It's been rumored for eons at this point, but Apple's upcoming foldable iPhone looks to be all but confirmed to launch sometime next year, and thanks to recent leaks, we already know the rough shape, size and feature set of the hardware. For my fellow Surface Duo brothers and sisters, it's good news.

While the iPhone Fold won't utilize the Surface Duo's excellent dual-screen form factor, it will take on a similar shape and size. The Surface Duo was famously short and wide, compared to most other smartphones (including foldables) which are narrow and tall.

This shorter and wider shape made for an incredible typing experience on Surface Duo. It also gave apps more space, and made it easy to reach the top of the screen without the device feeling small. At no point did the OS or software ever feel cramped, even with its 5.6-inch screens, and that's because of how short but wide they were.

If the rumors are true, the upcoming iPhone Fold will be 5.5-inches on the outside, and 7.8-inches on the inside. The Surface Duo had almost the same dimensions, which tells me the iPhone Fold is going to try and offer a widescreen foldable display on the inside, which is perfect.

Most foldable phones today offer the foldable screen in an almost 1:1 aspect ratio, which kind of sucks for both productivity and media consumption. Other than the Surface Duo, the only other foldable I've used that didn't do this was the original Google Pixel Fold, which had a widescreen foldable display and made using it as a tablet so good.

A widescreen aspect ratio for the foldable display is important for a number of reasons. It makes multitasking with two apps side by side much more comfortable, as the apps have more room to show content. It also makes watching videos better, as there's less letterboxing compared to the 1:1 aspect ratio of most foldables.

The Surface Duo was the best multitasking phone I've ever used, and that's because the two 5.6-inch displays were treated like a single display that let you share content across them. It makes running two apps side by side super easy and enjoyable, and I'm hoping the same is the case on the iPhone Fold.

It's not hard to assume the iPhone Fold will run some kind of iOS and iPadOS hybrid, letting you run more than one app at a time on the folding screen just like an iPad Mini. An iPhone that's capable of transforming into an iPad Mini is honestly the dream device, and I'm here for it.

Other rumored specs of the iPhone Fold include touch ID instead of Face ID, which is also another similarity to the Surface Duo. Apple is expected to put a fingerprint reader into the power button, just like on the Surface Duo 2. This makes authenticating into the device when both opened or closed easy.

It's also expected to have the largest battery ever fitted to an iPhone, and a creaseless display, which would be a first for the foldable category. While the Surface Duo didn't have a crease, it did have a gap between the displays. Of course, Apple's folding phone is rumored to cost a lot of money, somewhere north of $2,000.

Ever since Microsoft killed the Surface Duo, I've been on the hunt for a device that matches that aesthetic and form factor as closely as possible. So far, the only other device that even came close was the original Google Pixel Fold, featuring a similar shorter and wider aspect ratio that made multitasking easy.

The upcoming iPhone Fold looks to be the closest to the Surface Duo yet. It will be almost the exact same shape and size, with the only difference being the internal screen is one foldable display instead of two glass panels. While I would prefer two displays like on the Duo, I can settle for one foldable display if the software does enough to make using both halves of it easy.

So, it's not an exact replica, but it's close enough. Its rumored shape and size alone makes me incredibly excited. What are your thoughts on Apple's rumored folding iPhone? Let us know in the comments.

Black Friday 2025 - quick links

• All our TOP recommended Black Friday deals: Just the best
• Mini PC deals: up to 47% off tiny PCs
• GPU deals: early price drops on NVIDIA RTX before they go up
• Microsoft Surface deals: save up to $500 on premium PCs
• Xbox accessories: best deals on gadgets for your Xbox Series X|S and PC
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• Xbox controllers: our top picks for best controller deals
• ANC headphones: great Black Friday deals on the best ANC headphones
  
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OpenAI has undoubtedly cemented its name as a force to reckon with in the AI landscape. This can be attributed to Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella's description of a two-year runway to build and develop ChatGPT uncontested. Interestingly, ChatGPT recently added one million new users after unveiling its new GPT-4o image generator.

And as it now seems, the ChatGPT maker may soon dabble in the mobile landscape, too. According to a report by The Information, the AI firm is in discussions to acquire io Products, co-founded by former Apple design chief Jony Ive and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman.

While io Products has blatantly dismissed claims of the development of an AI-powered phone, the outlet indicated that the company is working on a wide range of products, including a screenless phone concept and smart home devices.

