Apple announces iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, Watches and AirPods 5

Apple announced five products: the foldable iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5. The announcement highlights new designs, camera and health-sensing features, workout tracking and audio improvements. The dates below are reproduced as listed in Apple’s announcement; the supplied excerpt does not specify a year.

Source: Apple · Apple

Apple’s announcement at a glance

The table summarizes Apple’s stated claims, not independent testing. The announcement excerpt also does not include prices, regional availability or the qualifications attached to its footnotes.

iPhone Duo: a foldable phone for flexible viewing

Apple describes iPhone Duo as a foldable phone with what it calls a “posable” and “standable” design. In practical terms, those descriptions point to a device that can be opened for a larger viewing area and positioned in different ways. Apple also calls it the largest iPhone display ever and says it includes dedicated iOS experiences for versatility.

Apple lists pre-orders for iPhone Duo as beginning at 5:00 a.m. PT on October 16, with availability beginning October 23. The supplied announcement does not provide the phone’s price, dimensions or detailed software features.

Image credit: Apple

iPhone 18 Pro: camera control and battery-life claims

Apple says iPhone 18 Pro offers the longest battery life in an iPhone. That is a promotional claim from the announcement rather than a measured result supplied for this article.

Its new 48MP Fusion Main camera has a variable aperture. A variable aperture changes how much light enters the camera, which can give photographers more control over exposure and the look of an image. Apple presents the feature as a way to support more creative control, but the excerpt does not explain its operating range or provide camera-test results.

Apple also describes iPhone 18 Pro as available in four colors and two sizes, with one durable design. Pre-orders are listed as beginning at 5:00 a.m. PT on September 12, followed by availability on September 18.

Image credit: Apple

Apple Watch models focus on sensing and workout tracking

Apple Watch Series 12

Apple Watch Series 12 introduces what Apple calls an all-new Health Sensing System. Apple says it delivers its most accurate heart-rate sensing in a wearable, but the supplied excerpt does not include the testing conditions behind that claim.

The watch also provides more frequent heart-rate-variability, or HRV, readings. HRV describes changes in the time between heartbeats; Apple says the additional readings can help provide insights into stress and recovery. That wording describes a potential use of the readings, not a medical conclusion.

Apple lists availability for September 18. The excerpt includes a pre-order link but does not state a pre-order date.

Image credit: Apple

Apple Watch Ultra 4

Apple positions Apple Watch Ultra 4 around battery life, calling it the longest-lasting Apple Watch. Its specific headline feature is up to 45 hours of Max Extended Workout tracking.

The excerpt does not define the conditions for that maximum figure, so it should be read as Apple’s stated estimate rather than a guarantee for every workout. Availability is listed for September 18, while a pre-order date is not provided.

AirPods 5: noise cancellation and sound changes

Apple says AirPods 5 provide up to 1.5 times more Active Noise Cancellation than the previous generation. Active Noise Cancellation uses audio processing to reduce some surrounding sound, although the announcement does not provide testing details or explain which conditions produced the comparison.

Apple also says the earbuds have better sound quality and a new acoustic architecture. The excerpt does not include specifications or independent listening tests to further assess those claims.

AirPods 5 are listed as available starting September 18. Apple provides a pre-order link, but the supplied announcement does not state when pre-orders begin.