September 9, 2026. Cupertino, California. 9:41 a.m. What’s a tech journalist to do in Apple’s hometown without an official invitation to the “Surprise and Shine” event, which revealed the iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, AirPods 5 and new Apple Watches? Well, one option was to get together with Apple fanboys and fangirls at the Apple Park Visitor Center.
Before heading to the point of sale, I asked Siri AI, “Do you think there is anything happening at the Apple Park Visitor Center for the general public?” ”, to which the personal assistant replied: “During special events like WWDC or product launches, the Apple Park Visitor Center becomes a hub for the public. In addition to broadcasting the keynote speech on a large screen, the center often offers exclusive event-themed merchandise.
I quickly learned that Siri was probably confused, as the media also attends the official activations inside the Visitor Center. Additionally, it is the only Apple Store with exclusive products, but it is not focused on today’s talk. As would be the case on any other day, the store opened at 10 a.m., precisely when the event began. Apple employees cheered as I and a few enthusiasts entered the store. When asked if they would use the huge Today At Apple screen to broadcast the event, an employee told me they wouldn’t because the Apple Store could quickly reach capacity and it would disrupt the overall flow of the store. They suggested we watch the event in the Apple TV section of the store instead.
POV: Watching the biggest Apple event of the year in front of Apple Park
José Adorno/BGR
During the 77-minute Apple presentation, the crowd’s attention seemed to peak during the announcement of the iPhone 18 Pro. At that point, around 30 people gathered around the Apple TV area, while another ten watched from the Studio Displays. The store was mostly empty at first, but by the time the iPhone Duo was introduced, it was filled with customers, even if they weren’t necessarily paying attention to the keynote.
Throughout the store, it was possible to hear some people discussing the announcements, asking Apple Store employees if they could buy the products today, but generally just shopping. In the end, more than 20 people attended the presentation. There were customers from all over the world and when the iPhone Duo appeared, a content creator was recording their reaction live. Most other viewers, however, just watched without any “oohs” or “ahhs.”
After the presentation, an Italian customer said: “I love the iPhone Duo because it reminds me of the iPad mini, I think it’s very useful. Now I can only have one device.” Two Brazilian customers were wondering if they should get the new Apple devices before returning home this weekend, but they will have to wait until September 18 for the iPhone 18 Pro. After the speech ended, most people around the Apple TV headed to the Apple Store to check out the current device offerings, but the commotion ended alongside the streaming.
What Apple revealed at its Fall 2026 event
At Apple’s latest fall event, Tim Cook officially passed the torch to new CEO John Ternus, as he headlined the keynote speech, including the introduction of the iPhone Duo. Beyond the foldable phone, Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The new phones feature extended battery life, a more powerful A20 Pro chip, and an improved vapor chamber delivering better sustained performance while keeping the device cooler than its predecessor.
In the Apple Watch department, the new Series 12 and Ultra 4 feature an all-new back sensor that tracks the user’s heart rate every five seconds. The 12 series also added a tougher screen. The AirPods 5, on the other hand, have improved sound quality and ANC for both models, although they still have an open-ear design.
Finally, the iPhone Duo is Apple’s answer to the explosion of foldable phones. It can be used in several different ways, features a hidden internal camera that disappears when not in use, and has a nano-textured finish to combat glare while also hiding the foldable crease. These reveals may not have drawn a huge crowd to the Apple Park Visitor Center, but those who attended are probably already gearing up to get their pre-orders in place.
