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The September 9, 2026 episode of 9to5Mac Daily summarizes the day's top Apple stories, notably coverage of the newly unveiled iPhone 18 Pro and a device referred to as the iPhone Duo. The episode is sponsored by task-management app Stuff and device-management platform iMazing, which is offering a 20% discount via a promo code.
Apple confirmed that not all products and features unveiled at its latest event will ship simultaneously. The Apple Watch Series 12, Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5 arrive Sept. 18, followed by the iPhone 18 Pro models on the same date, while the foldable iPhone Duo won't ship until Oct. 23. Software updates including iOS 27 land Sept. 14, but Siri AI remains a beta feature rolling out gradually, first in English, then in French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish by October.
At its 'Surprise and Shine' event, Apple introduced its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, priced around $2,000, which automatically adjusts its display based on orientation. The company also launched the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max at higher prices, alongside updates to iOS 27 and WatchOS 27, including a revamped Siri. This event also marked John Ternus' debut as CEO leading an Apple hardware launch.
Apple's 'Surprise and Shine' event introduced the company's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, which automatically adjusts its display based on orientation and starts around $2,000. Alongside it, Apple raised prices on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which run the previously announced iOS 27 software, while John Ternus made his debut as CEO leading a product-design-heavy presentation.
Apple's Sept. 9 event under new CEO John Ternus introduced updated Apple Watches, the iPhone 18 Pro, and the company's first foldable device, the iPhone Duo, but left out a standard iPhone 18 model. Apple gave no explanation, though rumors point to an early 2027 release, with the iPhone 18 Pro and even the existing iPhone 17 seeing $100 price increases.
Engadget's podcast hosts Devindra Hardawar and Karissa Bell discuss Apple's newly unveiled iPhone Duo, the company's first foldable phone, and how it compares to Samsung's earlier foldable designs. They also cover the iPhone 18 Pro, which introduces a variable aperture camera but is expected to draw less attention than the Duo this year.
During its September iPhone event, Apple showcased its upgraded Siri AI's ability to work with third-party apps, using the note-organizing app Stuff as a key example. Stuff lets users convert speech and handwritten notes into task lists with dates, and now integrates with Siri so users can create and manage lists through voice commands and camera scans.
Apple's upcoming iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will include a Reference Image mode that uses the camera sensor to cryptographically sign captured photo data, producing an unalterable record of what the camera originally captured. Developers will get access to a Reference Image API on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS so third-party apps can eventually let users verify these signed images, though the feature won't ship at launch in the EU.
After its 'Surprise and Shine' event, Apple updated its Design Resources portal with Photoshop and PNG bezel assets for the new iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro. The additions include the iPhone Duo shown in open and closed states across both color options, plus iPhone 18 Pro mockups featuring its smaller Dynamic Island.
Apple has introduced a Reference Image feature for the iPhone 18 Pro that generates a kind of digital negative alongside each photo taken. This reference file can later be used to confirm whether the original image has been altered or was AI-generated.
Apple raised prices by $100 on every iPhone it sells, not just the newly announced iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max but also the iPhone 17, 17E, Air, and even the older iPhone 16. The base iPhone 17 now starts at $929, the highest launch price ever for a standard iPhone, while the iPhone 16 returns to its original $829 price point.
Apple's new iPhone 18 Pro uses its own C2 modem, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max sticks with a Qualcomm modem despite otherwise similar specs like mmWave support. Meanwhile, battery life improved for both models, but the Pro Max jumped by six hours of video playback to 45 hours total, compared to just a three-hour gain to 36 hours for the standard Pro.