Apple’s fall hardware lineup has arrived, and this year’s biggest announcement isn’t simply another iPhone upgrade.
Apple unveiled its first foldable iPhone on Wednesday, introducing the new iPhone Duo alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.
Across the lineup, Apple is also making health monitoring and Apple Intelligence a much larger part of its hardware ecosystem, with new heart-rate sensing, readiness insights and AI-powered features coming to Apple Watch and the redesigned Health app.
iPhone Duo Is Apple’s First Foldable iPhone
The headline announcement is iPhone Duo, Apple’s first foldable iPhone and easily the biggest physical redesign of the device in years.
When opened, iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch inner Super Retina XDR display — the largest display ever offered on an iPhone. Folded closed, users get a more compact 5.4-inch outer display designed for traditional one-handed use.
Both displays support ProMotion, Always On and up to 3000 nits of peak outdoor brightness. Apple has also added a nano-texture finish to the inner display designed to reduce glare and make the crease less noticeable.
The Duo is powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chip and uses a dual-battery architecture and custom vapor chamber for thermal management. The folding design also creates some unusual camera options, including the ability to use the higher-resolution rear cameras for selfies while previewing the shot on the outer screen.
Apple has adapted iOS 27 specifically for the foldable design, including new multitasking experiences and interfaces that change depending on whether the device is open, closed or partially folded. Netflix, Zoom and Slack are among the third-party apps already being adapted for the larger display.
Apple Pencil support is also coming to iPhone Duo later this year.
iPhone Duo will be available in star white and night sky and starts at $1,999. Pre-orders begin October 16, with availability beginning October 23.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max Get the A20 Pro Chip
For buyers who aren’t ready to fold their iPhone in half, Apple also introduced iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Both phones are powered by the new A20 Pro, Apple’s latest 2-nanometer mobile chip. Apple says the redesigned 7-core GPU delivers up to 40 percent faster graphics performance than the A19 Pro, while a Dual 16-core Neural Engine doubles the AI processing capability of the previous generation.
The new Pro models also continue Apple’s push toward more sophisticated on-device AI and computational photography, with the A20 Pro designed to handle larger and more advanced Apple Intelligence workloads locally.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will be available in black, silver, glacier and a new burgundy finish, with storage options ranging from 256GB to 2TB.
iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. Pre-orders begin September 12, with both models available September 18.
AirPods 5 Add Open-Ear Active Noise Cancellation
Apple also unveiled AirPods 5, bringing Active Noise Cancellation to its open-ear AirPods design.
The new earbuds combine improved noise control with Apple Intelligence features, including Live Translation when paired with compatible Apple devices. Hands-free access to Siri AI is also supported.
AirPods 5 start at $129, while the version with a Wireless Charging Case costs $149. Both are available to pre-order now and arrive in stores September 18.
Apple Watch Series 12 Puts a Bigger Focus on Health
Health is one of Apple’s biggest themes this year, and Apple Watch Series 12 introduces a new Health Sensing System built around redesigned optical and electrical heart sensors.
Apple says the system provides its most accurate wearable heart-rate sensing yet while measuring heart rate every five seconds throughout the day. Higher-frequency heart rate variability measurements also feed into a new readiness score designed to help users understand how prepared their body is for activity and training.
The new S11 chip powers the Health Sensing System along with new Audio Intelligence features and Apple Intelligence capabilities through watchOS 27.
A redesigned Health app coming later this year will add a Longevity tab and Health Age feature, giving users another way to see how their health metrics compare with their chronological age.
Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399 and is available to pre-order now ahead of its September 18 release.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 Gets Longer Battery Life and Readiness
Apple Watch Ultra 4 brings many of the same new health capabilities to Apple’s high-end sports and adventure watch.
The new Health Sensing System provides higher-frequency heart-rate and HRV measurements along with the new readiness score, while Apple says Ultra 4 can deliver up to 50 hours of battery life during everyday use and up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode.
For longer outdoor activities, a Max Extended Workout mode can track runs, walks and hikes for up to 45 hours while continuing to record GPS information every second.
Charging is faster as well, with Apple saying a 15-minute charge can add up to 18 hours of battery life.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799 and is available to pre-order now, with availability beginning September 18.
Apple Intelligence Expands Into Health and Fitness
The hardware announcements are also part of a broader expansion of Apple Intelligence into health and fitness.
The redesigned Health app will use Apple Intelligence to surface more personalized and actionable health insights, while the new readiness system combines information including recent activity, training load, vitals and sleep.
Workout Buddy is also expanding, allowing compatible Apple Watch users to receive personalized motivational insights even when their iPhone isn’t nearby. The feature now incorporates additional fitness data and supports both English and Spanish.
Taken together, the announcements show Apple pushing its devices in two distinct directions: the iPhone is getting its biggest physical reinvention in years with iPhone Duo, while Apple Watch is increasingly becoming a platform for continuous health monitoring and personalized health insights.
When Are Apple’s New 2026 Products Available?
- iPhone 18 Pro: From $1,199 — pre-orders Sept. 12, available Sept. 18
- iPhone 18 Pro Max: From $1,299 — pre-orders Sept. 12, available Sept. 18
- AirPods 5: From $129 — pre-orders now, available Sept. 18
- Apple Watch Series 12: From $399 — pre-orders now, available Sept. 18
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: From $799 — pre-orders now, available Sept. 18
- iPhone Duo: From $1,999 — pre-orders Oct. 16, available Oct. 23
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Thomas Miller is the founder and Editor-in-Chief of Seat42F, covering television, movies and streaming entertainment. He launched Seat42F in 2007 and has spent nearly two decades covering the entertainment industry.
