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Apple's new foldable iPhone Duo can do many things, including side-by-side screen multitasking and hands-free video viewing at different angles.

Yet the company also pitched the $1,999 device as a "delightful bedside clock" during its Apple Event 2026 presentation on Wednesday.

Craig Federighi, Apple's senior vice president of software engineering, said the Duo has the "ability to wake you up with a gentle glow timed perfectly with your alarm."

In the imagery shared by Apple, the partly folded Duo rests on a nightstand — exactly where numerous health and wellness experts say it should not be.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2026: Everything announced, including iPhone Duo Why you shouldn't sleep with your phone

The American Academy of Sleep Medicine, for example, recommends keeping your phone in another room and relying on a digital clock instead. That's because research suggests sleeping next to a phone can worsen sleep quality in different ways.

First, there's the temptation of one last scroll, whether that's to check your social media feed or browse a shopping app for last-minute deals. Five minutes can quickly turn into 50, whittling down the amount of sleep you get.

Then, even if you expect pre-bedtime screentime to be relaxing, there's always the risk of mental stimulation that keeps your brain buzzing well after the phone is off for the night.

Experts also suspect that nonstop notifications during the day prime people to anticipate them at night, too. On its own, that dynamic may diminish sleep quality. But so will checking your phone after you've randomly woken up.

Apple surprises with pitch to use Duo as alarm clock

The emphasis on Duo as a bedside clock is surprising coming from Apple, given the company's emphasis on health and wellness. Among Apple's announcements on Wednesday were a raft of new Apple Watch health features designed to optimize and maximize physical well-being.

The new Apple Watch Ultra 4, for example, debuts a readiness feature that analyzes metrics like recent activity, training load, and — you guessed it — a sleep score to determine how a user should tackle their day.

Perhaps Apple has been rattled by the growing popularity of smart or screen-free alarm clocks like the Dreamie, Hatch Sleep Clock, and Hatch Restore 3, which can displace the smartphone as the first and last device people interact with every day.

Yes, you can really sleep without your phone

Whatever the case, sleeping without a phone in your bedroom isn't as nerve-wracking as it seems.

My own recent attempt at this led to one of the best nights of sleep I've ever enjoyed — and a permanent shift in my behavior. My phone stays in another room overnight and I use a screen-free alarm clock. To catch any emergency calls, I put my phone in do-not-disturb but turn the ringer on and all the way up so favorites can break through the silence if needed.

It can feel like an annoying hack just to get a peaceful night's rest, but it's far better than waking up, reaching for my phone, and getting pulled into text or email messages before I'm even out of bed.

At a glance:

• The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are $100 more expensive than last year's Pro models; pre-orders begin Sept. 12 ahead of a Sept. 18 launch.

• The iPhone 18 Pro features a new A20 Pro chip to better support AI features and Siri AI.

• While the design is largely the same, the new phones come in four color options: burgundy, black, silver, and glacier blue. Last year's iPhone 17 Pro didn't have a black option.

• The new phones have major camera upgrades, including a physical variable aperture, smart focus tracking, cinematic video effects, and improved low-light photography.

The new iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple's most powerful smartphone model, was officially announced on Wednesday at the big "Surprise and Shine" event.

And if you take a look at the device, you may notice that — aside from the new color options — the new iPhone Pro Max looks a lot like the old iPhone Pro Max.

It's true. Visually, the iPhone 18 Pro Max sports a very similar design in the same-sized body as its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

However, when it comes to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, it's what's on the inside that counts.

So, before you pre-order the new iPhones, here's the head-to-head between the two devices.

Cost

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are priced at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively. That means the phones both arrive with a $100 starting price increase over last year's model, which isn't too bad given the global memory crisis.

This is the one area where the iPhone 17 Pro models had a clear advantage.

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Color options The iPhone 18 Pro Max comes in black, silver, glacier blue, and burgundy. Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Let's get the aforementioned color options out of the way first. Visually, this is the big difference between the new iPhone 18 Pro Max and the old iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max comes in four colors. There's a new burgundy and glacier blue, as well as a silver color that looks to be a slightly different shade than the iPhone 17 Pro Max's silver. And finally, a black model returns after being conspicuously (and controversially) absent from the iPhone 17 Pro Max options.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max comes in silver, deep blue, and the viral cosmic orange color options. So, if you were really drawn to that Halloween-esque orange color, this fall, it's all about burgundy.

Display, size, and design

As mentioned, these phones have the same overall design. Both of these Apple smartphones sport a 6.9-inch Super Retina XDR display in an aluminum body.

The height, width, and depth of the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro Max are exactly the same. The only real difference between the two here is in their weight. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is slightly heavier than the iPhone 17 Pro Max, weighing 8.78 ounces versus 8.22 ounces, respectively.

Why is the new model heavier? Likely because of the larger battery and new variable aperture components.

Cameras Credit: Apple

This is the first big difference between the two devices.

Yes, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone 17 Pro Max both have a 48MP Pro Fusion camera system with a 48MP Fusion Main lens, 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide lens, and 48MP Fusion Telephoto lens. 

However, the iPhone 18 Pro Max introduces a physical variable aperture on its main camera lens. This provides way more control when it comes to lighting and depth of field, and it will make a noticeable difference in the quality of the photo and video output.

In addition, the iPhone 18 Pro Max has smart focus tracking, cinematic mode video effects, and improved low-light video. There's also a new image authentication feature called Apple Reference Image that verifies that the image was captured by the iPhone camera and isn't AI-generated.

Credit: Apple

The new iPhone 18 Pro Max has new Pro Controls features as well, which gives users the ability to manually tweak lens aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and more.

Battery

Another huge difference between the two devices is the battery. In fact, Apple says that the iPhone 18 Pro Max has "the largest increase of battery life ever on iPhone."

The iPhone 18 Pro Max can last for 45 hours of video playback on a single charge. That's 6 more hours than its predecessor.

Dynamic Island Credit: Apple

Visibly, you may not be able to notice this, but the physical cutout on the iPhone 18 Pro Max display, where the Dynamic Island is housed, is smaller than on the iPhone 17 Pro Max.

The sensor region where the cutout is located is roughly 16.57mm. On the iPhone 17 Pro Max, this region was 20.76mm.

Why does that make a difference? By shrinking the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple was able to add a third activity display within the feature. So, even though the physical Dynamic Island is smaller on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple is able to pack more into the feature because of this. And this 3-in-1 Dynamic Island is only available on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models.

Processing power Credit: Apple

The biggest and most unappreciated difference will be what powers the devices.

Apple says it completely redesigned its Silicon chipset, with the A20 Pro chip, to make it its most powerful and most efficient iPhone yet. In addition to that, it completely redesigned its vapor chamber system in order to keep the iPhone 18 Pro Max cool and deliver the highest possible thermal performance.

While the iPhone 17 Pro Max's A19 Pro chipset is certainly powerful in its own right, the A20 Pro chip was designed at a time when Apple is simultaneously launching many of its new Apple Intelligence features, such as the completely reimagined voice assistant Siri AI.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

Top smartphone deals of the week

If the $1,999 iPhone Duo isn’t in your budget, this is a great time to take advantage of discounts on previous-generation iPhones and Android devices.

