Payam Javan: Apple unveiled its first-ever foldable iPhone on Wednesday, introducing the new Duo during the company’s latest keynote at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino. The event marked the first major product presentation led by John Ternus, who became Apple’s chief executive on Sept. 1 after succeeding Tim Cook.
Ternus revealed the foldable device at the end of the presentation with the phrase “actually, there is one more thing,” echoing the famous product-launch tradition associated with Steve Jobs. The Duo unfolds into a 7.6-inch display, which Apple says is 80% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro’s screen while remaining compact enough to fit in a pocket. It also supports Apple Pencil and allows users to run two apps or browser windows side by side.
Starting at $1,999, the Duo is the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever released. Analysts said the device represents a significant expansion of Apple’s smartphone strategy into the growing foldable market. However, some industry observers questioned whether Apple can generate mass-market demand for a category that remains relatively specialized, despite the company’s reputation for entering emerging product segments after competing technologies have matured.
Apple also introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, featuring major camera and performance upgrades. Both models include a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with variable aperture, allowing users to manually control settings such as shutter speed, white balance and exposure. The phones also feature Apple Reference Image, an authentication system designed to sign sensor data and help determine whether an image has been altered.
The new models are powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chip, built using 2-nanometer technology, with Apple claiming up to 40% faster graphics performance and 50% greater memory bandwidth compared with the previous generation. The devices run iOS 27 and introduce an AI-enhanced Siri capable of using personal context across messages, photos and on-screen content while emphasizing on-device privacy. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 and the Pro Max at $1,299, with preorders beginning Sept. 12 and store availability on Sept. 18. The Duo is scheduled to launch Oct. 23.
