Apple Event recap — Hands-on with the iPhone Duo and all the big announcements

Where could the iPhone Duo land among the all-time greats?

If the iPhone Duo delivers on its promise, it faces a serious legitimacy test when stacked against an all-time greatest list. Every transformative Apple hardware leap — from the original and my personal favorite, the iPhone 4, to the iPhone X redefining modern smartphones — fundamentally rewrote what a phone should be. By finally breaking into a foldable design, the Duo undeniably earns a spot as the company’s most ambitious iPhone in nearly a decade.

Yet true all-time greatness isn’t crowned on ambition alone. A steep $2,000 price tag, inevitable first-gen trade-offs like missing telephoto lenses or Face ID, and early ecosystem growing pains could mean the Duo may land more like the original Apple Watch or the first iPad. It's poised to disrupt the market, but whether it tops Apple's greatest releases remains to be seen. What do you think?

Why great hardware won't be enough to save the iPhone Duo

While rumors obsess over crease-free displays and ultra-thin hinges, Apple’s upcoming foldable faces a much bigger hurdle: software.

This is exactly the one thing I argue that will make or break the iPhone Duo, seeing how an expensive 7.8-inch folding canvas doesn't stand a chance unless iOS 27 completely rethinks the user experience. In order to genuinely challenge rival foldables, like the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Apple needs to deliver on three critical fronts: seamless app scaling with landscape-oriented dual-pane views, a truly dynamic multitasking system built for a folding screen, and a dedicated desktop mode that finally lets the iPhone double as a pocket computer.

Without software tailored specifically to the form factor, the Duo risks being a gorgeous piece of hardware holding back an oversized iOS.

We're on the ground at Apple Park!

Even though we're still a few hours away from the start time of the event, we're finally on the ground and ready to tackle everything Apple has to announce. Clearly the one that's getting the most buzz right now is none other than the iPhone Duo, but there are three things you should know about Apple's upcoming first foldable phone.

iPhone 18 Pro likely to get a price hike, but it's not as bad as we thought

After months of rumors warning that Apple’s next flagship series could see prices spike by as much as $200 to $300, a new report from Bloomberg brings some relief: the increase is expected to be capped at $100.

That would push the starting prices to $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro and $1,299 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max (each likely starting with 256GB). While nobody welcomes higher hardware costs, the bump merely aligns Apple with chief competitors. like Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra and Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL.

However, given the bigger hardware upgrades rumored to come to the larger iPhone 18 Pro Max, people may be inclined to get the Pro Max over the Pro this year.

AirPods Ultra won't likely be announced, but we could get something else

Before Apple rolls out wilder concept designs like camera-touting AirPods that have dominated the rumor mills for some time now, the company might instead reveal the AirPods 5 at its event later today.

Expect the lineup to maintain its two-model approach — $129 for base and $179 for ANC — powered by a new H3 chip for crisper call isolation and better noise cancellation, plus rumored basic temperature tracking to bolster entry-level health metrics.

I've chosen the smaller iPhone Pro for the last couple of years, but that changes this year

For the past couple of generations, sticking with the standard 6.3-inch Pro has been an easy call. It offered the ideal pocketable design that I crave without compromising on flagship features, especially since Apple kept camera and processing hardware idential. But with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, I'm leaning dramatically towards the iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Between rumors of the Pro Max exclusively receiving a game-changing variable aperture main camera, packing a massive battery upgrade upwards of 5,500 mAh, and delivering better thermal headroom for the new 2nm A20 Pro silicon, Apple seems intent on re-establishing the Max as the true hardware flagship.

What seals the deal, however, is the narrowing price gap. With early whispers of a massive price hike giving way to reports that the Pro lineup will see a more modest bump, the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are tipped to be separated by just $100 — starting around $1,199 and $1,299 for matching 256GB baselines.

Overhyped versus underhyped gadgets Apple could reveal

Our very own Mark Spoonauer and Kate Kozuch are on the ground at Apple Park to cover everything at the "Surprise and Shine" event.

But before the keynote starts, they're breaking down all the biggest rumors ahead of the event. Specifically, they debate about the most overhyped and underhyped Apple devices that have been rumored for some time now.

I LOVE the Galaxy Z Fold 8, so I have higher expectations for the iPhone Duo

I'll be the first to admit that changing to a different aspect ratio is exactly what made me (and many others) fall in love with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. After spending eight generations relentlessly refining the book-style foldable, and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 feels like the culmination of that effort.