• Get the iPhone 17 for $0 down at T-Mobile

• Samsung Galaxy S26 FE + $200 Amazon Gift Card — $799.99 $999.99 (save $200)

• Google Pixel 11 Pro — $1,019.70 $1,099 (save $79.30)

• Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra — $1,049.99 $1,299.99 (save $250)

• Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 — $1,649.99 $1,899.99 (save $250)

Weeks after announcing its sale to AI image-generator Midjourney, astrology app Co-Star revealed it's launching a dating app for book lovers called Readme.

First reported on Sept. 4 in journalist Emily Sundberg's newsletter, Feed Me, Readme (unrelated to Feed Me) is for "people who read (or want to date people who read)." It's the brainchild of Co-Star's founder and CEO, Banu Guler, and strategist and cultural analyst Emily Segal. Guler shared the news on X on Tuesday:

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

"Obviously everyone knows that existing dating app culture is profoundly broken," Segal told Sundberg. Dating app fatigue and cynicism are well-documented, but while many singles are sick of the apps, they don't know where else to turn.

"Readme emerged from a running observation between me and Banu, that even though our friends were constantly in bookstores, we never actually saw anyone have that meme-famous 'meet cute at a bookstore' experience," Segal continued.

The two realized they could create something themselves that would mimic that experience, and believe that someone's taste in books tells you a lot more about their true spirit "than an awkwardly workshopped line on a conventional dating app profile." (Segal recently coined the term "tasteslop," which has a three-pronged definition: Slop made out of things considered tasteful; Tasteful things deployed in service of slop; and repeated discussion in the tech world about the significance of taste.)

Segal told Sundberg that Co-Star users have wanted a dating app, but that astrology, which is Co-Star's main focus, "is only one piece of the puzzle."

It's unclear how the cosmos will play into Readme, but considering it's an offshoot of one of the most well-known astrology apps, it'd be surprising if the zodiac was absent. And fans of Co-Star have claimed the app has "read them to filth," so the name might be a nod to that. Whether AI will factor into the app is also in question, given that Midjourney now owns Co-Star.

The launch party is happening this week, where surely more details will be revealed.

The iPhone 18 line and first foldable iPhone are officially here, which means brand new cases are, too.

The first few weeks after a new phone's release can mean more limited case options. The good news? iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max phones are compatible with iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max cases. The foldable iPhone Duo, however, is another story. As the iPhone Duo size is completely unique, the case options are limited to just Apple and a few other brands as of launch day.

SEE ALSO: Where was the regular iPhone 18? The missing product in Apple's event.

Still, we gathered up the best cases available for the new iPhones so far, whether you're looking for something cute, something protective, or something that brings the best of both worlds. Check them out below.

Note: Most iPhone Duo cases on this list have live product pages, but aren't available to order just yet. We'll keep this list updated as they become available.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max cases Opens in a new window Credit: Casetify Casetify Impact Case in Dark Cherry Jelly $64 at Casetify
  Shop Now Why we like it

This look won't be for everyone, but Casetify's Dark Cherry case feels kind of perfect for the new burgundy colorway (especially as it was rumored to be called "dark cherry" before its release). If you're not a fan of this design, Casetify already has plenty of others available for the 18 Pro and Pro Max.

More iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max cases

• Smartish Wallet Case — $34.99

• Casely Blue Hydrangea Case with MagSafe — $35

• Otterbox Figura Series — $39.99

• Velvet Caviar Polka Dot case — $40

• Apple Silicone Case — $49

• CaseMate Jelly Pop Carolina with MagSafe — $50

• Casetify Cloud Case — $52

• Casetify Ripple Case — $56

• Apple TechWoven Case — $59

• Nudient Bold Case — $60

• Casetify Impact Case — $64

• Otterbox Defender Series — $69.99

iPhone Duo cases Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand $129.99 at Apple
  Learn More Why we like it

Apple's iPhone Duo Folio case isn't available just yet, but we're intrigued by the design. The kickstand allows for the phone to stay propped up when folded or open, bringing together the best parts of a phone and mini tablet experience. Yeah, $129.99 is steep, but hey, so is $3,199.

More iPhone Duo cases

• Casely Shell Shocked (with MagSafe) — $40

• Velvet Caviar Midnight Stars — $40

• Velvet Caviar Snoopy Moods — $45

• dbrand Grip Case — $54.90

• CaseMate Floral Gems MagSafe — $60

• Otterbox Lumen Series — $69.99

• Spigen Ultra Hybrid Pro S (Mag Fit) — $69.99

• Apple iPhone Duo Case — $79

• MagBak Elite — $89

• Thinborne iPhone Duo case — $89.69

• Otterbox Defender Series Pro XT — $89.99

• Spigen Slim Armor Pro (Mag Fit) — $89.99

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See what our readers guessed would happen at today's Apple event in our Big Guessing Game.

On Wednesday, Apple announced a cornucopia of new products. The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Duo, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are all coming soon, and that's very exciting.

But what about after that? It turns out Apple still probably has some tricks left up its sleeve for the rest of 2026, as the rumor mill anticipates several new product launches before the end of the year. They may not all be as monumental as a foldable iPhone, but some of them are still pretty exciting.

Here are the Apple products we expect to see before the end of 2026.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2026: Everything announced, including iPhone Duo Two new MacBooks, including one with a touchscreen

Apple tends to launch new MacBook laptops between the annual iPhone event and the end of the year, and 2026 is looking no different. Two new MacBooks, in particular, stand out as products we'll see before the calendar turns.

The first is a MacBook Pro with an M6 chip, which was reported by Bloomberg earlier this year. We admittedly don't know a whole lot about this device yet, but the new chip should come with noticeable gains in performance and battery efficiency, if nothing else. This may not be a particularly revolutionary new MacBook model, which is fine, because the next one might be.

To be more specific, we're expecting a "MacBook Ultra" to launch this year. Reports and Apple's own beta software indicate it will have a touchscreen, which would be new for the MacBook line. It's possible this one will slip into early 2027, but fingers crossed it doesn't, as it'll reportedly have Dynamic Island in an OLED display and a thin chassis.

A new Apple TV 4K

Reports from the likes of Bloomberg's Mark Gurman also suggest we'll get a new Apple TV 4K refresh this year. It's been four years since the last one, so Apple's set-top box is probably due for an upgrade. The main things we know right now are that it will apparently use Apple's in-house WiFi/Bluetooth N1 chip for network connectivity, and it might have a redesigned Siri remote. It could also get Siri AI support, if that's your thing.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

HomePod Mini

You'll never believe this, but yet another report from Gurman earlier this year suggested some more Apple smart home products are on the way in 2026.

First, a new HomePod Mini is allegedly coming this year. It would be the first since all the way back in 2020. It's said to support Siri AI, contain the same N1 chip as the Apple TV 4K, and it might even come in a red color. Exciting! Those changes are on top of expected improvements, like better sound quality.

Home Hub

Last but certainly not least, Apple may have a brand new smart home product called Home Hub launching this year.

This one is supposedly a HomePod-esque device that also has a 7-inch display. It will use facial recognition to know who it looking at the display and change what it's showing, accordingly. Naturally, you'll also be able to do FaceTime calls, play music, display a gallery of your photos, and more. Reports also suggest it'll have a unique operating system that blends elements of homeOS and tvOS.

