For iPhone fans and loyalists, this week is your time. On Wednesday, September 9, Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, will take the stage for the first time and reveal what the company has been working on since last year’s iPhone 17 event.
We’re expecting moderate upgrades across the board with new iPhones, Apple Watches, and entry-level AirPods. However, Apple’s 2026 iPhone is said to be different from previous launches. The week’s event is rumored to be designated for the company’s high-end phones, namely the Pro models and Apple’s first foldable. This means the base iPhone and next-gen Air could launch next year alongside the 18e.
Outside of potential hardware, we are getting new software updates across the board, from iOS, iPadOS, macOS, watchOS, and tvOS to visionOS. But let’s get into what we know about the reported new Apple hardware with a bit more detail.
The iPhone Ultra
This will likely be the star of the show, the first foldable iPhone, or simply the iPhone Ultra. It will resemble Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8, with a passport-book design, but it will be as thin as two iPhone Airs. Unlike the 18 Pro models, don’t expect bold colors for Apple’s first foldable, as we’re expecting only two options: silver and black.
The Ultra is said to have a 5.5-inch OLED display that opens into a larger 7.8-inch OLED screen with a minimal crease and a durable metal hinge. Don’t expect Face ID, as the foldable is expected to share the iPad Air/mini route with a Touch ID side button that doubles as a power button. Don’t expect a rear triple-camera setup here, but it won’t be a single shooter, such as the iPhone Air either. Rumors have the Ultra touting a 48MP main wide sensor and a 48MP ultra-wide sensor to handle your photo and video needs.
Inside lies the company’s latest in-house chips: an A20 chip and a C2 modem with 12 GB of RAM. Recent rumors place the battery split into each half of the foldable with a total size of up to a 5,800 mAh cell. However, reports conflict on whether the Ultra will arrive with MagSafe support. I would wager it will, but we’ll see in a few days. On the software side of things, the supported apps should accommodate the larger foldable screens and format with multitasking and split-screen support like iPadOS.
And lastly, reported pricing for the Ultra ranges from a minimum of $2,000 to upwards of $2,500. So, if you’re interested, I hope you have been saving up.
iPhone 18 Pro & iPhone 18 Pro Max
Regarding the upcoming Pro iPhones, they will heavily resemble the iPhone 17 Pro models from last year. However, we’re expecting roughly five updates, ranging from incremental to moderate.
- We’re already aware of the potential new colors, which may or may not include a light blue, silver, black, and dark cherry option.
- Multiple reports suggest Apple is upgrading its main camera sensor to a variable aperture, which gives it DSLR-like control and brings in more light in low-light scenarios, more background blur for portrait shots, and improved exposure and sharper images.
- The 18 Pro and Pro Max could have a smaller or less wide Dynamic Island cutout.
- While the 18 Pro Max is set to get a larger 5,567 mAh battery inside, and coupled with Apple’s power-efficient new A20 chip and a more energy-saving display, it should lead to a noticeable boost in battery life.
- Expect a price hike across the recurring iPhones by at least $100 or more, as with every Apple and other product this year.
If there are any other noteworthy upgrades, we’ll see them on Wednesday alongside everyone else.
Apple Home Hub, Apple TV, & HomePod Mini
After being in the rumor mill for years, we may actually get a glimpse at the company’s version of a smart display or Home Hub. Essentially, think of a HomePod speaker with a 7-inch iPad attached to it capable of FaceTime videos, and that’s the product. No different from Amazon and Google smart displays, but powered by Siri. The timing would be perfect for this type of product, especially with the upcoming version of Siri AI being actually useful and nice to use. No word on pricing for it.
Regarding the new Apple TV streaming box and HomePod mini devices, we anticipate both products to offer faster processors to support the new Siri and the streaming box to potentially support more advanced, graphic-heavy games. It’s also safe to assume that these two will get a mild price bump compared to their predecessors.
Apple Watch 12 & Apple Watch Ultra 4
While there isn’t a ton of information available for Apple’s upcoming wearables, save for the addition of a ceramic case for the Apple Watch 12. We are expecting similar designs without a hardware overhaul. Perhaps outside of a new S processor and possibly upgraded sensors, including an always-on heart rate sensor.
AirPods 5
Similar to its predecessors, the AirPods 5 are expected to arrive in both an ANC and non-ANC version. We’re expecting an updated H3 chip for improved sound quality and lower latency. And we also don’t expect any design changes, as these will be an annual refresh.
