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Apple’s new iPhone Duo may have been the headline act at the company’s September launch, but the foldable device appears to be only the beginning of a much broader product push under new CEO John Ternus. With Ternus now leading the company, Apple is preparing a series of hardware and software updates designed to reshape its product lineup around artificial intelligence, new form factors and a more connected smart-home ecosystem.

The iPhone Duo marked a major change for Apple, giving the company its first foldable smartphone and introducing a 7.6-inch internal display that folds into a more compact 5.4-inch outer screen. Starting at $1,999, the device represents Apple’s entry into a category that competitors have occupied for years. The launch also served as Ternus’ first major product event as CEO, putting his leadership and product strategy under an immediate spotlight.

But Apple did not wait long after the hardware event to shift attention toward software. On Monday, the company released iOS 27, bringing one of the biggest changes to Siri in years. The new Siri AI is designed to understand context more effectively, work across applications and perform more complicated tasks, while also introducing a standalone Siri AI experience.

The Siri overhaul is particularly important because artificial intelligence has become one of the industry's defining battlegrounds. Apple has faced growing pressure to demonstrate that its enormous hardware ecosystem can translate into a meaningful AI advantage. The company is now positioning Siri as a central interface that can connect information and actions across the iPhone, iPad, Mac and other Apple devices.

Some of the most advanced Siri AI capabilities require newer hardware, making Apple's chip strategy increasingly important. While iOS 27 supports a wide range of iPhones, many of the headline AI functions are limited to more recent devices. That gives Apple another reason to push customers toward newer hardware while maintaining software support for older generations.

Apple’s broader roadmap reportedly extends well beyond the iPhone and iPad. Reports indicate that the company is working on a substantial wave of new products across 2026 and 2027, including additional Mac and iPad updates, new smart-home hardware and entirely new product categories. Some of these projects remain unconfirmed by Apple and could change before launch.

Entry-level products are also expected to receive attention. Faster processors and refreshed components could make their way into lower-cost iPhones and iPads, allowing Apple to improve performance across more of its lineup rather than concentrating innovation exclusively on premium devices.

The company is also reportedly looking beyond traditional screens. Apple is developing smart-glasses technology that could eventually bring artificial intelligence into a lightweight wearable form. The project would give Apple another opportunity to compete in the rapidly developing AI-device market while leveraging its existing ecosystem of iPhones, Macs and cloud services.

Smart-home products are another major part of the reported strategy. Apple has been working toward a more comprehensive home platform that could incorporate AI, security and connected devices. Reports have pointed to products including a smart-home hub and home-security technology, potentially giving Siri a much larger role inside consumers’ homes.

That makes the Ternus era potentially much larger than a simple change in Apple's executive suite. The company is simultaneously entering foldables, expanding AI across its operating systems, exploring smart glasses and strengthening its smart-home ambitions. The iPhone Duo may have captured the attention of consumers, but the more significant story could be the product ecosystem Apple builds around it over the next several years.

For Ternus, the challenge will be turning that enormous pipeline into products that feel cohesive rather than simply adding more devices to Apple's catalog. His background in hardware makes the strategy particularly notable, as Apple attempts to use AI not as a standalone product category but as a layer connecting its existing ecosystem. The release of iOS 27 and its revamped Siri suggests that transformation is already underway.