As always, things can change, and some of these devices might slip into 2027. But if you were worried that Apple was done after the "Surprise and Shine" event, worry not.

What about the iPhone 18?

If you were looking for the iPhone 18 at the iPhone launch event, then you would have been disappointed. Unfortunately for shoppers who want to spend less than $1,000 on a new phone, this is one device we do not expect to launch in 2026. Rumors point to a spring 2027 release date for the base model iPhone 18.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

Good news, everyone! Apple's Polishing Cloth is "compatible" with the iPhone Duo.

Mercifully confirmed on Apple's website, the tech giant's microfibre cloth is ready to wipe clean its first foldable smartphone, which was announced at Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event on Wednesday — among many, many things.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2026: Live updates on folding iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, and new AirPods

Following the event, Apple added its new devices — iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max — to the webpage listing its most Emperor's New Clothes of products. The Polishing Cloth is technically compatible. We're just giving you the facts.

CONFIRMED. Credit: Apple / Mashable screenshot

Apple recently lowered the price on its Polishing Cloth, cutting that $19 price tag into a still-lofty-for-a-cloth $9. Considering the price of the new iPhone Duo, maybe buyers will want to just throw one in for fun.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

See what our readers guessed would happen at today's Apple event in our Big Guessing Game

TL;DR: The Apple iPhone 17 is free from T-Mobile when you trade in your eligible phone on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan. The Apple iPhone 17 Pro is also free with T-Mobile — claim by bringing your number on an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in needed).

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple T-Mobile: Free iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro   Get Deal

Apple just announced a new lineup of phones, including the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, and the long-awaited folding iPhone Duo. Notably missing was the base model iPhone 18, which is rumored to be released in spring 2027. If the Pro models seem like overkill and you're not quite sold on a folding Apple phone yet, sticking with the iPhone 17 is your best bet for now.

And if you switch to T-Mobile or trade in your existing phone, you could get the iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Pro for free. All of these deals are live now:

• iPhone 17e — free when you switch to almost any qualifying T-Mobile plan (no trade-in required).

• iPhone 17 — free on an Experience More or Experience Beyond plan when you turn in an eligible trade-in device.

• iPhone 17 Pro — free when you bring your existing number over to an Experience Beyond plan (no trade-in required).

T-Mobile requires you to pay local sales tax on the phone's full retail value upfront, along with a standard $35 device connection fee per line at checkout. Are these really "free" deals when you need to pay something upfront? It's a gray area, OK? Anyway, it's a small price to pay for a new iPhone.

Score the Apple iPhone 17 for free this week from T-Mobile.

Apple just announced the $1,199 iPhone 18 Pro and the $1,999 foldable iPhone Duo. If you were hoping to soften those prices by trading in your current phone, however, Apple may have some bad news for you.

Following its "Surprise and Shine" event, Apple updated its trade-in program and lowered the maximum amount it will pay for previously eligible iPhone models.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

An iPhone 16 Pro Max is now worth up to $610, down from $720. The iPhone 16 Pro took an even larger hit, dropping from as much as $630 to $510 — a $120 reduction. Some depreciation is expected whenever Apple releases a new generation of iPhones, but the timing is particularly notable because Apple had raised trade-in values for many of these same devices just last month. In August, the iPhone 16 Pro Max jumped from $695 to $720. Following this week's event, it's down to $610.

The cuts continue throughout Apple's older lineup. An iPhone 15 Pro Max is now worth up to $455, down from $530, while the iPhone 15 Pro fell from $420 to $370. Maximum trade-in values for the iPhone 14 Pro Max and iPhone 14 Pro dropped to $360 and $285, respectively.

Here are some of the most notable changes:

• iPhone 16 Pro Max: Up to $610, down from $720

• iPhone 16 Pro: Up to $510, down from $630

• iPhone 16 Plus: Up to $430, down from $485

• iPhone 16: Up to $430, down from $480

• iPhone 16e: Up to $270, down from $310

• iPhone 15 Pro Max: Up to $455, down from $530

• iPhone 15 Pro: Up to $370, down from $420

• iPhone 15: Up to $305, down from $335

• iPhone 14 Pro Max: Up to $360, down from $405

• iPhone 14 Pro: Up to $285, down from $335

Apple also added last year's iPhone 17 lineup to the trade-in program. The iPhone 17 Pro Max is eligible for up to $885, while the iPhone 17 Pro tops out at $785. Both the iPhone Air and standard iPhone 17 are worth up to $585.

Interestingly, those starting values are more generous than what Apple offered for the previous generation when it became eligible for trade-in. Last year's iPhone 16 Pro Max, for example, initially topped out at $700, compared with $885 for the iPhone 17 Pro Max today.

There may also be a small silver lining for anyone trading in a less-than-pristine device. Apple is reportedly becoming more forgiving of minor cosmetic damage, including small chips or cracks in the display. That could mean some damaged iPhones receive better assessments than they would have under the previous system, even as maximum trade-in values decline.

And the reductions aren't universal. They primarily affect iPhones. Every eligible iPad gained value, with the iPad Pro jumping from $720 to $905. Most Macs also received increases: The MacBook Pro rose from $855 to $1,315, while the Mac Studio climbed from $1,305 to $1,460. Apple Watch values were generally reduced or left unchanged.

Of course, these figures represent the most Apple will offer, not guaranteed payouts. The final amount depends on the device and its condition after inspection. Still, the timing stings: Apple's newest iPhones are more expensive, while many of the devices customers might use to help pay for them are suddenly worth less.

Apple announced its latest rugged wearable, the Apple Watch Ultra 4, during its "Surprise and Shine" iPhone event on Wednesday. It's joined by the new flagship Apple Watch Series 12, some new AirPods, the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, and the long-rumored foldable iPhone Duo.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 will start at $799, the same price as last year's Apple Watch Ultra 3. It also has the same design as its predecessor, but adds faster performance, a longer battery life, and new health and fitness features. Here's a rundown of its upgrades.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 introduces new Health Sensing System, S11 chip Credit: Apple

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is the latest iteration of Apple's biggest, most durable, and most expensive smartwatch. In a press release, the company called it "the ultimate sports and adventure watch" and "the most comprehensive wearable across health, fitness, and safety."

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 supports a new Health Sensing System that takes more accurate, continuous heart rate readings. That includes more heart rate variability (HRV) measurements to gauge cardiovascular stress and recovery indicators, Apple said. Users will be able to compare their daytime and nighttime HRV measurements.

The Health Sensing System also adds a Readiness fitness score that tells the user how prepared they are for certain workout activities based on past training sessions.

Credit: Apple

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 will work with iPhones' newly revamped Health app (out later this year), which will have a Longevity tab and use vision-based AI models to analyze users' movements for flexibility, balance, and more.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 runs on the new S11 chip, which will power new "Audio Intelligence" features (also coming later this year). These include a "Live Rewind" tool that can transcribe 15 seconds of conversations, "Siri Recap" conversation summaries, and "Sound Recognition" alerts for users who are deaf and hard of hearing.

Credit: Apple

Privacy-wise, Apple said Audio Intelligence features "do not create or store audio recordings," and that raw audio is processed separately from the rest of the system before it's deleted. Apple, on-board apps, and even the user themselves can't access it.

