The Apple event is confirmed for September 9: New foldable iPhone Ultra, iPhone 18 Pro lineup and more we expect

Apple has officially confirmed its next iPhone launch event is on September 9 , putting it just under two weeks away. That means we're closer than ever to getting our first official look at what the company has been working on. Fortunately (or unfortunately if you're Apple), there have been a lot of leaks and rumors ahead of the event that indicate it'll be packed to the gills with some exciting launches.

This year, we expect to see Apple unveil the new iPhone 18 series, but it's increasingly looking like the company will join Samsung in offering a foldable phone of its own. That would be big enough to carry an event on its own, but we suspect Apple has quite a bit more stuff to show off at its September iPhone event. Here's a look at everything we're expecting to see.

Finally, a folding iPhone (iPhone Ultra?)

Apple has been slow to jump on the foldable phone bandwagon, but this may be the year it finally does. Rumors and purported details about the phone have been swirling for months, and we have a pretty good idea of what it might look like. A leaked dummy model shows a shorter, wider device than typical foldables of years past, looking remarkably similar to the recently launched Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 .

Other rumors suggest that the phone will sport a 5.5-inch front screen and a 7.8-inch display when open. With a 4:3 aspect ratio, it should look similar to an iPad Mini when open. That should make it better than taller foldables for consuming media, with smaller black bars when watching videos on the inner screen.

Samsung is reportedly making the OLED screens for the foldable iPhone, which would make sense given its extensive experience with foldable displays. The body of the phone is also rumored to be made from titanium and aluminum, with a liquid-metal hinge that should hold up better to wear over time.

There's also the name of the foldable to consider. Most rumors point to iPhone Ultra, though it's unclear if that will be the final name at launch.

Don't expect a wide range of colors for Apple's first foldable. The iPhone Ultra is expected to come in only two colors, according to a May rumor : white and indigo. It's also likely to be in low supply, with leakers suggesting it may only launch in the U.S. initially, with more territories to come as production ramps up.

Given the state of the global memory shortage (or RAMageddon ) and the advanced manufacturing involved, expect the foldable iPhone to be pretty expensive. No exact pricing has been confirmed, but it's widely expected to be north of $2,000 . That could be one of the main reasons behind the recent launch of Apple's Upgrade leasing program .

The design of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are largely expected to be very similar to last year's iPhone 17 Pro series. However, new colors are reportedly on the way , including a dark cherry hue that may sit alongside a light blue color, dark gray and silver. Otherwise, expect the same aluminum finish as the current model, though the ceramic shield may get a frosted look.

Where the iPhone 18 Pro models could get a major upgrade is in their main camera sensors. In a blog post , Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said that the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max may get variable-aperture main cameras that can control the amount of light that reaches the sensor on the fly. This would be a first for iPhones, and could give users greater control over the depth of field in their photos.

As you'd expect, the iPhone 18 Pro series is expected to see an updated main processing chip. This year it should be the A20, which will be built on a process that should bring more power efficiency and performance. However, exact details on how much more efficient it may be aren't available right now.

Other rumors suggest the camera control button could be simplified by removing touch sensitivity and haptic feedback. The Dynamic Island may get smaller as well, as a portion of the Face ID module may be moved under the display.

Given Apple already pushed through price increases on its Macs and iPads earlier this year, it's likely we'll see pricing on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max increase as well. However, we won't know until Apple debuts them on stage.

Apple has been on a more iterative update cadence for its Apple Watch models for the past several years, and it looks like this year will be the same. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman , Apple is planning to launch the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 at its September event. Gurman notes that they're expected to get "under-the-hood improvements" to give them a boost in performance.

There should also be new colors and bands, according to the report, along with some "health and fitness-related upgrades." One wild card is whether we'll see the return of the high-end ceramic case version of the Apple Watch. Gurman says Apple is planning for one, but it isn't clear if it'll arrive this year or in 2027.

A new HomePod, Apple TV 4K, and … a home hub?

If you're a fan of Apple's home-centric devices, this year's iPhone launch event should be pretty interesting. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims that the company is preparing to launch a new HomePod Mini and an updated Apple TV 4K set-top box. It might also preview the smart home hub it has been rumored to be working on for a couple of years now.

The home hub would be the biggest draw. According to Gurman, the device features a 7-inch screen that sits on top of what looks like half of a HomePod Mini. It's rumored to run a new operating system that's built off of the Apple TV OS, and it should give you access to smart home controls, your calendar, photos, music, apps and a customizable clock.

The rumored hub is said to be built with the new, smarter AI Siri in mind, acting as an assistant when you need it. Gurman also says facial recognition is a big part of this device's appeal, allowing it to determine who is looking at it to serve up personalized content. He adds that it can determine your distance from the display and adjust the size of what's displayed in response.

Gurman says Apple is also working on a second version of the hub that's meant to be mounted on a wall as well, though it's unclear if it's meant to launch at the same time.

As for the HomePod Mini and Apple TV 4K, they should look like the current versions that are already available. The biggest difference is that they'll contain more powerful processors to power the new Siri AI experience.

While the above products cover most of what we expect to see at Apple's September event, we've seen leaks and hints of other devices that could be in the pipeline. It's not guaranteed they'll be present at the iPhone event, but we could see them launched in the following months.

One of the most anticipated products is a new iPad Mini with an OLED screen . It's also expected to feature a water-resistant design for the first time. Both upgrades would make this the biggest update to the iPad Mini since it got a design overhaul in 2021 (though it was updated with a faster processor in 2024). It's unclear if we'll see this at the iPhone event since it's rumored to launch in October, but it's a possibility.

Apple is also said to be working on a new set of AirPods Pro that incorporates visual sensors to feed Siri information about the world around you. A short demo video featuring the new AirPods recently leaked in a beta build of macOS Tahoe , which hints that they're close to launch. However, Bloomberg claims that they're targeted for a 2027 release, so we might not see them at this iPhone event.

When is the September 2026 iPhone launch, and how can I watch?

The event is officially confirmed to kick off on September 9 at 1 p.m. ET (10 a.m. PT). As for how to watch the event, Apple typically streams its launches on YouTube, on its website and through the Apple TV app. We'll update this post with more details as we get them.