Apple's September 2026 event: the iPhone 18 Pro and the first foldable iPhone are official
At its 9 September 'Surprise and Shine' keynote, the first under new chief executive John Ternus, Apple unveiled the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max and its first foldable, the iPhone Duo. Here is what was actually announced, what it costs, when you can buy it, and the one big caveat: there is still no standard iPhone 18 this autumn.
Apple held its "Surprise and Shine" keynote on 9 September 2026, the first product launch under new chief executive John Ternus. It announced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, both on a new A20 Pro chip, with pre-orders from 12 September and sales from 18 September. The surprise was Apple's first foldable, the iPhone Duo, a book-style phone starting at $1,999 that goes on sale on 23 October. The most common point of confusion holds: there is still no ordinary iPhone 18 this event, with the standard models expected in 2027.
Update, September 2026
This piece was first published before Apple's keynote as a what-to-expect guide. It has now been rewritten around what Apple actually announced on 9 September 2026. The headline: the rumours were broadly right about the shape of the line-up, the iPhone 18 Pro pair plus a first foldable, but Apple's own naming and pricing are what matter now, and a few pre-event guesses (the "iPhone Ultra" name, under-display Face ID) did not survive contact with the stage. Everything below reflects Apple's own announcements from that day.
What Apple announced
The 9 September keynote, held at Apple Park under the tagline "Surprise and Shine," was the first Apple product launch led by John Ternus, who became chief executive on 1 September 2026. Tim Cook, who announced the handover in April, moves to executive chairman. The line-up:
- iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple's flagship phones for the year, on a new A20 Pro chip.
- The iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable iPhone, a book-style device that opens to a large inner display.
- Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, plus a new generation of AirPods.
Notably absent: a standard iPhone 18. As with the pre-event reporting, Apple kept the entry models back, and they are expected in 2027 rather than this autumn.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max
The Pro phones are the volume sellers, and the changes are evolutionary rather than radical. The headline is the A20 Pro chip, built on a 2-nanometre process, paired with a variable-aperture 48-megapixel main camera that lets you control depth of field more like a traditional camera. Apple set pricing at $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro and $1,299 for the Pro Max, in line with last year's Pro line.
One widely tipped feature did not make it: under-display Face ID. The rumour mill had expected the front sensors to disappear beneath the screen this year; on stage, Apple kept a visible front camera cutout. It is the clearest example of why the keynote, not the leaks, is the source of record.
The surprise: the iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable
The genuine new product is the iPhone Duo, a book-style foldable that opens from a smaller outer screen to a large inner OLED display. This is the device the "Surprise and Shine" tagline was pointing at, and it is Apple's first entry into a category Samsung and others have had to themselves for years.
Two things to be precise about. First, the name: months of leaks called it the "iPhone Fold" or "iPhone Ultra," but Apple's name is iPhone Duo. Second, the price and timing: it starts at $1,999, the highest starting price of any iPhone Apple has sold, and it does not go on sale with the Pro phones. Apple set its pre-orders for 16 October and availability for 23 October. On the hardware, Apple gives the inner display as 7.6 inches and the outer as 5.4 inches, the latter covering about 90 per cent of the iPhone 18 Pro's screen area.
Wait, where is the regular iPhone 18?
This remains the single most common point of confusion, and the answer did not change: there is no standard iPhone 18 at this event. Apple has split its iPhone launches across the year, and the ordinary iPhone 18 and its more affordable sibling are expected in 2027, not this September. This autumn is the Pro-and-foldable show.
Apple Watch, AirPods and software
Alongside the phones, Apple refreshed the Apple Watch Series 12 and the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 4, and introduced a new generation of AirPods. The new iPhones ship with Apple's latest software generation. As with the phones, check Apple's site for the exact model details and any regional differences.
Key dates: pre-order and release
- Pre-orders: from 12 September 2026. Apple opened orders on the Saturday rather than the usual Friday.
- On sale: the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max from 18 September 2026.
- iPhone Duo: pre-orders from 16 October, on sale 23 October.
What was announced vs what was only rumoured
| Detail | Status |
|---|---|
| "Surprise and Shine" keynote, 9 Sept, first under CEO John Ternus | ✅ Confirmed |
| iPhone 18 Pro ($1,199) and Pro Max ($1,299), A20 Pro chip | ✅ Announced |
| First foldable, the iPhone Duo, from $1,999 | ✅ Announced |
| Under-display Face ID | ❌ Did not ship; front cutout stays |
| "iPhone Ultra" / "iPhone Fold" name | ❌ Wrong; it is the iPhone Duo |
| No standard iPhone 18 until 2027 | ✅ Confirmed absent this event |
| Pre-orders 12 Sept, Pro on sale 18 Sept, Duo later | ✅ Confirmed |
| Apple Watch Series 12 / Ultra 4, new AirPods | ✅ Announced |
For more on where phones are heading, see our looks at Google's Pixel 11 and the Honor Robot Phone, and browse the rest of our future coverage.
Frequently asked questions
When was the Apple September 2026 event?
Wednesday, 9 September 2026, at Apple Park, under the tagline "Surprise and Shine." It was the first Apple product launch led by new chief executive John Ternus.
What did Apple announce?
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max on a new A20 Pro chip, Apple's first foldable phone (the iPhone Duo), the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4, and new AirPods. There was no standard iPhone 18.
What is the iPhone Duo?
Apple's first foldable iPhone: a book-style device that opens from a smaller outer screen to a large inner display. It was rumoured for months as the "iPhone Fold" or "iPhone Ultra," but Apple named it the iPhone Duo.
How much does the foldable iPhone cost?
It starts at $1,999, the highest starting price of any iPhone Apple sells. It goes on sale on 23 October, after the Pro phones, with pre-orders from 16 October.
How much is the iPhone 18 Pro?
$1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro and $1,299 for the Pro Max. Confirm the exact figure for your region on Apple's store.
Is there a regular iPhone 18 this year?
No. Apple announced only the Pro phones and the foldable this autumn. The standard iPhone 18 and its cheaper sibling are expected in 2027.
When can I buy the new iPhones?
Pre-orders opened on 12 September 2026, with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max on sale from 18 September. The iPhone Duo has its own timeline: pre-orders from 16 October, on sale 23 October.
Did the iPhone 18 Pro get under-display Face ID?
No. Despite the rumours, Apple kept a visible front-camera cutout this year.
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