Tech Brew Ride Home - The iPhone Duo

Starting point is 00:00:04 Welcome to the Tech Roo Ride Home for Wednesday, September 9th, 2026. I'm Brian McCullough today. Apple unveiled its first foldable, the $1,99-Dou, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max with a new A20 Pro Chip, AirPods 5 with 50% more noise cancellation and Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. Here's what you miss today in the world of tech. If you are anything like me, you're tracking every metric your wearables can give you. The hardest one to track, though, is the same one impacting almost all of your other metrics, how the temperature of your bed affects your sleep. That's where the pod comes in.

Starting point is 00:00:48 The pod by 8th sleep is a smart mattress cover that goes over your existing mattress and actively cools or heats each side of the bed independently from 55 to 110 degrees Fahrenheit. It tracks your sleep heart rate, HRV, and respiratory rate throughout the night without sleeping in a wearable. What I love about the 8th sleep is the simplest thing. the ability to be cool when it's time to go to sleep and warm when it's time to wake up. And it's entirely under my control. My wife can be whatever temperature she wants on her side of the bed to. Use code ride home at 8Sleep.com slash ride home for up to $350 off the pod five.

Starting point is 00:01:25 That's code right home at 8Sleep.com slash ride home. All right, let's do this. Apple Event. Let's start like they did with everything other than the foldable iPhone. that Apple announced today. Of course, it was John Ternis' first Apple event, and he sort of reintroduced himself at the beginning before jumping right into the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max lineup, quoting the verge. Apple announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max at its event today. The 18 Pro and Pro Max come in deep black, silver glacier, and burgundy with color-matched back glass. They also have a new A-20 Pro chip,

Starting point is 00:02:06 and purportedly the longest battery ever in an iPhone. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 for $256 gigabytes of storage, a $100 increase over the iPhone 17 Pro, while the 18 Pro Max starts at $1,299 also for 256 gigabytes of storage. Pre-orders begin September 12th ahead of availability on September 18th. The A20 Pro has a brand new architecture built on 2-nanmeter technology like Apple's M6, chip. It has a six-core CPU with two desktop class supercores and four efficiency cores. It also has a significantly advanced GPU with a seven-core design that enables a 40% increase in performance,

Starting point is 00:02:48 according to Apple. Apple has also added a second neural engine for a total of 32 NPU cores. In addition, the iPhone 18 Pro has a next generation vapor chamber with three times the surface area as the one in the 17 Pro to help cool the phone. The iPhone 18 Pro has all day battery life compared to the iPhone 17 Pro Max, according to Rich Dinn, VP of hardware engineering. Video playback is 36 hours for the iPhone 18 Pro and the 18 Pro Max gets 45 hours. Apple says just 15 minutes of wired charging provides six hours of video playback for the iPhone 18 Pro. The 18 Pro also offers the biggest camera improvement in years, according to Apple, including a 48 megapixel variable aperture main camera with six blades thinner

Starting point is 00:03:36 than a human hair in darker environments, the aperture opens up to lead in more light, which means that night mode captures will be faster with better quality, Apple says. As for video, you can now take 4K resolution time-lapse videos in Dolby Vision HDR. Apple is also offering pro controls to give you more manual control over your camera, like changing shutter speed to tweak motion blur. Pro controls are available for both photos and videos. There are improvements to photographic styles offering texture and grain control, and Apple will support Google's Synth ID content authenticity protocol,

Starting point is 00:04:09 as well as a new Apple reference image standard. A smaller dynamic island on the iPhone 18 Pro line can now also show three live activities at once, end quote. And quoting and gadget. It makes sense for the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max to be slightly boring. Apple likely wants the spotlight on its foldable this year, and those pro models mainly exist as an upgrade path for people who don't want to jump to an entirely new form factor. The increased focus on the iPhone 18 Pro's cameras also makes them far more useful for pros. From the sample videos and photos Apple showed off during its launch live stream, it looks

Starting point is 00:04:45 like these photos will be able to handle complex low-light shots in ways never before possible with Apple's hardware. As usual, Apple also used its latest phone to film the entire launch event. The new variable aperture feature is reserved for the iPhone 18 Pro's 48 megapixel fusion main camera, so you won't be able to use it on the telephoto or ultra-wide lenses. You'll be able to dial the aperture all the way to create a soft background focus but also allow you to shoot videos in very low light. Apple is also introducing a new reference image mode that will sign photos taken by the iPhone 18 Pro to confirm their authenticity.

