Greetings, and welcome to another edition of the Rich On Tech Newsletter.
Before we get to the news of the week, I want to take a moment to reflect on September 11th.
As you might know, I grew up in New Jersey. You could see the Twin Towers from the top of my street, and going into New York City as a teenager was always a highlight and an adventure.
I was living in Los Angeles when I heard the news and immediately thought about my family back home. This was before social media, before the iPhone, before Facebook. You picked up the phone and called people. And that morning, getting through wasn’t easy. As they used to say, all circuits were busy.
Thankfully, my family was fine, but the impact of that day has stayed with me ever since. In many ways, it felt like the world lost some of its innocence on September 11th, and nothing was quite the same afterward.
It’s hard to believe it has been 25 years. There is now an entire generation that wasn’t there to witness what happened or experience the fear, sadness and uncertainty so many of us felt. So much changed in the aftermath, especially when it comes to security and air travel.
Even thinking about how I felt that day still brings a tear to my eye. I hope we never experience anything like it again.
Now, on to this week’s news. And this week, it’s all about Apple.
The iPhone Duo changes the foldable game
I’ve been covering the iPhone since the very first model launched in 2007.
At the time, I was working for CNET in New York City, and the anticipation was high. I covered the launch at Apple’s Fifth Avenue store, and I still remember the energy and excitement. I remember buying the phone and rushing it back to the CNET studios to immediately started making videos about it.
I’ve appreciated the iPhone ever since, but I haven’t felt that same kind of energy around one until this week.
Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, brought me right back to 2007.
Of course, foldable phones aren’t new. Samsung, Google and others have been making them for years. But Apple has taken an existing idea and rethought it from top to bottom, much like it did with the smartphone nearly two decades ago.
The basics: the iPhone Duo looks a bit like a passport when it’s closed, with a 5.4-inch screen on the outside. Open it up and you get a 7.6-inch display inside. It has Apple’s latest processor and a dual-camera system that should be more than capable for everyday photos, although you won’t get the company’s best Pro-level camera system.
It comes in black or white, and there’s no Face ID. Instead, Touch ID is built into the side button. The inside screen looks excellent and has an anti-reflective treatment that helps make the crease almost disappear. In fact, during my hands-on time, I didn’t even think about the crease until we specifically went looking for it.
Apple also managed an IP68 water- and dust-resistance rating, just like its Pro iPhones.
But specs aren’t what impressed me most. It’s the attention to detail.
Apple had years to watch other companies make foldables, figure out the pain points and build something that feels purpose-built from the beginning. And after spending a decent amount of hands-on time with it, I think the software is what really sets it apart.
Apple reworked iOS for the two displays. Apps can adapt as you move between the smaller outside screen and the larger inside display, and developers are already rethinking their apps to take advantage of all that extra space.
One thing Apple has clearly thought through is continuity. Moving between the different screen configurations feels natural instead of like you’re switching between two separate devices. Also, the frosted glass transition when you open and close the screen is just thoughtful.
This level of integration is something I haven’t consistently seen across Android foldables, where some apps still feel like they’ve simply been stretched onto a bigger screen.
There are other thoughtful touches. The iPhone Duo will support Apple Pencil, so that big inside screen can function like a proper digital notepad. It also has MagSafe, so magnetic chargers and accessories can snap onto the back.
And yes, it fits comfortably in a pocket. It’s obviously a little thicker and heavier than a typical iPhone, but I had no problem slipping it into either a front or back pocket. When it’s closed, it’s also easy to use one-handed.
The larger screen lets you run apps side by side. I could see myself working in one while watching a video.
Most importantly, it feels like the iPhone you know, just with more room.
For iPhone users who love watching videos, reading or browsing, this is a foldable I could recommend. For serious content creation, I’d still choose a Pro.
I’m calling it now: this thing is going to be a winner. I think Apple will sell out of the iPhone Duo even at its roughly $2,000 starting price.
Preorders begin October 16, and the iPhone Duo arrives October 23.
The iPhone 18 Pro is all about refinement
Now, let’s talk about everything else Apple announced at its event.
First, the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max. Interestingly, Apple did not announce a standard iPhone 18 this time around. We’re assuming that model is coming at some point, but for now, the focus is on the Pro models.
The biggest thing to know is that these are fairly incremental upgrades over last year.
There’s a new processor, better cooling and a promised battery-life boost I’m eager to test.
The camera gets one of the more interesting upgrades with a variable aperture. The lens can physically adjust how much light it lets in, and Apple is also giving photographers more manual-style controls.
One cool demo I saw showed how you can adjust the aperture when shooting bright lights to create that classic starburst effect. It’s the kind of creative control you typically associate with a traditional camera.
There are also two new colors, Glacier and Burgundy, alongside the standard black and silver.
