Apple Unveils iPhone 18 Pro With Powerful A20 Pro Chip as First Foldable iPhone Steals the Spotlight

Apple has unveiled its latest iPhone lineup, introducing the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max alongside the company’s first-ever foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, in one of the biggest product launches in years.

The September 9 event marked a significant moment for Apple as new CEO John Ternus presented his first major product launch since taking over the company. While the iPhone 18 Pro models received major upgrades, Apple’s entry into the foldable smartphone market emerged as the biggest surprise of the event.

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are powered by Apple’s new A20 Pro chip, which is designed to deliver faster performance, improved graphics and stronger artificial-intelligence capabilities. The devices also feature a new 48-megapixel main camera with a variable-aperture system, giving users greater control over lighting, depth of field and photography in different conditions.

Apple has also placed greater emphasis on artificial intelligence and privacy. The company says more AI processing will take place directly on the device, while cloud-based processing will be used when additional computing power is required. Siri is also receiving major AI upgrades, with the company saying it will be able to work across more than 300,000 apps.

The new Pro models are more expensive than their predecessors. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299, representing a $100 increase for each model. Pre-orders begin September 12, with the phones going on sale September 18.

The first-generation iPhone Duo, meanwhile, opens into a 7.6-inch display and includes a smaller outer screen. It supports Apple Pencil, split-screen multitasking and up to 2TB of storage. Starting at $1,999, it becomes Apple’s most expensive iPhone and represents the company’s direct entry into the growing foldable-phone market.

Notably, Apple did not launch a standard iPhone 18 at the September event. Reports indicate the base model could arrive later, potentially in 2027, as Apple concentrates its initial launch on premium devices.

The launch signals a major shift in Apple’s smartphone strategy, combining premium hardware, artificial intelligence and a new foldable design as the company seeks to strengthen its position in an increasingly competitive global smartphone market.