Apple News 8 Hours

Last updated: September 11, 2026, 2:37 PM ET

iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro Arrive

Apple's long-awaited foldable finally has a name and a launch date, with the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro headlining the "Surprise and Shine" event. The Duo is the first iPhone capable of running two apps side by side, though its Split View is a fixed 50/50 arrangement with no resizing, a far cry from the flexibility iPad owners enjoy. Apple's embrace of a boxier 1:1.4 aspect ratio on both inner and outer panels drew a mixed response from IMAX, which noted the ratio sits close to its own theatrical canvases. Samsung reportedly holds the exclusive display supply deal, with a three-year agreement pegging panels at roughly $250 per unit. New CEO John Ternus and marketing chief Greg Joswiak sat down for a joint interview to explain the display design, the extreme secrecy around the project, and how Apple settled on pricing.

What the Duo Leaves Out

For all its novelty, the foldable skips a surprising number of features found on its slab sibling. A rundown of the 10 missing features highlights the gaps buyers should weigh before committing to the $1,999-and-up form factor. Tim Cook's unexpected appearance in the launch video was, by design, pure television drama — Apple Insider argues the cameo landed precisely because every prior report insisted he would stay off camera. The Apple Insider Podcast crew dug into the Duo's design and flagged Mag Safe complications that could frustrate early adopters. The editorial team also published its broader reactions to the entire event, weighing the foldable against the refined iPhone 18 Pro lineup.

Camera and Preorder Logistics

The iPhone 18 Pro's variable aperture lens is the camera story of the week, and 9to5Mac detailed four ways to achieve shallow depth of field without buying the new flagship. Anyone planning to order should move now: a preorder guide walks through the steps to avoid waiting weeks after launch. One overlooked snag is credit freezes, which can stall Apple Upgrade approvals — unlocking your credit ahead of preorder day prevents a costly delay.

Apple Watch Health Claims Put to the Test

Apple claims the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 deliver the most accurate heart rate sensing of any wearable, and the company has now shared the data behind that assertion. A deeper accuracy comparison against rival wearables finds that the devil is in the details, particularly around the new Health Sensing System's behavior during interval training. For upgraders, a side-by-side breakdown covers everything new in the Ultra 4 versus the Ultra, from chip gains to sensor improvements, despite an unchanged exterior.

Air Pods, Deals, and Missing Cables

Preorders for the Air Pods 5 are moving fast, but buyers should note that Apple includes no charging cable or power adapter in the box. Retailers are competing hard on accessories and Macs alike: current promotions bundle AirPods 5 from $64 with trade-in, alongside discounts on the Studio Display XDR and ceramic Apple Watch models. Amazon has pushed that further, offering up to $600 off M5 Pro and M5 Max MacBook Pro configurations plus $330 off the Studio Display. The standout is a 14-inch M5 Max config now $600 cheaper heading into the weekend.

Software: Siri, iOS, and Visual Intelligence

Siri AI arrives next week in iOS, and early hands-on time has produced three standout moments where the rebuilt assistant genuinely impressed. The same release brings a set of three new features across Messages, Notes, and elsewhere that reviewers say they have been using daily. Visual Intelligence is getting renewed attention thanks to iOS, and it now extends to the Mac in mac OS 27 Golden Gate — a walkthrough covers what it can do on both platforms. The 9to5Mac Daily podcast rounded up the day's Apple Intelligence news alongside continued Duo coverage.

Car Play, Carriers, and a State Name Fight

Car Play now supports six major third-party AI chatbots after Microsoft Copilot added integration, leaving Google Gemini as the last significant holdout. On the carrier side, one longtime subscriber explained why he left T-Mobile for an MVNO after watching his bill climb despite a military discount held since 2016. In an unusual political turn, New Mexico congressional representatives have asked Apple and Google to resist renaming the state to "New America" following social media posts from the US President suggesting the change.