Apple Event 2026: 5 Insane New Devices (iPhone Duo, 18 Pro & More)

Apple has wrapped up its September 2026 hardware event, and this year’s keynote brought more than the usual iPhone refresh. Under the “Surprise and shine” banner, Apple introduced the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, its first foldable iPhone called iPhone Duo, the new AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and Apple Watch Ultra 4. The event took place on September 9, with John Ternus appearing as Apple’s new CEO after taking over the role on September 1.

There was plenty for Apple fans to talk about. The iPhone 18 Pro family gets a major camera upgrade, the iPhone Duo finally makes Apple’s foldable plans official, and the new watches lean heavily into health tracking and Apple Intelligence.

Here is everything announced at the Apple Event 2026, including key features, prices, availability and what actually changed.

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max

The main event, naturally, was the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Apple focused this generation on four areas: cameras, performance, battery life and AI.

Both phones use the new A20 Pro chip, built on a 2-nanometer process. Apple says the chip has a 6-core CPU, a 7-core GPU and a new Dual 16-core Neural Engine, giving it 32 total Neural Engine cores. The company also says the GPU is up to 40 per cent faster than the A19 Pro, while memory bandwidth increases by 50 per cent.

That extra processing power pairs with a redesigned thermal system. Apple has given the iPhone 18 Pro a vapour chamber with three times the surface area of the previous-generation iPhone 17 Pro. According to Apple, the change can provide up to a 40 per cent gain in sustained performance. In other words, the phone should have an easier time handling long gaming sessions and other demanding workloads without turning itself into a pocket-sized radiator.

A new variable-aperture camera

The biggest camera change is the new 48MP Fusion Main camera with variable aperture.

Apple has added six laser-cut blades that adjust the aperture between four settings: ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8 and ƒ/4.0. This gives the camera more control over light and depth of field. The system can also adjust automatically in darker scenes.

Apple is also adding new Pro controls inside the Camera app. Users can manually adjust aperture, shutter speed and white balance, while a histogram helps with exposure. That is a welcome change for people who would rather control the camera than let the phone make every decision for them.

Video gets new tools as well, including Cinematic effects that can be applied after recording and improved Audio Mix processing.

The Dynamic Island is smaller too, and Apple says it can display up to three Live Activities at once.

Battery life and pricing

Battery life gets a serious boost. Apple rates eSIM-only versions for up to 36 hours of video playback on iPhone 18 Pro and up to 45 hours on iPhone 18 Pro Max. The Pro Max can also deliver up to 30 hours of usage under Apple’s newer battery-use measurement.

In the US, the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299, with both available in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB configurations.

In India, Apple lists the iPhone 18 Pro from ₹1,64,900. The Apple India store also lists the 256GB Pro configurations at that price.

Pre-orders begin September 12, with availability from September 18.

iPhone Duo: Apple Finally Goes Foldable

After years of speculation, Apple has officially entered the foldable-phone market with the iPhone Duo.

The design opens into a 7.6-inch inner display, while the outside has a 5.4-inch display. Apple says the inner screen is its largest iPhone display yet, and the device is also the thinnest iPhone the company has ever made when opened. Both screens share the same aspect ratio so content can move between them without awkward scaling.

The inner display uses a nano-texture finish to reduce glare. In contrast, the phone itself uses a grade 5 titanium frame and a precision hinge. The Duo also carries an IP68 rating for splash, water and dust resistance.

Touch ID returns

One of the more unexpected changes is the return of Touch ID.

Apple has placed the fingerprint sensor inside the side button, allowing users to authenticate the phone whether it is open or closed. Face ID doesn’t replace this feature because Duo uses a different biometric approach.

The iPhone Duo is also eSIM-only worldwide, which gives Apple more internal space for components and batteries.

Foldable multitasking and cameras

Apple has adapted iOS 27 for the foldable screen. The phone can place two apps side by side, and compatible apps such as Netflix, Zoom and Slack have already been updated around the larger inner display.

The camera system includes a 48MP Fusion Main camera and a 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide camera. The main camera also includes an optical-quality 2x option. On the front, Apple uses a 12MP Centre Stage camera. In contrast, a separate under-display FaceTime camera sits beneath the inner screen.

Battery life is rated at up to 31 hours of video playback using the inner display, up to 44 hours using the outer display, and up to 24 hours of usage when both displays are used equally.

