4 mins ago, By Michael Simon

Biggest camera improvement in years

48MP Fusion Camera with variable aperture that adjusts automatically based on the scene. When you’re in a darker environment, the aperture opens to let in around 50% more light, while night mode captures are faster with better quality.

9 mins ago, By Michael Simon

45 hours of battery life!!

IPhone 18 Pro has a next generation vapor chamber that helps the system manage even more heat. It has three times the surface area as the one in iPhone 17 Pro. Deionized water is constantly cycled throughout the system for significantly improved thermals. Combined with the new chip’s efficiancy, you’ll get 36 hours on the iPhone 18 Pro and an absolutely insane 45 hours on the 18n Pro Max.

Michael Simon

A20 Pro Chip

Apple’s newest iPhone chip has Apple’s latest six core CPU featuring two of our new super cores that are up to 20% faster and four efficiency cores, all integrated with neural accelerators that power low latency on device AI workloads as a significantly advanced GPU and  a new version of the neural accelerators with 2x faster 8-bit floating point math.

Jason Cross

Who needs a new iPhone?

So far, the iPhone 18 Pro pitch is all about how you should be excited for iOS 27 and now about why you would need or want a new iPhone.

18 mins ago, By Michael Simon

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

A20 Pro with new CPU core and GPU core, and “massive advancements in the most important areas intelligence, performance, battery, and camera.”

New colors: Silver, Deep Black, Glacier (Light Blue), and Burgandy (Dark Cherry).

Not only that, you can write and edit with Siri virtually anywhere you type, like generating an email to your kids soccer coach while on the go. Plus Siri AI sounds incredible. That’s because iPhone 18 Pro takes advantage of our most advanced on-device model ever, which powers expressive voices. You can pick from multiple options, then customize the pace and expressivity.” But we’ve seen all this before.

Siri AI will have usage limits but “most iCloud+ plans” will offer increased access.

19 mins ago, By Michael Simon

Intelligent personal hub

This isn’t a new product category but rather an explanation of what the iphone is: “First, you would want something that is always with you, deeply personal and able to bring intelligence to the moments when it matters most. You’d require a powerful processor that can run incredibly capable on-device models to quickly answer questions in the moment and pervasive networking to access knowledge and even more capable models in the cloud.

There’s no product in the world better designed to be your intelligent personal hub than iPhone.”

Jon is describing Apple Intellgence’s privacy and iPhone’s AI abiltities. “So today we’re going to take these experiences even further with the next generation of iPhone. And here it is.”

24 mins ago, By Michael Simon

This is the opening!

A video montage of actors describing how a show or movie should open and then Tim Cook starts narrating the video of “our main character, no no no,. not me, that’s your guy.” And it’s John Ternus.

24 mins ago, By Michael Simon

Here we go!

The music has faded and the blue Apple logo has given way to an iPhone 17 Pro camera, with a message, “The following was shot on iPhone.”

35 mins ago, By Michael Simon

Apple start your engines!

We’ve got less than 10 minutes until we get out first look at Apple’s folding iPhone project! Get ready everyone!

55 mins ago, By Michael Simon

30 minutes to go!

Get a snack and a drink and meet us back here at 10am PT/1pm ET for the start of the show!

2 hours ago, By Michael Simon

No surprises at Surprise and Shine

It looks like Apple’s iPhone event will be filled with more Shine than Surprises. According to Mark Gurman’s somewhat playful tweet, Apple is holding back some rumored products that are supposedly ready to launch, including the touchscreen MacBook, Apple TV 4K, and HomePad smart home hub. As he quips, “don’t worry. It’s only September.” So you can probably expect at least one more event later this fall.

3 hours ago, By David Price

A few thoughts on phone colors (and fun)

For several years now I’ve complained about the fact that basic iPhones, despite costing less, come with much nicer colors than their Pro equivalents. Why can’t Pro users have fun too?

Perhaps Apple heard me, because last year’s Pro-exclusive Cosmic Orange was arguably Apple’s funnest color yet. (I’m using that word deliberately to prepare readers for the likely grammatical crimes of today’s Apple event.) But if the pre-launch rumors are true, that was only the precursor for a huge anti-fun announcement today.

The iPhone 18 Pro, according to our sources, will come in black, silver, light blue, and a charming burgundy branded as Dark Cherry. Less fun, arguably, than the green, blue, and lilac which the iPhone 17 will continue to offer (because its successor won’t arrive until the spring). But infinitely more fun than the poor iPhone Ultra/Duo, which is expected to come in just two colors: dark blue, and white. Despite starting at $2,000, and going all the way up to $3,000 if you want the top storage tiers.

The more you pay, the less fun you get. Make it make sense, Apple.

David Price / Foundry

3 hours ago, By David Price

So, about that Duo name…

It’s been pointed out in the Macworld offices that Microsoft wasn’t the first tech company to use the name Duo on a product. Apple itself had the PowerBook Duo, a line of laptops sold between 1992 and 1999. Which therefore predate the Surface Duo by the small matter of 28 years.

More recently, there was the (not terribly good) MagSafe Duo charger. And in a matter of hours, if Mark Gurman’s sources are correct, we will get the iPhone Duo.

Christopher Phin / Foundry

3 hours ago, By Michael Simon

John Ternus teases the iPhone 18 Pro's top feature

In a tweet to followers ahead of the big event, new CEO John Ternus shared a 12-second video of a beam of light that first shines at the viewer and then pans down to shine on what appears to be a camera lens. It’s hard to see it as anything other than a tease for the iPhone 18 Pro’s rumored variable aperture camera. At any rate, it’s certainly a departure from Tim Cook’s keynote messages, which were filled with little more than vague excitement.

X/@johnternus

3 hours ago, By Michael Simon

Apple Pencil on an iPhone?

Apple has never allowed you to use your Apple Pencil on anything other than an iPad, but the folding iPhone could change that. According to Mark Gurman, the iPhone Ultra/Duo will indeed support Apple Pencil, so you’ll be able to doodle and draw on the screen just like you can on your tablet. It’s not clear whether both screens will support Apple’s stylus or just the inner one, though.

5 hours ago, By Michael Simon

iPhone 18 Pro price hike might not be so bad

We’ve been bracing for an iPhone price increase ever since Apple hiked prices on Macs and iPads by hundreds of dollars in June. A new report from Mark Gurman claims they won’t be as bad as that: Apparently the new iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will cost $100 more than the current models, in line with previous price hikes.

6 hours ago, By David Price

The Apple Store is down. Something is coming

As part of the usual pre-event ritual, Apple has taken down its online store. “We’re making updates to the Apple Store,” the text reads. “Check back soon.”

It’s hard to believe that a company with Apple’s resources needs five hours to update an electronic storefront, but by this point it’s become a tradition more than anything else. And maybe there’s some element of kindly advice to customers: “Please don’t buy anything this morning, it’ll be outdated by lunchtime.”

Apple

6 hours ago, By David Price

Spotted: Hardware IDs for new Apple products!

It’s not exactly a secret that Apple is about to announce a bunch of new hardware products, but it’s still surprising to see the evidence in black and white before the event begins. But sure enough, dozens of new Apple hardware identifiers have been spotted on the company’s services backend.

It’s important to note that these won’t necessarily all appear today; the iPhones and Apple Watches, for sure, but the Macs and iPads are likely to be delayed until later in the fall. (We don’t know for sure if there will be an October/November event. They may just appear in a press release.) The real enigma, however, is HomeAccessory17,1 and its two siblings. Could that be the much-anticipated smart home hub? We’ll find out in a few hours.

8 hours ago, By David Price

Breaking: Folding iPhone will be called… Duo

Forget iPhone Ultra, forget iPhone Fold… the latest breaking news is that Apple’s first ever folding handset will be called the iPhone Duo. That’s according to Mark Gurman’s sources, and he’s generally well informed when it comes to information like this.

Gurman made his last-minute prediction in an article (subscription required) this morning. He also claimed the device will start at $2,000, have a short-and-wide design, and go on sale in October, later than the other new iPhones. But we knew all that already. The name is the real bombshell.

Some may accuse Apple of copying Microsoft, whose Surface Duo was a pioneer in this field. On the other hand, maybe Microsoft should have kept that brand going; the line was discontinued nearly two years ago. The Duo brand also goes rather nicely with Neo, as in MacBook. And, please note, it was one of the options mentioned by my colleague Emma Rowley earlier this week.

More on this story here.

9 hours ago, By David Price

Don't forget the AirPods

They’ve got slightly lost in the iPhone Ultra hype, but Apple is also expected to launch the AirPods 5 today. These aren’t the camera-equipped models you may have seen doing the rounds after Apple accidentally leaked them (they’re not expected to arrive until next year). Instead, the main new feature of the AirPods 5 will be improved active noise cancellation, likely made possible by the inclusion of a new H3 chip. Bloomberg leaker Mark Gurman yesterday confirmed this–based on his sources, at any rate.

10 hours ago, By David Price

It's the big day!

