Apple has unveiled its latest generation of devices, and this year’s announcements contain some particularly interesting developments for businesses.
The headline launches include the new iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, the completely new foldable iPhone Duo, alongside AirPods 5, Apple Watch updates and the arrival of iOS 27.
But beyond the new devices and specifications, what could these changes actually mean for businesses and their employees?
iPhone 18 Pro – more than just a faster phone
The new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chip, with Apple putting a significant emphasis on performance, efficiency and on-device AI.
For business users, perhaps the more interesting development is Apple’s new C2 cellular modem, which Apple says provides faster uploads than its previous generation while using less power. The devices also support Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.
Battery life has also taken another step forward, with Apple quoting up to 36 hours of video playback on the iPhone 18 Pro and 45 hours on the Pro Max on eSIM-only models.
For employees who spend much of their working day away from the office, improvements to connectivity and battery performance can arguably be more valuable than another increase in processing power.
Apple enters the foldable market
Perhaps the biggest surprise is the iPhone Duo – Apple’s first foldable iPhone.
Opened, the device provides a 7.6-inch inner display, while the outside features a 5.4-inch screen. Apple has also introduced Split View, allowing two apps to run side-by-side.
For business users, that could be genuinely useful.
Imagine having an email open alongside your calendar, reviewing a document while on a Teams call, or accessing your CRM alongside customer information without constantly switching between applications.
The iPhone Duo also uses the same A20 Pro processor as the Pro models and is eSIM-only worldwide. UK pre-orders aren’t until 16 October, with availability from 23 October, and it starts at £1,999, so it certainly sits at the premium end of the market.
eSIM continues to become more important
One development we’re particularly interested in from a business mobile perspective is Apple’s continued move towards eSIM.
The iPhone Duo is eSIM-only worldwide, while Apple is expanding eSIM-only versions of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max into additional markets. Apple specifically lists UK networks including EE, O2, Vodafone and Three among carriers supporting eSIM.
Physical SIM cards aren’t disappearing from UK iPhones overnight, but the direction of travel is becoming increasingly clear.
For businesses managing multiple mobile users, eSIM can make provisioning and changing mobile connectivity considerably more flexible.
Apple Intelligence and the new Siri
Apple is also making AI a much bigger part of the iPhone experience.
iOS 27 introduces the next generation of Apple Intelligence and a new Siri AI, which Apple says can use personal
context, information on screen and data from areas such as messages, emails and photos to provide more useful assistance. Siri AI begins rolling out in beta with iOS 27.
For businesses, we’re likely to see AI become increasingly integrated into everyday mobile working rather than existing as a separate application.
That could mean helping employees find information faster, manage communications, work between applications and perform everyday administrative tasks directly from their phone.
AirPods are becoming a business tool too
Apple also announced AirPods 5, with improved Active Noise Cancellation, Siri AI integration and Live Translation.
Live Translation is particularly interesting for people travelling internationally or communicating with customers and colleagues who speak different languages. The feature requires compatible Apple devices, current software and Apple Intelligence.
For employees already using their iPhone for business calls, Teams meetings and video conferencing, AirPods are increasingly becoming part of the wider mobile working setup rather than simply headphones.
What does it mean for your business?
New handset launches inevitably generate interest, but upgrading every employee to the latest iPhone isn’t necessarily the right answer.
At Cedaro, we’d always recommend looking at what each user actually needs from their mobile.
Some employees may benefit from the additional performance and battery life of the iPhone 18 Pro. Others may find the multitasking capabilities of the iPhone Duo particularly useful. For many users, however, an existing handset combined with the right SIM-only tariff may still provide everything they need.
The important thing is making sure that your devices, mobile network, data allowances, roaming requirements and security all work together.
If you’re considering upgrading your business mobiles following Apple’s latest announcements, speak to Cedaro and we can look at the options available across your business.
