Introduction
This was the most anticipation I have probably felt for an Apple event in the last 5 to 10 years. This was John Ternus's first Keynote as Apple CEO, and how fitting was it that it was centered around the most innovative and techincally fascinating product he has worked on since at least the M-Series transition. Let's begin with the good stuff.
iPhone Duo
The iPhone Duo is by far the most beautiful iPhone, and by extension the most beautiful cellphone period, I have ever seen. I am shocked that they didn't call it the Ultra or something like that, as this is the most capable iPhone by far. I would guess it's because this new Duo and the iPhone 18 Pro have the same SOC but whatever. I really like the name, it makes it sound less overkill than Ultra or Max.
During this event we got to hear from the main people that you would expect to hear from in an Apple Event (Craig Federighi, Johny Srouji, Jozniak, etc), but I really appreciate that the first words we heard about the Duo came from Molly Anderson, Apple's VP of Industrial Design, because this phone is all about how it looks and feels. It is radically distinct from every other iPhone ever made, and therefore, this will be the actual first full introduction to the masses of what a foldable cellphone can do.
So pretty!
As I already said, the Duo is gorgeous, but it is mostly pushed to its best by what Apple does best: great integration of software and hardware. All of the subtle animations and tricks that make the transition from the outer to inner screen seamless are the types of details that really only Apple can make work. I LOOOVE that most of the UI buttons and elements are pushed to the sides while on the vertical screen, so that you can get more vertical space for your content. The evolution of browsers towards vertical windows has made a lot more people (me included) realize the power of having the most vertical real estate possible.
The star of this segment was Johny Srouji, flexing his new title as Apple's Chief Hardware Officer. The mechanism of the different layers of the screen being able to move independently is mechanical engineering genius, and I love that there's now a nano-texture finish iPhone screen. I just hope it makes its way to the rest of the lineup eventually.
Apple Pencil support is also great and makes a ton of sense, but I wish that this $2000 iPhone also worked with the Apple Pencil Pro and not just the standard Apple Pencil. Also, obligatory mention to this classic Steve Jobs clip presenting the original iPhone:
There is now an iPhone with official stylus support. It only took 19 years (and most cellphones dropping stylus support altogether)
The camera under the screen effect in the inner screen is both phenomenal but also makes me wonder why they didn't also include it on the iPhone 18 Pro but I will get to that one shortly. The only thing that made me raise an eyebrow is that this brand new, $2000 iPhone only has Touch ID. Apple has spent the last 10 years, ever since the release of the iPhone X, convincing people that Face ID is the future of privacy and convenience.
I totally agree: Face ID is phenomenal and gets better each year. And somehow, in this new phone that represents what Apple sees as the eventual future of mobile devices, we only get Touch ID??? Something that has existed since 2013? It would've made more sense if they put the Touch ID under the screen like most Android phones, but it is awkwardly placed in the little-ass power button. Also, screw left-handed people I guess?
Like I already stated twice, this is a $1999 dollar iPhone. Here in Mexico it's 48000 MXN. It is a definite luxury and is absolutely unattainable. I am old enough to remember the outrage around the $999 iPhone X. Funny how things evolve over time. But like that original iPhone X, I can't help but adore this new Duo. It is so pretty, it looks so fun to hold and use. I won't get one, obviously, but I absolutely understand anyone who does. I am really glad Apple made this. 7 years after the original Samsung Galaxy Fold, foldable phones have finally reached mass acceptance. I express this in prophetic perfect tense, because it is what Apple does best.
iPhone 18 Pro
The iPhone 18 Pro (and just the Pro, not the regular phones or the Air) are next. The expectation of the Duo made this a very boring segment so I won't spend too many words on it. I actually like the original, full-sized pill on my 14 Pro but I understand why they decided to shrink it. I really like that it now allows for 3 live activities to be on screen at once, a limitation that I've definitely hit once or twice before.
We also got the obligatory segments on how the new iPhone is great for gaming or whatever, but this was a very derivative iPhone release. It is also ridiculously expensive, especially because the Duo turned out to be slightly less expensive that I thought it would be. $1300 for a base, starting iPhone is nuts but RAMageddon comes for everyone. For such a price hike I at least hoped we would get silicon-carbon batteries 🤷🏻♀️.
AirPods 5 and Apple Watch Series 12
I don't really care much for these. The things that stood out to me the most in the new Apple Watch in particular is the "Readiness" score and the Recall feature which is great but I don't understand why this is a Watch-only feature, an iPhone could probably work perfectly too, as long as you had it out of your pocket, but I guess that is less common than just wearing the Apple Watch (my phone is in my pocket as I write this). The new physical assessments are also very interesting; I wish I could say I will be able to try them out with my own Watch but if they were really software only they would've probably popped up at WWDC in the summer, but we will see. And just like Apple, I will pretend the Ultra 4 doesn't exist.
Conclusions
The event itself was very interesting. I noticed that there was now faint background music while Ternus and others were talking. I am not sure I like it tbh, Apple events work best when there is nothing in the background to distract from what they're saying. I also didn't love Tim Cook's cameo in this. I think he could've been a great background character while they talked about the new iPhone or something but having the transition front and center in such an awkward way was weird.
There was also not a peep about any new Mac hardware (like, say, an alleged touchscreen MacBook). They didn't even mention the new M6 and M5 Ultra Macs announced like 2 weeks ago, but they will probably save that for a future event, maybe in mid-October or November.