After months of speculation, it all comes down to this. Today’s the day for the first ever folding iPhone, and so much more.

Welcome to Macworld’s live blog for the September 9 Apple event. The event itself kicks off at 10 am PT, and is likely to last around 70 minutes. But our coverage here will last throughout the day. We’ll be bringing you breaking news and last-minute rumors for the next 9 hours or so, before bringing you the announcements (along with our expert analysis) as they happen. Then of course there will be masses of discussion of the new products after Apple’s livestream ends.

It’s going to be fun. Enjoy the ride!

15 hours ago, By Michael Simon

More cases offer a glimpse at the new iPhone designs

Casemaker dbrand has added cases and skins for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max and the iPhone Ultra, in case you want to get a jump on buying one. This doesn’t necessarily confirm anything about the new phones other than the company thinks the rumors are pretty solid, since the design and colors they show almost perfectly match the reports we’ve been reading for months.

16 hours ago, By Michael Simon

New Apple TV could be bigger than expected

We’ve been hearing reports that a new Apple TV 4K is on the way for a while. We’re not expecting it to be much of an update, but the latest information in the rumor mill suggets that it could be bigger than we thought. According to Aaron Perris on X, the new Apple TV has an identifier of AppleTV18,1, which indicates that it will have an processor in the A19 family, making it one of the most powerful devices in Apple’s lineup and much fasterl than A15 in the current model.

What does that mean for AI features? Gaming? Smart home? We’ll find out soon.

20 hours ago, By Michael Simon

It's gotta be the shoes

It won’t just be the iPhone 18 Pro with the hot new color this year. New Balance is feeling the Dark Cherry vibes with the release of its New Balance 990v4 in a new Monarch Burgundy option. They’re not quite the 992s that Steve Jobs wore, but someone at New Balance has clearly been reading the iPhone rumors.

Foundry

22 hours ago, By Michael Simon

What's going on with the Apple Watch SE 3?

With less than a day to go before the keynote kicks off, there’s an interesting development concerning the Apple Watch SE 3. Over at Apple.com, every possible combination is listed as “currently unavailable” for delivery or pickup. And if you order one at Amazon, you won’t get a delivery date. That’s strange.

For comparison, you can order a Series 11 or Ultra 3 without a problem. I’ve been covering Apple events for many years and have never seen an entire product spontaneously disappear from the store less than a day before the event is supposed to start. I don’t know what to make of it.

Chris Martin / Foundry

23 hours ago, By Michael Simon

More Apple Watch features revealed?

A code spelunker has discovered a few clues hidden in the iOS 27 beta that point to new Apple Watch features. There’s nothing particularly groundbreaking, but the Series 12 watch will reportedly get an updated heart-rate sensor as well as a significant storage boost to 128GB. Apple last updated its heart-rate sensor with a 3rd-gen model with the Series 6, so a new sensor is definitely overdue. As far as the storage goes, it’s probably related to on-device Apple Intelligence models, because I don’t know why anyone would need that much storage on their watch.

1 day ago, By Michael Simon

Brand-new Readiness app coming to watchOS 27

Mark Gurman reports that Apple is planning to launch a new Readiness app alongside the new Apple Watches tomorrow “as a variant of the Vitals app.” The Vitals app on Apple Watch brings together key health metrics such as heart rate, sleep, and blood oxygen to give users a deeper understanding of their daily health, so this app will presumably use similar information. Gurman says this new app will “better compete with software from Whoop & Oura” along with improved heart-rate sensing on the new watches.

1 day ago, By David Price

This year's hot color: Burgundy

Rumors strongly suggest that the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max will be available in a classy new Dark Cherry finish: a rich burgundy wine color. (If that’s not your bag, don’t worry. There will also be more prosaic dark gray and lightish blue options.) We expect this color to be wildly popular, much as Cosmic Orange was last year. But Apple won’t have the burgundy phone market all to itself.

Ever since the dark-red iPhone rumors started, Android manufacturers have been falling over themselves to copy Cupertino’s colorway, from the Poco F9 Ultra and Tecno Camon Slim 5G to the Huawei Pura X View and Xiaomi 18 Fold. As Tech Advisor reports, burgundy is the new orange. And pre-emptive plagiarism is the new originality.

Poco, Macworld, Huawei

1 day ago, By David Price

One More Thing… but what?

“We have great respect for these words,” said Tim Cook in 2017, “and we don’t use them lightly.” Those words, of course, were One More Thing.

That little phrase has signalled the arrival of some of Apple’s most iconic products and services, including the iMac G4, the MacBook Pro, FaceTime, the Apple Watch, Apple Music, and the iPhone X. Will it be uttered this year, and if so, what will it herald?

We discussed this on the podcast, and figured it would be a nice moment if new CEO John Ternus got the chance to utter those immortal words as part of his debut. (Debut as overall event host, that is. He’s spoken in individual segments before now.) The most obvious product to get the One More Thing treatment is the iPhone Ultra, but a bigger surprise would be the arrival of Apple’s long-rumored smart home hub. Either would work.

But Macworld readers put forward other ideas. At the less serious end, jimrock reckoned “It’d be really sick if he announced a $2,000 monitor stand” while Adam Moran proposed “One more thing: Now shipping iPhones with a charger.” Hashtag courage.

Moving on to things that could happen (but won’t), Rob K put forward “One more thing: iPhone Air 2 with 6,000 mAh silicon carbon battery, three cameras, and no stupid fold.” And Tower Lord suggested “AI-driven smart glasses. Minus the creep factor found in Meta glasses. Instead, true spatial computing. The ultimate personal computer.” Get rid of the AI part and we’re on board.

And finally, a note of sanity from Mike: “One more thing was Steve’s thing. Can we please stop measuring every CEO against Steve and let them be their own leaders?”

Apple

1 day ago, By Michael Simon

All eyes on the crease

When Apple (allegedly) unveils its first folding iPhone tomorrow, Greg Joswiak or whomever gets the honor of announcing the phone on the stream, will talk about the displays, interface, cameras, design, and anything else Apple feels is worth highlighting. What they probably won’t spend a lot of time talking about is the crease.

Ever since Samsung’s first folding phone arrived, the center display crease has been an issue. It’s gotten better over the years, but it’s still the biggest hurdle for new customers to overcome. Even on the newest phones, you can see it when it’s opened and feel a little valley while using it. It’s flies in the face of Apple’s pursuit of perfection and likely the reason why we haven’t gotten a folding iPhone until now.

Earlier this year, it was reported that Apple had devised a way to overcome the crease with a combination of ultra-thin glass (UTG) and an optically clear adhesive that allows “the folding area to be locally thinned at the bending axis to improve bendability.” Samsung’s newest flagship phone features a display with a 60-micrometer UTG layer, which is likely a similar material to what Apple will use.

No folding phone has been able to completely eliminate the crease. Will Apple be the first?

Luke Baker

1 day ago, By David Price

John Ternus and the honeymoon period

Tim Cook chose an interesting moment to resign from the CEO hotseat: September 1, a week before the biggest event of Apple’s year. It’s understood that he did this so that John Ternus could have the fun and credit of announcing the iPhone Ultra himself, and begin his reign on a positive note. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman has referred to this as a “massive tailwind” for the incoming CEO.

But Gurman has plenty more to say about recent squabbles and politicking at the top of Apple’s hierarchy, and there could be some complications for the new boss. Read the Macalope’s latest article for all the dirt and some very convoluted metaphors.

1 day ago, By David Price

iPhone Ultra, or iPhone Fold?

Sad to say for an event with the word surprise in its tagline, but there don’t seem to be many mysteries left concerning the foldable iPhone. With one notable exception: its name.

In the early days, most pundits referred to the rumored device as the iPhone Fold for obvious, logical reasons. But in the spring, we all started calling it the iPhone Ultra, even though, features-wise, that doesn’t entirely make sense. And with just one day to go until the announcement, case makers still can’t decide between the two options, with some plumping for Fold and others for Ultra in their pre-launch marketing materials.

And this all assumes that Apple won’t pull a last-minute switcheroo and go for iPhone Duo or iPhone Folio instead.

Over on our sister site Tech Advisor, Emma Rowley discusses the thorny question of the foldable iPhone’s name.

1 day ago, By David Price

Will you fold?

Last year, the iPhone 17 Pro Max and iPhone Air competed for the title of Apple’s flagship handset. The Air was certainly more interesting, but the Pro Max was a far better specced, more powerful phone (not to mention more expensive). But this year there will only be one clear winner: the iPhone Ultra. Will you yield to temptation and pay what’s likely to be more than $2,000 for Apple’s first foldable smartphone?

One commenter on our YouTube channel is leaning towards no.

“If I was purchasing an iPhone and an iPad at the same time, then I would consider the Fold as it might work out cheaper than buying two separate devices,” writes christopherclarke6184. “But I am happy with my iPad M4 and iPhone 17 Pro Max so won’t be upgrading for a while… unless Apple has something special I may need. I’ll still be watching the show, though.”

