Breaking down everything Apple just revealed at its flagship event

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WHAT WE’RE TRACKING TONIGHT

Urban inflation slows down in August

Good afternoon, folks, and congratulations on making it to the weekend. Today we unpack Apple’s latest launches — which, in fact, include a foldable iPhone — review a Netflix family drama with a sensational lead, and catch up on what the pitches have in store for the weekend.

Also in today’s issue, urban inflation defies forecasts and eases to a slowdown in August, and Trump makes questionable fiscal decisions.

But first, the news…

THE BIG STORY TODAY-

📍 Urban inflation slowed to 14.5% in August, defying forecasts of a pickup — and undershooting the central bank’s near-term call. Annual urban inflation eased from 14.9% in July, according to Capmas data (pdf), even as a Reuters poll of 17 analysts had pointed to an acceleration to 15.5% — with the softest forecast in the range at 14.6%, still above the actual results. Prices rose just 0.1% m-o-m, according to the data.

Why it matters: The softer results come ahead of the CBE’s next MPC meeting on 24 September — one of three left this year, with 29 October and 17 December to follow — and hand the banks committee a data point the August guidance didn’t anticipate. The bank has room to wait either way.

^^We’ll have more on this story in Sunday’s edition of EnterpriseAM.

The mechanics of retail with Baraka’s Ahmed Ragab: After almost 50 years of competition, why would two companies choose to merge? Is it as simple as the big entity buying the smaller one, or is there more to the story?

On this episode of Making It, Ahmed Ragab, CEO and partner at Baraka Retail Group, joins Patrick to share how things actually played out for him.

Listen to the episode on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Anghami | YouTube

Sign up to our newsletter to get Making It in your inbox.

THE BIG STORY ABROAD-

🌐 Leading the digital pages this afternoon is US President Donald Trump’s shocking — and fiscally questionable — proposal to pay every US adult USD 5k if Republicans retain control of Congress in November’s midterm elections, made during the GOP’s first-ever convention held in the middle of a US presidential term. Trump didn’t clarify how this would be funded, and with approximately 270 mn adult Americans, the payout would cost well over USD 1 tn. This is Trump’s final presidential term, and his financial enticement comes as the GOP faces weakening popularity ahead of November’s midterms.

^^Read more on: Bloomberg, BBC, CNBC, Reuters, and The Guardian.

MEANWHILE- The US president said on Wednesday that he expects the war with Iran to end after the midterm elections, which are nearly two months away, and threatened to attack a nuclear site associated with the Islamic Republic. He says oil prices are likely to tumble downward only after the elections. Oil extended gains earlier today, with Brent crude currently at USD 102.2 per barrel and WTI jumping to USD 97.5 per barrel, as of the time of publication.

^^Read more on: Bloomberg, CNBC, and Reuters.

IN OTHER NEWS- Traders are anticipating a quarter-point interest rate hike by the European Central Bank today, taking the rate to 2.5%, its highest since March 2025. This comes amid surging oil prices and inflation driven by the escalating US-Iran war.

^^Read more on: CNBC, Reuters, and The Financial Times.

** CATCH UP QUICK on the top stories from today’s EnterpriseAM:

Misr for Central Clearing, Depository, and Registry has entered final testing for its centralized securities lending and borrowing system, with a limited pilot launch scheduled for November alongside the EGX, the FRA, and select brokerages;
Mediterranean-focused oil producer Energean is nearing an agreement with the Egyptian General Petroleum Corp. to merge three concessions — Abu Qir, North El Amriya, and North Idku — into a single concession with improved fiscal terms and higher gas pricing, paving the way for it to double production in the country;
Egypt’s auto market grew 15.6% y-o-y in July to 18k units (+3.3% m-o-m), with buses and trucks once again outpacing passenger cars. Passenger cars — still the largest slice at 71% of volume — rose 4.1% m-o-m to 12.9k units, while buses jumped 62% to 1.8k units and trucks climbed 37.3% to 3.3k units.

☀️ TOMORROW’S WEATHER- The calendar says summer is winding down; Cairo’s weather didn’t get the memo. Expect a sunny high of 34°C in the capital this weekend, with temperatures falling to 23°C overnight, according to our favorite weather app.

Breaking down everything Apple just revealed at their flagship event

🍎📱 Apple has finally folded the iPhone. At its “Surprise and shine” event on 9 September at the Steve Jobs Theater, the company unveiled its first foldable — the iPhone Duo — alongside the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5. The keynote was the first major Apple event under CEO John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook on 1 September. The event was livestreamed on Apple’s website, the Apple TV app, and the tech giant’s YouTube channel.

