Apple Event 2026 Highlights: 1st foldable iPhone Duo is here at ₹3 lakh - Check iPhone 18 Pro, Watch, AirPods prices

Apple’s first foldable iPhone Duo shares several performance-focused features with the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. It is powered by the A20 Pro chip and uses a large vapor chamber for improved thermal management. Apple says this combination enables up to 35% higher sustained performance compared with the iPhone 17 Pro.

The Duo also comes with Apple’s C2 cellular modem, designed to improve connectivity in areas with weaker network coverage. Apple says the C2 modem works with the A20 Pro to deliver faster upload speeds while using less power than the previous generation. This gives the iPhone Duo performance closer to Apple’s flagship Pro models, though its premium foldable design will likely be the bigger deciding factor for buyers.

Apple has wrapped up its ‘Surprise and Shine’ event after unveiling several new products. Here’s a quick look at the India prices announced today:

• iPhone 18 Pro: Starts at ₹1,64,900
• iPhone 18 Pro Max: Starts at ₹1,79,900
• iPhone Duo: Starts at ₹2,99,900
• AirPods 5: Starts at ₹14,900 with the regular case and ₹17,900 with the wireless charging case
• Apple Watch Series 12: Starts at ₹56,900
• Apple Watch Ultra 4: Starts at ₹1,09,900

That brings the Apple event to a close. Stay tuned for detailed coverage of today’s launches, including the iPhone 18 Pro price, specifications, features and availability in India.

The iPhone Duo is eSIM-only worldwide, following the iPhone Air as the second Apple smartphone to drop the physical SIM tray. Apple says removing the tray created additional internal space for two batteries, with one battery placed in each half of the foldable.

Apple is also highlighting the Duo’s design details, including an under-display FaceTime camera that remains hidden until needed. The new hinge is also designed to sit completely flat when the device is unfolded, creating a more seamless inner display.

While foldable phones are already established in the market, Apple appears to be focusing on refining the design elements that can make the Duo stand out.

Apple has upgraded its in-house modem with the new C2 modem, bringing support for 5G mmWave to the latest iPhone models. The previous C1 and C1X modems did not support the technology.

Apple also claims the C2 modem delivers up to 50% faster upload speeds, offering a notable improvement for users who frequently upload photos, videos and other large files.

iPhone Duo: Key details at a glance

Apple’s first foldable iPhone Duo will start at $1,999 for the 256GB storage variant. Pre-orders will open on October 16, with the device set to start shipping from October 23.

Apple has designed the iPhone Duo’s larger inner display to support more content and flexible multitasking. Users can run two apps side by side, open two windows of the same app such as Safari, and save app combinations for quick access later. Videos can also be pinned at the top while another app runs below.

The foldable can be used in different orientations and partially folded, with iOS automatically adapting the interface to its position and shifting content away from the hinge. Apple has also optimised the speakers for different orientations and redesigned StandBy to work without charging, allowing the iPhone Duo to function as a bedside display with widgets, weather, calendar and music.

Apple is also providing developers with new APIs to build apps for the larger screen. Apps such as Zoom can offer expanded video calls, Slack can provide a wider workspace, and Netflix can take advantage of the larger display for viewing content.

Apple has redesigned the iPhone Duo’s hinge, displays and software to create a smoother foldable experience. The company says both screens use the same aspect ratio, while the FaceTime camera sits beneath the display. A variable-torque hinge keeps the inner screen flat when unfolded and helps it close smoothly.

When opened, the iPhone Duo is Apple’s thinnest iPhone yet. It features a titanium frame, while key components have been moved into the camera area to make space for a larger battery.

iOS 27 has also been optimised for the foldable design. Controls are positioned along the sides, the Home Screen dock uses a vertical layout and apps automatically adapt between the outer and inner displays. The larger screen can also show two Home Screen pages at once and display more information in apps such as Mail and Messages.

Apple’s first foldable iPhone Duo combines a slim titanium body with software designed specifically for its two-screen setup. Apple says both displays use a consistent aspect ratio for a smoother transition between the outer and inner screens.