Apple will be hoping for strong interest from the early adopter crowd, but given that this is an entirely new market for the company and a very high price, moderate sales may be enough in the short term.

1 day ago, By David Price

Who is John Ternus?

One big difference this year is that the main host will be Apple’s new CEO, John Ternus, rather than Tim Cook. Ternus is a relative unknown to members of the public, and Apple fans will be keen to see how he handles hosting duties. Will he be a showman, like Steve Jobs? Quietly professional, like Cook? Or something new and unique to himself?

That’s not to say we’ve got no idea how he’ll carry himself in a presentation. As head of hardware Ternus spoke at multiple keynotes and product launches in the past, including the iPhone reveal last fall. His manner was very positive, with lots of superlatives, while being unafraid to delve into technical detail. But acting as main host is a different assignment, so we may see a new side to him on Wednesday.

In the meantime, read Alex Blake’s piece on the new boss, in which he describes Ternus as “the perfect CEO for this Apple era.”

Apple

2 days ago, By Michael Simon

Folding iPhone color options will be unique

Our sources report that Apple will offer the iPhone Ultra in just two colors for its debut. The first is silver, which we expect from a new iPhone, but the other is a little different: Dark Blue. Apple regularly offers its iPhones in various shades of blue, of course, but it’s rare for a brand new model to arrive in anything other than black and white.

2 days ago, By Michael Simon

No time for Tim

According to Mark Gurman’s latest Power On newsletter, Tim Cook won’t make an appearance in this year’s keynote. While he reports that he will be at Apple Park for the event, Cook has officially and completely handed the reins to Ternus, who will be the face of the Surprise and Shine event.

2 days ago, By Roman Loyola

Surprise and Shine iPhone event: Podcast preview

On the newest Macworld Podcast, Michael Simon and Jason Cross talk about what to expect at Apple’s Surprise and Shine iPhone event. What iPhones will Apple release? How will John Ternus do in his first keynote as Apple CEO? And will there be a “One more thing”? Get ready for the event by tuning in to the podcast.

2 days ago, By Michael Simon

Cases, cases everywhere

The iPhone Ultra doesn’t exist yet, but you can find cases all over social media. It’s worth noting that case manufacturers don’t get information from Apple ahead of events, but they pay very close attention to the rumors and some probably have their own sources in the supply chain. Are they real? We’ll know in just a couple days.

2 days ago, By David Price

Surprise? What surprise?

Apple has given this week’s showcase the tagline “Surprise and Shine.” But what’s the big surprise? Apple’s September events are among its most predictable, almost always revolving around new iPhones and new Apple Watches, and sometimes new AirPods.

• September 2025: iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods
• September 2024: iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods
• September 2023: iPhones, Apple Watches
• September 2022: iPhones, Apple Watches, AirPods
• September 2021: iPhones, Apple Watches, iPads

Is John Ternus going to spring a surprise in 2026? After asking this question on TikTok we’re unconvinced by the idea of an Apple alarm clock (sorry), but another reader’s proposal of a “tabletop Pixar light robot personal assistant with Siri” is a little more plausible. That sounds a lot like the rumored smart-home hub which Apple has been working on for years, and could make an appearance this week. It could even turn up as One More Thing at the end and make for a fun encore.

But ultimately the most likely outcome is that, as far as Apple is concerned, the widely expected foldable iPhone counts as the surprise. To those of us who live in the Apple rumor bubble the iPhone Ultra (or iPhone Fold) now looks like virtually a sure thing for Wednesday’s presentation, but to the wider community it’s far less well known. And officially, of course, it doesn’t even exist. Surprise!

2 days ago, By David Price

We (probably) know the new colors

Apple loves to launch at least one new color for each iPhone generation. Partly this allows the company to prune the colors which sold poorly the year before and experiment with alternatives, but the main advantage is that it allows customers to show off the fact they’ve got a new phone, even if the design is otherwise the same. Those who bought the iPhone 17 Pro in Cosmic Orange last year got some major bragging rights.

Perhaps surprisingly, the wildly popular Cosmic Orange is expected to be dropped from the range this year. The two new finishes are a little less garish: a dark-red/burgundy wine color, expected to be branded as Dark Cherry, and a light blue. Macworld exclusively revealed these colors in the summer.

If you’d like to see more of the new finishes, take a look at this leaked video, which appears to show demo models of the iPhone 18 Pro (in blue) and 18 Pro Max (in Dark Cherry).

yeux1122 on Naver

2 days ago, By Michael Simon

iPhone pre-orders might start on Saturday

Generally, Apple opens up pre-orders for all the new iPhones and Apple Watches on the Friday following the Apple event at 5am PT. However, with 9/11 falling on Friday this year, it’s likely that Apple will delay the launch one day out of respect for the anniversary. Pre-orders instead are expected to begin on Saturday at midnight PT.

2 days ago, By Michael Simon

No iPhone 18 this week

In case you haven’t been following the rumors, Apple isn’t expected to launch a new iPhone 18 this week. That means the iPhone 17 will be on shelves alongside the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus for another six months. This would be the first time (other than the budget SE and e models) that Apple has spilt the new iPhones into separate launches and could create some serious FOMO for annual updaters.

2 days ago, By Michael Simon

Read our 100% real keynote leak*

Just like last year, we’ve gotten our hands on Apple’s iPhone event keynote script ahead of the big reveal, and we’re sharing it all with you: the bad jokes, clever marketing, outrageous prices, and big surprises. Read it all before it happens.

*May not be real

2 days ago, By Michael Simon

Follow along with all the latest updates

Welcome to the Surprise and Shine live blog! You don’t need to wait till Wednesday to get up to speed on everything Apple’s releasing. Over the next two days, we’ll share rumors, features, roundups, thoughts, reader comments, and lots more. Stay right here for everything you need to know.

Vor 6 Minuten, Von Peter Müller

Kleinere Batterie, aber effizienter

36 Stunden Videowiedergabe auf dem iPhone 18 Pro, gar 45 Stunden beim iPhone 18 Pro Max. Dabei ist die Batterie physisch sogar kleiner geworden. Schneller aufladen lässt das iPhone 18 Pro nun auch.

Vor 7 Minuten, Von Peter Müller

A20 Pro

Sechs CPU-Kerne: zwei Superkerne und 4 Effizienzkerne. 7 GPU-Kerne sollen 40 Prozent Performancezuwachs bringen, stark. Neuronale Beschleuniger sind natürlich auch dabei, die Neural Engine ist jetzt wie beim M56 verdoppelt, bringt also 32 Kerne. Der Chip ist ein wenig anders strukturiert, ähnlich wie die M-Chips aufgebaut. So kann man ihn direkt mit der Dampfkammer verbinden, die Wärme besser abführt. Die Dampfkammer hat gegenüber dem iPhone 17 Pro eine dreimal so große Oberfläche.

Vor 14 Minuten, Von Peter Müller

Siri AI als Verkaufsargument

Leider ist bisher nichts über Siri AI in der EU bekannt. Das Werbevideo können wir beinahe überspringen. Aber klar, Apple ist stolz auf seine Weiterentwicklung, die systemweit das iPhone besser machen will. Die Stimme anpassen kann man nur mit den neueren Geräten und in der EU – genau, gar nicht. Bisher ist die Vorstellung des neuen iPhones eher eine Wiederholung der neuen Funktionen von Siri AI. Auf Deutsch wird es Siri AI noch länger nicht geben.

Vor 18 Minuten, Von Peter Müller

Die nächste Generation des iPhone

Apple legt gleich mit dem neuen iPhone los: Wann man auf dem Mond war, was macht man dann? Man geht zurück an die Arbeit und baut ein noch besseres. Angefangen mit dem Prozessor, einer Batterie, die den ganzen Tag hält, und einer besseren Kamera. iPhone 18 Pro in Schwarz, Silber, Glacier und Burgundy. Also doch vier Farben, aber keine davon heißt “Dark Cherry”. Sieht aber so aus.

Vor 18 Minuten, Von Peter Müller

John Ternus spaziert durch den Torus

Und spricht von der Ehre, hier präsentieren zu dürfen. Erst spricht er über KI und den Nutzen, die sie mit den richtigen Geräten hat. Das ist natürlich das iPhone, welches das alles zusammenführt. Kein Produkt der Welt sei besser als persönlicher Intelligence Hub geeignet als das iPhone. Apple Intelligence läuf so lange auf dem Gerät selbst, bis es sich an vertrauenswürdige Server von Apple wenden muss.

Vor 25 Minuten, Von Peter Müller

Leuchtende Animation geht über in das Show-Video

Der Apfel scheint in voller Größe. Die Eröffnungsszene wurde mit einem iPhone gedreht. Szene aus einem Gangsterfilm und dann sind wir in einem Wohnzimmer, in dem ein Kind Gegenstände levitiert. Und jetzt sehen wir eine Frau vor einem Badezimmerspiegel, die sich ihrer Maske entledigt. Dann einen gefesselten und geknebelten Mann, eine Szene aus einem japanischen Kriegsfilm aus dem Mittelalter, eine Verfolgungsjagd im Auto. Kann sich Apple jetzt mal für eine Szene entscheiden? Oh, Tim Cook tritt kurz auf, erst als Stimme, dann in Person – und übergibt sofort an John Ternus. “Das ist euer Mann!”

