John Ternus has opened his first Apple keynote as CEO just nine days after taking over from Apple's longtime leader, Tim Cook.
The eighth person to lead Apple in its 50-year history, it is the first time in almost 15 years that an Apple keynote has been opened by someone other than Cook.
The former Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering made history in his first keynote, unveiling the company's first ever foldable iPhone, alongside an improved Pro iPhone lineup, new entry-level AirPods and Apple Watch models.
He took a Cook-style approach to the keynote, where he briefly introduced the products before handing off to other Apple leadership figures and engineers.
Ternus also borrowed a page from Steve Jobs' book, using the iconic 'One more thing' to introduce the foldable iPhone Duo.
Tim Cook made a cameo appearance
Despite Tim Cook stepping down as CEO just days earlier, he remains at Apple as Executive Chairman.
Cook did not present any of the new devices, or have a segment talking through the company's new products. Instead, the keynote opened with a dramatic movie-style cutscene of a car driving into Apple Park, narrated by Cook, where he slowly emerged in the dark.
As the camera panned to him, he joked "No, no, no, not me.", handing over to Ternus saying "That's your guy,".
A familiar keynote under new leadership
Despite a different person leading today's keynote, it felt familiar and nothing out of the ordinary - presenter-wise.
Of course, we had the big iPhone Duo reveal which is the most different iPhone ever made, but the presenters, cutscenes and product reveals still felt very Apple and just like what we are used to.
Apple's Kaiann Drance, VP of iPhone marketing, talked us through the new features with the iPhone as usual. Apple's SVP of Worldwide Marketing, Greg Joswiak, walked through the iPhone Duo, taking his usual position where he presents the flagship device of the keynote.
This could be down to the company's meticulous leadership transition planning we have all been prone to over the past few months - potentially even years.
Ternus was the person who presented last year's all-new iPhone Air, and in March he was the one who unveiled the all-new MacBook Neo at the media event, with Tim Cook notably absent.
Throughout summer, he appeared alongside Cook in all major public appearances, including the Ted Lasso Season 4 premiere where they even wore matching outfits.
