Apple unveils first foldable iPhone, new iPhone 18 Pro lineup and expanded AI features

Apple on Tuesday, September 9, 2026, introduced its first foldable iPhone, called iPhone Duo, along with iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, in a product launch that centered on larger displays, upgraded cameras and new AI features. The announcements mark one of Apple’s biggest annual refreshes and add a foldable model to the company’s flagship lineup for the first time.

The event also included new Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5 models, broadening the company’s latest hardware push. Apple said the devices would be available through its product pages and event page, with iPhone Duo pre-orders beginning Friday, October 16, and availability starting Friday, October 23.

Apple’s launch comes as the company continues to position Apple Intelligence and Siri AI as major parts of its software strategy. The new phones were presented as devices designed to work more closely with those tools, while also emphasizing performance gains, battery life and camera improvements across the lineup.

What Apple said about the new phones

Apple said iPhone Duo is its first foldable iPhone and features a 7.6-inch inner display when opened and a 5.4-inch outer display when closed. The company described the device as its largest iPhone display ever and said it uses a precision hinge, grade 5 titanium and Ceramic Shield protection. Apple also said the phone includes Touch ID in the side button and a hidden front camera under the inner display.

The company said iPhone Duo runs on the A20 Pro chip and includes Apple Intelligence and Siri AI features, along with iOS 27. Apple described the software as reworked to fit the foldable design and said the phone’s dual-display setup enables new camera and FaceTime experiences that are not possible on other iPhones.

For iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple highlighted a new 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with variable aperture, a smaller Dynamic Island and what it described as its longest battery life in an iPhone. The company said both Pro models use A20 Pro and a new thermal management system, while also adding an Apple-designed N1 wireless chip and, on iPhone 18 Pro, a new C2 cellular modem system.

Apple framed the lineup as a step forward in both hardware and software integration, with the company’s senior leadership describing iPhone Duo as a major design shift. The announcement gives Apple a new category of iPhone to market heading into the holiday season, while the Pro models remain aimed at buyers looking for the company’s highest-end camera and performance features.