Apple’s September 2026 event: What the iPhone Ultra and iPhone 18 Pro rumors suggest

Apple’s September 2026 keynote is still a rumor, not an announced event. Wednesday, September 9 is currently the leading date in multiple reports, largely because September 7 is Labor Day in the United States and Apple’s recent event timing has favored a midweek launch. 346

If the event happens, its defining announcement is expected to be Apple’s first foldable iPhone, reportedly called the iPhone Ultra, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The event would also arrive shortly after John Ternus is expected to take over as Apple CEO on September 1. 4652

The rumored September lineup at a glance

Reports do not agree on how many “products” Apple will announce. Some describe an eight-product slate, while the core hardware rumors point to three iPhone models, three Apple Watch variants and two AirPods 5 variants if each configuration is counted separately. 172425

The most consistently reported candidates are:

• iPhone 18 Pro
• iPhone 18 Pro Max
• iPhone Ultra, Apple’s rumored first foldable iPhone
• Apple Watch Series 12, in Wi‑Fi-only and cellular versions
• Apple Watch Ultra 4
• AirPods 5, in standard and active-noise-cancellation versions

That makes the “seven products” description difficult to reconcile with the individual variants: counted this way, the list contains eight configurations. Other reporting uses a broader count that includes a possible Apple TV and HomePod mini refresh. 1721

When could pre-orders and releases begin?

The rumored keynote date is September 9, but Apple has not confirmed it. If Apple follows the traditional pattern described in current reports, iPhone pre-orders could begin within days of the announcement, with retail availability roughly a week later. One projection points to pre-orders on Friday, September 11 and store availability on Friday, September 18. 6

Another report suggests Apple could choose September 12 for pre-orders instead, so even the timing is unsettled. 2 The foldable iPhone may also follow a different schedule: reports warn that it could launch later than the Pro models because of limited early production, potentially in October or November. 3439

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: the rumored upgrades

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to retain the existing Pro-tier positioning while receiving several internal and camera changes. Rumored features include:

• An A20 Pro chip manufactured using a 2-nanometer process
• A smaller Dynamic Island
• A main camera with a variable aperture
• Improved battery life, particularly on the Pro Max
• Possible Apple-designed C2 cellular and N2 networking chips
• Changes to the Camera Control system

These specifications have not been confirmed by Apple, and reports differ on the exact implementation. MacRumors and 9to5Mac both describe the variable-aperture camera, smaller Dynamic Island and A20 Pro as leading rumors, while the C2 modem and networking hardware remain possibilities rather than established specifications. 203335

iPhone Ultra: Apple’s first foldable could be the headline

The iPhone Ultra is the most consequential rumor in the lineup. Reports describe a book-style foldable with an outer display of roughly 5.5 inches and an internal display of about 7.8 inches. When open, the larger screen could offer a tablet-like experience closer to an iPad mini than a conventional phone. 8

The rumored price is far above Apple’s standard iPhone range. Fortune reports that the device could cost more than $2,000, while another estimate places it as high as $2,499. These are leak-based projections, not Apple pricing. 1229

Availability may be as important as the specifications. Manufacturing reports suggest the foldable could be in particularly short supply, potentially causing long delivery estimates or an early preorder sellout. Some reporting expects it to ship alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models; other reports leave open a later October or November release. 3438

Component costs could push prices higher

The iPhone 18 Pro line may also face pricing pressure from higher memory and component costs. One report estimates a possible $250–$300 increase for the iPhone 18 Pro, but that figure is speculative and should not be treated as an announced price. 36

The same uncertainty applies to the foldable iPhone. Reports consistently place it above $2,000, but the final name, storage options and regional pricing remain unknown. 1229

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

Apple is reportedly testing three watch configurations: Wi‑Fi-only and cellular versions of the Apple Watch Series 12, plus the Apple Watch Ultra 4. 1825

The expected focus is performance, health and fitness rather than a major external redesign. Current reporting points to faster chips and incremental fitness-tracking improvements, while Mark Gurman’s reported expectations rule out a major design overhaul for this generation. 232527

AirPods 5: two versions, but probably no cameras yet

Apple may introduce two AirPods 5 models at the same iPhone event: a standard version and one with active noise cancellation, following the structure of the AirPods 4 range. 2447

Camera-equipped AirPods are a separate, more ambitious rumor. Current reporting says that version is not expected until 2027, so it should not be treated as part of the September 2026 AirPods launch. 4853

Which iPhones are reportedly delayed?

The biggest change for shoppers may be what Apple does not launch in September. The standard iPhone 18, the lower-cost iPhone 18e and the iPhone Air 2 are reportedly being held until around March or spring 2027 as Apple moves toward a split iPhone release schedule. 23

That would leave the September event focused on premium devices: the two Pro models and the foldable iPhone Ultra. In practical terms, anyone waiting for a less expensive new iPhone may have to wait for the later release window rather than buying a new standard model immediately after the fall keynote.

Why John Ternus makes the event significant

John Ternus is expected to become Apple CEO on September 1, just days before the rumored event. Apple’s foldable iPhone has been described as one of the major products in the pipeline he will inherit, making the launch an important early test of the company’s next leadership era. 4652

That does not mean Ternus personally designed or originated the products: the hardware program would have been developed well before the leadership transition. The significance is timing. If the September event takes place as reported, it would be the first major Apple launch presented under his tenure.

What remains unconfirmed

Apple has not formally announced the event date, product names, specifications, prices or release schedule. The most uncertain points are the final name of the foldable, whether it ships at the same time as the Pro iPhones, how many units Apple can produce initially and whether component costs will affect retail prices.

For now, the clearest rumor-based expectation is a premium-focused September launch centered on the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple’s first foldable iPhone—with Apple Watches and AirPods potentially expanding the event beyond the phone lineup.