TL;DR: Apple unveiled its first foldable iPhone Duo alongside iPhone 18 Pro models, AirPods 5, Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, and iOS 27 at its September 9 “Surprise and shine” event led by CEO John Ternus.

Apple closed its biggest phone showcase in years with a foldable.

The September 9 event at Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, described by CNBC as Apple’s September “Surprise and shine” launch event, was the company’s first iPhone launch with John Ternus as chief executive, according to The Verge. CNBC reported that Ternus unveiled iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5 and Apple Watch Series 12 before revealing the Duo as the finale. Reuters called the presentation Apple’s biggest product showcase of the year and said it offered a glimpse into how Ternus intends to shape the company in the AI age.

The announcements centered on five products and software updates, all detailed the same day by The Verge in “Apple iPhone Duo launch event: The 5 biggest announcements” and recapped live by CNBC in “Apple event 2026 recap: iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and more.” Prices start at $129 for base AirPods and rise to $1,999 for the foldable, with most hardware planned to reach stores on September 18, except the Duo, which is planned for October 23.

Duo is Apple's first foldable iPhone

Apple’s “one more thing” was the iPhone Duo, a passport-shaped foldable that lays flat when opened, according to The Verge. The company called it the thinnest iPhone yet.

The device has a 7.6-inch inner display and a 5.4-inch outer screen, according to both The Verge and Reuters. Reuters said the large display allows users to keep two apps open at the same time. CNBC reported that Apple marketing chief Greg Joswiak said the outer display was 90% the screen area of the iPhone 18 Pro.

Apple maintained the same aspect ratio across both displays, according to The Verge. Changes in iOS 27 make it possible to view two apps side by side, pin videos, and use the device in “any orientation.” The Verge reported that Netflix, Zoom and Slack have already launched updates to take advantage of the Duo’s features. CNBC added that Craig Federighi, senior vice president of Software Engineering, said Apple had redesigned much of its iOS software for the two screens, moving buttons and other controls.

For unlocking, the phone uses Touch ID on the side button, according to The Verge. CNBC reported the fingerprint sensor is built into the side button and the case is made of titanium.

Hardware includes Apple’s A20 Pro chip, the in-house C2 cellular modem, a 48-megapixel camera, and a nanotexture finish that reduces glare and reflections, according to The Verge. Reuters said the A20 Pro chip is built on a 2-nanometer process and, paired with a vapor-chamber cooling system, is designed to improve on-device AI performance and graphics processing. CNBC reported that the C2 is Apple’s second-generation in-house modem, a move that further reduces reliance on Qualcomm.

Battery capacity is split across two batteries, with up to 31 hours of video playback when using the inner display and up to 44 hours when using the outer display, according to The Verge. The device will also support Apple Pencil “later this year,” The Verge reported, and CNBC reported that users can use Apple’s stylus called Pencil and multitask with two apps at the same time.

The iPhone Duo will start at $1,999 and come in star white and night sky, according to The Verge. CNBC reported it will hit store shelves on October 23, while The Verge listed the same date as availability.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max skip the base model

Apple did not introduce a base iPhone 18 at the event, launching two Pro-level models instead, according to The Verge.

The new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max feature a 48-megapixel main camera with variable aperture, which Apple described as its “biggest camera improvement in years,” according to The Verge. New “Pro controls” give users more ways to adjust camera settings. Apple’s newsroom announcement for “Apple debuts iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max” said the 48MP Fusion Main camera brings aperture control to iPhone for the first time with six laser-cut blades that transition between apertures and adjust for depth of field and lighting.

Performance comes from an A20-series chip that the company says delivers a “huge gain” in performance, according to The Verge. Apple’s announcement said the lineup is powered by A20 Pro with a next-generation vapor chamber for sustained performance. Claimed battery life is up to 36 hours of video playback on iPhone 18 Pro and up to 45 hours on iPhone 18 Pro Max, according to The Verge. Apple said the Pro Max delivers the largest increase in battery life ever on iPhone, according to its newsroom post.

