Apple has unveiled the new iPhone Duo, confirming its price, release date and much more.
At an Apple event in Cupertino on Sept. 9, 2026, the iPhone Duo was unveiled, alongside an improved lineup of Apple Watches and new AirPods. It was also the first time that the new CEO, John Ternus, gave a product keynote.
In addition to the Duo, Apple announced the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, as well as updated AirPods 5, Apple Watch Ultra 4, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch SE 3.
Dates: Pre-orders for the game opened October 16, 2026 and will ship Oct. 23, 2026.
Some initial hands-on reviews warned that the iPhone Duo could lack "added value" beyond its two screens at that price, as the software experience was smoother than it is capable of, and is more like a standard expectation than a selling-point.
Pre-orders will open on Saturday, September 12 at 5 a.m. Pacific and devices will be shipped September 18 in over 65 countries and regions with 20 additional countries and regions shipping September 25.
With using the latest activity, training load, vitals and sleep data, this new readiness feature provides a score from 0–10, along with a recommendation to either recover, pace, train or push harder.
The watches are also getting a new suite of Audio Intelligence capabilities such as Siri Recap and Live Recap, which rely on ambient listening to synthesize a wearer's conversation.
New Dark Bronze, Black, and Light Gold aluminum finishes, plus Space Gray and a new Radiant Gold titanium finish will return to the ceramic case, which is available for Series 12 at $399.
Ultra 4: Starts at $799.
Pre-order: September 9th
Retail: September 18th
Still developing: The all-international pricing and availability comes after the initial 65 countries, real-life battery and hinge-durability testing of the iPhone Duo that will only start to become available closer to each device's launch date and independent reviews that will only start to crop up closer to each device's ship date.
At an Apple event in Cupertino on Sept. 9, 2026, the iPhone Duo was unveiled, alongside an improved lineup of Apple Watches and new AirPods. It was also the first time that the new CEO, John Ternus, gave a product keynote.
What Happened
Apple unveiled its rumored foldable handset at its "Surprise and Shine" event at its Apple Park, naming it the biggest change in the iPhone since the original release in 2007. The keynote also marked John Ternus' first time as CEO, following Tim Cook's promotion to executive chairman on September 1, 2026.In addition to the Duo, Apple announced the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, as well as updated AirPods 5, Apple Watch Ultra 4, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch SE 3.
iPhone Duo: Price, Specs and Release Date
The iPhone Duo "unfolds like a book", with one screen inside when it is folded and another screen on the outside. Apple made some key announcements:- Display: Apple claims the 7.6-inch inner display is approximately 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max's display, coupled with a 5.4-inch outer display that covers approximately 90% of the surface area of its iPhone Pro display.
- Build: 5 Ti Mirror polished in 2 finishes: Star white & Night sky.
- Chip and power: The new A20 Pro chip and the advanced thermal system, which is based on a custom vapor chamber and a dual-battery architecture.
- Software: iOS 27, revamped around the dual-screen format, with Apple Intelligence and Siri AI integrated into it. Initial impressions of the apps were found to be smooth as they transitioned between the screens, and that there was a matte inner display coating that reduced glare and made the fold crease harder to see.
- Split-view: This feature allows users to display two apps side by side or open a second window of the same application to compare the two, which is helpful when, for example, shopping in two browser windows concurrently.
Dates: Pre-orders for the game opened October 16, 2026 and will ship Oct. 23, 2026.
Some initial hands-on reviews warned that the iPhone Duo could lack "added value" beyond its two screens at that price, as the software experience was smoother than it is capable of, and is more like a standard expectation than a selling-point.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: What's New
The most notable changes for Apple's standard flagships were, too:- Chip: Apple's first 2 nanometer chip, the A20 Pro, which the company claims achieves up to 40% faster graphics than its A19 Pro and provides about three times the cooling than the previous vapor chamber design.
- Camera: New manual aperture and shutter-speed controls for the Camera app, and a 48-megapixel main camera with variable aperture with f/1.48 and f/4 settings (the first to appear on an iPhone).
- Connectivity: Apple's built-in C2 cellular modem take the place of Qualcomm modem from the previous generation.
- Design: Smaller Dynamic Island, and 2TB storage added to the smaller Pro model for the first time.
- Battery: Apple claims the Pro can play video for up to 36 hours while the Pro Max can play video for up to 45 hours.
Pre-orders will open on Saturday, September 12 at 5 a.m. Pacific and devices will be shipped September 18 in over 65 countries and regions with 20 additional countries and regions shipping September 25.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4
The new watches come with a redesigned Health Sensing System. The system monitors heart rate every five seconds, and samples the heart rate variability more frequently than it had before, as reported outlets have slightly different multipliers for the increase, so the exact number should be taken as a general guide until Apple's own technical documentation is published.With using the latest activity, training load, vitals and sleep data, this new readiness feature provides a score from 0–10, along with a recommendation to either recover, pace, train or push harder.
The watches are also getting a new suite of Audio Intelligence capabilities such as Siri Recap and Live Recap, which rely on ambient listening to synthesize a wearer's conversation.
New Dark Bronze, Black, and Light Gold aluminum finishes, plus Space Gray and a new Radiant Gold titanium finish will return to the ceramic case, which is available for Series 12 at $399.
Ultra 4: Starts at $799.
Pre-order: September 9th
Retail: September 18th
AirPods 5
For the first time in this series, Apple's new earbuds feature active noise cancellation in an open-ear design. The new internals offer around 50% greater noise cancelation than the AirPods 4 and include hands-free Siri control and Live Translation, Apple states.- Standard model: $129, which can be used to listen for up to four hours with ANC or 20 hours with the case on.
- Wireless Charging Case model: $149, with the case offering 5 hours and 22 hours battery life and a volume swiping control.
Comparison at a Glance
| Product | Starting Price | Pre-Order | Ships |
| iPhone Duo | $1,999 (256GB) | Oct 16, 2026 | Oct 23, 2026 |
| iPhone 18 Pro | $1,199 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | $1,299 | Sep 12, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026 |
| Apple Watch Series 12 | $399 | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | $799 | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026 |
| AirPods 5 | $129 | Sep 9, 2026 | Sep 18, 2026 |
What We Know vs. What's Still Unclear
Confirmed: Pricing, U.S. release windows, core specs and the new leadership at the top: Apple's newsroom statement and on-site reporting from several outlets.Still developing: The all-international pricing and availability comes after the initial 65 countries, real-life battery and hinge-durability testing of the iPhone Duo that will only start to become available closer to each device's launch date and independent reviews that will only start to crop up closer to each device's ship date.