Starting point is 00:05:23 You can view them in the Photos app where they'll work like a digital native to visually compare the two assets and determine if any edits were made according to Apple. Thanks to the A20 Pro chip, Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro Max offers 40% more sustained performance than the iPhone 17 Pro and twice as much as the 16 Pro. Apple also claims the A18 Pro has 36 hours of battery life while the 18 Pro Max will run up to 48 hours. Sadly, Apple hasn't been able to get rid of its front-facing dynamic island cutout yet, but this time around it at least takes up less of the screen. The dynamic island can also expand to cover three live activities at once, Apple is pretty much stuck with the dynamic island since it relies on complex sensors for face ID. Android phones by comparison only need a small circular cutout for front-facing cameras.

Starting point is 00:06:11 Design-wise, I'll miss the bright orange from last year's iPhone 17 Pro, which appears to be a sign that Apple was finally moving toward bolder color options. The new burgundy color looks luxurious, but it certainly doesn't pop as much to the eye. The pro lineup has always been the best option for demanding iPhone users. they're thicker and heavier than the standard iPhone, but in exchange, you typically get more powerful hardware, multiple cameras, and a few exclusive new features. The situation is very different this year, though, as I bet many pro users will be tempted toward the iPhone duo. It's the most significant change Apple has made to its mobile lineup since the iPhone 10 launched almost a decade

Starting point is 00:06:47 ago in 2017, and it finally lets Apple users get in on the foldable phone trend that Android has offered for years. Personally, I can see myself giving up a few camera features to get the Duo's ability to transform into a mini tablet. You can pre-order the iPhone 18 Pro this Saturday, September 12th, thanks to the RAM and storage pricing crunch. Both models are $100 more than before. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199, and the 18 Pro Max starts at $1299, end quote. Again, I'm going to underline a few things that we mentioned here.

Starting point is 00:07:20 The 2-nometer A-20 Pro chip features a six-core CPU with two desktop class supercores, core GPU up to 40% faster and 32 neural engine cores in total. And the iPhone 18 Pro has a faster 48 megapixel fusion main camera with variable aperture that lets in around 50% more light and low light situations along with enhanced camera control apps. Then Apple introduced two AirPods 5 models with active noise cancellation that removes up to 50% more noise than AirPods 4 for $129 or $149. with a wireless charging case, quoting 9 to 5 Mac.

Starting point is 00:08:00 Here are the new features for AirPods 5, 50% more noise reduction compared to AirPods 4, redesign internals, next-generation adaptive EQ, personalized spatial audio sounds better, up to 20 hours of battery life with the case. There are two versions of the AirPods 5, but both include active noise cancellation support with AirPods 4, only the high-end model included AMC support.

Starting point is 00:08:25 AirPods 5's higher-end model adds these features on-stem volume controls similar to AirPods Pro, longer battery life, wireless charging case, AirPods 5 starts at 129, the same starting price as AirPods 4, but now with ANC included. The higher-end AirPods 5 with wireless charging case costs $149. They'll be available for pre-order today and ship Friday, September 18th, end quote. And then there is the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 with a new S-11 ship, upgraded health tracking and audio intelligence feature, a readiness feature, and more quoting 9 to 5 Mac again.

Starting point is 00:09:03 While both new models feature a familiar design and upgraded heart rate monitor is key to the new health sensing system. For example, the new system now measures heart rate data every five seconds, a 60x frequency increase over previous models. Apple is also measuring HRV every five minutes. The new system is called the most accurate heart rate sensor in a wearable, according to Apple. Apple is also introducing a new.

