With Apple’s special event approaching on September 9 (18 Shahrivar) and the company choosing the slogan “Wonder and Shine” for it, the attention of tech industry stakeholders has once again turned to Apple. The date and time of the event have been officially confirmed, and Apple has announced that the ceremony will begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time and will be viewable via the company’s official website, the Apple TV app, and a live stream on YouTube.
However, the official list of products to be unveiled at this event has not yet been announced by Apple; therefore, what has been published so far about the likely products for this event is a combination of media reports, leaked information, and analyses related to the company’s supply chain.
The first major unveiling in John Ternus’s tenure
The importance of this year’s conference has been doubled by the fact that this event is the first major Apple unveiling after the official transfer of the CEO position from Tim Cook to John Ternus on September 1 (10 Shahrivar).
Apple announced last Ordibehesht that Ternus, who previously held the position of Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, would succeed Cook as CEO, while Cook would become the company’s Executive Chair. Accordingly, this September event can be considered the first major product unveiling during Ternus’s leadership, although Apple has not officially linked this management change to the nature of the expected products.
According to the American website The Verge, Ternus said in an internal message to Apple employees that the company is preparing for a major unveiling on September 9, but made no mention of the types of devices involved. Therefore, the large scale of this event should for now be considered part of predictions, not an official announcement from Apple.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max at the center of expectations
The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max models top the list of expected devices. Taiwanese research firm TrendForce has stated that Apple is moving toward a staggered release schedule for its iPhones starting this year; meaning the professional models will launch in the fall while the standard models will be released at another time.
According to this report, the fall release is expected to include the Pro and Pro Max models as well as Apple’s first foldable phone, while other models may be delayed until the first quarter of 2027.
Reports also indicate hardware changes for these phones, including the use of an “A20 Pro” processor built on two‑nanometer production technology and improvements in the camera system and battery. These reports also raise the possibility of a main camera equipped with a variable aperture; a technology that could give users more control over the amount of light reaching the camera sensor. However, it should be noted that all of these details remain at the report and prediction stage and Apple has not officially confirmed any of them.
According to published reports, a redesign of the Dynamic Island interaction area, improved battery life, and new color options are among other potential changes for these models. The Verge has listed these features among the most prominent expectations for the two professional iPhone models but emphasized that Apple has not officially confirmed any of these specifications.
The first foldable iPhone; the event’s biggest possible surprise
The biggest possible surprise of this event could be the unveiling of Apple’s first foldable iPhone; a device referred to in various reports by temporary names such as iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra, while TrendForce currently and tentatively calls it the iPhone 18 Fold. According to this firm’s prediction, this phone would be part of Apple’s fall release alongside the Pro and Pro Max models.
Recent reports say this device will likely have an external display of approximately 5.5 inches and an internal display of approximately 7.125 inches; a design that provides a larger display area when unfolded. These reports also mention the use of the A20 Pro chip, 12 gigabytes of RAM, and a dual‑camera system. However, no official specifications for this device have been released to date, and its existence has not been officially confirmed by Apple.
Predictions about the price of this product also vary. TrendForce has stated that the likely starting price for this foldable phone could be between $2,099 and $2,299, while some other reports have estimated this price range up to $2,500. Accordingly, all figures mentioned should for now be considered estimates, not final or official prices.
Why might the standard iPhone 18 be absent from this event?
One of the most notable potential changes in Apple’s product release strategy is the non‑unveiling of the standard iPhone 18 in September. According to TrendForce and other specialist sources, Apple may for the first time adopt a segmented timetable for releasing its iPhones; such that in the fall the main focus would be on higher‑priced models and the standard model and other versions would be postponed to spring 2027.
If these reports are accurate, this September’s conference would differ fundamentally from similar events in past years; because this time, instead of providing a comprehensive update across all iPhone tiers, the event’s main focus would likely be on high‑end products, especially the foldable phone and the Pro models.
Apple Watch and AirPods also on the expected list
Expectations for this event are not limited to the iPhone family. Based on reports rooted in information from Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, there is a possibility of unveiling the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 along with the fifth generation of AirPods (AirPods 5).
According to these reports, the new Apple Watches will likely come with new case material options, color schemes, and added health features, though precise details of these changes are not yet known.
Regarding the fifth‑generation AirPods, expectations mainly focus on an internal processor update and improved health‑related features; while it seems unlikely that a camera‑equipped version of these headphones will debut at this event, because some reports suggest that the release of that version could be delayed until 2027.
Products that are unlikely to be unveiled in September
Despite the breadth of expectations, some anticipated Apple products may not be part of this event. According to specialist reports, devices such as an iPad mini with an OLED display will likely be unveiled at another time, while other smart‑home related products or a camera‑equipped version of the AirPods are in the company’s future plans and are not necessarily part of the September 9 event.
Ultimately, what matters is a clear distinction between what has been officially confirmed, what is expected based on informed sources, and what remains an unresolved rumor. To date, Apple’s only official announcement has been about holding the event itself, and for details on devices, technical specifications, prices, and exact release timing, we must wait for the company to reveal the final details on stage.