Apple’s September 9 event was its most consequential in years. Alongside the expected iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, the company introduced its first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, and began rolling out a long-promised AI overhaul of Siri. Two weeks on, with the Pro models now in stores, here is what actually changed — and what is still to come.
Prices and dates
- iPhone 18 Pro: from $1,199; on sale September 18
- iPhone 18 Pro Max: from $1,299; on sale September 18
- iPhone Duo (foldable): from $1,999; pre-orders October 16, on sale October 23
- Apple Watch Series 12: from $399 · AirPods 5: from $129
The first 2nm iPhone
The iPhone 18 Pro (6.3-inch) and Pro Max (6.9-inch) are powered by Apple’s first chip built on a 2-nanometre process. Smaller transistors mean more processing power in the same space and better efficiency — Apple quotes up to 36 hours of video playback on the eSIM-only Pro and up to 45 hours on the Pro Max. The main camera gains a variable aperture, giving photographers more control over depth of field and low-light performance.
iPhone Duo: Apple finally folds
The iPhone Duo pairs a 7.6-inch inner display with a 5.4-inch outer screen, uses the A20 Pro chip in a titanium enclosure and carries an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance. Apple claims up to 31 hours of video on the inner display. At $1,999 it is squarely a premium product, entering a category that Samsung, Google and Chinese manufacturers have refined for several years.
Siri gets its AI rebuild
The new Siri arrived with iOS 27 and watchOS 27 on September 14 as a beta, in English first. French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish are due in October. There are notable limits: the AI Siri is not available on iPhone, iPad or Apple Watch in the European Union at launch, nor to users under 13, and some server-based features carry daily usage caps. Apple says a paid option for expanded access is planned but has not published pricing.
The hardware is impressive, but the real test of this cycle is whether the new Siri feels genuinely useful day to day.
Watch and AirPods
Apple Watch Series 12 introduces a Health Sensing System that samples heart rate every five seconds and generates a daily readiness score. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 ($799) stretches battery life to up to 50 hours and adds satellite messaging. AirPods 5 now include active noise cancellation at the $129 entry price.
Should you upgrade?
- From an iPhone 15 or older: the 2nm efficiency gains and camera upgrades are meaningful.
- Curious about foldables: wait for hands-on reviews of the Duo’s hinge and crease before committing $1,999.
- EU users: note that AI Siri features are not yet available in your region.
More gadget analysis is in our Technology & AI section.