Starting point is 00:09:26 readiness feature. This is based on activity vitals and sleep data. Readiness is a new feature based on activity vitals and sleep data. Additionally, Apple is adding a new audio intelligence feature to Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. This includes sound recognition like doorbells. There's also a live rewind feature that lets you go back 15 seconds to transcribe what someone just said. It's invoked by double-clicking the digital crown, which used to be for multitasking. Apple has published a new support document that details what audio intelligence does and how it works. Apparently, Siri Recaps is another new feature. When enabled, it can summarize things like meetings based on audio notes. Apple Watch also gains a new Siri modular face as part of the new system. Apple Watch Series 12

Starting point is 00:10:11 and Ultra 4 run on Apple's new S11 chip. It includes A20 pro-derived CPU, GPU, and neural engine components. Colors include space gray, black, light gold, and bronze aluminum. Ceramic shield 2 protects the front glass. Radiant gold and natural make up the polished titanium finishes. Ceramic returns in pearl white and a new dark blue feature. Hermes adds gold to the lineup. Apple Watch Ultra4 includes a larger battery with over two days of battery life. Black and natural titanium remain the two finish options.

Starting point is 00:10:41 There's also a new titanium band. Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are available for pre-order from today. Both launch on September 18th. Pricing remains the same as the Series 11 and Ultra 3 from 399 and 799. respectively, end quote. And now, on to the main event. Cyber threats can pop up where you least expect them to. Like when you're focusing on today's threats, while AI is changing the entire landscape of cybersecurity right under your nose. Rubrik can help prepare your organization to handle this new world of cybersecurity. With Rubrik,

Starting point is 00:11:21 you get one platform that secures your data, controls your AI, and protects your identity. Learn more at rubric.com slash mb. That's rubr-ir-i-k.com slash mb. Is your multi-entity management creating more confusion than clarity you need the Intuit ERP, Intuit Enterprise Suite? It's the AI-Native ERP solution that's powerful, painless, and proven. Learn more at Intuit.com slash ERP. Here are all the details on the iPhone duo in less than 10 minutes, give a take. Apple's new foldable phone with a 5.4-inch outer display, a 7.6 inch inner display was announced

Starting point is 00:12:09 today with an A20 Pro chip, a new display engine, and touch ID, quoting the verge. The traditional iOS 27 controls move to the side to make them easier to use when the phone is open, keeping them in easy reach of your thumb. iOS 27 also adjusts the layout of every app to take advantage of the increased interior real estate and the wider aspect ratio of the external screen. When open, the iPhone Duo will show two home screens with Today View, a scrollable list of widgets on the left-hand side and your standard app icons on the right. Status icons like Wi-Fi and the clock move from a standard status bar to the top right corner to maximize vertical screen real estate.

Starting point is 00:12:51 iOS 27 also has a unique standby mode for the duo that basically turns it into a smart display, place it on a table in a tent orientation and full-screen widgets will appear to display your calendar, the weather, or turn the iPhone Duo into a digital photo frame. iPhone Duo is also the first iPhone to support Apple Pencil, and you can use it on either the outer or inner display, though the feature might not be available at launch as Apple Press releases say it will support Apple Pencil with USBC, quote, later this year, end quote. And quoting TechCrunch. Unlike early iterations of photobles, which looked like vertical slabs, Apple adopted a wider form factor that could aid in a better aspect ratio while watching videos when the device is unfolded. The unfolded display is a 7.6-inch retina display and the outer display is 5.4 inches.

