Apple’s Folding iPhone Debuts Alongside 5 Different Launches

Today, Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, introduced a handful of recent iPhones, Apple Watches and AirPods. It was Ternus’ first massive announcement since taking up for Tim Cook earlier this month. The most newsworthy addition to the lineup? A protracted-rumored foldable cellphone (extra on that beneath). Below is all the pieces it is advisable find out about these new launches — together with pre-order and in-store dates.

New iPhones

Apple introduced three new iPhones: the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone Pro Max and the all-new foldable iPhone Duo. Notably absent was an ordinary iPhone 18 — Apple could also be holding that mannequin, together with a brand new iPhone 18e, till spring 2027.

The Pro lineup retains a well-known look however positive aspects Apple’s new A20 Pro chip, constructed on a 2-nanometer course of, together with a variable-aperture 48-megapixel major digicam for higher low-light and depth management. This cellphone is $100 dearer than final 12 months’s mannequin, beginning at $1,199.

Apple additionally introduced the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which begins at $1,299. The main distinction between the 2 is display dimension and battery life. The Pro has a 6.3-inch display in comparison with the Max’s 6.9-inch display. As for battery, the Pro provides as much as 24 hours, whereas the Max provides as much as 30 hours. Pre-orders for these telephones open Saturday, September 12, with units in shops September 18.

This is the large one: Apple’s first-ever foldable iPhone. It opens like a e-book right into a roughly 7.8-inch inside show, with a smaller exterior display for on a regular basis use when it’s closed. Closed, it’s in regards to the dimension of a passport. Apple constructed the Duo round its new in-house C2 modem — the corporate’s second-generation mobile chip, which Apple says is 50 p.c quicker than its predecessor whereas utilizing 15 p.c much less energy. The twin rear digicam system can be utilized on each side of the fold directly, so you’ll be able to present somebody what you’re seeing on a FaceTime name. Apple additionally packed in two separate battery cells, ranking the Duo for as much as 44 hours of use on the outer show alone, or about 24 hours utilizing each screens.

The iPhone Duo will launch with two colour choices — white and darkish blue. Pricing will begin at $1,999 for 256GB of storage and the discharge is on a later schedule than the remainder of the lineup: pre-orders start October 16, with the gadget arriving in shops October 23.

Apple Watch

Apple additionally refreshed its smartwatch lineup with the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 — and, in a bit of fine information, neither watch received a value improve. Both watches can be found for pre-order now.

The Apple Watch Series 12 facilities on a redesigned Health Sensing System, paired with the brand new S11 chip. Its optical and electrical sensors have been rebuilt with bigger, extra power-efficient inexperienced LEDs, enabling much more frequent monitoring — the watch takes background coronary heart fee readings each 5 seconds and measures coronary heart fee variability as usually as each 5 minutes, which Apple says is 60 occasions extra frequent than on the Series 11. That information feeds a brand new Readiness rating, calculated every morning from current exercise, vitals, and sleep, giving wearers a single quantity to gauge how a lot they’ll tackle that day. It’s out there in eight finishes, together with two ceramic choices in Pearl White and Night Blue, and the aluminum fashions now use Ceramic Shield 2, which Apple says is 60 p.c harder than the earlier Ion-X glass.

Beyond well being monitoring, the Series 12 provides AI-driven software program options tied to the brand new Siri, together with a Live Rewind perform that permits you to replay the final 15 seconds of audio you simply missed, and Siri Recap, which generates summaries of conversations picked up by the watch’s microphone. It retains the acquainted 42mm and 46mm case sizes and customary security options like Fall Detection and Emergency SOS, and is rated WR50 and IP6X for water and dirt resistance. It begins at $399, the identical value because the Series 11, and is obtainable for pre-order now forward of a September 18 launch.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is constructed across the identical S11 chip and redesigned Health Sensing System because the Series 12, however tuned for endurance athletes and out of doors use. Battery life will get a significant increase too: Apple charges it for as much as 50 hours of on a regular basis use, as much as 18 hours of normal exercise monitoring with full GPS and coronary heart fee monitoring, and as much as 45 hours in a brand new Max Extended Workout mode — sufficient to cowl a 100-mile race. It’s out there in two titanium finishes, pure and black, and retains the built-in satellite tv for pc communications that permit wearers keep linked off the grid.

Like the Series 12, the Ultra 4 additionally picks up Siri AI and Audio Intelligence options powered by the S11 chip, plus the power to begin a request on iPhone and choose it up seamlessly on the watch. It retains the rugged design and precision dual-frequency GPS which have outlined the Ultra line. Pricing holds regular at $799, the identical because the Ultra 3, with pre-orders open now for the September 18 launch.

AirPods

Apple unveiled the AirPods 5, its subsequent mainstream earbuds, priced at $129, or $149 for the model with a wi-fi charging case.

The AirPods 5 ship as much as 1.5x extra lively noise cancellation than the earlier era and are powered by a brand new H2 chip. They even have dynamic head monitoring, adaptive audio to change between noise cancelling and transparency mode, relying in your surroundings. Similar to different AirPod fashions, in addition they have IP57 ranking for mud, sweat, and water resistance.

On the software program facet, they provide hands-free entry to the brand new Siri AI and real-time Live Translation. Battery life is as much as 4 hours with ANC on the bottom mannequin, or 5 hours (22 whole with the case) on the model with a USB-C Wireless Charging Case, which additionally helps Qi and Apple Watch charging. AirPods 5 can be found for pre-order now, delivery September 18.

Are there any new Macs or iPads?

Nothing new was introduced on that entrance at the moment — this occasion was targeted on iPhone, Watch and AirPods. Apple already refreshed the Mac mini and Mac Studio with M6 and M5 Ultra chips final month, and any additional Mac or iPad updates will probably come at a separate occasion later this 12 months and even subsequent spring.

Why did some costs go up?

Apple didn’t element its reasoning past pointing to element prices, however the iPhone 18 Pro value improve tracks with a broader development this 12 months: rising reminiscence and storage costs have pushed up prices throughout telephones, laptops and different electronics all through 2026.

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Why belief NBC Selected?

I’m a commerce editor at NBC Selected and a journalist who often covers wellness, magnificence, residence and life-style. I’ve written in regards to the “no-touch” cellphone legislation, the most effective display protectors and extra. For this story, I researched all of Apple’s new choices and watched their announcement occasion.