Vor 33 Minuten, Von Peter Müller

Musik läuft, bald geht es los

Barry can’t swin: Dance Dance Dance! Und dann “After the Rain” von Overmomo.

Vor 37 Minuten, Von Peter Müller

Duo statt Ultra

Wochenlang war die Rede davon, Apple nenne sein faltbares Smartphone iPhone Ultra. Aber offenbar hat man sich in Cupertino nun anders entschieden und wird das Gerät iPhone Duo nennen. Das passt dann auch besser zu den zwei Bildschirmen, die es haben wird. Inzwischen gibt es auch die ersten Produktbilder von Hüllenherstellern:

ESR

Vor 59 Minuten, Von Peter Müller

Keine Überraschungen bei "Surprise and shine"

Höchstwahrscheinlich wird Apple heute nur iPhones, Apple Watches und Airpods zeigen, obwohl weitere spannende Produkte in Arbeit sind oder sogar fast reif zur Veröffentlichung. Konkret sind das Homepod Mini, Apple TV 4 und der ominöse Homepad, die das Smarthome à la Apple endlich intelligenter machen sollen. Das wäre an sich eine eigene Show wert, es besteht bei der neuen Produktkategorie Erklärungsbedarf. Auch ein neues Macbook Pro M6 und ein iMac mit dem neuen Chip, den Apple jetzt auch in den Mac Mini einbaut, sollten anstehen. Aber eben nicht heute, oder wie Mark Gurman auf X lapidar sagt: „Keine Sorge, es ist ja erst September.”

Vor 6 Stunden, Von Peter Müller

Apple Store geschlossen

Wer unbedingt noch heute etwas bei Apple kaufen wollte, bevor es bestimmte Geräte nicht mehr gibt, ist zu spät dran. Schon kurz nach 13 Uhr MESZ hatte Apple das bekannte Schild “Wir sind gleich wieder da” in das virtuelle Ladenfenster gestellt. Nach Ende der Keynote wird der Apple Store zurückkehren, mit neuen Produkten, die vermutlich alle teurer sind als ihre Vorgänger.

Apple

Vor 6 Stunden, Von Halyna Kubiv

Apple Watch verspricht Alltagsanalyse

Sowohl Mark Gurman als auch der Quellcode von iOS bestätigen eine weitere Neuerung der Apple Watch. Zumindest die neuesten Modelle wie die Apple Watch Series 12 und die Apple Watch Ultra 4 können anhand von KI-Algorithmen den Alltag ihres Trägers oder ihrer Trägerin genauer aufschlüsseln. Gespräche oder generell Audio werden nicht aufgezeichnet.

Der Twitter-Nutzer “pdfu” hat noch im Quellcode genaue Beschreibungen der Tätigkeiten gefunden, die eine Apple Watch erfassen kann. Dazu gehören Essenzubereitung, Essen, Ausgehen, Staubsaugen, Pendeln im Bus, Pendeln im Zug, Arbeit am Laptop, Arbeit am Tablet und noch weitere rund 60 Alltagstätigkeiten zusammen mit “Unknown” also “Unbekannt”.

Vor 10 Stunden, Von Peter Müller

Rätsel um die Apple Watch SE 3

Ungewöhnlich: Der Apple Store zeichnet die Apple Watch SE 3 als “derzeit nicht verfügbar” aus. Normalerweise ist das ein Hinweis auf ein bald kommendes neues Modell, doch damit rechnen wir an sich nicht. Unsere Vermutung: Die Apple Watch SE 3 wird heute teurer, auch die erwarteten Series 12 und Ultra 4 werden einen höheren Preis bekommen als ihn die aktuellen Series 11 und Ultra 3 haben.

Vor 1 Tag, Von Halyna Kubiv

Touch-ID kehrt zurück

In dem Code von iOS 27 Beta 4 hat ein findiger Entwickler Spuren von einem Kombi-iPhone gefunden, das einerseits einen Ultra-Breitband-Chip führt und andererseits über Touch-ID verfügt. Bislang ist nur eine Kombination der Features möglich: Alle iPhones mit UWB-Chips haben Face-ID. Die iPhones wie iPhone SE 3 setzen auf Touch-ID, haben jedoch nie den Ultra-Breitband-Chip erhalten. Bislang schließen sich UWB und Touch-ID bei iPhones aus.

Da Apple sein Flagschiff mit den neuesten Technologien wie UWB ausstattet, lässt sich daraus schließen, dass das kommende iPhone Ultra statt mit Face-ID mit der Touch-ID ausgestattet wird. Es wurde schon zuvor gemunkelt, dass in einem derart dünnen Gehäuse kein Platz für das Face-ID-Modul wäre. Der Code in iOS 27 Beta 4 scheint dies zu bestätigen.

Vor 1 Tag, Von Peter Müller

I can hear your heartbeat

Die Apple Watch Series 12 könnte – zusammen mit der Apple Watch Ultra 4 – einen neuen Pulssensor bekommen. Dieser wäre in der Lage, den Herzschlag dauerhaft zu vermessen, was zu einer höheren Genauigkeit der Gesundheitsauswertungen führen würde. Zur Fitness-App kommt wohl noch eine App namens Readiness hinzu, die Auskunft über die Erholung zwischen zwei Trainings gibt.

Vor 1 Tag, Von Peter Müller

Im Publikum, aber nicht auf dem Schirm

Tim Cook wird zwar die voraufgezeichnete iPhone-Keynote im Apple Park verfolgen, in seiner neuen Rolle als Aufsichtsratsvorsitzender des Unternehmens. CEO ist seit dem 1. September aber John Ternus und der wird auch durch die Show führen, wie Bloomberg-Reporter Mark Gurman in der jüngsten Ausgabe seines Newsletters “Power On” berichtet. Apple habe die Übergabe genau orchestriert. Das faltbare iPhone Ultra soll das erste Produkt der Ära John Ternus werden. Ein Auftritt von Tim Cook im Keynote-Video würde diesem Narrativ schaden.

Vor 1 Tag, Von Peter Müller

Geheimes Skript gefunden

Wir können an dieser Stelle an sich den Vorbericht einstellen und uns auf einen geruhsamen Mittwochabend freuen, denn unser Kollege David Price hat das Skript für die Keynote aufgespürt. Das ist natürlich nicht ernst gemeint, aber sehr vergnüglich zu lesen. Und vermutlich liegt seine humoristische Prognose gar nicht mal so weit daneben.

Vor 2 Tagen, Von Peter Müller

Last Minute Leak

Hellblau und dunkelrot scheinen als Farben für das iPhone 18 Pro (Max) gesetzt zu sein, wie die Kollegen der Macworld berichten.

Vor 2 Tagen, Von Peter Müller

John Ternus weckt Erwartungen

Seit Dienstag vergangener Woche hat Apple einen neuen CEO: John Ternus. Dieser hatte sich in einem Memo an die Apple‑Belegschaft gewandt und ihr versprochen, es werde am 9. September eine Keynote mit “großen Produktvorstellungen” geben. iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone Ultra, neue Apple Watches – das hat er nicht gesagt, aber wohl gemeint. Nicht auszuschließen, dass wir auch etwas für das Smarthome zu sehen bekommen.

Vor 6 Tagen, Von Peter Müller

iPhone 18 Pro nur in drei Farben

Anscheinend wird Apple auch in diesem Jahr das iPhone Pro nur in drei Farben anbieten. Seit dem Frühjahr kennen wir vier Kandidaten: Himmelblau, „Dark Cherry“, Silber und Schwarz. Einer dieser vier Töne hat es nicht in die Endauswahl geschafft. Welche das ist, darüber gibt es widersprüchliche Berichte. Der chinesische Leaker „Fixed Focus Digital“ ist überzeugt, dass es kein iPhone 18 Pro in Silber gebe, der Leaker Sonny Dickson hingegen vermisst Dunkelgrau.

What are the biggest upgrades for iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max

• Unveiling at Apple’s September 9 event
• Smaller Dynamic Island, potentially with some Face ID components under the display
• Variable-aperture main camera
• A20 Pro chip built on TSMC’s 2nm process
• Apple C2 cellular modem
• New N2 wireless/networking chip
• Larger battery, particularly on the Pro Max
• Simplified Camera Control
• Revised, more seamless rear Ceramic Shield design
• Possible 5G satellite connectivity
• Likely price increase due to soaring memory and component costs

How is iPhone 18 Pro/Max different from iPhone 17 Pro/Max?

• Split release schedule (Pro first, base later)
• Smaller or modified Dynamic Island
• Some Face ID components moving under-display
• New C2 modem
• Camera experimentation (rumored variable aperture on Pro Max)

When will the new iPhones launch?

