Apple to unveil iPhone 18 Pro alongside foldable phone in September: Here’s what to expect

Apple’s yearly iPhone launch season is slowly creeping closer, and if the rumours are to be believed, 2026 may bring one of the company’s most unusual smartphone line-ups in years. Traditionally, Apple unveils its entire iPhone family together during its September event. This time, however, things may not be that straightforward.

Leaks and analyst reports suggest that Apple could change its launch strategy entirely. Instead of introducing every model together, the company may focus mainly on the premium range this year, including the rumoured iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and its long-awaited foldable iPhone.

That naturally raises the biggest question: where is the regular iPhone 18?

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Before diving into Apple’s shifting launch plans, let’s look at what the rumours currently suggest about the iPhone 18 Pro lineup. Of course, Apple has not officially confirmed any of these details, so for now, everything remains firmly in speculation territory.

iPhone 18 Pro launch this year: 5 things you must know

No major redesign expected

According to Mark Gurman, the iPhone 18 Pro lineup may focus more on refinements than dramatic design changes, similar to Apple’s older “S” generation iPhones.

Smaller Dynamic Island could offer more screen space

Rumours suggest Apple may shrink the size of the Dynamic Island, giving users slightly more usable display area when Live Activities are not active.

New A20 Pro chip may boost speed and efficiency

The iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to run on Apple’s upcoming A20 Pro processor, reportedly built on a 2-nanometre architecture for improved performance and better power efficiency.

Upgraded in-house 5G modem may improve battery life

Apple is also said to be developing a next-generation custom 5G modem with ultrawideband support, which could improve connectivity while reducing battery consumption.

New camera upgrades and Cherry Red colour option tipped

Leaks hint at a new Cherry Red finish and a variable aperture main camera, which may offer users more control over lighting and depth effects in photos.

What about the rest of the lineup?

This is where Apple’s strategy may become particularly interesting.

Reports suggest the company could postpone the standard iPhone 18 and the next-generation iPhone Air until early 2027 instead of releasing them alongside the Pro models this autumn. A refreshed iPhone 18e is also expected sometime next year.

Even the base iPhone 18 is unlikely to receive dramatic changes. Rumours currently point towards modest upgrades, including the standard A20 chip, increased RAM jumping from 8GB to 12GB and a few AI-focused enhancements aimed at improving on-device intelligence features.

The future of the iPhone Air lineup remains slightly unclear. Some reports suggest Apple may skip an update entirely this cycle, while others claim a second-generation model is still in development.

If it does arrive, Apple may reportedly address two major complaints from the first version: battery life and camera limitations. Leaks suggest the next iPhone Air could feature a larger battery and an additional rear ultra-wide camera sensor.

The foldable iPhone

The device likely to dominate headlines, though, is Apple’s rumoured foldable iPhone.

Foldable phones are no longer new in the smartphone world, but this would mark Apple’s first serious entry into the category. According to multiple reports, the device may unfold into a screen resembling an iPad mini, featuring a 4:3 aspect ratio and an additional 5.5-inch outer display for regular use while folded.

To complement the hardware, Apple is reportedly developing new multitasking software features inspired by iPadOS Split View, allowing users to run two apps side by side.

The foldable device may also feature a Touch ID-enabled power button instead of Face ID and could include a dual-camera setup on the rear.

If the reports turn out to be accurate, Apple’s foldable iPhone could become one of the company’s most closely watched launches in years. And perhaps that is exactly what Apple wants: a product bold enough to pull the spotlight back onto the iPhone once again.