iPhone 17 Fights Galaxy S25, Apple Watch’s European Challenge, Apple’s Early History For Sale

Apple Unveils New Products At Its HQ In Cupertino

Taking a look back at this week’s news and headlines from across the Apple world, including iPhone Fold pricing, new iOS 26.2 features, Apple Fights EU over Apple Watch, Vision Pro M5 needs excitement, iPhone 17 Defeats Galaxy S25 and Apple’s early history for sale.

Apple Loop is here to remind you of a few of the many discussions around Apple in the last seven days. You can also read my weekly digest of Android news here on Forbes.

iPhone Fold Pricing

While the iPhone Air may not have ignited a market’s fascination for fashionably thin smartphones, the idea of a foldable iPhone to challenge the various Android foldables remains an eagerly awaited release. As well as details from the supply chain on the design of the origami iOS device, we’re getting a rough idea of the price, with GizChina covering reports of a $2,399 sticker shock:

“Pricey, yes. But considering Apple rarely enters a new category at the bargain end, it tracks. The analyst points to the usual culprits — the flexible display, hinge design, and a bunch of lightweight structural components that apparently aren’t cheap to make in Apple’s preferred quality range. Apple’s margins also tend to hover on the generous side.”

What’s Next For iOS 26?

Apple traditionally releases the second major update to iOS in December. 2025 is no different, and iOS 26.2 is getting ready to arrive in time for the holidays. Forbes contributor David Phelan takes a closer look at what to expect in the next iOS update, including some interesting audio choices:

“For a start, AirPods Live Translation will come to the EU for the first time. This arrived several months ago in the U.S. and U.K., among other places, in September. It works with the latest AirPods Pro 3 as well as AirPods Pro 2 and AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation and requires an iPhone alongside to work. It was delayed in the EU because of ramifications of the Digital Markets Act.”

The Apple Watch, The EU, And Wi-Fi Security

The difference in philosophies between Apple and the European Union (and its Digital Markets Act) continues his week with the first tangible difference between EU Apple Watches and those sold in the rest of the world — the synchronisation of Wi-Fi networks on the Apple Watch and the iPhone has been altered. Long-time Apple supporter John Gruber has explored how Apple is working hard to provide functionality by following the letter of the DMA if not the spirit:

“Apple is complying with the DMA, and they’re not disabling Wi-Fi network synchronization between an iPhone and a paired Apple Watch. What Apple is doing, in order to comply with the DMA, is changing how Wi-Fi networks sync with Apple Watch (in the EU), and offering new APIs in the EU for third-party paired devices to put them on equal (or near-equal?) footing with Apple Watch (in the EU).”

Vision Pro M5 Review

Apple’s launch of the augmented reality Vision Pro headset and VisionOS certainly captured the imagination with an imaginative launch and carefully controlled press demos. With the new Vision Pro headset, powered by the latest M5 Apple Silicon, has the system gathered enough momentum to make the upgrade attractive? What has changed since those first demos and the “new car smell” rush of the first headset? Samuel Axon returns to the Vision Pro to find out what’s changed:

“As the months went on, though, I used it less and less. The novelty wore off, and as cool as it remained, practicality beat coolness. By the time Apple sent me the newer model a couple of weeks ago, I had only put the original one on a few times in the prior couple of months. I had mostly stopped using it at home, but I still took it on trips as an entertainment device for hotel rooms now and then.”

iPhone vs Galaxy

A new report from Counterpoint Research highlights the iPhone 17’s sales success, along with prevailing market conditions, to put the importance of the regular iPhone into context… It’s going to take Apple up and over Samsung and likely hand the blue riband of “world’s top phone maker” to CEO Tim Cook:

“The iPhone 17 models introduced in September have been a hit both domestically in the US and in Apple’s other critical market, China. They’ve enticed more people to upgrade, leading to double-digit year-over-year sales growth in both markets, according to the researchers. The US company also is benefiting from a cooling of US-China trade tensions and a depreciating dollar that has boosted purchases in emerging markets, they added.”

And Finally…

Nearly fifty years later, Apple’s formation papers are set to go to auction. Those looking for a little bit of American modern history better have their chequebooks ready:

“Auction house Christie’s is selling a lot on January 23, consisting of the founding papers for the Apple Computer Company, reported by Arirang Newsand confirmed to AppleInsider. A three-page document, it helped create the original version of Apple, which later became the modern-day behemoth… The current valuation for the historical document is between $2 million and $4 million. “

Apple Loop brings you seven days worth of highlights every weekend here on Forbes. Don’t forget to follow me so you don’t miss any coverage in the future. Last week’s Apple Loop can be read here, or this week’s edition of Loop’s sister column, Android Circuit, is also available on Forbes.

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