Apple Event 2026 Highlights: iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro Series, Apple Watch Ultra 4 and AirPods 5 Launched

Apple Event LIVE: That’s It, and That’s All, Folks.

We're bringing our live coverage of Apple’s keynote to a close.

It was an evening of massive hardware leaps, headlined by the undeniably bank-breaking iPhone Duo alongside the iPhone 18 Pro series, Apple Watch Series 12, Ultra 4, and next-gen AirPods. Between a foldable that touches Rs. 3 lakh and refined flagships setting new baselines, Apple has firmly drawn the lines for where consumer tech is heading next.

Thank you for following along with our live blog throughout the evening. Stay tuned as we bring you in-depth breakdowns, spec comparisons, and hands-on impressions over the coming days on Gadgets 360. Good night!

Apple Event LIVE: India Pricing and Availability

Here is the full breakdown of official India pricing and availability for everything unveiled today:

• iPhone Duo: Starts at Rs. 2,99,900 (256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB; Star White, Night Sky). Pre-orders begin 16 October, available from 23 October.
• iPhone 18 Pro: Starts at Rs. 1,64,900 (256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB; Burgundy, Glacier, Silver, Black).
• iPhone 18 Pro Max: Starts at Rs. 1,79,900 (256GB, 512GB, 1TB, 2TB; Burgundy, Glacier, Silver, Black).
• Apple Watch Series 12: Starts at Rs. 56,900.
• Apple Watch Ultra 4: Starts at Rs. 1,09,900.
• AirPods 5: Starts at Rs. 14,900 for the standard model; Rs. 17,900 with the Wireless Charging Case. Pre-orders open today, in stores beginning Friday, 18 September.

Apple Event LIVE: That’s a Wrap!

And with that, the curtains come down on one of Apple's most consequential events in years.

Closing out the presentation, Apple signed off by highlighting the philosophy behind today's announcements, noting that the new lineup represents "the very best of Apple, the curiosity to imagine what's possible, the care to get every detail right, and the conviction to build products that make a real difference in people's lives."

Apple Event LIVE: Selling a Kidney Won’t Cut It—iPhone Duo Costs Nearly Rs. 3 Lakh in India

If you thought the US pricing was steep, the official Indian pricing for the iPhone Duo takes sticker shock to an entirely new level.

Apple has confirmed that the iPhone Duo starts at a monumental Rs. 2,99,900 in India for the base 256GB model, comfortably cementing it as the most expensive consumer smartphone ever launched in the country.

Apple Event LIVE: iPhone Duo Pricing Shatters the $2,000 Barrier

Brace your wallets! Apple has finally put a price on the future, and it will not come cheap.

The iPhone Duo starts at a staggering $1,999 for the base 256GB model, scaling up to an eye-watering 2TB tier. Promising that this is "an iPhone like no other iPhone," Apple quickly tried to cushion the sticker shock by confirming heavy trade-in promotions right out of the gate.

If you are ready to take the plunge, pre-orders kick off on 16 October, with retail availability landing a week later on 23 October.

Apple Event LIVE: iPhone Duo Camera Setup Revealed

Main Camera: 48MP Fusion sensor with 2x Telephoto.

Ultra Wide: 48MP Fusion camera borrowed straight from the iPhone 18 Pro.

Outer Camera: 12MP Centre Stage front shooter on the cover display.

Apple Event LIVE: iPhone Duo Drops Physical SIM, Boasts Dual-Cell Battery Life

Apple has killed off the physical SIM tray entirely; the iPhone Duo is eSIM-only worldwide.

To power both screens, the device houses a separate battery on each side that operates together as a single unified cell to deliver all-day battery life. According to Apple, that translates to up to 31 hours of video playback when using the inner display, stretching all the way to 44 hours on the outer screen.

Apple Event LIVE: A20 Pro Chip, In-House C2 Modem Under the Hood

The iPhone Duo runs on Apple's new A20 Pro chip, delivering up to 35% higher sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro. Connectivity gets a massive upgrade courtesy of the new in-house C2 cellular modem.

Apple Event LIVE: The Tech Behind iPhone Duo's Durability

Apple explained the multi-layered engineering keeping the iPhone Duo durable. A custom matte nano-texture finish crafted via maskless laser lithography cuts glare and minimises visible creasing. Beneath that, multi-layer lamination uses viscoelastic adhesives that slide like book pages during folding to prevent distortion over time.

