iPhone users can now join the 'Pokemon Champions' fray

appleinsider.com Jun 18, 2026

iPhone users can now join the ‘Pokemon Champions’ fray

Curated by Shubham · TechCapsules · Jun 18, 2026

AI-summarised brief · reviewed before publication

The Pokémon Company has launched "Pokémon Champions" on iPhone, iPad, and Android, expanding its competitive battle game beyond the Nintendo Switch. The free-to-play title focuses on Pokémon battles, allowing players to compete in ranked, casual, and private matches using familiar mechanics. Players can connect Pokémon Home to bring eligible Pokémon from existing collections into the game, and engage in cross-platform battles with mobile devices and Nintendo Switch consoles.

💡 Why It Matters

· The launch of "Pokémon Champions" on mobile devices widens the competitive battle game's accessibility, potentially attracting new players and shifting the balance of power in the Pokémon community.

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Blink has a big speed advantage against WebKit in browser tests

A prototype browser using the Blink engine has demonstrated a significant speed advantage over Apple's WebKit engine in benchmark tests. The tests, conducted by Microsoft Edge's Kyle Pflug, showed Blink outperforming WebKit by 28.6% in the Speedometer 3.1 Web Responsiveness test and narrowly winning in the Motionmark 1.3.1 graphics rendering test. The results suggest that Blink may offer a viable alternative to WebKit, which has dominated the iOS browser landscape for years.

💡 The emergence of a competitive browser engine like Blink could disrupt Apple's dominance in the iOS browser market, potentially giving users more choices and forcing Apple to innovate and improve its own WebKit engine.

appleinsider.com · Jun 18

Apple’s Game Porting Toolkit 4 is a big improvement for modern game…

Apple has released the fourth version of its Game Porting Toolkit (GPTK), a tool designed to help developers port Windows games to macOS. The new version, GPTK 4, utilizes AI-based technology to speed up the porting process and supports Metal 4, a version of the API exclusive to Apple Silicon. This allows for faster speeds and features like neural rendering and MetalFX Frame Interpolation, resulting in improved rendering of modern games.

💡 The success of GPTK 4 could lead to a surge in the availability of Windows games on macOS, potentially increasing the platform's appeal to gamers. By leveraging AI-based technology and Metal 4, Apple is providing developers with a more efficient and effective way to bring games to its platforms, which could ultimately benefit both developers and gamers.

appleinsider.com · Jun 18

Trump confirms that Apple will buy chips made by Intel

Trump announced that Apple will work with Intel to design and build chips in America, prompting an 8.8% rise in Intel's stock and a 0.6% increase in Apple's. The deal, a substantial multi-year agreement, is believed to concern production of older or lower-end processors, such as M-series chips for iPad Pro and MacBook Air. The partnership follows initial rumors and test production in May 2026. Details on delivery, shipment, and deal worth remain unclear. Intel's entry into limited scale testing of the 18A-P process means full production for Apple won't start until mid-2027. Apple's deal with Intel reduces dependence on Taiwan chip production.

💡 Apple's shift to Intel for older processors frees up TSMC's capacity for newer, high-end chips, ensuring a steady supply for flagship devices. This strategic move helps Apple mitigate the global chip shortage's impact on its product lineup.

androidcentral.com · Jun 18

Carl Pei tells Apple he’s stealing its customers, as if iMessage isn’t…

Carl Pei, founder of Nothing, has declared his intention to steal Apple's customers in a social media stunt. Pei believes the smartphone market has become stagnant and that Apple has lost its creative spark. Nothing aims to offer an alternative with its unique transparent hardware designs and customized software. The company plans to expand its US retail presence through Best Buy, posing a tangible threat to Apple's dominance. Pei's goal is to attract bored iPhone users, but he faces a challenge in competing with Apple's ecosystem. Nothing's expansion plans are underway, with a focus on physical hardware availability.

💡 The success of Nothing's approach hinges on its ability to build a services ecosystem that can rival Apple's. Breaking Apple's hold on users will require more than just innovative hardware designs.

techcrunch.com · Jun 18

Apple opens up App Store to new competition in Brazil

Apple has announced that developers in Brazil can now distribute iOS apps through alternative app stores and process payments outside the App Store. This change is part of Apple's agreement with Brazil's competition regulator, Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica. The move loosens Apple's rules in another market, following similar revisions in the EU and Japan. New protections will be introduced, including a notarization process for iOS apps and authorization requirements for alternative app marketplaces. Developers in Brazil must agree to the updated license agreement by July 6, 2026. The change marks another crack in Apple's control over the iOS app ecosystem.

💡 Regulators are successfully forcing Apple to open up its tightly controlled ecosystem, setting a precedent for other markets to follow. Alternative app stores and external payment options will give developers more flexibility and autonomy.

appleinsider.com · Jun 18

iPhone Air successor with two cameras rumored for spring 2027

Apple is reportedly working on the iPhone Air 2, a successor to the iPhone Air, which debuted in September 2025. The new device is expected to launch in early 2027 with improved battery life and an ultra-wide camera, addressing key complaints from iPhone Air buyers. The iPhone Air 2 will likely be released alongside the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e in the spring of 2027, following Apple's shift in iPhone release schedule. The device's specifications and timeline may change, but improved battery life and a second camera are expected.

💡 The iPhone Air 2's release could have significant implications for Apple's product lineup, particularly if it becomes an annual release. If successful, it could create a new tier in the iPhone lineup, potentially cannibalizing sales from the iPhone Pro and iPhone Fold models.