Foldable iPhone Duo and 18 Pro series debut with 2nm silicon

The Takeaway

• The keynote marked John Ternus’s major debut as CEO, spotlighting the folding iPhone Duo alongside the iPhone 18 Pro.
• Hardware updates include a mechanical variable aperture on the Pro camera and an unbroken inner display on the foldable.
• Noticeably absent was the base iPhone 18, which is reportedly delayed to early 2027 because of surging memory chip costs.
• Pre-orders for the Pro phones and new smartwatches start immediately, while the Duo reaches buyers on October 23.

Apple charted a new path at Apple Park as CEO John Ternus took charge of his first major September hardware showcase. The gathering felt noticeably different from previous years. Instead of presenting a broad selection for everyone, the presentation focused strictly on top-tier hardware. The standard iPhone 18, the rumoured iPhone Air, and a refreshed Apple Watch SE were missing from the presentation. Supply chain reports indicate a massive 300 percent price surge in memory components pushed the affordable models back to early 2027. This left the stage clear for premium devices that can comfortably absorb higher manufacturing bills.

The most striking addition was the iPhone Duo, a passport-style folding device. When closed, it operates through a 5.4-inch outer Super Retina XDR screen. Opening the frame reveals a 7.6-inch inner display reaching 3,000 nits of peak brightness. To prevent creases, a 10-layer ultra-thin OLED panel sits over a stiffened custom polymer that cushions bend stress. Two batteries share duties across the grade-5 titanium hinge to deliver roughly 24 hours of mixed use. Alongside it, the iPhone 18 Pro arrived with an A20 Pro chip built on a 2nm process. The handset features a dedicated vapour chamber to prevent throttling under heavy loads. Photographers get a 48MP Fusion camera with a physical variable aperture that shifts mechanically between f/1.48 and f/4.0. Prior to the event, Everything known about iPhone 18 Pro ahead of September 9 anticipated big changes, and native Pro Controls now allow direct adjustments to shutter speed and ISO.

Wearables also saw substantial revisions across two core models. The Apple Watch Series 12 extends its continuous outdoor workout tracking to 10 hours. For backcountry athletes, the Apple Watch Ultra 4 packs an updated S11 processor with expanded green LEDs. It samples heart rate every five seconds to generate a daily readiness score, while offering up to 45 hours of tracking in a specialised workout mode. Rounding out the audio segment, the AirPods 5 appeared with improved active noise cancellation.

Engineering trade-offs define the new folding hardware. Apple eliminated the screen notch by placing the front camera completely beneath the folding display. But this ultra-thin 4.5mm design created an unexpected casualty. The standard TrueDepth camera module could not fit inside the frame, meaning the iPhone Duo skips Face ID entirely. Security relies solely on a Touch ID fingerprint sensor integrated into the side power button. Nobody expects to lose facial recognition on an ultra-premium phone, yet the design forced Apple’s hand.

Apple September event products, prices, and specifications

Delaying the entry-level models changes the purchase math for regular shoppers. Buyers waiting to upgrade from an older base iPhone must now hold out until early 2027. Apple clearly decided that passing a 300 percent memory surcharge onto budget-conscious buyers would stall sales. By focusing entirely on Pro and luxury tiers, the brand protects its profit margins while testing a brand-new form factor.

In India, this event creates a steep financial hurdle. The base iPhone 18 Pro costs ₹1,64,900, while the iPhone Duo climbs to an eye-watering ₹2,99,900. Still, the foldable includes practical features suited for Indian conditions. The return of Touch ID is a quiet blessing during the humid monsoon months, when damp fingers or wet screens often confound facial recognition sensors. A new cellular feature called iPhone Handoff also permits a single phone number across two separate iPhones. That allows an owner to leave the three-lakh-rupee foldable safely at home and carry a sturdier phone through crowded railway stations.

The Unboxed Truth

The Unboxed Truth from Unbox Daily HQ is that this event was built for high budgets rather than regular consumers. Skipping the standard iPhone leaves everyday upgraders stranded until early 2027. Paying ₹2,99,900 for the iPhone Duo buys you an experimental first-generation device without Face ID, which costs as much as a dependable pre-owned car. If you want genuine utility, the iPhone 18 Pro and its mechanical variable aperture offer real functional upgrades without the fragile novelty.

Best for: Power users and creative professionals who need top-tier camera performance.

Who Is This For: Tech enthusiasts aged 25 to 48 with substantial upgrade budgets.

Courtesy: Apple