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Standard iPhone 18 not dropping this year, foldable iPhone Ultra possibly crashing the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max's party, and yes, variable aperture is a thing now. We know you have heard almost everything about the upcoming Apple event already, and honestly, you probably want to hear more. Keeping the clutter aside, do you know what is actually coming? Well, you certainly know the Apple 'Surprise and Shine' event now has a date: September 9 2026 at 10:30 IST (India Time), so let us find out what Apple actually has in store for you this year, apart from the iPhone 18 Pro and Max.
Both Apple watches get the same treatment: a new chip, sharper fitness tracking, better battery life, and continuous heart-rate monitoring, basically your wrist becoming a full-time snitch on your health. Expect redesigned Health and Fitness experiences too, though don't expect a redesign; Touch ID stays a rumour, not a reality. A ceramic case might return in white or dark grey.
Likely coming in two flavours, with and without active noise cancellation, so pick your poison carefully. Both are expected to run on an H3 chip, promising better sound and lower latency. However, disappointingly, the AirPods Pro 3 may not sport a heart-rate sensor this time.
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will pack an A20 Pro chip that runs on TSMC's 2nm process, promising up to 18 percent better performance and 30 percent higher power efficiency over the A19.
Apple's Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module tech places the processor and memory closer together, a move that could boost Apple Intelligence performance while freeing up space inside. Add an LTPO+ display, a Samsung sensor, a simplified Camera Control, a slimmer Dynamic Island, 12GB RAM, and 256GB base storage, running the latest iOS with full Apple Intelligence support.
The iPhone 18 Pro Max may carry a bigger battery, a little extra heft at 243 grams, and possibly the only variable-aperture camera on the guest list.
Likely called the iPhone Ultra, this one is the showstopper: a passport-style fold with 5.5-inch and 7.8-inch displays, an iPad-like 4:3 ratio, and a crease that's basically playing hide-and-seek. Titanium-and-aluminium build, liquid-metal hinge, vapor-chamber cooling, dual batteries, Touch ID over Face ID, and storage up to 1TB are proof that folding phones just grew up. The foldable iPhone Ultra may go a step further with satellite Apple Maps and photo sharing on Messages. This is Apple's first step into the foldable era and will take on the foldables at Samsung.