Product Launch Overview
Apple officially introduced its long‑awaited foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, as the headline of its September 2026 event, positioning the device at the top of its premium lineup.
Specifications and Pricing
The iPhone Duo features a 7.6‑inch inner display and a 5.4‑inch outer screen, a dual‑battery architecture, and 48‑megapixel main and ultra‑wide cameras. It is powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro processor, which Apple claims delivers up to 35 % better sustained performance compared with the iPhone 17 Pro. The device runs iOS 27, which adds foldable‑specific capabilities such as side‑by‑side Split View multitasking. Storage starts at 256 GB with a price of $1,999, and configurations are available up to 2 TB, making it the most expensive iPhone ever offered.
Availability and Pre‑order Timeline
Pre‑orders for the iPhone Duo commence on 16 October, with the first shipments slated for 23 October in more than 70 countries and regions.
Additional Product Refreshes
Alongside the Duo, Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro at a starting price of $1,199 and the iPhone 18 Pro Max at $1,299; orders for these models begin on 12 September with availability on 18 September. The company also launched AirPods 5 priced from $129, Apple Watch Series 12 at $399, and Apple Watch Ultra 4 at $799. Notably, no standard iPhone 18 was presented, underscoring a shift toward higher‑priced premium devices.
Executive Commentary
CEO John Ternus, speaking at his first iPhone launch since succeeding Tim Cook on 1 September, described the iPhone Duo as “the most transformational change to iPhone since the original.”
Market Reaction
Apple shares fell as much as 2 % during the presentation but recovered after the event, ending with a gain of over 0.5 %.