By Dawan Africa - Admin
United States, September 09, 2026 - iPhone Duo priced at $1,999, launches October 23 with faster 5G uploads
Apple has confirmed that its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, will cost $1,999 in the United States. The price is below earlier reports that suggested the device could cost as much as $2,500.
Pre-orders for the iPhone Duo will open on October 16, with the phone becoming available in stores and online from October 23. This means Apple’s foldable will arrive more than a month after the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.
The device will also feature Apple’s new C2 modem, which adds support for 5G mmWave connectivity. Apple says the modem can deliver upload speeds up to 50% faster than previous in-house modems, including the C1 and C1X.
The iPhone Duo is expected to serve as Apple’s entry into the premium foldable-phone market, combining a larger foldable display with iPad-style multitasking and Apple Pencil support.
Apple promises a reduced crease and iPad-style multitasking on iPhone Duo#
Apple says the iPhone Duo uses a new display layer designed to make the foldable’s crease less noticeable. The company has not claimed that the crease will disappear completely, but the technology is intended to improve the appearance of the inner screen as users open and close the device.
The foldable iPhone will also introduce a more advanced multitasking experience. When the device is unfolded, users will be able to run apps side by side, arrange them vertically or horizontally, and drag content between them, features that resemble the iPad’s multitasking system.
The software could allow the iPhone Duo to function as both a smartphone and a compact tablet, although the quality of the experience will depend on how well developers optimise their apps for the larger display.
iPhone Duo brings Apple Pencil support and an internal FaceTime camera#
Apple’s first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, will support the Apple Pencil, allowing users to write, sketch and interact with content on its larger inner display. The feature gives the foldable a more productivity-focused role and further blurs the line between an iPhone and a compact tablet.
The device will also include a FaceTime camera built into the internal screen. Positioned on the right side of the unfolded display, the camera will allow users to make video calls while the phone is fully open, and potentially continue using other features during calls.
Apple has yet to clarify whether the iPhone Duo will support all Apple Pencil Pro functions. However, the company’s decision to add stylus support signals that the foldable is designed for more than traditional smartphone use.
Apple Watch Series 12 keeps starting price at $399 as AirPods 5 gain improved ANC#
Apple has kept the starting price of the Apple Watch Series 12 at $399, despite adding several new health, fitness and sensor features. The smartwatch will also be available with a ceramic case option, giving buyers a more premium finish without an increase to the entry-level price.
Apple says the Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 feature upgraded sensors and broader health-monitoring capabilities, including more frequent heart-rate tracking and new wellness insights.
Apple has also introduced two AirPods 5 models, both with improved active noise cancellation. However, the two versions differ in controls, charging and battery life.
The base model offers up to four hours of listening with ANC enabled, while the more expensive version delivers up to five hours. The higher-priced model also adds swipe controls and a wireless charging case.
Despite earlier speculation, the new AirPods do not include cameras.
Apple Watch introduces AI-powered Health Age insights#
Apple is expanding the health capabilities of the new Apple Watch with an AI-powered feature that analyses data such as sleep, exercise and heart rate to generate a personalised “Health Age” score. The feature is designed to help users better understand how their daily habits may be affecting their overall wellbeing.
The watch also introduces more frequent heart-rate and heart-rate variability monitoring. Apple says its new Health Sensing System delivers the most accurate heart-rate tracking available on a wearable, while providing deeper insights through the redesigned Health app.
The health upgrades are part of Apple’s wider push to use Apple Intelligence to turn raw fitness and wellness data into easier-to-understand guidance. However, users may want to review their privacy settings before enabling features that analyse sensitive health information.
Meanwhile, Apple’s AirPods 5 add active noise cancellation while retaining a starting price of $129. The model with a wireless charging case will cost $149.
New Apple Watch boosts heart-rate tracking as AirPods 5 add ANC#
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Apple has announced a new Apple Watch with significantly more frequent heart-rate monitoring. The wearable can record heart-rate data up to 24 times more often than its predecessor, which Apple says makes it the company’s most accurate heart-rate sensing system in a wearable to date.
Apple also unveiled the AirPods 5, adding active noise cancellation (ANC) while maintaining the standard model’s price at $129. The earbuds are rated for around five hours of battery life, thanks to a redesigned battery cell.