Sam Altman and Jony Ive have reportedly secured investments from multiple investors, including Laurene Powell Jobs, the widow of the late Apple co-founder Steve Jobs. The funding is expected to hit $1 billion by the end of last year.

More interestingly, OpenAI is trying to forge a strategic partnership with io Products, allowing the ChatGPT maker to access its tech stack and engineering team behind the AI-powered devices.

This isn't the first time we've heard about OpenAI's plans to expand and diversify its portfolio by entering the mobile landscape.

Last year, OpenAI's CEO admitted that the company wants to dabble in the hardware space with an AI-specific device while expressing his keen interest in partnering with former Apple Chief Design Officer Jony Ive on the project. Altman indicated that the project could lead to the biggest tech disruption since the original iPhone launched in 2007.

Jony Ive confirmed that he's working closely with OpenAI to develop a flagship device that could take on Apple and Samsung in the mobile landscape. Reports suggest the device will "use AI to create a computing experience that is less socially disruptive than the iPhone.”

To that end, details about the device remain secret, with some speculating that it might be called the "iPhone of Intelligence," featuring a “more natural and intuitive experience.”

It'll be interesting to watch how things pan out, especially with President Trump's stringent tariffs saga, imposing hefty importation taxes on electronics, including gaming consoles, smartphones, TVs, and laptops.

Apple has recently found itself in a difficult situation. Between President Trump's tariffs, Apple Intelligence delays, and the exorbitant price tag on the rumored/leaked iPhone 17, things are likely to worsen.

Windows 11 will soon have a new way to interact with a connected iPhone. Microsoft is now testing an integration with the Start menu and Phone Link that shows a connected phone's battery life, connectivity, and some notifications. The extension of the Start menu, also known as the floating sidebar, now has a section for sharing files between a PC and a phone as well.

Much of this functionality has been available for Android devices for a while, though some of it has been limited to Windows Insiders during testing. Even sending files from a Windows 11 PC and a phone has been in testing since December 2024, but the initial rollout of the feature was not integrated with the Start menu.

Generally, Microsoft's Phone Link has more features when connected to Android devices. Apple has limits on what an app like Phone Link can do, limiting the features of the app if you connect an iPhone to your Windows 11 PC. But Microsoft has worked to close that gap over the years and some of the best Phone Link features now work with both iOS and Android.

Microsoft began testing the new option for iPhone users with Windows Insiders recently. The ability to share files between a connected phone and a PC through the Start menu also entered testing at that time.

The integration between the Windows 11 Start menu and Phone Link is a bit controversial. Some have called the feature cluttered and criticized its reliance on opening the Phone Link app. In its current form, the floating sidebar for Phone Link is redundant. If you have your phone connected for the Start menu integration, you already have Phone Link installed and set up.

I'm on the fence about the feature. I think it has potential if it becomes more interactive and gains more functionality. The fact that Microsoft has worked to connect iPhones through the floating sidebar is promising. It shows the tech giant is interested in making the feature more useful. Microsoft has a track record of making features somewhat similar to this integration and then abandoning them, including Your People, Meet Now, Chat, and the Copilot sidebar. I'd like to see a longer investment from Microsoft this time around.

Luckily for those who dislike the feature or don't find it useful enough to attach to their Start menu, it's possible to disable the floating sidebar through the Windows 11 Settings app.

Microsoft's latest marketing campaign declared that everything with a screen is an Xbox. And if you're going to play on an Xbox, you need a controller.

Right now, you can get a Backbone One mobile gaming controller for iPhone or Android from Target for just $69. That's a $30 savings that you can use toward some Xbox Game Pass Ultimate (16.99 for one month from Target) to keep you gaming on the go.

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A budget-friendly entry point to handheld gaming

The handheld gaming revolution is in full swing, with consoles like the Nintendo Switch, Steam Deck, and ROG Ally shaking up the concept of gaming on the go. These consoles can cost hundreds of dollars, but some more high-end versions even push a grand price tag. And that doesn't even consider that we're all still actively waiting for Xbox to release a native handheld console.

There is undoubtedly a barrier to entry to handheld gaming. Thankfully, we also happen to be in an era when nearly everybody has a supercomputer in their pocket in the form of a smartphone that can—and probably already does—play games.

