Apple’s September 9 event introduced a foldable iPhone, new Pro models, lower-priced noise-canceling AirPods, and two Watches with expanded health and audio intelligence features. The company also showed how Siri, photography, and its Health app are changing as AI becomes a larger part of the experience.
The theme connecting the announcements was the iPhone’s role as a personal hub: a device that can use your context to help across apps, while working with the products on your wrist and in your ears. The new hardware is only part of that story. Several of the more ambitious software features arrive later this year.
Here is the full roundup from Apple’s September event, including the smaller announcements that could matter just as much in everyday use. Specifications, performance comparisons, and battery estimates below are Apple’s stated figures from the presentation, rather than our own test results.
Prices and release dates at a glance
All prices below are U.S. starting prices. Dates are in 2026.
| Product | Starting price | Preorders open | Availability begins |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | $1,199 | September 12 | September 18 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | $1,299 | September 12 | September 18 |
| AirPods 5 | $129 | September 9 | September 18 |
| AirPods 5 with wireless charging case and volume swipe | $149 | September 9 | September 18 |
| Apple Watch Series 12 | $399 | September 9 | September 18 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | $799 | September 9 | September 18 |
| iPhone Duo | $1,999 | October 16 | October 23 |
iPhone Duo: Apple’s first foldable iPhone
Apple saved iPhone Duo for the end of the presentation. It opens from a compact device with a 5.4-inch outer screen into a 7.6-inch inner display. Both screens share an aspect ratio, which Apple says helps content transition consistently between them. Authentication moves to Touch ID in the side button, with Apple Watch unlocking also supported.
The design combines a Grade 5 titanium frame, a nano-textured inner display intended to reduce glare and crease visibility, and a hinge that supports the display when open. Apple lists IP68 dust and water resistance, Ceramic Shield on the back, and Ceramic Shield 2 on the front. Star White and Night Sky are the two finishes. Apple’s iPhone Duo announcement
The larger screen gets a substantial software rethink. Essential controls and the Dock move to the side. Split View lets users run two apps, or two windows of the same app, alongside each other and save app pairs. Video can be pinned above another app in portrait orientation. StandBy works without charging, and the interface adapts to partially folded positions. Apple demonstrated updated experiences from Zoom, Slack, Netflix, and Detail.
The Duo uses A20 Pro, vapor-chamber cooling, and two batteries managed as one system. Apple claims up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner screen, 44 hours on the outer screen, or 24 hours under its mixed-use model with both screens used equally. Fast wired charging reaches 50 percent in around 20 minutes. The C2 modem adds U.S. mmWave support, and the phone is eSIM-only worldwide.
Its camera system includes 48MP main and ultrawide cameras, a Center Stage front camera, and an under-display FaceTime camera. The fold introduces several new uses:
- Duo Preview lets a subject check the shot on the outer screen.
- Kid Cue plays animations to attract a child’s attention toward the camera.
- Smart Take automatically takes photos when its models detect that people are ready.
- Duo FaceTime lets someone nearby join through the outer display, while Dual Capture shares front and rear camera views during a call.
Rear-camera selfies, 4K120 video, and hands-free time-lapses round out the photography pitch. Apple also announced a two-part protective case and a Folio with a kickstand. USB-C Apple Pencil support on either display is planned for later this year. Storage runs from 256GB to 2TB.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: More camera control and longer battery life
The new Pro models retain a conventional phone shape while focusing on performance, endurance, and photography. Black, Silver, Glacier, and Burgundy finishes pair color-matched aluminum and back glass. A smaller Dynamic Island can display three Live Activities simultaneously. Apple’s iPhone 18 Pro overview
A20 Pro moves to a 2-nanometer design with a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU, and two Neural Engines totaling 32 cores. Apple highlighted up to 20 percent faster CPU performance, up to 40 percent faster graphics, twice the Neural Engine compute, and 50 percent more memory bandwidth. A redesigned chip package and a larger vapor chamber support up to 40 percent better sustained performance than iPhone 17 Pro.
