Apple debuts passport-shaped foldable phone, called Duo

Apple unveiled its foldable phone, called Duo, at an event held at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California. The Duo is shaped like a passport and features a larger horizontal screen that can also be viewed vertically. When folded, it has a smaller single screen on the front. The phone is Apple's thinnest, according to the company.

The event marked the most significant overhaul of Apple's flagship product since removing the physical home button from the iPhone X in 2017. Former CEO Tim Cook handed over leadership to John Ternus, who emphasized the company's focus on personal AI and privacy. Ternus showcased an updated Siri assistant that will work with 300,000 apps and an A20 Pro chip to support advanced AI models.

Apple also introduced new versions of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, priced starting at $1,199 and $1,299. The company unveiled a feature to combat AI-generated images, called "Apple Reference Image," and said it would support the SynthID standard for identifying AI-created or edited images. The new AirPods started at $129 and featured noise cancellation, while the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 were positioned as health-focused upgrades with improved sensors and heart rate tracking.

Ternus, who previously served as hardware chief, will need to persuade customers to invest in the potentially expensive foldable device, which analysts predict could cost over $2,000. Despite the high price, analysts expect Apple to sell every foldable iPhone it can produce and capture 40% of the lucrative niche by the end of the next year.