Apple is preparing to kick off the fall season under the theme “Surprise and Shine,” but this event will not be just another traditional annual episode on the Cupertino calendar; it is a major turning point marking the inauguration of an entirely new era led by the new CEO, John Ternus, following Tim Cook’s transition to Chairman of the Board. All eyes are on this event, which brings with it a qualitative leap represented by the first foldable iPhone, alongside radical updates to the camera system in the Pro categories and decisive changes to the usual iPhone launch schedules.
iPhone Ultra: Apple’s first foldable phone sees the light
After many years of rumors, speculation, and patents, it seems Apple is finally ready to break into the world of foldable devices with a device expected to be named “iPhone Ultra.” The device is designed in a book-style format, opening horizontally to reveal a 7.8-inch internal OLED screen that provides an experience similar to an iPad mini, while the 5.5-inch external screen allows for seamless phone use when closed.
The engineering design of this device is exceptional by all standards; leaks indicate that the device’s thickness when opened will not exceed just 4.5 mm, making it the thinnest iPhone Apple has ever produced, with a total thickness of 9 mm when folded. Apple has adopted a hinge manufactured from Liquid Metal with an optically clear adhesive to reduce the visibility of the crease and address micro-cracks caused by repeated folding over time.
This extreme thinness forced some engineering compromises; Apple did not find enough space to include Face ID sensors, opting instead to bring back Touch ID integrated into the side button, just like in the iPad Air devices. The rear camera system also lacks a telephoto lens, limited to wide and ultra-wide lenses, while MagSafe magnetic charging support has been confirmed. The device will be powered by the 2nm A20 Pro chip with 12GB of RAM and a dual battery with a capacity between 5400 and 5800 mAh. However, the price will not be for everyone; estimates suggest it will start at $2,000 and could reach $2,500 for higher capacity versions.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: Professionalism in aperture and radical upgrades
Alongside the foldable innovation, the usual professional category arrives with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The overall design will maintain the identity of the previous generation with compatibility for most cases, except for a slight increase in the camera bump thickness and device weight to make room for a giant battery in the Pro Max model with a capacity of 5,567 mAh and a more energy-efficient LTPO+ screen.
The most prominent feature of the iPhone 18 Pro camera will be the transition to a variable aperture, similar to professional DSLR cameras, giving the user mechanical control over the amount of light entering the sensor, and a significant advantage in optical bokeh and night photography in collaboration with a new triple-layer sensor developed by Samsung. Apple is also moving to reduce the size of the Dynamic Island to make it more compact.
Color options will see a notable change, as the phone will appear in a new dark cherry color, light blue, and silver, with the surprising absence of the classic black. Reports also indicate a simplification of the Camera Control button by removing the haptic touch layer in favor of a simple press mechanism, while prices may see an increase ranging from $100 to $300 due to the cost of memory and advanced processor manufacturing.
The big surprise, Apple Watches, and smart accessories
The unpleasant surprise for fans of annual upgrades is the absence of the base iPhone 18 model from this event; Apple has decided to postpone it until the spring of 2027 to be released alongside the iPhone 18e and the second generation of the iPhone Air, limiting this fall’s event to the high-end categories and the foldable version only.
Regarding watches, the public is awaiting the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Despite the lack of structural changes in the external design, rumors suggest the potential return of the luxurious ceramic casing, with improved processors that support continuous all-day heart rate tracking to provide advanced recovery metrics that compete with smart health rings.
References to AirPods 5 have also been spotted within the code, which will arrive in two models (one supporting active noise cancellation and the other without) with the new H3 chip. The event may also see the unveiling of a new smart home platform with a 7-inch square screen, presence sensors, and an interactive camera focusing on the Siri intelligence developed in iOS 27, in addition to hardware updates for the Apple TV 4K and HomePod mini.
The John Ternus era and official launch dates
This event is exceptional because it is the first appearance of John Ternus as the leader of the event in his capacity as Apple’s new CEO, after fifteen years spent by Tim Cook at the helm of the events and the company. Ternus is a veteran hardware engineer who oversaw most of Apple’s flagship products, and his leadership of the event reflects a deep focus on the engineering and design aspects of the products.
Apple will officially announce the launch dates for its new systems: iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, watchOS 27, and visionOS 27, which are scheduled to reach users a few days after the event, specifically on September 14.
As for pre-order dates, and given that the Friday following the event coincides with the sensitive anniversary of the September 11 attacks in the United States, it is likely that Apple will postpone the opening of pre-orders to Saturday, September 12, at 5:00 AM Pacific Time, with devices officially reaching stores and users’ hands on Friday, September 18.
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