Apple Revealed the iPhone Duo: Everything Announced Today
Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event just ended — and it delivered. New CEO John Ternus took the stage for his first product event as chief executive and unveiled the widest single-day lineup Apple has introduced in years: a foldable iPhone duo, two new flagship iPhones, a new Apple Watch, an Apple Watch Ultra, and AirPods 5.
Here’s everything that was announced, in order.
iPhone Duo: Apple’s First Foldable iPhone
The headline product is the one the industry has been speculating about for years. Apple confirmed the iPhone Duo — its first foldable iPhone — with a book-style, wide-format design rather than the flip-phone form factor used by Samsung’s Flip series.
The Duo has a 5.4-inch outer display for use when folded and a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR inner display when unfolded — roughly the size of an iPad mini in landscape orientation. It is the thinnest iPhone ever when open: just 4.5mm unfolded, 9mm folded. Apple reportedly eliminated the hinge crease by using a specially developed display from Samsung that folds without leaving a visible mark — a feature Samsung itself abandoned on its own foldables.
The Duo runs on the A20 Pro chip — Apple’s new 2nm processor, the same one powering the iPhone 18 Pro. It comes with a 48MP Fusion main camera and Apple’s C2 modem. Two colours at launch: Star White and Night Sky (deep navy blue).
Apple Pencil USB-C support is planned for later in the year — it’s not available at launch. Pre-orders open October 16. Shipping begins October 23. Starting price: $1,999 for 256GB, scaling up to approximately $3,000 for 2TB storage.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
The flagship slab iPhones got significant upgrades. Both the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max run the A20 Pro chip on a 2nm process — the same generational jump that just arrived in the Mac mini M6. Performance improvements are substantial, with particular gains in on-device AI processing via a dual Neural Engine.
The standout camera upgrade is variable aperture — physical aperture blades inside the 48MP main lens that can open or close to control depth of field and low-light performance. This is a first for iPhone and brings a capability previously only available in dedicated cameras to a smartphone for the first time at this quality level.
The Dynamic Island is slimmer on both Pro models and now supports up to three simultaneous Live Activities — a practical upgrade for anyone juggling navigation, music, and a timer simultaneously.
The standard iPhone 18 is not launching today. Apple confirmed it will arrive in spring 2027 alongside the iPhone Air 2 and iPhone 18e — a deliberate choice to simplify the autumn lineup and focus attention on the premium tier.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4
The Apple Watch Series 12 arrives with a new chip, improved sleep tracking powered by on-device AI, and a thinner case. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 brings enhanced ruggedness, an extended battery life target, and new satellite connectivity features for backcountry navigation without a phone signal.
Both watches support the updated watchOS 27, which officially releases to existing Apple Watch users on September 14 — alongside iOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate.
AirPods 5
The AirPods 5 were announced in two configurations — a base model and a version with wireless charging case. Both include active noise cancellation — previously a Pro-only feature — at a lower price point. The audio processing chip has been upgraded, and Personalized Spatial Audio now works without requiring a head scan setup.
iOS 27 and Software Updates: Release Date Confirmed
Apple confirmed that iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, tvOS 27, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27 all release on September 14. This brings Gemini-powered Siri, the Extensions framework allowing Claude and ChatGPT as default AI assistants, and a full set of Apple Intelligence features to existing devices.
What’s Coming Later
Ternus noted that Apple TV, HomePod mini, a home display product, and a touch MacBook are not being announced today. A second event in October or November is expected for those products.
The Bigger Picture: Ternus’s First Statement
This event was as much about John Ternus as it was about the products. His first event as CEO — delivered in Apple’s familiar pre-recorded video format — focused heavily on engineering detail and product craft. He closed with: “We’re just getting started.” Whether that reflects genuine conviction or event theatre, the products themselves made a strong case. For context on Apple’s current moment, see our coverage of Tim Cook’s departure and what Ternus inherits and our earlier iOS 27 Extensions breakdown.
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