There is a new Dynamic Island that can show up to three live activities at once, according to The Verge. Apple said both models feature a smaller Dynamic Island, according to its announcement.

Both phones support Apple’s “most advanced” on-device AI model so far, with the AI-upgraded Siri supporting more than 300,000 apps, according to The Verge. Apple said the phones feature iOS 27 with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI, according to its newsroom announcement.

Pricing is $1,199 for iPhone 18 Pro and $1,299 for Pro Max, with a new 2TB option for the Pro Max, according to The Verge. CNBC reported customers face a $100 hike over last year’s Pro models. Colors are black, silver, burgundy and glacier, according to The Verge, with launch planned for September 18. CNBC noted glacier and burgundy follow last year’s Cosmic Orange colorway. Apple said pre-orders begin Saturday, September 12, with availability beginning Friday, September 18, according to its newsroom announcement.

AirPods 5 bring noise cancellation to $129

Apple is bringing active noise cancellation to its cheapest AirPods model for the first time, according to The Verge.

The company says AirPods 5 are more durable and offer 50 percent more noise reduction than the previous generation, according to The Verge. They cost $129 and offer up to four hours of listening with ANC turned on, or up to 20 hours with the charging case, The Verge reported.

A pricier $149 AirPods option adds on-stem volume control, up to five hours of battery life with ANC, and a wireless charging case, according to The Verge. CNBC listed the unveiling of AirPods 5 among the Ternus debut announcements.

Both models are planned to be available starting September 18, according to The Verge.

Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 add Siri Recap

Apple’s watch update centers on wrist-based AI notes and listening features.

A new “Siri Recap” feature will use built-in microphones on the Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4 to take notes on daily conversations, according to The Verge. Users can ask Siri questions about transcripts and save them to the Siri app. CNBC reported the feature is called Siri Recap and described Audio Intelligence as using the watch microphone to record conversations and review what was just said.

CNBC said Apple described a “live rewind” function that lets users go back 15 seconds. The Verge reported a separate “Audio Intelligence” feature that uses on-device AI to detect sounds like sirens or a doorbell.

Health sensing was also upgraded. The Watch Series 12 measures heart rate every five seconds using a sensor with “larger, more power-efficient green LEDs,” according to The Verge. It samples heart rate variability as often as every five minutes. Users can access “personalized guidance” from Apple Intelligence inside a redesigned Health app, which now includes a new “Longevity” tab covering sleep, movement, heart health and other metrics, The Verge reported.

Battery life is up to 24 hours for Watch Series 12, while the Ultra can last over two days without a charge, according to Apple as reported by The Verge. Pricing starts at $399 for Series 12 or $899 for a ceramic option, while Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799, according to The Verge. CNBC reported Series 12 will cost $399 and up, Ultra 4 starts at $799, with no price increase and a new ceramic-case version. Launch is planned for September 18, according to The Verge.

iOS 27 arrives September 14 with Siri AI beta

Apple’s iOS 27 update is planned for September 14, with Siri AI arriving as a beta for devices set to English, according to The Verge.

The more conversational assistant can take action across apps, The Verge reported. The update also includes a way to adjust the opacity of Liquid Glass, new icon designs, extra-large widgets, and new volume settings for ringtones, alarms, timers and alerts, according to The Verge.

CNBC reported that Apple showcased added AI features during the event and that Ternus said the iPhone is the best device for AI. Reuters said on-device AI performance was a central theme of the A20 Pro presentation paired with vapor-chamber cooling.

For buyers, the calendar is now split: iPhone 18 Pro models, AirPods 5, watches and iOS 27 arrive in mid-September, while the $1,999 Duo follows in late October, according to The Verge and CNBC. CNBC noted Apple stock was down for almost the entire near-80-minute presentation, opening at $315.49 and briefly rising to $318 before dropping, with the stock up about 15% year-to-date.

Sources referenced