Apple’s September hardware event brought one of the biggest changes to the iPhone lineup in years. The company finally entered the foldable phone market with iPhone Duo, while also introducing the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5.
The iPhone Duo was clearly the headline product, but the event was notable for another reason. Apple is no longer treating its flagship devices as slightly different versions of the same idea. The Duo creates an entirely new category above the traditional Pro models, while the rest of the lineup focuses more heavily on practical improvements such as battery life, cameras, health tracking and audio.
Here is a closer look at what Apple announced and what each product brings to the lineup.
iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable iPhone
After years of watching Samsung, Google and other manufacturers experiment with foldable phones, Apple has finally entered the category with the iPhone Duo.
The company chose a book-style design rather than a compact flip phone. When closed, the Duo has a 5.4-inch outer display intended to work much like a conventional iPhone. Opening the device reveals a 7.6-inch inner display, the largest screen Apple has ever put on an iPhone.
Both displays use the same aspect ratio, which should make the transition between them feel more consistent. Apple says content can move between the outer and inner screens without dramatically changing its proportions. The displays also support ProMotion, Always On functionality and up to 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness. Apple Pencil support is scheduled to arrive later this year.
The larger display is where the Duo starts to feel like more than an iPhone with a hinge. iOS 27 introduces Split View on iPhone for the first time, allowing two apps to run side by side. Users can also open two windows from the same app, save app combinations and quickly move between different multitasking layouts.
That could make the Duo useful for tasks that have traditionally felt cramped on a phone. Reading an email while looking at a calendar, comparing two webpages or keeping a conversation open next to another app becomes much more practical with the extra space.
Apple has also modified parts of the interface specifically for the foldable design. Controls can shift toward the sides of the display, the Dynamic Island changes orientation depending on how the device is being used and StandBy works on both screens. Apple says apps from companies including Netflix, Zoom and Slack are already being adapted for the larger display.
Apple is putting a lot of effort into the hinge and durability
Durability remains one of the biggest questions surrounding any foldable phone, and Apple appears to know that its first attempt will be judged heavily on how well the hardware survives everyday use.
The iPhone Duo uses a grade 5 titanium enclosure and a hinge made from more than 100 components. Apple says internal reinforcement helps keep the device rigid while the hinge supports the center of the display when the phone is fully opened.
The outer screen uses Ceramic Shield 2, while the inner folding display combines a scratch-resistant coating, a custom polymer layer, high-strength glass and a titanium support plate. Apple has also given the Duo an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance, something that should help make it feel less experimental than early foldable phones did.
That does not mean durability concerns disappear completely. A folding screen is still mechanically more complicated than a fixed piece of glass, and long-term reliability will only become clear after people have used the Duo for months or years.
Still, Apple clearly wants buyers to think of the device as a normal premium iPhone rather than a fragile concept product.
The cameras use the folding design in interesting ways
The Duo does not simply copy the camera arrangement from the iPhone 18 Pro. Apple has instead built a dual-camera system around a 48MP Fusion Main camera and a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera.
The main camera can also provide an optical-quality 2x view using the sensor itself, giving users some telephoto capability without a separate dedicated telephoto camera. The Ultra Wide camera handles wider shots and macro photography.
Where things become more interesting is how the two displays can work with the cameras. Someone taking a photo can show the subject a live preview on the outer screen, while the photographer uses the larger display on the other side. The phone can also stand partially folded on a surface, allowing it to act as its own support for photos, video or FaceTime calls.
Apple has also placed a FaceTime camera beneath the inner display so that the large screen remains uninterrupted when the camera is not being used. The outer display has its own front camera, and the device can use both sides during certain FaceTime interactions.
These features are arguably more interesting than simply adding another lens. Foldables are most useful when the software actually takes advantage of the hardware, and Apple appears to have designed several camera experiences around the fact that the Duo has two screens.
No Face ID, but Touch ID returns
One of the more surprising changes is authentication.
