Who’s Ready for the Dual Screen Era?

Our product picks are editor-tested, expert-approved. We may earn a commission through links on our site. Why Trust Us?Courtesy of Apple; Jason Speakman/MH Illustration4 min readTHIS YEAR, APPLE is embracing change. The tech behemoth is in a new era—longtime CEO Tim Cook stepped down at the start of the month, and his successor, John Ternus, took the reins right as the company unveiled its most ambitious gadget since the iPhone did away with the home button in 2017. That was the big news from the annual September keynote event at its HQ in Cupertino, California—but it wasn’t the only highlight.Ternus kicked off his first keynote with a speech about the place Apple’s products play in people’s lives, explaining the path forward in creating an intelligent personal hub—all powered by the iPhone. This year, Apple’s new products are embracing AI tools, ratcheting up the focus on high-level photography, and standardizing the health features available on its wearables. As a callback for real Apple fans, Tim Cook made an appearance in a video handoff to his successor.Ternus was also able to say the three most magic words you can hear at an Apple event: “One more thing…” This was the big news, as Apple officially entered the world of foldable phones with the iPhone Duo, a $2,000 device that introduces a whole new way to use its gear.Here's what you need to know about the next generation of Apple devices.AirPodsAirPods 5AppleThe standard version of Apple’s wireless buds will now give users more control. Active Noise Cancellation is now standard (previously only available in the more premium AirPods 4), and an upgraded version will provide even more ways to adjust its use.New internal architecture for improved Spatial AudioActive Noise Cancellation is 50 percent more effectiveSiri AI capabilities available hands-freeLive TranslationImproved battery$129PRE-ORDER AIRPODS 5AirPods 5 with Charging CaseOn-stem volume controlExtended battery lifeWireless charging case$149PRE-ORDER AIRPODS 5 WITH CHARGING CASEAvailable September 18Apple WatchThe ways users engage with Apple’s smartwatches are more similar than ever; most of the new features announced are available on both the standard Series 12 and the more rugged, powerful Ultra 4. The big highlight is new Health updates and Audio Intelligence features, which allow for on-device recording and transcription recaps.New health sensing system for better data capture on-wrist; Apple claims the most accurate heart rate tracking on a smartwatchRedesigned Health app with new readiness score and Health Age reading, longevity feature, and VO2 max testing​Audio Intelligence—features to help identify audio in the world around you, live audio recording, and Siri Recap recording on-watchNew S11 chipApple Watch Series 12 AppleRecycled aluminum: space grey black light gold bronzeTitanium: natural titanium and goldCeramic: pearl white and light blue24-hour batteryStarting at $399PRE-ORDER APPLE WATCH SERIES 12Available September 18Apple Watch Ultra 4AppleExtended battery life—two-day estimateBlack and Natural Titanium colors$799PRE-ORDER APPLE WATCH ULTRA 4Available September 18iPhoneApple is going all-in on premium for 2026. For the first time since introducing multiple device classes, the standard iPhone did not receive an update at the keynote. The Pro series and the new Duo give high-power users new tools and a form factor that will reimagine how people use their smartphones.iPhone 18 Pro and Pro MaxAppleApple’s premium handsets got more powerful, with a big boost for AI tasks and tools. But the biggest changes come in the camera system, which introduces a new adjustable aperture for more photo and video capabilities.Aluminum and glass designfour colors: Black, Silver, Glacier, and BurgundyUpgraded Apple Intelligence and Siri AI capabilitiesA20 Pro chip, which Apple claims is the fastest in any smartphoneNew thermal design for heat managementBest battery life in any iPhone and improved fast chargingNew advanced camera with aperture adjustment—48MP Fusion Main CameraNew photo and video features and Pro Controls, like shutter speed adjustment and focus trackingApple Reference Image feature to authenticate photosUpdated Dynamic IslandStarting at $1,199 for Pro/$1,299 for Pro Max; available for pre-order September 12; available for purchase September 18 iPhone DuoAppleHere it is: Apple’s entry into the foldable phone category. The company says it wants the device to feel like using an iPad, even in the smaller form factor (it’s about the size of a passport). While there are other foldable phones out there, it looks to redefine what it means to use a smartphone.Largest iPhone display ever, thinnest iPhone everCustom hinge mechanismMade of aerospace-grade titanium7.6-inch inner display, 5.4-inch outer displayApple Pencil capableNew Touch ID and Apple Watch unlocktwo colors: Star White and Night SkyIP68-rated for dust and water resistanceDual-screen functionalityA20 Pro chipAll-day battery life and fast chargingDual-camera system (48MP Fusion Ultrawide and 2x Telephoto)Center Stage front camera; inner FaceTime cameraStarts at $1,999, with storage from 256GB to 2TB; pre-order October 16, available October 23LEARN MORE ABOUT IPHONE DUOBrett Williams, NASM-CPT, PES, a senior editor at Men's Health, is a certified trainer and former pro football player and tech reporter. You can find his work elsewhere at Mashable, Thrillist, and other outlets.