Overview
- Apple has scheduled a “Surprise and shine” event for Sept. 9 where multiple outlets expect the company to show the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and its first foldable, variously called iPhone Ultra or iPhone Fold.
- Leaked retailer listings and analyst estimates point to a sharp premium for the foldable with a likely US starting price near $1,999 and modest $100‑plus increases for the Pro models.
- Reports say the Pro phones will use a new A20 Pro system chip built on TSMC’s 2nm process, and the Pro Max may add a larger ≈5,100–5,200 mAh battery and a variable‑aperture main camera for better low‑light and depth control.
- Pre‑orders are widely expected to open around Sept. 12 with retail availability in mid‑to‑late September, but multiple analysts and leaks warn that DRAM/NAND shortages and advanced wafer‑level packaging will constrain early supply, especially for the foldable.
- Apple plans to ship the new hardware with iOS 27 and expanded on‑device Apple Intelligence features, and several reports say the company has pushed its standard, lower‑cost iPhone models to spring 2027 to focus scarce components on premium devices.