Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 10, 2026, 10:09 PM ET

iPhone Duo Arrives

Apple's long-rumored foldable finally has a name, and it isn't Ultra. After months of speculation about an "iPhone Ultra," the company unveiled the iPhone Duo at its "Surprise and Shine" event, closing the book on one of the most persistent naming rumors in recent Apple history. The device ships in October, and early hands-on impressions have been unusually warm. Apple Insider's reviewer admitted to deep skepticism beforehand but came away asking why it had to be this good, while 9to5Mac's full review called it Apple at its best — with a few caveats about the company's worst habits.

The hardware story centers on a 7.6-inch inner display and an under-display Face Time camera whose resolution Apple won't disclose. Leaker Instant Digital explained why that camera sits where it does, rather than in the top-right corner some had expected. The main rear sensor, meanwhile, appears to match the iPhone 17e rather than the flagship iPhone 17 — a notable spec compromise at this price point.

Duo vs. the Field

Samsung has had seven years to refine its foldables, and 9to5Mac ran a direct spec comparison against the Galaxy Z Fold8. Trend Force projects the iPhone Duo will capture 24.8% of the foldable market in 2026 alone, even as the broader segment contracts by 20%. Apple Insider argued the launch fits Apple's familiar never first, usually best pattern.

Not everyone is convinced the comparison to Apple's headset is fair. One 9to5Mac writer pushed back hard on the idea that the Duo is no Apple Vision Pro, arguing the two products occupy entirely different strategic roles. There's also a historical footnote: observers with long memories spotted a resemblance to the Microsoft Courier, a 2009 prototype that never shipped.

The Crease Question

Every foldable develops a crease, and the iPhone Duo will be no exception. Apple Insider laid out the physics and engineering behind why the crease forms and what Apple has done to slow it. Buyers should expect it to appear over time regardless of care.

Accessory compatibility is another wrinkle. The Duo supports Mag Safe, but it won't work with every existing accessory people already own — a limitation Apple Insider characterized as acceptable given the form factor. Apple also introduced a new Wrist Strap accessory for iPhone alongside the launch, and Mac Rumors rounded up the best cases for both the Duo and the iPhone 18 Pro.

Unlocking works differently too. The Duo lacks Face ID entirely, but Apple carried over a Touch ID unlock method from the Mac lineup to compensate.

Software Built for Two Screens

iOS 27 was rebuilt to adapt in real time to the Duo's dual displays, and Apple detailed how the foldable design reshapes multitasking and app continuity. Third-party developers, however, have work to do. Many apps won't work well on the Duo at launch, and 9to5Mac explained why the race to build Duo apps is only now beginning.

The A20 Pro chip inside both the Duo and the iPhone 18 Pro could be the key to making Siri genuinely useful, according to Apple Insider's analysis of Siri AI. Apple also began accepting App Store submissions built for iOS 27 and macOS 27 ahead of next Monday's rollout.

iPhone 18 Pro: A Camera Story

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max launch September 18, and Apple is packing in more than 35 changes over the 17 Pro, according to Mac Rumors' upgrade comparison. The company highlighted 10 new features arriving with the new models. Apple Insider's hands-on found the device is all about the cameras, and one 9to5Mac writer argued a specific camera feature will matter more than the tentpole additions for most users.

The head-versus-heart tension between the flashy Duo and the more conventional 18 Pro played out in real time. One reviewer concluded the iPhone 18 Pro camera features ultimately won the day, even after the Duo's impressive debut. Apple Insider published a full model comparison for buyers weighing the two.

Performance and Battery

Early Geekbench results for the A20 Pro surfaced quickly, and Mac Rumors reported the benchmark numbers for both the 18 Pro and Pro Max. Apple Insider noted that a roughly 15% speed gain is the threshold at which average users notice a difference — and if these numbers hold, the speed improvement will be obvious even to casual users.

Battery life improved substantially over the 17 Pro, and charging got faster too. 9to5Mac published a guide on how to fast charge the new phone to take full advantage. Apple also rated the 18 Pro and Pro Max as slightly easier to repair than their predecessors.

