Officially confirmed for September 9, 2026, at 10:00 AM PT (or 10:30 PM IST), Apple's "Surprise and Shine" keynote is shaping up to be one of the brand's most consequential events in years.
Not to mention that it marks the first iPhone launch keynote hosted by the new CEO John Ternus, who takes over from Tim Cook after his 15-year run atop the company.
Here's a full breakdown of everything expected to make an appearance.
Apple's First Foldable iPhone
The headline act is almost certainly Apple's first foldable iPhone, widely rumoured to be called the iPhone Ultra.
Reports describe a book-style design that opens into a roughly 7.6 to 7.8-inch inner display, paired with a smaller cover screen sitting somewhere around 5.5 inches, giving it proportions closer to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 8 than a traditional iPhone.
The iPhone Ultra display crease could be minimal due to a durable liquid-metal hinge. An optically clear adhesive is reportedly designed to fill in micro-cracks that build up from repeated folding over time. When unfolded, the device could measure as thin as 4.5mm, making it Apple's slimmest iPhone ever, folding up to roughly 9mm.
To hit that thinness, Apple has apparently made some real trade-offs. There's reportedly no room for Face ID's TrueDepth camera array, so the iPhone Ultra is expected to switch to Touch ID built into the side button instead. This is a first for a mainstream iPhone in nearly a decade.
The rear camera setup is also expected to lose its telephoto lens entirely, leaving just a wide and ultrawide pairing, while two separate selfie cameras, one for each screen, handle front-facing shots.
Despite early doubts, Bloomberg has reported that MagSafe wireless charging on the iPhone Ultra will make the cut. Powering it all is expected to be Apple's new A20 Pro chip on a 2nm process, paired with 12 GB of RAM.
The iPhone Ultra battery is said to peg anywhere between roughly 4,880mAh and 5,800mAh, split across both halves of the foldable phone.
None of this comes cheap. Estimates place the starting iPhone Ultra price anywhere from $2,000 to as high as $2,500 (approximately Rs 2,36,000). Reports also suggest that while the foldable may be announced at the event, it may be made available at a later date due to some iPhone Ultra manufacturing challenges.
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iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
Alongside the foldable, Apple is expected to update its Pro lineup without a major visual overhaul. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max should look broadly similar to last year's iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max.
However, the iPhone 18 Pro Max this year may end up slightly thicker and heavier to accommodate a larger rumoured battery, although existing iPhone 17 Pro cases are expected to still fit.
New colourways are tipped to include a dark cherry shade alongside light blue and silver, with black notably absent from the lineup this time.
Camera-wise, this is where the real upgrade lies, as Apple is expected to introduce a DSLR-style variable aperture on the main rear camera. This will let the lens physically adjust how much light reaches the sensor rather than relying purely on software processing, a first for Apple iPhones.
A new Samsung-developed image sensor is also rumoured to improve responsiveness and low-light shots, though the ultrawide and selfie cameras aren't expected to change.
Both phones should also get a slightly smaller Dynamic Island and Apple's new A20 Pro chipset, with the Pro Max tipped to carry a bigger battery and possibly a more efficient LTPO+ display.
Given the worsening RAM crisis plaguing the industry, iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max price increases are widely expected. Estimates suggest a price hike ranging from $100 to as much as $300 over the current iPhone 17 Pro pricing.
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AirPods Ultra with a Built-in Camera and AirPods 5
One of the more unexpected additions tipped for this event is a brand-new AirPods Ultra model, something most reports previously expected no earlier than 2027.
As per rumours, the Ultra AirPods could actually debut at this event. Moreover, leaked footage buried in a recent macOS Tahoe 26.7 release candidate reportedly shows the AirPods using a built-in camera to feed visual context to Siri.
This will reportedly let users ask questions about their surroundings or get real-time directions through Apple's newer, more capable Siri AI. Additionally, it will also bring advanced spatial audio to the table.
A more conventional AirPods 5 refresh, with an updated H3 chip for better sound and lower latency, is also expected in both ANC and non-ANC variants.
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Apple Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4
Apple's wearables are expected to see comparatively modest updates this year. The Apple Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4 design changes may be a little major this year.
A returning ceramic case option and a new band attachment system, potentially incompatible with older bands, are on the rumour list. Apple was also said to be exploring different screen sizes for the upcoming watches.
Both watches are expected to get an updated processor aimed at improving health and fitness tracking. This could also include letting the heart rate sensor continuously collect data throughout the day for a new Apple Watch Health app feature, similar to what Oura's Ring offers.
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Possible Apple Smart Home Surprises
A square, roughly 7-inch smart display home hub from the Cupertino giant has been rumoured for a while. It could feature a built-in camera for video calls, presence-sensing capabilities and deep integration with Siri's new AI-driven capabilities.
A refreshed Apple TV 4K with a faster chip and a new remote, along with a new HomePod mini, are also considered possible. However, both products have been due for an update for so long that they remain a little more speculative until Apple actually confirms them on stage.
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Software Announcements
Beyond hardware, Apple is also expected to confirm official release dates for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS Golden Gate, tvOS 27, watchOS 27 and visionOS 27 at the event. Moreover, the actual public rollout will likely follow within about a week, based on Apple's historical release patterns.
A few notable products are expected to sit this one out. The standard iPhone 18 is reportedly being held back until spring 2027, launching alongside the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2 instead.
Also unlikely to appear are a new Apple Watch SE, updated M6 MacBooks or an OLED touchscreen MacBook Pro, a new M6 iMac and a rumoured OLED iPad mini.
With the Apple iPhone 18 Pro Surprise and Shine launch event being just days away, expect a couple more leaks to turn up ahead of it. For confirmation, tune in on September 9, 2026, to get all the updates. So, stay tuned!
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