Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 12, 2026, 2:19 PM ET

iPhone Duo Debuts as Apple's First Foldable

Apple's long-awaited foldable iPhone Duo has arrived, headlining a packed event that also introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra, and refreshed Air Pods. The Duo's split-screen implementation has drawn praise for its polish, with reviewers noting that Apple nailed the multitasking experience on the Duo even as the same functionality on iPad OS 27 still feels convoluted. Early hands-on impressions from the 9to5Mac team were largely positive, with Jeff and Fernando sharing their thoughts on the device's build quality and software in a dedicated podcast episode.

A curious software detail surfaced during hands-on time: the Duo can add a fake bezel to its outer screen to improve case compatibility, a setting discovered by blogger Nicolas Lellouche while digging through the device's options. On the supply side, a leaker claims Apple will pay $250 per Duo display under a three-year Samsung agreement, underscoring how the foldable's component costs stack up against the memory expenses expected to dominate the iPhone 18 Pro's bill of materials. Analyst Jeff Pu noted in an investor note that this week's iPhone price hike was better than feared, and that the Duo is still likely to drive demand across the cycle. Counterpoint Research projects that Apple foldable panel shipments could rise 167% by 2030, signaling the company's outsized influence on the broader foldable market.

iPhone 18 Pro Pre-Orders Open Amid Heavy Demand

Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max went live today, with Apple's online store going dark ahead of the 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time start. The Apple Store went down as the company prepared to open orders, a familiar ritual that precedes every major launch. Mac Rumors confirmed the store was offline ahead of the Saturday, September 12 window, and Apple Insider reported that preorders opened with a queue system as orders piled up and launch-day delivery dates began to slip. Apple is now accepting pre-orders through its online storefront and the Apple Store app.

Buyers who have yet to place an order may face longer waits, as pre-order wait times have already stretched into October depending on the model and configuration. For those planning to order, a time-zone guide details exactly when pre-orders begin in every region. Mac Rumors also published a step-by-step walkthrough on how to pre-order from Apple and secure the model you want on launch day.

Carriers are competing aggressively for upgraders, with incentives offering up to $1,200 in bill credits when preordering either Pro model. A roundup of the best carrier deals compares the trade-in and credit offers available today. Media who attended Wednesday's event shared a first look at the new phones, describing the same external design with significant internal changes.

Accessories and Cases Arrive for the New Lineup

A new iPhone launch always triggers a rush for accessories, and this year that includes an entirely new category built around the Duo. ESR has readied its lineup for Apple's foldable era, spanning cases and protection designed specifically for the dual-screen form factor. Apple's own new iPhone 18 Pro cases are already in stores, and notably they remain compatible with the iPhone 17 Pro as well.

Third-party manufacturers have moved quickly, with several brands now selling cases ahead of the phones' arrival. One roundup highlights the best iPhone 18 Pro cases available for purchase, while a separate guide from Apple Insider collects the cases worth buying to protect the expensive hardware. Deals coverage also rounded up weekend discounts across AirPods and Apple Watch models, including the all-new Air Pods, Apple Watch Ultra, Apple Watch Series, Air Tag, Studio Display, and MacBook Pro.

Apple Watch Series 12 Brings Substantial Health Upgrades

The Apple Watch Series 12 is now available for pre-order, and unlike last year's model it delivers a meaningful set of improvements. A buyer's guide comparing the Series 11 and Series 12 catalogs 25+ upgrades across the two generations. At the core of the refresh is a new Health Sensing System with a more capable heart rate monitor, and one reviewer singled out the heart rate complication as a small but welcome change. A full breakdown of everything new in the Series 12 covers the components powering watch OS, health and fitness tracking, and new AI capabilities.

iOS 27 Ships Monday With Two Features Delayed

Apple confirmed that iOS 27 will be released to everyone on Monday, September 14, but two features present during the beta period need more testing and will not ship with the initial release. Mac Rumors reported that two iOS 27 features are delayed past Monday's launch, while 9to5Mac noted Apple's statement that the pair will arrive in a future software update. The delays mark a rare instance of Apple trimming features from a major OS release at the last moment.

WhatsApp Redesigns iPad Interface, Apple Tops TIME List

WhatsApp is rolling out a redesigned iPad interface featuring a Mac-like sidebar, following months of Liquid Glass beta testing. The new iPad interface expands access to the refreshed design beyond the beta program. Separately, Apple returned to TIME's "The World's Best Companies 2026" list at No. 3 after dropping off the ranking last year.

Apple Research, Enterprise Software, and the Road Ahead

Apple researchers unveiled Simple Design, a streamlined AI model that can jointly generate protein sequences and structures, detailed in a new study published this week. In enterprise coverage, a column examined the three prongs of software updates shaping how IT teams manage Apple devices in the AI era. Despite the busy event week, Apple still has 8 more products to announce later this year, according to Mac Rumors. On the smart home front, Shelly's Flood S Gen4 arrived as a low-cost Matter leak sensor for Apple Home. Finally, Roblox announced it will push its games into standalone apps and web browsers, a move that could spread safety risks beyond the main app even as 182 federal child sexual exploitation cases remain pending.