The FaceTime camera is placed beneath the display, while a variable-torque hinge keeps the inner screen flat when unfolded and uses magnets for a smooth, secure closure. When opened, the iPhone Duo becomes Apple’s thinnest iPhone yet, with key components moved into the camera area to make room for a larger battery. The frame features aerospace-grade titanium with a polished finish.

iOS 27 has also been redesigned for the foldable, with controls shifted to the sides to maximise screen space and keep them within easy thumb reach. The Home Screen dock is now vertical, while the status bar sits compactly in the corner. Apps and content can smoothly adapt between the two displays, with features such as viewing two Home Screen pages simultaneously and showing more information in Mail and Messages.

Apple is adding a new Health Age feature that uses AI to analyse health data such as sleep, exercise and heart rate. The feature is designed to give users a broader view of their overall health.

The redesigned Health app and new Readiness feature also expand Apple’s health and fitness tools. It remains unclear which of these software features will be available on older Apple Watch models, while continuous heart rate monitoring appears to be limited to the new Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4.

Apple has introduced a new health monitoring system for the Apple Watch Series 12 that continuously tracks heart rate to give users a more detailed view of their health. The company says the feature also enables new health and fitness experiences.

A new Readiness app is designed to help users understand when to push harder and when to take it easy. The redesigned Health app can also provide a Health Age metric, while Live Rewind records activity throughout the day and transcribes recently spoken conversations.

Apple appears to be keeping the Apple Watch’s familiar design for another year with the new Series 12. The overall look remains largely unchanged, continuing a design language that has been in place across multiple generations.

While Apple has introduced incremental updates over the years, including a larger display with the Series 10, the latest model may look very similar to older Apple Watch versions at first glance.

Apple has upgraded its entry-level AirPods lineup, bringing Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) to the $129 AirPods 5. The higher-end version with a wireless charging case is priced at $149.

The new AirPods 5 also feature a redesigned multi-port acoustic architecture and next-generation Adaptive EQ. Apple says the changes deliver richer and more detailed audio across a wider range of ear shapes.

Apple has reduced the size of the Dynamic Island on the new iPhone 18 Pro, giving users more room to view multiple updates at once. The redesigned Dynamic Island can display up to three Live Activities simultaneously, with one larger activity in the centre and two smaller circular ones on either side.

Apple has raised the starting prices of its new Pro models by $100 compared with the iPhone 17 series. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299.

Pre-orders for both models will open on Saturday, with shipments set to begin next Friday.

Apple has introduced a major camera upgrade on the iPhone 18 Pro with a 48MP Fusion camera featuring a variable aperture. The aperture can automatically adjust depending on the scene to improve image quality in different lighting conditions.

In darker environments, the aperture opens wider to allow around 50% more light into the camera. Apple says this also enables faster Night mode captures while improving overall image quality in low-light conditions.

Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro features a next-generation vapor chamber designed to improve heat management. The system has three times the surface area of the vapor chamber used in the iPhone 17 Pro, with deionized water continuously circulating to help dissipate heat more effectively.

Combined with the improved efficiency of the new A20 Pro chip, Apple claims the iPhone 18 Pro can deliver up to 36 hours of battery life. The iPhone 18 Pro Max goes even further, offering up to an impressive 45 hours on a single charge.

Apple’s new A20 Pro chip features a six-core CPU with two high-performance cores and four efficiency cores. The company says the new performance cores are up to 20% faster, while integrated neural accelerators are designed to handle low-latency, on-device AI workloads.

The chip also includes an upgraded GPU and a new generation of neural accelerators. Apple says the updated architecture delivers twice as fast 8-bit floating-point processing, helping boost AI performance and other demanding tasks on the iPhone 18 Pro lineup.

Apple has officially unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, powered by the new A20 Pro chip. Apple says the processor brings a new CPU core and GPU core, along with major improvements in key areas including Apple Intelligence, performance, battery life and camera capabilities.

The Pro models are available in four new colour options: Silver, Deep Black, Glacier (Light Blue) and Burgundy (Dark Cherry). Apple is also highlighting deeper integration of AI features, including the ability to write and edit text with Siri across supported apps and typing fields.

Siri AI is powered by Apple’s most advanced on-device model yet, enabling more expressive voices with options to adjust the speaking style, pace and expressiveness. Apple says Siri AI will have usage limits, although most iCloud+ plans will provide increased access to the feature.