Apple this year acquired the Israeli startup Q.ai for close to $2 billion, according to a report from the Financial Times. This transaction would make this purchase Apple's second-biggest acquisition ever, trailing only behind the time it paid $3 billion for the popular headphone maker Beats in 2014.
Furthermore, this move represents the largest known Apple acquisition since the technology giant purchased Intel's smartphone modem business and its accompanying patents for $1 billion in 2019.
Q.ai reportedly developed AI technology that can specifically "analyze facial expressions" to better understand "silent speech". This breakthrough technology is reportedly paving the way for "non-verbal discussions" with the Siri virtual assistant.
Apple's chipmaking chief Johny Srouji officially confirmed the startup acquisition in a statement. Srouji described Q.ai as "a remarkable company that is pioneering new and creative ways to use imaging and machine learning," noting that he is highly "excited for what's to come".
Notably, Q.ai co-founder Aviad Maizels previously founded another Israeli startup known as PrimeSense, which was also acquired by Apple in 2013. Apple subsequently used PrimeSense's specialized technology to develop its biometric Face ID system, which originally debuted on the flagship iPhone X in 2017.
Hardware pricing estimates
Less than a week before Apple officially debuts its new models, Taiwanese research firm TrendForce outlined its estimated price ranges and features ahead of Apple's upcoming special event scheduled for Wednesday, September 9.
TrendForce estimated the retail prices of the upcoming iPhone 18 Pro models based entirely on the latest hardware cost environment. For comparison purposes, TrendForce's pricing estimates noted that last year's iPhone 17 Pro model featured a starting price of $1,099.
Furthermore, the research firm expects Apple to officially unveil its first-ever foldable iPhone at the September event, which reports refer to as the iPhone Ultra. TrendForce outlined the foldable device's estimated price range, specific features, and some other key details ahead of the reveal.
In the U.S. market, TrendForce estimated that this foldable iPhone will possess a starting price ranging from $2,099 to $2,299. The research firm also explicitly noted that the highest-end configurations could cost even more for consumers.
iOS 27 software updates
Apple has also added a brand-new "iPhone Handoff" feature to the iOS 27 operating system. This new capability will allow users to switch seamlessly between two different iPhones while using the exact same phone number on each individual device.
This unique functionality was briefly mentioned during the major WWDC 2026 keynote presentation held in June. It initially appeared on a presentation slide that listed hundreds of new features coming in iOS 27 and its corresponding software updates, but Apple never shared any further specific details at the time.