Apple has expanded its hardware portfolio with a new range of iPhones, AirPods and Apple Watches unveiled at its annual “Surprise and Shine” event in Cupertino, California.
The headline announcement was the iPhone Duo, marking Apple’s entry into the foldable smartphone segment. The company also unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.
Alongside the new hardware, Apple has introduced several AI-driven capabilities under Apple Intelligence, including an upgraded Siri experience. Here is a look at the key products announced at the event.
iPhone Duo
The iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable iPhone, featuring a book-style design that opens to reveal a 7.6-inch Super Retina display. The handset has a slim profile and comes in Star White and Night Sky finishes. The foldable uses an eSIM-only configuration and does not include a physical SIM card slot.
For photography, the iPhone Duo features a 48-megapixel Fusion main camera, a 2x optical-quality telephoto camera and a 48-megapixel Fusion ultrawide camera. Video recording is supported in 4K at up to 120fps, along with 4K Dolby Vision time-lapse recording.
The front camera uses Centre Stage technology for wider and landscape-oriented selfies. Apple has also added Dual Capture, allowing users to record video simultaneously through the front and rear cameras. The outer display can serve as a preview screen while taking photos.
Other camera tools include Smart Take, which helps users select the preferred frame and timing while capturing content. In India, the iPhone Duo is priced from Rs 2,49,900.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
Apple’s latest premium smartphones, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, are powered by the A20 Pro chip.
The new processor is based on a 2nm architecture and features a six-core CPU comprising two performance cores and four efficiency cores, paired with a seven-core GPU. Apple has also upgraded the thermal system with a next-generation vapour chamber that offers three times the surface area of the cooling system used in the iPhone 17 Pro.
The iPhone 18 Pro is rated for up to 36 hours of video playback, while the Pro Max can deliver up to 45 hours. Apple says a 15-minute wired charge can provide up to six hours of video playback on the iPhone 18 Pro.
The camera system has received a 48-megapixel Fusion main camera with variable aperture. The new Pro Controls allow users to manually adjust settings including aperture, shutter speed and white balance. Smart Focus Tracking uses on-device AI to follow subjects, including when they temporarily move out of the frame.
The new camera capabilities also include 4K Dolby Vision HDR time-lapse recording, cinematic effects that can be added to regular videos after recording and an Audio Mix feature with music support.
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be available in deep black, silver, glacier and burgundy. Storage configurations range from 256GB to 2TB.
In India, prices start at Rs 1,64,900 for the iPhone 18 Pro and Rs 1,79,900 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Pre-orders will open on September 12, with retail availability beginning September 18.
AirPods 5
The latest AirPods 5 focus on improvements to audio quality, active noise cancellation and translation.
Apple says the earbuds deliver richer, more immersive sound and improved Active Noise Cancellation. They can also automatically switch between Active Noise Cancellation and Transparency mode depending on the surroundings.
Volume can be controlled through upward or downward swipes on the stem. One of the key additions is live translation, with the AirPods working alongside an iPhone to translate conversations. The earbuds are also designed to offer resistance against rain, sweat and dust.
AirPods 5 are priced at Rs 14,900 in India.
Apple Watch Series 12
The Apple Watch Series 12 brings new AI-powered audio capabilities alongside health-focused features. Its Audio Intelligence system uses on-device AI for sound recognition and can operate without an iPhone. Live Rewind allows users to revisit the previous 15 seconds of a conversation by double-pressing the Digital Crown.
Apple has also introduced Siri Recap, which can identify key points and generate high-level summaries from meetings and discussions. The feature can be accessed through Siri and the Control Centre.
According to Apple, the audio features do not save or store recordings, while relevant data remains end-to-end encrypted. A new Siri modular watch face is also part of the Series 12 experience.
Health features have received an upgrade through the Health app, including Health Age, which uses health information to compare a person’s overall health with their chronological age. The app can also sync medical records. The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at around Rs 38,000 in India.
Apple Watch Ultra 4
Apple has also refreshed its premium rugged smartwatch range with the Apple Watch Ultra 4. The company says the new model offers its longest battery life yet on an Apple Watch, delivering up to 45 hours of Max Extended Workout tracking. The Ultra 4 joins the Series 12 as part of Apple’s latest smartwatch lineup.
Apple Intelligence and Other New Features
AI is a major theme across Apple’s latest hardware, with Apple Intelligence powering new features and an enhanced Siri experience.
The iPhone 18 Pro models also introduce Apple Reference Image, which is designed to establish the authenticity of photographs. According to Apple, photo data is signed at the pixel level when an image is captured, while Private Cloud Compute can transform the signed information into an unalterable image within the Photos app.
With the iPhone Duo, Apple has entered the foldable smartphone market for the first time. The company has simultaneously expanded its audio and wearable offerings with AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.
The latest launch therefore covers five key hardware additions: the iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.