Apple’s September 2026 event – dubbed “surprise and shine” – is nearly upon us, with the first foldable iPhone (and plenty more) just hours away at the time of writing.
The presentation will be streaming live around the world via Apple’s website, the Apple TV app, or Apple’s YouTube channel at 10 am PT – that’s 1 pm ET, or 6 pm BST for any Brits reading. You can watch it from almost any device with a web browser, or find it featured in the TV app on an Apple TV.
Of course, if you can’t give up a couple of hours on a Wednesday for a press event, stick with us for a full recap soon after things wrap up. We’ll give you all the big talking points in a 5-minute digest.
What to expect
This late in the day it’s perhaps not worth your while re-reading the rumors – we’ll know exactly what’s up Apple’s sleeve before long anyway. But if you’re feeling impatient, here’s a quick recap.
The headline act is the foldable. After the better part of a decade of speculation, Apple’s first folding iPhone is expected to arrive today, likely as the iPhone Duo or Ultra. Reports point to a book-style design with a 5.5-inch outer display that opens out to roughly 7.8 inches, Touch ID rather than Face ID, and a hinge engineered to minimize the crease that has dogged every rival foldable. Pricing is expected to start north of $2,000. If Apple has pulled it off, it’s the biggest change to the shape of an iPhone in nearly twenty years.
Alongside it sit the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Expect the usual iterative pass here – new chip, camera refinements, fresh colors – with a rumored variable aperture as the most interesting addition. What’s missing is more telling: there’s no standard iPhone 18 this time. Apple has reportedly split its release schedule, pushing the regular model, the 18e, and a second-generation Air to spring 2027. It’s a premium-only fall.
Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are firmly on the cards too, and there’s a decent chance of new AirPods rounding things out.
One more thing to keep an eye on: the person presenting. This is John Ternus’s first product launch as CEO, having taken over from Tim Cook on September 1. The hardware chief now runs the whole show, and today is the first real look at what that means on stage.
When the software lands
This event usually dictates the timing of Apple’s software releases, but we’re 99% sure iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and the rest will release publicly this coming Monday. Stay tuned for comfirmation!