Between its razor-thin chassis, nearly imperceptible crease, and mature multitasking software, it finally turned the foldable promise into an uncompromising daily driver. Because the bar is set so ridiculously high, I have higher expectations for the iPhone Duo.

Entering the game this late means Apple can't just release a novel device because it has to solve the pain points that even seasoned foldable makers still wrestle with. If the Duo commands a rumored $2,000 price tag, it needs to deliver more than just premium industrial design.

Does not having a telephoto camera a dealbreaker for the iPhone Duo?

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Dropping an estimated $2,000 on a flagship phone usually guarantees top-tier imaging hardware, which exposes one of the issues I have knowing that the iPhone Duo is rumored to not have a dedicated telephoto camera. I've put the Pixel 11 Pro Fold and the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra through their paces, the gap between having dedicated zoom optics and relying on digital cropping is impossible to overlook.

In my real-world shooting, Google’s foldable holds the clear upper hand. The periscope setup on the Pixel 11 Pro Fold consistently pulls in sharper, cleaner detail at 5x and beyond — rendering the sign in the gallery above better than the Fold 8 Ultra.

If Apple relies purely on high-resolution sensor crop from the main camera to handle magnification, zoom quality is going to hit a hard ceiling past 2x. On a device built to showcase Apple’s hardware engineering at the highest level, skipping a dedicated telephoto feels like a compromise. What do you think?

Badges in hand, let's go!

There's nothing quite like being at Apple Park for an iPhone event and now that we have our badges in hand, the countdown has begun. Without a doubt, we're eager to see what new gadgets Apple plans to reveal. Or perhaps get teasers on some other upcoming stuff the company's planning to officially reveal later one.

iPhone Duo could end up being the thinnest iPhone, but it can't ignore battery life

If there's one lesson from our testing of the Pixel 11 Pro Fold, it’s that driving two displays — especially an expansive inner folding screen — brutally punishes battery life.

In fact, Google's latest foldable struggled to move the needle in our battery drain test, proving that thin hinges and modest capacities leave little margin for error. What's notable, too, is how Samsung and Motorola are leaning on silicon-carbon batteries in their foldables. That chemistry doesn't just allow them to pack massive capacities, but it does so without making the phones inherently thicker.

If the iPhone Duo wants to justify its $2,000 price point, Apple's silicon efficiency and iOS 27 power management need to deliver true all-day longevity.

Could an iPhone desktop mode finally be a reality? I hope so

Hear me out: I've been waiting for Apple to come out with an iPhone desktop mode to rival what other phone makers are offering with their flagships.

For example, the new Samsung DeX on the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Z Fold 8 Ultra, and Z Flip 8 prove that foldables can genuinely act as mini PCs, thanks to a major upgrade that introduces four distinct virtual workspaces capable of running up to 20 apps at once.

If the iPhone Duo enters the market as a $2,000 hybrid device, Apple can’t just offer oversized iOS icons. It needs an equivalent desktop mode that kicks in when tethered to an external monitor. Without desktop-style windowing and multi-workspace organization, Apple will struggle to match the raw productivity power Samsung has spent years refining.

A quick tour of the food spread at Apple!

There's nothing like seeing the food lined up at the Steve Jobs Theater as people enter the venue! When you're expecting big things later on, having this kind of variety is just what you need to survive a multi-hour hardware marathon.

Last-minute iPhone Duo rumors you should know about

Apple’s widely tipped to finally introduce its foldable, the iPhone Duo, pairing a 5.5-inch outer cover screen with an expansive 7.8-inch inner one that measures just 4.5mm unfolded.

Late leaks point to a starting price of $2,000 for 256GB of storage, undercutting early fears of an even steeper markup. However, chasing that ultra-thin chassis means accepting first-gen compromises, including a dual-camera setup with no dedicated telephoto lens and a rumored release date slipping into October.

The crowd continues to grow!

We're less than an hour from when the festivities are slated to start, but the Steve Jobs Theater is quickly filling up with reporters, influencers, analysts, and guests who are eager to see what Apple reveals.

Gurman says you might not see these other Apple devices at the event

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman has been busy over the last 24 hours, but he doesn't expect to see announcements for other previously rumored devices, like an updated Apple TV 4K or a HomePod mini refresh.

Clearly, the company has its hands full with the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo — so it's no surprise that secondary hardware might sit out this event.

Take a look inside: The countdown is on at Steve Jobs Theater!

