Apple Unveils iPhone 18 Pro, Foldable iPhone Duo and New Apple Watch Models in Major Launch Surprise

CUPERTINO: Apple has unveiled a new lineup of products at its annual launch event, including the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and, in the biggest surprise of the event, its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo.

The event, held at Apple Park on Wednesday, began with an opening video before Apple Chief Executive Officer John Ternus took the stage. He highlighted the growing role of artificial intelligence in the company’s upcoming products and Apple’s efforts to make the iPhone a central hub connecting users’ personal lives, apps and other devices.

iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max

Apple first introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, featuring major upgrades to performance, cameras, battery life and artificial intelligence.

Both models are powered by the new A20 Pro chip, built on 2-nanometre technology, with a six-core CPU and seven-core graphics system. A second Neural Engine has also been added, which Apple says doubles AI performance.

The new vapor chamber cooling system is three times larger than the previous generation, with Apple claiming up to a 40 percent improvement in sustained performance.

The camera system includes a 48-megapixel main camera with a variable aperture for the first time. The aperture can open wider in low-light conditions to capture around 50 percent more light, while it can also be narrowed to provide greater depth in group photographs.

Video features include 4K Dolby Vision, improved audio and enhanced camera controls.

Apple has also made the Dynamic Island smaller and more functional, allowing it to display up to three live activities simultaneously. iOS 27 brings improvements including faster AirDrop, enhanced search and the ability to use one phone number across two iPhones.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max can reportedly deliver up to 45 hours of video playback, while fast charging can take the battery to 50 percent in around 15 minutes.

The iPhone 18 Pro lineup will be available in black, silver, glacier and burgundy. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299.

Apple is also offering up to 2TB of storage for the first time. Pre-orders will begin on September 12, with the devices becoming available on September 18.

AirPods 5

Apple has retained the lightweight, tip-free design for the AirPods 5 while making major changes to the internal hardware.

The company says the new architecture and improved adaptive equalization system deliver better sound quality. Noise cancellation has also been improved, with Apple claiming it can reduce noise by up to 50 percent more than previous AirPods.

The new models feature a more natural Transparency mode, personalized spatial audio and live translation capabilities.

The standard model offers up to four hours of listening with noise cancellation and up to 20 hours with the charging case, starting at $129.

A second model offers up to five hours of battery life, touch volume controls and a wireless charging case for $149.

Pre-orders for both models are now open, with availability beginning September 18.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 also received significant health and fitness upgrades.

According to Apple, the watches can now monitor heart rate up to 60 times more frequently than before, providing more detailed information about health and exercise.

The upgraded health system provides additional insights into heart rate and heart-rate variability, sleep, workouts and physical readiness. AI-powered features include sound recognition and the ability to identify key points from recorded conversations.

The Apple Watch Series 12 offers up to 24 hours of battery life, Ceramic Shield 2 and new colour options. Aluminium models will be available in space gray, black, light gold and dark bronze, while titanium and ceramic versions will also be offered.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 provides more than two days of battery life, up to 18 hours of workout tracking with GPS and heart-rate monitoring, and up to 45 hours in its new extended-use mode. It will be available in black and natural titanium.

The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399, while the Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799. Pre-orders are now open, with both models arriving on September 18.

iPhone Duo: Apple’s Biggest Surprise

The biggest announcement came at the end of the event when Apple introduced its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, under its traditional “one more thing” reveal.

The device features what Apple described as the largest display ever offered on an iPhone. When unfolded, it has a 7.6-inch internal display, while the external screen measures 5.4 inches.

Both screens have the same aspect ratio, allowing the external display to function like a conventional iPhone when the device is folded. The larger display can run two apps simultaneously, while Apple plans to add Apple Pencil support for writing and drawing on both screens.

The iPhone Duo features a titanium frame, Ceramic Shield 2 on the front, Ceramic Shield on the rear and IP68 resistance to water and dust. Touch ID has been integrated into the side button for fingerprint unlocking.

The foldable iPhone is powered by the A20 Pro chip and Apple’s new C2 communications modem, which provides up to 50 percent faster upload speeds and improved signal performance compared with the previous generation. The device will be available worldwide with eSIM only.

Its battery is divided between the two sections of the device but designed to function as a single battery. Apple claims up to 31 hours of video playback on the internal screen and 44 hours on the external screen, while using both displays equally can provide up to 24 hours of battery life.

Fast charging can reportedly take the device to 50 percent in around 20 minutes.

The camera system consists of a 48-megapixel main camera, a 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera and a 2x optical-quality telephoto camera. Dual Capture allows users to record photos or videos simultaneously using the front and rear cameras, while the external display can serve as a preview screen for improved selfies.

The iPhone Duo will be offered in Star White and Night Sky, with a starting price of $1,999.

Storage options will range from 256GB to 2TB. Pre-orders will begin on October 16, while the device will officially go on sale on October 23.