Apple unveils foldable iPhone Duo and new iPhone 18 Pro lineup under new CEO John Ternus
Consensus Summary
Apple unveiled its first foldable iPhone, the Duo, during a keynote event on September 1, marking the first major product launch under new CEO John Ternus, who succeeded Tim Cook. The Duo features a 7.6-inch display that is 80 per cent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro and supports Apple Pencil, a feature previously exclusive to iPads. Pricing for the Duo varies between sources, with SMH stating $3499 and ABC stating $US1,999 ($2,770 AUD), while the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max start at $2099 and $2299 (SMH) or $US1,199 and $US1,299 (ABC). The Duo will go on sale October 23, with pre-orders starting October 16 at 11pm AEST. Analysts note foldable phones remain a niche market, accounting for less than 5 per cent of global smartphone sales. Apple also announced price increases for older models, such as the iPhone 17 and 17e, and discontinued the iPhone 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 16 Plus. The event highlighted Apple’s focus on AI advancements in Siri while emphasizing privacy and security. Ternus’s leadership transition was overshadowed by the Duo’s unveiling, with analysts suggesting the device could redefine foldable phones if Apple expands the market beyond its current niche.
✓ Verified by 2+ sources
Key details reported by multiple sources:
- Apple’s new CEO John Ternus took over from Tim Cook on September 1
- The iPhone Duo is priced at $3499 (SMH) and $2,770 (ABC, converted from $US1,999)
- The iPhone Duo features a 7.6-inch display that is 80 per cent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro
- The iPhone Duo supports Apple Pencil, a feature previously exclusive to iPads
- The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max start at $2099 and $2299 (SMH) or $US1,199 and $US1,299 (ABC, converted to $2,770 and $2,870 approx.)
- The iPhone Duo will go on sale on October 23, with pre-orders starting at 11pm AEST on October 16
- Foldable phones currently account for less than 5 per cent of the global smartphone market
- The iPhone Duo is eSIM-only with no physical SIM slot
- The iPhone 17 price increased from $1399 to $1549, and the iPhone 17e from $999 to $1149
- The iPhone 17 Pro, 17 Pro Max, and iPhone 16 Plus have been discontinued
- The iPhone Duo was unveiled at the Steve Jobs Theatre
- The iPhone Duo’s battery life includes 45 hours of video playback for the Pro Max
- Apple’s last major breakout hardware hit was the AirPods, launched in 2016
- The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max feature improvements to battery, camera, and performance
Points of Difference
Details reported by only one source:
- The iPhone Duo is the most expensive phone Apple has ever released, priced at $3499
- A 2TB model of the iPhone Duo costs $5899
- The iPhone 17 Air price increased from $2599 to $3099
- The iPhone Duo lacks a telephoto lens, Face ID, and variable aperture camera
- The iPhone 17 lineup included a new ultra-thin model named 'Air'
- The iPhone Duo’s launch was compared to the iPad launch in terms of potential mainstream appeal
- The iPhone Duo was unveiled on Thursday morning AEST
- The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will start at $2099 and $2299, respectively
- The iPhone Duo’s screen is the largest ever on an iPhone but fits into a pocket
- The iPhone Duo allows split-screen functionality for two apps or two windows on the same website
- The iPhone Duo is priced at $US1,999 ($2,770 AUD), making it the most expensive mainstream smartphone
- The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max start at $US1,199 and $US1,299, respectively ($100 more than last year)
- Apple did not announce a cheaper standard iPhone 18
- Samsung launched the first mainstream foldable, the Galaxy Fold, in 2019
- Huawei’s Mate XT 2 starts at 19,999 yuan ($4,139) and Xiaomi’s latest foldable starts at 10,999 yuan ($2,269)
- Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold8 starts at $2,699
- Apple’s last major breakout hardware hit was the AirPods, launched a decade ago (2016)
- John Ternus is 51 years old and joined Apple’s product design team in 2001
- Tim Cook oversaw Apple for 15 years before Ternus took over
- IDC forecasts global smartphone shipments will fall by more than 16 per cent this year, with average costs rising by more than 27 per cent
- Apple warned in June that smartphone prices would rise due to component shortages
- The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will be available from September 18
Where the reporting differs
Details that conflict, or appear in only some outlets:
- SMH states the iPhone Duo is priced at $3499, while ABC states it is $US1,999 ($2,770 AUD)
- SMH says the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $2099, while ABC says it starts at $US1,199 ($2,770 approx.)
- SMH mentions the iPhone Duo’s screen is 80 per cent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro, while ABC says it is 80 per cent larger than the iPhone 18 Pro but does not specify the exact comparison
- SMH states the iPhone Duo lacks Face ID, while ABC does not mention this detail
- SMH says the iPhone 17 Air price increased from $2599 to $3099, while ABC does not mention this specific price change
Source Articles
Apple unveils its foldable iPhone Duo
New Apple CEO John Ternus said the Duo has the “largest display ever on an iPhone, yet fits into your pocket”, claiming it will redefine the experience of using a foldable smartphone.
Apple's first foldable iPhone comes with its biggest price tag yet
The iPhone Duo will start at $2,770, putting it among the most expensive mainstream smartphones on the market and marking the first major test for Apple's new CEO.
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