Apple’s first foldable iPhone Duo starts at ₹2,99,900 in India, joins iPhone 18 Pro series, Watch Series 12, Ultra 4 and AirPods 5

New Delhi: Apple has broken from its usual iPhone launch strategy. At its “Surprise and Shine” event in Cupertino on Wednesday, the company unveiled its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone Duo, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5.

The launch also marked the first major product event under new CEO John Ternus. Unlike previous years, Apple did not launch a standard iPhone 18. Instead, it put its Pro models and new foldable at the centre of its latest lineup.

iPhone Duo: Apple’s first foldable iPhone

The iPhone Duo uses a book-style foldable design. It combines a 5.4-inch outer Super Retina XDR display with a 7.6-inch inner display, which Apple calls the largest iPhone display ever.

Both screens use the same aspect ratio and support ProMotion, always-on display technology and peak brightness of up to 3,000 nits. Apple has added a nano-texture finish to the inner display to reduce glare and make the crease less noticeable.

When users unfold the Duo, the phone becomes Apple’s thinnest iPhone yet.

Apple uses grade-5 titanium for the device and a precision-engineered hinge for smoother opening and closing. The phone also carries IP68 dust and water resistance.

Touch ID returns through the side button, and users can also unlock the phone through an Apple Watch.

The inner screen uses an under-display front camera, while the outer display gets a 12-megapixel Center Stage camera. At the back, the Duo has two 48-megapixel cameras: a Fusion main camera and an ultrawide camera. The ultrawide camera supports 2x optical-quality zoom and macro photography.

Apple has not added a dedicated telephoto lens. Users can still take selfies with the rear cameras by using the outer display as a viewfinder.

A20 Pro chip, dual batteries and Apple Pencil support

The Duo runs on Apple’s A20 Pro chip, the same processor that powers the iPhone 18 Pro models. Apple built the chip using a 2nm process. It includes a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU and dual 16-core Neural Engines. The phone also uses Apple’s C2 modem.

Apple claims up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display and up to 44 hours on the outer display. Mixed-use battery life reaches around 24 hours.

The Duo uses two batteries, with one battery on each side of the foldable design. Both support MagSafe and Qi2 wireless charging.

Apple will add USB-C Apple Pencil support for both displays through a software update later this year. The Apple Pencil Pro will not support the Duo.

The phone remains eSIM-only in many markets.

iPhone Duo price in India and US

In the US, the iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for 256GB.

In India, prices start at ₹2,99,900 for 256GB, ₹3,24,900 for 512GB, ₹3,74,900 for 1TB and ₹4,49,900 for 2TB.

Apple will sell the Duo in Star White and Night Sky.

Pre-orders will open on October 16, with sales beginning October 23.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: bigger camera upgrades

The iPhone 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, while the Pro Max gets a 6.9-inch screen.

The 18 Pro starts at $1,199 in the US and ₹1,64,900 in India for 256GB. The Pro Max starts at $1,299 in the US and ₹1,79,900 in India for 256GB.

In India, the 2TB iPhone 18 Pro costs ₹3,14,900, while the 2TB Pro Max costs ₹3,29,900. The 18 Pro starts at ₹1,64,900, ₹1,89,900, ₹2,39,900 and ₹3,14,900 for 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB respectively.

The Pro Max costs ₹1,79,900, ₹2,04,900, ₹2,54,900 and ₹3,29,900 for the same storage options.

Apple will open pre-orders for both models on September 12 and start sales on September 18.

The new Pro models feature a smaller Dynamic Island that can display three Live Activities. Both phones also use the A20 Pro chip and improved vapor-chamber cooling.

Apple has made a major change to the main camera. The 48-megapixel camera now uses a variable aperture with six thin blades and settings ranging roughly from f/1.48 to f/4.0.

The variable aperture gives users more control over low-light photography and depth of field. The Pro models also feature 48-megapixel ultrawide and telephoto cameras.

Apple claims up to 36 hours of video playback on the Pro and up to 45 hours on the Pro Max in some configurations. The Pro can reach 50% charge in about 15 minutes.

The new Pro models come in black, silver, glacier and burgundy.

Why the Duo matters

Apple has positioned the Duo as its biggest iPhone design change since the original model.

The foldable focuses on multitasking, allowing users to run apps side by side. Users can also use the phone in different orientations and place it in tabletop or stand modes.

Apple has optimised iOS 27 for the foldable design. Apps including Netflix, Zoom and Slack already support the new form factor.

Apple has also worked on the Duo’s hinge and screen durability. The company uses precise hinge alignment, a titanium plate under the folding display and protective coatings.

Apple says these changes reduce crease visibility and improve everyday durability. However, independent long-term testing will show how the hinge and display perform over time, especially because other foldable phones have faced durability concerns.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 bring new health and AI features

Apple also launched the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.