Notably absent from the keynote were a standard iPhone 18, new iPad or Mac hardware, and a Vision Pro update. Apple didn’t announce those products during the event, leaving their launch timing unconfirmed.

iPhone Duo: Apple folds, at last

The iPhone Duo is built around a passport-style design — and at 5.2 mm unfolded, it’s Apple’s thinnest iPhone yet. The frame is Grade 5 titanium, with Ceramic Shield on the back and Ceramic Shield 2 (3x more scratch-resistant than its predecessor) on the outer display. It comes in Star White and Night Sky, a dark blue, and has an IP68 rating for water and dust resistance.

Two screens, both flagship-grade: The Duo has a 5.4-inch outer Super Retina XDR display and a 7.6-inch inner Super Retina XDR display with a nano-texture finish to reduce glare and minimize crease visibility. Both screens feature ProMotion, Always On, and up to 3k nits of peak outdoor brightness. An under-display FaceTime camera keeps the inner screen uninterrupted, while Apple Pencil support is set to arrive later this year.

What’s under the hood: The model runs on the 2nm A20 Pro chip, with a six-core CPU, seven-core GPU, and Dual 16-core Neural Engine. Apple says the CPU is up to 20% faster, the GPU up to 40% faster, and unified memory bandwidth 50% higher than the previous generation. The chip also supports hardware-accelerated ray tracing and is paired with a custom vapor chamber for improved sustained performance.

Touch ID replaces Face ID, while Camera Control and Siri Camera mode add new ways to interact with the camera, which drops to a 48MP Dual Fusion system — a 48MP Fusion Main camera, optical-quality 2x Telephoto, and 48MP Fusion Ultra Wide. The Duo also supports Split View, multiple windows, app pairs, an upgraded StandBy mode, and iOS 27 features designed specifically for the foldable form factor.

Can the battery keep up with two screens? The dual-battery design provides up to 31 hours of video playback on the inner display, 44 hours on the outer display, or 24 hours with both screens used equally. It reaches 50% charge in around 20 minutes, or 50% wirelessly in around 30 minutes. The device is eSIM-only worldwide and includes Apple’s N1 wireless chip for Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6, and Thread, alongside the C2 cellular modem.

PRICE AND RELEASE DATES- The iPhone Duo starts at USD 1,999 for 256GB, with storage options up to 2TB. Preorders open 16 October, with availability beginning 23 October.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

The specs: The iPhone 18 Pro has a 6.3-inch display, while the Pro Max has a 6.9-inch display. Both feature a smaller Dynamic Island that can display three Live Activities simultaneously, and come in black, silver, glacier blue, and the much-anticipated burgundy. This line runs on the same chip as the Duo, the A20 Pro. Battery life reaches up to 36 hours of video playback on the Pro and 45 hours on the Pro Max, and both support wired charging to 50% in 15 minutes.

The camera gets an upgrade: The 48MP Fusion Main camera comes with a physical variable aperture, giving users greater control over light and depth of field. Pro Controls add manual adjustments for aperture, shutter speed, white balance, and ISO, while smart focus tracking and updated Photographic Styles add further creative control. Apple Reference Image creates an unalterable reference image to help verify photo authenticity. Video upgrades include Cinematic Video at 60fps and 4K Dolby Vision HDR time-lapses.

PRICES AND RELEASE DATES- The Pro starts at USD 1,199 and the Pro Max at USD 1,299, with preorders opening 12 September and availability beginning 18 September.

Apple Watch Series 12

Apple Watch Series 12 introduces a redesigned Health Sensing System, with more frequent heart-rate and heart-rate variability measurements and a new Readiness score that assesses activity, training load, vitals, and sleep. A new Health Age feature shows how health metrics are tracking relative to a user’s age.

The S11 chip powers new Audio Intelligence features — Sound Recognition, Live Rewind, and Siri Recap — alongside more accurate step tracking, Ceramic Shield 2 on aluminum models, and faster charging. Series 12 is available in a ceramic case — a first — with Pearl White and Night Blue finishes, alongside aluminum and titanium options. Battery life remains up to 24 hours.

PRICE AND RELEASE DATES- Series 12 starts at USD 399, with preorders available and retail availability beginning 18 September.

