Apple has unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series, new Apple Watches and upgraded AirPods.
The product showcase on Wednesday marked John Ternus’ first Apple event as chief executive. It also revealed his strategy for navigating the artificial intelligence era.
Apple enters foldable phone race
The passport-shaped iPhone Duo represents Apple’s biggest iPhone redesign in years. It opens into a 7.6-inch display and carries a 5.4-inch outer screen.
Users can keep two apps open simultaneously on the larger display. Apple also added a custom hinge, titanium body and support for Apple Pencil.
Touch ID sits inside the side button. Apple described the Duo as its thinnest iPhone when opened, although the folded device remains thicker than some Chinese rivals.
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Apple’s A20 Pro chip powers the Duo. The company built the chip on a 2-nanometer process and paired it with vapor-chamber cooling.
Apple says the combination improves on-device AI, graphics performance, battery efficiency and heat management. The phone also carries Apple’s latest C2 modem.
Reuters reported that the battery supports 24 hours of mixed dual-screen use. It can reach a 50% charge in about 20 minutes.
Prices start at $1,999, around $100 above the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold at comparable base storage.
Duo offers storage of up to 2 terabytes, more than its main foldable rivals. Pre-orders start October 16, followed by sales on October 23.
iPhone 18 Pro prices rise as Apple expands AI
Apple raised Pro prices by $100 amid higher memory chip costs. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the Pro Max begins at $1,299.
Both phones use the A20 Pro chip and feature a 48-megapixel main camera. A variable aperture responds to lighting while giving photographers greater control over depth of field and low-light shots.
Apple also introduced Apple Reference Image, a standard designed to authenticate photographs. Support for SynthID will help identify images created or altered using AI.
Neither feature will reach the European Union or China.
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Ternus called the iPhone an “intelligent personal hub” and made privacy central to Apple’s AI pitch. Apple Intelligence handles tasks on the device whenever possible.
Private Cloud Compute protects information when a task requires more computing power. The upgraded Siri will work with more than 300,000 apps at launch, including third-party applications.
New watches and AirPods broaden Apple lineup
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 feature the S11 chip and a redesigned health-sensing system. Prices start at $399 and $799, respectively.
Features include a Readiness score, more frequent heart-rate monitoring and AI-powered health insights. Apple also added Live Rewind and Siri Recap audio tools.
New AirPods start at $129 and bring active noise cancellation to Apple’s entry-level earbuds for the first time. A $149 model adds wireless charging and swipe-based volume controls on the stem.
Apple shares closed 0.3% lower at $315.34 after the presentation.
