Kudos, Apple! You kept the foldable iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro under wraps and surpassed my expectations

The foldable iPhone — called the iPhone Duo — and the iPhone 18 Pro models are now official as Apple CEO John Ternus wraps up this year’s event. But what really stuck out to me this time around is just how little we actually knew about the new iPhone models and what the company had been up to.

This is unprecedented

Usually, by the time the Apple event rolls around, everything has been spoiled way in advance by multiple sources. Last year, for example, there was literally nothing new for me to see when the event kicked off. It was like I was watching a script that I had been reading for months.

This time, though. Wow. We were so far off. All of the most reliable sources across the industry were so far off. It’s actually insane just how much Apple managed to keep under wraps.

Let’s talk iPhone Duo

We knew quite a bit about the iPhone Duo, but not nearly as much as we would have done had this year been the same as the last. For starters, the iPhone Duo doesn’t have wasted space in the corners of its external display, despite many rumors claiming that the screen would not reach the edges of the chassis.



But what about that under-display camera? I did not see that coming at all! The internal display is — rightly, in my opinion — a beautiful uninterrupted screen. Sure, the under-display camera will probably be just ever so slightly visible because of technological limitations, but I’d rather have this than a punch-hole camera.

iPhone 18 Pro. Just wow

Until the last second, no one was sure whether the iPhone 18 Pro would come with a variable aperture. In fact, very recent leaks showed tipsters convinced that only the iPhone 18 Pro Max would feature a variable aperture. They thought that Apple hadn’t been able to fit the new aperture in the iPhone 18 Pro.

But, lo and behold. Both iPhone 18 Pro models come with variable apertures. They also come with a smaller Dynamic Island, another change that no one could say for certain was going to take place.

Most insiders were convinced that the new Burgundy color for the iPhone 18 Pro models was called Dark Cherry. It isn’t, it’s Burgundy.



And another hilarious development, there’s a black color option for the iPhone 18 Pro models! Just today I was talking about how Apple should offer a black iPhone 18 Pro as well. The entire internet was convinced that black would be missing again like it was for the iPhone 17 Pro models last year.

I suppose Apple didn’t want to risk doing that because the base iPhone 18 and the iPhone Air 2 aren’t coming out right now to offer black alternatives. Both of those phones will allegedly release early next year alongside the iPhone 18e.

The Apple event was great, read all about it:

• Apple unveils the foldable iPhone Duo
• All of the iPhone 18 Pro colors you can choose from
• The camera upgrade that sets iPhone 18 Pro apart

Apple has rekindled my hopes for the iPhone 20 Pro

Reports have been coming out for some time now that Apple wants to make an iPhone 20 Pro next year to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the iPhone, skipping an iPhone 19 lineup. Recent reports have said that Apple will still have to include a punch-hole camera because of technical problems.

After what I’ve witnessed today at the event, I know I should be wary of any reports about Apple coming out at the moment. Clearly, the company has managed to plug a lot of leaks in its structure.

However, if the iPhone 20 Pro is happening, then I am now much more hopeful for the breakthrough that I’m so looking forward to. After all, if Apple has dared to move the camera below the display on its first-ever foldable flagship, it might just do the same thing next year for the iPhone 20 Pro.

Man… What an event, am I right? I haven’t enjoyed an Apple event this much in years. They really cut down on the fluff and delivered a lean, focused presentation. So much was successfully hidden from the leakers that, at one point, I was scared there wasn’t a foldable iPhone coming out this year at all.

Also, the way ex-CEO Tim Cook handed over the reins to John Ternus, possibly for the casual Apple fans who might not have been aware of the transition, was done really well. End of one era, start of another.

I can’t wait.

Six-month unlimited plan is now 57% off

$90

$210

$120 off (57%)

Mint Mobile is now allowing you to get whichever plan you like for either three, six, or 12 months for just $15/mo. If you go for the six-month unlimited service, for instance, you'll now have to pay just $90 upfront instead of $210.

Buy at Mint Mobile