The iPhone Duo uses Touch ID integrated into the side button instead of Face ID. Users can also unlock it through an Apple Watch.
It is an unusual decision for a premium iPhone, especially because Face ID has been central to Apple’s phones for years. But on a device with multiple displays and cameras, Touch ID may be the simpler solution because it works regardless of whether the phone is opened or closed.
In a strange way, one of Apple’s most futuristic iPhones is also bringing back an authentication method many users have not seen on a flagship iPhone in years.
A20 Pro powers both the Duo and the new Pro iPhones
Inside the iPhone Duo is Apple’s new A20 Pro chip, the same processor used in the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
The chip is manufactured using a 2-nanometer process and includes a 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU and a new 32-core Neural Engine. Apple says memory bandwidth has increased by 50 percent compared with A19 Pro, while the GPU can deliver up to 40 percent higher performance.
The Duo also includes a custom vapor chamber for cooling, which matters more than usual because the phone has to power two displays while maintaining a very thin design when opened. Apple claims sustained performance is up to 35 percent higher than on the iPhone 17 Pro.
This is another sign that Apple does not see the foldable as a secondary or experimental product. It is receiving the same class of processor as the company’s conventional flagship phones.
Battery life could be one of the Duo’s biggest tests
Foldable phones create an unusual battery challenge because there are two displays and relatively little internal space.
Apple has placed a battery on each side of the Duo and designed them to operate as one system. The company rates the phone for up to 31 hours of video playback when using the inner display and up to 44 hours when using the smaller outer display. Apple estimates around 24 hours of use when both screens are used more evenly.
Wired charging can bring the battery to roughly 50 percent in around 20 minutes, while MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging are also supported. The Duo uses eSIM exclusively worldwide, which Apple says frees additional internal space for battery capacity.
Real-world battery tests will matter much more than controlled playback figures, particularly because buyers are likely to use the large display differently from a traditional phone. Still, Apple appears to have avoided one of the more obvious compromises people might expect from such a thin foldable.
The price makes it a new tier of iPhone
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 with 256GB of storage. Apple is also offering 512GB, 1TB and 2TB configurations.
Preorders begin October 16, with the first units scheduled to arrive on October 23. The device comes in star white and night sky. Apple is also selling a $79 protective case and a $129 folio case with an integrated kickstand.
At nearly $2,000 before accessories or additional storage, this is clearly not intended to replace the regular iPhone for most buyers.
Instead, Apple appears to be creating a new category above the Pro Max. The Duo is for customers who value the larger folding display enough to accept a significantly higher price and some changes to familiar iPhone features.
That may actually be a smart way to introduce a first-generation product. Apple does not need millions of existing iPhone users to switch immediately. It only needs enough early buyers to prove that there is demand for a different kind of iPhone.
iPhone 18 Pro focuses on cameras, performance and battery
For anyone who still wants a traditional smartphone, Apple also introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The biggest camera change is a new 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture. Instead of relying entirely on computational photography to control how an image looks, the camera can physically adjust how much light enters through the lens.
Apple uses six aperture blades and allows the camera to change aperture automatically depending on lighting and depth of field. Users who want more control can manually adjust aperture, shutter speed and white balance through new Pro controls in the Camera app. A histogram is also available for checking exposure.
Variable aperture could be particularly useful for low-light photography and group shots. A wider aperture allows more light to reach the sensor, while a narrower setting can keep more of a scene in focus.
It is one of the more meaningful camera upgrades Apple has made recently because it introduces a physical element of control rather than relying entirely on software processing.
The Dynamic Island is smaller
Apple has also reduced the size of the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro models.
It can now show up to three Live Activities simultaneously while still housing the hardware required for Face ID.
This is not the dramatic disappearance of the cutout that some users may eventually want, but it gives more usable space back to the display and makes the Dynamic Island better suited to showing multiple pieces of information at once.
The Pro models are available in black, silver, glacier and a new burgundy finish.
