Wednesday, September 9, 10:00 a.m. Pacific. Apple has put a date and a theme, “Surprise and Shine”, on its autumn keynote, and the outline of what it may show is already unusually clear. According to the company’s events page, the show streams on Apple’s website and in the Apple TV app, with media and creators invited to the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park.
Only the top of the range
The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to headline, with the A20 Pro processor on a 2-nanometer process and Apple’s C2 modem. The main camera is expected to get variable aperture for tighter control over depth and light, possibly on the Pro Max alone. A price rise is also expected, as the components cost more to make.
The surprise is what will be missing. Data pulled from the fifth beta of iOS 27 suggests the standard iPhone 18, the 18e and the iPhone Air 2 will wait until spring 2027. This fall is for professional models and the top tier only.
The foldable
The one many people are waiting for is the foldable, which Apple engineers reportedly call the iPhone Ultra. Leaks describe a book-style phone with an outer screen of 5.3 to 5.5 inches that opens to a 7.6 to 7.8 inch inner display, closer to an iPad than a phone. To keep it thin when closed, Apple is said to have dropped Face ID for a Touch ID sensor in the side button and to have skipped the telephoto lens. Expect a price above $2,000 and a phased release after the announcement.
Watches and the home
The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 should bring faster processing and better health sensors, with little change to their outward look. Updates to Apple TV and the HomePod mini are possible, and the long-rumoured Home Hub may make its first appearance.
A new chief executive
It is also the first major keynote since the new chief executive took over from Tim Cook on September 1, which makes it the first real signal of how he plans to steer the product line. At the end, Apple is expected to give release dates for iOS 27, iPadOS 27 and macOS Golden Gate, along with matching Apple Watch updates.
