Apple has finally sent out invitations for its next hardware event, titled “Surprise and shine,” set for Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PT at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park.
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This year’s keynote carries extra weight beyond the usual hardware reveal as it will be John Ternus’ first Apple product event as CEO, following Tim Cook’s planned exit from the top job. Ternus is set to take over on Sept. 1, and given his background in running hardware engineering, some reports suggest Apple’s industrial design group is being pulled closer to the center of decision-making under his leadership.
For the hardware itself, all signs point to a narrower lineup than usual, with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max all expected to headline, alongside Apple’s first foldable phone, widely rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra. Missing the event, however, will likely be the standard iPhone 18, 18e, and next-gen iPhone Air, which are reportedly being pushed to a spring 2027 event instead. New Apple Watches are also expected to make an appearance.
Here’s everything we know heading into the keynote.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max
Per Mashable’s ongoing iPhone 18 coverage, Apple is expected to keep this launch focused on its Pro model iPhones.
In terms of design, the Pro models aren’t expected to stray far from last year’s look. In Mashable’s rumors thread, leaks suggest a couple of tweaks rather than a full overhaul, including a smaller Dynamic Island cutout and a more unified, single-tone back glass in place of last year’s two-tone finish.
Color-wise, Apple will mix up this year’s finishes to include a silver, dark gray, light blue, and a new shade called “dark cherry.”
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Under the hood, the Pro models are expected to move to Apple’s A20 and A20 Pro chips, paired with a new C2 modem that could bring 5G satellite support and an N2 chip aimed at improving WiFi and AirDrop reliability. Korean outlet The Bell has also reported that Apple plans to standardize RAM across the Pro lineup at 12GB, doing away with the base-versus-Pro memory split that’s defined recent generations. Battery life should get a boost too, with capacity expected to land around 5,000mAh, which will appear the norm for the lineup.
The “biggest” change is within the camera. Several rumors have called the changes among the most significant camera hardware upgrades in the iPhone’s history, due in part to a larger telephoto aperture and the introduction of variable aperture. That said, leaker Ice Universe has suggested the variable-aperture system might be exclusive to the Pro Max, leaving the standard Pro without it.
The Pro Max is also rumored to be very slightly larger and heavier than its predecessor, a tradeoff tied to fitting in a bigger battery.
iPhone Ultra
Credit: Mashable / Zain bin Awais
The event’s biggest wildcard is Apple’s first foldable phone, widely expected to be called the iPhone Ultra (previously referred to in our reporting as the iPhone Fold). In our rumors guide on the Ultra, we noted that while Apple hasn’t confirmed the device, code references in the iOS 27 beta, including strings tied to fold angles and screen states, plus macOS 27 features for resizing iPhone-mirroring windows, have made its existence something of an open secret.
Early testers cited by Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman reportedly liked the device’s hinge quality and more iPad-like interface, though they were less impressed by the missing telephoto camera.
Expected specs, based on analyst and supply-chain reporting:
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A book-style design with a roughly 7.8-inch inner OLED display and a 5.5-inch outer display
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Touch ID rather than Face ID
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Four cameras total — two rear, one inner, one front-facing — though without a telephoto lens
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A liquid-metal hinge intended to improve durability
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A price above $2,000, with some estimates around $2,399
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A battery of at least 5,088mAh
Analysts, leakers, and even Gurman have been going back and forth for weeks about when the Ultra will actually release. Some reports say that the Ultra will be announced but won’t hit shelves later, similar to the iPhone X. Others, like Gurman, have pushed back on this.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4
Rounding out the hardware slate are reports that the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are also expected in September, likely with new health and fitness features and fresh color and band options rather than a major redesign this cycle.
It’ll be a more substantial overhaul that may include a return to ceramic cases. Apple is also exploring a screen-free model for the minimalist wearable market, targeting late 2026 or 2027, according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman.
How to watch the iPhone 18 event
Apple’s event kicks off Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2026, at 10:00 a.m. PT / 1:00 p.m. ET at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park, with a livestream on Apple’s website and YouTube channel for those not attending in person.
Mashable will be there on the ground, so look out for our coverage and hands-on impressions once the keynote wraps.
Source: https://mashable.com/tech/apple-iphone-18-pro-launch-event-everything-to-expect
