Apple announced the date for the iPhone 18 Pro and first foldable iPhone presentation.

Apple officially announced the date of the main autumn presentation in 2026. The main event of the year will take place under the slogan “Surprise and shine” on September 9.

In addition to iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, the company is expected to unveil its first foldable smartphone, which may be named iPhone Ultra.

When will the Apple presentation take place?

The Apple Event will take place on Wednesday, September 9, at 10:00 AM Pacific Time. For Ukraine, Belarus, and Russia, this is 20:00. The event will take place at Apple Park in Cupertino, and the live stream can be viewed on the Apple website, in the Apple TV app, and on YouTube.

The company uses the slogan “Surprise and shine” for its presentation, which can be translated as “Surprise and shine”. The invitation features a glowing Apple logo with highlights and rainbow-colored edges. The company itself does not disclose what exactly is hidden behind the teaser design.

The presentation will also mark the first major device launch following Apple’s leadership change. John Ternus is set to assume the role of chief executive officer on September 1, while Tim Cook will transition to the position of executive chairman of the board.

iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max

The main traditional novelties will be the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. No radical design changes are expected in this generation. Smartphones will retain screens with diagonals of 6.3 and 6.9 inches and a large main camera module.

One of the most noticeable changes could be a smaller Dynamic Island. In some leaks, its width is reduced by approximately 35%, although information on this matter remains contradictory. According to the latest data, Apple is not yet ready to fully hide the Face ID system under the screen in this generation.

Smartphones are also credited with more energy-efficient LTPO+ OLED panels and new color options. The main one among them could be Dark Cherry – a dark cherry shade. In addition to it, light blue, dark gray, and silver variants are also mentioned.

The main internal update will be the A20 processor family. These are the first Apple mobile chips manufactured using TSMC’s 2-nm process. An A20 Pro version is expected for the Pro models. According to leaks, the new processor may deliver up to 18% performance gain while reducing power consumption by up to 30%.

Apple may also for the first time install its own C2 modem in flagship iPhones. Among its potential capabilities are mmWave 5G and further development of satellite communications.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max camera may receive a lens with an adjustable aperture. This system will allow adjusting the amount of light reaching the sensor and provide greater control over depth of field. It is possible that at the first stage this feature will remain exclusive to Pro Max.

Battery life should also increase. A particularly noticeable increase is expected for the iPhone 18 Pro Max due to a larger battery and the transition to a 2-nm processor.

iPhone Ultra will be the main announcement

The most unusual new product of the presentation should be the first foldable iPhone. The final name has not yet been confirmed, but iPhone Ultra is increasingly used in recent leaks.

The device is designed in a “booklet” format. In the closed state, an external screen of approximately 5,3-5,5 inches is expected; upon opening, the user will receive a display of about 7,7-7,8 inches with proportions close to those of an iPad.

The thickness of the body in the open state can be about 4.5 mm, and when folded – approximately 9-9,5 mm. The design is expected to combine titanium and aluminum, while the hinge may use an extra-strong amorphous metal.

One of Apple’s main tasks was to reduce the crease in the middle of the flexible display. According to leaks, it will be virtually unnoticeable thanks to the new screen design and hinge.

To reduce thickness, Apple may drop Face ID. Instead, Touch ID is expected to be integrated into the side power button. Two 48-MP cameras – the main and ultra-wide-angle – can be placed on the back panel. A telephoto lens is not yet attributed to the foldable iPhone.

Inside, the expected components are the 2-nm A20 processor, 12 GB of RAM, and the proprietary C2 modem. Battery capacity in various leaks is estimated at approximately 5400-5800 мА·ч.

iOS 27 is expected to receive special features for large foldable screens, including more advanced multitasking and the ability to work with multiple apps simultaneously.

The iPhone Ultra will not be cheap. Analysts cite a range from $2000 to $2500, while some individual forecasts allow for even higher prices for the top configurations.

Apple Watch and new AirPods

Along with the smartphones, Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are expected. Series 12 is rumored to feature a new processor, improved battery life, and an additional ceramic case option.

Apple Watch Ultra 4 should also receive an updated chip and enhanced satellite features. Among the possible new features mentioned are Apple Maps working via satellite and sending photos in Messages without a mobile network.

Another announcement could be AirPods 5. According to preliminary data, Apple has prepared two versions of headphones. The flagship model will feature active noise cancellation, while the more affordable version will be without ANC.

New Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini models may appear, as well as a new home device from Apple with a screen size of approximately 6-7 inches and support for Siri AI. However, these products may be reserved for a separate presentation later this fall.

There may not be a regular iPhone 18 in September

Apple, for the first time, may split the launch of one generation of iPhone into two parts. In September, the company will focus on the expensive iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable model.

The standard iPhone 18, the more affordable iPhone 18e, and the second-generation iPhone Air are expected only in spring 2027. Thus, for the first time in many years, the base model of the new generation may not appear at the autumn presentation.

When will sales begin

The official start date for sales has not yet been announced. If Apple maintains its usual schedule, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max may go on sale on September 18.

The situation with pre-orders is unusual. The first Friday after the presentation falls on September 11 – the 25th anniversary of the 2001 terrorist attacks. In 2015, in a similar situation, Apple moved the start of preorders from September 11 to September 12, so this year the company may do the same.

The foldable iPhone Ultra may launch later than the standard Pro models. Due to production complexities, the initial batches will be limited, and some forecasts allow for sales to begin only in the fourth quarter of 2026.

At the Apple presentation, exact release dates for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, watchOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate should also be announced.