It’s become an annual tradition for Apple to hold a major iPhone event in September, and this year is no different. The company has already announced that this year’s big event is set for Wednesday, September 9, at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET at Apple Park, with the tagline “Surprise and shine.”
This year’s iPhone event will be quite different from those in years past, for two primary reasons. For starters, longtime Apple CEO Tim Cook officially stepped down on September 1, becoming Apple’s Executive Chairman and passing the CEO torch to John Ternus. Ternus, who previously served as Apple’s senior vice president of hardware engineering and helped oversee the development of products like the iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, and AirPods, will now spearhead Apple’s future as its new CEO. He’ll likely also host the event, as Cook did.
Second, from a hardware perspective, this year’s event could be quite different, too, as one key product is heavily rumored to be missing from the lineup of reveals: a new base-model iPhone. So, if you’re hoping to see the iPhone 18 on September 9, you may have to wait until spring 2027 if the rumors are true.
But even with the iPhone 18 rumored to be absent from this year’s event, that doesn’t mean there won’t be plenty of love for the iPhone, along with plenty of other products. So, without further ado, here’s everything rumored to appear at Apple’s “Surprise and shine” event on September 9.
iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max
Don’t worry, Apple isn’t skipping out on new Pro models this fall
While Apple might not reveal the iPhone 18 at this year’s event and instead wait until next spring, that doesn’t mean there won’t be any new iPhones this fall. The company is expected to refresh its Pro models, unveiling the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
In terms of design, the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are expected to look largely the same as the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max, with the same unibody aluminum design Apple introduced last year and possibly some new colors, including a rumored burgundy-like option.
The biggest changes are expected to be a smaller Dynamic Island, a new 24-megapixel selfie camera, and a variable-aperture rear lens, though it’s unclear whether the latter will be exclusive to the 18 Pro Max or available on both models. Both models are also rumored to receive a redesigned Camera Control button.
Under the hood, several upgrades are expected, including Apple’s new A20 Pro chipset and C2 modem. The iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are also rumored to have slightly larger batteries, so when you factor that in with the improved efficiency of the A20 Pro and C2 modem, battery life could be better than ever.
Unfortunately, the ongoing global memory shortage is also expected to push the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max prices higher this year. Some analysts project the new models could cost anywhere from $200 to $250 more than the iPhone 17 Pro.
iPhone Ultra
Apple’s first foldable iPhone
The star of the show at Apple’s event this year is expected to be Apple’s first-ever foldable iPhone, rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra. There has been talk of Apple working on a foldable iPhone for years now, but based on the latest reports, it seems 2026 is finally the year it’s going to happen.
As for what Apple has in store for the iPhone Ultra, it’s expected to be a book-style foldable, with a design and shape very similar to the Galaxy Z Fold 8. It’s rumored to measure between 4.5mm and 4.8mm thick when unfolded, with a 7.8-inch inner display and a 5.5-inch cover screen. Reports also indicate that the crease on the inner folding display could be nearly invisible.
The iPhone Ultra will reportedly be powered by Apple’s A20 Pro chipset and feature the C2 modem, just like the iPhone 18 Pro. However, it is rumored to lack Face ID in favor of Touch ID built into the power button.
Camera-wise, it’s expected to have only two rear lenses: a 48-megapixel wide and ultra-wide lens, with the telephoto lens found on the iPhone 18 Pro missing. It’s also expected to have a 24-megapixel selfie camera on both the inner display and cover screen.
The price will likely be the most controversial thing about the iPhone Ultra, as it’s rumored to cost anywhere from $2,000 to $2,500.
Quiz
Apple TV
Trivia Challenge
Think you know your Apple TV history inside out — put your knowledge to the ultimate test!
HistoryHardwareSoftwareFeaturesStreaming
In what year did Apple first introduce the original Apple TV?
Correct! The original Apple TV was unveiled by Steve Jobs in January 2007 and began shipping in March of that year. It was initially codenamed ‘iTV’ before Apple settled on its final name.
Not quite. The first Apple TV was announced in January 2007 and started shipping in March 2007. Steve Jobs introduced it at Macworld, describing it as a way to bring your iTunes library to your television.
What was the storage capacity of the original first-generation Apple TV at launch?
Correct! The original Apple TV launched with either a 40GB or 160GB hard drive, as it was designed to store synced media locally from your iTunes library. This was before streaming became the dominant model.
Not quite. The first Apple TV came with either a 40GB or 160GB internal hard drive. Because it was designed to sync content from iTunes rather than purely stream it, local storage was a key part of the original design.
What major redesign did Apple TV receive in 2010 that dramatically changed its form factor?
Correct! The second-generation Apple TV launched in 2010 was a dramatic departure — it shrunk to a tiny black puck and completely removed the internal hard drive, shifting fully to streaming. It also dropped the price to just $99.
