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Should you hold out for iPhone 18? What we know about the next-gen Apple phones.

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The iPhone 17 lineup offers a huge range of updates and improvements, plus it heralds the introduction of an all-new iPhone line, the iPhone Air. The new 17 series brings better cameras, a new design, and better processing, but not everyone is sold on the 2025 iPhone lineup. What’s next? The iPhone 18 series, of course.

There are already tons of rumors around the 2026 iPhones, likely to be headlined by the iPhone 18 series. Some of these rumors are years in the making, while others are relatively new. They all, however, point to a pretty huge year for the iPhone.

So, should you wait for the iPhone 18 series instead of buying an iPhone 17 or iPhone Air? Here’s what we know about the iPhone 18 so far.

Even more new iPhone models are coming soon

The biggest change for the iPhone 17 lineup comes in the form of a new device that doesn’t have the 17 branding at all. The iPhone Air is a totally new model in the lineup, built for those who prefer something as thin as possible to something with a long battery life and multiple cameras. That’s alongside Apple doing away with the “Plus” model.

But rumors indicate Apple could make even bigger changes in 2026. Not only is the company likely to release an updated version of the iPhone Air — potentially called the iPhone Air 2 — but it’s also reportedly set to finally debut its first foldable iPhone. That means that the 2026 iPhone lineup could look something like this:

  • iPhone 18

  • iPhone 18 Pro

  • iPhone 18 Pro Max

  • iPhone Air 2

  • iPhone Fold / iPhone 18 Fold

concept art showing foldable iPhone

This is what a foldable iPHonen
Credit: Ian Moore / Mashable Composite; Apple

The foldable iPhone will reportedly be very thin, with early rumors pointing to 4.5 to 4.8 mm when unfolded. Reports suggest it will have a 5.5-inch display on the front and a 7-inch display on the inside. It will also come at a high price. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has reported that the device will cost over $2,000, making it even more expensive than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7.

It’s worth noting that it’s entirely possible that not all of these devices will launch at the same time. It wouldn’t be unheard of for Apple to announce the iPhone Fold in September and release it to the public later in October. Not only that, but some recent reports indicate that Apple might end up delaying the base iPhone 18, releasing it in 2027 instead of alongside the other models in 2026. I would be very surprised to see this happen, however.

Under-display Face ID

Apple may finally do away with the Dynamic Island entirely, or at least make it a whole lot smaller, with new Face ID tech. Reports from The Information suggest that Apple is working on under-display Face ID tech that works more or less the same as Face ID does today, but can work under the screen instead of requiring a cutout.

It’s unclear if Apple will put the entire Dynamic Island under the screen (including the camera), or just the sensors required for Face ID, keeping a small circular cutout for the front-facing camera. Under-display cameras have notoriously made for low-quality photos, but it makes sense that companies like Apple would be working on improving the tech.

The Apple A20 chip

As usual, Apple will almost certainly release a new series of chips for its latest iPhone models. The A20 series will follow on from the A19, and will likely be made up of a base A20 chip and an A20 Pro chip.

Reports from Apple analyst Jeff Pu indicate that the new chips will be built on the same TSMC 3nm process that the A19 chips are built on, and while the performance improvements might be relatively minor, rumors suggest that the chip will offer a Chip on Wafer on Substrate (CoWoS) packaging, which makes for better integration with memory, the neural engine, and other platform components. This will likely be part of a push for better on-device AI performance.

Better cameras

Cameras are always a focus (ha) of new iPhone releases, and while sometimes the improvements are a little minor, the iPhone 18 series may end up getting more impressive camera improvements. According to a leak from Apple leaker @Jukanlosreve on Twitter, the iPhone 18 series will get a new three-layer camera sensor from Samsung, which should make the camera more responsive, while at the same time improving dynamic range and reducing noise.

This would actually be a pretty big change for Apple, considering the fact that Sony has long supplied all of the camera sensors in the iPhone series. According to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, the new sensor will be used for the 2026 iPhone’s ultrawide camera.

To update, or not to update?

Obviously, the iPhone 18 series should be better than the iPhone 17 series — phone models improve every single year. But the question remains: should you upgrade now, or wait for next year?

It’s complicated. Basically, if you need a new phone, then upgrade now. If you're happy with your iPhone 15 or 16 Pro or Pro Max, wait a year and see what happens. What you probably shouldn’t do is assume that rumors are fact. Yes, a foldable iPhone has been rumored for a long time, but it’s entirely possible that Apple ends up delaying the release of it for 2027 or beyond.

If you’re on the fence but need a new phone now, you could always upgrade now and sell or trade-in your new device next year once the iPhone 18 series is finally revealed. Year-old iPhones usually retain their value decently well, and you may only be out a few hundred dollars if you keep your device in good condition.

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NYT Strands hints, answers for April 24, 2026

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A game being played on a smartphone.

Today's NYT Strands hints are easy if you're rowdy.

Strands, the New York Times' elevated word-search game, requires the player to perform a twist on the classic word search. Words can be made from linked letters — up, down, left, right, or diagonal, but words can also change direction, resulting in quirky shapes and patterns. Every single letter in the grid will be part of an answer. There's always a theme linking every solution, along with the "spangram," a special, word or phrase that sums up that day's theme, and spans the entire grid horizontally or vertically.

By providing an opaque hint and not providing the word list, Strands creates a brain-teasing game that takes a little longer to play than its other games, like Wordle and Connections.

If you're feeling stuck or just don't have 10 or more minutes to figure out today's puzzle, we've got all the NYT Strands hints for today's puzzle you need to progress at your preferred pace.

