Five Devices I Expect Apple to Announce on Wednesday.
Apple has a major event planned tomorrow . On Wednesday, September 9th, at 1:00 PM ET, the company will take to the virtual stage to announce a number of new products. Only Apple knows exactly what these new products will be. But thanks to leaks and rumors, we have a general idea of what some of these updates will be. I’m confident we’ll see the announcement of these five devices tomorrow, although Apple may have other updates in store.
iPhone Ultra announcement
The highlight of tomorrow’s Apple announcement will be the unveiling of the iPhone Ultra . The Ultra is Apple’s first foldable iPhone, arguably the most significant update to the iPhone lineup in years (if not ever). Like other foldable devices, the iPhone Ultra will feature a smaller display when closed (possibly 5.5 inches) and a larger display when unfolded (rumored to be 7.8 inches). Leaks indicate the device will have two rear cameras in addition to the front-facing one, though it is possible it will use Touch ID instead of Face ID.
Apple will apparently introduce its new A20 chip in all of its new iPhones this year, including the Ultra. The company may also include 12GB of RAM and a larger battery to support dual displays—perhaps 5000 or 5500 mAh, according to rumors. While we won’t know for sure until we see it in action, leaks suggest Apple has managed to reduce the visibility of the Ultra’s “crease,” or the area where the display folds. If so, the Ultra could feature one of the most attractive foldable displays on the market, but again, we won’t know until tomorrow.
While most of the iPhone Ultra’s specs are impressive, one thing is far from impressive: its price. A foldable iPhone was always destined for a high price, but the ongoing storage crisis has made everything more expensive than ever. Rumors suggest the iPhone Ultra will start at over $2,000. At the time of writing, Apple’s most expensive iPhone is the iPhone 17 Pro Max with 2TB of storage for $2,000, but even that starts at $1,199 for the 256GB version.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max Announced
Apple has no intention of abandoning its traditional iPhone design. In fact, the other iPhone models Apple is expected to announce tomorrow, the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, will represent minor upgrades over last year’s iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max. (As an owner of the latter, I’m glad I’m not under much pressure to upgrade.)
Here’s what’s new compared to last year : according to rumors, the iPhone 18 Pro lineup may come with slightly smaller dynamic camera modules than before. While the camera cutout will remain, it won’t be as prominent as on the iPhone 17 Pro series, giving you a little more screen real estate. Additionally, the new devices may feature cameras with variable apertures, as opposed to the fixed aperture on the 17 Pro. This will allow the 18 Pro to capture more light in dark conditions, as many traditional cameras do. Like the iPhone Ultra, the iPhone 18 Pro will likely feature the A20 chip, so unless Apple makes any major advancements in this area, expect the usual slight performance and power efficiency boosts. The 18 Pro may also come with the Apple C2 modem, which could provide additional privacy benefits in addition to cellular performance.
There are also rumors that the 18 Pro and 19 Pro Max batteries could be larger and more efficient, but since Apple isn’t disclosing battery specs, we’ll have to wait for independent teardown videos to find out for sure. However, most of us will be happy to see new colors. While the 18 Pro should look nearly identical to the 17 Pro, you’ll have color options like deep cherry and azure, and likely at least one more option: black, light gray, or both. Like the Ultra, the 18 Pro will likely cost more than ever this year. The base model could start at $1,299, while the 18 Pro Max starts at $1,399. With more storage, the price could only go up.
That’s all for the iPhones, at least, if rumors are to be believed. Apple may delay the release of other iPhones, such as the iPhone 18, 18e, and iPhone Air 2, until spring 2027, but if that happens, it’s unclear whether they’ll delay the announcement entirely or simply announce that these phones will be available next year. (I’m betting on the latter.)
Apple Watch Series 12 Announced
The next generation of Apple Watch is also likely to launch tomorrow. The Apple Watch Series 12 may not be much different from the Series 11, but rumors point to three key upgrades . First, as expected, there’s a new “S-series” chip, the S11. While details on its performance are still limited, it will be the first chip for Apple Watch released as part of a major AI push, so it will presumably help power some new features. On the health front, the Series 12 may feature an always-on heart rate sensor similar to the one found in WHOOP, which could provide more health data than the current watch.
Finally, Apple may bring back the ceramic Watch this year in two colors: white and dark gray. Pricing information is scarce, but when Apple released the ceramic Series 5, it started at $1,299, so in the era of RAMaggeddon, this option could prove quite pricey.
Apple Watch Ultra 4 announcement
Rumors about the Apple Watch Ultra 4 are also few and far between. Apparently , insiders expect the Ultra to be very similar to the Ultra 3, with similar improvements as the Series 12. This means the S12 chip and an always-on heart rate sensor. While I expect to see the Ultra 4 tomorrow, I don’t think it will be a completely redesigned device.
Apple may announce these products.
While the debut of the five aforementioned products is virtually guaranteed tomorrow, other devices aren’t so certain. As MacRumors notes , Apple has other products in development that may or may not make it to the big September event. These include a new Apple TV 4K with an improved chip, a new HomePod mini with a faster processor, and, most notably, the “Home Hub,” which will be Apple’s first smart home display. This device could feature a seven-inch screen, a camera, motion sensors, and more, capable of running Siri AI, making video calls, and streaming content. Apple may also release fifth-generation AirPods with the H3 chip, but we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to find out for sure.
Apple will likely also confirm the release dates for upcoming software updates tomorrow, including iOS 27, iPadOS 27, macOS 27 Golden Gate, and watchOS 27. If you have a compatible iPhone, iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch, you’ll be able to install the updates for free as soon as Apple releases them.