Apple Unveils First Foldable iPhone and a Watch That Remembers Your Chats
Your next phone folds in half — and your watch may soon take notes for you.
Apple just announced its first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo. Closed, it looks like a normal phone; opened, it becomes a 7.6-inch screen — roughly the size of a small tablet — big enough to watch video or read comfortably. It starts at $1,999, which is laptop money. Preorders open October 16 and it hits stores October 23. Apple says the hinge uses more than 100 tiny parts so it opens and closes smoothly.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max look the same as last year but focus on cameras. A new six-blade aperture (the part that controls how much light gets in) should mean better photos in dim rooms and faster shooting. There are also manual controls for shutter speed and white balance — like the dials on a real camera. Prices: $1,199 and $1,299, with the bigger model up $100 from last year. They arrive September 18.
The Apple Watch Series 12 ($399) and Ultra 4 ($499) are getting the most interesting new trick. "Live Rewind" shows the last 15 seconds of a conversation as on-screen text, and "Siri Recap" summarizes moments like a team meeting or a parent-teacher conference. A "Sound Recognition" feature alerts hard-of-hearing users to sirens, alarms, doorbells, or a crying baby. The catch: a watch that listens to your conversations raises real privacy questions, and Apple hasn't said exactly what gets stored or where.
Finally, the AirPods 5 cost $129 ($149 with a wireless charging case) and block 50% more background noise than before, with volume control on the stem. Battery life is five hours with noise cancelling on, or 22 hours with the case. The redesigned Health app also uses Apple Intelligence (Apple's built-in AI) to make more sense of your health data.
- Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, opens into a tablet-sized 7.6-inch screen and costs $1,999 — preorders start October 16.
- The Apple Watch can now replay the last 15 seconds of a conversation as text and summarize meetings, which helps with memory but means your wrist is listening.
- AirPods 5 drop to $129 with 50% better noise cancelling, while the top iPhone 18 Pro Max costs $100 more than last year.
Why It Matters
A phone that becomes a tablet and a watch that remembers conversations — handy, but pricier and less private.