Trade-In Math and the iPhone Air

Apple opened trade-ins for the iPhone Air and iPhone 17 following the event, but the Air's $200 premium disappears entirely when you trade it in — a sore spot for early adopters of the thin model. Meanwhile, rumors about next year's redesigned iPhone 20 are already circulating for anyone inclined to skip this cycle.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

Both new watches carry a surprise upgrade Apple didn't mention on stage: 4GB of RAM, up from the previous generation, as Mac Rumors confirmed. 9to5Mac also flagged the surprise RAM upgrade as an unannounced improvement.

The Series 12 brought a price increase that many buyers may have missed: the larger aluminum model now starts above the $429 that had held since the Series 4 in 2018, per Mac Rumors' pricing breakdown. Display geometry also changed — the Series 12 pairs smaller screens with bigger cases than the Series 10 and, even though pixel resolution is unchanged.

The ceramic Series 12 variant is bigger and heavier than aluminum or titanium versions at 46mm, and it's dramatically more expensive to fix. Without Apple Care+, ceramic repair runs $599 — more than fixing an Ultra. Amazon opened preorders with double-digit discounts across multiple styles, and Mac Rumors noted early discounts on both the watches and Air Pods.

Health Features and a Hypertension Warning

Apple is adding Live Rewind to the Series 12 and Ultra, a feature powered by the S11 processor that continually listens to surroundings. Apple has made clear the feature can't be used secretly, addressing privacy concerns directly.

Some upgraders face an unwelcome tradeoff. Users moving to the Series 12 or Ultra 4 may temporarily lose hypertension notifications, according to Apple's watch OS feature availability page. The full watch OS 27 release notes detail Siri AI, a new Workout Buddy, and fresh watch faces ahead of next week's launch.

Health App, Blood Panels, and Ads

Apple is planning a sweeping redesign of the Health app for iPhone and iPad in iOS, with a long list of new features arriving. The upgraded experience can pull from hundreds of data points, and Apple has partnered with Quest on a $119 blood panel for users without recent lab results.

Advertising may be creeping further into the iPhone. Code uncovered in iOS 27 suggests Apple is exploring sponsored results inside Visual Intelligence, with Mac Rumors reporting the iOS 27 code points to search providers showing sponsored content. Apple Insider separately described how the company is laying groundwork for ads in that surface.

Platform Releases and Antitrust

mac OS, also known as mac OS Golden Gate, arrives for all compatible Macs on Monday, September 14, alongside iOS, iPad OS, watch OS, tv OS, and vision OS. Mac Rumors has the release date details. The iOS 27 Release Candidate added long-rumored Camera app controls customization, and the Apple TV Remote app picked up two new features in the RC, including a redesigned interface. 9to5Mac noted the Remote app has hidden features that suggest a new Apple TV 4K box is on the way. A rumored Mac Edge Light feature may also expand to iPhone.

In the legal arena, the DOJ won a temporary pause on an order requiring it to respond to Apple's document requests from 14 federal agencies while the government appeals, per 9to5Mac's antitrust coverage.

Services, Deals, and the October Pipeline

Apple TV is heading into four straight weeks of major premieres, with a fall lineup that kicks off imminently. The streamer also dropped an intense trailer for The Last First: Winter K2, premiering October 2. Apple published a 95-second recap of its event for anyone who skipped the full hour-plus presentation.

On the subscription side, Apple Care One Family bundles coverage for an entire iCloud family's devices for $50, and Apple Insider broke down which plan makes sense versus individual coverage. Deal hunters can find Air Pods, Apple Watch Series, and Ultra 4 discounts up to $325 off, plus $200 off an M5 MacBook Air. Amazon now lists Air Pods, Series, and Ultra 4 ahead of their September 18 shelf date.

October will be busy: Apple has 7+ new products slated for launch, with the Duo leading the wave. T-Mobile confirmed it will charge $5 per month for iPhone Handoff, the e-SIM feature that lets one number span devices. And for those still deciding between the Duo and a small tablet, Apple Insider framed the choice as Duo versus iPad mini. Snap, meanwhile, launched a new social planning tool called Snapchat Plans for coordinating in-person meetups.

Daily Recap

For a full audio roundup of the day's biggest stories, 9to5Mac Daily covered the iPhone 18 Pro and Duo launch in its September 9 episode.