It is widely speculated that the first foldable iPhone would be called “ultra”, and that it would be Apple’s biggest form-factor shift since the iPhone X ditched the home button in 2017
| Photo Credit: Apple
On September 9, Apple starts a new chapter. The “Surprise and Shine” event at the Steve Jobs Theatre in Cupertino will be the first product launch under CEO John Ternus, who formally took over from Tim Cook on September 1. As someone who has been building Apple’s hardware for over two decades, from the Cinema Display to the iPhone Air, Mr. Ternus is expected to unveil the $4.6 trillion company’s first foldable iPhone.
A foldable, finally
It is widely speculated that the first foldable iPhone would be called “ultra”, and that it would be Apple’s biggest form-factor shift since the iPhone X ditched the home button in 2017. Given Mr. Ternus’s track record of coordinating hardware and silicon teams, as seen with the iPhone Air’s tightly integrated chassis, chip, and modem, expect the foldable to lean heavily on custom engineering rather than a straightforward hinge-and-glass exercise.
Pro lineup refresh
Alongside the fold, Apple is expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. These are two time-tested variants in the iPhone line-up and so expect design continuity rather than reinvention with some minor changes like a smaller Dynamic Island. Separately, the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air’s next generation may get pushed to spring 2027, suggesting Apple may be splitting its iPhone cycle for the first time in years. This would mean premium hardware in September, and affordable models later.
Watches, earbuds, and the smart home push
Expect updated Apple Watch Series 12 and Watch Ultra 4 models, and possibly a refreshed AirPods lineup. The bigger surprise could be on the smart-home front as rumours point to a long-awaited home hub device, a new Apple TV 4K, and an updated HomePod mini. These are products Mr. Ternus is believed to be personally keen on expanding as he looks to build product lines beyond the iPhone, much like what he did with AirPods and the iPad earlier in his career.
Software dates, not software drama
Don’t expect deep dives into Apple Intelligence or Siri here as this event is traditionally about hardware and release windows. Apple is likely to confirm launch dates for iOS 27, iPadOS 27, and macOS Golden Gate, but the harder questions about Apple’s AI strategy will probably wait for another day.
This is Mr. Ternus’s first opportunity to set a tone as CEO by showing whether Apple under his watch will keep leaning on operational discipline the way it did under Mr. Cook, or just push harder into new categories the way his own career suggests he might.
With Johny Srouji now running a combined hardware-and-silicon organisation reporting directly to him, tomorrow’s event doubles as an early referendum on how well that restructured chain of command can deliver on stage.
Tune in to our live coverage of the ’Surprise and Shine’ event tomorrow at 10 AM. PT (10:30 PM IST).
Published – September 08, 2026 12:00 pm IST
