Apple used its Surprise and Shine event in Cupertino to introduce iPhone Duo, the company’s first foldable smartphone. The device will start at $1,999, with sales scheduled to begin on October 23.
The new handset opens “like a passport,” doubling the display area. Apple says it has the largest screen in the company’s smartphone lineup as well as a record-thin body. Apple CEO John Ternus said Duo keeps the features users value in the iPhone while creating new ways to use the device.
iPhone Duo is powered by the A20 Pro chip and includes a vapor-chamber cooling system and a new C2 modem. Its battery is split into two sections placed in each half of the body. According to Apple, the device can run for 24 to 31 hours depending on usage, and it can charge to 50% in about 20 minutes.
The body is made of titanium and ceramic fibers, while the front and rear panels are protected by a new-generation Ceramic Shield. The model will be available in two colors: Star White and Night Sky.
Apple also introduced updated iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models, priced from $1,199 and $1,299 respectively. The phones come with Siri AI integration that can work with more than 300,000 third-party apps.
Among the new features, Apple highlighted Apple Reference Image, a mechanism designed to confirm that a photo was taken by the device’s camera rather than generated by artificial intelligence.
The company also announced a significant increase in battery life. Apple said iPhone 18 Pro Max can run for up to 45 hours, while iPhone 18 Pro can last up to 36 hours.
Beyond smartphones, Apple refreshed its AirPods and Apple Watch ranges. Fifth-generation AirPods received an upgraded noise-cancellation system that the company says is 50% more effective than the previous version, while offering up to 5 hours of battery life.
The new Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 include AI-based Health Age and Audio Intelligence features. These tools analyze health data and also allow the device to record and transcribe short conversation snippets for later review in Siri Recap format.
The presentation was also John Ternus’s first public appearance as Apple’s chief executive officer. He replaced Tim Cook on September 1, after previously serving as the company’s vice president of hardware engineering.
