Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 19, 2026, 6:08 AM ET

iPhone 18 Pro Launch Day

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max launched today in markets around the world, alongside the Apple Watch Series, Apple Watch Ultra, and Air Pods, marking one of the company's largest simultaneous product rollouts in recent memory. The first teardown of the device reveals a larger battery and a vapor chamber cooling system, addressing two of the most persistent complaints about prior generations. A separate teardown video from YouTube channel REWA Technology shows exactly how Apple shrunk the Dynamic Island, a change that had been rumored for months. Demand for the new lineup is stronger than expected, with the upgrade cycle outpacing Apple's internal forecasts. Evercore responded by raising its price target on AAPL to $380, citing the robust iPhone demand trajectory. For those who picked one up, Apple has published a guide to the key features to try first on the new hardware.

iPhone Duo: Design and Durability

Apple's new Vice President of Hardware Engineering, Tom Marieb, sat down with Tech Radar to discuss the iPhone Duo's durability, addressing head-on the crease, hinge, and longevity questions that have dogged foldable devices. In a separate interview, Marieb told the publication to hold Apple accountable on the iPhone Duo's crease, a rare moment of public vulnerability from an Apple executive. Apple's design team explained the thinking behind the device, revealing how physical notebooks served as a primary inspiration. John Ternus echoed that sentiment, describing the iPhone Duo as Steve Jobs's intersection of technology and liberal arts, framing the foldable as a natural extension of Apple's founding philosophy. Ahead of the device's October arrival, hands-on videos have surfaced showing the split keyboard and multitasking interface in action. Developers can now begin preparing their apps for the form factor, as Apple released the first Xcode 27.1 beta with iPhone Duo support. Apple Insider reports that the Xcode tools have opened the starting gate for developers to optimize their apps. For those who want the official wallpapers, the iPhone Duo's light and dark backgrounds can be downloaded here from the Xcode 27.1 beta. The Mac Rumors Show devoted this week's episode to asking whether the iPhone Duo is actually worth it, given its $2,000+ starting price. In a lighter note, Mac Rumors is running a giveaway with iMazing for a chance to win an iPhone Duo.

iOS 27 and Apple Intelligence

iOS 27 has arrived, and Apple Intelligence now requires almost double the iPhone storage on the latest models compared to previous versions, a significant consideration for buyers choosing between storage tiers. The update brings more than 20 brand new features powered by the next generation of Apple's on-device AI, with 9to5Mac publishing the full list. Beyond AI, iOS 27 expands language support for Dictionary, Quick Type Keyboard, and other system features. The Wallet app gains a new bill-splitting feature that makes Apple Cash more compelling for everyday use. Apple Music also received five new features in the update. For those less interested in AI, 9to5Mac highlighted the best non-AI features in iOS. Air Pods Pro 3 owners also benefit from a range of new iOS 27 features, several of which are exclusive to the latest earbuds. The 9to5Mac Daily podcast published a recap of the day's top stories, covering more on iOS 27 and the iPhone Duo.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

The Apple Watch Series 12 is now available, and early hands-on impressions are live from MacRumors, offering a first look at the new hardware. The Quantified Scientist's Rob ter Horst tested the new heart rate sensor, comparing its accuracy against the previous generation in his latest video. However, Apple Insider notes that the Series 12 has slightly larger bezels and a Digital Crown that protrudes more than on the Series, details that may matter to upgraders. For those deciding between models, Mac Rumors published a buyer's guide comparing the Apple Watch Series 12 against the Ultra. The full lineup of Apple's official accessories for the new watches and iPhone 18 Pro is now available. Deals are already live, with markdowns on the new Apple Watch and other products available at retailers. Mac Rumors also rounded up launch day deals across the new product lineup.

Accessories and Cases

With the iPhone 18 Pro now in customers' hands, the case market has responded quickly. 9to5Mac published its guide to the best iPhone 18 Pro cases from Apple, ESR, Nomad, and others. ESR has released its own case lineup for the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro, targeting buyers of Apple's first $2,000+ smartphone. A critical question for upgraders — whether iPhone 17 Pro cases fit the iPhone 18 Pro — has been answered by Apple. In the deals roundup, 9to5Mac also highlighted AirPods Pro 3 and chargers, with the M5 MacBook Pro seeing $320 off.

Retail and Marketing

Apple's Fifth Avenue cube in New York has been turned burgundy to mark the iPhone 18 Pro release, a signature retail moment for the company. Apple Stores worldwide have also received a new "hello" Easter egg, tied to the iPhone 18 Pro's camera zoom capabilities. Apple Insider detailed how the company hid tiny "hello" signs inside retail stores for customers to find as part of the camera demo experience. On the advertising front, Apple released a new iPhone 18 Pro ad styled as a micro music video. The company also teamed up with ROSÉ for a camera-focused spot promoting the device. Not all launch day attention was celebratory, however, as child safety protesters targeted the Fifth Avenue store during the iPhone 18 Pro release, with CEO John Ternus present at the event.

Mac and Chip Performance

The first GPU benchmark results for Apple's new M5 Ultra and M6 chips have surfaced, revealing meaningful graphics performance gains that will matter for professional workflows. The results, pulled from Geekbench, offer the clearest picture yet of what the next generation of Apple silicon will deliver.

Supply Chain and Components

Apple supplier SK Hynix's subsidiary Solidigm is considering a U.S. NAND factory, a move that could reshape storage supply chains over the long term. Apple Insider reports that the U.S. NAND factory could reshape storage supply, though not yet for Apple specifically, as the company evaluates the business case.

Software and Ecosystem

Google's Gemini app for mac OS is adding send and read iMessage integration, a notable expansion of the AI assistant's reach into Apple's messaging ecosystem. In the smart home space, Homey's new Device Updates feature is being described as what Matter was supposed to be all along, finally solving the firmware update problem that has plagued smart homes for a decade. The iPhone 18 Pro Max has a "Prepare to Ship" battery drain requirement before shipping, a logistics detail that ensures units arrive with proper charge levels.

Apple Glasses and Future Products

A 9to5Mac writer has completely changed their mind about Apple Glasses, arguing that the company may skip video recording amid a growing privacy backlash — a decision that would differentiate Apple's offering from the first generation of smart glasses like Google Glass.

Retail History and Design Tools

Apple retail pioneer Ron Johnson shared the inside story of the company's "Shop Different" approach, recounting how he joined in 1999 when Macs were poorly positioned in traditional computer stores. In a fun nod to Apple's design culture, a fan site has launched an interactive tool that lets users "Design the Next iPhone", created by Neal Agarwal. The Apple Insider Podcast also published an episode covering the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch, iPhone Duo, and iOS 27, rounding up every new detail learned about the launch.