Prices are going up. The iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,200, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max starts at $1,300. Preorders begin today, with availability September 18.
See what Apple did there? iPhone 18 on the 18th.
The Apple Watch is now listening
Apple Watch is already on Series 12, which is wild to me. Just like with the original iPhone, I was there for the launch of the original Apple Watch. Back then, it wasn’t nearly as focused on health and fitness as it is today, but it was exciting nonetheless. I can’t believe we’re already 12 generations in.
The redesigned Series 12 heart rate sensor takes readings every five seconds, Apple says, for a more detailed picture of your health.
A new Readiness Score uses activity, vitals and sleep to gauge how ready you are for the day, much like Oura. The Oura Ring still wins on sleeping comfort for me, especially compared with an Ultra.
Apple is also working on a redesigned Health app that should make all the information collected by your watch easier to understand.
But the most fascinating additions are what Apple calls Audio Intelligence.
The first is Sound Recognition. The Apple Watch or iPhone can listen for important sounds around you, including sirens, alarms, doorbells and babies crying, then alert you when one is detected. This could be especially useful for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Then there’s Live Rewind, arriving later this year.
Double-press the Digital Crown and your Apple Watch can show you a transcript of the previous 15 seconds of audio it heard. This demo caused quite the reaction among the group I was with.
Apple says the processing happens entirely on the device. Audio isn’t sent to the cloud, and there isn’t a recording sitting around waiting for you. If you don’t activate Live Rewind, that information disappears. If you do, you can take the resulting transcript and send it elsewhere, such as a notes app.
And then there’s an even more intriguing feature called Siri Recap, also arriving later this year.
Remember Bee? It’s that wearable I talked about a while back that listens throughout your day, transcribes conversations and uses them to create summaries and insights about your life.
Well, Apple has essentially built that concept into the Apple Watch.
Siri Recap can optionally listen to conversations and summarize them for later. I can see the appeal for a day full of meetings.
But it also raises an interesting question: Are we entering a world where we just have to assume that anything we say around other people could be captured by an ambient device?
Apple is approaching this with privacy in mind, and I generally trust the company when it comes to protecting personal data. Still, anytime you have a device listening throughout the day, there are going to be privacy questions.
One other feature is an upgraded Shazam experience. Similar to Now Playing on Google’s Pixel phones, the Apple Watch can automatically recognize music playing around you and display the song and artist right on your watch.
The Apple Watch Series 12 still starts at $399, with the usual assortment of colors, bands and finishes. I even tried on a $2,199 Hermès Grand H titanium band. Yes, that’s just the band. And I have to admit, I was kind of in love with it. No, I will not be buying one.
The Apple Watch Ultra 4 also gets the improved heart rate sensing along with better battery life, now up to two days. It still starts at $799, and cellular connectivity is included.
Cellular lets you leave your iPhone behind and still take calls, stream music and get notifications. Your carrier typically charges a monthly fee.
A quick update on AirPods
Apple introduced the AirPods 5, its new entry-level earbuds, and they’ve gotten really good for the price.
The biggest change is that active noise cancellation is now included on the base model. In my time with them, they sounded excellent, and the noise cancellation worked really well.
You also get Live Translation, which lets the AirPods help translate conversations in real time.
AirPods 5 start at $129. Step up to the $149 version and you get a wireless charging case, longer battery life and volume controls built into the stems.
So where does that leave the AirPods Pro 3?
The AirPods 5 have an open fit. The Pro 3 create a seal for better noise isolation and stronger noise cancellation.
AirPods Pro 3 also have built-in heart rate sensors, longer battery life, better water and dust resistance, and wireless charging included with the case. They sell for around $250.
My recommendation is pretty simple: For most casual listeners, AirPods 5 are now an excellent choice and probably all you need.
If you’re more serious about audio, want the strongest noise cancellation or spend a lot of time on airplanes, I’d still go with the AirPods Pro 3.
Sponsored by Surfshark
I get a lot of questions from readers about whether a VPN is actually worth using. For me, the answer is yes, especially when I’m traveling or just want a safer, cleaner experience online.
A VPN adds an extra layer of privacy by encrypting your internet connection, which is especially useful when you’re on hotel, airport or coffee shop Wi-Fi. It can also give you more control over where your internet connection appears to be coming from.
But one of the things I really like about Surfshark is that it goes beyond a basic VPN. It can help you browse the web more safely by checking websites you visit for potential threats, and it can block many of the ads and trackers that follow you around the internet. I think both of those features are incredibly useful for everyday browsing.
Surfshark is also simple to use, and one subscription covers an unlimited number of devices. That means you can protect your phone, laptop, tablet and the rest of the family’s devices without paying for each one separately.
