Apple prepares folding iPhone Ultra and AI‑camera AirPods Ultra for 2026‑27 releases

Apple is set to unveil a folding iPhone Ultra at its September 2026 event, with component shipments already under way. The device is expected to fold to a thickness of just 4.5 mm, use a 2 nm A20 Pro processor, 12 GB of RAM, a titanium‑reinforced hinge and dual 48 MP rear sensors, and may launch at roughly US$2,000. Alongside the foldable, Apple indicated a broad price increase for upcoming iPhones, iPads and Macs, citing global shortages of memory chips driven by AI‑related demand.

In parallel, Apple is developing a new AirPods Ultra model that will embed tiny cameras in the earbuds to provide visual context for an upgraded Siri, a feature termed “Visual Intelligence.” The AI‑enabled earbuds are planned to ship with the folding iPhone Ultra and the 20th‑anniversary iPhone, now pushed to late 2027 due to software development delays. The company also announced that chief hardware officer John Ternus will succeed Tim Cook as CEO on 1 September 2026.