Apple is pushing sustained performance, not just benchmark numbers
The A20 Pro chip is paired with a redesigned cooling system on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Apple says the new vapor chamber has three times the surface area of the previous generation and can improve sustained performance by up to 40 percent.
That distinction matters. Smartphones have been extremely fast for years, but maintaining that performance during gaming, video editing or other demanding tasks is more difficult because heat eventually forces the processor to slow down.
Better cooling could therefore be more noticeable than another large peak-performance number, especially for people who use their phones for games, photography or video work.
Connectivity has also been upgraded. Apple’s N1 chip brings Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread support, while the new C2 cellular modem is designed to use less energy while improving upload performance.
The Pro Max gets a major battery boost
Battery life is another area Apple emphasized heavily.
The company rates eSIM-only versions of the iPhone 18 Pro for up to 36 hours of video playback, while the Pro Max reaches up to 45 hours. Apple says the Pro Max offers the longest battery life of any iPhone it has released.
Charging is faster as well. Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro can reach around 50 percent in 15 minutes using a wired charger.
As always, actual battery life will depend heavily on how the phone is used, but the combination of a more efficient chip, larger batteries and improved thermal management makes endurance one of the more practical upgrades this year.
The iPhone 18 Pro lineup is more expensive
The improvements come with a higher starting price.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. Both now begin with 256GB of storage and can be configured up to 2TB.
Preorders open September 12, with availability beginning September 18.
With the Duo sitting at $1,999, Apple now has considerably more separation between its premium phone categories. The Pro remains the conventional flagship, while the Duo is positioned as something more specialized.
Apple Watch Series 12 focuses on health data
Apple Watch Series 12 looks more familiar from the outside, but many of its changes are focused on what the watch measures throughout the day.
The new Health Sensing System increases the frequency of heart rate and heart rate variability measurements. That additional data contributes to a new readiness score designed to help users understand how prepared their body may be for exercise or other activity.
The watch uses Apple’s new S11 chip and maintains up to 24 hours of everyday battery life. Workout battery life has increased, while charging is faster. Apple says a 15-minute charge can provide up to 12 additional hours of battery life.
Apple is also improving step tracking and indoor distance measurement. These are not features that generate the same excitement as a foldable iPhone, but they affect some of the most common ways people actually use an Apple Watch.
The Health app is becoming a larger part of the experience
The watch changes are tied closely to a redesigned Health app on iPhone.
Apple is adding an Insights section that brings together information from areas such as sleep, activity, heart rate and readiness. A new Longevity section includes Health Age, which compares certain health measurements with what might typically be expected for someone of the user’s age.
The idea is to move away from simply presenting a collection of individual numbers and toward showing how those measurements relate to one another over time.
Series 12 starts at $399 and will be available beginning September 18.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 puts battery life first
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 receives many of the same health improvements as Series 12, including the S11 chip, higher-frequency heart rate measurements and the new readiness feature.
Battery life remains one of the biggest differences.
Apple rates Ultra 4 for up to 50 hours of normal use and as much as 84 hours in Low Power Mode. A 15-minute charge can provide up to 18 hours of additional battery life.
For long outdoor activities, the watch can record workouts for up to 45 hours in its longest endurance mode while continuing to collect GPS data.
That makes Ultra 4 a much more specialized product than Series 12. Most people probably do not need that level of endurance, but it becomes much more valuable for long hikes, races or trips where charging is inconvenient.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799 and comes in natural or black titanium. Availability begins September 18.
AirPods 5 bring ANC further down the lineup
AirPods 5 were another significant part of the event, particularly because Apple is making Active Noise Cancellation more accessible.
The new earbuds maintain the open-ear design of regular AirPods rather than using the silicone ear tips found on AirPods Pro. Apple says the redesigned acoustic system can remove up to 50 percent more external noise compared with AirPods 4 with ANC.
The earbuds also receive an updated Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio and Conversation Awareness. Apple has redesigned the internal acoustic architecture and Adaptive EQ in an effort to improve sound across a wider variety of ear shapes.