The AirPods 5 with a wireless charging case will cost $149, giving customers an upgraded charging option without a major increase over the previous generation
iPhone 18 Pro prices rise amid global memory crunch#
Apple has confirmed higher starting prices for its 2026 flagship iPhones. The iPhone 18 Pro will start at $1,200, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max will begin at $1,300, each $100 more than the corresponding iPhone 17 Pro models.
The increase comes as global memory prices have surged, putting pressure on smartphone makers. Analysts note that, given current DRAM costs, the price hike could have been steeper.
Apple introduces new AI safeguards and Pro Camera controls#
Apple says it will support Google SynthID watermarks to help identify AI-generated images, as part of its broader effort to curb misinformation and AI deepfakes. It is also developing a system that stores an unedited reference version of an original image on its Private Cloud Compute infrastructure, making it easier to verify whether an image has been altered.
The company also announced expanded Pro Camera controls for the iPhone Pro lineup. Users will be able to manually adjust settings including aperture, white balance and shutter speed for both photos and video, while AI tools will help keep moving subjects in focus.
For video creators, the added shutter-speed controls should make it easier to deliberately add motion blur and achieve a more cinematic look.
Apple adds mechanical aperture to iPhone 18 Pro camera#
Apple has introduced a mechanical variable aperture to the iPhone 18 Pro’s 48-megapixel Fusion main camera, giving users greater control over how much light enters the lens. The upgrade allows photographers to adjust depth of field more precisely, helping create stronger background blur in portraits or keep more of a scene in focus when needed.
While the feature is likely to appeal most to professional and enthusiast photographers, it could make the iPhone 18 Pro a more capable alternative to a standalone camera for quick, high-quality shooting
Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event is delivering its first concrete hardware and software upgrades, with the iPhone 18 Pro taking center stage as the company promises a cooler, faster, and more intelligent flagship.
Speaking live from the Steve Jobs Theater, new CEO John Ternus confirmed that the iPhone 18 Pro will feature a 3× larger vapor chamber to improve thermal management, addressing long-standing concerns about overheating during intensive tasks. The redesign places the A20 Pro chip’s silicon die next to its memory, allowing the 2nm processor to sit closer to the thermal system and dissipate heat more efficiently.
A20 Pro: “New Year, New Apple Silicon”#
Apple described the A20 Pro as its most advanced iPhone chip to date, featuring two neural engines that deliver 2× more compute power and a 50% increase in memory bandwidth. While real-world performance gains will depend on usage, the on-paper improvements signal a significant leap for AI-driven tasks, gaming, and professional workflows.
Siri gets AI boost, but with limits#
Apple also confirmed that Siri’s AI enhancements are now live, offering personal context awareness that allows the assistant to reference emails, messages, and other on-device data to complete tasks. New expressive voice options are available, though limited to recent iPhone models. However, Apple noted that some Siri capabilities may be rate-limited, leaving open the possibility that advanced features could require an iCloud subscription.
Burgundy joins the iPhone 18 Pro lineup#
In a colorful reveal, Apple confirmed Burgundy as the signature new finish for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, alongside Deep Black, Glacier (light blue), and a refreshed Silver. The back glass is now color-matched to the aluminum frame, giving the Pro lineup a more cohesive, premium look.
Apple’s fall keynote is live now from the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, USA with new CEO John Ternus delivering his first major product presentation under the “Surprise and Shine” banner. The event, which started at 10 a.m. PT (8 p.m. EAT), is streaming on Apple’s website, the Apple TV app, and YouTube.
Headline announcements expected:
iPhone Duo – Apple’s first foldable phone, with a ~5.5‑inch outer display and ~7.8‑inch inner OLED, A20 Pro chip, 12GB RAM, dual 48MP rear cameras, Touch ID, and Apple Pencil support. Starting price around $2,000, with availability as early as October 2026.
iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max – Flagship slab phones with A20 Pro (2nm‑class), smaller Dynamic Island, variable‑aperture camera (especially on Pro Max), and larger batteries. Starting prices nudged up to roughly $1,299–$1,399 for 256GB models.
Apple Watch Series 12, Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 – Incremental health/sensor upgrades for the watches and a new H3 chip with better ANC for the earbuds.
This marks Apple’s biggest hardware shift in years as it enters the foldable market under new leadership, with pre‑orders for the Pro iPhones rumored around September 12 and sales from September 18
More updates as the keynote continues.