Apple will hold its “Surprise and Shine” event on Wednesday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, where it will unveil its 2026 iPhone lineup — including the company’s first foldable device — plus new Apple Watches, new AirPods and other possible product announcements.
iPhone Ultra: Apple’s first foldable
The foldable iPhone expected at the event — widely referred to in rumors as the iPhone Ultra — is a book-style design that opens to an iPad-like layout. When closed it will use an outer OLED display of about 5.5 inches and unfold to a larger OLED display near 7.8 inches. The open display is described as wider than it is tall, resembling a folding iPad mini.
Apple aimed for a crease-free design but the device is expected to have a minimal crease and a durable liquid-metal hinge. Reports say Apple has focused on hinge durability and may use measures such as optically clear adhesive to reduce visibility of micro-cracks over time. The unfolded device could be as thin as 4.5 mm and about 9 mm when folded. Two halves will each contain a battery for a combined capacity estimated between 5,400 and 5,800 mAh.
The foldable will reportedly omit the TrueDepth system for Face ID and instead use a Touch ID side button similar to iPad Air and iPad mini models, while offering front-facing cameras on both inner and outer displays. Rear cameras are expected to include an Ultra Wide and a Wide lens (no telephoto), arranged so the rear camera works folded or unfolded. Early dummy models did not show a magnetic ring, but other reports indicate MagSafe charging will be supported.
The iPhone Ultra is expected to run a 2 nm A20 Pro chip, described in rumors as around 18 percent faster and up to 30 percent more power efficient than the A19 Pro, with a possible 7-core GPU, a wider memory interface, a larger L2 cache for efficiency cores and roughly 12 GB of RAM. Apple’s in-house C2 modem could appear in 2026 iPhones, but it is unclear whether the C2 will include mmWave support; if not, U.S. foldable models could use Qualcomm modems. Color options are said to be silver/white and a very deep indigo close to black. Software support for multiple sizes and aspect ratios, multitasking and side-by-side apps will be important. Price rumors put the iPhone Ultra at a minimum of $2,000, with higher-capacity models possibly upwards of $2,500.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
The iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to follow the iPhone 17 Pro design closely, with no major redesign. The iPhone 18 Pro Max may be slightly thicker and heavier due to a larger battery, but iPhone 17 Pro cases are expected to fit. The camera bump could be somewhat thicker to accommodate a new variable aperture on the main rear camera.
New color options are rumored to include dark cherry, light blue and silver; a black iPhone 18 Pro option is not expected. The Dynamic Island may be smaller, though under-display Face ID appears unlikely. The 18 Pro Max is said to have a larger battery (reported at 5,567 mAh), combined with efficiency gains from the 2 nm A20 Pro chip and a claimed LTPO+ display, which could yield a noticeable battery life increase.
Camera upgrades may include a DSLR-like variable aperture on the main sensor — possibly exclusive to the Pro Max in some reports — and a three-layer stacked image sensor from Samsung to improve responsiveness and low-light performance. The Telephoto lens could receive a wider aperture; no changes are expected for the Ultra Wide or front-facing cameras. Apple may simplify the Camera Control button by removing the capacitive swipe layer. Like the foldable, some or all 18 Pro models could use Apple’s C2 modem, though U.S. models might use Qualcomm modems for mmWave 5G. Prices for the iPhone 18 Pro line are expected to rise relative to iPhone 17 Pro models, with increases rumored between $100 and $300.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4
Both the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 are expected to arrive with no major design changes. Series 12 could return a ceramic case option and both models are likely to receive an updated processor. Apple is reportedly testing a continuous heart rate sensor feature that would collect data throughout the day and underpin a new Health app feature with wellness-related insights similar to other continuous wellness devices.
AirPods 5
References to AirPods 5 have been found in the macOS 26.7 release candidate, and the new earbuds could be announced alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models. Reports suggest an updated H3 chip for improved sound and lower latency, and the lineup is likely to include both ANC and non-ANC versions.
Other possible product launches
Apple is said to be working on a home hub with a 7-inch square display, integrated camera, presence-detection sensors and app support; the device would control smart home gear, run apps, make video calls, play content and interact with Siri AI. Apple reportedly delayed the home hub until Siri AI was ready. A refreshed Apple TV 4K with a faster processor — no design changes expected — is also possible and could support Siri AI and new gameplay features; code hints point to a new remote. The HomePod mini is due for a refresh with a faster processor and possibly new colors but no major design changes have been reported.
Software and release timing
At the September 9 event, Apple will announce release dates for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, tvOS 27, watchOS 27 and visionOS 27, and will likely seed release candidate builds to developers and public beta testers. Based on historic timelines, iOS 27 and its sister updates could be released as soon as September 14.
What not to expect at the September event
The standard iPhone 18 will not launch in September 2026; Apple reportedly plans to debut the iPhone 18 in spring 2027 alongside the iPhone 18e and the iPhone Air 2. Apple Watch SE 4 will not arrive this year. A new entry-level MacBook Pro with an M6 chip and an M6 iMac are expected before the end of the year but not at the September event. An OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro and an OLED iPad mini are also not candidates for this iPhone-focused event.
Leadership, preorders and how to watch
New Apple CEO John Ternus will host the iPhone event, his first in that role following Tim Cook’s transition to executive chairman; Cook may not appear at the event. Apple typically opens iPhone preorders the Friday after the event, but with that Friday falling on September 11 this year, preorders could be moved to Saturday, September 12. If Apple follows its 2015 pattern, preorders may start at 5:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Saturday. New iPhones are likely to launch on Friday, September 18.
Apple will livestream the “Surprise and Shine” event on its website, on YouTube and via the Apple TV app on supported devices, beginning at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Wednesday, September 9.
