Ternus, who took over the top post on September 1, highlighted the upcoming product pipeline in a memo to employees, stating that the company has spent five years developing a new era of devices.
The Foldable iPhone Ultra Arrives September 9
The centerpiece of Apple’s upcoming hardware rollout is a foldable smartphone internally called the iPhone Ultra, as reported by Bloomberg. The device features a passport-sized folded footprint with a large interior screen and smaller exterior display. According to supply chain and industry reporting, it will retail for over $2,000 and run on an A20 Pro chip paired with an in-house C2 modem. The hardware includes a custom hinge designed to minimize visible screen creasing, Touch ID support, dual-camera arrays consisting of standard and ultra-wide lenses, and split-screen multitasking capabilities.
iPhone 18 Pro Lineup and Internal Upgrades
Alongside the foldable device, Apple will introduce the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models. According to leaked product schedules, the exterior design remains largely consistent with prior generations, save for new light blue and dark red colorways. Under the hood, the Pro models feature A20 Pro processors, proprietary C2 modems, and vapor chamber cooling systems to prevent overheating. The Pro Max variant introduces a mechanical camera diaphragm for precise depth and lighting control.
Wearables: Apple Watch Series 12 and AirPods 5
The wearable category expands with the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4. According to industry reports, the Series 12 introduces new ceramic case options and color variants, alongside a continuous heart rate sensor capable of tracking metrics outside of workouts. These health sensors and upgraded internal components are built to power AI-driven capabilities for Siri. Simultaneously, Apple is refreshing its audio lineup with the AirPods 5 in standard and noise-canceling versions, though camera-equipped AI earbuds are delayed until a later date, according to Bloomberg.
Smart Home and Entertainment Upgrades
Apple is expanding its smart home footprint with a new seven-inch square control display. According to product testing details, the hub utilizes facial recognition and Siri intelligence to present personalized content and can be mounted on walls or placed on nightstands to manage HomeKit accessories and run FaceTime calls. In the entertainment sector, updated Apple TV and HomePod mini devices retain their exterior aesthetics while swapping in faster processors to enable local Siri AI processing.
Mac and iPad Renewals Driven by Oled and Touch
The computing lineup is slated for significant structural changes through 2026 and 2027. According to supply chain trackers, the iPad mini will receive its first OLED display for deeper blacks and higher contrast ratios. In the Mac category, Apple is preparing M6-powered iMac and 14-inch MacBook Pro refreshes. A more radical redesign arrives with the company’s first OLED touchscreen MacBooks in 14-inch and 16-inch sizes, integrating M5 Pro and M5 Max chips with the iPhone’s Dynamic Island interface and touch-optimized software.
Pro Tip: When tracking Apple’s product roadmap, industry analysts note that release timelines for complex hardware like foldable displays and OLED touch laptops remain flexible and subject to supply chain adjustments.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Apple’s upcoming hardware event?
According to reports from Bloomberg, Apple’s event is scheduled for September 9, where John Ternus will present new devices.