GoKawiil
Tech News
Apple has revealed its newest iPhone lineup, including the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its debut foldable model, the iPhone Duo. Pre-order windows and shipping timelines have been laid out for customers eager to secure the new devices before general availability.
Apple has unveiled the iPhone Duo, a foldable device that reworks the traditional iPhone interface by orienting controls vertically instead of horizontally. The redesign reflects the physical shift to a foldable form factor, requiring interface elements to be rethought for the new screen shape.
Apple's fall event centered on the new foldable iPhone Duo and expanded Siri AI features but included no mention of a long-rumored standalone smart home display. Insiders had suggested Apple would finally launch an Echo Show-style device with facial recognition and flexible mounting options, but the Apple Home app received no stage time at all. Instead, the $1,999 iPhone Duo can be propped up to mimic some display functions, though it lacks the size, speakers, and dedicated purpose of true smart displays.
Apple introduced a new AppleCare One Family tier priced at $50 per month, covering eligible devices belonging to up to six people through Family Sharing. The plan includes standard AppleCare+ perks like free battery swaps and accidental damage repairs, but limits theft and loss claims to six per year across the whole group.
Samsung reports that the proportion of iOS users switching to its new Galaxy Z Fold8 series is 1.6 times higher than for last year's Fold7 and Flip7, according to a company spokesperson. The disclosure comes days after Apple unveiled its first foldable iPhone, one of the first major launches under new CEO John Ternus. Samsung also said 30% of U.S. Z Flip8 buyers came from rival brands and highlighted an upgraded Smart Switch tool that lets iPhone users transfer data via QR code without installing an app.
At its annual iPhone event, Apple unveiled only premium models — the foldable iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max — skipping both a base iPhone 18 and a successor to last year's slim iPhone 17 Air. The Air had offered a lighter, cheaper middle option at $999 with fewer cameras and a smaller battery, but it won't return this cycle despite reportedly weak sales.
Apple's latest product event introduced hardware like the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, AirPods 5, iPhone 18 Pro models, and the foldable iPhone Duo, but not everything ships immediately. While the Watch and AirPods models arrive September 18 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone Duo won't ship until October 23, and several Apple Intelligence features—including expanded Siri AI language support—won't roll out until later in 2026.
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.