We're officially headed down the glass stairs and into the auditorium! As you can see in the video, the space is quickly packing in with press, analysts, and creators securing their spots.

iPhone Duo is probably going to be the thinnest iPhone ever

Notebook-style foldables have advantages over traditional slabs, like how they offer larger screens. However, the notable thing about the iPhone Duo is how it's shaping up to be the thinnest iPhone ever.

Tipped to measure just 4.5mm unfolded and around 9mm closed, the iPhone Duo easily undercuts the iPhone Air to claim the title of thinnest iPhone in history. While it won't dethrone the razor-thin Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra or the featherweight Magic V6, its 230–241g weight and slim profile put it right in line with the iPhone 17 Pro Max — giving users a 7.8-inch inner canvas without the unwieldy bulk of early-generation foldables.

The iPhone Duo could justify the iPhone Air's biggest missteps

When Apple introduced the iPhone Air, it proved the company could engineer an impossibly thin 5.6mm chassis — but it came at the cost of crippling compromises. Between a single rear camera, cramped battery life that trailed the rest of the lineup, and a downclocked chip, the Air prioritized sheer thinness over real-world practicality.

Yet, the iPhone Duo represents the exact redemption arc Apple needs. Rather than obsessing over thinness, Apple could use what it learns with the Duo to make the iPhone Air 2 way better.

Apple CEO John Ternus teases what could be a variable aperture camera

With less than 30 minutes from the start of the event, new Apple CEO John Ternus shares a teaser video on X showing what could be a variable aperture camera. You can watch in the clip above how the light shines down to what appears to be a lens. While this is interesting, we're eager to see how Apple sells a feature like this to the general consumer.

We're in our seats!

The doors have opened up to the Steve Jobs Theater and we're in our seats ready to see what Apple has in store for us!

Place your bet — where does the iPhone Duo land on an all-time greatest list?

With time winding down, all eyes are on Apple and what you usher in a new era for the company. There's no arguing how the company's line of slate iPhone have dominated the landscape, but where does the iPhone Duo land on an all-time greatest list? Is it higher than any of the other notable classics above? Let us know.

This is your 5-minute warning

Apple Event September 9 2026: Introducing iPhone Duo and more - YouTube

Watch On

We're less than 5 minutes away from the start, so your best way of keeping up with the action is to watch the livestream above.

Apple CEO John Ternus takes stage

Apple's new CEO steps up and introduces the crowd here at the Steve Jobs Theater. "We want our products to be powerful but also simple," explains Ternus to the crowd. "We're going to continue changing the world."

'You want a great opening scene?'

Apple is kicking off its event with a short video that says it's shot on iPhone, which we presumably think is the iPhone 18 Pro or 18 Pro Max. It look pretty legit, complete with cinematic takes and action.

Tim Cook makes a 'main character' cameo

Towards the end of the opening video, we see Tim Cook mentioning about the "main character," which he then proceeds to point behind him to reveal John Ternus.

iPhone is the personal intelligent hub

Apple CEO John Ternus starts off the show talking about Apple Intelligence first, going on to say how the iPhone is the personal intelligent hub. "It's personal intelligence that's personal," explains Ternus.

Apple iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are official!

Ternus reveals the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max first, going on to say how it has the longest battery life in an iPhone, most advanced cameras.

The video initially shows an iPhone 17 Pro that shot video of the moon but end by saying "this is what happens when you go to the moon and ask what's next."

Siri AI brings more advanced features

Before we learn more about the hardware for the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, Apple's taking the time to talk about new capabilities coming to its new phones. In addition to handling task automations, you'll also get the new Siri AI app to see all of your interactions.

Apple A20 Pro sets a new bar for mobile computing

Apple's newest silicon is built using the new 2-nanometer manufacturing process, consisting of a 6-core CPU and 4 efficiency cores, which deliver a 20% improvement. The GPU has 7-core design with 40% increased performance.

Vapor chamber and chip packaging will deliver maximum performance with A20 Pro chip

A next-generation vapor chamber has three times the surface area, while a copper layer adds to its heat dissipation. As a result, it delivers a 40% sustained performance improvement.

Improved battery life performance on iPhone 18 Pros

On top of offering superior processing performance, the battery life is going to be much improved with up to 24 hours per charge with the iPhone 18 Pro and 30 hours with the Pro Max. Apple also says you get 50% battery life in 15 minutes.

Variable aperture main camera confirmed!

Apple didn't wait long to reveal the 48MP main camera with variable aperture on the iPhone 18 Pros, giving users even more creative shots.

Pro Controls paired with variable aperture

Apple's rolling through all the creative ways a variable aperture can be used effectively with Pro Controls, like being able to use variable aperture to create motion blur or also freeze photos.

