7 things to expect at the 'Surprise and shine' Apple event

Date:
Thu, 27 Aug 2026 13:37:06 +0000

Description:
Apple's next big event is on September 9, and we're expecting to see loads of announcements including the first foldable iPhone.

FULL STORY ======================================================================Copy link Facebook X Whatsapp Reddit Pinterest Flipboard Threads Email Share this article 0 Join the conversation Follow us Add us as a preferred source on Google Newsletter Subscribe to our newsletter Apple s big September event is under two weeks away at the time of writing, with invites having been sent
out for a Surprise and shine event on September 9.

So what surprises can you expect? Well, given how extensively Apples products and services tend to leak, theres a chance there wont be any major surprises at all. But there certainly will be some big announcements likely to be headlined by the first foldable iPhone, which could be dubbed the iPhone Ultra. Thats probably going to be joined by other iPhones, Apple Watches, and an assortment of other devices, so there could be lots to see even if none of it comes as a complete surprise. Below, weve detailed the most likely Apple announcements. Latest Videos From TechRadar Watch full video here: 1. The iPhone Ultra The iPhone Ultra could look a bit like the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (Image credit: Richard Priday / TechRadar) The iPhone Ultra is likely to be the biggest announcement at Apples Surprise and shine event, as this is set
to be the companys first foldable phone something weve heard rumors of for many years at this point.

In fact, its been so long now that its almost hard to believe its actually about to land, but all signs suggest it is. You may like Surprise and Shine Apple reveals when to tune into its September event and teases whats coming heres what to expect and how we might finally meet a folding iPhone 5 things to expect from Samsung Galaxy Unpacked 2026 Apple rumored to launch six new iPhones, two wearables, and more next year

Leaks point to the iPhone Ultra having a roughly 7.8-inch foldable screen and around a 5.5-inch cover display, with an overall design thats somewhat
similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 so more of a passport shape than the book-style Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra .

This will likely have a dual-lens camera and top-end power, and reports suggest the screen might not have a visible crease. It could be the phone youve been waiting for if you want an iPhone and an iPad mini all in one. But its also sure to be very expensive, with leaks pointing to a starting price
of at least $2,000 (around 1,470 / AU$2,785). Get daily insight, inspiration and deals in your inbox Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more. Contact me with news and offers from other Future brands Receive email from us on behalf of our trusted partners or sponsors By submitting your information you agree to the Terms & Conditions and Privacy Policy and are aged 16 or over. 2. The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max The iPhone
17 Pro's (pictured) successor is set to debut before the iPhone 18 (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future) The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will almost certainly launch here too, for anyone who doesnt want or cant afford Apples foldable.

Based on leaks, these will probably sport broadly the same design as the iPhone 17 Pro series, complete with the same 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch screen sizes though the back glass might be closer in color to the aluminum frame, leaving them with less of a two-tone appearance than the current models.

You can of course expect a chipset upgrade, with the as-yet-unannounced A20 Pro chipset likely to be featured, and the Dynamic Island might be smaller this year. What to read next 5 things to expect from the Google Pixel 11 launch 7 things we learned from the Google Pixel 11 launch 5 WWDC 2026 clues that tell us Apple is about to release a foldable iPhone Ultra

These phones are also rumored to have a variable aperture on one of their cameras though its possible that only the iPhone 18 Pro Max will get this and they could have higher capacity batteries than their predecessors.

Though theyre likely to also cost more, with estimates putting the starting price at anywhere between $100 (roughly 75 / AU$140) and $300 (around 220 / AU$415) more than the iPhone 17 Pro line. 3. New Apple Watches The next generation of the Apple Watch Series 11 (pictured) is rumored to be on the
way (Image credit: Jacob Krol/Future) Thats all the iPhones were expecting with the base iPhone 18 reportedly not arriving until 2027 but Apple is also likely to unveil some new wearables.

Specifically, were expecting the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4. The main upgrades for the Apple Watch 12 could be Touch ID on the side button, and a new S12 chip, likely delivering a noticeable performance improvement. But other than the new software coming with watchOS 27 such as
a dedicated Siri app this might otherwise be similar to the Apple Watch Series 11 , complete with a largely unchanged design.

As for the Apple Watch Ultra 4, this could similarly have a new chipset and gain Touch ID, but it might additionally have a slightly larger screen and a slimmer build than the Apple Watch Ultra 3 . Some reports suggest the
upcoming model could also have new sensors, which might increase its accuracy at tracking health and fitness metrics. 4. New AirPods The AirPods 4 (pictured) could be replaced by two new AirPods 5 models (Image credit: Future) Apple could also unveil some new AirPods at its next event, with talk of the AirPods 5 and AirPods 5 with ANC landing at the September event. Sadly we probably wont see the rumored AirPods Pro with cameras yet though.

Details on the AirPods 5 are slim so far, but they might prove a tempting
and more affordable alternative to Apples AirPods Pro line. 5. Apples first smart home display A mock-up of what an Apple Home Hub could look like, based on the Amazon Echo Show 10 (Image credit: Amazon / Apple) Apple might finally launch a smart home display this September, as its rumored to be working on a home device with a seven-inch screen, and some reports suggest it will land this year though dont be surprised if we dont see it until 2027.

This device which might be called a Home Hub will probably primarily be interacted with via Siri of course, and it will apparently use facial recognition to tell who is looking at it and serve up personalized content accordingly. 6. Other new devices for the home The HomePod mini (pictured) might finally get a new model (Image credit: TechRadar) Apple might also launch a new HomePod mini and Apple TV 4K box at its September event. The former will probably support some Apple Intelligence features and is rumored to work with Wi-Fi 7 and have improved sound quality over its aging predecessor.

The latter could support Siri AI, Wi-Fi 7, have an improved chipset, more
RAM, and come with an upgraded Siri remote. 7. New software iOS 27 will
launch in September (Image credit: Apple) Thats probably it for hardware, but September is also when well see the launch of Apples new software, much of which is currently in beta.

This includes iOS 27 , iPadOS 27, watchOS 27, macOS 27, and tvOS 27. The biggest feature on most of these will be Siris AI overhaul, bringing it more in line with the capabilities offered by the likes of Gemini and ChatGPT.

But you can expect tweaks to their interfaces and various other new and improved features too. So even if youre not planning to buy one of the products above, your existing Apple devices should get a bit better soon. Today's best iPhone deals Contract Deals Sim Free gift Apple iPhone 17 24 months Unlimited mins Unlimited texts 10GB data 19 upfront 34.99 /mth View at Mobiles.co.uk See all prices voucher gift Apple iPhone 17e 48 months
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Link to news story: https://www.techradar.com/phones/iphone/7-things-to-expect-at-the-surprise-and -shine-apple-event


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