Two device stories landed on 8 and 9 October 2026. One is a report about Apple’s supply chain, built on supplier sources rather than sales figures. The other is a start-up’s smart ring that sends your voice to AI agents, and that nobody can buy yet. Neither comes with independent data, so here is what each source actually says.
Apple: iPhone 18 Pro component orders cut (reported)
Reported (Nikkei Asia, supplier sources). In an exclusive published at 06:58 BST on 9 October, Nikkei Asia reported that “Apple has told some of its suppliers to cut production of components for its newly launched iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, after soaring memory chip costs forced price increases that have dampened consumer demand” [1]. The story’s standfirst reads: “Suppliers blame premium handsets’ price hike for weaker consumer uptake” [1]. Its picture caption says the phones’ reception “is reported to be cooler than expected, with a higher price tag a factor” [1].
Most of the article is behind Nikkei’s paywall, and TSN has read only that opening. MacRumors has summarised more of it, including the size of the reported cut [2]; TSN has not been able to check that figure in Nikkei’s own text, so it is not repeated here. Apple has not commented on the report.
Why it matters. Nikkei links the price rises to “soaring memory chip costs” [1]. If its sources are right, those costs are now showing up in orders for Apple’s most expensive standard iPhones. But a cut in component orders is a planning decision by Apple and its suppliers. It is not a sales number, and it does not say how many phones Apple has sold.
Natura Interface: a ring for talking to AI agents (company-reported, unreleased)
Company-reported. TechCrunch reported on 8 October that Natura, a start-up founded by Carlo Edoardo Ferraris, has unveiled Interface, “a new $99 smart ring” [3]. You press the ring and speak. The request goes to an AI agent, or the ring records a meeting or a spoken note. TechCrunch says that at launch it will connect to a range of agents and apps, including Anthropic’s Claude and OpenAI’s ChatGPT [3]. Replies come back through connected headphones, an iPhone Live Activity or Natura’s NatureOS app [3].
Not yet on sale. TechCrunch says: “Preorders are expected to open next month, with shipping slated for December or January” [3]. Natura’s own product page offers only a waitlist and says the final price, preorder timing and delivery window will be shown before checkout [4].
Company claims, still being tested. Natura lists heart rate, resting heart rate, heart-rate variability, sleep stages, steps and activity, and skin temperature, but its page says: “Health features are in validation. Final capabilities will be confirmed before release” [4]. It also says whispered speech and noisy surroundings are “in validation” [4]. The company claims “6–12 days per charge” with typical use and a full charge in 100 minutes [4]. The ring is not a medical device, and none of these features has been independently tested.
The price will change. TechCrunch reports that after “an initial three- to six-month free period, Natura plans to charge a $9 monthly subscription fee”, and that Natura “plans to eventually raise the price” of the ring itself [3]. Ferraris told TechCrunch that “within a year, more or less, most people will have a personal agent”. That is his forecast [3].
What this does not prove
- That iPhone 18 Pro sales have fallen by any particular amount. Nikkei reports component order cuts from supplier sources, not sales data, and Apple has not commented [1].
- The size of the cut. The figure in MacRumors’ summary could not be checked in Nikkei’s own text [1][2].
- That Natura’s ring works as described. It is unreleased, and its voice and health features are, by Natura’s own account, still being validated [4].
- What the ring will really cost. $99 is the launch price TechCrunch reports, and a subscription is planned after the free period [3].
The Bottom Line
Nikkei Asia reports that Apple has asked some suppliers to make fewer iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max parts, and blames price rises driven by memory costs. That is reported and unconfirmed by Apple. Natura’s Interface ring shows where AI gadgets are heading, a button that sends your voice to an agent, but for now it is a waitlist, a reported $99 price and a list of features still in testing.
Sources
- Lauly Li and Cheng Ting-fang, “Exclusive: Apple cuts iPhone 18 Pro orders due to soft demand”, Nikkei Asia, 9 October 2026, 14:58 JST (06:58 BST) (reported, supplier sources; paywalled, headline, standfirst, caption and first paragraph read). https://asia.nikkei.com/business/technology/exclusive-apple-cuts-iphone-18-pro-orders-due-to-soft-demand
- “Apple Reportedly Cuts iPhone 18 Pro Orders After Price Hike Dampens Demand”, MacRumors, 9 October 2026 (trade press summary of Nikkei; not used for figures). https://www.macrumors.com/2026/10/09/apple-cuts-iphone-18-pro-orders-price-demand/
- Aisha Malik, “Natura’s $99 smart ring puts AI agents on your finger”, TechCrunch, 8 October 2026, 17:00 BST (trade press, includes interview with founder Carlo Edoardo Ferraris; company-reported price and plans). https://techcrunch.com/2026/10/08/naturas-smart-ring-puts-ai-agents-on-your-finger/
- Natura, “Interface” product page, checked 9 October 2026, about 14:10 BST (company claims; waitlist only; features “in validation”). https://natura.inc/interface
