Android 16 skin) in China and India, along with a 2K 144Hz OLED display, a new Q3 AI chip, and an enormous 7000 mAh battery with 100 W wireless charging ^[57] ^[58]. The race in Chinese-made phones remains fierce: Counterpoint analysts note Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo have been “making inroads into the premium tier” of the market ^[59], fueling healthy competition.

Software & OS Updates

On the software front, Google and Apple issued important updates. Google’s September Android Security Bulletin (2025‑09‑05) patched 111 vulnerabilities in Android (including two rated critical) ^[60], one of the largest monthly sweeps on record. Users are advised to install the latest security updates (many OEMs followed with their own builds for Android phones). In Apple’s case, iOS 26 landed mid-September with new AI features, but a bug cropped up: some iPhone 17 users reported that the new on-device AI tools (“Apple Intelligence”) wouldn’t download. MacRumors says Apple is aware and working on a fix in iOS 26.0.1 or 26.1 ^[61] ^[62]. Meanwhile, leaked build data for Samsung’s Android 16 (One UI 8.5) shows Samsung adding professional-grade video tools: testers found code references to multi-clip color LUTs in log video editing ^[63] and even a “3D capture” mode for photos/videos ^[64]. These hint that Samsung is trying to match Apple’s pro-video features, since Apple already offers ProRes and 3D Photos on iPhone.

Market Trends & Expert Views

Overall market growth is modest but positive. Research firm IDC reports global smartphone shipments grew only ~1% in Q2 2025 (to ~295 million units) ^[65], as consumers stay cautious amid inflation and trade tensions. Notably, Samsung led all brands with +7.9% growth (58 million units shipped) ^[66], so it actually gained share. Apple’s volumes were largely flat. IDC’s Anthony Scarsella noted that even this 1% growth is “a critical indicator that the market is poised to return to growth” ^[67], implying that new AI features and pent-up demand could spur more buying later. However, low-end Android phones saw a “crunch” in demand due to tariffs, as IDC’s Nabila Popal explains.

Analyst commentary highlights the battleground: Canalys’ Chiew Le Xuan (cited above) sees Xiaomi’s moves as an attempt to dethrone Apple, and other analysts point out that Chinese brands are moving upmarket. ^[68] ^[69] Meanwhile, Counterpoint Research’s Ivan Lam observes that Xiaomi, Oppo and Vivo “have been strengthening their foothold in the 4,000–6,000 yuan segment while making inroads into the premium tier” ^[70]. In short, competition is intensifying, especially with AI and camera tech as key differentiators.

Regulatory and Business Developments

Several regulatory and strategic developments may reshape the mobile landscape. In the U.S., President Trump signed an order on Sept 25 allowing ByteDance to sell TikTok’s U.S. operations to a group led by Oracle and Silver Lake ^[71]. Reports say Oracle will handle user data security and even build the “safety” version of TikTok’s AI algorithm for the new company ^[72]. Trump also hinted that media magnates (Rupert and Lachlan Murdoch) and tech CEOs (Oracle’s Larry Ellison, Dell’s Michael Dell) could be involved in the acquisition consortium ^[73]. This means Americans may soon transition to a U.S.-run TikTok variant.

In Europe, the new Digital Markets Act (DMA) is in force. On Sept 26 sources revealed that EU regulators are preparing the first DMA fine against Google (over alleged self-preferencing in search and shopping) ^[74]. Apple, for its part, publicly urged Brussels to ease DMA rules – claiming that forcing interoperability has “postponed” new features (like iPhone–Mac mirroring and live AirPods translation in Europe) and made app security worse ^[75]. The EU, however, insists such “gatekeepers” must comply with DMA to open up markets.

Corporate moves also peppered the days. UK startup Nothing announced a $100 million joint venture with India’s Optiemus to build phones in India (creating ~1,800 jobs) ^[76]. Nothing’s founder Carl Pei said this will make India the “first truly global smartphone brand” base for its affordable CMF phone ^[77]. And in Bangladesh, Honor launched a buyback/exchange program – allowing customers to trade any old phone for a new Honor model. Honor’s Bangladesh head explained, “affordability is the biggest barrier to switching smartphones,” so this program “will make it easier for customers to own their desired HONOR devices” ^[78].

In the stock markets, mobile names moved with the news: Xiaomi’s shares ticked up after the launch of its premium phone and chip plan ^[79]. Apple’s stock also saw gains post–iPhone launch. Overall, the weeks of Sept 26–27 saw a flurry of announcements and analysis confirming that AI features, camera innovation and industry consolidation are driving the next phase of the smartphone market ^[80] ^[81].

Sources: Reputable tech press and industry reports from Sept 26–27, 2025 ^[82] ^[83] ^[84] ^[85] ^[86]. All factual details are drawn from official releases or acknowledged news outlets. Each quoted expert or executive is cited from their original statement above ^[87] ^[88] ^[89] ^[90].

FOLDING iPhone just LEAKED🤯#iphone

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References

Mateusz Brzeziński

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