Accessories like the Backbone One make it possible to turn the smartphone you already have in your pocket into a handheld console without draining your rainy day fund. The Backbone One is iPhone-compatible and Android-compatible and pairs exceptionally well with Xbox Cloud Gaming (available only through an Xbox Game Pass Ultimate subscription) to get you playing whenever you want, wherever you want. You're not just limited to playing games available on Game Pass, either, as Xbox has recently announced an update that lets users bring their own games to streaming via Xbox Cloud Gaming.

In the Windows Central review of the Backbone One, we dubbed it one of the best controllers for Xbox Cloud Gaming. That said, there are some trade-offs when opting to use your smartphone and a controller instead of a handheld gaming console. Unlike handheld gaming consoles, the games require a high-speed internet connection to stream them. There's also the added cost of an Xbox Game Pass subscription, which is required to access cloud streaming of Xbox games. However, the Backbone One is also compatible with native mobile games.

At just $69, the Backbone one is an excellent way to get into the Xbox ecosystem while on the go—at least until an Xbox handheld officially comes along.

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What you need to know

• Microsoft will bring the ability to sync iCloud photos to the Photos app on Windows 10.
• The Photos app gained an integration with iCloud back in 2022, but that functionality was limited to the app on Windows 11.
• The update is available for Windows 10 PCs enrolled in the Beta and Release Preview Channels.
• Microsoft also announced an update to the Photos app that will improve the experience on both Windows 11 and Windows 10.

Your brand-new iPhone 16 will be able to sync images through iCloud to the Windows 10 Photos app. The new iPhone, and all other hardware that supports iCloud, will receive the expanded integration, which has been limited to Windows 11 until recently. The new feature will make it much easier to keep photos and other iCloud content up to date on a PC, even if that system is running an aging operating system.

Almost two years ago, Microsoft added an integration between its Photos app and Apple's iCloud. That functionality, while useful, was limited to Windows 11. But the tech giant has since shared that the Photos app on Windows 10 will receive an update to integrate with iCloud. The new integration is in testing among Windows Insiders in the Beta and Release Preview Channels if a PC is running Windows 10. Microsoft detailed the changes in a recent blog post.

The update is rolling out to Insiders and may not appear on all PCs, even if they're running builds from the Beta or Release Preview Channels. This is standard for app testing at Microsoft.

"We’re bringing the ability to sync and view iCloud photos to users on Windows 10," said Microsoft. "To access your iCloud photos, go to the iCloud Photos pivot in the Photos app, install the latest iCloud for Windows app from Microsoft Store, sign in with your Apple ID, and choose to sync your iCloud photos. Within minutes, you will see all your iCloud photo content starting to appear automatically in the Photos app."

Microsoft also explained that it is upgrading the Windows 10 Photos app to use the new Windows App SDK platform. The Photos app on Windows 11 received that upgrade earlier this year.

The Photos app also has a new layout that makes it easier to find content regardless of if items are stored locally, on OneDrive, or on iCloud. When you view any photo, you'll be able to search the web using a new Visual Search with Bing feature.

Death of Windows 10

Windows 10 will officially reach its end-of-support date in October 2025. But despite that impeding cutoff, many still use the operating system. Some cannot upgrade their PC to Windows 11 due to the minimum requirements of the new OS. Others prefer Windows 10 and plan to keep using that older operating system for as long as possible.

Some have called on Microsoft to reconsider cutting support for Windows 10, citing environmental concerns and the fact that many working computers falling out of support will "cause the single biggest jump in junked computers ever." Microsoft will have an extended security update (ESU) program for Windows 10, but it is costly. Extending security updates beyond an end-of-support date is not new to Windows, but this will be the first time Microsoft has offered the ESU program to everyone, rather than just commercial customers.

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What you need to know

• An avid tech enthusiast installs Windows XP on the iPhone but cites degraded performance, longer boot times, and more.
• The user attributed the issue to Apple's strict Just-in-Time (JIT) compilation, which limits UTM SE's capabilities.
• The YouTuber attempted to install a VirtualBox on the emulated Windows XP hoping to run Windows 98, but encountered performance issues.

Emulators have opened doors and new opportunities for enthusiastic techies to experiment and push software in the most unconventional ways possible. For instance, Michael MJD on YouTube recently attempted to get Windows XP to run on the iPhone.

