Apple sets its iPhone event for September 9, with a foldable iPhone Ultra rumored

If a folding iPhone is real, September 9 is the day you find out. Apple announced on Wednesday that its next launch event falls on that date, and the company has confirmed a 10am PT start at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino. A livestream runs on Apple's website and on YouTube, starting at 1PM ET.

The invite carries the tagline "Surprise and Shine" over a glowing Apple logo that looks like sunlight is coming through it.

The rumored headline product is a foldable. Apple has been laying the groundwork for such a device in the iOS 27 code, and the machine, which may be called iPhone Ultra, is said to pair a 5.5-inch cover display with a 7.67-inch inner display in a 4:3 aspect ratio, fold out into a tablet-style format and put iPad mini-like utility in a pocket. Touch ID and an iPad-like interface are also part of the rumor.

The rest of the lineup sounds quieter. Apple is expected to show the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, though both are rumored to be iterative updates rather than a redesign, and reports have indicated the standard iPhone 18 is not coming until next year. Some outlets expect a wait until spring 2027 for the iPhone Air 2, the iPhone 18e and possibly the base iPhone 18 as well.

Apple Watch Series 12 and an Apple Watch Ultra are expected too, alongside new smart home devices.

One thing is settled regardless of what ships. This will be the first iPhone event with John Ternus as CEO, a role he takes over from Tim Cook on September 1.

At WWDC in June, Apple spent its time on a more unified, cross-platform ecosystem built around the Siri overhaul it calls Siri AI, and around Apple Intelligence.