Surfshark also includes Alternative ID, which lets you create an alternative email address. Surfshark One adds antivirus and data breach alerts.
Right now, Rich on Tech readers can get Surfshark for $2.39 a month plus 4 extra months, with a 30-day money-back guarantee.
Thanks to Surfshark for supporting Rich on Tech.
Your iPhone gets smarter Monday
If you’ve gotten this far and you’re not intrigued by upgrading to any of Apple’s new products, there’s good news: your existing iPhone is about to get a substantial upgrade.
iOS 27 arrives Monday, September 14 and if your iPhone runs iOS 26, it can handle 27.
Beyond last year’s Liquid Glass redesign, you can now adjust how clear or tinted it looks.
But the biggest change is Siri AI.
I’ve been running the beta on my everyday iPhone for a couple of months now, and I have to say, this is finally the Siri we’ve always wanted.
You can talk naturally and ask about information in your messages, emails, notes and supported apps. Siri can finally answer questions about your life.
That makes Siri feel much more like a personalized AI assistant, unlocking bits of information scattered across your phone and making them useful in ways that weren’t really possible before.
Apple processes much of this on your iPhone. More demanding requests use its specialized cloud without permanently storing your personal information.
It takes some getting used to because you have to retrain yourself to think differently about Siri.
My advice once you install iOS 27 is simple: Before you manually start tapping around your phone trying to accomplish something, ask Siri first.
Try asking it to find something buried in an email, create a note or send someone information from your screen.
If Siri can do it, great. If not, you can always go back to doing it the old-fashioned way.
My other favorite new feature is AI-generated Shortcuts.
I’ve never been a big Shortcuts person because building them always felt a little too much like programming. Now you can simply describe what you want your iPhone to do in natural language, and it can build the Shortcut for you.
Try describing a Shortcut that texts your ETA to your partner when you leave work, then automate it.
Beyond AI, there are stronger Screen Time controls and new Photos editing and sharing features.
There may even be a noticeable speed boost. Apple says app launches can be up to 30 percent faster on older supported iPhones, while AirDrop transfers can be up to 80 percent faster under its testing conditions.
Those two improvements alone give you a pretty good reason to update.
After months with the beta, I’m encouraged, though there’s no harm in waiting for the first bug-fix update.
You don’t need a new iPhone to get something new this year. On Monday, your current one is going to feel a little different and a lot smarter.
Keep in mind: The new Siri AI features require an iPhone 15 Pro or Pro Max, or an iPhone 16 or later.
Tech Tidbits
A website worth bookmarking: Normal Tools. It has 193 useful online tools for things like resizing images, counting words and converting files. Most tools run right in your browser, and the site says it doesn’t save what you enter.
Google has released a Gemini app for Windows that gives you quick keyboard shortcut access to Gemini. One thing it doesn’t appear to have yet is the voice-to-text typing feature available on the Mac version. Stay tuned.
And I’m kind of obsessed with Google Weather Lab. It uses AI to visualize weather patterns around the world in a very high-tech way, and I’ve found myself checking it every day. It’s experimental, so I wouldn’t rely on it for your actual forecast, but it’s incredibly cool to explore.
Meta has launched its own AI agent called Muse. It’s basically AI that gets personalized to you and can help accomplish tasks, even working in the background.
Feedbag
A few notes from viewers and listeners this week that made me smile.
K.B. wrote back after I helped with a pop-up problem: “You’re the best. I listen to your live show and past shows while riding my bike.” Now that’s multitasking.
Lynda checked back in after asking about a possible HP support scam. She says she’s now working on getting “all things checked out AND protected,” adding, “You sure DO help people, and I surely appreciate it!!”
MaryEllen was trying to pick the right processor for a new ASUS laptop and wrote back after my recommendation: “You’re the best! Thank you for your help.”
Patrick loves the show and says he wants even more ways to use ChatGPT. But he also offered some constructive feedback: “I do think you spend too much time on different phones as many of us have the same one for years.” Fair point, Patrick. Although after this week at Apple, I might need a temporary exemption.
And Melissa wrote, “Thank you for all you do to demystify technology for this senior citizen!” That pretty much sums up exactly what I hope to do every week.
And a quick note: I really do love hearing from you, but responses aren’t guaranteed. I read as much incoming mail as I can, and even if I don’t reply directly, I may save your note, mention it on the show, include it in the newsletter or use it on social media. I just can’t personally respond to every message I receive. Thanks for understanding!
That’s going to do it for this week.
Please tune in to the radio show today from 11 AM to 2 PM PT on KFI AM 640. You can catch the replay Sunday night at 8 PM ET on 710 WOR in New York, or just subscribe to the podcast and listen on demand whenever you want.
Have a fantastic week.
Rich