Apple Watch Ultra 4

The Ultra 4 gets the same Health Sensing System and Readiness features, reading heart rate every five seconds and HRV up to 24x more frequently than before. Where it separates from the Series 12 is endurance: 50 hours of everyday use, rising to 84 hours in low power mode, and up to 45 hours of continuous workout tracking — enough to cover a multi-day hike without a charger.

PRICE AND RELEASE DATES- It comes in natural and black titanium, starts at USD 799, and is available to preorder ahead of its 18 September launch.

AirPods 5

Active noise cancellation is now standard, built into Apple’s open-ear design rather than reserved for the Pro line. Apple says the new acoustic architecture and Adaptive EQ cut up to 50% more external noise than AirPods 4 with ANC, while Transparency mode, Adaptive Audio, and Conversation Awareness handle the switch between what you’re listening to and what’s happening around you.

PRICES AND RELEASE DATES- The USD 129 model delivers four hours of listening with ANC and 20 hours with its case. The USD 149 version adds on-stem Volume Swipe, a wireless charging case, and up to five hours of ANC listening or 22 hours with the case. Both support Live Translation and hands-free Siri AI. Preorders are open, with availability beginning 18 September.

The bottom line

For now, Apple’s 2026 hardware strategy is clear enough: the foldable iPhone is no longer a rumor, the Pro lineup is doubling down on cameras and performance, and the Apple Watch and AirPods are becoming increasingly focused on health and AI.

The surprise, it seems, was that Apple had considerably more than one trick up its sleeve. You can rewatch the event through the channels mentioned above for a more detailed dive into the products, as well as the software and intelligence updates Apple announced.

Netflix’s Don’t Say Good Luck is a formulaic drama saved by a standout cast

📺 When real-world pain bleeds into teenage dreams: Directed by Julia Hart, Netflix’s latest release Don’t Say Good Luck might look like a run-of-the-mill teen movie about a high schooler chasing a starring role in the school play. However, it quickly transcends that premise to deliver a far more poignant, deeply human story about how a family confronts fear and unexpected disruption, all wrapped in a warm and realistic narrative.

The plot: Sophie (Sunny Sandler) is a high school student with a passion for theater and a dream of acting. Her big moment arrives when she lands the lead role in her school’s musical. But her joy is short-lived; her family receives the devastating news that her mother, Elizabeth (Melanie Lynskey), is facing a cancer recurrence. Sophie is thrust into a complex journey toward adulthood, constantly balancing her theatrical ambitions and adolescent pressures with her duty to support her mother. Meanwhile, her father (Max Greenfield) steps up to shoulder double the responsibility, serving as the family’s anchor during their darkest hour.

What we liked: Hart nails the film’s tone, expertly balancing heavy emotions without drifting into the gloomy, over-the-top melodrama typical of illness-centered family dramas. The movie also delivers an authentic, convincing portrait of high school life, theater kids, and teenage parties, steering clear of the exaggerated stereotypes that usually plague the genre.

The cast’s performances are easily the film’s strongest asset — especially Sandler. In her first true lead role, she proves she earned her spot on merit rather than her famous last name as Adam Sandler’s daughter. She shines with a natural charm, grounded acting, and remarkable vocal talent during complex musical numbers.

The verdict: While the film does not break revolutionary cinematic ground, it remains a sweet, touching experience that capitalizes on honest performances. It approaches a familiar story with immense warmth, making it a worthy pick for a cozy family movie night that blends drama, music, and a touch of genuine emotion.

WHERE TO WATCH- Don’t Say Good Luck is streaming on Netflix. Watch the trailer on YouTube (watch, runtime: 2:27).

Zamalek in the CAF, Real Madrid in La Liga, and Premier League action this weekend

⚽ The weekend kicks off with more Champions League action as Matchday 1 draws to a close today. England’s Manchester United will face Azerbaijan’s Zira FK in their opening Champions League fixture of the season. Kickoff is scheduled for 10pm, with live coverage on beIN Sports 1. At the same time, German giants Bayern Munich take on Norway’s Bodø/Glimt, broadcast live on beIN Sports 2.

Other Matchday 1 Champions League fixtures today:

Fenerbahçe vs. Roma — 7:45pm, beIN Sports 1;
PSV Eindhoven vs. Shakhtar Donetsk — 7:45pm, beIN Sports 2;
Slavia Prague vs. Lens — 10pm, beIN Sports 4;
Como vs. RB Leipzig — 10pm, beIN Sports 3.

