CUPERTINO, CA — Apple is making one of its biggest changes to the iPhone in years, officially entering the foldable smartphone market while also introducing its new iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
The company unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, during its fall product event Wednesday. When closed, the device offers a 5.4-inch outer display. Opening it reveals a 7.6-inch interior screen, giving users considerably more space for entertainment, productivity and multitasking.
Apple Enters the Foldable Phone Market
The iPhone Duo is designed to work as both a traditional smartphone and a larger-screen mobile device. Users can run two apps side-by-side, and Apple has also added support for the Apple Pencil, bringing a feature previously associated with the iPad to an iPhone for the first time.
Inside, the Duo runs on Apple’s new A20 Pro chip. The device also features a titanium construction, upgraded cooling technology and storage configurations reaching as high as 2TB.
The new technology comes with a premium price. The iPhone Duo will start at $1,999, making it Apple’s most expensive iPhone to date. It is scheduled to become available on October 23.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max Get Major Upgrades
Apple also introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, both powered by the A20 Pro processor.
Camera upgrades are among the biggest changes. The Pro models feature a new 48-megapixel main camera with variable aperture technology, designed to give photographers more control over depth of field while improving performance in different lighting conditions.
Battery life, performance and charging have also been improved. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is rated for as much as 45 hours of video playback, according to details presented during the launch.
Pricing has increased from last year’s Pro models. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. The phones are scheduled to become available September 18.
Apple Puts More Focus on AI
Artificial intelligence was another major part of Apple’s announcements. The company highlighted an updated version of Siri and expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities designed to perform more tasks directly on the device.
Apple is emphasizing privacy as a key part of its AI strategy, saying processing will happen on the iPhone whenever possible, with its Private Cloud Compute system used when additional computing power is necessary.
The launch also marks a new era for the company, with John Ternus leading his first major Apple product event as CEO after succeeding Tim Cook earlier this month.
Between its first foldable smartphone, upgraded cameras, new processors and expanded AI capabilities, Apple’s 2026 lineup represents a significant shift for the iPhone as the company looks to compete in a growing premium foldable market.
(Photo by Karl Mondon / AFP via Getty Images)
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