APPLE UNVEILS FIRST FOLDABLE IPHONE DUO, PRICED FROM $1,999

By ‘Sefiu Ajape 

Apple has unveiled its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, as the technology giant also announced the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.

The iPhone Duo, unveiled at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, features a book-style foldable design and comes with a 7.6-inch Super Retina inner display and a 5.4-inch outer screen.

Apple said the inner display is 80 per cent larger than that of the iPhone 18 Pro, while both screens have a 1.4 aspect ratio to ensure a consistent viewing experience when users switch between the folded and unfolded modes.

The device is built with titanium and comes in two colours — Night Sky and Star White.

Apple also introduced a new hinge system which it described as “effortlessly smooth”, saying the design would improve durability while reducing the visibility of the crease on the foldable display.

However, unlike recent iPhone models that use Face ID, the iPhone Duo relies on Touch ID for authentication.

Launching the device, Apple CEO John Ternus said, “iPhone Duo is the most transformational change to iPhone since the original.”

Powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chipset, the foldable smartphone supports multitasking, allowing users to run different applications on either side of the expanded display.

The device can also be positioned at different angles for activities such as watching movies hands-free, while Apple Pencil support makes it the first iPhone to support the stylus.

The iPhone Duo features a 48-megapixel rear camera, similar to the camera system used on the iPhone 18 Pro.

Despite entering the foldable smartphone market years after rivals such as Samsung, Apple is positioning the iPhone Duo as a refined addition to its flagship lineup.

The device will start at $1,999, making it the most expensive iPhone announced by Apple.

iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max

Alongside the foldable model, Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, featuring improved battery life, a more powerful processor and an upgraded camera system with a new mechanical aperture.

The smartphones retain a design similar to the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max but come with new internal upgrades.

The iPhone 18 Pro will be available in Black, Silver, Glacier and Burgundy.

Apple also announced the upgraded Siri artificial intelligence system, which had previously been promised as part of Apple Intelligence.

Ternus said, “There’s no product in the world better designed to be your intelligent personal hub than iPhone.”

The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299, making them Apple’s most expensive non-foldable smartphones.

Pre-orders will begin on Saturday, September 12, with both models expected to become available from September 18.

AirPods 5

Apple also announced the AirPods 5, retaining the open-ear design of the AirPods 4 while introducing improved sound quality and Active Noise Cancellation as standard.

The company said the new ANC system can block 50 per cent more external noise than the previous generation, while also providing a more natural transparency mode.

Apple’s vice president of Hardware Engineering, Dave Pakula, said, “We’re thrilled that with AirPods 5, we’re able to bring Active Noise Cancellation — one of our most beloved features — to our most affordable AirPods.”

The AirPods 5 offer up to five hours of ANC playback on a single charge and up to 22 hours when used with the charging case.

The earbuds also support Siri AI features, including walk-and-talk conversations and live translation. Users can respond to Siri using head gestures such as nodding or shaking their heads.

The AirPods 5 will be available in two versions, with the higher-priced model featuring Volume Swipe controls.

The standard model starts at $129, while the upgraded version costs $149.

Apple Watch Series 12, Ultra 4

Apple also introduced the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 with new health and artificial intelligence features.

The Series 12 features a new health sensing system aimed at improving heart rate and heart rate variability measurements.

Apple said a study involving more than 1,000 people showed the new system delivered its most accurate heart-rate sensing yet.

The watch also introduces a new “readiness” score designed to provide users with additional information about their overall health.

Apple said the Series 12 offers up to 24 hours of everyday battery life and up to 10 hours during outdoor workouts.

The Apple Watch Ultra 4 includes the same health-tracking upgrades, alongside a larger battery and additional AI-powered features.

One of the new features, Audio Intelligence, includes sound recognition that can alert deaf or hard-of-hearing users when important sounds, such as a doorbell, are detected.

The Ultra 4 also introduces “Live Rewind”, which can recall the previous 15 seconds of a conversation to help users recover details they may have missed.

The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399, while the Apple Watch Ultra 4 starts at $799.