Apple's September 2026 Event: New iPhones, Foldable, and Watch Upgrades Expected

Apple is poised to unveil a significant lineup of new products at its annual September event, with industry insiders anticipating the debut of at least five new devices. Headlining the announcements are expected to be the iPhone 18 series, a revolutionary foldable iPhone, and updated Apple Watch models, alongside potential reveals for its smart home ecosystem. The event also marks a leadership transition, as Tim Cook steps down as CEO on September 1 to assume the role of executive chairman, with John Ternus set to lead the September presentation.

The rumored iPhone 18 Pro is expected to feature a design closely resembling its predecessor, the iPhone 17 Pro, but with a refined, smaller Dynamic Island. Internally, the device is anticipated to boast significant upgrades, including a new Wide camera with variable aperture for enhanced lighting control and a cutting-edge A20 Pro chip manufactured using a 2nm process. Enhancements to battery life are also probable, driven by the efficient new chip and an upgraded LTPO+ OLED display. Further boosting performance and connectivity, Apple may incorporate a more efficient C2 modem and an N2 networking chip. This year's special color option is rumored to be 'Dark Cherry', with a light blue variant also anticipated.

Accompanying the Pro model will be the iPhone 18 Pro Max, offering the same feature set but with a larger battery and screen. Reports suggest this larger model might be slightly thicker than previous iterations to accommodate the increased battery capacity. Both the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max could see a price increase of up to $300 compared to the iPhone 17 Pro models, reflecting Apple's recent price adjustments on other product lines.

Perhaps the most groundbreaking revelation could be Apple's first foldable iPhone, tentatively named 'iPhone Ultra'. This device is rumored to feature a ~5.5-inch display when closed and expand to approximately 7.8 inches when open, adopting a 4:3 aspect ratio similar to an iPad mini when unfolded. Apple is reportedly developing an innovative hinge design to minimize crease visibility. Powered by the same 2nm A20 chip as the iPhone 18 Pro models, the foldable is expected to utilize dual batteries and a two-lens rear camera system. Due to its thin profile, it may forgo Face ID in favor of Touch ID. With a projected price point between $2,000 and $2,500, the foldable iPhone's launch timeline remains uncertain, with some speculation suggesting it might debut at the September event and release later, mirroring the iPhone X's staggered introduction in 2017.

Smart Home and Wearable Innovations

The Apple Watch lineup is also slated for an update. The Apple Watch Series 12 is expected to receive a modest refresh, potentially including a faster S-series chip and enhancements to its health and fitness tracking capabilities, alongside improved battery life. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 is anticipated to share the same chip upgrade. While some reports suggest a thinner design for the Ultra 4 with upgraded sensing functions, these claims are not yet widely corroborated.

Beyond wearables, Apple may be preparing to expand its smart home offerings. A new home hub device, featuring a 7-inch square display, is reportedly in development. This hub could serve as a central controller for smart home products, display photos, facilitate video calls, and integrate Siri AI for voice commands. Its release is tentatively eyed for 2026 or early 2027. Additionally, updates to the Apple TV 4K are expected, bringing a faster processor, increased RAM, and a new networking chip. The HomePod mini and full-size HomePod may also see processor upgrades, with new color options possibly introduced for the mini variant. A smart home camera is another product rumored to be in Apple's development pipeline.

Several other potential product releases for late 2026 include an OLED iPad mini, refreshed 14-inch MacBook Pro and iMac models with the M6 chip, a high-end OLED MacBook Pro with a touchscreen, a new Mac mini, and a Mac Studio. However, these are considered less likely to be unveiled at the September iPhone-focused event.

Notably, standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 models are not anticipated for the September 2026 event; their release is projected for spring 2027. Similarly, the Apple Watch SE will not receive an update this year.

Historical event patterns suggest Apple's September announcement is likely to occur on Tuesday, September 8, or Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Given that September 7 is Labor Day, Apple might opt for a slightly later date for pre-orders to avoid conflicts with the holiday and the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks on September 11. Pre-orders could potentially shift to Saturday, September 12, a pattern previously observed in 2015.