The Health Sensing System, redesigned Health app, and Audio Intelligence features will also be available on the standard Apple Watch Series 12.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 will offer up to 50 hours of battery life, up from 42 in the previous generation. In low power mode, it maxes out at 84 hours per charge. Apple said its "charging is now faster than ever," with just 15 minutes on an outlet translating to 18 hours of use.

Credit: Apple

The Apple Watch Ultra 4's case comes in the same standard colors as the Ultra 3 — black titanium and natural titanium — but its Alpine Loop, Trail Loop, and Ocean Band come in new hues. A luxe Apple Watch Hermès Ultra 4 variant will be available with a new extendable Grand H titanium band for $3,149. (It otherwise starts at $1,499.)

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is set for release on Friday, Sept. 18, and preorders begin today.

Opens in a new window Credit: Apple Apple Watch Ultra 4 $799 at the Apple Store
  Pre-order Here

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

At Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event, newly minted CEO John Ternus unveiled the long-anticipated foldable, the iPhone Duo. Before we got to that big announcement though, Ternus and the Apple team showed off the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. The iPhone announcements ended there with no regular iPhone 18 announced.

Apple CEO, John Ternus, showed off the iPhone Duo. But the regular iPhone 18 wasn't mentioned. Credit: Apple

The tech giant instead focused on three premium iPhone models, with the iPhone 18 Pro starting at $1,199 and the iPhone Duo starting at $1,999. This breaks from Apple's September tradition of releasing the full lineup of iPhones. Apple likely didn't want to overcrowd its announcements, especially with the high-profile launch of the iPhone Duo. But does that mean Apple is skipping the regular iPhone 18?

Going into the event, there were already rumors that Apple wasn't going to release the regular iPhone 18 just yet. Instead, the iPhone 18, along with the 18e and a new iPhone Air, is rumored to be coming March 2027. So if you wanted a more affordable iPhone model, you'll potentially need to wait another six months.

Until then, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will be available for preorder Sept. 12, while the iPhone Duo will be available for preorder Oct. 16. Plus, Apple still has the iPhone 17 and 17e available for purchase.

Apple took the wraps off its latest hardware lineup today, closing the book on months of leaks, dummy units, and supply chain chatter with an event at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park. The keynote marked John Ternus's first turn on stage as Apple's CEO, following Tim Cook's move to executive chairman after 15 years running the company.

For his first keynote after taking charge just a week ago, Ternus made sure to make viewers aware of how deeply Apple Intelligence is threaded throughout the Apple ecosystem.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event livestream: See the new iPhone 18, meet new CEO John Ternus live

And there was plenty to weave it through. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max arrived with a new burgundy finish replacing last year's divisive cosmic orange, massive battery gains, and a camera system that finally delivers on manual controls and a variable aperture. To outdo the iPhone Pro's turn into a pocket-sized DSLR, Ternus dropped one of Apple's most exciting product announcements in years: the iPhone Duo.

Now that the keynote has wrapped, here's a rundown of everything Apple announced, how it stacks up, and what's worth knowing before you decide whether to upgrade.

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

Apple's Pro smartphone lineup gets what the company describes as its "most advanced camera system yet," built around a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with variable aperture — a first for iPhone. Six "laser-cut blades" automatically adjust across four aperture settings to manage depth of field and lighting, while a new sensor is designed to improve low-light shooting and group-photo detail.

SEE ALSO: iPhone 18 Pro price report: Apple confirms price hikes

A new "Pro controls" interface lets photographers manually adjust aperture, shutter speed, and white balance, and check exposure with an onscreen histogram; an API also lets external developers access the aperture range. The phones also introduce Apple Reference Image, a feature that captures signed sensor data processed through Apple's Private Cloud Compute to create an unalterable reference photo alongside the main image. In plainer terms, it's basically a digital negative that confirms what was in the original shot vs. the edited one.

Both phones run on the new A20 Pro chip, built on a 2-nanometer process with a 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU, and a 16-core Neural Engine that Apple says doubles the AI processing power of the previous A19 Pro. The Dynamic Island has also been redesigned to display up to three Live Activities at once.

Battery life sees a notable jump, particularly on the Pro Max, which Apple says can deliver up to 45 hours of video playback in eSIM-only configuration, which is the largest battery-life increase in iPhone history, according to the company. The phones also introduce Apple's next-generation C2 cellular modem, which the company says delivers faster uploads than its predecessor while using 15 percent less power.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max come in black, silver, glacier, and a "dangerously chic" burgundy. Rest in peace, cosmic orange. Both phones are also getting a $100 price hike with the 18 Pro and Pro Max starting at $1,199 and $1,299, respectively.

Pre-orders begin Sept. 12, with availability starting Sept. 18.

iPhone Duo arrives: Price, release date revealed Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

It's been awhile since Apple launched a phone that genuinely excited the growing audience of tech skeptics. To wrap the keynote, Ternus introduced iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable phone. Ternus and company are very confident about Duo, taking shots at the likes of Samsung and Motorola, contrasting it with their foldables as "two phones stuck together."

SEE ALSO: Apple's iPhone Duo is here, and Samsung is already throwing shade

When opened, the Duo has a 7.6-inch inner display and, according to Apple, is the thinnest iPhone ever made; when closed, a 5.4-inch outer display offers 90 percent of the iPhone 18 Pro's screen area. Both screens share the same aspect ratio, so content scales consistently between them, and a nano-texture finish is designed to cut glare and minimize the visibility of the fold crease.

Folded, it's about the size of a passport, with rounded corners and a continuous frame that genuinely looks unexpectedly cool in person.

iPhone Duo runs on the same A20 Pro chip as the Pro models and includes dual batteries that Apple says work together to deliver up to 44 hours of video playback using the outer display alone. The folding form factor enables several camera-specific features, including Smart Take, which uses on-device AI to automatically capture a photo when it detects subjects posing, and Duo FaceTime, which lets a nearby person join a video call through the outer display and camera.

Credit: Stan Schroeder / Mashable

iOS 27 has been adapted specifically for the device, moving controls to the side of the screen to preserve vertical space and introducing Split View, which allows two apps to run side by side on an iPhone for the first time.

iPhone Duo is available in Star White and Night Sky finishes, starting at $1,999. Pre-orders open Oct. 16, and ship on Oct. 23.

AirPods 5 improves ANC, sound quality Credit: Apple

The 5th-gen AirPods are here with Active Noise Cancellation, with the company saying the feature removes up to 50 percent more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC. A new multiport acoustic architecture and an updated Adaptive EQ are designed to improve sound quality, while Apple Intelligence-powered Live Translation lets wearers hear conversations translated into their preferred language.

The standard AirPods 5 are priced at $129, while a version with a wireless charging case, longer battery life, and on-stem volume control is priced at $149.

Credit: Apple

Both are available for pre-order now and will ship on Sept. 18.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Apple Watch Series 12 add new health features Credit: Apple

Apple refreshed both ends of its watch lineup, the Series 12 and Ultra 4, around a shared new Health Sensing System that the company says provides the most accurate heart rate sensing of any wearable.

