Apple Set for September Event, Rumors of New iPhone Models and Smartwatch
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Apple’s next event, which it’s calling “Surprise and shine,” is set for Sept. 9. Historically, Apple has used its September event to announce new hardware, particularly the newest models of iPhones. That means we only have a few weeks left to see if Apple will release the rumored foldable iPhone.
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GizmodoIt’s hard to believe it’s already time for Apple’s annual fall event next month, but here we are. Apple’s big event goes down on Wednesday, Sept. 9, at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT, where the company is widely expected to announce its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, and new Apple Watches and AirPods.
EngadgetIs it finally time to see the foldable iPhone? Apple has confirmed when it'll pull back the curtain and officially reveal its latest iPhones. The company has lined up an iPhone event for September 9. You'll be able to watch a livestream on Apple's website and YouTube when things get underway at 1PM ET. As ever, we'll also be bringing you all the news right here at Engadget.
The VergeApple’s next launch event will take place on September 9th at 1PM ET. Invites to the event, which has a “Surprise and shine” tagline, were sent out on Wednesday.
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Apple may well split up the iPhone 18 lineup even further this year. Along with the iPhone Ultra, we'll surely see the iPhone 18 Pro models next month. But we may then have to wait until spring 2027 for the iPhone Air 2, iPhone 18e and perhaps even the base iPhone 18.
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The VergeHowever Apple reportedly won’t announce the base model iPhone 18 at the event and instead introduce it next year. In 2027, Apple is also rumored to be launching an iPhone 18e and a second-generation iPhone Air.
CNETYou might notice that entry-level iPhone 18 models are missing from that lineup. That’s because Bloomberg suspects Apple will split the iPhone launch this year. That means we could see the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max in September before Apple rolls out the iPhone 18, iPhone 18E and potentially a refreshed iPhone Air in the spring.
GizmodoA second-generation iPhone Air will likely be a no-show, too. Apple is reportedly holding the successor to its thinnest iPhone ever until next spring to launch alongside the regular iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e.
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Apple is also expected to announce the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 at the event. Don’t expect anything major. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says both smartwatches will get a brand new chip that’s faster, presumably for processing Apple Intelligence and Siri AI tasks faster. Apple may also bring back a ceramic model; the last Apple Watch that used the material was the Series 5 back in 2019.
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CNETNew Apple Watches Apple is also reportedly preparing to announce an Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 at its September event. According to Bloomberg, the new watches could include faster chips and new health and fitness features. However, the new watches likely won’t receive a design change.
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For months, we’ve been hearing that Apple had a new version of its AirPods Pro on the horizon, equipped with tiny IR cameras designed to power new Siri AI visual intelligence features and perhaps recognize hand gestures like Apple’s Vision Pro headset. Last week, a video found in the MacOS 26.7 release candidate allegedly showed the camera-equipped AirPods in action, supercharging rumors that new AirPods Ultra — or whatever Apple plans to name them — would turn up at this year’s iPhone event. But new rumors and leaks suggest new AirPods 5 open earbuds and new over-ear headphones from Apple-owned Beats are more likely to make their debut in the coming weeks.
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GizmodoAs for AirPods, Apple will likely introduce new versions (AirPods 5?) of the AirPods 4 with and without ANC. It’s still up in the air whether we’ll see AirPods with built-in “cameras” or IR sensors for use with Visual Intelligence. Though a video of AirPods that supported Visual Intelligence leaked a few weeks ago, Gurman said they’re still on track for a release next year, not in September. One thing is for sure, though: if Apple ever releases AirPods with built-in cameras, they won’t let you take POV photos and videos like you can with smart glasses.
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Independent claims that didn't surface elsewhere in our corpus. Treat as supplementary — not corroborated across outlets.
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01 Engadget One thing we know for certain is that Apple is putting AI at the heart of its devices, and that's likely to be a major talking point at this event. It was no accident that Apple switched up the format of its WWDC keynote in June. Rather than looking at new features for each of its operating systems in turn, Apple focused on laying out its vision for a more unified, cross-platform ecosystem built around the long-anticipated overhaul of Siri, which it has dubbed Siri AI, and Apple Intelligence.
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02 CNET Patrick Holland, CNET’s director of content, said that foldable phones remain a niche interest among most shoppers, but that Apple is likely to price the device to reflect its expensive manufacturing costs.
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03 Gizmodo Rumored announcements: iPhone foldable iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max Apple Watch Series 12
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04 The Verge Apple is also expected to refresh its Pro and Pro Max phones, but those are rumored to be iterative upgrades and not a big redesign like Apple announced last year. Should past trends continue, they’ll likely be called the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.
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Sources (4)
- gizmodo
- cnet
- verge
- engadget