Apple's September 2026 event: iPhone 18 Pro, the foldable iPhone, and everything to expect

Apple has sent the invitations, which means the biggest consumer-tech week of the year is here. On Wednesday 9 September the company will hold a keynote it is calling "Surprise and shine," and for once the "surprise" may be literal: alongside the usual iPhone Pro refresh, Apple is widely expected to reveal its first foldable phone, a genuinely new product category for the company. Below is the honest split between what Apple has actually confirmed and what is still rumour, plus straight answers to the questions people are searching for right now.

What Apple has actually confirmed

Almost nothing about the products, and that is worth stating plainly. From Apple's own newsroom, the confirmed facts are:

• The event date and time: Wednesday, 9 September 2026, at 10 a.m. Pacific (1 p.m. Eastern).
• The name: "Surprise and shine."
• How to watch: live on apple.com and the Apple TV app, and on Apple's YouTube channel.

Apple has not confirmed a single product, name, price or specification. Everything in the next sections is reporting from reliable sources such as MacRumors, 9to5Mac and Bloomberg, and it should be read as rumour until Apple says otherwise on stage.

The iPhone 18 Pro: what the rumours say

The headline phones are expected to be the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The most-reported changes:

• A new A20 Pro chip, reportedly built on TSMC's 2-nanometre process for a speed and efficiency jump.
• Under-display Face ID, with the front camera moved to a small hole in the top-left corner and the Dynamic Island shrunk, though more recent reporting suggests the under-display technology may not be ready this year, in which case only the Dynamic Island shrinks.
• A variable-aperture main camera, a new in-house C2 modem, and a larger battery (especially on the Pro Max), possibly making the phone slightly thicker.
• New colours are rumoured to include a light blue, a silver or dark grey, and a "Dark Cherry" shade (reported to carry a purple tinge).

On price, the reporting points to an increase, with analyst estimates in the region of $1,299 to $1,399 to start. Treat that as an educated guess, not a figure Apple has given.

The foldable iPhone, or "iPhone Ultra"

The genuine novelty is Apple's first foldable iPhone, most often reported under the name "iPhone Ultra" (sometimes "iPhone Fold"). According to the reporting, it is a book-style fold that opens from a roughly 5.5-inch outer screen to a 7.8-inch inner display, powered by an A20 chip with up to 12GB of memory. To keep it thin it reportedly drops Face ID in favour of Touch ID built into the side button, and uses a liquid-metal (amorphous alloy) hinge engineered to minimise the visible crease. Rumoured dimensions are around 4.5mm unfolded and 9mm folded, with dual 48-megapixel rear cameras.

The catch is the price. Reporting puts the foldable somewhere between $2,000 and $2,500, starting around $2,000 for the entry storage tier, which would make it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever sold. Supply is also said to be limited, so even if it is announced on 9 September, it may not ship until later in the autumn.

Wait, where is the regular iPhone 18?

This is the single most common point of confusion, so here is the clear answer: there is not expected to be a standard iPhone 18 at this event. Reporting indicates Apple is splitting its iPhone launches across the year, and the ordinary iPhone 18, the budget iPhone 18e, and a second-generation iPhone Air are all expected in spring 2027, not this September. September is the Pro-and-foldable show.

The rest: Apple Watch and AirPods

Beyond the phones, the reporting points to an Apple Watch Series 12 (with a ceramic case option said to be returning and a new S-series chip), an Apple Watch Ultra 4, and possibly an updated AirPods Pro (though some reports call a 2026 update uncertain, and a rumoured camera-equipped version is said to be held back for a future generation). The new iPhones are also expected to ship with the next version of Apple's software, iOS 27.

Key dates: pre-order and release

If Apple follows its usual pattern, the timeline after a 9 September keynote would be:

• Pre-orders: expected around Saturday 12 September (reportedly a day later than the usual Friday, because 11 September is the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks).
• On sale / release: expected around Friday 18 September.
• The foldable: may arrive later than the rest (reported anywhere from October to December) because of limited initial supply.

These dates are the expected pattern, not Apple's confirmation.

Confirmed vs rumoured, at a glance

Detail	Status
Event on 9 Sept, 10 a.m. PT, "Surprise and shine"	✅ Confirmed by Apple
Watch on apple.com / Apple TV / YouTube	✅ Confirmed by Apple
iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max, A20 chip, under-display Face ID	⚠️ Rumoured
First foldable iPhone ("iPhone Ultra"), ~$1,999+	⚠️ Rumoured
No standard iPhone 18 until spring 2027	⚠️ Reported
Pre-order ~12 Sept, on sale ~18 Sept	⚠️ Expected pattern
Apple Watch Series 12 / Ultra 4, new AirPods Pro	⚠️ Rumoured

We will update this piece as Apple confirms the real details on stage. 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 is the Apple September 2026 event?

Wednesday, 9 September 2026, at 10 a.m. Pacific time (1 p.m. Eastern). This is confirmed by Apple.

What time is the Apple event and how can I watch it?

It starts at 10 a.m. Pacific (1 p.m. Eastern). Apple is streaming it live on apple.com, in the Apple TV app, and on Apple's YouTube channel. All confirmed by Apple.

What is "Surprise and shine"?

It is Apple's official tagline for the 9 September keynote. The "surprise" is widely taken as a nod to the expected foldable iPhone, though Apple has not explained it.

Is there a regular iPhone 18 this year?

Not at this event. Reporting indicates September brings only the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and the foldable. The standard iPhone 18, the iPhone 18e and a new iPhone Air are expected in spring 2027.

What is the iPhone Ultra?

It is the most-reported name for Apple's first foldable iPhone: a book-style device that opens from a roughly 5.5-inch outer screen to a 7.8-inch inner display. The name is rumoured, not confirmed.

How much will the foldable iPhone cost?

Reporting puts it between about $2,000 and $2,500, starting around $2,000, which would make it Apple's most expensive iPhone. This is rumour, not an Apple price.

How much will the iPhone 18 Pro cost?

A price rise is expected, with analyst estimates around $1,299 to $1,399 to start. Apple has not confirmed pricing.

When can I pre-order and when does it come out?

Following Apple's usual pattern, pre-orders are expected around 12 September and phones on sale around 18 September. The foldable may ship later in the autumn due to limited supply. These are expected dates, not confirmed.

Does the iPhone 18 Pro have under-display Face ID?

It has been a leading rumour, but more recent reporting suggests the under-display technology may not be ready this year. In that case the front camera stays visible and only the Dynamic Island shrinks. Either way, it is unconfirmed until the keynote.

Does the foldable iPhone use Face ID or Touch ID?

Reporting says Touch ID built into the side button, with no Face ID, to help keep the folded device thin. Rumoured.

What else is Apple expected to announce?

Beyond the phones, reporting points to an Apple Watch Series 12 and an Apple Watch Ultra 4, possibly an updated AirPods Pro, and iOS 27 shipping on the new devices.