Powered by the new S11 chip in both models, the watches measure heart rate every 5 seconds throughout the day, while heart rate variability is now measured every 5 minutes. Both watches also introduce a "readiness" feature that combines recent activity, training load, vitals, and sleep data into a daily 0-10 score paired with one of four recommendations: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go For It.

The S11 chip also enables a new Audio Intelligence suite on both watches, built on Apple Intelligence and Private Cloud Compute. It includes Sound Recognition, which alerts deaf or hard-of-hearing users to sounds like sirens, alarms or doorbells; Live Rewind, which replays the previous 15 seconds of conversation as a text snippet with a double press of the Digital Crown; Siri Recap, which generates summaries, not transcripts, of conversations; and Shazam-based music identification.

SEE ALSO: Apple's Siri Recap will remember your conversations for you

Apple says that the audio conversations on your watch are processed on-device and deleted immediately afterward. The company also stated that summaries don't identify who's speaking and that users must opt in to each feature individually.

With watchOS 27, both models also gain access to Siri AI through a new Siri app and a dedicated Siri Modular watch face. Where the two models diverge is on ruggedness, battery life, and design.

The Ultra 4 comes in a neat titanium finish in this Hermès variant. Credit: Apple

Apple Watch Ultra 4, aimed at athletes and outdoor use, offers up to 50 hours of everyday battery life and up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode, with a Max Extended Workout mode that can track outdoor activity for up to 45 hours; it comes in natural and black titanium, starting at $799.

Apple Watch Series 12 delivers 24 hours of everyday battery life, with a 25 percent boost to 10 hours during outdoor workouts, and comes in 42mm and 46mm sizes across aluminum, titanium, and a new ceramic option, starting at $399.

Both watches can be pre-ordered right now and will ship on Sept. 18.

Redesigned Health App Credit: Apple

Apple is also updating its Health app, arriving later this year on iPhone, with a new Insights tab that summarizes daily health data and a Longevity tab that introduces "Health Age," a metric that estimates how a user's health indicators compare with their chronological age.

The app will let users schedule lab tests covering more than 50 biomarkers for $119 at Quest Diagnostics locations across the U.S., and will add at-home movement assessments that use the iPhone camera and vision-based AI models to evaluate flexibility, strength, and balance.

The Health app is also adding support for logging perimenopause and menopause within Cycle Tracking, along with notifications for users 40 and older who show cycle patterns suggestive of perimenopause.

Siri AI features arrive soon Credit: Apple

It's finally here. After two long years since it was announced (which is an eternity in gen-AI development and scaling), Apple's revamped Apple Intelligence Siri will be released with iOS 27 later this month.

Similar to other AI-powered digital assistants, Siri AI is framed as a personal chatbot and assistant that draws on personal context, i.e., your messages, emails, photos, and other on-device information to answer questions, take action based on what's on a user's screen, and carry out tasks in third-party apps. It is rolling out in beta with iOS 27 across iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Duo, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5.

Much of what Siri AI can do on iOS 27 was covered at its reveal at Apple's WWDC event back in June. The short rundown of Siri AI capabilities on iPhone is onscreen awareness and a camera-integrated mode that can answer questions about what a user is looking at.

On iPhone Duo, an all-new Siri app preserves conversation history synced through iCloud. On Apple Watch, Siri AI is accessible through a new Siri app and a dedicated Siri Modular watch face. On AirPods, users can respond to Siri hands-free using head gestures.

Apple said the assistant relies on on-device processing and its Private Cloud Compute system to handle more complex requests while keeping personal data encrypted and inaccessible to Apple.

Apple Intelligence, which underpins Siri AI along with features like Live Translation and the Health app's insights, becomes available with iOS 27 on Sept. 14 for supported devices set to one of 16 supported languages, including English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese and Korean, among others.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park. See what our readers guessed would happen at today's Apple event in our Big Guessing Game.

UPDATE: Sep. 9, 2026, 5:43 p.m. EDT This article has been updated with some original photos from the Apple event.

Apple’s "Surprise and shine" keynote today made the $1,999 iPhone Duo look almost impossibly seamless. But now that people at Apple Park are actually opening, closing, folding, and gaming on the device, we have a better idea of what Apple’s first foldable looks like in real life.

SEE ALSO: Apple announces iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone

The short version: It looks impressively thin, the software responds quickly as the phone changes shape, and the crease isn’t quite as invisible as Apple’s presentation suggested (though it comes pretty close). Here are some early glimpses we’ve spotted so far — first and foremost from Mashable's Senior Editor, Stan Schroeder, who’s on the ground at the Apple event.

Mashable’s Stan Schroeder holds the unfolded iPhone Duo, showing its thin profile and subtle center crease. Credit: Mashable, Stan Schroeder Mashable’s Stan Schroeder tests the iPhone Duo’s camera on its large inner display. Credit: Mashable, Stan Schroeder

Early reactions were largely enthusiastic. Tech creator Max Weinbach called the iPhone Duo the "bar none best foldable," and was taken by the under-display camera, calling it "wild." "I wasn’t expecting that."

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Tech reviewer and Mashable 101 honoree iJustine, or Justine Ezarik, showed how compact the fully opened device looks when held in two hands, writing that the product is "amazingggg."

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Ezarik also demonstrated what it looked like to watch Netflix's "Clips" feature, which provides a vertical video feed, as well as an episode of Wednesday.

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She also showed off the Duo’s camera, including how the foldable design and outer display can be used while framing a shot.

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YouTube streamer IShowSpeed was similarly captivated while trying the phone during a livestream, repeatedly folding and unfolding it as viewers in the chat reacted, who were also impressed.

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A clip posted by journalist Geoff Keighley specifically highlighted the sleek animation when folding the Duo from its larger, tablet-like display into its compact outer screen. "I thought the transition to the inner display was just for show, but it’s so cool it’s as advertised in-person," replied one user.

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Keighley also tested games running across the open display in three perspectives enabled by the hinge. "Pokémon Go and watching TikToks on one mobile device is gonna be cool," wrote another user.

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The responses online haven't been universally glowing. Some people compared the shape to Microsoft’s Surface Duo or a Nintendo DS. Others questioned whether games would stutter as the display moved between positions.

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Senior Editor at Gizmodo, Ray Wong, gave a different perspective of the Duo, taping it from several angles as he opened and closed it. Viewed straight on, the 7.6-inch display looks nearly continuous, but tilt the phone toward an overhead light, and a subtle vertical crease becomes visible through the center.

"Can definitely see the screen crease at certain angles,” Wong wrote. Replies largely agreed that some kind of crease remains unavoidable on a folding screen, although several people noted that lighting and viewing angle appear to make a substantial difference. "They are magicians, not Gods!" one user pointed out.

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Another felt completely differently, writing, "Wow. the crease is really seamless."

If you want to unfold the iPhone Duo for yourself, you’ll get your chance when it reaches customers on Oct. 23.

The rumour mill can rest, as Apple’s foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, has been unveiled. And competitors are already hitting social media with pure cheek.

Announced at Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event on Wednesday, the tech giant's expensive new folding device was the talk of Cupertino, California, and beyond. Apple's answer to the foldables of competitors like Samsung and Google, the iPhone Duo has a 7.6-inch inner display that can fold in half.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2026: Live updates on iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch 12, and new AirPods

Following the reveal, Apple competitor Samsung, which revealed its own Galaxy Z Fold 8 in July, hit X with an unsubtle tweet.

