Apple Confirms September 9 iPhone Event as Foldable iPhone Rumours Intensify

Apple has confirmed that it will hold its next major iPhone launch event on September 9, where the company is expected to unveil the latest additions to its smartphone lineup. The presentation will begin at 1 p.m. Eastern Time and will be streamed live through Apple’s website and official YouTube channel.engadget+1

The event is likely to focus on Apple’s next-generation iPhones, but speculation is building around a potentially historic addition: the company’s first foldable iPhone. Reports suggest Apple could introduce the device as the iPhone Ultra, although neither its name nor its specifications have been confirmed.

Foldable iPhone may be the headline announcement

The most closely watched rumour ahead of Apple’s September event is the possible debut of a foldable iPhone. The device is expected to open into a larger, tablet-style display, potentially offering an experience closer to carrying a compact iPad in a pocket-sized form factor.

References found in iOS 27 code have fuelled expectations that Apple is preparing software support for a foldable device. A larger flexible display would require Apple to rethink how iOS handles multitasking, app layouts and continuity between folded and unfolded modes.

If Apple reveals a foldable iPhone, it would mark the company’s most significant iPhone design shift in years. Competitors including Samsung, Google and several Chinese smartphone makers have already introduced foldable models, but Apple has historically waited to enter newer hardware categories until it can deliver a more polished version of the experience.

Apple could split the iPhone 18 release cycle

Apple may also be preparing a more staggered approach to the iPhone 18 family. The September event is widely expected to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, alongside the rumoured foldable iPhone Ultra.

However, the standard iPhone 18, the iPhone Air 2 and the more affordable iPhone 18e may not arrive until spring 2027. This would represent a major departure from Apple’s traditional annual iPhone launch strategy, which has generally seen the core lineup arrive together in the autumn.

A split release schedule could allow Apple to give its premium hardware more attention during the September window, while creating a second major iPhone sales period later in the product cycle. At this stage, Apple has not confirmed the structure, naming or timing of its upcoming iPhone range.

AI is expected to be central

Artificial intelligence is also expected to be a major theme. Apple has been positioning Apple Intelligence and its planned Siri AI overhaul as the foundation of a more connected software experience across the iPhone, iPad, Mac and other devices.

The company used its Worldwide Developers Conference in June to emphasise a unified ecosystem rather than presenting each operating system in isolation. Apple’s broader strategy appears to centre on making Siri a more capable assistant that can work across apps, devices and connected services.

Reports have also pointed to a number of potential products designed around that vision, including updated iPads, a refreshed HomePod mini, a new Apple TV box and a smart display for controlling connected-home devices. Even so, the September presentation is expected to remain firmly focused on the iPhone.

John Ternus prepares for first iPhone launch as CEO

The September event will carry added significance because it is expected to be Apple’s first major product launch under incoming CEO John Ternus. Ternus, currently Apple’s senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will become chief executive on September 1, while Tim Cook transitions to executive chairman.apple+1

Apple’s leadership transition comes at a crucial moment. The company is heading into its most important product season of the year while navigating the rapid expansion of AI, increasing competition in smartphones and mounting expectations for a foldable iPhone.

Whether Apple unveils a foldable model or not, the September 9 event should offer a clearer view of how the company intends to evolve the iPhone lineup and place Apple Intelligence at the centre of its next hardware generation.