Apple Launches Foldable iPhone Duo at Event

In a historic transition at the Steve Jobs Theater, Apple officially entered the foldable smartphone market with the debut of the highly anticipated iPhone Duo during its 'Surprise and Shine' 2026 event. The keynote marked a symbolic passing of the baton, with former CEO Tim Cook briefly appearing to hand over leadership duties to Apple's new chief executive, John Ternus. The showcase solidified Apple's aggressive push into hardware-integrated artificial intelligence and premium, design-forward aesthetics, even as the company skipped updates for its base iPhone 18 and rumored iPhone Air 2 models.

The centerpiece of the evening was undoubtedly the iPhone Duo, an ultra-premium, passport-shaped foldable device designed to rival existing offerings from Samsung and Google. Featuring a thinned profile, a seamless Liquid Glass display, and a rigid center hinge, the Duo offers a 7.6-inch inner screen and a 5.4-inch outer display. Optimized for the newly introduced iOS 27, the device allows for fluid multitasking and adaptive orientation. Powered by the next-generation A20 Pro chip, the iPhone Duo is priced at $1,999 globally and is set to retail at an ultra-premium ₹2,99,900 in India when it hits shelves in late October.

"Others have created foldables that just feel like two phones awkwardly stuck together," said Apple CEO John Ternus, emphasizing Apple’s design-first approach with the iPhone Duo.

Alongside the foldable, Apple introduced the flagship iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, starting at $1,199 (₹1,64,900) and $1,299 (₹1,79,900) respectively. Both models boast Apple’s groundbreaking 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip, which features a 6-core CPU and a secondary Neural Engine optimized for on-device Apple Intelligence. The Pro lineup introduces a refined, smaller Dynamic Island, significantly boosted battery performance—up to 30 hours on the Pro Max—and upgraded 48 MP fusion camera systems with variable physical apertures for professional-grade low-light shooting. The devices are styled in two striking new colors: Glacier and Burgundy.

Apple’s wearable and audio ecosystems also received substantial upgrades. The newly unveiled Apple Watch Series 12 ($399) and Apple Watch Ultra 4 ($799) feature a redesigned 'Health Sensing System' for highly precise heart rate tracking, complemented by AI-powered tools such as Siri Recap and Live Rewind for real-time conversation transcription. Additionally, Apple refreshed its entry-level audio segment with the AirPods 5, which feature an open-fit design, integrated Siri AI, and 50 percent more noise reduction over previous models, starting at a competitive price of $129.

Important notes:
• The iPhone Duo is priced at ₹2,99,900 in India and will be available starting late October 2026.
• No updates were announced for the base iPhone 18 or the rumored iPhone Air 2 during the event.
• The newly unveiled A20 Pro chip is built using cutting-edge 2-nanometer process technology.