At an event held by Apple on Wednesday, September 9th, the long-awaited foldable iPhone model, previously known as iPhone Ultra, was presented and is now named iPhone Duo. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max were also introduced, accompanied by price increases. Among the new devices are the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5, although the standard iPhone 18 model was not released.
The iPhone Duo starts at a price of Dh8,499, which aligns with the lower end of forecasts, though purchases will only be possible from October 23rd. All other devices will go on sale on September 18th. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models have become more expensive, increasing by Dh400 in the base memory configuration. Furthermore, the price increase is not uniform: the 1TB iPhone 18 Pro will cost Dh1,250 more than the equivalent iPhone 17 Pro.
Despite Apple potentially being late with the release of foldable devices, its approach is consistent with its style: the device is released only after engineering work is completed and software adapted to the capabilities of the foldable screen has been written.
The iOS 27 operating system has been developed taking into account the form factor of the iPhone Duo. It supports the Split View feature, implemented for the first time on an iPhone, and moves the Dock, Lock Screen controls, and app navigation to the side of the display, showing them vertically instead of horizontally at the bottom. On such a narrow and wide screen, this frees up height for user content reading. Another distinguishing feature is the animation: user reports show the interface blurring and stretching across the crease when the phone opens, instead of a sharp transition between screens.
Hardware specifications determine the price segment. The iPhone Duo folds into a 5.4-inch phone and unfolds to a 7.6-inch screen. Its dimensions are 5.2 mm when folded and 11.3 mm when unfolded, with a weight of 254 g. The frame is made of titanium, the front panel is protected by Ceramic Shield 2, and the IP68 rating ensures protection at a depth of six meters. Face ID is absent, so Touch ID is integrated into the side button. Apple has also applied a matte texture to the inner display, which reportedly helps conceal the crease rather than eliminate it. Memory is available in the range of 256 GB to 2 TB, corresponding to prices from Dh8,499 to Dh13,599; pre-orders will begin on October 16th.
On paper, the iPhone 18 Pro represents a significant improvement. The A20 Pro processor transitions to a 2nm process, and its GPU is 40% faster than the A19 Pro. The 48MP main camera features a true variable aperture with four settings, from f/1.48 to f/4. In everyday use, most of these improvements may go unnoticed. The exception is the battery: Apple claims that the iPhone 18 Pro Max can provide up to 45 hours of video recording, the longest stated duration.
The design has changed almost nothing. The Dynamic Island has shrunk to accommodate three active functions simultaneously, but the iPhone 18 Pro models retain the shape, size, and camera level similar to the iPhone 17 Pro. However, the color scheme has changed: the two-tone back panel has been replaced by a single color covering the glass and frame, and only Silver, Black, Glacier, and the new Burgundy colors remain. All these changes coincide with the price increase, with the most expensive models feeling it more acutely: the 2TB iPhone 18 Pro Max costs Dh10,599, which is Dh2,100 more than last year's version.
The main change concerns the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, which are now equipped with a new health sensor system, including optical and electrical sensors. Heart rate variability is now tracked up to 24 times more often, and the watch converts this data into a daily readiness score on a ten-point scale with a conclusion: Recover, Slow Down, Ready, or Go. Apple states this is the most accurate heart rate sensor among wearable devices.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 received the most improvements. Apple indicates that it provides 50 hours of normal use and 84 hours in low-power mode, compared to 24 hours on the Series 12, where 15 minutes of charging now yields 12 hours of operation. After seven years, Ceramic has returned to the Series 12 in Pearl White and Night Blue. Both models were available for pre-order on Wednesday and will arrive in stores on September 18th, starting from Dh1,599 for the Apple Watch Series 12 and Dh3,199 for the Apple Watch Ultra 4.
The standard noise cancellation feature is now present across the entire lineup, and Apple claims that AirPods 5 can reduce external noise by 50% more than noise-cancelling AirPods 4. There are two versions, and the difference is not in the sound. The model priced at Dh629 includes a wireless charging stand and a force sensor for volume adjustment, offering five hours with noise cancellation enabled versus four hours on the previous model.
A second point concerns minor details: no standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, or iPhone Air 2 was released; reports suggest all three models will be released in early 2027. Apple also discontinued the production of iPhone 17 Pro models and increased prices for the iPhone 16, iPhone 17, iPhone Air, and iPhone 17e, raising the price of the iPhone 17 to Dh3,799, and the iPhone Air to Dh4,699. Cheaper options are not expected until next year.
Additionally, Apple announced that it will impose restrictions on the use of Siri AI features and other Apple Intelligence capabilities, and broader access to them will come at a cost. Although the price or date has not been announced, this was done as a notification, not a bill.