The important part is that Apple is continuing to narrow the gap between standard AirPods and AirPods Pro. Buyers who dislike silicone tips no longer have to give up as many of the more advanced audio features.
There are two versions of AirPods 5
The base AirPods 5 cost $129.
A second version costs $149 and adds a wireless charging case, longer battery life and volume control directly on the stems. Apple says the $149 model can deliver up to five hours of playback with ANC enabled and up to 22 hours when including the charging case.
The wireless case can be charged using USB-C, Qi-compatible chargers or an Apple Watch charger. Both versions are available from September 18.
The $20 difference makes the more expensive version relatively easy to justify for anyone who values wireless charging or direct volume control, but keeping a $129 model also gives Apple a more accessible entry point into the AirPods lineup.
iOS 27 ties much of the new hardware together
Software is also an important part of this generation.
iOS 27 is particularly significant for the iPhone Duo because Apple has had to rethink parts of the interface for a device that can change its physical shape. Split View, app pairs, adaptive controls and redesigned screen elements are all examples of software responding directly to the new hardware.
The same update also brings broader changes to compatible existing iPhones, which means not everything announced at the event requires buying new hardware.
That distinction matters. Apple’s newest devices get the most attention, but part of the company’s advantage is that major software updates can reach millions of devices that are already in use.
Apple did not refresh everything
Despite the number of announcements, several major Apple product families were absent.
There was no new iPad announcement and no additional Mac hardware at the event. Apple also did not introduce a standard iPhone 18 alongside the Pro models and Duo.
That makes this year’s lineup unusual. Instead of presenting the familiar combination of a standard iPhone and two Pro models at the same time, Apple placed much more attention on the new foldable category.
It creates a launch that feels less predictable than Apple’s September events have in recent years.
The iPhone lineup is becoming more specialized
The most interesting part of the event may not be any individual specification.
Apple now has several increasingly distinct ideas of what an iPhone should be.
The iPhone 18 Pro is still the conventional flagship. It focuses on cameras, battery life, performance and the familiar smartphone form factor. The iPhone Duo goes in a different direction by prioritizing screen space, multitasking and flexibility, even if that means changing familiar elements such as Face ID and asking buyers to pay considerably more.
That separation could become important over the next few generations.
For years, choosing between high-end iPhones mostly came down to size, cameras and price. The Duo introduces a more fundamental decision about how someone wants to use a phone.
Apple Watch is following a similar pattern. Series 12 remains the general-purpose smartwatch, while Ultra 4 pushes much harder toward endurance and outdoor activity. AirPods are becoming more capable at the lower end without eliminating the reasons someone might still choose AirPods Pro.
The result is an Apple lineup that feels more segmented, but also more interesting.
The Duo will determine how important this event really was
Most of the products Apple announced will probably follow familiar upgrade cycles. The iPhone 18 Pro will replace an older Pro model for some buyers. Series 12 will replace previous Apple Watches. AirPods 5 will gradually become the standard choice for people buying new Apple earbuds.
The iPhone Duo is different.
It represents a new branch of Apple’s most important product line, and its success will depend on more than specifications. Developers need to make good use of the larger display. The hinge and folding screen need to remain reliable over years of use. Battery life has to hold up outside controlled tests, and customers have to decide that the larger screen is useful enough to justify a starting price close to $2,000.
Those are significant challenges.
But even if the first Duo remains a niche product, its arrival changes what an iPhone can be. Apple has finally moved beyond the single-screen rectangle that has defined the product since the beginning.
That makes the September 2026 event more important than a typical annual refresh.
The iPhone 18 Pro may be the phone most people actually buy, and the Apple Watch and AirPods updates may have a more immediate impact on millions of users. But the Duo is the product that could influence what Apple’s hardware looks like several years from now.
For the first time in a while, the most interesting question after an iPhone launch is not simply how much faster the new model is.
It is where Apple takes the form factor next.