This is supported by a titanium bottom plate, carbon fibre support plates, and a hinge packing over 100 precision components.

Apple Event LIVE: iPhone Duo Core Specs Revealed

Apple just ran through the iPhone Duo's main hardware specs:

• Displays: 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR inside (50% larger than iPhone 18 Pro Max; 80% larger than iPhone 18 Pro) and a 5.4-inch outer screen (90% the area of an iPhone 18 Pro). Apple Pencil support arrives on both displays later this year.
• Security and Colours: Side-button Touch ID, Apple Watch unlocking, and two finishes: Star White and Night Sky.
• Durability: IP68-rated build with Ceramic Shield 2 on the front, Ceramic Shield on the back, and an internal ribbed structure with ceramic-reinforced antenna splits for extra rigidity.

Apple Event LIVE: iOS Adapts to iPhone Duo Foldable Form Factor

Apple is showing off how software adapts to the new hardware, and it looks remarkably slick.

As you open the iPhone Duo, content expands from the cover screen to the inner display, keeping your main controls anchored to the side within easy reach of your thumb.

To pull this off, Apple has overhauled its long-standing interface design across every app. The familiar Home Screen dock is now oriented vertically, and the status bar has been reworked into a compact system tucked into the corner.

The whole interface reacts dynamically as you fold the device, reorients when turned sideways, and flips displays when turned over.

Apple Event LIVE: Apple Unveils Under-Display Camera and Ultra-Thin Design

Apple just dropped two major hardware reveals about the iPhone Duo.

First, the inner display is completely uninterrupted. The FaceTime camera is hidden beneath the screen, ditching notches and cutouts entirely.

Second, when opened flat, Apple claims it is officially the thinnest iPhone ever made. They managed this slim profile by packing the bulk of the core components directly into the camera plateau rather than across the thin body halves.

Apple Event LIVE: iPhone Duo Combines Passport Sized Fit With a Seamless Continuous Frame

Apple is diving straight into the engineering details of the iPhone Duo, and it sounds like they have gone obsessively bespoke with the form factor.

Instead of the tall, narrow slabs we have seen elsewhere, the Duo folds down to roughly the dimensions of a passport. The two halves merge into a single "continuous frame," giving it a unified feel in either orientation.

Crucially, Apple kept the aspect ratio identical across both displays, meaning app scaling should feel completely natural whether it is shut or thrown wide open. As for the hinge, Apple says it precisely manages the opening and closing action so the inner screen locks completely flat when opened.

Apple Event LIVE: iPhone Duo Is Official—Apple’s First Foldable Phone

It's really happening. Apple has just taken the wraps off its first-ever foldable: the iPhone Duo.  

Taking a direct shot at existing Android competitors on stage, Apple said other companies have made foldables that feel like "two phones awkwardly stuck together."

Instead, Apple pitched the iPhone Duo as a device built around the experience they wanted for themselves: an expansive display that feels as natural and intuitive as an iPad, yet folds down effortlessly to fit comfortably in your pocket and the palm of your hand. Apple claims this brings a series of remarkable innovations that will completely redefine the foldable experience.

Apple Event LIVE: "One More Thing..." Has Arrived

Here we go. Just when it looked like the keynote was wrapping up, CEO John Ternus took the stage and just said those three magic words: "One more thing."

Apple Event LIVE: Apple Watch Ultra 4 at a Glance

• Priced at $799; pre-orders start today, available on 18 September.
• Delivers up to 2 full days of regular battery life with a larger cell and better efficiency.
• Offers 18 hours of continuous workout tracking with full GPS and heart rate monitoring, stretching to 45 hours in extended mode.
• Features the redesigned health sensor array for more accurate heart rate and ECG measurements.
• Powered by the new S11 chip, supporting Audio Intelligence, sound recognition, and Siri Recap with Live Rewind.
• Adds the daily Readiness score and long-term Health Age tracking.
• Available in Black and Natural titanium finishes, with fresh band colours and an all-new titanium Hermès band option.

Apple Event LIVE: Apple Watch Series 12 at a Glance

• Starts at $399; pre-orders open today, in stores 18 September.
• Runs on the new S11 chip, the first processor upgrade in four years.
• Overhauled health sensor packs larger ECG electrodes, ring photodiodes, and bigger green LEDs for sharper tracking.
• Adds a daily Readiness score (Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, Go For It).
• Health Age tracks biological vitality using watch metrics and blood work biomarkers.
• Audio Intelligence brings sound recognition and Siri Recap with 15-second Live Rewind.
• Aluminium cases gain Ceramic Shield, making the glass 60% tougher.
• Finishes include Aluminium (Space Grey, Black, Light Gold, Dark Bronze), polished Titanium (Radiant Gold, Natural), and Ceramic (Pearl White, Night Blue).

