Overview
- Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro as part of its September event, saying the model uses an A20 Pro chip and brings longer battery life, expanded on‑device AI and a revamped professional camera system.
- At the same event Apple introduced its first foldable, the iPhone Duo, with dual screens that support Apple Pencil, a titanium‑edge hinge and a premium starting price reported around ¥15,999 (roughly $2,000).
- Apple also launched a new Siri AI that will support multiple languages including Simplified and Traditional Chinese but will not be available in mainland China at initial rollout.
- Multiple reports and a supplier disclosure from Rongqi show initial shipments of the foldable will be very limited, and resale '代抢' and scalper activity are already driving extra fees and delivery workarounds such as 30‑minute flash delivery services.
- Industry context: rivals like Samsung and Honor are pushing their own imaging and foldable strategies, memory and component cost pressures have raised retail prices across the market, and Apple suppliers are being publicly tied to key foldable components and thermal testing.