Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 11, 2026, 6:11 AM ET

Apple's Big Week: iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and a New Watch Lineup

Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event delivered the company's first foldable iPhone alongside refreshed flagships, and the company capped the week with a 95-second recap of the hour-plus presentation. The iPhone Duo arrives with a 7.6-inch inner display, while the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max carry the new A20 Pro chip; the Apple Watch Series, Apple Watch Ultra, and Air Pods 5 round out the hardware slate. Apple also confirmed that the iPhone Duo won't ship until October, with more than seven additional products still expected iPhone Duo: Apple's First Foldable

The device that tech blogs long called "iPhone Ultra" officially became the iPhone Duo, ending months of naming speculation. A Trend Force report projects the foldable iPhone will capture 24.8% of the foldable smartphone market in 2026 alone, countering a 20% slump in the segment. Hands-on impressions were overwhelmingly positive, with one reviewer asking why the iPhone Duo had to be this good after years of reservations about a folding iPhone.

Apple's engineering choices drew scrutiny. The under-screen camera on the inner display isn't placed in the top-right corner, and a Chinese leaker offered an explanation for the placement. Apple also declined to reveal the resolution of that FaceTime camera hidden beneath the 7.6-inch panel. The Main camera sensor appears to match the iPhone 17e rather than the iPhone, according to Apple's tech specs.

Multitasking has limits: despite two displays, you won't be able to play two videos at the same time. Mag Safe works, but the MagSafe accessory ecosystem won't be widely compatible with older attachments. A crease will inevitably develop over time — a matter of physics and engineering that Apple has worked to mitigate. Notably, the iPhone Duo is not repeating the Vision Pro's $3,499 pricing problem.

Apple has detailed how iOS 27 was rebuilt to adapt to the foldable's dual displays in real time. Third-party developers now face a compatibility challenge, since many apps may not work as well as Apple's built-in software at launch. Long memories may note the resemblance to Microsoft's 2009 Courier prototype. One reviewer called the iPhone Duo Apple at its absolute best — and a little bit at its worst — after Samsung's seven-year head start. In the end, the foldable iPhone fits Apple's familiar pattern: never first, usually best.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

Apple's most advanced traditional iPhone meets its first foldable, and the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max invite direct comparison with the Duo. Buyers weighing the two devices can also consider whether the iPad mini still makes sense, since the Duo replaced that idea for many people. Apple rates the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max as slightly easier to repair than the iPhone 17 Pro, according to its own repairability scores.

Early benchmark results for the A20 Pro chip appeared quickly, and one analysis suggests the speed improvement will be obvious even to average users if the numbers are legitimate. The same A20 Pro could be the key to Siri AI finally becoming genuinely useful. Camera upgrades drew the most excitement in hands-on time, with the iPhone 18 Pro impressing on that front.

One standout feature may be the f/1.48 camera, which could prove the most valuable addition for most users. A detailed comparison tallies 35+ upgrades over the iPhone 17 Pro. For one writer, the iPhone 18 Pro camera features won out over the drool-worthy Duo in a head-versus-heart decision. Apple also launched a new Wrist Strap accessory for the iPhone 18 Pro. Users can consult a guide on how to fast charge the new phone, which offers much better battery life than its predecessors.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

The Apple Watch Series 12 brought a price increase that many may have missed: the larger 46mm aluminum model no longer starts at $429 as it has since the Series 4 in 2018. The new generation pairs a smaller display with a wider case than the Series 10 and Series, even though pixel resolution is unchanged. The reintroduced ceramic model is larger and heavier than aluminum or titanium versions at 46mm, and out-of-warranty ceramic repairs cost $599 without Apple Care+ — pricier than fixing an Ultra.

Both new watches carry a surprise upgrade Apple didn't mention on stage: 4GB of RAM, confirmed by Mac Rumors at the same price. A separate report details the surprise RAM upgrade for both models. The Ultra, meanwhile, dropped GLONASS support according to its technical specifications.

New Audio Intelligence features include Sound Recognition, Music Recognition, Live Rewind, and Siri Recap. Apple explained what happens to conversations Siri Recap hears, and clarified that you can't use Live Rewind secretly — the feature relies on an S11 processor and continual listening. Some upgraders to the Series 12 or Ultra 4 may temporarily lose hypertension notifications, per the watch OS feature availability page. Apple's official watchOS 27 release notes detail Siri AI, Workout Buddy, and new watch faces ahead of next week's launch.

Air Pods, Preorders, and Deals

Air Pods, the Apple Watch Series, and the Ultra 4 hit shelves Friday, September 18, and preorders are already live. Amazon opened preorders with early discounts, and a separate roundup covers AirPods 5 and Watch preorders across the new lineup. Amazon is also offering the first Series 12 preorder discounts of up to 20% off multiple styles. A broader deals roundup tracks savings of up to $325 off on Air Pods and Watches, plus $200 off an M5 MacBook Air. Case shoppers can browse the best iPhone 18 Pro cases ahead of preorder week.

Carrier and Trade-In Economics

T-Mobile will charge $5 per month for iPhone Handoff, the eSIM feature that lets users share a single phone number across two iPhones. One report confirms the iPhone Handoff fee, while another details the iOS 27 iPhone Handoff charge. On trade-ins, the iPhone Air's $200 premium disappears entirely — Apple's offer values the iPhone Air the same as an iPhone. Apple Care One Family bundles protection for an entire iCloud family's devices at $50, and a comparison breaks down the AppleCare One Family versus individual plan tradeoffs.

Software: iOS, Health, and the App Store

Developers can now submit apps built for iOS 27 and macOS 27 ahead of the official rollout next Monday. The iOS 27 Release Candidate added long-rumored Camera app controls customization. Apple is planning a major Health app redesign on iPhone and iPad, and the upgraded experience can pull from hundreds of data points — including a partnership with Quest for a $119 blood panel when users lack recent lab results. The Apple TV Remote app gained hidden features in iOS, a strong hint that a new Apple TV 4K box is coming. Code in iOS 27 suggests Apple may let search providers show sponsored results inside Visual Intelligence, and a related report says Apple is laying groundwork for ads in Visual Intelligence. The mac OS 26.2 Edge Light feature may expand to iPhone, according to a new rumor.

Legal, Policy, and Platform

The DOJ won a temporary pause on an order requiring it to respond to Apple's requests for documents from 14 federal agencies in their ongoing antitrust case, giving the government time to appeal the ruling. In New Mexico, congressional representatives preemptively asked Apple and Google not to rename the state, following social media posts from the US President suggesting it become "New America" — a request to resist the state rename. Apple extended free access to its satellite features for existing iPhone users for another year, disclosed in a footnote to the iPhone 18 Pro press release.

Apple TV and Beyond

Apple TV premieres The Last First: Winter K2 on October 2, promising an unflinching look at extreme mountain climbing culture in a new Winter K2 trailer. The service is also kicking off four straight weeks of fall premieres, including Slow Horses. Looking further ahead, a redesigned "iPhone 20" is rumored for next year with a major design overhaul, giving buyers a reason to consider skipping the iPhone 18 Pro. For those comparing platforms, a spec breakdown shows how the iPhone Duo stacks up against the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8. Snap, meanwhile, launched a social event planning feature called Snapchat Plans, which encourages in-person hangouts. Daily coverage of Air Pods 5 and iPhone price increases is available in the 9to5Mac Daily podcast.