For eSIM-only models, Apple quoted up to 36 hours of video playback on Pro and 45 hours on Pro Max. Its newer usage model estimates up to 24 and 30 hours per charge, respectively. Wired charging can reach 50 percent in around 15 minutes.
The 48MP main camera introduces a physical variable aperture. It adjusts automatically, while new Pro controls offer four manual aperture settings alongside shutter speed, white balance, and a histogram. Other camera updates include:
- Cinematic effects added after recording, with support up to 60 frames per second.
- 4K Dolby Vision HDR time-lapse.
- Improved Audio Mix, including support for music.
- AI-assisted focus tracking that can follow subjects as they move or return to the frame.
- Texture and grain adjustments in Photographic Styles.
Apple also introduced Apple Reference Image. The main camera signs capture data, and Private Cloud Compute develops it into an unalterable reference image stored alongside the editable photograph. Separately, Apple said it will support SynthID to help identify AI-generated or edited images. These address different questions: what was captured, and what was generated or changed.
The event itself was filmed using the new Pro camera system. Apple also previewed Monster Hunter Outlanders, due later this year, with iOS-exclusive graphics and support for up to 120 frames per second.
Siri AI and iOS 27: Context, conversations, and actions
Apple demonstrated Siri finding information across Mail and Messages, combining camera input with broader knowledge, and acting inside apps. A dedicated Siri app supports typed and spoken conversations, with history synced privately through iCloud. Writing and editing with Siri, adjustable expressive voices, and improved dictation were also part of the presentation.
The broader Apple Intelligence updates include Safari’s Notify Me for tracking webpage changes, creating Shortcuts from a description, and surfacing relevant information during business calls. Photo tools include an improved Clean Up, Extend for expanding an image, and Spatial Reframing for changing its composition. Image Playground gains a wider range of visual styles.
Beyond AI, iOS 27 adds more flexible child safety controls, Liquid Glass customization, search improvements, and faster AirDrop transfers. iPhone Handoff lets a supported phone number move between two iPhones. Apple named T-Mobile and Telekom Germany as initial carrier partners, with Verizon and EE planned by year-end.
iOS 27 becomes available September 14. Apple said Apple Intelligence supports 16 languages with this month’s OS releases. Siri AI rolls out in beta in English, with French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, and Spanish coming in October. Some server-based features have usage limits, with increased access available through most iCloud+ plans.
I’ve been using the iOS 27 beta for about a month. It has been pretty stable and feels faster than iOS 26 in everyday use. Siri still feels very basic in the beta I’m using, though. That is my experience with the current software; the newly announced capabilities need their own assessment as they reach users.
For more on the software rollout, read our iOS 27 and Siri AI coverage.
AirPods 5: Noise cancellation starts at $129
AirPods 5 retain an open-ear fit and make active noise cancellation standard. Apple says a new acoustic design delivers richer sound and 50 percent more noise reduction than the previous generation. Transparency, Adaptive Audio, Personalized Spatial Audio, Live Translation, and hands-free Siri access are part of the package. Apple also described improved resistance to rain, sweat, and dust. Apple’s AirPods 5 overview
The two versions differ in a few practical ways:
| Feature | AirPods 5, $129 | AirPods 5, $149 |
|---|---|---|
| Active noise cancellation | Included | Included |
| Listening time with ANC | Up to 4 hours | Up to 5 hours |
| On-stem volume swipe | No | Yes |
| Wireless charging case | No | Yes, with Apple Watch and Qi charger support |
Apple quoted up to 20 hours of listening with the charging case for the $129 model. The $149 version adds battery life and convenient controls without requiring a move to AirPods Pro.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4: New sensors and Readiness
Both Watches introduce the S11 chip and a redesigned Health Sensing System. Larger electrodes, reorganized photodiodes, and more efficient LEDs support more frequent measurements: background heart rate every five seconds and heart rate variability as often as every five minutes.
Apple adds HRV to Vitals, a daytime view alongside overnight measurements, and a Readiness score based on recent activity, sleep, and vital signs. The score can update throughout the day, helping users interpret their capacity for activity. Apple presented these as new health and fitness insights, rather than just more raw measurements.
