Apple on Sept. 9 U.S. West Coast time introduced a slate of new hardware at its fall event: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, the company’s first foldable phone iPhone Duo, AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Taiwan will launch the lineup on the same timetable, with iPhone 18 Pro priced from NT$44,900 and iPhone Duo from NT$74,900.
The presentation was the first fall launch event since John Ternus became chief executive officer. In the iPhone Duo press release, Ternus said the device "redefines how people use a foldable phone."
Taiwan prices and preorder schedule
| Product | Taiwan price | U.S. price | Preorder and release |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | NT$44,900 and up | $1,199 and up | Preorders open Sept. 12 at 8 p.m.; available Sept. 18 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | NT$49,900 and up | $1,299 and up | Preorders open Sept. 12 at 8 p.m.; available Sept. 18 |
| iPhone Duo | NT$74,900 and up | $1,999 and up | Preorders open Oct. 16 at 8 p.m.; available Oct. 23 |
| AirPods 5 | NT$4,490 | $129 | Preorder now; available Sept. 18 |
| AirPods 5 with wireless charging case | NT$5,190 | $149 | Preorder now; available Sept. 18 |
| Apple Watch Series 12 | NT$13,900 and up | $399 and up | Preorder now; available Sept. 18 |
| Apple Watch Ultra 4 | NT$27,900 and up | $799 and up | Preorder now; available Sept. 18 |
The iPhone 18 Pro models come in storage tiers from 256GB to 2TB, adding a new 2TB option over the prior generation. iPhone Duo uses the same storage range, and the top Taiwan configuration is priced at NT$118,900.
Variable aperture comes to iPhone 18 Pro
Apple said the Pro models center on a 48MP Fusion main camera with a variable aperture system. The camera uses six laser-cut blades and a new rotor mechanism, allowing switching among ƒ/1.48, ƒ/1.8, ƒ/2.8 and ƒ/4.0. The system can open up automatically in darker scenes and stop down for group shots to deepen depth of field. Pro users can also set the aperture manually in the Camera app. Apple said it is opening an API so developers can control the full aperture range in their own apps.
Apple Reference Image is another new feature. Apple said the updated main camera sensor can sign every pixel it sees. When a user shoots in Reference mode, the device captures signed sensor data, sends it through Private Cloud Compute for verification, and produces a tamper-proof reference image intended to show that the photo reflects what the camera captured at that moment. Apple also said it plans to support the SynthID standard to help identify images generated or edited by AI. In its press release, Apple said the feature set is designed for photojournalists and photographers.
Outside imaging, Dynamic Island is smaller and can show three live activities at once. On battery life, the eSIM version of iPhone 18 Pro can play video for up to 36 hours, while Pro Max reaches 45 hours. Apple said Pro Max marks the biggest battery-life gain in iPhone history. Wired charging can reach 50% in 15 minutes.
iPhone Duo is Apple’s first foldable iPhone
iPhone Duo unfolds into a 7.6-inch Super Retina XDR foldable display and uses a 5.4-inch outer screen when closed. Apple described its folded size as close to that of a passport. Both displays share the same aspect ratio, allowing content to scale proportionally when moving between them.
The inner display uses a nano-texture surface to cut reflections, which Apple said also makes the crease less noticeable. The body uses mirror-polished grade 5 titanium, the hinge cover is a 3D-printed component, the front is protected by Ceramic Shield 2 with scratch resistance three times better than the prior generation, and the back uses Ceramic Shield. The device is rated IP68 for dust and water resistance. Touch ID is built into the side button and works whether the phone is open or closed. A FaceTime camera sits hidden beneath the inner display and remains invisible when not in use.
The phone uses a dual-battery design. Apple said video playback lasts up to 31 hours on the inner display and 44 hours on the outer display, while mixed use reaches 24 hours on a single charge. iPhone Duo supports eSIM only in all markets. Apple said that choice frees internal space for a larger battery. The device ships with iOS 27.1, while support for Apple Pencil with USB-C will arrive later this year.
AirPods 5 adds ANC at the entry level
AirPods 5 keeps the open-ear design, but this generation makes active noise cancellation a standard feature. Apple said a new porous acoustic architecture and the latest Adaptive EQ deliver up to 50% better noise blocking than AirPods 4 with active noise cancellation, while Transparency mode sounds more natural.
Powered by the H2 chip, AirPods 5 supports live translation, Conversation Awareness and hands-free Siri. Apple also said dust, sweat and water resistance have improved over the previous generation. The two versions differ in their case and controls: the NT$5,190 model adds a wireless charging case and swipe volume control on the stem, and with active noise cancellation enabled, battery life extends from 4 hours to 5 hours.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 share new health hardware
Apple said Series 12 and Ultra 4 use the same new hardware platform, built around an updated health sensing system and the S11 chip. The company increased the surface area of the ECG electrodes and moved to more efficient LEDs, raising the sampling frequency for heart rate and heart rate variability. Apple said the result is the most accurate heart-rate sensing in a wearable device. The new daily Readiness score is built on those measurements.
Battery life is rated at up to 24 hours for Series 12 in normal use. Ultra 4 runs for up to 50 hours, or 84 hours in low power mode, with outdoor workout tracking lasting as long as 45 hours. Ultra 4 comes only in a 49mm titanium case. Series 12 is offered in 46mm and 42mm sizes, with aluminum, titanium and precision ceramic finishes.
Both watches run watchOS 27 and use Siri AI powered by Apple Intelligence. The S11 chip also enables audio intelligence features due later this year, including on-device detection of sirens and alarms, a function that can rewind 15 seconds of audio with a transcript, and Siri Recap for summaries of conversations in the environment. Apple said these features do not store audio, and transcripts and summaries use end-to-end encryption.
Health app update ties in with Quest Diagnostics
Later this year, Apple plans to update the Health app on iPhone with a new insights tab generated by Apple Intelligence and a longevity tab. The latter includes a "health age" metric that compares a user’s indicators with their actual age.
In the U.S., the updated Health app will also connect with Quest Diagnostics. Users will be able to book and buy tests for more than 50 biomarkers directly in the app for $119 per visit, with about 2,000 locations available. The revised Health app will debut first in English in the United States.
iOS 27 arrives Sept. 14, with some AI features starting in English
Apple said iOS 27 will roll out as a free update on Sept. 14 U.S. West Coast time. Apple Intelligence will support 16 languages with iOS 27, including Traditional Chinese.
Apple also flagged two points for users in Taiwan. First, Siri AI will launch in beta with iOS 27, and Apple’s Taiwan website says, "Siri AI first launches in English, and use may be limited." Second, the audio intelligence features on Apple Watch and the redesigned Health app are scheduled for later this year and will support English first, meaning they will not be available in the near term in a Traditional Chinese environment.
According to Apple Intelligence product information, Siri AI can understand personal context, such as finding photos from years ago or surfacing older emails buried in a mailbox. It can also take actions directly in apps including Messages, Music and Reminders. The new Siri app keeps conversations in one place, so a user can start on iPhone, continue on iPad and pin conversations for later.
Apple also said in press release footnotes that Apple Intelligence features relying on server-side models will come with daily usage caps. That applies to Siri AI, intelligent photo editing tools, Image Playground and cloud models used in Shortcuts. Limits will vary by feature, request complexity and system load. Apple added that higher usage tiers will be offered in the future for a fee.