Apple announced a range of new hardware and software at its September “Surprise and Sunshine” event, the company’s first fall presentation under John Ternus. The highlights included Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, the iPhone 18 Pro series, AirPods 5, updated Apple Watch models and a redesigned Apple Health app.
iPhone Duo: Apple’s first foldable
The iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable device. When opened it provides a 7.6-inch Retina inner display, while the outer display measures 5.4 inches. Apple said the device was “inspired by the versatility of iPad.” The inner screen uses an under-display camera to create an uninterrupted all-screen experience.
Apple states the iPhone Duo supports up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display and up to 44 hours on the outer display. The phone is equipped with a 48-megapixel main camera and a 48-megapixel ultrawide camera with 2x optical zoom. As with other foldables, users can take photos using the rear cameras while previewing them on the outer display.
The Duo’s hinge is made from Grade 5 aluminum and contains more than 100 purpose-built components intended to ensure smooth opening and closing. The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 with 256GB of storage, is offered in two colors, and will be available for pre-order on October 16 with in-store availability on October 23.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max: camera-focused upgrades
The iPhone 18 Pro lineup keeps the same design as previous models but introduces significant camera improvements. The Pro cameras use a 48-megapixel sensor with a variable aperture controlled by six thin blades; Apple says this should improve low-light performance and increase shooting speed.
Software additions include new Pro controls for white balance, shutter speed, aperture and a histogram, plus expanded Photographic Styles with texture and grain controls. The camera can record 4K video in Dolby HDR Vision and apply cinematic effects after capture.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299 — $100 higher than last year’s comparable model. Pre-orders open over the weekend and both models become available in stores on September 18.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4: AI audio features and sound recognition
The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 do not receive major hardware redesigns, but they include several notable software updates. Apple introduced new “Audio Intelligence” features intended to compete with AI-driven wearable functions: these help users review and remember moments from everyday conversations.
A new Live Rewind feature shows the previous 15 seconds of a conversation as a text snippet, while Siri Recap aims to summarize key takeaways from daily conversations such as meetings. A Sound Recognition feature can listen for sirens, alarms, doorbells and a baby crying and provide alerts useful for people who are hard of hearing.
The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 at $499. Pre-orders began the day of the event and both models will be available in stores starting September 18.
AirPods 5: improved ANC and expanded features
AirPods 5 bring improved audio quality, stronger active noise cancellation (ANC) and expanded Siri and Apple Intelligence features. Apple says the new model reduces background noise by 50% more than the previous generation. The stems now include volume controls, a feature previously limited to AirPods Pro.
Transparency mode has been enhanced to let nearby voices and ambient sounds come through more naturally. With ANC enabled the AirPods 5 offer up to five hours of listening on a single charge, and the charging case provides up to 22 hours total.
AirPods 5 start at $129, while the version with a Wireless Charging Case is $149. Pre-orders opened the same day as the event and the earbuds will arrive on September 18.
Redesigned Apple Health app
Apple revealed a redesigned Apple Health app that leverages Apple Intelligence to better interpret users’ health data. The update adds an Insights tab with a summary of timely health information, personalized guidance, assessments, a new Readiness score and a Health Age calculation.
A new Longevity tab will use metrics from Apple Watch and iPhone to evaluate overall health across factors such as sleep, movement and heart health. The redesigned Health app will roll out later this year, initially in U.S. English.
Summary
At the “Surprise and Sunshine” event Apple presented a broad set of updates across devices and software: its first foldable iPhone, camera-focused Pro phones, upgraded AirPods, AI-assisted watch features and a rebuilt Health app. Most products are available or begin shipping around September 18, while the iPhone Duo’s pre-orders start October 16 with retail availability on October 23.
