Apple’s Sept. 9 event expected to bring iPhone 18 Pro and foldable iPhone Ultra

The event will be streamed live on Apple’s website, Apple TV and YouTube. Bloomberg reported that Apple is beginning one of the largest hardware release cycles in its history, and The Verge said the Sept. 9 event could be among Apple’s biggest in years. The base iPhone 18 is not expected to appear; reports have said it may be held until early next year and could launch alongside an iPhone 18e and an updated iPhone Air.

The new Pro models are expected to keep the current design language but add internal upgrades and new finishes. The Verge, citing leaked dummy photos, said the colors could include black, silver, light blue and dark cherry purple; Bloomberg reported light blue and dark red. Both accounts agree that light blue is likely. Reports also point to larger batteries and a smaller Dynamic Island. The Verge said a variable aperture camera has been rumored for years, while the Bloomberg-based report said the Pro Max may include a mechanical variable aperture lens.

Apple could also raise prices on the Pro models. The Verge noted that Apple raised prices on nearly all products earlier this year and that increases may now reach the iPhone.

The most closely watched possible launch is the foldable iPhone Ultra. Bloomberg reported that Apple’s first foldable has a passport-style body with a large inner screen and small outer display, an A20 Pro chip, Apple’s C2 modem, Touch ID and split-screen multitasking, with a price expected to exceed $2,000. The Verge said an apparent dummy model resembles Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Xiaomi’s 18 Fold, and noted that The Verge’s Dominic Preston said Samsung’s foldable “feels like the future.” Apple’s foldable would arrive a few months after Samsung launched the Z Fold 8.

Production of the foldable has reportedly been difficult. Nikkei, citing supply-chain sources, said daily output in late August was still only a few hundred units and that commercial production had been delayed by several weeks. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman disagreed with claims of a delay to late October or November, saying the iPhone Ultra is likely to arrive at about the same time as the new Pro iPhones.

Beyond the phones, Apple is expected to update the Apple Watch line. Bloomberg reported that the Series 12 will bring back a ceramic case option, add new band colors and configurations, and include an upgraded chip to support on-device Siri AI. The Verge separately reported that new health features such as always-on heart-rate sensing are possible and that the watch is unlikely to get a major redesign. A new Apple Watch Ultra is also likely.

AirPods 5 may also be introduced as an iterative update with a new chip and health sensors, according to The Verge. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has said the camera-equipped AirPods reported last month will not be released until 2027.

Other hardware in Apple’s pipeline, according to Bloomberg, includes an iPad mini with an OLED display, faster Apple TV and HomePod mini models that support Siri AI, and a new smart home hub with a roughly 7-inch display and facial recognition. Bloomberg also reported that updated Macs will include an M6 iMac and a 14-inch MacBook Pro with an entry-level M6 chip, as well as a new MacBook Pro with a touch OLED display, a Dynamic Island cutout and M5 Pro or M5 Max chips.

Looking further out, Bloomberg’s roadmap includes a base iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, iPhone Air 2, camera-equipped AirPods, smart glasses and a redesigned iPhone for the 20th anniversary in 2027. Later plans reportedly include a desktop robot with a mechanical arm, AR glasses and a third-generation foldable with a larger screen.

Separately, 9to5Mac’s daily podcast cited a TrendForce estimate that Apple is paying 400% more for the memory used in the iPhone 18 Pro.