Key Highlights from Apple’s Fall iPhone Event: Unveiling the Foldable iPhone Duo and the New Always-On Apple Watch
On Wednesday, Apple showcased its newest iPhones and Apple Watches in its inaugural fall event led by the newly appointed CEO John Ternus. The highlight was the unveiling of the long-awaited foldable phone, the iPhone Duo. The event also included the launch of the iPhone 18 Pro series, new AirPods, and additional products.
Here’s a comprehensive overview of the announcements from the “Surprise and Shine” event.
iPhone Duo
The iPhone Duo, Apple’s inaugural foldable phone, showcases a 7.6-inch Retina display when opened and a 5.4-inch display on the outside. The device draws inspiration from the adaptability of the iPad, featuring an “underdisplay” camera for an uninterrupted screen experience.
According to Apple, the iPhone Duo supports up to 31 hours of video playback on its inner screen and 44 hours on its outer screen.
Equipped with a 48-megapixel main camera and a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera with 2x optical zoom, users can also take selfies with the rear camera and view previews on the outer display.
The hinge of the Duo is crafted from Grade 5 aluminum and contains over 100 specially designed components to enable seamless opening and closing.
Starting at $1,999 for the 256GB model, the iPhone Duo will be available for pre-order on October 16 and officially released in stores on October 23.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
The iPhone 18 Pro series maintains a similar design to previous models but features significant camera enhancements.
The new Pro camera incorporates a 48-megapixel sensor with a variable aperture adjusted by six thin blades, which enhances low-light photography and shooting speed. Additionally, the camera software presents new professional controls, including white balance, shutter speed, and aperture adjustments, along with a histogram. New “Photographic Styles” provide expanded customization options.
The upgraded camera system can capture 4K video with Dolby HDR Vision, enabling cinematic effects to be added after recording.
The starting price for the iPhone 18 Pro is $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max begins at $1,299, reflecting a $100 increase over the previous year’s models. Pre-orders are set to begin Saturday, with official availability starting on September 18.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4
A notable feature introduced in the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 is “Sound Recognition,” which can detect sounds like sirens, alarms, doorbells, and even a baby crying, offering alerts for those with hearing impairments. While there are no major hardware changes, the watches include significant software improvements.
In response to the rise of AI-enhanced wearables, Apple is adding “Audio Intelligence” features aimed at enhancing conversation recall. The “Live Rewind” function will present the last 15 seconds of a conversation as a text snippet, while the “Siri Recap” feature helps users remember important points from discussions, including meetings and conferences.
The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399, and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 is priced at $499. Pre-orders are open today, with both devices set to be available in stores from September 18.
AirPods 5
Apple has launched its latest AirPods 5, featuring several enhancements such as improved audio performance, heightened active noise cancellation, and expanded Siri integration.
The new AirPods 5 reportedly reduce background noise by an additional 50% compared to the previous version. They now include volume control on the stem, a feature previously exclusive to the more premium AirPods Pro.
The transparency mode has been upgraded to allow for more natural hearing of surrounding voices and sounds.
With active noise cancellation activated, AirPods 5 can provide up to five hours of listening time on a single charge, and the included charging case extends the total listening time to 22 hours.
Starting at $129, the AirPods 5 is available with a Wireless Charging Case for $149. Pre-orders have launched, and the earbuds will be available from September 18.
Revamped Health App
Apple has announced a redesigned Health app that utilizes advanced artificial intelligence to better interpret users’ health data.
The redesign introduces an Insights tab, summarizing crucial health information along with personalized recommendations, assessments, a “Readiness” score, and a calculation of users’ “Health Age.” Additionally, a new Longevity tab leverages data from the Apple Watch and iPhone to evaluate overall health in terms of sleep, activity, heart health, and other factors.
The updated Health app is scheduled to be launched later this year, starting with English in the U.S.
