Apple was expected to unveil its next-generation iPhone lineup at the “Surprise and shine” event on September 9, with the launch scheduled for 10:30 PM IST in India. The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple’s first foldable iPhone were tipped to be the major highlights of the event.
This year’s launch was also expected to bring a significant change to Apple’s usual iPhone release strategy. Reports suggested that the company could focus on its premium models during the September event, while the standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e and a second-generation iPhone Air might arrive later in spring 2027.
Here’s what was expected from Apple’s premium iPhone models and its first foldable device.
iPhone 18 Pro: Expected Specifications
Display
The iPhone 18 Pro was expected to continue with a 6.3-inch display, matching the screen size of the current Pro generation.
According to reports, Apple could introduce an upgraded LTPO+ display technology, potentially bringing improvements to display performance and power efficiency.
Performance
The smartphone was expected to feature Apple’s next-generation A20 Pro chipset. Reports indicated that the processor could be manufactured using TSMC’s 2nm technology.
Moving to a 2nm manufacturing process could provide improvements in both overall processing performance and energy efficiency compared with previous-generation chips.
Camera
Camera upgrades were expected to be another major highlight of the iPhone 18 Pro.
The device was tipped to retain a triple-camera setup featuring 48MP sensors. However, the main camera could receive a significant upgrade in the form of variable aperture technology.
This would allow the camera aperture to adjust according to lighting conditions and the desired depth-of-field effect, potentially giving users greater control over their photographs.
Battery
Regulatory information cited by MacRumors suggested different battery capacities depending on the market. The iPhone 18 Pro was reportedly listed with a 4,056mAh battery for China and 4,288mAh for the US version.
iPhone 18 Pro Expected Price
The iPhone 18 Pro was estimated to start at around $1,249-$1,299 in the US.
For India, 91mobiles had reported a possible starting price of approximately ₹1,44,900. However, Apple had not officially confirmed the price.
iPhone 18 Pro Max: Expected Features
Display
The larger iPhone 18 Pro Max was expected to retain the 6.9-inch screen seen on recent Pro Max models.
Like the smaller Pro variant, the phone could feature LTPO+ display technology and a redesigned, smaller Dynamic Island.
Performance
The Pro Max was expected to use the same A20 Pro processor as the iPhone 18 Pro.
The reported 2nm-based chip could deliver a combination of improved performance and better power efficiency, potentially making the Pro Max more capable while also improving battery management.
Camera
The iPhone 18 Pro Max was also expected to receive the new variable-aperture main camera.
The reported 48MP Fusion main camera could allow users to manually or automatically adjust the aperture, providing greater flexibility when controlling light and depth of field.
Battery
Battery capacity was expected to be significantly higher on the Pro Max.
MacRumors had cited regulatory figures of approximately 5,391mAh for the Chinese model and 5,567mAh for the US version.
Design and Colour Options
The iPhone 18 Pro Max was expected to maintain a design broadly similar to the iPhone 17 Pro Max.
Reported colour choices included:
- Dark Cherry
- Light Blue
- Dark Gray
- Silver
However, these colour options had not been officially confirmed by Apple.
iPhone 18 Pro Max Expected Price
In the US, the iPhone 18 Pro Max was estimated to start at around $1,349-$1,399.
For the Indian market, 91mobiles had reported a possible starting price of ₹1,59,900. Models with higher storage capacities were expected to command a substantially higher price.
Apple iPhone Ultra: Expected Foldable iPhone
One of the biggest potential announcements was Apple’s first foldable smartphone, which has been referred to as the iPhone Ultra in reports.
Display
According to MacRumors, the foldable could feature an approximately 5.5-inch external display when closed.
When unfolded, the device was expected to offer a much larger 7.8-inch internal screen.
Design
Apple’s first foldable iPhone was reportedly expected to use a book-style folding mechanism.
The design would allow the device to work like a regular smartphone when folded and provide a larger, tablet-like display when opened.
Expected Price
The foldable iPhone was expected to be significantly more expensive than Apple’s conventional smartphones.
MacRumors had estimated a starting price of around $2,199, with higher-storage variants potentially nearing $3,000.
Reuters had separately reported expectations that Apple’s foldable could cost more than $2,500, highlighting the premium positioning of the company’s first foldable device.
iPhone 18 Series: Price and Specifications Not Official Yet
Despite the extensive reports surrounding the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple’s first foldable iPhone, Apple had not officially confirmed the names, pricing or specifications mentioned above at the time of the September 9 event.
Therefore, the reported prices, battery capacities, camera features, display technology and design details should be treated as leaks and estimates rather than confirmed specifications.
If Apple follows the reported strategy, the iPhone 18 Pro models and its first foldable could represent one of the biggest changes to the company’s iPhone lineup in years.
