Apple’s iPhone Duo just broke the internet — plus new iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5, and watches

It’s that time of the year again. And no, we’re not talking about Christmas, though for some Apple fans it might as well be. Every year, fans of Apple glue themselves to their screens to see what the tech giant has in store, and while the past few years brought fairly incremental upgrades to cameras and chips, this time Apple caught everyone off guard by confirming its first-ever foldable: the iPhone Duo.

Rumours of an Apple foldable have been swirling online for a while, but seeing it actually happen is still a first for the brand. The iPhone Duo unfolds to a 7.6-inch display and folds down to 5.4 inches, packing in a handful of features that genuinely stand out from what Apple users are used to.

But before we get into the Duo, let’s back up. Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, also took the stage to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, which promise to change the way we use our phones with a heavier focus on AI. Then there’s the new AirPods 5, now with ANC and said to be more durable than their predecessors. And with wellness on everyone’s mind these days, Apple didn’t leave that out either. In this case, the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 both come packed with new and advanced health features designed to help you keep closer tabs on your body.

It was quite a stacked event, so if you missed the livestream earlier today (10 September) at 1AM SGT, don’t worry. Ahead, we’ve broken down what you need to know about the new releases before you go adding anything to your cart.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

While the Duo might be stealing headlines, many also have their eyes on this year’s iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max.

Powering both phones is Apple’s new A20 Pro chip, which is basically Apple’s way of saying “we made everything faster.” It’s built on their most advanced tech yet, and in real terms, that means quicker performance and noticeably better graphics, which is great if you’re one to play a lot of games on your phone.

They’ve also fixed one of the classic iPhone gripes: overheating during heavy use. To prevent that from happening, especially for those who are chronically online, the new model has a redesigned cooling system inside the phone, which means it can handle demanding tasks (think gaming or filming) for longer without slowing down or heating up in your hand.

But honestly, the battery life might be the biggest win here. The 18 Pro now lasts as long as last year’s Pro Max, despite being the smaller phone. And the new Pro Max? It’s got the longest battery life Apple’s ever put in an iPhone, which goes up to 45 hours of video playback. Oh, and charging’s quicker too, so you can get to 50% battery in around 15 minutes.

Then there’s the camera. The main camera can now automatically adjust its aperture depending on your surroundings, so it lets in more light at night and sharpens things up for group shots in daylight. There’s also a new set of manual controls for anyone who likes to fine-tune their shots, plus better focus tracking so your subject stays sharp even if they’re moving around.

A few other nice touches: 4K time-lapse, a smarter Dynamic Island at the top of your phone(handy for keeping tabs on your flight, your maps, and your timer all together), and noticeably faster AirDrop transfers.

The iPhone 18 Pro (from $1,899) and iPhone Pro Max (from $2,099) are available for pre-order starting at 8PM SGT on 12 September. Available starting 18 September.

AirPods 5

If you love the open-ear design of the AirPods, then you’ll like the new AirPods 5. They boast the classic open-ear fit everyone loves, but they come with noticeably better sound. Basically, expect richer, more detailed audio, and spatial sound that actually feels more immersive. 

The bigger win here, though, is the active noise cancellation. AirPods 5 offer 50% more noise reduction than the previous generation, which is genuinely impressive for an open-ear design. And if you prefer hearing what’s going on around you, transparency mode now sounds a lot more natural too. There’s also adaptive audio, which automatically switches between noise cancellation and transparency depending on your surroundings.

They’ve also leaned further into AI. AirPods 5 tap into Siri AI and can pull from your personal context, like your contacts or messages, to answer questions hands-free — which honestly sounds pretty suspicious, but Apple has mentioned that the information will have end-to-end encryption. Live translation is back too, letting you have real-time conversations across languages without pulling out your phone.

On the practical side, Apple’s made AirPods 5 more durable, better equipped to handle rain, sweat, and everyday dust and grime.

The AirPods 5 (from$199) will be available for pre-order starting 9AM SGT on 11 September. Available starting 18 September.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

If health and wellness are your main priority, then you might want to check out the new watches by Apple. Both watches now come with a brand-new health sensing system, which Apple claims is the most accurate heart rate sensor they’ve ever put on a wearable. It’s not just about tracking numbers, though. In fact, the watch now gives you actual tips based on your health data, and there’s a new ‘health age’ feature that tells you how your body’s really doing compared to your actual age, which, let’s be honest, some of us aren’t emotionally prepared for. There are also more in-depth insights overall, plus VO2 max assessments built into a redesigned Health app, which is set to roll out later this year.

That’s not all. Apple has introduced audio intelligence, a genuinely clever new feature that helps your watch make sense of the sounds around you, including sound recognition, all powered by the AI on your watch, so it still works even without your phone nearby.

While I was watching the live presentation, there were also two features worth highlighting here that caught my attention: Live Rewind, which lets you go back 15 seconds and get a transcript of what was just said (a double press of the Digital Crown does the trick). It’s perfect for those many moments when you zone out halfway. And then there’s Siri Recap, which quietly takes high-level notes of your conversations in the background. But Apple did mention that nothing’s recorded or stored, and you’re fully in control of when it’s switched on. Plus, if you need a new reason to upgrade your watch, this year’s lineup boasts new additions, including four new colourways, with the brown being the standout of the bunch. There’s also a new ceramic finish that looks seriously sleek in person.

The Apple Watch Series 12 (from $599) and Ultra 4 (from $1,199) are available starting 18 September.

iPhone Duo

And now, the moment everyone’s been waiting for: the iPhone Duo, Apple’s first-ever foldable. 

Much like an iPad mini in your hands, the iPhone Duo flips open boasting a massive 7.6-inch display which is said to be 50% bigger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max and a whopping 80% bigger than the 18 Pro. Fold it shut, and you’ve got a 5.4-inch outer screen to work with. 

One of the coolest additions? Later this year, you’ll be able to use Apple Pencil on the Duo, which is a first for iPhone, and something iPad users have been enjoying for ages. 

Now, with every foldable, consumers would be worried about the crease in the middle of the big screen. That being said, Apple has taken that into consideration and has minimised it thanks to a new nanotexture finish. The iPhone Duo comes in two colourways, namely, Star White and Night Sky.

On the software side, the screen controls have been reworked specifically for the Duo’s shape. Essential controls have shifted to the side, freeing up more vertical space for your content, and multitasking gets a serious upgrade. For instance, you can finally run two apps side by side, or even open two windows of the same app for things like comparison shopping.

Under the hood, it’s running the same A20 Pro chip as the Pro lineup, paired with Apple’s new C2 modem. Battery life is quite impressive for a foldable: with up to 31 hours of playback using the inner display, or 44 hours on the outer display, and around 24 hours of everyday use when you’re using both screens. It also charges fast, hitting 50% in just 20 minutes.

The camera setup within the phone is also quite decent, with a 48MP main camera, a 12MP telephoto, a 48MP ultra-wide, and a 12MP centre-stage camera, plus a hidden under-display camera for FaceTime.

The iPhone Duo (from $3,099) will be avilable for pre-order at 8PM SGT on 16 October and will be available starting 23 October