Apple prepares September 2026 iPhone 18 launch with foldable Ultra and new leasing program
Apple is expected to hold its annual September keynote on 9 September 2026, where it will unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. Industry observers also anticipate the debut of Apple’s first foldable smartphone, referred to as the iPhone Ultra, featuring a 5.5‑inch outer display and a 7.8‑inch inner screen. Pre‑orders for the iPhone 18 Pro are likely to begin on 11 September, with retail sales slated for 18 September.
Apple appears to be changing its launch cadence: the high‑end Pro models will arrive in autumn 2026, while the standard iPhone 18, the entry‑level iPhone 18e and other “e” variants are expected to be delayed until early 2027. The iPhone 18e is rumored to receive a RAM upgrade from 8 GB to 9 GB to support on‑device AI features amid a global DRAM shortage.
In the United States, Apple replaced its long‑running iPhone Upgrade Program on 28 July with a new leasing service called Apple Upgrade, offered through Klarna. The program lets customers lease iPhone, iPad, Mac or Apple Watch for a fixed monthly fee – starting at $17.99 for an iPhone – with the option to purchase the device outright after the lease term.
Entities: Apple Inc. · Apple Intelligence · Apple Upgrade leasing program · Boulanger · Jeff Pu · Ming‑Chi Kuo · iPhone 14 Pro · iPhone 17 · iPhone 18 Pro · iPhone 18e · iPhone 20th anniversary model · iPhone Ultra
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 2 SOURCES] iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max sales are expected to start on 18 September 2026. (Launch timeline speculation)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] iPhone 18 Pro will be powered by a new A20 Pro chip built on a 2‑nm GAA process. (Supplier documents)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Apple plans to launch a foldable iPhone, referred to as iPhone Ultra, at the September 2026 event. (Rumor aggregators)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Apple will hold an iPhone keynote on 9 September 2026. (Apple iPhone 18 launch schedule reports)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] John Ternus will become Apple CEO on 1 September 2026, succeeding Tim Cook. (Leadership transition report)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] iPhone 18 Pro will have a 4,288 mAh battery in the U.S. version and 4,056 mAh in the Chinese version. (Supply‑chain and regulator reports)
- [● 2 SOURCES] iPhone 18e will increase RAM from 8 GB to 9 GB for its March 2027 launch. (Analyst leaks)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The standard iPhone 18 base model will be delayed until early 2027. (Launch schedule analysis)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Apple may debut its first foldable iPhone, called iPhone Ultra, at the September 2026 event, with a 5.5‑inch outer and 7.8‑inch inner display. (multiple sources)
- [● 6 SOURCES] The iPhone 18e is expected to launch in March 2027 and increase RAM from 8 GB to 9 GB. (multiple analysts)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Apple’s iPhone Upgrade Program was replaced on 28 July with a leasing model for U.S. customers. (tech‑ish article)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Apple plans to hold its September 2026 keynote on 9 September. (multiple sources)