What happened
At its fall event held at 1 a.m. Beijing time on Thursday, Apple introduced the iPhone 18 Pro series and its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo. The Duo, when unfolded, is the thinnest iPhone ever and features a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display, which is 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max's screen. It includes dual cameras and supports Apple Pencil, but the global version only supports eSIM.
The iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the U.S. and 15,999 yuan in China, with storage options of 256GB, 512GB, 1TB, and 2TB priced at 15,999, 17,999, 21,499, and 26,499 yuan respectively. Pre-orders begin on October 16 at 8 p.m., with official sales starting October 23.
Apple also announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, starting at $1,199 and $1,299, with orders opening September 12 and shipping from September 18. Additionally, the company revealed the A20 Pro chip, built on a 2-nanometer process, featuring a six-core CPU with two 'desktop-class' performance cores and four efficiency cores, plus a seven-core GPU and two neural engines totaling 32 cores for enhanced on-device AI.
Why it matters
The introduction of the foldable iPhone Duo marks Apple's entry into the foldable smartphone market, a segment that has been growing among competitors. Its ultra-thin design and large display could set a new benchmark for premium devices.
The A20 Pro chip's 2-nanometer process and advanced neural engines highlight Apple's focus on on-device AI performance, which is crucial for future software features and user privacy.
Pricing for the Duo in China, starting at 15,999 yuan, positions it as a high-end product, potentially influencing consumer expectations and market dynamics in the region.
Key facts
iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 in the U.S. and 15,999 yuan in China, with four storage versions up to 2TB.
iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR display, 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and supports Apple Pencil.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max start at $1,199 and $1,299, with orders from September 12 and shipping from September 18.
A20 Pro chip uses 2-nanometer technology with a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU, and 32-core neural engine.
AirPods 5 start at $129 with open-ear active noise cancellation; Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 start at $399 and $799.
What to watch next
Consumer response to the foldable iPhone Duo, especially its eSIM-only support and high price, will be key to gauging its market reception.
The performance of the A20 Pro chip in real-world AI tasks could influence future app development and user experiences.
Availability and sales of the new iPhone 18 Pro models and other accessories will be monitored in the coming weeks.