Apple Watch Series 12 offers aluminum, titanium, and new ceramic cases. Aluminum finishes include Space Gray, Black, Light Gold, and Dark Bronze; titanium comes in Radiant Gold and Natural; ceramic comes in Pearl White and Night Blue. Aluminum models gain Ceramic Shield 2, and Apple quotes up to 24 hours of battery life.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 comes in Black and Natural Titanium. Apple says its larger battery and improved efficiency deliver more than two days of battery life, up to 18 hours of workout tracking with full GPS and heart rate, or up to 45 hours in Max Extended Workout mode. New band colors, Nike styles, and Hermès options accompany the lineup.
Audio Intelligence: Sound Recognition, Live Rewind, and Siri Recap
The new Watches introduce three distinct audio capabilities powered by their microphones and the S11 platform:
- Sound Recognition identifies sounds such as alarms, sirens, doorbells, and a baby crying on the Watch, including when the iPhone is absent.
- Live Rewind transcribes the preceding 15 seconds after a double press of the Digital Crown. Users can ask Siri about the transcript or save it.
- Siri Recap creates titles, summaries, and key points from conversations. Users choose when it operates, including schedules and manual controls.
Apple said these features do not create or store audio recordings, do not identify speakers, and process raw audio in a protected buffer. Saved Live Rewind transcripts and Siri Recaps sync with end-to-end encryption. That distinction matters: the promise concerns raw recordings, while text summaries can be retained.
A new Siri modular Watch face provides access to conversations and recaps. Live Rewind and Siri Recap require Siri AI and are planned for beta later this year, initially in English.
Our related posts cover the new Watch audio features and Apple’s privacy protections for Siri and Audio Intelligence.
The Health app: Insights, Health Age, and lab results
Apple previewed a redesigned Health app that turns data from the iPhone and Watch into summaries and personalized guidance. An Insights tab highlights relevant changes and suggestions. Health Age combines metrics such as sleep and fitness with blood-work biomarkers, while Longevity organizes longer-term indicators across areas including movement and heart health.
Users can add lab results manually or through connected medical records. In the U.S., Apple announced a Quest panel covering more than 50 biomarkers for $119. The app also introduces guided movement and fitness assessments using the iPhone camera and Watch, with demonstrations, real-time cues, and results that can be revisited over time.
The redesigned Health app is coming later this year, starting in U.S. English. It is a separate upcoming release, not something to assume will be present on every new Watch at launch.
Accessories, leasing, and family coverage
Apple announced updated Clear Cases, new Tech Woven and Silicone colors, coordinated Crossbody Straps, and a Wrist Strap compatible with iPhone cases and AirPods Pro.
In the U.S., Apple Upgrade introduces 12- or 24-month iPhone leases with an upgrade path at the end of the term. Apple and its partners also promoted eligible trade-in offers of up to $1,200 for an iPhone 14 or newer. AppleCare One Family adds a new family coverage option with enrollment from an iPhone. Actual lease, trade-in, and coverage terms depend on eligibility and the selected offer.
What arrives later?
The announcement spans multiple release windows. These are the important software dates and commitments to keep separate from hardware availability:
| Software or feature | Announced timing |
|---|---|
| iOS 27 | September 14 |
| Siri AI | English beta rollout; five additional languages in October |
| Live Rewind and Siri Recap | Beta later in 2026, initially in English; require Siri AI |
| Redesigned Health app | Later in 2026, starting in U.S. English |
| USB-C Apple Pencil support on iPhone Duo | Later in 2026 |
| Verizon and EE support for iPhone Handoff | Planned by the end of 2026 |
What I’ll be watching
The foldable phone is the most visible change, but the announcements that interest me most are the ones that could reduce small, repeated frustrations: comparing information without switching apps, finding a detail buried in a message, or understanding health data without sorting through several screens.
My month with the iOS 27 beta has been encouraging for speed and stability. The next test is whether the new Siri experience becomes consistently useful in those everyday moments. That is where Apple’s personal-hub idea will either earn its place or remain a compelling presentation.