Upgraded Dynamic Island is smaller, shows more Activities

With the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, Apple slims its size, but it's now able to show up to three Live Activities.

iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max start at $1,199 and $1,299

Apple spends a short time talking about new accessories that include cases and wrist straps, but the bigger reveal is the price of its new phones:

• iPhone 18 Pro: $1,199
• iPhone 18 Pro Max: $1,299

AirPods 5 has best ANC in an open-ear design

AirPods 5 have an open ear fit with next-gen adaptive EQ, better Siri features, real-time Live Translation, durable design that handles rain, 4 hours of listening with ANC with up to 20 hours with charging case. It's priced at $129 without ANC.

Another model has a touch sensitive stem that offers 5 hours of battery with ANC, comes with wireless charging case, all priced at $149.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4 revealed

Advanced sensor array monitor sleep, health, and fitness. Both offer Health Sensing System, packs larger electrode area, better optical seniung with photodiode, larger, more power efficient green LEDs offer better tracking.

Background readings are taken every 5 seconds, record heart rate variability every 5 minutes.

New Apple Watches focus on heart rate variability

High-frequency heart rate data, which is now a complication you can add.

Health Sensing System offers Readiness tells you when to push or hold back. It analyzes your data to set goals and challenges for yourself, so the score changes dynamically to give you an overview.

Health Age gather metrics to give you what habits impact your age the most. You can even order a $119 lab work right through the app.

Audio Intelligence unlocks more helpful tools on Apple Watch

With built-in mics and new silicon, new Apple Intelligence features includes three new Audio Intelligence:

• Sound Recognition that can discern sounds like alarms.
• Live Rewind that lets you go back in time 15 seconds and basically acts as a transcript.
• Siri Recap takes notes that can summarize.

Apple Watch Series 12 in more colors and finishes

Apple Watch Series 12 come in more colors and finishes, including polish finishes and ceramic materials. There are also new bands, including from Nike.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $499

Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399, while Apple Watch Ultra 4 start at $799. Thankfully they don't get any price hikes this year.

'But actually there's one more thing' — say hello to iPhone Duo

While it appears it's a wrap with the Apple event, John Ternus says that there's just one more thing -- going on to reveal a foldable device called the iPhone Duo.

True to all the rumors and leaks, the iPhone Duo is a "wide" notebook style foldable phone.

iPhone Duo's biggest features revealed

• FaceTime camera is hidden underneath the display
• Hinge mechanism feels smooth with an integrated manet
• Thinnest iPhone ever
• Aero-space titanium
• Largest display in an iPhone

Even more iPhone Duo specs confirmed

• 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display, 50% larger in size than iPhone 18 Pro Max.
• 5.4-inch outer display provides 90% of viewing screen of iPhone 18 Pro.
• Apple Pencil support to come later.
• Touch ID is integrated into the side button.
• Unlock phone with Apple Watch.
• Speakers on top and bottom edges.
• Grade 5 titanium construction.
• Ceramic Shield on back, Ceramic Shield 2 on front

Apps adapt to how you position the iPhone Duo

This is the biggest thing that will differentiate the iPhone Duo from other foldable phones, as apps will dynamically scale and change depending on how you orient and use it. The demo so far looks pretty convincing, but developers will need to optimize how they look.

iPhone Dup display technology reduces glare, offers superior scratch protection

Nano-texture finishes reduces glare with the main display. It also offers better scratch resistance. All of these layers won't distort over time, with the hinge that consists of over 100 components.

'iPhone Duo is eSIM only worldwide'

In order to engineer its foldable phone and long battery life, the iPhone Duo is only going to be available as an eSIM-only option worldwide. You get all-day battery life up to 31 hours with the inner display, 44 hours outer display, and 24 hours when using both screens equally. When it come to charging, you'll get 50% in 20 minutes of charging.

iPhone Duo cameras offer new ways to shoot

Apple spends time talking about the dual-camera system in the iPhone Duo, including how the Center Stage camera can be used for FaceTime calls. Other creative ways include using the outer screen to capture better selfies.

iPhone Duo starts at $1,999

Apple finally reveals the iPhone Duo's price, which at $1,999, makes a compelling offer. Preorders start October 16 with availability set for October 12.

And that's a wrap!

Normally Apple's events are multi-hour marathons, but this one's rather concise. After finishing off its event with the iPhone Duo, Apple had nothing else to share apart from an ending scene that mentions how the event was shot on iPhone and edited on Mac. Stay tuned for our additional coverage!