The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the US for 256GB. In India, Apple lists the 256GB model at ₹2,99,900, with 512GB, 1TB and 2TB versions also available.

Pre-orders open October 16, and sales begin October 23.

That price may cause a few raised eyebrows in India—the phone folds. The bill probably does too.

AirPods 5 Bring ANC to the Open-Ear Design

Apple also introduced the AirPods 5, bringing Active Noise Cancellation to its open-ear AirPods design.

Apple says the new earbuds use a redesigned multiport acoustic architecture and next-generation Adaptive EQ. The company claims up to 50 per centper cent more external-noise reduction than AirPods 4 with ANC.

AirPods 5 also support Siri AI, head gestures for Siri interactions and Live Translation powered by Apple Intelligence. Users can activate translation through Siri or the Translate app and hear conversations in a supported language.

There are two versions. Standard AirPods 5 cost $129, while AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case cost $149 and add longer battery life plus on-stem volume controls. Apple rates them for up to four and five hours of listening with ANC, respectively.

In India, Apple lists the two versions at ₹14,900 and ₹17,900. Both become available on September 18.

Apple Watch Series 12

The Apple Watch Series 12 gets a much bigger health focus than a simple chip upgrade.

It uses Apple’s new Health Sensing System alongside the S11 chip. Apple says the watch measures heart rate every five seconds throughout the day and measures heart rate variability more frequently. The company also cites a study involving more than 1,000 participants comparing its heart-rate accuracy with other leading wearables.

The standout new feature is Readiness. It analyses recent activity, training load, vitals and sleep score before giving the user a 0–10 score. The recommendation can be “Recover,” “Pace Yourself,” “Ready,” or “Go For It.”

The watch gets up to 24 hours of everyday battery life and up to 10 hours during outdoor workouts. Apple says a 15-minute charge can provide up to 12 additional hours of battery life.

The Apple Watch Series 12 is available in 42mm and 46mm sizes, with aluminium, titanium, and ceramic options. India pricing starts at ₹56,900.

The watch goes on sale September 18.

Apple Watch Ultra 4

For athletes and outdoor users, Apple introduced the Apple Watch Ultra 4.

It also runs on the S11 chip and includes the Health Sensing System, higher-frequency heart-rate and HRV measurements, and the new Readiness feature. Apple says the Ultra 4 can track outdoor workouts for up to 45 hours and includes improved GPS accuracy.

The Ultra 4 comes in natural titanium and black titanium and starts at $799 in the US. Apple’s India store lists it from ₹1,09,900.

The new watch also gets Apple Intelligence features through watchOS 27, including Siri AI and upcoming Audio Intelligence features.

Apple Intelligence Gets More Attention

Apple wove AI through almost every product announcement.

The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Duo all support Apple Intelligence and the new Siri AI. Siri can use personal context, understand what is on the screen and take actions across supported apps. Apple says processing takes place on-device when possible, with Private Cloud Compute handling supported cloud-based tasks.

The Apple Watch takes the idea further with Live Rewind and Siri Recap. Live Rewind can show a short text snippet of what was just said. At the same time, Siri Recap can create high-level summaries of conversations. Apple says the audio is processed through a hardware-isolated Secure Enclave and is immediately deleted rather than stored as a recording. These features are scheduled to arrive in beta later this year.

Apple Event 2026: Final Verdict

Apple’s September 2026 event was busy, but the iPhone Duo clearly stole the spotlight.

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max bring a serious camera upgrade, improved thermal management, stronger performance and longer battery life. AirPods 5 make ANC more accessible in Apple’s open-ear design, while Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 push further into health tracking and on-device intelligence.

The foldable iPhone is the biggest change of the bunch. With a 7.6-inch inner display, Touch ID, dual-screen multitasking, A20 Pro and an eSIM-only design, the iPhone Duo is a very different iPhone from anything Apple has sold before.

The biggest question is price. At ₹2,99,900 in India, the iPhone Duo costs far more than the iPhone 18 Pro. That puts it in a market where buyers will expect a genuinely useful foldable experience, not just a phone that happens to fold.

For everyone else, the iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5 and Apple Watch Series 12 offer a more familiar upgrade path. For Apple, though, the Duo changes the conversation.

Sources: Apple Newsroom and Apple India product pages were used for product specifications, pricing, availability and feature details.