Apple to debut foldable iPhone, skip standard model at September event

Apple ↗ 0.91% is preparing to break from over a decade of tradition with its fall iPhone event, expected to take place on September 9. Rather than debuting an entire iPhone lineup at once, the company plans to unveil only its premium devices — the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and its first-ever foldable phone, rumored to be called the iPhone Ultra — while holding the standard iPhone 18 until spring 2027.macworld+1

A Split Launch Strategy

The move marks Apple's first deliberate separation of its flagship iPhone lineup into two launch windows. According to supply chain analyst Ming-Chi Kuo and Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the standard iPhone 18, the lower-cost iPhone 18e, and the second-generation iPhone Air will not arrive until approximately March 2027. From Apple's perspective, the staggered approach gives each product more spotlight while spreading iPhone revenue more evenly across the fiscal year.macrumors+2

The iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to feature Apple's next-generation A20 chip built on a 2nm process, a smaller Dynamic Island, and a variable aperture wide camera. Both Pro models may come in a new dark cherry color. Multiple analysts have estimated a $100 to $300 price increase over the current iPhone 17 Pro lineup, driven largely by memory supply shortages that have raised DRAM costs.macrumors

The Foldable Arrives

Apple's foldable iPhone Ultra is expected to feature a 5.5-inch outer display and a roughly 7.8-inch inner screen when unfolded, making it comparable in size to an iPad mini in landscape mode. The device is rumored to use Touch ID rather than Face ID and will be limited to a two-camera system. Pricing is expected to fall between $1,999 and $2,500.videomaker+2

Cases Already Appearing on Shelves

In a sign that the launch is imminent, case maker Otterbox has already listed iPhone 18 Pro cases at Best Buy ↘ 0.31%, as first noted by Gurman on August 19. The cases appear identical to existing iPhone 17 Pro models, suggesting the iPhone 18 Pro will maintain the same external dimensions as its predecessor. However, AppleInsider cautioned buyers against purchasing cases prematurely, noting that even minor changes to button placement or MagSafe alignment could render them incompatible.appleinsider

Apple has not yet officially announced the September event date, though invitations are expected to go out in the final week of August.macrumors