Apple has confirmed that it will hold an event on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, and new iPhones are highly likely to headline the event.

However, Apple is widely expected to change its usual release strategy this year. Multiple reports suggest suggest that only the premium models will arrive in September 2026: the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and a new foldable iPhone Ultra.

The standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e and a second generation iPhone Air are instead expected in spring 2027. If accurate, this would represent the biggest shake-up to Apple’s iPhone launch schedule in years, creating separate autumn and spring release windows.

Evidence in iOS 27 beta 5 adds weight to those reports. System files reportedly reference six unreleased iPhones: the iPhone 18, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 18e, iPhone Air 2, and foldable iPhone Ultra. The references don’t reveal specifications, but they support the idea that Apple is preparing all six models while staggering their release dates.

Availability could also be a problem. During Apple’s Q3 earnings call, then-CEO Tim Cook, now executive chairman, warned that the impact of supply constraints would “increase significantly.”

Apple is reportedly struggling to secure enough DRAM for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra, potentially limiting production ahead of launch. Processor wafers are said to be ready, but some are reportedly waiting for memory before they can be packaged and assembled.

That could leave the iPhone 18 Pro in short supply when it goes on sale, with longer shipping estimates possible. The lower-volume iPhone Ultra may be somewhat less affected.

Most likely: The iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and foldable iPhone Ultra will launch in September 2026, while the iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone Air 2 will follow in early 2027.

What will the iPhone 18 Pro/Max look like and what are the color choices?

The design of the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max is said to resemble the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max, but some changes are predicted.

One possible change, shared by a Weibo leaker in September 2025, is a “slightly transparent” ceramic shield section on the back of Pro models. This glass/Ceramic Shield area around MagSafe is now rumored to become more frosted and visually seamless.

Macworld contributor Filipe Esposito reported that a trusted source had revealed one of the new colorways for the iPhone 18 Pro to be Dark Cherry, replacing the iPhone 17 Pro’s Cosmic Orange option.

Recent rumors claimed that the new phones will be significantly thicker than previous models, but all the evidence we have seen says that’s not the case, including case maker Otter Box confidently listing their iPhone 17 Pro cases as fitting the iPhone 18 Pro. Instead, we expect the body to have about the same thickness as the iPhone 17 Pro/Max but with a thicker camera bump area.

Another report suggests that the Camera Control on the side of the iPhone will be pressure sensing instead of a touch-sensing layer. This redesign is said to be aimed at reducing the cost and complexity.

A recent ransomware attack against an Apple parts supplier included images from an iPhone 18 Pro “drop test” and other parts, and they corroborate prior rumors about the overall shape and design of the phone, which is broadly the same as the iPhone 17 Pro.

Other shades are said to include: Light Blue, Dark Gray, and Silver. There was also a coffee shade rumored (via Digital Chat Station).

As with the iPhone 17 Pro, there will be no black option, according to Instant Digital.

Screen sizes are expected to remain at 6.3 and 6.9 inches. The Pro models will also retain the wider three-camera raised plateau.

If you are hoping for a more dramatic redesign, the iPhone Ultra may have more appeal. Alternatively, you could wait for the 20th anniversary iPhone which is rumored to have a “radically different design“. Reports point to a curved, near-bezel-free display, possible solid-state haptic buttons, a thinner and brighter OLED panel, and potentially under-display Face ID and camera hardware coming in fall 2027.

Most likely: Design changes will be minimal, with the biggest visible differences limited to colors and subtle refinements.

What’s new with the iPhone 18 Pro/Max camera?

Eugen Wegmann

Apple may introduce variable aperture technology to the 48MP main camera on the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max (potentially only the Pro Max), allowing mechanical control over light intake and depth of field. This has long been a perk limited to high-end professional cameras.

If the rumor (from Digital Chat Station on Weibo), and later corroborated by Mark Gurman on September 9, is true, iPhone users will be able to mechanically control how much light reaches the sensor for the first time, allowing more control over depth of field and sharpness. This could elevate portrait shots by improving the applied depth of field effect, as well as minimizing overexposure.

Wider telephoto apertures on the Pro models should also result in better low-light performance.

For some time (since January 2025) Samsung has been said to be working on a new three-layer stacked camera sensor called ‘PD-TR-Logic,’ and this could appear in the iPhone 18 series. This image sensor is expected to enhance the camera’s responsiveness, while also offering advantages such as reduced photo noise, improved dynamic range. The main Wide camera sensor is expected to be larger than usual, which offers many benefits.

The front-facing camera may also get an upgrade beyond the rumored changes to the housing (as discussed elsewhere the selfie camera may be housed in a smaller hole-punch cut out, reducing the size of the Dynamic Island). The iPhone 17 generation features 18MP sensors for the selfie camera, but this may increase to 24MP in the next generation, according to leaker WhyLab on Weibo.

More megapixels would lead to improved video calls and better low-light performance. 

Most likely: Incremental improvements, with a new variable aperture feature on the Pro Max.

Will the iPhone 18 Pro/Max Dynamic Island or front camera change?

Britta O’Boyle

Apple hasn’t changed the Dynamic Island since the iPhone 14 Pro, but the iPhone 18 Pro may introduce some adjustments.

Some reports suggest Apple could move certain Face ID components under the display, allowing the Dynamic Island to shrink. This is not expected to mean that the entire Face ID system will be hidden beneath the screen. 

A report in December 2025 from Weibo account “Smart Pikachu” claimed that Apple was testing an under-display “micro-transparent glass panel” for some Face ID sensors. That could allow Apple to reduce the size of the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 18 Pro.

Later reports, however, suggest that full under-display Face ID is not expected yet. Instead, Apple may move only some of the sensors or emitters used by Face ID beneath the display, while other components remain visible within a smaller Dynamic Island.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has also reported that Apple plans to “shrink” the Dynamic Island on future iPhone models, adding weight to the idea that Apple is redesigning or relocating some of the components currently housed within it.

On the morning of September 9, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman published a report claiming that the smaller Dynamic Island will let users toggle between three live tasks, versus the current limit of two Live Activities.

A spy shot published in March by noted leaker IceUniverse on X gives us a view of how much smaller the Dynamic Island could be.

IceUniverse/X

There have been conflicting claims that the position of the front-facing camera may also change: 

• In December 2025 The Information claimed Apple will put the Face ID sensors under the display, and move the front camera to the upper left corner in a punch-hole design. This would make the iPhone 18 Pro/ Max the first iPhones with a front camera in the corner.
• However, Prominent leaker account Instant Digital said on Weibo in January 2026 that front camera claim was based on a mistranslation, and only the infrared sensor moves under the display. Leakers ShrimpApplePro and Ross Young of DSCC corroborated Instant Digital’s claims.

Most likely: A smaller Dynamic Island, with some Face ID hardware moved under the display, rather than fully under-display Face ID.

Will the iPhone 18 Pro/Max display change?

Stephan Wiesend

Screen sizes should be consistent with the 6.3 and 6.9-inch displays on the current models, but reports suggest a massive jump in brightness from the current 1600 nits HDR and 3,000 nits peak.

According to Weibo leaker, Instant Digital, Chinese supplier BOE has revealed that Apple is targeting unprecedentedly high brightness requirements for the display. The Elec corroborated this, claiming BOE is struggling with iPhone OLED production so panel orders have been shifted to Samsung Display.

Most likely: An increase in brightness is expected, but there are no details yet on the extent of the improvement.

How powerful will the A20 Pro chip in the iPhone 18 Pro/Max be?

The iPhone 18 Pro and Max are expected to use a new A20 Pro chip, built on TSMC’s N2 (2nm) process. The move to a smaller manufacturing process should allow Apple to pack in more transistors, with TSMC claiming up to 15% better performance or 30% lower power consumption compared with its previous-generation technology.

A September 2026 leak suggests the A20 Pro could feature a 7-core GPU, up from six cores in the A19 Pro, while retaining a six-core CPU with two performance and four efficiency cores.

Perhaps more significant is the rumored move to a 96-bit LPDDR5x memory interface, 50% wider than the A19 Pro’s 64-bit interface. Combined with possible clock-speed and architectural improvements, we estimate that GPU performance could rise by around 20–30%, benefiting local AI workloads, 3D games and other graphics-intensive apps.

The A20 is also rumored to use Wafer-Level Multi-Chip Module (WMCM) packaging, integrating the RAM more closely with the SoC. That could improve memory bandwidth and latency, while potentially reducing power consumption.

Apple could also borrow ideas from its M-series chips, with speculation that the A20 may introduce higher-performance “super cores” similar to those used in the M5.

Apple introduced vapor-chamber cooling with the iPhone 17 Pro generation, spreading heat away from the processor more efficiently than the older graphite-based system. Gurman’s report on the morning of September 9, referrs to an updated vapor chamber cooling system alongside the A20 Pro that should allow the A20 Pro sustain its performance without getting too hot.

Most likely: A substantial underlying upgrade in performance, graphics and efficiency, although many of the improvements may be more noticeable in demanding games and AI features than in everyday use.

