Apple reveals first foldable iPhone at new CEO’s debut keynote
Developing story first seen 2 hours ago
Apple has held its "Surprise and Shine" event at Apple Park in Cupertino, unveiling its first foldable iPhone alongside the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The keynote marked the debut of John Ternus as Apple's chief executive, who opened proceedings by describing the iPhone as "an intelligent personal hub" before moving into the day's product announcements.
The iPhone 18 Pro models feature an upgraded camera system and run on Apple's new A20 Pro chipset, with the company promising the longest battery life of any iPhone yet. Both devices are built around deep integration with Siri AI, the revamped voice assistant powered by Gemini that underpins iOS 27 and Apple's other new operating systems, though the assistant remains unavailable in the EU and China. The foldable handset, widely rumoured as the iPhone Ultra or iPhone Duo, was also confirmed at the event, alongside updated Apple Watches.
- Apple unveiled its first foldable iPhone at Wednesday's keynote
- Event was new CEO John Ternus's first major product presentation
- iPhone 18 Pro models get new A20 Pro chip and Siri AI integration
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Apple has scheduled a launch event for 9 September, unofficially referred to as "Surprise and shine", where it is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 range. The headline act is thought to be the company's first foldable phone, said to be called the "iPhone Duo", which would mark a significant shift for a device line that has kept the same basic form for years.
The event also carries extra significance because it is the first big product keynote led by John Ternus, who took over as Apple's chief executive on 1 September, succeeding Tim Cook. Ternus previously ran Apple's hardware engineering division, so the announcements are being watched as an early indication of how he plans to steer the company's products going forward.
Alongside the new phones, updates to the Apple Watch and AirPods are expected, with some speculation about other possible additions such as a revamped Apple TV or new smart home devices. The event starts at 1pm ET (10am PT).
Coverage
- The Verge — Apple unveils its first foldable iPhone at Ternus keynote
- The Verge — All the news from Apple’s ‘Surprise and shine’ event
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