Apple just announced a brand new folding iPhone — plus, five other launches you’ll want to see

Today, Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, announced a new lineup of iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods. This marks Ternus’ first major announcement since succeeding Tim Cook. The most significant addition is Apple’s first-ever foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, which opens like a book into a 7.8-inch interior display. Closed, it resembles the size of a passport. The Duo features a dual rear camera system usable on both sides, enabling dual-screen functionality for FaceTime calls. It includes two battery cells, offering up to 44 hours of use on the outer display alone or 24 hours when both screens are active. The iPhone Duo will launch in white and dark blue, with pre-orders starting October 16 and retail availability on October 23. Pricing begins at $1,999 for 256GB of storage.

Apple also introduced three new iPhones: the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone Duo. The Pro lineup features the new A20 Pro chip, a variable-aperture 48-megapixel camera, and starts at $1,199. The Pro Max, with a larger 6.9-inch screen and extended battery life (up to 30 hours), begins at $1,299. Pre-orders for these models open on September 12, with retail availability on September 18.

Apple refreshed its smartwatch lineup with the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Both models retain the same S11 chip and redesigned Health Sensing System, but the Ultra 4 is optimized for endurance athletes with extended battery life (up to 50 hours of everyday use). Neither watch saw a price increase, with the Series 12 starting at $399 and the Ultra 4 at $799. Pre-orders are open now, with releases on September 18.

Apple unveiled the AirPods 5, priced at $129 or $149 with a wireless charging case. These earbuds feature up to 1.5x more active noise cancellation, dynamic head tracking, and adaptive audio modes. They also support Siri AI and real-time Live Translation. Battery life is up to 4 hours with ANC or 5 hours (22 total with the case). Pre-orders are available now, with shipping on September 18.

Apple did not announce new Macs or iPads, focusing instead on iPhone, Watch, and AirPods. The event also noted rising component costs contributing to price increases in the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.

Source: NBC News