Apple is just a few weeks away from surprising us with its new iPhone 2026 collection. Here we take a look at the iPhone 18 Pro Max price, preorders, and launch date. As with any other launch, the iPhone 18 Pro Max launch date keeps moving around, and this time is no different. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman initially pointed to September 8, then shifted his prediction to Wednesday, September 9 2026, and most other reports have now fallen in line with that . The iPhone 18 Pro and the first Apple foldable iPhone are expected to share the stage.
Apple has not confirmed anything yet, but the iPhone 18 Pro Max is tipped to bring a smaller Dynamic Island, an A20 Pro chip, and camera upgrades. Here's what we know so far.
The Apple keynote is expected on Wednesday, September 9, at 10 am Pacific Time, 1 pm Eastern Time, and 6 pm in the UK, held at the Steve Jobs Theatre in Cupertino. September 8 was floated earlier, but September 7 falls on Labour Day, and Apple has never held a keynote the day right after, which is why September 9 has taken over as the favoured date.
iPhone 18 Pro Max preorders come with their own wrinkle this year. September 11 marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and reports suggest Apple is unlikely to open preorders on that date, pushing things to Saturday, September 12 instead- a break from the usual Apple Friday rollout. Retail availability is still expected on Friday, September 18.
Expected timeline: September 9: iPhone 18 Pro Max launch; September 12: Preorders open; September 18: Retail availability
For now, the iPhone 18 Pro Max price as per leaks indicates that there is going to be a big hike from the price quoted last year and the reason is mostly the memory demand and supply crisis. According to recent leaks, if the rate hike is implemented and Apple does not hold the line of last year, iPhone 18 Pro Max price could approximately be around Rs 155000 and higher depending on the version your order. iPhone 18 Pro Max preorders will likely start a week after launch. Clarity is expected closer to the official event.
iOS 27 is expected to arrive before the new iPhones hit retail stores, with September 14 floated as a possible release date, though Apple has not confirmed this either. The update will also roll out to existing compatible iPhones, so buying the new Pro models will not be a requirement to get the new software.
The September event could also bring in the first Apple foldable, probably named iPhone Ultra alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Apple is tight-lipped on the name, but leaks are enough to make all the noise. This could mark a new beginning in how Apple releases its phone, with the standard iPhone 18 skipping the usual September window.
Apple is expected to confirm everything once the September event is locked in.