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But it wasn't just smartphone makers freaking out about Apple's new foldable. The team behind Duolingo, the language app, apparently realise it shares a name with the device, with the official account spiralling about SEO and @ing new Apple CEO John Ternus.

"It's called the iPhone WHAT???" a Duolingo tweet reads.

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Jumping on the bandwagon, American dictionary Merriam-Webster threw in a tweet. "Not to brag, but our product has been foldable since 1828," the official account wrote, with quintessential "just gonna leave this here" energy.

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The iPhone Duo is undeniably Apple's buzziest device announced today, and Mashable's Olivia Tauber has all the details.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park. See what our readers guessed would happen at today's Apple event in our Big Guessing Game.

It's finally here. The long-rumored, highly anticipated first-ever foldable device from Apple has arrived.

And it's the most expensive iPhone ever.

Apple unveiled the foldable known as the iPhone Duo at its big "Surprise and Shine" iPhone event on Wednesday. And Apple seems to have delivered. The sentiment across the internet seems fairly positive.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2026: Live updates on iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch 12, and new AirPods

If you're an Apple fan, you'll probably want an iPhone Duo. Maybe that is, until you see the price.

The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for the 256GB storage model. That's the most expensive starting price for an iPhone ever, but it's actually cheaper than the rumored price previously reported by analysts. There was an expectation that the iPhone Duo base model could have launched at as much as $2,300.

However, if you're looking to max out the iPhone Duo to its highest storage capacity of 2TB, you might be in for some sticker shock.

SEE ALSO: Apple announces iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone

A 2TB iPhone Duo will set you back $3,199. That's the most expensive iPhone ever. Period.

The 2TB iPhone Duo is a whopping $700 more than the brand new iPhone 18 Pro Max with 2TB of storage. 

In fact, the 2TB iPhone 18 Pro Max, which will retail for $2,499, is even less expensive than the 1TB iPhone Duo, which will launch at $2,599. That's a difference of a whole terabyte, and you're still paying $100 more for the iPhone Duo with half the storage space.

Apple fans will certainly be paying a premium for the company's first-ever foldable device.

Want more tech news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

See what our readers guessed would happen at today's Apple event in our Big Guessing Game.

Apple’s first foldable iPhone comes with a radically different design — and a $1,999 starting price — but it retains one of the iPhone’s most familiar charging features.

Yes, the iPhone Duo supports MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging at up to 25W. Apple says the phone can wirelessly charge to 50 percent in about 30 minutes when used with a MagSafe or Qi2 charger and a compatible power adapter rated at 35W or higher.

That support extends to Apple’s new accessories for the foldable device. The iPhone Duo Case and iPhone Duo Folio with Kickstand both contain built-in magnets that align with MagSafe and Qi2 chargers. In other words, users won’t have to remove the case whenever the phone needs a charge.

The two-part Duo Case wraps around both sides of the foldable phone and will be available in Sand and Navy Blue for $79. Apple’s $129 Duo Folio comes in Navy Blue and Taupe and includes a kickstand that can hold the phone at different angles for reading, watching videos, or making FaceTime calls.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2026: Live updates on iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch 12, and new AirPods

Both accessories, along with the iPhone Duo, go on sale for preorders on Oct. 16. Availability starts Oct. 23.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple How fast does the iPhone Duo charge?

If wireless charging isn’t fast enough, the iPhone Duo can reach 50 percent in around 20 minutes over a wired connection. Achieving that speed requires a USB-C cable rated for at least 60W and a compatible USB Power Delivery adapter.

Wireless charging takes around 10 minutes longer to reach the same level. Apple conducted its MagSafe testing with a 40W Dynamic Power Adapter, although the company says an adapter rated at 35W or higher is required for the fastest supported wireless charging speed.

Actual charging times will vary based on the adapter, temperature, settings, and how the phone is being used.

SEE ALSO: Apple announces iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone What is the iPhone Duo’s battery life?

Instead of trying to fit a single large battery around the folding display, Apple placed high-energy batteries on each side of the iPhone Duo. Software then manages them as a single dual-battery system.

Apple rates the Duo for up to 31 hours of video playback on its 7.6-inch inner display or up to 44 hours on the smaller 5.4-inch outer display. With usage divided evenly between the two displays, Apple estimates up to 24 hours per charge.

The phone’s A20 Pro chip and custom vapor chamber also help manage power and heat during gaming, multitasking, and AI workloads.

What else should you know about the iPhone Duo?

The $1,999 iPhone Duo is Apple’s first book-style foldable smartphone. When closed, it is roughly the size of a passport and provides a 5.4-inch outer display. Opening it reveals a 7.6-inch screen—the largest display Apple has put in an iPhone.

The Duo supports Apple Pencil via USB-C, runs two apps side by side, and can save app pairings for later use. Its hinge also lets the device support itself for hands-free video, FaceTime, time-lapse recording, or StandBy mode.

Other features include Touch ID in the side button, two 48-megapixel rear cameras, Spatial Audio, Ceramic Shield protection, and an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. It comes in Star White and Night Sky, with storage options ranging from 256GB to 2TB.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

See what our readers guessed would happen at today's Apple event in our Big Guessing Game.

Apple revealed the AirPods 5 wireless earbuds on Wednesday at its "Surprise and Shine" keynote event.

The AirPods 4 were announced two years ago, and the new version features some key upgrades. Like their predecessor, the new AirPods 5 come with two models. Unlike the previous gen, both feature active noise cancellation — but this doesn't result in a price hike.

In fact, the lower-tier model features ANC for $129, matching the price of the non-ANC model of the AirPods 4. The higher tier model goes for $149, which is $30 cheaper than the $179 AirPods 4 with ANC. This is especially notable in a time where most Apple prices have only gone up — including on the newly announced iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.

SEE ALSO: Thank the AI industry for tech price increases: See the full list

The AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case are available for preorder now, with a release date of Friday, Sept. 18.

Here's what we else know about the newest addition to the AirPods lineup.

The Apple AirPods 5 features better noise cancellation, lower prices The volume stem on the AirPods 5 with wireless charging allows for more on-device control. Credit: Screenshot / Apple

We were expecting new AirPods with cameras at the September Apple event, but an update to the regular AirPods was also rumored in recent weeks.

The Apple AirPods 5 come with notable new features, including:

• Two models with and without ANC, priced at $129 and $149

• Updated adaptive EQ, which helps power better spatial audio

• 50% more active noise cancellation than the AirPods 4

• Improved transparency mode for a more natural sound

• On the $149 model, a wireless charging case, and volume adjustment on the earbud stem

AirPods 5 vs. AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case

Despite the name, there's more of a difference between the two AirPods 5 models than just their charging cases.

• Battery life: The$149 AirPods 5 feature five hours per charge with ANC, besting the battery life of the AirPods 4 with ANC by one hour. With the case, these earbuds offer 22 hours of battery life.

• Volume control: For the first time on non-Pro earbuds, the stem of the AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case has a force sensor volume swipe control on the stem.

• Wireless charging: The case on the more expensive AirPods 5 can be charged with an Apple Watch charger, Qi-compatible charger, and USB-C charger (which was available on the AirPods 4 with ANC).