Starting point is 00:13:41 The company said that the new device was inspired by the versatility of iPad and also showed how people can use it unfolded in a vertical mode. The inner display also features an under-display camera that can give users an all-success. screen feel. Apple said that it used custom nanotechure finishes to hide the crease and reduce glare. Most votables still have a visible crease, but companies like Apo have made strides toward an almost seamless phone. The company claimed that its hinge was created using a grade 5 aluminum and over 100 special components for smooth opening and closing and durability. Notably, the device only has touch ID with face ID completely missing. You can unlock the device using

Starting point is 00:14:25 the Apple Watch, though. The device is powered by the new A20 Pro Chip and C2 model, which allows for faster uploads, just like last year's iPhone Air. This particular model is ESIM only. On the battery front, the company said that with the inner display, users can get 31 hours of video playback and with the outer display 44 hours of video playback. The phone features a 48 megapixel fusion main camera and a 48 megapixel ultra-wide camera with 2X optical zoom. This does dual camera setup skips a telephoto camera entirely. Just like other foldables, users can take rear camera selfies and look at previews on the outer display. It also has a Google Pixel-like feature that plays an animation on the outer display, which is useful when you are trying to get

Starting point is 00:15:10 kids to focus while taking photos. There is also a smart take feature that uses an on-device model and snaps an image when all subjects within the frame are posing. The company has also made iOS S-27 adaptable to the new foldable, a central controls like Wi-Fi move to the side and dock on the home screen, vertically oriented. Users can use apps in split screen and also pair the apps. If someone is using the phone vertically, they can pin a video on top and use other apps on the bottom half. One of the fascinating features is that users will be able to use the iPhone half-folded or even set it on a table. Apple noted that later this year the device will also support Apple pencil usage. The iPhone Duo is priced at $1,999 with 256 gigabytes of storage and comes in two colors.

Starting point is 00:15:58 Pre-orders for Apple's new foldable begin October 16th, and the device will be available on October 23rd, end quote. Quoting Mac rumors. The two halves of the iPhone Duo connect into a single continuous frame with the same aspect ratio across both displays. And Apple said the transition between open and closed is designed to feel fluid. When fully open, Apple says it is the thinned. iPhone ever made with an architecture that packages its components into the camera plateau. The frame is machined and polished titanium with ceramic shield on the back and ceramic shield two on the front, and the device carries an IP68 rating. iPhone Duo comes in two colors,

Starting point is 00:16:38 star white, and night sky. Touch ID is built into the side button and the device can also be unlocked using an Apple Watch. A custom hinge made from more than 100 tiny precision components holds the display flat when open and controls the folding motion. Apple said the structure uses a multi-layered lamination design with viscoelastic adhesives that let the display's layers glide against each other during folding like, quote, pages and a book preventing distortion over time. A titanium plate forms the bottom layer for additional durability with carbon fiber support plates creating a stiff lightweight base for the display to rest on.

Starting point is 00:17:16 The inner display measures 7.6 inches, which Apple said is 50% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro Max and 80% larger than the iPhone 18 Pro, while the outer display is 5.4 inches and offers 90% of the screen area of the iPhone 18 Pro. Apple pencil support is coming to both displays later this year. For the display itself, Apple said it created a custom nanotexture finish that cuts down on glare and reflections. The company also described a separate micro lens texture produced using maskless laser lithography that writes each lens pixel by pixel, which it said creates a perceptually flat matte finish that minimizes the visibility of the fold crease while still feeling premium to the touch, end quote. Hey, want some hands-on impressions?

Starting point is 00:18:04 Well, the verge has them for you, quote, It definitely feels like something different. The inner screen has a decidedly matte finish that handled even some good. glare from the windows above the hands-on area well. The folding mechanism is smooth and even IP68 rated, and the crease is almost impossible to find with my finger. The 5.4-inch outer screen looks petite by modern slab phone standards, though. The real show happens when you open and close the phone. Rather than just switching one screen off and lighting the other one up, there's a gradual transition that happens, and it looks as if the contents of the screen come into focus as it moves

Starting point is 00:18:40 toward its final position. It's a pretty nice touch, and I also saw the phone positioned in laptop mode with Netflix on the inner screen, displaying controls on the bottom half before fading them away. There's also the usual tricks in tent mode where you'll get standby even if you don't have the phone plugged in. I'm very curious to see what that does to battery life, end quote. Nothing more for you today. Processing, processing, processing, processing, hitting publish soon.

Tech Brew Ride Home - The iPhone Duo

There aren't comments yet for this episode. Click on any sentence in the transcript to leave a comment.