Apple has confirmed a launch event for Wednesday, September 9, 2026, where it is widely expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro lineup and a foldable iPhone Ultra. Industry reporting points to shifted pre-order timing for the Pro models and potential pricing exceeding $2,099 for the new foldable device.
Apple’s upcoming product showcase is set to alter traditional release schedules and introduce major hardware shifts. Scheduled for 10 a.m. Pacific Time, the Apple Sept. 9 launch event carries the internal theme Surprise and shine according to industry reporting, though the company has not yet officially detailed exact specifications or pricing. Apple will soon launch the new iPhones for the global market. Only one week remains till the launch. The Cupertino tech giant plans to release a number of products, albeit the specifics are yet unknown. Based on the reports, we anticipate seeing the iPhone Ultra, Apple’s first folding phone, and the iPhone 18 Pro models in new colors. Although Apple has not officially announced the pre-order date, reliable web sites have now proposed a potential date.
Friday, September 11, 2026
While Apple typically opens pre-orders on the first Friday following an iPhone announcement, this year’s calendar forces a departure from tradition. Friday, September 11, 2026, marks the 25th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, a date the company has historically respected by avoiding major commercial rollouts. Apple has a history of respecting 9/11. For example, when the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus event fell on Wednesday, September 9 in 2015, pre-orders for those devices began on Saturday, September 12 at 12:01 a.m. Pacific Time, instead of on Friday, September 11.
Consequently, iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders are rumored to open on Saturday, September 12, 2026, immediately after September 11. The timing itself is also expected to break from the usual routine. Macrumors said, The time is also set to change, according to the source: While pre-orders usually begin at 5 am PT, Apple is reportedly opening up pre-sales at midnight PT on Saturday.
Following that Saturday opening, the most likely release date for the iPhone 18 Pro models is Friday, September 18, 2026.
Expected Pricing and Hardware for the Foldable iPhone Ultra
Ming-Chi Kuo and TrendForce Cost Projections
The most substantial hardware departure at the event centers on Apple’s first folding phone, widely anticipated to debut under the name iPhone Ultra. According to Apple supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, pre-orders for the foldable iPhone may begin after pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro models. Kuo said manufacturing challenges have limited early production of the foldable device, leading him to project that its availability will lag behind the standard Pro models, potentially arriving in the fourth quarter of 2026. In 2017, Apple unveiled the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X on September 12. iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus pre-orders began just three days later, while iPhone X pre-orders began six weeks later on Friday, October 27. Likewise, Kuo believes the foldable iPhone may not be available to pre-order until the fourth quarter of 2026.
Market analysts have outlined preliminary cost projections for the new hardware tier. TrendForce said Sept. 3 that the foldable could start between $2,099 and $2,299, with higher-capacity versions potentially topping $3,000. Hardware expectations for the foldable include an approximate 5.5-inch outer OLED display, a 7.8-inch internal screen, an A20 Pro chip, 12GB of RAM, two rear cameras, and fingerprint authentication rather than Face ID. Apple has confirmed none of those specifications or prices. Production is further along than it was when earlier launch rumors surfaced. Supply-chain reporting in July indicated that manufacturing was progressing, although questions remained over launch timing and initial supply.
Apple’s Sept. 9 event announcement contains no hardware details, so expectations for the new iPhones remain based on analyst and supply-chain reporting. TrendForce’s latest iPhone 18 outlook points to a next-generation processor, variable-aperture main camera and larger batteries across the three models expected this fall. Separate reports have linked the Pro models to an A20 Pro chip manufactured on TSMC’s 2nm process. Apple’s second-generation C2 modem is also expected, continuing the company’s move toward more in-house connectivity hardware.
A Fragmented Release Calendar and iOS 27 Integration
Six Unreleased iPhone Codenames Found in iOS 27
The expected absence of the standard iPhone 18 could be as consequential as the new hardware. TrendForce expects Apple to move the standard model and other lower-cost variants to the first quarter of 2027, separating its premium fall launch from its mainstream models. Apple’s software has offered supporting evidence for a broader rollout. Six unreleased iPhone codenames found in iOS 27 in August were linked in reporting to several iPhone 18 variants and a foldable, with launches potentially spanning fall 2026 and spring 2027. Broad cost pressures are expected to complicate that transition, with TrendForce projecting prices for the new models will rise about 10% to 20% as memory costs increase, although Apple’s final pricing remains unknown.
Software developments point toward these hardware changes. Developers found fold-state and multiple-display references in iOS 27 in June, alongside framework changes that could help applications resize across different displays. App scaling, multitasking and device-management compatibility will be important details once Apple publishes final specifications. In the upcoming days, iOS 27 is also anticipated to be released. The updated software was mostly published by Apple just prior to the debut of the new iPhones, and it is anticipated that the iPhone 18 series would come pre-installed with iOS 27, before it soon becomes available for the other iPhones on the market. Apple Intelligence (AI) refers to AI-powered capabilities that are exclusive to iPhones, including the iPhone 15 Pro and subsequent versions.