Apple has officially launched its latest iPhone lineup, introducing the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the new iPhone Duo. The launch is a major moment for Apple because the iPhone Duo is the company's first foldable iPhone. The new devices were introduced at Apple's September 9, 2026 event. Along with the new iPhones, Apple is putting a strong focus on artificial intelligence, camera improvements, performance and battery life. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are the main premium smartphones in the new lineup. Both models use Apple's new A20 Pro chip, which is designed to provide faster performance while using less power. Apple has also added improved cooling technology to help the phones perform better during demanding activities such as gaming, video editing and AI tasks. The camera system has also received a major upgrade. The iPhone 18 Pro models feature a new 48-megapixel main camera with variable aperture. This allows the camera to adjust the amount of light entering the lens. It can help users take better photos in different lighting conditions and gives them more control over photography. Apple is also adding new AI-related camera and image features. These include tools designed to help identify AI-generated or edited images, although some of these features will not be available in certain markets. Battery life has also improved. The iPhone 18 Pro Max is designed to provide up to 45 hours of video playback, according to Apple. This could make the larger model especially attractive to people who use their phones heavily throughout the day. Apple has also upgraded Siri with new AI capabilities. The company is working to make Siri understand users better and provide more useful answers. The new AI system can work with information on the device and connect with many apps, making it possible for Siri to perform more useful tasks. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299. Pre-orders for the Pro models begin on September 12, with sales starting September 18 in many markets. But the biggest announcement of the event was the iPhone Duo. The iPhone Duo is Apple's first foldable smartphone. Instead of having only one normal phone screen, the device can open to reveal a much larger display. It has a 5.4-inch outer screen and a 7.6-inch inner display when opened. The larger screen can be useful for watching videos, reading, working and using two apps at the same time. The foldable phone is powered by the A20 Pro chip, the same high-end chip used in the iPhone 18 Pro models. Apple has also included a vapor-chamber cooling system to help control heat during heavy use. Another interesting feature is Apple Pencil support. This gives users more options for writing, drawing and working on the large internal screen. The iPhone Duo also uses Touch ID in the side button instead of relying only on Face ID. The iPhone Duo can offer up to 2TB of storage, giving users a large amount of space for photos, videos, apps and other files. The phone starts at $1,999, making it Apple's most expensive iPhone. Pre-orders for the Duo begin on October 16, and the phone will go on sale on October 23. Apple has not launched the standard iPhone 18 at this September event. Instead, the company focused on its premium Pro models and the new foldable Duo. Reports indicate that the regular iPhone 18 could arrive at a later date. Overall, Apple's 2026 iPhone launch is significant because the company is entering the foldable smartphone market for the first time. The iPhone 18 Pro models focus on better cameras, performance, battery life and AI, while the iPhone Duo offers a completely different design with a large foldable screen. The launch shows that Apple is moving beyond small yearly upgrades and is now bringing new hardware designs and stronger AI features to its iPhone lineup.