Apple Event LIVE: Foldable iPhone, iPhone 18 Pro Max, Apple Watch 12 and all the big news
The iPhone will enter a new era in a big way
We're now just hours away from Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event, and it’s shaping up to be a historic keynote for two major reasons. Not only does this mark the first Apple event helmed by new CEO John Ternus, but it's also set to be the stage where Apple finally reveals its first-ever foldable — which last-minute leaks suggest will be called the iPhone Duo.
The iPhone Duo is rumored to pack a 5.5-inch cover screen alongside an expansive 7.8-inch inner display, effectively putting a phone and tablet in a single pocketable chassis. That cutting-edge new form factor, however, could command an eye-watering price tag north of $2,000.
Beyond the foldable, the rumor mill points to a stacked slate of hardware: the flagship iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, the Apple Watch Series 12, and the rugged Apple Watch Ultra 4. We could also see other home and audio reveals, including the long-rumored Apple HomePad smart display, an upgraded Apple TV 4K, and AirPods 5.
Here’s everything we expect from Apple’s biggest showcase of the year.
How to watch Apple “Surprise and Shine” event
You can stay up to date with the latest announcements from Apple’s September hardware event by tuning in to the official livestream, accessible directly via a browser on Apple's website. Alternatively, you can catch the stream through Apple's official YouTube channel, the Apple TV app or embedded below.
Biggest expected announcements
- iPhone Duo: Apple’s first foldable smartphone is expected to debut with an ultra-thin, book-style folding design, a 7.8-inch inner display, Touch ID integration and a premium price tag. Apple is reportedly playing up the durability and lack of a crease. But it could have trade-offs like just dual rear cameras.
- iPhone 18 Pro & iPhone 18 Pro Max: Apple’s next-generation flagship Pro phones are tipped to feature a powerful 2nm A20 Pro chip, smaller Dynamic Island cutouts, larger batteries, and exclusive camera enhancements like a variable aperture on the Pro Max.
- Apple Watch Series 12: Apple's core smartwatch update is expected to introduce new health-tracking capabilities, display size revisions, and refined internal hardware.
- Apple Watch Ultra 4: The latest iteration of Apple’s outdoor-focused wearable is anticipated to deliver enhanced satellite connectivity, expanded battery life, and upgraded sensors.
- AirPods 5: Apple is expected to reveal an upgraded version of the standard AirPods, with a few upgrades and a design similar to that of AirPods 4. Expect Siri AI to play a huge part in the upgraded featureset.
- HomePad: This rumored smart-home command center is expected to feature an iPad mini-sized touchscreen, a FaceTime camera, and presence sensors for automated room routines.
- HomePod mini 2: Long overdue for a refresh, this compact speaker is expected to bring internal audio upgrades and faster processing for on-device Siri commands.
Apple event: Live Updates
Overhyped versus underhyped gadgets Apple could reveal
Our very own Mark Spoonauer and Kate Kozuch are on the ground at Apple Park to cover everything at the "Surprise and Shine" event.
But before the keynote starts, they're breaking down all the biggest rumors ahead of the event. Specifically, they debate about the most overhyped and underhyped Apple devices that have been rumored for some time now.
I've chosen the smaller iPhone Pro for the last couple of years, but that changes this year
For the past couple of generations, sticking with the standard 6.3-inch Pro has been an easy call. It offered the ideal pocketable design that I crave without compromising on flagship features, especially since Apple kept camera and processing hardware idential. But with the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, I'm leaning dramatically towards the iPhone 18 Pro Max.
Between rumors of the Pro Max exclusively receiving a game-changing variable aperture main camera, packing a massive battery upgrade upwards of 5,500 mAh, and delivering better thermal headroom for the new 2nm A20 Pro silicon, Apple seems intent on re-establishing the Max as the true hardware flagship.
What seals the deal, however, is the narrowing price gap. With early whispers of a massive price hike giving way to reports that the Pro lineup will see a more modest bump, the 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are tipped to be separated by just $100 — starting around $1,199 and $1,299 for matching 256GB baselines.
AirPods Ultra won't likely be announced, but we could get something else
Before Apple rolls out wilder concept designs like camera-touting AirPods that have dominated the rumor mills for some time now, the company might instead reveal the AirPods 5 at its event later today.
Expect the lineup to maintain its two-model approach — $129 for base and $179 for ANC — powered by a new H3 chip for crisper call isolation and better noise cancellation, plus rumored basic temperature tracking to bolster entry-level health metrics.
iPhone 18 Pro likely to get a price hike, but it's not as bad as we thought
After months of rumors warning that Apple’s next flagship series could see prices spike by as much as $200 to $300, a new report from Bloomberg brings some relief: the increase is expected to be capped at $100.
That would push the starting prices to $1,199 for the iPhone 18 Pro and $1,299 for the iPhone 18 Pro Max (each likely starting with 256GB). While nobody welcomes higher hardware costs, the bump merely aligns Apple with chief competitors. like Samsung's Galaxy S26 Ultra and Google's Pixel 11 Pro XL.
However, given the bigger hardware upgrades rumored to come to the larger iPhone 18 Pro Max, people may be inclined to get the Pro Max over the Pro this year.
We're on the ground at Apple Park!
Even though we're still a few hours away from the start time of the event, we're finally on the ground and ready to tackle everything Apple has to announce. Clearly the one that's getting the most buzz right now is none other than the iPhone Duo, but there are three things you should know about Apple's upcoming first foldable phone.
Why great hardware won't be enough to save the iPhone Duo
While rumors obsess over crease-free displays and ultra-thin hinges, Apple’s upcoming foldable faces a much bigger hurdle: software.
This is exactly the one thing I argue that will make or break the iPhone Duo, seeing how an expensive 7.8-inch folding canvas doesn't stand a chance unless iOS 27 completely rethinks the user experience. In order to genuinely challenge rival foldables, like the Galaxy Z Fold 8, Apple needs to deliver on three critical fronts: seamless app scaling with landscape-oriented dual-pane views, a truly dynamic multitasking system built for a folding screen, and a dedicated desktop mode that finally lets the iPhone double as a pocket computer.
Without software tailored specifically to the form factor, the Duo risks being a gorgeous piece of hardware holding back an oversized iOS.
Where could the iPhone Duo land among the all-time greats?
If the iPhone Duo delivers on its promise, it faces a serious legitimacy test when stacked against an all-time greatest list. Every transformative Apple hardware leap — from the original and my personal favorite, the iPhone 4, to the iPhone X redefining modern smartphones — fundamentally rewrote what a phone should be. By finally breaking into a foldable design, the Duo undeniably earns a spot as the company’s most ambitious iPhone in nearly a decade.
Yet true all-time greatness isn’t crowned on ambition alone. A steep $2,000 price tag, inevitable first-gen trade-offs like missing telephoto lenses or Face ID, and early ecosystem growing pains could mean the Duo may land more like the original Apple Watch or the first iPad. It's poised to disrupt the market, but whether it tops Apple's greatest releases remains to be seen. What do you think?