Open-ear AirPods?

Technically, non-Pro versions of the AirPods have always been open-ear earbuds. That said, AirPods don't follow the model of most other open earbud models (that is, cuff or ear hook style buds).

Yes, there isn't an ear tip that sits in the ear canal, but the earbud is situated more as a semi-in ear bud than most other earbuds, which leave the ear canal completely unobstructed.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

With Apple Intelligence, you don't need to worry about emails or texts or calendar alerts. You can clear your skin and track your health stats and even generate entirely new realities.

And with Siri AI's Recap and Live Rewind, debuted at the Apple September iPhone event, it'll keep track of your memories, too.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2026: Live updates on iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch 12, and new AirPods What do Live Rewind and Siri Recap do?

Announced Wednesday, Apple's new AI-powered audio features catch ambient audio of your live conversations in the background, analyzes them, and throws summaries, highlights, and direct quotes right back at you.

Forget the directions the stranger gave you? Siri's got you. Missed the thing your boss said? Siri is a great assistant. Didn't pay attention to the emotional story your best friend just recounted? Um — Hey Siri?

Apple's data collection feature calls to mind hardware devices like Pocket and Plaud, and AI recording and note-taking apps like Granola, which have become popular in Silicon Valley. The tool stirred immediate privacy concerns among Apple fans, with some likening it to a covert recording device — and once again calling to mind future data-mining technologies featured in Netflix sci-fi drama Black Mirror.

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When activated, Live Rewind uses that ambient recording ability to recount the last 15 seconds of audio captured in your vicinity, which can be saved to your device or described back to you instantly. Recap actively takes notes on conversations throughout your day, then offers up AI-generated summaries of what happened.

It's part of a fleet of Audio Intelligence features debuting with the new microphone aboard the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, including enhanced sound and music recognition.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed. Do these features collect your personal data?

Like its other Apple Intelligence features, Apple said during its presentation that recorded conversations for Siri AI's Recap and Live Rewind are end-to-end encrypted. Devices do not collect or store actual audio recordings, the company added, and Siri will not identify specific speakers or attribute quotes to named individuals.

Raw audio data — which Apple is adamant to describe not as exact transcripts, but as notes — is not accessible by app developers, users, or Apple itself.

Apple also added built-in content guardrails, which were not elaborated on during Wednesday's keynote. According to a blog post by Apple, Recaps are designed to "omit potentially harmful content." This means mentions of self-harm and hate speech won't be included in daily summaries. Similarly, Apple says Siri will filter out mentions of personally identifiable information like financial information or "authentication data" (passwords).

"While audio is not recorded and stored, and no speakers are attributed, consider those around you where conversations might be private or sensitive," Apple wrote.

Live Rewind with Siri Recap will be available in beta this fall, starting in English.

UPDATE: Sep. 9, 2026, 1:43 p.m. This story was updated with additional information on privacy protections for Live Rewind and Siri Recap.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

Want more tech news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today, and see what our readers guessed would happen at today's Apple event in our Big Guessing Game.

The line between a phone camera and a professional camera just got a little bit blurrier.

At its "Surprise and Shine" event on Wednesday, Apple introduced a variable-aperture main camera for both the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max — giving creators a new level of control over light, focus, and the overall look of an image.

SEE ALSO: Apple Event 2026: Live updates on iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch 12, and new AirPods

So, what exactly is a variable aperture? Put simply, the aperture is the opening inside a camera lens that determines how much light reaches the sensor. Previous iPhones used a fixed opening, which meant the phone had to rely heavily on software to adapt to different lighting conditions. The iPhone 18 Pro can physically widen or narrow that opening depending on the scene.

Variable aperture gives iPhone creators more control over light and depth of field. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

To make that possible inside a phone, Apple developed a system of six laser-cut blades, each thinner than a human hair. Made from a specialized polymer composite, the blades are designed to be light and flexible enough to move quickly while remaining durable over time.

Credit: Screenshot: Apple

That tiny mechanical change could make a noticeable difference. In darker environments, the aperture opens to let in around 50 percent more light. In brighter conditions, it can close down to manage exposure while keeping more of the scene in focus.

And for creators, that means more control over depth of field and a more naturally cinematic look without relying entirely on digitally simulated background blur.

A wider aperture lets the iPhone 18 Pro capture more light—and more detail after dark. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Apple is also extending that flexibility beyond the moment of capture. Creators can apply Cinematic mode effects to regular video after it has been recorded, while 60-frames-per-second support allows footage to be slowed to half speed. Together, those additions make it easier to decide on a creative treatment during editing, rather than getting every setting perfectly right while filming.

Add a cinematic look to regular video, even after you’ve captured it. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

But Apple's push isn’t only about making images look more professional. It is also tackling a growing challenge created by AI: Proving that a photograph is real in the first place.

That's where the new "Apple Reference Image" comes in. The authentication system uses information captured by the iPhone's camera sensor at the moment a photo is taken, including a unique signature at the pixel level. Think of it as a secure digital negative — a hardware-backed link between the finished image and the physical camera that captured it.

Apple Reference Image helps creators prove a photo started with a real iPhone camera. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Here’s why that matters, especially right now. Most attempts to combat synthetic media focus on labeling AI-generated images or detecting them after they begin circulating. Apple is clearly approaching the problem from the opposite direction, and gives creators a way to demonstrate that an image originated with a real camera.

See what our readers guessed would happen at today's Apple event in our Big Guessing Game.

Photographers can use a dedicated Reference mode in the Camera app. When an image needs to be verified, Apple’s Private Cloud Compute checks its raw data, capture timeframe and identifying characteristics of the sensor while limiting the information Apple retains. An authenticated image then receives a Reference badge that can be inspected on an iPhone, iPad or Mac.

The Reference Image badge shows who captured the photo, where it was taken and the camera settings used. Credit: Screenshot: Apple

Put it all together, and Apple wants the new iPhone 18 Pros to do two things at once: Help creators make images that feel less like they came from a phone, and help them prove those images came from a camera at all.

Follow our Apple event live blog to catch up on the latest news and announcements from the "Surprise and Shine" keynote, with live updates from Apple Park.

Want more tech news delivered to your inbox daily or sent straight to your device? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories newsletter or get Mashable push alerts today.

Apple's next big iOS update is finally on the launch pad.

At its "Surprise and Shine" event on Wednesday, Apple showed off new wares like the iPhone 18 lineup, new Apple Watches, and more. One of the smaller (but still significant) nuggets of news to come out of the event concerned iOS 27. According to Apple, users with compatible iPhones will be able to install iOS 27 on Monday, Sept. 14.

What's new with iOS 27?

If you haven't been following along, iOS 27 is the one that finally brings us Siri AI. You can now talk to Siri like you would an AI chatbot, and it's powered by Google Gemini.

Some of the most exciting changes coming to iPhones involve new AI photo-editing features, such as spatial reframing. Users will more easily be able to remove unwanted details, or even describe the edits they'd like to Siri by voice or text. Android smartphones from Google and Samsung have had a full suite of AI editing tools for a couple years now, and Apple is finally catching up. Smart photo editing will also help users make the most of the iPhone 18 Pro Max's new camera features.

Apple also included some new and subtle customization options for Liquid Glass, various small updates for apps like Health, Photos, and Notes, and more.

