CNET Readers Are Convinced Apple Has a Foldable iPhone Coming. But What About Smart Glasses?

Over the years, September has been all about new Apple devices — whether it’s a new iPhone, AirPods or Apple Watch. And we’re ready for all of it.  But Apple is full of surprises. You never know what’s coming until the keynote announcements. Until then, all we have are rumors and a product roadmap of where Apple’s been to help guide us where it might be going next. So let’s play a game to pass the time before the big reveal.  The CNET Group is hosting a Big Guessing Game contest across its websites — CNET, Lifehacker, Mashable, PCMag and ZDNET. The first round of our game focused on Apple’s software, and the second round was all about Apple’s devices. We won’t know some of the answers for certain until September, but here’s what CNET readers expect.  Nearly 80% expect Apple to announce its first foldable phone  Most CNET readers (77%) think Apple will debut its first foldable phone this year.  Many leaked rumors and reports suggest it could be as soon as September.  There’s plenty of speculation around the design, price and name. Apple could name it the iPhone Fold, iPhone Ultra or iPhone Flip. It might fold like a book, resembling other foldable phones like the Pixel 10 Pro Fold and the new Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. There’s also the rumor of a clamshell-style design like the Motorola Razr models and the just-announced Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 8.  One other big question is how much the phone will cost, given the global RAM shortage and Apple’s recent price hikes. Some rumors say the phone could start at $2,000 and go up to $2,500.  We don’t know whether Apple will unveil a foldable phone on Sept. 9 this year, but in the past, it has announced new phones at its September event. For example, the iPhone 17 models and iPhone Air were announced on Sept. 9, 2025, at Apple’s “Awe Dropping” keynote. And the iPhone 16 models were released on Sept. 9, 2024, at the “It’s Glowtime” keynote.  Most readers don’t think we’ll see new AirPods with cameras  AirPods with cameras sound like cutting-edge technology. Experts say the cameras would be more like AI sensors to guide Siri, not for taking high-quality photos and videos.  We know Siri’s getting a major upgrade soon with agentic AI features and a standalone app. So it wouldn’t be surprising if Apple wants those devices to work in tandem.  However, most readers (77%) don’t think Apple will unveil the new earbuds this year. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman expects AirPods with cameras to be a part of Apple’s 2027 product plan. That’s the same time we could see a 20th anniversary iPhone and the second generation of Apple’s rumored foldable phone. Apple released the AirPods Pro 3 last September, while the AirPods 4 were released in September 2024. We may see new AirPods, but it’s unlikely Apple will announce a camera-equipped version this year.  Over 70% think the iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max will come in black I was disappointed when I upgraded to the iPhone 17 Pro Max and found out it wasn’t available in black, but most readers (72%) think the color will be making a comeback with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models.  There are plenty of rumors about which colors the Pro model will come in — like light blue, dark cherry and dark gray. However, there aren’t any rumors of black yet.  We haven’t seen black in the Pro and Pro Max models since the iPhone 16, and the iPhone 15 came in black titanium. Before that, the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max came in space black. And earlier versions came in different black variants, such as the iPhone 13 and 12 Pro in graphite and the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max in space gray. Readers are nearly split on Apple releasing smart glasses  Just over half (51%) of readers think Apple will announce its first pair of smart glasses in September, while 49% don’t.  However, experts aren’t expecting Apple’s smart glasses this year. Gurman says we shouldn’t expect them until late 2027, because Apple has experienced “