GoKawiil
Tech News
At its annual hardware event, Apple unveiled three new iPhones—including a foldable model—alongside updated Apple Watches and AirPods. The company positioned these devices less as standalone gadgets and more as platforms designed to deliver personal AI experiences.
Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, priced starting at $1,999. The device opens into a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display and closes to a 5.4-inch outer screen with an asymmetric, passport-like shape rather than the square form used by some rivals. Apple emphasized a new multi-layer glass and titanium hinge design meant to minimize the visible crease common in earlier foldables.
Apple has revised its trade-in payout tables just a month after last raising them, lowering the maximum credit offered for every returning iPhone model by as much as $120. At the same time, trade-in values rose across the entire iPad lineup and for nearly all Mac models except the Mac Pro, while Apple Watch and Android device values were mostly reduced or held steady. The updated figures, effective September 9, 2026, also add trade-in support for the new iPhone 17 line and iPhone Air.
Apple is bundling a free three-month trial of Apple One with purchases of the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Duo. Apple One combines Apple Music, Apple TV, Apple Arcade, iCloud storage, Apple Fitness+, and Apple News+ into one subscription package, offered in Individual, Family, and Premier tiers. The promotion begins September 17 and reportedly extends to other eligible iPhone, iPad, and Mac purchases, though full details remain unclear.
Apple confirmed iPhone Handoff, a feature in iOS 27 that lets a single phone number stay active on two iPhones simultaneously, unveiled at its Surprise and Shine event alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Duo. Setup happens through the Cellular settings by holding two iPhones together and choosing which device holds the main eSIM versus the companion eSIM.
Apple did not announce it, but after its iPhone Duo event the company raised prices by $100 across its lineup of previous-generation iPhones still for sale. The iPhone 16 returns to its original $799 launch price, the iPhone 17E now starts at $699, and the iPhone Air jumps to $1,099. AirPods pricing, including the AirPods Pro 3 at $249, was left unchanged.
Apple unveiled its first foldable phone, called the Duo, revealing that its hinge mechanism was engineered using AI algorithms to match each hinge to its housing for precise alignment. The company also used confocal laser scanning and 3D-printed micro layers of photopolymer to smooth out surface irregularities, according to chief hardware officer Johny Srouji.
Apple unveiled its debut foldable device, the iPhone Duo, starting at $1,999 for 256GB, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, updated Apple Watches, new AirPods, and Siri-powered software features. This was the first product event led by John Ternus, who recently succeeded Tim Cook as CEO after 15 years. No base iPhone 18, Vision Pro, iPad, or Mac announcements were made at the event.
Apple's iPhone 18 Pro Max claims 45 hours of video playback versus 39 hours on the iPhone 17 Pro Max, along with faster wired and wireless charging. Aside from battery improvements, a variable aperture camera, larger vapor chamber and A20 Pro chip, the new model is nearly identical to its predecessor, and costs just $100 more starting at $1,299 for 256GB.
Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max at its 'Surprise and shine' event, featuring the A20 Pro chip, an adjustable camera aperture with AI features, and a larger vapor chamber. The standout upgrade is battery life, with the Pro Max rated for 45 hours of video playback versus 39 hours on last year's model, plus faster wired and wireless charging. Starting at $1,299 for 256GB, the new phone costs $100 more than its predecessor at launch.
Apple published full release notes for macOS 27 Golden Gate, confirming a September 14 rollout to all users. The update introduces a redesigned Siri AI built on Apple Intelligence, integrated into Spotlight and a new dedicated app, plus Visual Intelligence for acting on onscreen content, enhanced photo editing tools, and Safari upgrades like automatic tab grouping and page-change alerts.
Apple's new Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 include four opt-in 'audio intelligence' tools—sound and music recognition, conversation recap, and a 'Live Rewind' feature that transcribes the last 15 seconds of ambient speech. Apple says these features rely on the microphone but don't record or store raw audio, processing most data locally via a new secure chip component called the Secure Exclave, with any cloud processing handled through Apple's Private Cloud Compute system.