.jpg "HCPH-Riverside-0708-1870×125-Spa (1)")
Apple entered the foldable smartphone market Wednesday with the new iPhone Duo foldable. The company also introduced the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, updated Apple Watches and AirPods 5.
The announcements came during Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event in Cupertino, California. It was the first major product presentation led by CEO John Ternus.
iPhone Duo Foldable Expands Apple’s Lineup
The iPhone Duo is Apple’s first phone with a folding display. Its inner screen is 80% larger than the display on Apple’s next-largest iPhone.
The device opens to provide a tablet-style workspace for entertainment, reading and productivity. When folded, it functions like a traditional smartphone with an exterior display.
Apple also added Apple Pencil support. That feature could make the larger screen useful for drawing, handwritten notes and document editing.
The launch moves Apple into a market already occupied by Samsung, Google and Motorola. Samsung began selling foldable smartphones in 2019.
However, foldable phones still represent a smaller share of the overall smartphone business. Apple’s arrival could bring more attention to the category and encourage wider consumer adoption.
Detailed availability information for the iPhone Duo was not immediately announced during the event.
iPhone 18 Pro Adds Camera and Battery Upgrades
Apple also unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Both phones use the new A20 Pro processor.
The chip includes a seven-core graphics unit. Apple says it can improve graphics performance by up to 30%.
Both models feature a 48-megapixel main camera with variable aperture. The camera can adjust how much light enters its lens, offering greater control in different environments.
Apple estimates up to 24 hours of battery life for the iPhone 18 Pro. The Pro Max increases that estimate to 30 hours.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the Pro Max starts at $1,299. Both include 256GB of storage and arrive in black, silver, glacier and burgundy.
Preorders begin Friday. The phones will reach customers and stores Sept. 18.
AirPods and Apple Watch Receive Updates
AirPods 5 will start at $129 and include active noise cancellation. Apple also introduced a $149 version with wireless charging, longer battery life and stem-based volume controls.
The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 begins at $799.
Both watches include new processors, more frequent heart-rate monitoring and additional artificial intelligence features. Sound awareness can recognize doorbells, sirens and other important noises.
Apple also previewed Live Rewind, which can provide a brief transcript of a recent conversation. Siri Recap can create high-level meeting notes without saving the original audio.
The watch recording features will enter beta testing later this year. The new watches become available Sept. 18, with preorders beginning immediately.
The iPhone Duo represents the event’s biggest change to Apple’s smartphone design. Its launch gives consumers another foldable option while extending Apple’s hardware lineup beyond the traditional iPhone shape.