New CEO John Ternus used his first iPhone keynote to ship Apple’s first foldable phone, a sharper Pro lineup, and quieter upgrades to Watch and AirPods.
The “Surprise and Shine” event at Apple Park on September 9 was not a mid-cycle refresh. It was Apple’s first hardware show since Ternus took over from Tim Cook on September 1. The company split the usual September iPhone drop: Pro models now, the standard iPhone 18 later.
iPhone Duo is the real surprise
Apple’s first foldable is a book-style phone, not a flip. Closed, a 5.4-inch outer screen covers about 90 percent of an iPhone 18 Pro’s display area. Open, a 7.6-inch inner Super Retina XDR panel is 50 percent larger than the 18 Pro Max. Both screens share the same aspect ratio so apps scale cleanly.
The inner display uses a nano-texture finish to cut glare and hide the crease. Grade 5 titanium, Ceramic Shield, IP68, and a precision hinge with more than 100 parts are Apple’s answer to foldable fatigue. Touch ID sits in the side button. An under-display FaceTime camera keeps the inner panel clean. Apple Pencil (USB-C) arrives later this year.
Dual 48MP Fusion cameras (main plus ultra-wide) add fold-only tricks: Smart Take auto-shoots when subjects pose, Duo Preview puts the live view on the outer screen, and Kid Cue plays Peanuts clips to get children looking at the lens. A20 Pro, a dual-battery pack, and a vapor chamber power the device. Colors: star white and night sky. Price starts at $1,999. Pre-orders open October 16; sales start October 23.
“iPhone Duo is the most transformational change to iPhone since the original,” Ternus said.
iPhone 18 Pro gets the first variable aperture
The 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max keep the aluminum slab but add a 48MP Fusion Main camera with four apertures (f/1.48 to f/4.0) via six laser-cut blades. Apple also ships Apple Reference Image: a signed, unalterable “digital negative” of what the sensor saw. Dynamic Island now shows three Live Activities. A20 Pro is Apple’s first 2nm iPhone chip, paired with a larger vapor chamber. eSIM-only Pro Max models claim up to 45 hours of video playback. Colors: black, silver, glacier, burgundy. Prices: $1,199 and $1,299 for 256GB. Pre-order September 12; in stores September 18.
Watch and AirPods fill the rest of the hour
Apple Watch Series 12 ($399) and Ultra 4 ($799) add a Health Sensing System Apple calls the most accurate heart-rate stack in a wearable, plus a readiness score. Ultra 4 battery stretches to 18 hours of GPS workouts, or 45 hours in Max Extended mode. AirPods 5 bring open-ear ANC to the cheap seats at $129, or $149 with a wireless case. Both ship September 18.
iOS 27 and Siri AI roll out with the phones. The base iPhone 18 stays offstage until spring.
AI Disclosure: This article was created with the assistance of artificial intelligence tools and was reviewed and edited by the Glowls News editorial team before publication.