Apple Event LIVE: Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Pricing and Availability

We've got the pricing details.

The Apple Watch Series 12 starts at $399, while the Apple Watch Ultra 4 holds the line at $799. Pre-orders open today, with both hitting store shelves on September 18.

Apple Event LIVE: Apple Watch Ultra 4 Pushes Battery to 2 Full Days

Apple just revealed the Apple Watch Ultra 4, and the big takeaway is the battery.

Between a larger battery and better power efficiency, you can now get two full days on a single charge. If you're tracking a workout with full GPS and heart rate going, you're looking at 18 hours, which stretches up to 45 hours in extended workout mode.

As for finishes, it comes in Black and Natural titanium, along with a few new band colours and a titanium Hermès band.

Apple Event LIVE: Series 12 Finishes Revealed

Apple just dropped the design lineup for the Apple Watch Series 12, pitching it with the classic line: "It's not just a watch. It's your watch."

Aluminum models arrive in Space Grey, Black, Light Gold, and Dark Bronze. Even better, the aluminum models finally inherit Ceramic Shield, boosting screen durability by 60%.

If you want something flashier, there are polished titanium finishes in Radiant Gold and Natural. And for the classic watch fans, Ceramic is officially back on the menu: Series 12 will offer stunning Ceramic editions in Pearl White and Night Blue.

Apple Event LIVE: Apple Watch Finally Gets a New Processor

It's finally happened: after nearly four years, the Apple Watch is getting a genuine silicon upgrade with the brand-new S11 chip.

Apple says all those new Audio Intelligence tools are only possible because of this silicon, which was custom-built to handle smart features on-device while keeping your data locked down and private. It leverages the S11's power-efficient, always-on processing architecture, letting your watch listen and process intelligence cues in the background without torching your daily battery life.

Apple Event LIVE: Apple Watch Debuts "Audio Intelligence" and On-Wrist Sound Recognition

Apple is tapping into the Watch's built-in microphones to roll out a brand-new feature called Audio Intelligence.

The idea is straightforward: just like Visual Intelligence helps make sense of whatever you point a camera at, Audio Intelligence interprets what you hear. Apple emphasised that it runs right on your wrist in a private, secure way.

For accessibility, on-wrist sound recognition can detect everyday cues like alarms, doorbells, or a crying baby. Beyond that, Apple is targeting everyday conversations with Siri Recap and Live Rewind. If you zone out or miss what someone just said, Live Rewind lets you jump back in time 15 seconds to instantly transcribe and display the snippet right on your display.

Apple Event LIVE: Apple Introduces "Health Age" to Measure Long-Term Vitality

Apple is also taking a longer-term look at your wellness with a new feature dubbed Health Age. The goal is to show you how your key health metrics stack up against your actual biological age. Apple Watch pulls in data like your VO2 Max and sleep patterns, then combines those stats with biomarkers from your lab blood work. 

Apple Event LIVE: Health App Redesign Brings a True "Readiness" Score

The Health app is finally getting a proper visual overhaul, powered by Apple Intelligence to turn raw numbers into actual advice.

More importantly, Apple is tackling recovery head-on with a brand-new Readiness feature. Every morning, your Apple Watch looks at your recent activity, vitals, and sleep to spit out a single daily score telling you whether to push or rest.

Apple broke it down into four simple states: Recover, Pace Yourself, Ready, or Go For It.

Apple Event LIVE: Apple Claims "Most Accurate Heart Rate Sensing" in Any Wearable

That's a massive claim right there on stage.

Apple says they put the new sensor through a head-to-head study against rival wearables, measuring everyone against an ECG chest strap while hundreds of people ran, cycled, and sweated through HIIT sessions.

Their takeaway? The results weren't even close. Apple is claiming the Apple Watch now has the most accurate heart rate tracking of any wearable you can buy.

Apple Event LIVE: Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 Debut

Apple just revealed the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 with an all-new health sensing system.

Without changing the watch size, Apple boosted the electrode area for clearer ECG readings, arranged redesigned photodiodes in a ring for better light capture, and added larger, more efficient green LEDs for reliable, all-day heart rate tracking even on the go.