Will iPhone 18 Pro/Max battery life improve?

Apple works to make battery life as long as possible every year, especially in the Pro model iPhones.

A July report claimed that the battery capacity of the iPhone 18 Pro Max will have a battery capacity of 5,235 mAh on the Nano SIM model and 5,425 mAh on the eSIM-only version. That’s about 6-8% more capacity than the current model. Further reports have puts the U.S. eSIM iPhone 18 Pro Max at 5,567mAh.

The “Pro Max” variant of the iPhone gets a higher-capacity battery nearly every year, usually a couple hundred mAh more, thanks to better internal design and improving battery chemistry and manufacturing techniques. But battery life is a function of more than just battery capacity—the power use of the processor, display, and wireless radios all play an important point.

We think it’s likely the iPhone 18 Pro/Max will have higher-capacity batteries, and battery life at least as long as the iPhone 17 Pro/Max. But a significantly longer battery life is hard to predict.

Will connectivity improve (5G, Wi-Fi, satellite) with iPhone 18 Pro/Max?

• C2 and N2 chip rumors.

iPhone 18 Pro models are rumored to feature the second generation of Apple’s in-house 5G modem, the C2 chip. 

The C2 hasn’t launched yet, but it is expected to replace Qualcomm modems in at least some iPhone 18 Pro models. Qualcomm hardware may still be used in certain markets, depending on regional and carrier requirements:

• Better power efficiency
• Faster and more reliable 5G performance
• Improved mmWave support

There are also reports that the new iPhone will gain full satellite internet support, expanding beyond emergency use. In October 2025, The Information claimed that Apple is gearing up to support 5G networks that are served from satellites.

While the iPhone has offered satellite connectivity for emergency situations for years, if this rumor is true it would allow the iPhone 18 models to have full internet access via satellite, not just emergency services.

As of April 2026, Apple and Amazon have agreed to team up to provide future satellite service support. Early in April, Amazon announced that it had agreed to acquire Globalstar, who was the provider of iPhone and Apple Watch satellite connectivity (that merger is expected to close in 2027) So now iPhones and Apple Watches will now fall under Amazon Leo, Amazon’s satellite internet network.

The Wi-Fi/Bluetooth chip is less certain. Apple debuted its N1 local networking chip in the iPhone 17 line, supporting Wi-Fi 7, Bluetooth 6 and Thread networking.

Earlier in 2026, analyst Jeff Pu said that the iPhone 18 Pro models will introduce a next-generation N2 chip, but leaks of a iPhone 18 Pro motherboard in July 2026 suggested Apple could retain the N1 for another generation. There is little information about what an N2 would add beyond the capabilities of the N1.

Most likely: An incremental upgrade to wireless performance, reliability and efficiency rather than a major new connectivity feature.

How much will the iPhone 18 Pro/Max cost?

With Apple increasing prices for Macs and iPads in June due to high memory and chip costs, and the iPhone 18 Pro models are also expected to become more expensive.

In August, Mark Gurman described iPhone price increases as “inevitable” as Apple faces rising memory and component costs.

As of September 9, Gurman is reporting that Apple plans to increase both Pro models by $100.

A roughly $100 increase may be the most plausible outcome. Google and Samsung have both raised flagship prices by about $100, potentially setting a benchmark Apple may be reluctant to exceed. That could put the iPhone 18 Pro at around $1,199 and the Pro Max at $1,299.

Apple could also absorb some of the higher costs itself. Recent warnings about pressure on gross margins suggest the company may accept lower profitability rather than pass the full increase on to customers.

More pessimistic estimates are higher. IDC has suggested increases of up to $200 for the Pro models, while analyst Jeff Pu has indicated that prices could rise by as much as $250 to $300.

The rumored folding iPhone could further reshape the top end of Apple’s pricing, with reports suggesting a starting price of $1,999 or more.

Most likely: A price rise of around $100 for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, although larger increases remain possible if component costs stay elevated.

Current pricing is as follows:

When is the new iPhone coming out?

Will the iPhone 18 Pro have under-display Face ID?

What chip will power the iPhone 18 Pro?

Is Apple changing its iPhone release schedule in 2026?

What camera upgrades are rumored for the iPhone 18 Pro Max?

Is Apple launching the iPhone 18 in September?

No. Apple is expected to launch the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max and foldable iPhone at its September 9 event, but hold the standard iPhone 18 until spring 2027.

The new split-release strategy should make Apple’s increasingly large iPhone lineup easier to manufacture, while giving its premium models the spotlight during the crucial fall launch period.

It would also create a second major iPhone launch window in spring, when the iPhone 18 is expected to arrive alongside the iPhone 18e and Air 2. There is a separate rumor that the Air 2 could effectively become the iPhone 18, but that claim remains fairly speculative at this stage.

When will the iPhone 18 and 18e release?

• iPhone 18: Expected in spring 2027 with an A20 chip, improved RAM and cameras, the iPhone 18 could even disappear entirely if Apple turns the thinner dual-camera Air 2 into its standard iPhone.
• iPhone 18e: The iPhone 18e is expected in spring 2027 with an A20 chip, 9GB RAM, C2 modem and 48MP camera, while retaining a cheaper 60Hz display and possibly gaining Dynamic Island.

While Apple has launched its standard and high-end iPhone models together ever since the first Pro phone arrived in 2019, this year looks to be different. While the Pro phones will launch in September 2026, all the evidence indicates Apple will push the iPhone 18 launch to the spring of 2027, leaving it on shelves for a full 18 months for the first time.

So if you bought an iPhone 17 at launch and are looking to upgrade, you’ll either need to spring for an iPhone 18 Pro or wait until March or April when Apple may hold a second iPhone event or at least launch the new iPhones via press release.

We also expect Apple to release the iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2 at the same time – although there is a rumor that the iPhone 18 might actually be the iPhone Air 2.

“Early Apple” published a claim on X that Apple is “exploring the idea” of calling what is essentially the iPhone Air 2 the ‌iPhone 18‌ rather than launching a third device. In July Jon Prosser made a similar suggestion in a FTP video that Apple could eventually streamline the lineup around the iPhone, iPhone Pro and iPhone Ultra, with the Air serving as a stepping stone toward that strategy..

What specs will the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e have?

• A20 processor
• 9GB to 12GB RAM
• C2 modem

While the iPhone 18 Pro and Ultra will almost certainly use the new A20 Pro chip, the iPhone 18 and 18e are expected to use the standard A20. Like the Pro version, it should be manufactured by TSMC using a 2nm process.

Based on the A19, we expect the A20 to retain a 6-core CPU while delivering improved performance and efficiency. The GPU will probably have five cores, although Apple could disable one core in the iPhone 18e. One of the biggest gains may come from the Neural Engine, as Apple continues to put more emphasis on on-device AI processing.

The standard iPhone 18 is also expected to get more RAM, up from the iPhone 17’s 8GB. Analyst Jeff Pu predicts a substantial increase to 12GB, matching the current iPhone 17 Pro, while Ming-Chi Kuo expects the iPhone 18 and 18e to use an unusual 9GB configuration made up of six 1.5GB memory chips. Macworld considers 9GB slightly more plausible given the global memory shortage and rising component costs.

More RAM would primarily benefit multitasking and AI. Both memory capacity and bandwidth are important when running advanced AI models on-device, so Apple has good reason to increase RAM across the range. However, if the iPhone 18 and 18e are limited to 9GB while the Pro models get 12GB, they could have less headroom for increasingly demanding Apple Intelligence features in future iOS releases. That could eventually mean some features are reduced or unavailable on the cheaper models.

Elsewhere, the iPhone 18 and 18e are expected to adopt Apple’s upcoming C2 cellular modem. It isn’t yet clear whether the C2 will support mmWave in the U.S., but improvements to 5G performance and power efficiency are likely, along with the potential for expanded satellite connectivity. For Wi-Fi and Bluetooth, Apple may have little reason to move beyond the N1 chip, which already supports Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 6.

Will the iPhone 18 and 18e’s cameras be improved?

David Price / Foundry

• 24MP selfie camera on iPhone 18
• iPhone 18e may retain a 12MP selfie camera
• 48MP Main cameras expected
• Revised Camera Control button on iPhone 18

The iPhone 18 could get another front-camera upgrade. Apple introduced an 18MP Center Stage camera with the iPhone 17 generation, but reports now suggest the standard iPhone 18 will move to a 24MP selfie camera. That should potentially deliver more detail and give Apple more resolution to work with for cropping and computational photography.

The rumor that the iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 could be one and the same may mean that the iPhone Air gets a second rear camera.

The situation with the iPhone 18e is less clear. While some rumors have suggested that 24MP cameras could spread across the wider iPhone 18 family, a November 2025 J.P. Morgan report said the lower-cost iPhone 18e will retain a 12MP front camera. For now, we wouldn’t assume that the 18e will get the same selfie-camera upgrade as the iPhone 18.