The Series 12 starts at $399 and ₹56,900 in India for the aluminium model. The Ultra 4 starts at $799 and ₹1,09,900 in India.

Both watches use the S11 chip and a redesigned Health Sensing System with improved optical and electrical sensors.

The watches now record heart-rate readings every five seconds and track heart-rate variability more frequently.

Apple has also introduced Health Age, which compares biometric data with chronological age, and a Readiness score based on sleep, activity, vital signs and training load.

The watches also add Audio Intelligence features. Live Rewind can provide a transcript of roughly the last 15 seconds of a conversation. Sound Recognition can alert users to sounds such as sirens, alarms, doorbells and a baby crying.

Siri Recap can provide conversation summaries.

Apple processes these features on the device, although availability can vary by region. Some features may launch later or remain unavailable in the European Union at launch.

The Series 12 offers up to 24 hours of everyday battery life and faster charging. The Ultra 4 offers up to 50 hours, or up to 84 hours in Low Power Mode, and can track workouts for up to 45 hours.

Apple offers the Series 12 in aluminium, titanium and a returning ceramic case option. The Ultra 4 continues with a titanium case.

Pre-orders opened on September 9, and both watches will go on sale on September 18.

AirPods 5 add ANC at the entry level

Apple has also upgraded its entry-level AirPods with AirPods 5.

For the first time, Apple has made active noise cancellation standard with the open-ear design at this level.

Apple claims AirPods 5 can reduce noise by up to 50% more than AirPods 4 with ANC. The company credits a new multiport acoustic architecture and improved computational audio for the improvement.

The AirPods also offer Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, next-generation Adaptive EQ and improved Personalized Spatial Audio.

Users can get up to five hours of listening with ANC on a single charge. The higher-end model can deliver around 22 hours with the charging case.

The base model costs $129 or ₹14,900 in India and comes with a wired charging case. The $149 or ₹17,900 model adds a wireless charging case, longer battery life and swipe-based volume controls on the stem.

Both models support Siri AI features and Live Translation when users pair them with a compatible iPhone. Apple has also improved their dust, sweat and water resistance.

Pre-orders opened on September 9, with sales starting September 18.

Why Apple skipped the standard iPhone 18

Apple has pushed the base iPhone 18 and related models, including a possible second-generation iPhone Air, to spring 2027.

The strategy gives Apple more room to focus on the new foldable and its higher-margin Pro models.

Buyers who want a conventional iPhone can choose the 18 Pro or Pro Max now. Those who want a larger screen, multitasking and a completely different design can wait for the Duo.

At ₹2,99,900 in India and $1,999 in the US, the Duo targets the premium foldable market rather than mainstream iPhone buyers. It will compete with Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold series, Google’s Pixel Fold and high-end Chinese foldables.

Apple could benefit from its software ecosystem, repair network and brand strength. However, the Duo’s price and foldable design will play a major role in its success.

Siri AI, iOS 27 and watchOS 27

Apple has designed the new hardware to work with iOS 27 and watchOS 27. The company has also upgraded Siri AI to understand personal context from messages, emails, photos and on-screen content.

Apple says Siri can take actions across more than 300,000 apps. The company also emphasises on-device processing.

Features such as Live Rewind, conversation summaries and improved voice interaction can work across Apple Watch and AirPods when users pair them with a compatible iPhone.

Apple will launch some advanced AI capabilities in beta, while regional restrictions may affect availability.

What buyers should know

Early hands-on impressions highlight the Duo’s thin unfolded design, consistent screen proportions, multitasking features and tabletop use.

Independent reviews will provide a clearer picture of its camera performance, crease visibility, hinge durability and battery life during heavy use.

The iPhone 18 Pro models focus more heavily on camera performance and sustained power. Their variable-aperture main camera and larger vapor chamber stand out among the major upgrades.

Apple has staggered the launches. Apple Watch and AirPods pre-orders opened on September 9. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will open for pre-orders on September 12, while the Duo will open for pre-orders on October 16.

Trade-in values, carrier offers and AppleCare plans will affect the final cost for buyers.

Anyone choosing between the new models should consider screen size, camera needs, battery expectations and their comfort with a foldable design. The Pro models offer a variable-aperture main camera and dedicated telephoto lens, while the Duo offers two 48-megapixel rear cameras and a much larger unfolded display.

Apple’s latest event signals a clear shift in its iPhone strategy. The company has skipped the standard iPhone 18 for now, introduced its first foldable and continued to push AI across its devices.

The iPhone Duo now faces its biggest test: whether its nearly ₹3 lakh price and new design can turn Apple’s foldable experiment into a mainstream success or keep it in the premium niche.