Apple debuts $1,999 iPhone Duo foldable and A20 Pro chip as new CEO John Ternus takes the stage

Reviewed byNidhi Govil

14 Sources

Share

Apple unveiled its first foldable smartphone, iPhone Duo, priced at $1,999 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup powered by the new A20 Pro chip at new CEO John Ternus's debut event. The passport-shaped foldable features a 7.6-inch display and integrates deeply with Apple Intelligence and the redesigned Siri AI, marking one of Apple's most significant product launches in years.

News article

Apple Event marks Ternus's debut with groundbreaking hardware

Apple held its "Surprise and Shine" event at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California, where new CEO John Ternus made his first keynote appearance just eight days into his tenure

1

. Ternus took over from Tim Cook on September 1, with Cook shifting to executive chairman after 15 years running the company

5

. The Apple event showcased what analysts described as "one of Apple's most exciting product announcements in years," according to former Apple marketing employee Michael Gartenberg

4

. Ternus framed privacy as Apple's key differentiator in the AI era, pitching the iPhone as an "intelligent personal hub" that runs AI services on-device whenever possible

1

.

iPhone Duo represents Apple's first foldable phone

The iPhone Duo marked the biggest redesign of the iPhone line in years, featuring a passport-shaped device that opens into a 7.6-inch display with a 5.4-inch outer screen

1

. Ternus called it "the most transformational change to iPhone since the original"

2

. The foldable smartphone allows users to keep two apps open simultaneously, with both displays protected by Ceramic Shield 2 and offering 3000 nits of peak outdoor brightness

2

. Apple's first foldable phone uses Touch ID integrated into the side button and is the thinnest iPhone when open

1

. The device supports Apple Pencil and offers up to 2 terabytes of storage, a capacity not available on rival models like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 or Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold

1

.

A20 Pro chip delivers major performance gains

The A20 Pro chip represents Apple's first chip built on TSMC's 2-nanometer process, making it the first smartphone chip to ship on that node

5

. The new chip comprises a 6-core CPU, 7-core GPU, and a dual 16-core Neural Engine

2

. Compared to the A19 Pro, the CPU and GPU are up to 20% and 40% faster respectively, while being more power efficient

2

. The Neural Engine offers 2x the compute power of the A19 Pro to run on-device AI models

2

. Memory bandwidth increased by 50%, which directly benefits on-device AI processing since bandwidth typically becomes the bottleneck when running language models locally rather than in the cloud

5

. Built with a custom vapor chamber featuring triple the surface area of the previous design, the A20 Pro chip delivers 35% better sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro

2

.

Redesigned Siri AI brings agentic capabilities

Apple introduced redesigned Siri AI, the biggest rework of its assistant since it shipped in 2011

5

. The new Siri AI can hold conversations, reference what's on screen, and take actions across more than 300,000 third-party apps without users re-explaining context

5

. Apple Intelligence features rely on on-device AI processing whenever possible, with cloud-based processing used only when additional computing power is required through Private Cloud Compute system

1

. The upgraded Siri ships in beta starting this month on devices set to supported regions and features a more fluid voice that replaces the well-known robotic voice

5

. iOS 27, which carries the new Siri AI and Apple Intelligence features, arrives September 14 and runs on any iPhone back to the iPhone 11

5

.

iPhone 18 Pro pricing increases amid memory chip shortage

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max received a $100 price bump, starting at $1,199 and $1,299, increases forced by a surge in memory chip costs

1

. Both models feature a new 48-megapixel main camera with a variable aperture system that automatically adjusts to lighting conditions and allows users greater control over depth of field and low-light photography

1

. Six "laser-cut blades" automatically adjust across four aperture settings, while a new "Pro controls" interface lets photographers manually adjust aperture, shutter speed, and white balance

3

. Apple also introduced Apple Reference Image, a photo-authentication standard that captures signed sensor data to create an unalterable reference photo alongside the main image

3

. Battery life sees a notable jump, with the Pro Max delivering up to 45 hours of video playback in eSIM-only configuration, the largest battery-life increase in iPhone history

3

. Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro begin September 12, with availability starting September 18

3

.

Pricing and availability details for iPhone Duo

Pricing for the iPhone Duo starts at $1,999 for the base 256GB model, about $100 more than the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 and Google's Pixel 11 Pro Fold at comparable storage levels

1

. The device climbs to roughly $3,000 for the 2TB model

5

. Available in Star White and Night Sky colorways, pre-orders begin October 16 and the device goes on sale October 23

2

. This represents a delayed launch compared to the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, arriving a month after the rest of the product showcase

5

. While the $2,000-plus price is likely to limit potential buyers, analysts note the price is comparable to competing products

4

.

Additional product announcements round out event

Apple launched the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, featuring a redesigned health-sensing system and new S11 chip, with Series 12 starting at $399 and Ultra 4 at $799

1

. New features include a Readiness score, more frequent heart-rate monitoring, and health insights powered by Apple Intelligence

1

. Apple also launched AirPods 5 starting at $129, bringing active noise cancellation to entry-level earbuds for the first time

1

. A $149 version adds wireless charging and on-stem volume controls

1

.

Today's Top Stories

© 2026 TheOutpost.AI All rights reserved