Friday’s fixtures

It’s a quiet day on the pitch tomorrow with just a handful of European clashes on tap:

Union Berlin vs. Schalke 04 — Bundesliga, 9:30pm;
Rennes vs. Marseille — Ligue 1, 9:45pm;
Venezia vs. Fiorentina — Serie A, 9:45pm.
Sevilla vs. Valencia — La Liga, 10pm;

💡 NOTE- Most European league matches are broadcast live on beIN Sports; check out the schedule here.

On the pitch Saturday

The White Knights take the pitch in CAF Champions League action, as Zamalek SC host Djibouti’s AS Port at Cairo International Stadium for the second leg of the preliminary round. Zamalek holds a comfortable 2-0 lead from the first leg and will look to double down on their dominance in front of a home crowd. Kickoff is scheduled for 8pm, with live coverage on ON Sport.

Meanwhile in the CAF Confederation Cup, Djibouti Telecom plays host to Egypt’s Zed FC in their preliminary second-leg decider. Zed effectively put the tie to bed with a dominant 4-0 victory in Cairo for the first leg, kicking off their maiden continental campaign in style. Catch the action live at 10pm on ON Sport.

Premier League Saturday: The English Premier League returns with a stacked Matchday 4 slate. Headline fixtures include Liverpool taking on Fulham at 5pm, followed by Sunderland hosting Arsenal at 10pm. Both matches will air live on beIN Sports 1.

Also on our radar:

Aston Villa vs. Nottingham Forest — 5pm;
Chelsea vs. Hull City — 5pm;
Bournemouth vs. Brentford — 5pm;
Crystal Palace vs. Ipswich Town — 5pm;
Tottenham Hotspur vs. Everton — 7:30pm.

Over in La Liga: Real Madrid square off against Rayo Vallecano in Matchday 5 of La Liga. Los Blancos are eager to put a baffling defeat against Real Betis behind them and claim all three points to stay hot on the heels of their arch-rivals, who currently sit atop the table on a dominant victory streak. Kickoff is at 10pm on beIN Sports 2.

Also on our radar in European leagues:

Borussia Dortmund vs. Paderborn — Bundesliga, 4:30pm;
Lazio vs. AC Milan — Serie A, 7pm;
Athletic Bilbao vs. Elche — La Liga, 7:30pm;
Konyaspor vs. Trabzonspor — Süper Lig, 8pm;
Paris FC vs. Lyon — Ligue 1, 9:45pm;
Lorient vs. Toulouse — Ligue 1, 9:45pm;
Atalanta vs. Cagliari — Serie A, 9:45pm;
Auxerre vs. Nice — Ligue 1, 9:45pm.

🥅ICYMI-

AT HOME- Al Ahly was held to a 1-1 draw against Al Mokawloon Al Arab, dropping them to third place behind Zamalek. Meanwhile, Pyramids secured a tight 1-0 victory over El Gouna to climb to the top of the Egyptian Premier League table.

Goal fest in the Champions League: Defending Champions League titleholders Paris Saint-Germain put on a masterclass, crushing Slovan Bratislava 6-1. Elsewhere, Barcelona kept their high-scoring momentum alive, powering past Feyenoord 5-1. In the day’s marquee matchup, Liverpool edged out Atlético Madrid 2-1, while Arsenal secured a crucial 1-0 away victory against Napoli.

**The EnterpriseAM Fantasy Football League is live. Join the Classic League and lock in your picks — click on this link or use the code hm029y to join.

Kadim Al Sahir returns to Cairo this September

🎤 The Caesar of Arabic song is finally coming back to Cairo. Kadim Al Sahir is taking the stage at Ivoire East in New Cairo on Friday, 18 September. Expect an evening of timeless romantic ballads and the unmistakable voice behind some of the region’s most beloved songs, with new material from his latest album Bila Unwan also making its way to the stage. The concert begins at 7pm — tickets are available through TicketEgypt.

What the markets are doing on 10 September 2026

The EGX30 fell 0.4% at today’s close on turnover of EGP 12.1 bn (4% above the 90-day average). Local investors were the sole net buyers. The index is up 34.6% YTD.

In the green: Orascom Development (+3.5%), Emaar Misr (+2.1%), and Egypt Aluminum (+2.0%).

In the red: AMOC (-5.5%), Edita (-5.5%), and Misr Cement (-2.3%).

THE ENTERPRISEPM ENTERTAINMENT CALENDAR

🗓️ SEPTEMBER

1 August - September 15 (Saturday-Tuesday): El Alamein Book Fair.

6 September - 30 October (Sunday-Friday): Khayal Mareed at Theatro Arkan.

10-14 September (Saturday-Monday): MedFest Egypt at AUC Tahrir Square.

