Apple unveils foldable iPhone Duo at John Ternus's first big launch

Apple used John Ternus's first major keynote to unveil the foldable iPhone Duo alongside the iPhone 18 range. The launch signals Apple's late but deliberate push into foldables and privacy-focused AI.

In Short

• Duo unfolds into a 7.6-inch screen and supports Apple Pencil
• Users can run two apps side by side or compare websites
• iPhone 18 Pro models add battery, camera and performance upgrades

Apple on Wednesday unveiled its latest iPhone range, including a much-anticipated foldable model called Duo, as the company also highlighted updates to the Apple Watch, AirPods and its artificial intelligence features. The launch also marked the first major product presentation by new chief executive John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook on September 1.

At the Steve Jobs Theater, Ternus introduced the new line-up and later told the audience that "actually there is one more thing", echoing the phrase associated with Jobs. He then presented Duo, which he said has the "largest display ever on an iPhone, yet fits into your pocket".

The Duo opens into a 7.6-inch display, which Apple said is 80 per cent larger than the newest iPhone 18 Pro. It will also support the Apple Pencil on a phone for the first time, a feature that had previously been limited to iPads. Ternus said Duo "will redefine the experience of using a foldable phone". The device will also allow users to split the screen between two apps or open two windows of the same website for tasks such as comparison shopping.

Apple also unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, which Ternus said bring improvements to battery life, camera quality and overall performance. The Pro and Pro Max will start at USD 1,199 and USD 1,299, respectively, while the Duo will start at USD 1,999. Customers can pre-order the phones from September 12, with the iPhone 18 models going on sale on September 18 and the Duo becoming available on October 23.

The new models feature what Apple described as long battery life, including up to 45 hours of video playback on the Pro Max, along with faster charging. Apple said the camera system offers "cinematic effects" on regular video shot on the phone, as well as new manual controls and "smart focus tracking", which allows users to keep the focus on a single moving subject, such as a child during a football game.

Apple also put the spotlight on Siri's new AI features with the new phones, stressing privacy and security as a point of difference from rivals that are further ahead in adding AI tools. Earlier this year, the company had unveiled AI upgrades, including improvements to Siri, while emphasising privacy and everyday use as it seeks to catch up with competitors.

Several of Apple's main rivals, including Samsung, Motorola and Google, have already launched foldable smartphones. But Apple has typically moved more slowly on new technologies. Forrester analyst Dipanjan Chatterjee said, "The foldable launch is straight out of Apple's playbook: Wait for the product to work out its kinks and for the market to offer glimpses of viability, then enter and shape the category." He added, "The difference is that foldables still represent a minuscule share of the smartphone market. The test of Apple's ambition will be whether it can expand that niche into a meaningful new segment."

Compared with earlier generations, the iPhone 18 costs about USD 100 more, due partly to a global memory chip shortage. The iPhone 17 range is priced between USD 799 and USD 1,999, depending on the model. Chatterjee also said Ternus's keynote would help set the tone for his vision for Apple's future. "John Ternus inherits perhaps the most successful consumer technology juggernaut in modern times. That is both a boon and a burden for him. Tim Cook's perfected execution, scale, and monetisation set a high bar, and Ternus must extend that run," he said. "But he must sustain that momentum while positioning Apple to disrupt itself in the near future, when the iPhone, or any smartphone for that matter, will cease to be the consumer's primary conduit to the world."

Last year's iPhone 17 line-up, which included a new ultra-thin model using the Air name already seen on Apple's iPads and Mac computers, has been selling well. With the iPhone 18 range, the new Duo foldable and a stronger push on AI, Apple used Ternus's first major launch event to present both updates to its main devices and a new entry into the foldable phone market.

With PTI Inputs

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