There has been much less information about the rear cameras. The current iPhone 17 has 48MP Main and 48MP Ultra Wide cameras, while the iPhone 17e has a single 48MP Main camera. We therefore expect the iPhone 18 to retain two 48MP rear cameras and the iPhone 18e to continue with a single 48MP Main camera, although there haven’t yet been reliable reports of major sensor upgrades for either model.

Apple may also simplify Camera Control. According to Weibo leaker Instant Digital, the iPhone 18’s button will retain pressure sensitivity but drop the capacitive sensing used by current models, potentially reducing complexity and cost. The iPhone 18e isn’t expected to gain Camera Control.

Will the iPhone 18e get a display upgrade?

David Price / Foundry

The iPhone 18 is likely to use a display similar to the iPhone 17, with up to 1,000 nits of typical SDR brightness, 1,600 nits peak HDR brightness, and up to 3,000 nits outdoors.

The iPhone 18e could get a more noticeable upgrade, although reports remain inconsistent. The current iPhone 17e uses an older display with relatively modest brightness and a notch rather than Dynamic Island. Some reports suggest the iPhone 18e will finally move to a newer panel with Dynamic Island, potentially bringing it closer to the iPhone 15, which offered up to 2,000 nits of outdoor brightness. However, the Dynamic Island upgrade remains disputed.

What does appear more likely is that Apple will continue to limit the 18e to a 60Hz display. According to Digital Chat Station, the phone will retain a 60Hz LTPS OLED panel rather than adopting the LTPO technology used for ProMotion. That would mean no 120Hz ProMotion refresh rate or Always-On display, even as those features become more widespread elsewhere in the iPhone lineup.

How much will the iPhone 18 and 18e cost?

Everything in the world of tech has gotten more expensive, thanks to chip shortages spurred on by an endless need to build more, bigger AI data centers. Apple in June raised its prices for nearly all Macs and iPads, and even aging hardware like HomePod and Apple TV. iPhone was spared, but we predict the new iPhones arriving on September 9 will carry prices at least $50-100 higher than they have in the past. And that’s likely to carry forward to the spring releases, too.

Our estimation there for is that the iPhone 18 could start at $849 or $899, and the iPhone 18e could start at $649 or $699. However, as these are Apple’s budget models, it’s possible that Apple raises prices on the Pro models but keeps the iPhone 18 and 18e at their current levels, it’s also possible that Apple could raise prices of the iPhone 17 and 17e before they are replaced. 

Should you wait for iPhone 18?

If you want the Pro models: The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max will be available later in 2026. But be prepared for higher prices.

If you want a standard or budget iPhone the wait for the iPhone 18 is longer. In the meantime, the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17e remain excellent choices.
If you want to save money, the iPhone 17 starts at $799/£799 with 256GB of storage, making it one of the best values in the lineup.

Every New Apple Product Launched in 2026… so far

Here is what Apple has already announced in 2026:

• Mac mini M6 and M5 Pro: Faster storage, upgraded connectivity, and a strong focus on AI performance: New Mac mini 2026 guide.
• Mac Studio M5 Max and M5 Ultra: Faster AI and graphics performance, increased memory bandwidth: New Mac Studio 2026 guide.
• AirPods Max 2: Improved audio and the H2 chip. Find out more here: AirPods Max 2 guide.
• MacBook Neo: Apple’s brand new, low-cost Mac laptop. Find out more here: MacBook Neo guide.
• MacBook Air M5: Now with the M5 chip. Read about the 2026 MacBook Air here: MacBook Air M5 guide.
• MacBook Pro M5 Pro & M5 Max: A significant upgrade over the M4 series. Read: MacBook Pro M5 Pro & Max guide.
• Studio Display: Finally gets Thunderbolt 5 and a better webcam.
• Studio Display XDR: With mini-LED technology and ProMotion up to 120Hz.
• iPhone 17e: The new, entry-level, iPhone replaces the iPhone 16e. Read more here: iPhone 17e guide.
• iPad Air M4: The iPad Air now has an M4 chip. Read more here: iPad Air M4 guide.
• AirTag 2: Four years on Apple updated the AirTag, read our review here: AirTag 2nd gen review.

And… RIP Mac Pro: Apple has confirmed that it is discontinuing its tower workstation.

Read on to find out what new products to expect at Apple’s next event and throughout 2026.

Every New Apple Product Launching in 2026

In the sections below we’ve split the upcoming new products into categories including Mac, iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, Home, AirPods, and some new product categories.

Apple Intelligence, Siri and AI

iOS 27 and macOS 27 Golden Gate, will introduce a massive overhaul to Siri and expanded Apple Intelligence capabilities.

The All-New Siri AI

The most significant update is the transformation of Siri into Siri AI, a conversational assistant powered by Apple Intelligence.

Key Siri AI features coming later in 2026 include:

• Onscreen Awareness: Siri will understand and interact with what is displayed on your screen. For example, if a friend texts you an address, you can ask Siri to save it to a contact without leaving the app.
• Dedicated Siri App: A new standalone app will allow you to revisit previous conversations, pin important chats, and sync history across all Apple devices via iCloud.
• App Actions: Siri will be able to perform tasks within apps using natural language, such as editing a recently sent message or adding a song to a specific playlist.
• Visual Intelligence: On iPhone, a new Siri mode in the Camera app will allow users to point their phone at objects to ask questions or perform actions based on what they see. On Mac, users can select onscreen content to ask Siri questions about images or documents.
• Voice Customization: Users can personalize Siri with more natural voices and adjust the pace and expressiveness of the speech. This feature requires a M3 Mac with 12GB RAM or newer, or iPhone 17 Pro or iPhone Air and newer.

Apple Intelligence Across Apps

Beyond Siri, Apple Intelligence is being integrated system-wide to automate tasks and enhance productivity. Apple Intelligence will play a larger role across the iPhone, iPad, Mac, smart home devices, and future product categories.

Major updates include:

• Safari Productivity: The browser will automatically group tabs into topics, monitor pages for changes (like price drops) with a “Notify Me” feature, and even build custom extensions based on natural-language descriptions.
• Smarter Photo Editing: New tools include Spatial Reframing to improve composition after a photo is taken, an Extend tool to fill in missing areas when straightening horizons, and an upgraded Clean Up tool for removing distractions.
• Writing Tools and Communication: Mail and Messages will gain smarter replies that mimic a user’s writing style . System-wide Writing Tools will generate text from scratch, rewrite drafts, and adapt tone to match specific contacts.
• Image Playground: This tool has been revamped with better language models to create more natural-looking photorealistic images. It also allows users to create custom wallpapers on iOS 27.
• Intelligent Automation: The Shortcuts app will feature a “Describe a Shortcut” ability, allowing users to create complex automations simply by explaining what they want in plain English.

What new iPhones are coming in 2026 (and should you wait)?

Foundry

Based on current industry analysis and supply chain information, Apple has some significant changes planned for the iPhone in 2026, with an iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max and the introduction of a foldable iPhone expected alongside the release of iOS 27.

iPhone 18 Pro & Pro Max

• September 9, 2026 update expected at event

The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to launch on September 9, 2026. The iPhone 18 Pro is rumored to be the first to use Apple’s own C2 modem instead of Qualcomm’s. The base model may see a RAM increase to 12GB to better support on-device AI functions. A major redesign is expected, which could include a new Dark Cherry color, some under-display Face ID components and a smaller Dynamic Island, and the front camera could move to the upper-left corner of the display. Read about the iPhone 18 Pro here: iPhone 18 Pro rumors.

Foldable iPhone

• September 9, 2026 introduction expected at event

After years of rumors, Apple’s first foldable phone, potentially named the iPhone Duo or the iPhone Ultra, is expected to debut on September 9 2026 alongside the iPhone 18 Pro models. It is expected to be a book-style foldable with a 7.8-inch inner display. Read more here: Apple’s folding iPhone rumors.

iPhone 18

• Spring 2027 launch expected

Reports suggest that Apple could delay the iPhone 18 and release that handset alongside the iPhone 18e in the spring of 2027.

Should you buy now or wait?

With prices expected to rise, buying an iPhone 17 Pro this summer was not the bad idea it would normally be, so if you bought one recently then don’t despair, you probably saved some money.

With the iPhone 18 launch not expected until the spring, now is a good time to buy an iPhone 17. Read: When is the best time to buy an iPhone.

What new iPads are coming in 2026 (and should you wait)?

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Don’t expect major redesigns for the iPads this year. Instead, Apple is likely to focus on faster chips and other internal upgrades. That said, both the iPad and iPad mini are due for an update – particularly the entry-level iPad, which currently lacks support for Apple Intelligence. Here’s what we expect Apple to announce:

iPad mini

• Late 2026 update possible

The current iPad mini (A17 Pro) was released in October 2024, and Apple’s update cycle for this model is generally infrequent. Based on current reports and analysis, the next significant update to the iPad mini is not expected until late 2026, with some speculation pointing toward 2027.