NYT Strands hint for today’s theme: Hullabaloo

The words are related to sound.

Today’s NYT Strands theme plainly explained

These words describe ruckus.

NYT Strands spangram hint: Is it vertical or horizontal?

Today's NYT Strands spangram is horizontal.

NYT Strands spangram answer today

Today's spangram is Lets Get Loud.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

NYT Strands word list for April 24

  • Shout

  • Holler

  • Clamor

  • Lets Get Loud

  • Bellow

  • Whoop

  • Caterwaul

Looking for other daily online games? Mashable's Games page has more hints, and if you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now!

Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Strands.

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Wordle today: Answer, hints for April 24, 2026

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Wordle game on a smartphone

Today's Wordle answer should be easy to solve if you love a good drink.

If you just want to be told today's word, you can jump to the bottom of this article for today's Wordle solution revealed. But if you'd rather solve it yourself, keep reading for some clues, tips, and strategies to assist you.

Where did Wordle come from?

Originally created by engineer Josh Wardle as a gift for his partner, Wordle rapidly spread to become an international phenomenon, with thousands of people around the globe playing every day. Alternate Wordle versions created by fans also sprang up, including battle royale Squabble, music identification game Heardle, and variations like Dordle and Quordle that make you guess multiple words at once.

Wordle eventually became so popular that it was purchased by the New York Times, and TikTok creators even livestream themselves playing.

What's the best Wordle starting word?

The best Wordle starting word is the one that speaks to you. But if you prefer to be strategic in your approach, we have a few ideas to help you pick a word that might help you find the solution faster. One tip is to select a word that includes at least two different vowels, plus some common consonants like S, T, R, or N.

What happened to the Wordle archive?

The entire archive of past Wordle puzzles was originally available for anyone to enjoy whenever they felt like it, but it was later taken down, with the website's creator stating it was done at the request of the New York Times. However, the New York Times then rolled out its own Wordle Archive, available only to NYT Games subscribers.

Is Wordle getting harder?

It might feel like Wordle is getting harder, but it actually isn't any more difficult than when it first began. You can turn on Wordle's Hard Mode if you're after more of a challenge, though.

Here's a subtle hint for today's Wordle answer:

Intoxicated.

Does today's Wordle answer have a double letter?

There are no recurring letters.

Mashable 101 Fan Fave: Nominate your favorite creators today

Today's Wordle is a 5-letter word that starts with…

Today's Wordle starts with the letter D.

The Wordle answer today is…

Get your last guesses in now, because it's your final chance to solve today's Wordle before we reveal the solution.

Drumroll please!

The solution to today's Wordle is…

DRUNK

Don't feel down if you didn't manage to guess it this time. There will be a new Wordle for you to stretch your brain with tomorrow, and we'll be back again to guide you with more helpful hints. Are you also playing NYT Strands? See hints and answers for today's Strands.

Reporting by Chance Townsend, Caitlin Welsh, Sam Haysom, Amanda Yeo, Shannon Connellan, Cecily Mauran, Mike Pearl, and Adam Rosenberg contributed to this article.

If you're looking for more puzzles, Mashable's got games now! Check out our games hub for Mahjong, Sudoku, free crossword, and more.

Not the day you're after? Here's the solution to yesterday's Wordle.

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FCC challenges gender identity themes on kids TV

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A young girl watches TV with remote in her hand.

The Federal Communications Commission is using the presence of "controversial gender identity issues" in children's television programming as a pretense for questioning how TV ratings are developed and enforced, according to a notice published Wednesday by the federal agency.

The notice generally assesses TV ratings, but specifically points out that these industry guidelines have rated shows featuring "transgender and gender non-binary programming" as appropriate for children. It argues that parents aren't provided this information, "thereby undermining the ability of parents to make informed choices for their families."

In the document, the FCC poses a series of open-ended questions about TV ratings development, including whether the board responsible for the guidelines is "sufficiently balanced" with viewpoints outside of the entertainment industry and if faith-based organizations should be represented in the body.

"What more could the board do to include family-oriented perspectives — which are not well represented in the media industry — in its ratings process?" the notice asks.

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr announced the public notice on X, explaining that "parents have raised concerns with the industry's approach." He added that these parents believe "New York & Hollywood programmers" promote objectionable content in kids programming without disclosing that to parents. Carr didn't mention gender identity in his X post.

TV parents guidelines can include both a rating as well as descriptors for content that includes crude language, sexual situations, and violence.

LGBTQ+ advocates criticized the public notice, arguing that it amounted to discrimination and censorship.

"Trump's FCC is trying to turn transgender people into a warning label," Tyler Hack, executive director of the transgender rights advocacy group Christopher Street Project, said in a statement. "It is dehumanizing, and it is part of a broader political strategy to stigmatize LGBTQ+ people in every corner of public life."

Sarah Kate Ellis, president and CEO of GLAAD, described the notice as government overreach.

"Media companies must be allowed to create and broadcast stories that reflect one-quarter of their audience without interference from a government agency with its own anti-transgender political agenda," Ellis said in a statement.

This isn't the first time Carr has been accused of censorship. Carr has claimed broadcasters air "hoaxes" and "news distortions" that also happen to be unfavorable to President Trump. Carr has suggested the licenses of such broadcasters won't be renewed.

In March, dozens of free speech experts argued in an open letter to Carr that his threats against broadcasters are "unlawful jawboning" and his vague characterization of "fake news" violates the First Amendment. The authors called on Carr to "withdraw" his threats.

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