Apple September 9 event: iPhone 18 Pro, foldable iPhone and everything expected

The Apple September 9 event starts at 10 a.m. Pacific time. Titled “Surprise and shine”, it will be the first keynote led by John Ternus, who became Apple’s chief executive on 1 September. On the expected bill: the iPhone 18 Pro, Apple’s first foldable phone, two new watches and several accessories. Let us sort what is confirmed from what still counts as rumour.

A date, a time, a new boss

Apple sent out invitations on 26 August. The event takes place on Wednesday 9 September 2026 at 10 a.m. Pacific time, streamed live on Apple’s website as usual.

The renewal goes beyond the catalogue. Apple changed chief executive on 1 September: John Ternus, the engineer who until then ran all of the company’s hardware engineering, succeeded Tim Cook, in post since 2011. Cook has not left the company for all that, and now serves as executive chairman of the board. Announced on 20 April 2026, the transition was approved unanimously by the board.

Ternus joined Apple’s product design team in 2001, was named vice president of hardware engineering in 2013, then promoted to senior vice president in 2021. He oversaw the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Vision Pro. His first keynote will be watched closely.

iPhone 18 Pro: 2-nanometre silicon and a variable aperture

The iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max will occupy the centre of the event. The most solid rumour concerns the chip: an A20 Pro built on a 2-nanometre process, where the current generation sits at 3. That shrink allows more transistors in the same area. Estimated gains land at roughly 15% in performance and 30% in power efficiency over the A19.

On the camera side, both Pro models are said to gain a variable aperture on the 48-megapixel main sensor. In practice, that means the phone could mechanically adjust how much light reaches the sensor, giving control over exposure and depth of field that has so far belonged to dedicated cameras. A new in-house C2 modem and an under-display Face ID also feature among the leads reported by the specialist press.

A price that looks set to climb

Here is the sensitive part. Several analysts expect the iPhone 18 Pro at $1,299 and the 18 Pro Max at $1,399, some $200 more than their predecessors. Others are more cautious and settle on a $1,249 to $1,399 range.

The reason lies largely in the silicon. Moving from 3 to 2 nanometres would cost Apple around $35 more per application processor, taking the unit bill from roughly $50 to $85. That is close to a 70% increase on a single component, and manufacturers rarely absorb such jumps entirely.

The foldable iPhone, the surprise everyone expects

Apple should finally ship its first foldable smartphone, which leaks call the iPhone Ultra one week and the iPhone Fold the next. The reported price is dizzying: above $2,000 for most sources, with estimates ranging from $1,800 to $2,500.

The launch comes with a structural change to the calendar. Apple is said to be splitting its line-up into two waves: the high-end models in autumn, then the standard iPhone 18, iPhone Air 2 and iPhone 18e in spring 2027. A clean break from the single September reveal of the entire range that has held for years.

Watches, earbuds and the connected home

The Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are expected on stage, without any headline overhaul. The specialist press points to a faster processor, improvements to health and fitness tracking, and the possible return of a ceramic case on the Series 12, tested in white and dark grey.

Fifth-generation AirPods may also appear, with an H3 chip tasked with improving sound quality and cutting latency. Two versions would remain in the catalogue, with and without active noise cancellation.

Finally, a new Apple TV and a new HomePod mini are cited among the possible products. Rumours mention an A17 Pro chip or newer and 8 GB of memory for the set-top box, plus an N1 networking chip with Wi-Fi 7 support for the speaker. A 7-inch connected display for the home has also been discussed, but nothing suggests it will be shown on Wednesday.

What not to expect on Wednesday

A September keynote is still an iPhone keynote. Macs, iPads and desk accessories rarely feature, and nothing suggests the rule changes this year.

The good news is that the wait will be short. The specialist press counts around a dozen further products expected before the end of the year or in early 2027, outside the conference. Apple has grown fond of announcing part of its catalogue by press release, with no staging, which keeps keynotes lighter while spreading coverage across several months.

Another likely absence: major software features. Those are unveiled in June at the developer conference and land in September as a system update. Expect reminders rather than revelations on that front.

How to watch the event

The stream runs live from Apple’s website, with no sign-up and no dedicated app. A recent browser is enough. The replay stays available afterwards, so you need not block out your evening if the timing does not suit.

One practical tip for anyone planning to pre-order: check in advance that your payment method and delivery address are up to date in your account. The opening minutes of pre-orders are always the tensest, and the most popular models sometimes slip to multi-week lead times in under an hour.

Pre-orders and availability

The commercial calendar shifts slightly from habit. Pre-orders would open on Saturday 12 September at midnight Pacific time, rather than the Friday as in previous years, because of the 11 September anniversary. Sales are then expected to begin on Friday 18 September, with the foldable model possibly following its own schedule.

Should you wait for the Apple September 9 event before buying?

If you are after a Pro model, hold on a few days: at worst you will watch the outgoing generation drop in price, at best you will find a reason to change your mind. The rule applies every year and it still holds.

If your budget is fixed and you will not miss the flagship extras, the iPhone 17 Pro remains an excellent buy, with its 6.3-inch 120 Hz panel, A19 Pro chip and Pro Fusion camera system. It is exactly the kind of device whose price becomes far more attractive once its successor lands.

Check the iPhone 17 Pro price on Amazon

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See you on Wednesday evening: we will follow the keynote live and publish the full round-up straight after. In the meantime, which product are you waiting for most? Tell us in the comments on Wanda-techs.com.