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Tech leaks: Apple’s $2,000 foldable; Samsung’s silicon-carbon transition

Published : Thursday, 27 August, 2026 at 4:44 PM

Observer Online Report

Collected Photo

Smartphone giants Samsung and Apple are preparing for major flagship releases over the coming months, with widespread leaks revealing a complete design overhaul for Samsung’s upcoming S27 lineup and an unprecedented, split launch schedule for Apple’s iPhone 18 series.

Samsung Galaxy S27: Radical redesign and ‘potential’ silicon-carbon battery

Samsung is expected to launch its next flagship generation in early 2027, expanding the lineup to four distinct variants: the Galaxy S27, S27+, S27 Pro, and S27 Ultra.

Industry sources indicate the new "Pro" model will serve as a cheaper, smaller alternative to the Ultra.

Leaked computer-aided renders suggest the standard Galaxy S27 will retain the 6.3-inch screen size and dimensions of its predecessor. However, the Galaxy S27 Ultra is set for its most significant cosmetic redesign in years.

Multiple industry leakers report that the Ultra will adopt a wide camera-bar layout - originally planned for the canceled S26 Edge - resembling the raised camera plateau introduced on the iPhone 17 Pro.

Under the hood, camera specifications point toward a three-sensor rear array featuring a 200-megapixel main camera, a 50-megapixel ultra-wide lens, and a 50-megapixel telephoto camera. Reports indicate Samsung may also transition higher-tier models to silicon-carbon battery technology, boosting capacity without increasing physical bulk.

The S27 Ultra specifically is tipped to house a massive 5,700mAh battery cell.

Samsung is likely to return to its traditional launch timeline following a delayed late-February reveal last year, with industry watchers anticipating an official announcement around the week of February 22, 2027.

iPhone foldable: Staggering $2,000 price tag

Apple is planning its biggest release schedule shift in over a decade by abandoning its traditional single-day September rollout.

Supply-chain reports confirm that Apple will split the iPhone 18 series into two distinct release windows. The high-end iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple's debut foldable device - provisionally named the iPhone Ultra - will debut in as early as September 2026. The more affordable base iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will follow in spring 2027.

Apple supplier Pegatron indicated that the fall 2026 event will focus entirely on premium hardware. Pre-orders and retail availability are expected to follow the typical two-to-three-week pattern after the initial event.

Apple has officially confirmed its fall launch event for Wednesday, September 9, 2026, carrying the tagline "Surprise and Shine". Broadcast live from Apple Park in Cupertino, California, the event will host the premiere of the iPhone 18 Pro series alongside the long-awaited $2,000 foldable device.

Apple’s inaugural foldable device is reported to sport a 5.5-inch outer screen and a 7.8-inch inner display, backed by Touch ID and dual 48-megapixel rear cameras, carrying an expected starting price tag of at least $2,000.

Conversely, the base iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and a second-generation iPhone Air have been held back until spring 2027 due to persistent global memory-chip supply bottlenecks.

Analysts note that this staggered release model will become Apple's new standard. The pattern is set to repeat for the iPhone 19 series, with premium and foldable variants launching in September 2027, followed by standard models in the first half of 2028.

While neither company has officially confirmed these specifications or timelines, consistent reports across independent leakers, regional outlets, and supply-chain sources point to a major shift in the smartphone landscape heading into late 2026 and early 2027.

-SA