For context, Apple had previously made it difficult for developers to add emulators to its App Store. However, the company has since loosened its grip on these restrictions, though certain thresholds and applicable laws remain, designed to prevent security incidents like piracy and more.

Michael MJD ran Windows XP on the iPhone using the UTM SE emulator. And while the user managed to install Windows XP on his iPhone, he ran into some performance issues. This is attributed to the fact that UTM SE doesn't ship with Just-in-Time (JIT) compilation like the original UTM version. 

As such, the user found it hard to run Windows XP on the iPhone at optimum performance. According to Michael, installing the OS took up to 2 hours, and an additional 30 minutes for booting. 

With the performance and boot time compromise, Michael switched things up and installed UTM through AltStore for better performance and faster boot time. Admittedly, the user spotted better performance and a faster boot time. 

His next quest was to attempt to install and play the nostalgic Half-Life 1 shooter game. Despite running into a known compatibility issue with the version of Windows running on the iPhone, the user managed to get the game to work. There was a compromise in frames and performance, though tweaking the setting configurations helped a bit.

Things get a tad interesting when Michael MJD installs a VirtualBox on the emulated Windows XP, hoping to run Windows 98. And while he managed to get Windows 98 to work, he encountered several issues, including the system constantly crashing. Finally, the avid tech enthusiast attempted to run Windows 95, but his efforts were futile as the system crashed again despite making considerable strides in the setup process.

Windows 11 spots similar issues on the iPhone 

In July, we reported on the story of a developer attempting to install Windows 11 on the iPhone 15 Pro using Tiny11 Core and UTM SE. Like Michael MJD, the developer encountered several issues throughout the process, including a degraded user experience and long boot times of up to 20 minutes.

While the developer eventually got Windows 11 to work on the iPhone, the OS's UI looks cramped due to the vast difference in screen real estate, with poor resolution and aspect ratio.

What you need to know

• A developer manages to run Windows 11 on the iPhone 15 Pro using Tiny11 Core and UTM SE.
• The developer cites a degraded user experience and long boot times of up to 20 minutes.
• Windows 11's UI looks cramped on the iPhone 15 Pro due to the vast difference in screen real estate, with poor resolution and aspect ratio.

The Windows Phone ship might have completely sailed into the sea, never to be seen again by the tech's enthusiasts. Even Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella admitted that pulling the plug on the beloved piece of tech was a strategic mistake. To this end, it's unlikely that the tech giant will retrace its missteps and reincarnate Windows Phone from the Microsoft Graveyard.

Our hopes and dreams for the Windows Phone are only kept alive by concept designers who've shared videos of a futuristic version of the phone running Windows 12 and concept images of "Windows 11 Mobile."  

You might be conversant with Tiny11, a lightweight version of Windows 11 developed by NTDEV to run on old PCs that don't meet Windows 11's strict system requirements. NTDEV has achieved incredible feats, including running Windows 11 on just 176MB of RAM.

His recent ventures took the Windows Phone nostalgia a notch higher. We've all thought about Windows 11 running on Android, like Microsoft's Surface Duo (though it's seemingly dead, too), but Windows 11 on an iPhone is a marvel.

The developer shared screenshots of Windows 11 running on Apple's iPhone 15 Pro and indicated he'd post a video soon. NTDEV managed to get the operating system to run on the iPhone using the Tiny11 Core software. For context, Tiny11 Core is a lightweight version of Windows 11 compressed into a 2 GB ISO, taking up just 3.3 GB disk space.

NTDEV ran the software via emulation using UTM SE (Slow Edition). It's worth noting that the PC emulator shipped to the App Store early last week.

Windows 11 on the iPhone is cool, but you'll have to compromise on performance

"It is TERRIBLY slow, booting in about 20 minutes, but nonetheless, it's still Windows 11 on an iPhone 15 Pro!" lamented the developer on X. Interesting, a former software engineer at Microsoft recently highlighted the Start menu's "comically bad" performance, despite running Windows 11 on a sophisticated $1,600 PC that meets the OS's minimum system requirements. 

Besides the crippled performance, it's evident that Windows 11's resolution and aspect ratio have taken a major hit based on the shared screenshots. This can be attributed to the difference in the large-screen real estate on a laptop compared to the small-screen display on a relatively small iPhone.