You can install iOS 27 by going to the Settings app, then General, then tapping "Software Update."

SEE ALSO: 5 Siri AI and iOS 27 features we’re looking forward to iOS 27 compatible devices

Of course, you can only go through that whole downloading process if you have a device that supports iOS 27. Here are the devices that work with the new iOS:

• iPhone SE (second generation or later)

• iPhone 11

• iPhone 11 Pro

• iPhone 11 Pro Max

• iPhone 12

• iPhone 12 Mini

• iPhone 12 Pro

• iPhone 12 Pro Max

• iPhone 13

• iPhone 13 Mini

• iPhone 13 Pro

• iPhone 13 Pro Max

• iPhone 14

• iPhone 14 Plus

• iPhone 14 Pro

• iPhone 14 Pro Max

• iPhone 15

• iPhone 15 Plus

• iPhone 15 Pro

• iPhone 15 Pro Max

• iPhone 16

• iPhone 16e

• iPhone 16 Plus

• iPhone 16 Pro

• iPhone 16 Pro Max

• iPhone 17

• iPhone 17e

• iPhone Air

• iPhone 17 Pro

• iPhone 17 Pro Max

• iPhone 18 Pro

• iPhone 18 Pro Max

• iPhone Duo

If you don't have one of those, you're out of luck.

After years of rumors and leaks (not to mention increasingly convincing prototypes), Apple’s foldable iPhone is finally here.

At its "Surprise and shine" keynote today, Apple announced the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone. The book-style device opens to reveal a larger, iPad-like screen for apps, videos, games, and multitasking, while still folding down to fit in a pocket. As expected, the device carries a high price tag.

SEE ALSO: Apple's first foldable: What 3 years with a Fold taught me

The iPhone Duo is expected to start at $1,999 with 256GB of storage and go on pre-sale as early as Oct. 16. It will be available on Oct. 23.

iPhone Duo features and specifications Credit: Apple

With the Duo, Apple says it set out to make the experience feel continuous. The two sides meet inside a single frame, creating the largest display the company has ever designed for an iPhone. Apple says the open screen is 50 percent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max display and 80 percent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro’s.

The iPhone Duo has the following features:

Displays: A 5.4-inch outer Super Retina XDR display and a folding 7.6-inch inner Super Retina XDR display. The larger screen is designed to feel spacious in both portrait and landscape orientations, while matching aspect ratios help content transition naturally when the phone is opened or closed. Both screens include ProMotion, an Always-On display, and up to 3,000 nits of peak outdoor brightness. The inner display also has a nano-texture finish intended to reduce glare, reflections, and the visibility of the crease.

Credit: Apple

Foldable design: A book-style design built around a precisely controlled hinge that supports the center of the display throughout the opening and closing motion. Apple says the uninterrupted interior screen has no visible crease, while its FaceTime camera is hidden beneath the display. An integrated magnet array keeps the phone securely closed, while more than 100 hinge components control its movement and hold the display flat when fully opened.

Multitasking: The foldable version of iOS 27 can show two Home Screens or run two apps side by side. Users can tap the divider to save apps as a pair and return to them together later. Videos can also be pinned at the top of the display while another app remains open below. Split View can also open two windows from the same app, allowing you to compare two Safari pages at once, for example. Apple says Netflix, Zoom, and Slack are among the third-party apps already adapted for the folding display.

Credit: Apple

Apple Pencil: Apple Pencil support turns the larger interior display into a space for handwriting, sketching, marking up documents, and more precise creative work. Support for Apple Pencil with USB-C is coming later this year and will work on both displays.

Credit: Apple

Flexible viewing: The Duo can remain open at different angles for hands-free video. Fold it in the opposite orientation, and the lower half can become a keyboard, giving the phone a compact, computer-like setup. The foldable design also expands StandBy, which works on either display — even when the phone isn’t charging.

Authentication and controls: Touch ID returns in the side button, allowing users to unlock the Duo whether it is open or closed. The phone can also unlock with a connected Apple Watch. Camera Control is also included and can launch the new Siri Camera mode, which lets Siri analyze what the camera sees to answer questions and take action.

Cameras: The rear system pairs a 48-megapixel Fusion Main camera with a 48-megapixel Fusion Ultra Wide camera. The main camera can capture images at up to 48MP, shoots at 24MP by default, and includes an optical-quality 2x Telephoto option. The Ultra Wide camera also supports macro photography.

Credit: Apple

Foldable camera features: The Duo's outer display can act as a preview while someone is being photographed with the rear cameras. Smart Take uses on-device AI to recognize when subjects are posing and automatically capture the shot, while Kid Cue plays Peanuts animations on the outer screen to help get a child’s attention. Users can also take higher-resolution selfies with the rear cameras and see themselves on the outer display.

Video: The 48MP main camera records 4K video at 120 fps in Dolby Vision. Cinematic effects can be added after capture at up to 60 fps, while an updated Audio Mix can improve voices and isolate music. The Duo can also support itself for tripod-free time-lapse recording in 4K Dolby Vision.

Performance: The Duo is powered by the 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip, with a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU, and dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple says it delivers up to 35 percent better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro, with twice the AI compute power and 50 percent more unified memory bandwidth. A custom vapor chamber helps manage heat during gaming, multitasking, and demanding AI tasks.

Apple Intelligence: The larger display is designed to work with Siri AI, allowing users to keep Siri open beside another app. Siri can use personal context, understand onscreen content, search across apps, and complete related actions. Apple Intelligence also adds Spatial Reframing, Extend, and an upgraded Clean Up tool for editing photos.

Credit: Apple

Battery: A battery on each side of the Duo works as a single dual-battery system. Apple rates it for up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display, 44 hours on the outer display, or 24 hours of mixed use. Wired charging can reach 50 percent in around 20 minutes, while MagSafe or Qi2 charging can reach 50 percent in around 30 minutes.

Audio: Two speakers — one at the top and another at the bottom — provide Spatial Audio for movies, music, and games.

Durability: Ceramic Shield protects the device, while internal structural elements are designed to make it feel solid each time it is opened or closed. Ceramic Shield 2 on the outer display offers three times better scratch resistance than the previous generation. The inner display uses a scratch-resistant coating, a custom nano-textured polymer layer, high-strength glass, and a titanium support plate. The Duo is also rated IP68 for splash, water, and dust resistance.

Materials: The enclosure is made from mirror-polished grade 5 titanium, while the 3D-printed hinge cover has a contrasting micro-blasted finish. Internal support ribs and ceramic-fiber inserts reinforce the frame.

Connectivity: The Duo is eSIM-only worldwide. Apple’s N1 wireless chip supports WiFi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, while its C2 modem adds AI-assisted improvements to cellular quality and reliability, including mmWave support in the U.S.

Colors: The iPhone Duo will be available in Star White and Night Sky.

Credit: Apple

Dimensions: Apple calls the Duo the thinnest iPhone it has ever made when opened. Closed, it is similar in size to a passport, and its outer display still provides 90 percent of the screen area of an iPhone 18 Pro.

Whether the iPhone Duo becomes the next major chapter in the iPhone’s history or remains an expensive niche device will become clearer once it starts reaching customers on Oct. 23.

This is a developing story...

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