Apple’s September event was a much bigger deal than a typical iPhone refresh. The company introduced its first-ever foldable iPhone, unveiled the new iPhone 18 Pro lineup, gave the Apple Watch a major health and AI upgrade, and brought active noise cancellation to the more affordable AirPods 5.
It was also the first major Apple product event under new CEO John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook earlier this month. And while the event still followed Apple’s familiar formula, there was one announcement that clearly stole the show: the iPhone Duo.
Here’s everything Apple announced.
The iPhone Duo Is Apple’s First Foldable iPhone
The biggest surprise was the iPhone Duo, Apple’s long-rumored entry into the foldable phone market.
The Duo opens up to reveal a 7.6-inch inner display, while the outside has a 5.4-inch display for normal phone use. Apple says the device is its thinnest iPhone ever when opened, while the overall design is roughly passport-sized when folded.
The phone is built around Apple’s new A20 Pro chip and uses a custom vapor chamber and dual-battery system to maintain performance during demanding workloads.
Apple also redesigned iOS 27 specifically for the foldable format. The large inner display supports Split View, allowing two apps to run side by side, while users can also run two windows from the same app.
The camera system gets some interesting foldable-specific features too, including the ability to use the outer screen as a preview and new ways to take hands-free photos.
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999, making it by far the most expensive iPhone in Apple’s lineup. Preorders begin October 16, with availability starting October 23.
iPhone 18 Pro Gets a Major Camera Upgrade
Apple also introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
The design hasn’t changed dramatically, but Apple focused heavily on the camera, battery life and performance.
The biggest camera addition is a new 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture, giving users more control over how much light enters the lens. Apple is also adding Pro Controls inside the Camera app for more manual control over photography.
Both models use the new A20 Pro chip and a new vapor chamber designed to improve sustained performance.
The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the Pro Max starts at $1,299. Storage options now go all the way up to 2TB. Preorders begin September 12, with sales starting September 18.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4
The Apple Watch also received a substantial update, particularly in health and fitness.
The Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4 introduce Apple’s new Health Sensing System, with more frequent heart-rate measurements and improved heart-rate variability tracking. Apple is also introducing a new readiness experience designed to give users a better idea of how prepared their body is for the day.
The redesigned Health app will use Apple Intelligence to turn health data into more understandable insights, including new longevity-focused information.
Apple also introduced Siri Recap and Audio Intelligence. The watch can use its microphones and on-device processing to recognize sounds and create useful summaries, with Apple emphasizing that raw audio is processed securely.
The Series 12 starts at $399, while the Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799.
AirPods 5 Finally Get ANC
The new AirPods 5 might actually be one of the more interesting value announcements from the event.
Apple is bringing active noise cancellation to its more affordable open-ear AirPods for the first time.
Apple says the new AirPods 5 can reduce external noise by up to 50 percent more than AirPods 4 with ANC. They also feature improved sound, Adaptive EQ, Siri AI support and Live Translation.
The standard model starts at $129, while a $149 version adds a wireless charging case and on-stem volume controls.
iOS 27 and a New Siri
Software was another major part of the event.
iOS 27 arrives September 14 and introduces the new Siri AI in beta. Siri is designed to understand personal context, interact with information across apps and take actions based on what’s on the screen.
Apple is also expanding Apple Intelligence with new image tools, improved Clean Up, more capable Image Playground features and tools such as Notify Me in Safari.
Apple Event 2026: Quick Summary
- iPhone Duo: Apple’s first foldable iPhone with a 7.6-inch inner display
- iPhone 18 Pro: New variable-aperture 48MP camera and A20 Pro
- Apple Watch Series 12: New health sensing and AI-powered insights
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: Longer battery life and upgraded health features
- AirPods 5: ANC starting at $129
- iOS 27: New Siri AI and expanded Apple Intelligence
- Biggest surprise: The $1,999 iPhone Duo
- Most affordable new product: AirPods 5 at $129
Pros
- The iPhone Duo is a genuinely new product category for Apple
- iPhone 18 Pro gets meaningful camera and performance upgrades
- AirPods 5 bring ANC to a much lower price point
- Apple Watch health features continue to expand
Cons
- The $1,999 starting price makes the iPhone Duo extremely expensive
- Some of the most interesting Siri AI features are still in beta
- The iPhone 18 Pro design remains relatively familiar
- Several AI and health features depend on language and regional availability
Final Thoughts
Apple’s September 2026 event wasn’t just another yearly iPhone update. The iPhone Duo gives the company a completely new product category, while the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12 and AirPods 5 fill out the rest of the lineup with more evolutionary upgrades.
The foldable iPhone will get most of the attention, but the more affordable AirPods 5 and the increasingly capable Apple Watch could end up being the products that make the biggest difference for everyday users.
The bigger question now is whether Apple can convince people that its version of the foldable phone is worth $1,999.