Apple Unveils Foldable iPhone Duo and AI-Enhanced Apple Watch

Apple on Wednesday launched its highly anticipated fall product lineup at its "Surprise and Shine" event, headlined by the debut of its first-ever foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo. Newly appointed CEO John Ternus presented the new devices, which also included the iPhone 18 Pro series, updated AirPods, and a new generation of Apple Watches boasting advanced artificial intelligence capabilities.

The iPhone Duo marks a significant entry into the foldable market for Apple, featuring a 7.6-inch main Retina display that expands to full screen, complemented by a 5.4-inch external display. Inspired by the versatility of the iPad, the foldable phone integrates an underdisplay camera for an uninterrupted viewing experience. Apple claims the device offers extended battery life, with up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner screen and 44 hours on the outer display. The camera system includes a 48-megapixel main sensor and a 48-megapixel ultrawide lens with 2x optical zoom, enabling users to capture high-quality selfies using the rear camera with previews on the external screen. Constructed with Grade 5 aluminum and over 100 meticulously engineered components for its hinge, the iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for 256GB of storage and is available for pre-order on October 16, with retail availability set for October 23.

AI and Health Features Take Center Stage

Beyond hardware, Apple heavily emphasized AI integration across its product ecosystem. The new Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 receive substantial software upgrades focused on "Audio Intelligence." These features include "Sound Recognition" to alert users to important ambient sounds like sirens and doorbells, and "Live Rewind," which captures the last 15 seconds of conversations as text snippets. A "Siri Recap" function aims to help users recall key details from daily discussions, such as meeting takeaways or parent-teacher conference notes. These updates are positioned to benefit individuals with hearing impairments and enhance everyday usability. The Series 12 starts at $399, and the Ultra 4 at $499, with pre-orders opening today for a September 18 release.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max retain a familiar design but introduce significant camera enhancements. A new 48-megapixel sensor with a variable aperture system promises improved low-light performance and faster shooting speeds. New Pro camera controls offer granular adjustments for white balance, shutter speed, and aperture, alongside "Photographic Styles" for greater creative control. The camera is capable of recording 4K Dolby HDR Vision video, with post-shoot cinematic effect application. The iPhone 18 Pro begins at $1,199, and the Pro Max at $1,299, both available for pre-order on Saturday and in stores September 18.

AirPods 5 also see advancements, including better audio quality, enhanced active noise cancellation that Apple claims is 50% more effective than the previous generation, and expanded integration with Siri and Apple Intelligence features. Volume controls are now integrated into the stem, a feature previously exclusive to AirPods Pro. Transparency mode has been refined for more natural ambient sound passthrough. With active noise cancellation, AirPods 5 provide up to five hours of listening time, extendable to 22 hours with the charging case. Pricing starts at $129 for the standard model and $149 for the version with a Wireless Charging Case, with pre-orders beginning today for a September 18 launch.

The revamped Apple Health app aims to provide deeper insights into user health data through Apple Intelligence. A new Insights tab offers personalized guidance and assessments, including a "Readiness" score and a calculated "Health Age." The Longevity tab will leverage data from Apple Watch and iPhone to evaluate overall health across sleep, movement, and heart health metrics. These Health app updates are slated for release later in 2026, beginning in U.S. English.