Apple held its first fall event under new CEO John Ternus on Wednesday, revealing a suite of new hardware including its inaugural foldable smartphone. The company also introduced updates to its iPhone Pro lineup, Apple Watch series, and AirPods, all set to arrive in stores this September and October.
The headline announcement was the iPhone Duo, Apple’s first entry into the foldable market. The device features a 7.6-inch Retina display when unfolded and a 5.4-inch outer screen. Apple stated the design was “inspired by the versatility of iPad,” featuring an under-display camera to create a seamless inner screen. Battery life is rated for up to 31 hours of video playback on the main display and 44 hours on the outer one. The phone sports a 48-megapixel fusion main camera and a 48-megapixel ultrawide lens with 2x optical zoom. Its hinge, constructed from Grade 5 aluminum with over 100 custom components, allows for smooth folding. The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for 256GB of storage. Pre-orders begin October 16, with a general release on October 23.
Alongside the foldable, Apple launched the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. While retaining their predecessor designs, these models feature significant camera upgrades, including a 48-megapixel sensor with a variable aperture controlled by six blades. This hardware aims to improve low-light performance and shooting speed. New software tools offer manual controls for white balance, shutter speed, and aperture, alongside new “Photographic Styles” with texture and grain adjustments. The cameras can record 4K Dolby HDR Vision video with cinematic effects applied post-shot. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the Pro Max begins at $1,299, marking a $100 increase over last year. Both devices are available starting September 18.
In the wearable space, Apple introduced the Series 12 and Ultra 4 watches. These devices focus on new AI-driven features, such as “Audio Intelligence,” which can record and summarize recent conversations via a “Live Rewind” feature that displays the prior 15 seconds of chat as text. A “Siri Recap” tool helps users remember key takeaways from meetings or calls. Additionally, a “Sound Recognition” feature alerts users to sirens, alarms, and baby cries. The Series 12 starts at $399 and the Ultra 4 at $499, with pre-orders opening on September 18.
Apple also announced the AirPods 5, which bring improved active noise cancellation and transparency modes similar to those found on the more expensive Pro model. The new earbuds claim 50% more background noise reduction than the previous generation and include stem-based volume controls. Users can expect up to five hours of listening time with ANC on, and 22 hours total with the charging case. The standard AirPods 5 start at $129, while the Wireless Charging Case version is $149. They will be available on September 18.
Finally, Apple revealed a redesigned Health app leveraging Apple Intelligence. The update includes a new Insights tab offering personalized health assessments, a “Readiness” score, and a calculated “Health Age.” A dedicated Longevity tab uses data from the iPhone and Watch to evaluate sleep, movement, and heart health. The revamped app will launch later this year, initially in U.S. English.
Just when I thought Apple was done innovating on form factors. The dual-screen design looks promising for multitasking fans.
Wait, the Pro Max went up $100? I’m going to stick with my iPhone 17 Pro until the next cycle.
The Live Rewind feature on the new watches sounds incredibly useful for meetings. Finally, something that actually improves productivity.
A foldable iPhone at $1,999 is quite the gamble. Hope Apple nails the hinge durability unlike Samsung’s early batches.