Apple Unveils iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and Its First-Ever Foldable iPhone Duo
Apple took the wraps off its most important iPhone lineup in years at its “Surprise and Shine” event on September 9, 2026 — the first keynote led by new CEO John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook just over a week earlier. Alongside the expected iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, Apple confirmed its first-ever foldable smartphone, officially named the iPhone Duo.
In an unusual move, Apple skipped a standard iPhone 18 model entirely this cycle. The company is now splitting its lineup: premium models arrive in the fall, while a more affordable standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will follow in spring 2027.
Price and Availability
| Model | Price (US) | Price (India) | On Sale |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | $1,199 | ₹1,64,900 | Sep 18, 2026 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | $1,299 | ₹1,79,900 | Sep 18, 2026 |
| iPhone Duo (foldable) | ~$2,000 | TBC | Oct 23, 2026 |
| iPhone 18 / 18e | Not announced | Not announced | Spring 2027 |
In India, the iPhone 18 Pro’s launch price marks roughly a ₹30,000 jump over the iPhone 17 Pro, which started at ₹1,34,900. At the top end, the 1TB iPhone 18 Pro is priced at ₹2,39,900, and the 2TB model reaches ₹3,14,900 — reflecting the added import duties, GST, and logistics costs that typically push Indian iPhone pricing well above US levels.
Both Pro models cost $100 more than their iPhone 17-series predecessors, a bump attributed largely to rising memory chip costs across the industry. Phones will roll out in more than 65 countries starting September 18, with a second wave of about 20 additional markets following on September 25.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: Key Specs
- Chip: Apple A20 Pro, the company’s first chip built on a 2-nanometer process, delivering roughly 18% faster CPU performance and around 30% better power efficiency than the A19 Pro.
- Display: 6.3-inch OLED on the Pro, 6.9-inch OLED on the Pro Max, both with 120Hz ProMotion refresh rates and a noticeably smaller Dynamic Island.
- Cameras: A 48MP main sensor now features a variable aperture lens (roughly f/1.4 to f/2.8) — a first for any iPhone — alongside 48MP ultrawide and telephoto lenses.
- Modem: Apple’s own in-house C2 modem replaces the Qualcomm modem used previously, bringing a privacy feature that limits how precisely carriers can pinpoint a user’s location.
- Memory and storage: 12GB of RAM, with storage options now scaling up to 2TB for the first time on an iPhone.
- Colors: Deep Black, Silver, Glacier Blue, and Burgundy.
- Software: Ships with iOS 27, which brings a major overhaul of Siri (branded internally as Siri AI) along with expanded Apple Intelligence features.
iPhone Duo: Apple’s First Foldable
The iPhone Duo marks Apple’s long-awaited entry into the foldable phone category, arriving years after competitors like Samsung and Google. It closes down to a footprint of about 5.5 inches and opens into a roughly 7.8-inch display, putting it in direct competition with devices like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8. Apple says the two halves form a continuous surface with a matching aspect ratio whether open or closed, and that the fold-to-unfold transition was engineered to feel seamless. When unfolded, Apple is calling it the thinnest iPhone ever built.
The Duo will be available in two finishes — Star White and Night Sky. Apple has held back detailed technical specifications for now, but pricing is expected to start near $2,000 for the base 256GB model, with top storage tiers potentially pushing past $3,000, making it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold. Given the ambitious first-generation hardware, analysts are warning that supply could be tight at launch.
Also Announced
The event wasn’t just about phones. Apple also introduced:
- Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, both featuring updated chips and expanded health-tracking features.
- AirPods 5, offered in standard and active-noise-cancelling variants.
Rumored AirPods with built-in cameras did not make an appearance and are reportedly being pushed to 2027.
The Bottom Line
This year’s launch represents one of Apple’s biggest hardware shifts in over a decade — its first 2nm chip, its first in-house modem for Pro models, and its first foldable device, all landing in the same product cycle. The trade-off is a premium-only fall lineup: shoppers hoping for a budget-friendly new iPhone this month will need to wait until spring 2027 or settle for a discounted iPhone 17.