11 September (Friday): The Goats Beyond the Scene with MedFest Egypt at AUC Tahrir Square.

11 September (Friday): Hisham Kharma at Bibliotheca Alexandrina.

11 September (Friday): Ahmed Hassan at El Anfoushy Cultural Palace, Alexandria.

11 September (Friday): Tablet El Sitt at Port Said Culture Center.

11 September (Friday): 100 Years of Singing with Ali El Haggar at Cairo Opera House, Zamalek.

12 September (Saturday): Next Summit by iCareer at The Greek Campus, Downtown Cairo.

12 September (Saturday): Ice Warrior Challenge at Ski Egypt, Mall of Egypt.

12 September (Saturday): Hany Shenouda tribute night at CJC 610.

17-26 September (Thursday-Saturday): El Gouna Water Sports Festival.

18 September (Friday): Miles for Meaning run at The Great Pyramids of Giza.

18 September (Friday): Hisham Kharma at Cairo Opera House, Zamalek.

18 September (Friday): Tawfeek El Ha2ee2y at Theatro Arkan.

18 September (Friday): Kadim Al Sahir at Ivoire East, New Cairo.

18 September (Friday): Haifa Wehbe at Kiki’s Beach Bar, North Coast.

18 September (Friday): Aida El Ayoubi at Ewart Memorial Hall, AUC Tahrir Square.

18 September (Friday): Bazarna Society Premium Outlet with The Food Platform Market at Downtown Katameya.

19 September (Saturday): Omar El Gamal Vol.68 at Theatro Arkan.

19 September (Saturday): The Football Aura X Dor El 16 Live at Teatro 90.

22 September (Tuesday): Shawn Chidiac at CJC 610.

25 September (Friday): Omar Khairat at Nile University, Sheikh Zayed.

25 September (Friday): Zamalek 5k Run by The TriFactory at Mamsha Ahl Misr.

26 September (Saturday): John Achkar’s Feena Nehke at Theatro Arkan.

OCTOBER

1-3 October (Thursday-Saturday): Oliver season 3 by Fabrica at Teatro 90.

1-4 October (Thursday-Sunday): She Arts Festival at Ewart Memorial Hall, AUC Tahrir Square.

2-3 October (Friday-Saturday): Oktoberfest by Work Afters at Tenaya Riverside Dining, Maadi Al Corniche.

5 October (Monday): EnterpriseAM Egypt Forum.

6 October (Tuesday): Armed Forces Day.

8-11 October (Thursday-Sunday): Starlight Festival in partnership with Visa at The Great Pyramids of Giza.

11 October - 8 November (Sunday-Sunday): Cairo International Art District by Art D’Egypte at Downtown Cairo.

15-23 October (Thursday-Friday): El Gouna Film Festival.

16 October (Friday): Tul8te at Al Manara Arena.

16-17 October (Friday-Saturday): Ultra Relay Run by The TriFactory at AUC, New Cairo.

16-17 October (Friday-Saturday): Egypt Coffee Festival at Common Grounds in Obour.

17 October (Saturday): Steps Summit at Sodic Sports Club, Sodic Eastown.

17 October (Saturday): Konnect Summit at The Greek Campus, El Tahrir St.

24 October (Saturday): Blue 25th Anniversary Tour at New Capital.

28-31 October (Wednesday-Saturday): Egypt’s Cheese Festival at Al Horreya Garden, Zamalek.

NOVEMBER

4 November (Wednesday): Angham at the New Opera House in the City of Arts and Culture.

5 November (Thursday): Gala De Danza at the Grand Egyptian Museum.

6 November (Friday): Angham at the New Opera House in the City of Arts and Culture.

2-7 November (Monday-Saturday): Barbara O’Neill Wellness Journey at Sheraton Miramar Resort, El Gouna.

11-20 November (Wednesday-Friday): Cairo International Film Festival.

13-14 November (Friday-Saturday): Max Amini at St. Regis, New Capital.

19-28 November (Thursday-Saturday): Cairo Design Week.

21 November (Saturday): El Gouna Half Marathon.

28 November (Saturday): Shakira at The Great Pyramids of Giza.

DECEMBER

4 December (Friday): Ghostly Kisses at Zed Park, Sheikh Zayed.

11-12 December (Friday-Saturday): The Marakez Pyramids Half Marathon at The Great Pyramids of Giza.

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