Apple unveils iPhone 18 Pro and new AirPods 5 earbuds

Apple has released the new iPhone 18 Pro, a model defined mostly by refinements rather than a major redesign. It gains a variable-aperture main camera lens, improved battery life, a new chip, and additional color options including black. At the same time, Apple raised starting prices by $100 for both the new Pro model and its older iPhone lineup.

Alongside the phone, Apple introduced the AirPods 5, its latest open-ear earbuds featuring improved active noise cancellation. The pricier version also adds on-stem volume controls, a feature previously reserved for the AirPods Pro line. The AirPods 5 start at $129.

Other tech developments

Meta has rolled out a new AI agent called Muse, which users can chat with, ask to search the web, and connect to apps such as Instagram and Gmail. The service is free with usage limits. According to early impressions, the assistant responds quickly but occasionally produces inaccurate or fabricated information.

Sony, meanwhile, has surprised the market by reviving its well-regarded WH-1000XM4 headphones with a new generation, following the original's discontinuation last year. The design remains unchanged, but the new version features an updated sound profile and adds Bluetooth 6 support. Battery life with active noise cancellation enabled has dropped slightly to 27 hours. The headphones are priced at $299.99, about $150 less than Sony's current XM6 model.

Other notable releases include a Philips Hue camera accessory that syncs TV screen content with smart lighting, and a new line of minimalist smartphone accessories from Dbrand.