Apple is expected to finally take the wraps off its first-ever foldable iPhone at the 'Surprise and shine' event tomorrow.
Photo Credit: Apple
Apple's 'Surprise and Shine' event is going to be its first in-person launch event since the pandemic hit in 2020. Apart from this, the event will also be quite important for the Cupertino-based tech giant, as it will mark its entry into the foldable phone space, something it has avoided for years now, while competitors like Samsung have been betting big on the form factor. While the foldable iPhone will definitely be the highlight, there are more interesting devices in store.
Rumours suggest that the unveiling of the AirPods 5, Apple Watch Series 12, and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are also in the books. Similarly, the new HomePod Touch, with a 7-inch touchscreen, and the updated Apple 4K TV set-top box, with a new chip, could also be launched during the event. But this will only be confirmed tomorrow.
The new iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the foldable iPhone models are expected to be powered by the new A20 Pro chipset. While the new SoC is said to offer notable performance upgrades over the A19 Pro chip, which powers the iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, and iPhone Air, this year's A20 Pro processor will also be different at the architectural level.
Apple's new A20 Pro chipset is said to be one of the mobile platforms to be built using the 2nm fabrication process of the Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (TSMC). However, it will not be the first mobile platform to be built on a 2nm process. Last year, Samsung's System LSI division unveiled the Exynos 2600 SoC, which is also built on a 2nm process. Moreover, the upcoming Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 series chipsets are also said to be built using the same TSMC 2nm process.
A major change this year could be in terms of how the showcase takes place. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, most of Apple's hardware launch events have involved a pre-recorded stream, which is then televised even to the attendees at Apple Park. Reports, however, suggest that the tech giant may finally transition back to a completely in-person format where Apple officials announce the products in real time.
In addition to the event format, the upcoming event will mark a significant leadership transition at Apple. The company previously announced that Tim Cook will step down as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) later this year. The responsibility of filling the void left by the Apple veteran will fall on John Ternus, Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, who took over as Apple CEO on September 1.
Apple has yet to reveal the India price of the iPhone 18 Pro Max. However, multiple reports suggest that the upcoming model could be more expensive than its predecessor. A recent leak claimed that Apple could increase the prices of its iPhone lineup by $100 (roughly Rs. 10,000).
The iPhone 18 Pro Max is rumoured start at CNY 11,000 (roughly Rs. 1,56,700) in China. This would make it around CNY 1,000 (roughly Rs. 14,200) more expensive than the iPhone 17 Pro Max in the country. The reported increase has been attributed to the higher cost of the A20 Pro chipset and memory components.
Apple could introduce some new colour options with the iPhone 18 Pro series. The iPhone 18 Pro Max, along with the Pro model, could be offered in grey, silver and a dark red colour option.
While the hype usually builds around the Pro and Pro Max models, this year's showcase could be different. After years of rumours, the Cupertino-based tech giant is finally expected to take the wraps off its first-ever foldable iPhone, widely known as the iPhone Ultra. The book-style handset is expected to have a roughly 5.5-inch outer display and a 7.8-inch inner screen with a 4:3 aspect ratio. The device is tipped to be as thin as 4.5mm when unfolded and could use a titanium and aluminium frame. Apple is also reportedly working on a near-invisible crease and a durable hinge.
Pricing is expected to start above $2,000 (roughly Rs. 1.9 lakh), potentially making it Apple's most expensive iPhone model to date.
Apple's ‘Surprise and Shine' event is scheduled for tomorrow (September 9) at the Steve Jobs Theatre in Apple Park, Cupertino, California. The keynote will begin at 10am PT, which translates to 10:30pm IST in India. Reports suggest that the tech giant may finally transition back to a completely in-person format where Apple officials announce the products in real time.
However, those watching from home will still be able to watch the Apple event live on Apple's website and its YouTube channel. The event is also expected to be livestreamed on the Apple TV app, available on both Apple and Android devices.
Apple's highly anticipated ‘Surprise and shine' event is all set to take place at Apple Park tomorrow (September 9). The Cupertino-based tech giant is expected to unveil its next-generation iPhone lineup, known as the iPhone 18 series. The focus is primarily going to be on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with the launch of the vanilla model possibly delayed till next year. Meanwhile, the long-rumoured foldable iPhone is also expected to make its debut in the form of the iPhone Ultra.
Apart from this, Apple is also likely to refresh its smartwatch and TWs lineup with the rumoured introduction of the Apple Watch Series 12 and AirPods 5.
The tech giant will also announce when it plans to roll out iOS 27, macOS 27 (macOS Golden Gate), iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, tvOS 27, and visionOS 27 to eligible devices. These operating systems have been available to beta testers for several months and are finally expected to make their way to the public after the launch event.
The company typically streams all of its launch events via its YouTube channel and website, and you can tune in when it begins tomorrow. While you wait, you can catch up on all of the last-minute leaks, from rumoured Apple Watch Series 12 features to the leaked colourways of the iPhone 18 Pro models in our live blog here.
You can keep track of all the announcements from Apple's launch on this page, and don't forget to follow Gadgets 360's accounts on Instagram, WhatsApp, X, and YouTube, where we're posting additional information during and after Apple's 'Surprise and shine' launch event tomorrow.
Get your daily dose of tech news, reviews, and insights, in under 80 characters on Gadgets 360 Turbo. Connect with fellow tech lovers on our Forum. Follow us on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News for instant updates. Catch all the action on our YouTube channel.