Not quite. The 2010 Apple TV (2nd generation) was reimagined as a tiny black puck-shaped device that removed local storage entirely, relying on streaming instead. Steve Jobs famously called the original a ‘hobby’ before this pivotal redesign.
What is the name of the operating system that runs on Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K?
Correct! tvOS is Apple’s dedicated operating system for the Apple TV platform, first introduced alongside the fourth-generation Apple TV in 2015. It’s based on iOS but optimised for the living room experience.
Not quite. Apple TV runs tvOS, a purpose-built operating system Apple introduced with the fourth-generation Apple TV in 2015. While it shares a foundation with iOS, tvOS is specifically tailored for big-screen, remote-controlled navigation.
Which fourth-generation Apple TV feature allowed users to install third-party apps for the first time?
Correct! The fourth-generation Apple TV in 2015 introduced the App Store to the platform, finally allowing developers to build and distribute apps directly to the TV. This was a landmark moment that transformed Apple TV from a streaming box into a proper platform.
Not quite. The App Store was the defining new feature of the fourth-generation Apple TV launched in 2015. For the first time, users could download games, streaming apps, and utilities directly onto their Apple TV, opening it up as a true app platform.
Which chip powers the Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) released in 2022?
Correct! The third-generation Apple TV 4K, released in November 2022, is powered by the A15 Bionic chip, the same processor found in the iPhone 13 series. This gave it a significant performance boost and enabled smooth 4K HDR playback.
Not quite. The 2022 Apple TV 4K (3rd generation) uses the A15 Bionic chip. Apple often reuses chips from its iPhone lineup in Apple TV, and the A15 offered a meaningful performance improvement over the A12 found in the previous model.
Apple TV+ launched as a streaming service in November 2019. What was notable about its launch pricing in many markets?
Correct! Apple TV+ launched on 1 November 2019 at just $4.99 per month, making it one of the most affordable streaming services at launch. Crucially, Apple also offered a free one-year subscription to anyone who purchased a new Apple device.
Not quite. Apple TV+ launched at $4.99 per month and sweetened the deal by offering a free year of the service to anyone buying a new Apple device. The aggressive pricing was seen as Apple’s strategy to rapidly build a subscriber base for its fledgling original content library.
What is the name of Apple’s feature that allows iPhone users to use their phone as a camera source through Apple TV?
Correct! Continuity Camera, introduced with tvOS 17, allows users to use their iPhone as a webcam for FaceTime calls on their Apple TV. It takes advantage of the iPhone’s superior camera hardware for a much better video calling experience on the big screen.
Not quite. The feature is called Continuity Camera, and it was introduced with tvOS 17. By wirelessly connecting an iPhone to Apple TV, users can enjoy high-quality FaceTime video calls on their television using their iPhone’s powerful camera system.
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New Apple Watches and AirPods
Iterative upgrades
Another hallmark of Apple’s yearly iPhone event is new Apple Watch models, and at next week’s event, Apple is rumored to be launching two new models: the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4.
Both the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 reportedly will look very similar to their predecessors, with no major design changes coming this year. The biggest changes will all be under the hood, with both watches receiving new chipsets, and there’s also the possibility of improved heart rate monitoring.
Sticking with accessories, Apple is also expected to unveil the AirPods 5 at its event, but it’s unclear what upgrades they’ll have in store, other than the usual audio improvements. Apple is expected to offer both an Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) and a non-ANC version.
New Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini
It’s been four years since a new Apple TV 4K was released
Last but not least, the wildcard for Apple’s big iPhone event next week is a new Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini.
For years, rumors and reports have suggested that Apple is working on a new Apple TV 4K, and since it’s been almost four years since the current third-genApple TV 4K launched in October 2022, it’s definitely long overdue.
In August, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reported that Apple has a new Apple TV 4K and HomePod Mini “nearly ready to launch,” with sources he spoke with at Apple saying they “will be ready this fall.” That means we could potentially see both unveiled at next week’s iPhone event, although Apple could also hold off on announcing them until later in the fall.
A few of the upgrades expected for the new Apple TV 4K include a new chipset, with rumors pointing to the A17 Pro, as well as Apple’s N1 networking chip, which would bring support for Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6. The new Apple TV 4K is also expected to support Siri AI and Apple Intelligence.
As for the HomePod Mini, it’s similarly expected to get a chipset upgrade, possibly to the S9 or newer, along with improved connectivity, potentially through the N1 chip as well. It’s also rumored to support Apple Intelligence when connected to a compatible iPhone.
The wait is almost over
Apple is holding its big iPhone event on Wednesday, September 9, at 10 a.m. PT / 1 p.m. ET, so there isn’t much longer to wait to see what the company has in store and how many of these rumors actually pan out. Personally, I’m most excited to see the foldable iPhone and, fingers crossed, a new Apple TV 4K.
As always, the event will be streamed live on Apple’s website and YouTube channel, so you can follow along as Apple unveils everything. Stay tuned to Pocket-lint, as we’ll be covering the event’s biggest reveals.
