Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 11, 2026, 10:58 PM ET

iPhone 18 Pro Pre-Orders and Pricing

Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max open on Saturday, September 12 at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time, and Apple has published a full time-zone breakdown so buyers in every region know exactly when to log on. Those who want the fastest possible checkout have until 9:00 p.m. Pacific tonight to complete the "Get Ready" flow, a firm cutoff Apple enforces on pre-configured orders. The same deadline applies to anyone who wants their selections saved before the queue opens. Apple Insider argues there is no reason to wait, walking through a step-by-step prep guide for locking in a launch-day unit. One practical snag: a frozen credit file can stall an Apple Upgrade application, so the site recommends unfreezing your credit before Saturday morning. Analyst Jeff Pu called this week's price increase "better than feared" and expects the Duo to drive demand across the whole cycle. Early hands-on coverage notes the design is familiar while the internals change substantially. For owners coming from a three-year-old handset, Apple Insider lays out the full upgrade case against the iPhone 15 Pro.

iPhone Duo: Display Deal, Design, and Secrecy

Samsung Display has signed a three-year exclusive agreement to supply foldable panels for the iPhone Duo, with Apple reportedly paying $250 per display. A separate report confirms the three-year arrangement and attributes the figures to Chinese leaker Instant Digital. Apple Insider cautions that the leaker's track record is reasonable but the surrounding details remain unverified. Counterpoint Research projects that Apple's entry could lift foldable panel shipments by 167% through 2030. New CEO John Ternus and marketing chief Greg Joswiak gave a joint interview explaining the decision to wait until the technology matured. In a companion conversation, the pair described how development stayed secret for years. A third interview covers the timing rationale behind the launch. Tim Cook's surprise cameo in the launch film was reportedly kept off every advance report. The Duo's 1:1.4 inner and outer displays drew a mixed response from IMAX, since the boxier ratio sits close to the company's own canvas.

iPhone Duo Software and Feature Gaps

The Duo runs two apps side by side, but its Split View is a fixed 50/50 split with no draggable divider, unlike the iPad. Mac Rumors catalogued ten features that the foldable gives up compared with the iPhone 18 Pro, from camera hardware to battery capacity. The Apple Insider Podcast devoted an episode to MagSafe problems created by the new hinge and chassis. 9to5Mac's Overtime hosts shared their first impressions of the company's first foldable. The Mac Rumors Show also unpacked both the iPhone 18 Pro and Duo announcements. Apple Insider's staff published its collective reaction to the "Surprise and Shine" event.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

Apple Watch Series 12 brings more than 25 changes over Series, including an all-day heart rate sensor. A separate comparison details everything new in the core components that power watch OS and the fitness stack. The new heart rate complication is a small but meaningful change for daily wearers. Apple Watch Ultra 4 keeps the same exterior as Ultra 3 while upgrading the chip and health sensors inside. Apple published the underlying study supporting its claim that the Health Sensing System delivers the most accurate heart rate sensing of any wearable. Apple Insider dug into that data and found the devil is in the details when comparing against rival devices.

iOS, Siri, and Delayed Features

iOS 27 arrives for all users on Monday, September 14, but two features that appeared during the beta will now ship in a future software update. Mac Rumors identified the two delayed features and confirmed they need additional testing time. The first iOS 27.1 beta is expected to follow soon after launch, with a projected release date already circulating. Siri AI ships alongside iOS 27 next week, and reviewers flagged three standout examples where the assistant performed notably well in real-world use. A separate hands-on singled out three new features worth trying on day one. Apple also tucked a classic Mac easter egg into the Settings app, reviving the Clarus the Dogcow character. Visual Intelligence gets a higher profile in iOS 27 and now extends to Mac via mac OS 27 Golden Gate, and Apple Insider calls it the company's best AI feature. Car Play now supports six third-party AI chatbots after Microsoft Copilot added integration, leaving Gemini as the holdout.

Apple Intelligence Research and Home

Apple researchers published Simple Design, a streamlined model that can jointly generate protein sequences and structures in one pass. On the smart home side, Shelly's Flood S Gen4 is a low-cost Matter leak sensor that works natively with Apple Home and can head off expensive water damage.

WhatsApp, Carriers, and Policy

WhatsApp is rolling out a redesigned iPad app that adopts a Mac-like sidebar layout after months of Liquid Glass beta testing. One long-time subscriber explained why they left T-Mobile for an MVNO even after years of holding a military discount. Congressional representatives from New Mexico have asked Apple and Google to resist any rename of the state in their mapping products following social media posts from the US President.

Accessories, Deals, and the Road Ahead

Third-party cases for the iPhone 18 Pro are already on shelves, and Apple Insider rounded up the best options available now. Apple's own first-party cases have landed in retail stores and, notably, also fit the iPhone 17 Pro. Photographers who want shallow depth of field without the new variable aperture lens can try four alternative techniques using existing gear. On the deals front, Air Pods 5 pre-orders start at $64 with trade-in alongside discounts on Air Pods Pro, the Studio Display XDR, and ceramic Apple Watch models. Amazon is offering up to $600 off M5 MacBook Pro models and $330 off the Studio Display. A standout listing cuts $600 from an M5 Max 14-inch configuration. Buyers should note that Air Pods 5 ship without a charging cable or power adapter in the box. Roblox's move to standalone games and web browsers will spread safety risks beyond the main app, even as 182 federal child sexual exploitation cases remain pending. Apple ranks third on TIME's list of the World's Best Companies for 2026 after dropping off last year. Despite the busy event week, Mac Rumors notes Apple still has eight more products to announce before the year ends. The 9to5Mac Daily recap covers Apple Intelligence and the iPhone Duo in audio form. A full event roundtable digs into the iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, Watch Series, and AirPods 5.