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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.
New static wallpapers designed for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max have been pulled from the first iOS 27 Release Candidate and made downloadable for any device. The dynamic versions that ship on the actual phones aren't included, and wallpapers tied to the rumored iPhone Duo appear to be missing from this build.
Apple unveiled the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, featuring two displays, strong cameras and battery life, with orders opening next month. Details emerging from the announcement and Apple's website show an under-display camera on the inner screen, exclusive software features like Smart Take and Kid Cue, a Camera Control button but no Action button, a nano-texture finish limited to the folding display, and Apple Pencil support.
At its 'Surprise and Shine' event, Apple confirmed that the new LLM-based Siri AI, built with Google, will launch in English alongside iOS 27 on September 14. French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish support will follow in October, executive Lilian Rincon said. The announcement came alongside new hardware including the foldable iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro models, Apple Watch Series 12 Ultra 4 and AirPods 5.
Apple's 'Surprise and Shine' event introduced the company's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, marking a major shift in its product lineup. The event also featured the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 with unchanged pricing, AirPods 5 with upgraded noise-canceling, and iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models in four colors. The 81-minute presentation is available for replay on Apple's website and YouTube, and marked new CEO John Ternus's first major public event.
Apple has launched the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and its first foldable device, the iPhone Duo, alongside each other. The Duo offers a 5.4-inch outer display and a 7.6-inch inner folding screen with a nano-texture finish, letting users switch between phone and tablet-sized experiences, while the 18 Pro models stick to a traditional single-screen design in 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch sizes. Despite its slimmer profile, the Duo weighs more than even the largest Pro Max, and its camera setup lags behind the Pro line's newer 48MP hardware.