Apple held its “Surprise and Shine” event on Wednesday, September 9th. Iterative improvements to the iPhone, AirPods, and Apple Watch — designed with the updated, AI-powered Siri in mind — led the announcements, but the Cupertino company saved “one more thing” for its first-ever foldable device: the iPhone Duo.
A Passport-Sized Foldable Opening to iPad-Like Experience
Arriving seven years after Samsung launched the Galaxy Fold, the iPhone Duo folds out like a book. The device’s outer screen is roughly the size of a passport, but it opens to a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display to deliver an iPad mini-like experience. The IP68 rating for dust protection and water resistance up to a maximum depth of 1.5 meters for up to 30 minutes is worth noting.
Of course, the dual-screen experience only works if third-party apps are optimized for it. Apple showed off support for Zoom, Slack, and Netflix, allowing deep-pocketed buyers to distract themselves with Stranger Things or Bridgerton while on calls.
Starting at $1,999 for 256 GB of storage, the iPhone Duo costs $800 more than the comparable iPhone 18 Pro model. Pre-orders open on October 16th ahead of its October 23rd release.
AirPods 5 Improve Active Noise Cancellation for Less
The other notable announcement was the AirPods 5 with “best-in-class open‑ear active noise cancellation,” boasting 50% better noise reduction compared to the AirPods 4. The entry-level option costs $129, which is a heck of a lot cheaper than the AirPods Pro 3 (now available for $199 on Amazon).
Stepping up to the $149 AirPods 5 might be worth it for some people; you get the convenience of a wireless charging case, up to five hours of battery life with noise cancellation, and on-stem volume control like the AirPods Pro 3.
You can pre-order both models of the AirPods 5 now before they hit stores on September 18th.
iPhone 18 Pro Lineup: Adaptive Cameras, All-Day Battery
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max were announced with a faster chip, a new adaptive camera lens, and purported all-day battery life of up to 30 and 45 hours, respectively. The former starts at $1,199 for 256 GB, with the latter starting at $1,299 for the same storage capacity.
Pre-orders begin September 12th, with availability on September 18th.
Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and iOS 27 Details
Other announcements include the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, which have become more powerful to support the improved Siri with AI. Both models also feature health upgrades, including new optical and electrical heart sensors for improved heart monitoring.
Pre-orders are now open for the Series 12 (starting at $399) and Ultra 4 ($799) ahead of a launch on September 18th.
Finally, iOS 27 launches on September 14th with improved Siri AI, a Liquid Glass slider, and extra-large widgets.
