Apple is set to hold its 'Surprise and Shine' event on Wednesday, September 9 at Apple Park, marking new CEO John Ternus's first major product launch. The event is expected to unveil as many as nine devices, headlined by Apple's first foldable phone, the iPhone Ultra, alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Pre-orders are expected to open Saturday, September 12, after Apple reportedly avoided the usual Friday date this year.
Leaks from reliable sources, including longtime leaker Ming-Chi Kuo, suggest the iPhone Ultra will measure between 4.5mm and 4.8mm when unfolded, making it the thinnest iPhone ever and thinner than the iPhone Air's 5.64mm. However, it would not be the thinnest foldable overall, trailing Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra (4.1mm) and the Honor Magic V6 (4.0mm). Folded, the Ultra is expected to sit around 9mm to 9.5mm, and weigh between 8.1 and 8.5 ounces (230-241 grams), putting it in line with the iPhone 17 Pro Max's heft despite its dual-screen design. The device is rumored to include a 7.8-inch inner display, a 5.5-inch cover screen, an A20 Pro chip, a C2 modem, Touch ID in the power button instead of Face ID, and two 48MP rear cameras plus two 24MP selfie cameras.
Battery life is a notable area of uncertainty. Regulatory filings point to a split dual-cell battery design totaling 4,883 mAh, which would rank near the bottom compared to rivals like the Honor Magic V6 (6,660 mAh) and Motorola Razr Fold (6,000 mAh), since Apple is reportedly sticking with conventional lithium-ion cells rather than silicon-carbon tech used by competitors. Based on comparisons with similarly sized rival batteries, some estimates suggest the Ultra could approach 13 hours of battery life in web-surfing tests, though this would still fall short of category leaders posting over 14 hours. The rumored A20 Pro chip, built on a 2nm architecture, could help offset the smaller battery through improved efficiency, though this remains speculative.
Pricing remains one of the biggest open questions. Leaked Australian carrier pricing suggests a percentage increase over last year's iPhone 17 Pro that would translate to a U.S. starting price around $1,999, a figure also cited by Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. However, market research firm TrendForce has estimated a starting price between $2,099 and $2,299, with top configurations potentially exceeding $3,000, and has projected price increases of 10-20% across the iPhone 18 lineup due to rising component costs. A separate report notes Apple is reportedly facing a 400% year-over-year increase in DRAM costs, though the company appears to be absorbing much of that expense rather than fully passing it to consumers. TrendForce estimates foldables will make up only about 2% of the global smartphone market in 2026.
Sources differ somewhat on the release timeline. Gurman has said he would be surprised if the foldable didn't launch at the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro models, or within weeks after, dismissing rumors of a delay into October or November. Other reports note analyst Ming-Chi Kuo previously suggested a staggered release similar to the iPhone X, with announcement and later launch. Multiple sources agree that even if release dates align, the iPhone Ultra may face 'extremely limited' initial stock, with production estimates as high as 10 million units and possible U.S.-first availability before expanding to other countries.
Beyond the iPhone Ultra and 18 Pro models, the September event is expected to include the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4, AirPods 5, a HomePod mini update, and a new 'HomePad' smart home hub. A broader report outlines 41 products Apple could release over the next three years, including an OLED iPad mini, M6 Mac updates, a MacBook Ultra, and longer-term projects like AirPods with cameras (delayed to 2027), Apple Glasses, and an all-glass iPhone 20 design.