As our sister site, Tom's Hardware, points out, it's not all bad! Other Windows 11 elements, like text rendering, remained consistent while running on the iPhone. While the feat is impressive, waiting 20 minutes to use the operating system with a buggy performance seems like a huge compromise on the user's end. 

What you need to know

• Google is preying on iPhone users and wants them to transition from Safari to Chrome as the default browser.
• Apple has highlighted two critical privacy issues via an ad riddling Google Chrome to deter users from transitioning.
• Google responded to Apple's allegations by reiterating its goal to keep the user's data safe and giving control over privacy and security while using Chrome.

Despite the EU Commission's intervention using the Digital Markets Act (DMA) to prevent unfair business practices, browser wars continue in 2024. The latest episode involves Apple and Google, with the former taking a lethal jab at Google Chrome's tracking cookies while presenting Safari as "a browser that's actually private."

As you may know, Apple was among the companies listed as gatekeepers by the EU under the DMA. The Commission designated Apple's iOS mobile operating system, Safari browser, and App Store services as gatekeeper services under the DMA. This prompted strict regulations to foster fair business practices for other competitors in the same landscape, including making the listed services interoperable.

The vast majority of iPhone owners are using Safari or Google Chrome as their default browser. According to a report by The Information, 30% of iPhone users have set Google Chrome as their default browser. However, Google wants 50% of iPhone users to run Chrome as their default browser. This would translate to an additional 300 million users transitioning to Chrome.

If Google's goal comes to fruition, Apple's Safari browser usage could be negatively impacted, potentially reducing revenue generated from the service. However, Apple isn't taking this lightly. As part of its broader plan to keep iPhone users 'glued' to Safari, Apple has highlighted two critical shortcomings its users will potentially face when using Google Chrome as their default browser:

• Chrome's hunger for tracking cookies: You've seen it all across the internet — those pop ups that ask whether you accept third-party cookies. Once you go into the privacy settings of Chrome, you'll probably be stunned by the many thousands of sites tracking your whereabouts on the internet. Even worse, they look set to be around until 2025 according to Google's Privacy Sandbox report.
• Incognito mode is not private: This is one of a few different features of Chrome where the Mountain View company has said it cares about privacy, but its actions are a little different. For example, Google promises security in its Incognito Mode, but then had to admit this privacy shield isn't really that private in a $5 billion class-action lawsuit.

Our sister site, Tom's Guide, reached out to Google regarding Apple's claims and was furnished with the following statement by a spokesman:

"Chrome is built with the goal of keeping your data safe by default and ensuring users can control when and how their data is used in Chrome to personalize their web browsing experience. We believe users should always be in control, which is why we've built easy to use privacy and security settings directly into Chrome."

Per the statement highlighted above, Google neither confirms nor denies Apple's privacy-related allegations. It only speaks of its goal of "keeping your data safe" and giving users control over their privacy and security settings.

Analysis: Market share is no child's play

Browser wars remain a hot topic in community forums. Mozilla blasted Microsoft last year for using harmful and deceptive designs to keep Edge in the driver's seat in Windows devices over third-party browsers. 

Opera recently echoed similar sentiments and the EU General Court to annul the European Commission's decision not to designate Microsoft Edge as a gatekeeper under the Digital Markets Act. Microsoft Edge was initially selected as a gatekeeper service, but Microsoft argued that it didn't meet the threshold. After investigations, the EU Commission determined that it wasn't dominant in the digital markets, exempting it from regulation under the DMA.

In the same breath, Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella indicated Google doesn't play fair with Bing in the search engine landscape. Nadella admitted Google's deal with Apple placed Bing at a competitive disadvantage and that he was willing to part with up to $15 billion annually to attract the deal with Apple, citing that it would be game-changing for the company. 

Despite Apple's fight with Google, the outcome will only be influenced by the user's preferences and priorities regarding privacy and security. Safari's browser usage on iOS might take a subtle hit.

Heads up, folks. I'll be invading The iPhone Blog's live podcast tonight to talk up Windows Mobile, talk about the Smartphone Round Robin and maybe (just maybe) get Rene Ritchie & Co. to admit that the iPhone isn't the coolest thing since the Newton. Here are the deets:

• Time: 8 p.m. EDT tonight. (That's 5 p.m. for you guys on the West Coast.)
• Topic: Windows Mobile, Windows Mobile, Windows Mobile. (And maybe some iPhone.)
• Where: Click here.

I expect to see each and every one of you in the chatroom.