Apple to make big iPhone changes
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The gist
Apple announced the iPhone Duo, its first foldable iPhone, at its September 9 event in Cupertino.
It's the biggest design change in the iPhone's nearly 20-year history.
Background
The iPhone's shape has stayed essentially the same since 2007 — a rectangular slab of glass. Foldable phones have been commercially available since 2018 but remain a tiny slice of the smartphone market, and Apple has faced pressure for a new hit product after the Vision Pro headset and iPhone Air failed to resonate. The launch also tests new CEO John Ternus, who took over last week.
How it unfolded
- Sep 5, 2026Macworld previews the event, reporting Apple will dramatically change the iPhone's form factor for the first time in over a decade.
- Sep 8, 2026The New York Times reports Apple is expected to unveil a foldable smartphone at its annual Cupertino event, citing three people familiar with the work.
- Sep 9, 2026Apple announces the iPhone Duo, its first foldable smartphone, at its event in Cupertino.
Who’s saying what
- Analysts
- The new phone will test Apple's ability to take niche products and technology into the mainstream, per the New York Times.
- Caution
- Foldables have been commercially available since 2018 but still make up only a tiny slice of the smartphone market, the Times notes.
Still unverified
The New York Times report ahead of the event relied on three people familiar with the work who spoke anonymously; pre-event details such as the foldable design were expectations, not confirmed until Apple's September 9 announcement. Separately, MacRumors and Cult of Mac rumors about a 20th-anniversary 'iPhone XX' in 2027, solid-state buttons, and iPhone 18 Pro specs remain unconfirmed.