What to Expect From Apple's September 9 'Surprise and Shine' Event

Apple is expected to introduce its first foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and new Apple Watches at tomorrow's 'Surprise and Shine' event.

The September 9 presentation will be John Ternus' first iPhone launch as CEO, following the September 1 handover. Tim Cook is expected to attend but not appear in the event video.



Foldable iPhone Ultra
The foldable is expected to have a short, wide shape resembling a passport when closed, with a roughly 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch interior screen. The larger display would support running two apps side by side. Employees have been calling the device iPhone Ultra internally, though the final name remains unconfirmed.


An A20 Pro chip and Apple's C2 modem are expected, along with dark and light color options. The hinge and custom cover glass are designed to make the screen crease less visible than on existing foldables. There are also some trade-offs: Touch ID would replace Face ID, and the rear cameras would include wide and ultrawide lenses but no telephoto.

Apple has discussed pricing as high as $2,199, up from an original $1,999 target. A September unveiling may not mean an immediate release, with the foldable potentially reaching stores several weeks after the Pro models.



iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
The Pro models are expected to retain a familiar design, with Silver, Dark Cherry, and Sky Blue among the rumored finishes.


Most of the upgrades are expected inside: a 2-nanometer A20 Pro chip, C2 modem, improved vapor-chamber cooling, and better battery life. Alleged regulatory filings have pointed to a 5,567 mAh battery for the eSIM-only Pro Max.

Camera changes could include a mechanical variable aperture, at least on the Pro Max, allowing adjustments to the amount of light reaching the sensor and depth of field.

Preorders may open Saturday, September 12, rather than the usual Friday. Apple has not announced ordering or shipping dates.



Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4
The next Apple Watches are expected to focus on health features and internal upgrades rather than a major redesign. Updated components would support Siri AI, while the Series 12 could bring back a ceramic case alongside new color options.

A new Readiness app is expected to debut as a variant of Vitals, aimed at competing with Whoop and Oura. Its interface and the way it would assess readiness haven't been detailed.

Apple has also been testing continuous heart rate monitoring outside workouts. Whether that feature will be available on the shipping watches remains unconfirmed.




AirPods and Smart Home Possibilities
An AirPods 5 refresh is another possibility, with both regular and Active Noise Cancellation versions in development. These are separate from the camera-equipped AirPods, which remain delayed until 2027.

New Apple TV and HomePod mini models are also expected this fall, with faster processors for Siri AI and largely unchanged designs. The set-top box is also said to get a tweaked remote.

The same home lineup includes a roughly 7-inch smart display with facial recognition, personalized content, FaceTime, and smart home controls. Its release has been targeted for between October and early next year, but the reports don't establish whether it will be unveiled tomorrow.

What May Come Later
The standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 are expected in spring 2027, rather than alongside the Pro phones tomorrow.

Other devices rumored for release between now and early 2027 include an OLED iPad mini, M6 versions of the iMac and 14-inch MacBook Pro, and touchscreen OLED MacBook Pro models.

Software and How to Watch
Apple is also expected to announce release dates for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, and its other upcoming software updates.

The keynote begins Wednesday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific / 1:00 p.m. Eastern. It will stream on Apple's website and through the Apple TV app.

iClarified will also cover the event with a live blog. Stay tuned!