Which reveal were you most impressed with?

Between John Ternus's keynote debut, the long-awaited unveiling of the $1,999 iPhone Duo, and substantial hardware upgrades for the iPhone 18 Pro series, today wasn’t just another iterative September refresh.

Apple made a definitive statement that it’s ready to challenge Android's mature foldable dominance on its own terms — even if the omission of a telephoto lens and an October rollout invite scrutiny. Out of all the devices it announced at the event, which one gets your vote?

Samsung gets sassy

Samsung functionally started the foldable phone trend nearly a decade ago with its original Galaxy Fold.

So, we were expecting some kind of response and the company got a little sassy on X posting:

"Let us know when you're done reheating our leftovers."

What we know about the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

The new iPhone Pro models aren't big departures from the previous generation but there are some things to get excited about.

Check out our article to find out everything you need to know about the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Expect a lot of Microsoft Duo jokes

For any tech journo who has been around a minute and a collector, expect to see a lot of Microsoft Duo jokes.

Here's an example from The Verge's Tom Warren.

New, cheaper AirPods

Apple revealed its new Airpods 5 in two versions, one with a wireless charging case and a base model, with active noise cancellation.

Both are cheaper than or the same price as the AirPods 4, making it one of the few devices to get a price cut.

Here's everything you need to know about the AirPods 5.

Duo wallpapers

If you're looking for Duo wallpapers, the Basic Apple Guy on X has you covered. He posted images from the usdz file of two desert shots, one at night and one during day that you can grab.

These appear to be the same ones we saw during the presentation.

Hands on with the Duo

Initial thoughts on the iPhone Duo

We've had some hands-on time with the iPhone Duo, and Tom's Guide Global Editor has some initial thoughts on Apple's first foldable iPhone.

Check out his iPhone Duo hands-on article for all of the details.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4

Apple's two new watches, the Series 12 and Ultra 4, aren't too different than their predecessors, but they do come with new chips, a couple of new sensors, and a number of health software upgrades.

Here's everything you need to know about the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4.

Older, lower-end iPhones are now more expensive

Apple only announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max today, each with a $100 price increase compared to the iPhone 17 versions.

However, the lower-end older devices also got $100 price bumps.

Here are the new prices:

Plus the 256GB version of the iPhone 16 has been axed and the iPhone 16 Plus is no longer for sale.

iPhone Duo vs Galaxy Z Fold 8

Going hands-on with the Apple Watch Ultra 4

Tom's Guide Fitness editor Jane McGuire was able to get some hands-on time with the Apple Watch Ultra 4.

Initially, she was impressed but not every announced feature was available at launch and won't come until much later. So its kind of a wait and see moment.

Hands-on with the Apple Watch Series 12

Fitness managing editor Jane McGuire also had a chance to go hands-on with the Apple Watch Series 12. Her initial impressions? It's a nice upgrade over the previous model, especially now that it has upgraded sensors and a much-needed Readiness score. Best of all? It's the same price as last year's model.

Hands-on with the 18 Pro Max

Alongside the excitement of the new iPhone Duo, we've also got some hands-on time with the iPhone 18 Pro Max. You can read what Global Editor in Chief Mark Spoonauer thought of Apple's new Pro model.

In a nutshell, it's the camera upgrades that are likely to be the biggest draw for anyone looking to upgrade.

iPhone 18 Pro Max HANDS ON: This Camera Is a Big Deal - YouTube

Watch On

Apple Watch Ultra 4: Reasons to buy and reasons to skip

Those fond of an outdoor adventure or two may be eyeing up the new Apple Watch Ultra 4, especially thanks to improved battery life and enhanced heart rate tracking. Our resident smartwatch guru, Dan Bracaglia, has run through everything the rugged new wearable has to offer and come up with his reasons for and against upgrading.

Here are his five reasons to buy the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and two reasons to skip it.

Sneaky price hikes have arrived

While Apple was very upfront about the increased prices for iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, it wasn't so eager to advertise the fact those aren't the only devices getting a price hike. All the older iPhones are getting a $100 price bump as well, including iPhone 17, iPhone 17e, iPhone 16 and iPhone Air.

Considering the newest of those phones came out in February and the oldest of them landed two whole years ago, we have to wonder what Apple is thinking. We never expected the iPhone 17 to get the usual price cut, since the iPhone 18 never made an appearance at Surprise and shine, but even we didn't anticipate the prices going up.

Make sure to grab one of the latest and best iPhone 17 deals while you can, otherwise you're going to end up paying more than you bargained for.