Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 18, 2026, 10:05 PM ET

Apple Launch Day: iPhone 18 Pro, Watch Series, Air Pods 5 Hit Stores

Apple's fall hardware wave landed today, with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra, and Air Pods 5 all now available in retail locations worldwide. The first iPhone 18 Pro preorders are reaching customers globally, and shoppers who skipped preordering can still secure launch-day stock, as Apple Store pickup remains available at most locations. Demand is running hot: Evercore has raised its AAPL target to $380, citing stronger-than-anticipated upgrade activity. Apple CEO John Ternus teased the launch from the Fifth Avenue flagship, where the famous glass cube was turned burgundy to mark the release.

iPhone 18 Pro: Cameras, Teardowns, and the Dynamic Island Shrink

Early teardowns are already revealing how Apple engineered this generation. A first iPhone 18 Pro teardown shows a larger battery alongside a vapor chamber for improved thermal management, while a separate REWA Technology video details the smaller Dynamic Island and the internal changes that made it possible. On the imaging side, the new variable aperture lens is drawing attention, and our guide to the lens walks through how the system adjusts depth of field. Reviewers have broadly praised the cameras: the first review roundup describes elite cameras that are nonetheless overshadowed by the forthcoming iPhone Duo. For buyers, Apple has published the key features to try first, and case compatibility is a common question: Apple's guidance on whether iPhone 17 Pro cases fit the new models is worth reading before you spend.

iPhone Duo: Design Philosophy, Durability, and Developer Tools

Apple's foldable is the story of the week even before its October arrival. Designers explained the thinking behind the iPhone Duo, describing how paper notebooks inspired the form factor. John Ternus framed the device as Jobs's intersection of technology and the liberal arts, while Apple's new VP of hardware engineering, Tom Marieb, discussed durability, the crease, and the hinge in an interview. Developers finally have tooling: Apple released the first Xcode 27.1 beta with iPhone Duo support, and a companion report details how Xcode tools let teams prepare apps for the dual-screen layout. Early hands-on videos show a split keyboard and app multitasking in action. For those still weighing the $2,000-plus price, the Mac Rumors Show debated whether the iPhone Duo is worth it, and iMazing is giving one away in the latest giveaway. Accessory makers are already on board, with ESR shipping cases for the lineup.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

The new wearables are in reviewers' hands. A hands-on with the Apple Watch Series 12 covers the out-of-box experience, while a separate report flags that the Series 12 has slightly larger bezels and a more pronounced Digital Crown than its predecessor. Buyers deciding between tiers can consult the Series 12 vs. Ultra 4 buyer's guide for a feature-by-feature breakdown. Apple has also published its full accessories list covering the new watch bands and iPhone 18 Pro add-ons.

Software: iOS, Apple Intelligence, and Storage Requirements

iOS 27 is here, and Apple Intelligence is the centerpiece. The update brings 20+ new features powered by next-generation models, though there's a catch: on the latest iPhones, Apple Intelligence now requires almost double the storage it did previously. Beyond AI, there are plenty of quality-of-life changes — our roundup of the best non-AI features covers the highlights. Air Pods Pro 3 owners get a batch of new iOS 27 features, several of which are exclusive to the latest earbuds. Apple Music also picked up five new features in the release, and the Wallet app now supports Apple Cash bill splitting, a change that could finally make the payments feature stick. Siri itself got a rework: a new Siri app changes how users interact with the assistant, and knowing when to use the app versus "Hey Siri" matters more than ever. For developers, the Web Kit blog broke down Safari 27 changes, including MCP support for AI agents.

Chips: M5 Ultra and M6 GPU Benchmarks Emerge

The first GPU benchmark results for Apple's M5 Ultra and M6 have surfaced, offering an early look at graphics performance for the next wave of Macs. The numbers arrive as Apple silicon continues to push into higher-end workflows, though the company has yet to detail which machines will carry the new parts.

Supply Chain: A Potential U.S. NAND Factory

SK Hynix subsidiary Solidigm is considering a U.S. factory for the storage chips used in iPhones and Macs, a move that could reshape NAND supply over time. A separate report confirms the U.S. flash memory plant is under evaluation, though any benefit to Apple is years away.

Retail, Marketing, and Deals

Apple's marketing machine is in full swing. The company is running a new iPhone 18 Pro ad built as a micro music video, and it has teamed up with ROSÉ for a camera-focused spot. In stores, Apple has hidden tiny "hello" signs for customers to find during camera demos — an Easter egg explained as a nod to the original Macintosh greeting. On the deals front, launch-day discounts are live on the newest products, with markdowns on the Apple Watch and more. A separate roundup covers AirPods Pro 3 discounts, iPhone 18 Pro cases and chargers, and an M5 MacBook Pro at $320 off. Case shoppers can browse the best iPhone 18 Pro cases now available from Apple, ESR, and Nomad.

Smart Home and Design

In this week's Home Kit column, Homey's new Device Updates feature is framed as what Matter promised, finally solving the firmware-update headache that has plagued smart homes for a decade. Meanwhile, a fan site now lets visitors design the next iPhone with an interactive tool, and Apple retail pioneer Ron Johnson shared the inside story of the "Shop Different" strategy that reshaped how Macs were sold.

Legal, Policy, and Community

A judge has blocked OpenAI from seeing the settlement terms between Apple and Space XAI, keeping the agreement confidential in Elon Musk's ongoing litigation. Separately, child safety protesters targeted Apple Fifth Avenue on launch day, pressing the company over device-level protections. On the podcast front, the Apple Insider team recapped iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch, and iOS 27 in a launch-week episode, while 9to5Mac Daily covered more on iOS 27 and iPhone Duo in its September 18 recap. Apple also released official iPhone Duo wallpapers in light and dark variants, available for download even though they weren't bundled in iOS.