One rumored upgrade for the 2026 iPad mini is the transition to an OLED display, which could reduce manufacturing costs and improve battery life. There is also the possibility of a slightly larger screen, with a move from the current 8.3- to 8.7-inches suggested. There is also speculation that a future foldable Apple device could potentially replace the iPad mini line entirely, though this remains uncertain.

Internal code leaks suggest the future iPad mini could be upgraded to an A19 Pro chip, which would provide a significant performance boost over the current A17 Pro. An A18 Pro chip upgrade is also possible. Read our round up of iPad mini rumors.

iPad

• Late 2026 update possible

When the standard iPad was updated in March 11, 2025, the biggest disappointment was that it featured a A16 chip and therefore didn’t support Apple Intelligence. Apple looks set to rectify that in 2026 with an upgrade to the A18 or A19 chip, with the latter offering 50% better performance. The release timeline for an iPad with an A18 or A19 chip is anticipated before the end of 2026, in fact, Apple code suggests the company may be planning an update sooner-rather-than-later.

Read more about the 2026 iPad in our rumor round up.

Should you buy now or wait?

With the iPad prices increasing in June you may want to hold off buying one now. If you are going to pay more at least get the most up-to-date model, or buy from Apple’s Refurbished Store to get a bargain. Read Should I buy an iPad now or wait?

Which Macs are worth waiting for in 2026?

2026 is expected to be a significant year for the Mac, with Apple’s first touchscreen Mac rumored as part of a MacBook Pro redesign. March 3 saw the launch of the M5 MacBook Air and M5 Pro/M5 Max MacBook Pro and March 4 saw Apple introduce a new entry-level laptop – the $599 MacBook Neo.

The long expected Mac Studio and Mac mini updates came in August 2026 and go on sale September 22, although some high-memory Mac Studio configurations won’t arrive until later. These Macs have become popular for running AI models locally; however, global RAM shortages – driven by AI companies purchasing large amounts of memory for data centres – have been having a knock-on effect on availability during 2026 and these RAM shortages have also had an effect on prices, with Mac prices increasing by $300 to $500 in June and in the case of the Mac mini, by a further $100 with the 2026 lannch.

One Mac that won’t be getting an update is the long-neglected Mac Pro. Apple has confirmed that the Mac Pro will be discontinued in favor of the Mac Studio.

Touchscreen MacBook Pro

• Possible late 2026 introduction

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There are rumors that the MacBook Pro will get a redesign including notch-free OLED touchscreen, potential 5G connectivity and a thinner body. At one point it was expected that this new MacBook Pro would feature M6 Pro and Max chips, but the latest indications are that Apple will use M5 Pro and M5 Max chips instead in an effort to keep the project on schedule.

Read the rumors about the M6 MacBook Pro with a touch screen.

iMac

• Unlikely 2026 update

The current M4 iMac was released in October 2024, so an M5 update might seem timely and could be released alongside other potential M5 Mac updates.

The current iMac design was introduced in 2021 and is not expected to change soon. It is still considered fresh, and its components are not outdated. However, there are calls for Apple to introduce a larger screened iMac, something that has been missed since Apple discontinued the 27-inch model. Many feel that the 24-inch screen is too small. Read about the larger iMac rumors.

Should you buy now or wait?

With the prices of Macs increasing in June due to the global RAM shortages you may want to hold off buying one now. If you are going to pay more at least get the most up-to-date model, or buy from Apple’s Refurbished Store to get a bargain. Read the following for more guidance:

• Should you buy the MacBook Pro now or wait?
• Should you buy the MacBook Air now or wait?
• Should you buy a Mac mini now or wait?
• Should you buy a Mac Studio now or wait?

Upcoming Apple Watches in 2026

Mahmoud Itani / Foundry

Apple updated all the Apple Watches in September 2025. Launching the Apple Watch Series 11 a new Apple Watch Ultra and a new Apple Watch SE. In 2026 the Apple Watch Series 12 and a new Apple Watch Ultra 4 are expected.

With the Apple Watch rather than hardware changes the real interest tends to be the health and fitness related features. The following capabilities are expected in future iterations:

• Non-invasive blood glucose monitoring: This has been a long-rumored feature for the Apple Watch, but it is still considered to be a few years away with the technology unlikely to be ready for a 2026 release.
• AI-Powered Health and Fitness Coach: Apple has long been rumored to be working on a sophisticated AI coach. Recent reports from early 2026 suggest this project was “scaled back” to allow individual AI-driven features to ship sooner rather than waiting for a complete overhaul.
• Health+ Service Overhaul: There are ongoing rumors regarding a new service tier called “Health+” that would expand upon Fitness+. This service might integrate new AI-powered health features into a single subscription, potentially bundled with hardware purchases.
• Daily Readiness and Stress Tracking: Unlike competitors such as the Oura Ring 4 or Garmin, the Apple Watch currently lacks a “daily readiness” score or native stress tracking. Experts suggest these are obvious areas for future software or hardware updates.

Other new features could include Touch ID integration and microLED displays reaching 4,000 nits brightness. A thinner case, magnetic bands, and enhanced AI capabilities could also be on the cards.

If you have an older Apple Watch and are wondering whether to upgrade, this could be a good time as with watchOS 27 the compatibility list is smaller than ever and only the Watch SE 3, Series 9, 10 and 11, Apple Watch Ultra 2 and 3 – and the new models – will be compatible.

Apple Watch Ultra 4

• September 9, 2026 update expected at event

Expected to be a relatively modest update, with a faster S-series chip, improved health and fitness tracking and possibly better battery life, but no major redesign. Read more: Apple Watch 2026 updates. 

Apple Watch Series 12

• September 9, 2026 update expected at event

Rumored to bring a new S-series processor, longer battery life, enhanced health monitoring and possibly a ceramic finish, while retaining the familiar Series 11 design.

Should you buy now or wait?

If you need an Apple Watch today, the SE 3 is the safest buy, while the Series 11 and Ultra 3 are worth waiting on with new models expected in September. Waiting could bring new features, lower prices on current models, or both, making it the smarter choice for most buyers. Read more: Should I buy an Apple Watch now or wait?

Upcoming AirPods

According to a brief update in Mark Gurman’s Power On newsletter for Bloomberg in August, Apple is aiming to launch camera-equipped AirPods this fall.

The new earbuds are expected to resemble the upcoming AirPods Pro 3, although it’s not yet clear whether they will also include a heart rate sensor.

The cameras are said to include both visible-light and infrared sensors, but they reportedly won’t be designed for taking photos or recording video, as their placement and image quality would make them unsuitable for those tasks. Instead, the cameras are expected to enable AI-powered features, such as hand gesture recognition, adapting audio based on the surrounding environment, and detecting whether someone is speaking directly to you or simply talking nearby.

Upcoming Apple Home devices

Mahmoud Itani / Foundry

Apple is expected to significantly expand its smart home ecosystem in 2026 and 2027 with new devices beyond its traditional Apple TV and HomePods.

Rumored products include a smart home hub that combines HomePod functionality with a touchscreen, an updated HomePod mini 2 and next-generation Apple TV are also expected.

This strategic push could help Apple catch up with competitors like Amazon and Google in the smart home market.

Apple’s push into the smart home market will be heavily reliant on a significantly improved Siri, which is expected to launch with iOS 27 and macOS 27 in the fall.

New and updated products are said to include:

HomePod mini 2

• Fall 2026 introduction

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A new HomePod mini is said to be on the way with a faster processor that can take advantage of the new Siri AI.

HomePod 3

• Fall 2026 introduction

A new HomePod with an updated chip is also expected.

Apple TV

• Fall 2026 update

The current Apple TV isn’t compatible with Siri so an update is needed. Apple TV leaks indicate a rumoured Apple TV is on Apple’s roadmap and that the update will bring Apple Intelligence to the set top box.

New Smart Hub

• Possible 2026 introduction

Multiple reports have suggested Apple will launch a smart home hub. Apple is said to be working on a number of HomeHub related products including a device said to mount a camera on a robot arm that can follow you around!

New Smart Display

• Possible 2026 introduction

Also rumored is an iPad-like smart display that allows you to control your home devices via HomeOS software. This may come with both a speaker base and a wall mount.

HomePod Touch

• Possible 2026 introduction

A new HomePod smart speaker with a screen is said to be coming. Read more here: New HomePod rumors.

Upcoming Vision devices, AR and spatial computing

Apple Smart Glasses

• Possible 2026 introduction, 2027 launch

Unlike the bulky Vision Pro headset, the upcoming smart glasses from Apple are expected to follow a form factor similar to the Ray-Ban Meta glasses. This will be Apple’s first product built specifically for “Visual Intelligence.” It will likely handle tasks such as live translations, music playback, phone calls, and turn-by-turn directions. Apple could provide a first glimpse or “preview” of the glasses by the end of 2026.

Vision Pro

• Possible 2027 update

Prior to 2026, Apple’s spatial computing strategy has focused on the high-end market, but reports indicate a more affordable version of the headset is in development. Apple has reportedly paused work on a successor to the high-end Vision Pro and will instead release a cheaper Vision Pro.