According to the expectations and leaks reviewed by TechCrunch, Apple is preparing to unveil its first foldable iPhone during the September 9, 2026 event. The device, referred to in reports as the iPhone Ultra, could mark the company’s entry into a category Samsung began pursuing more than five years ago. While Apple has not confirmed these details, the foldable phone is expected to be the focus of the event, alongside potential announcements involving AirPods, HomePod, and certain iPhone 18 models.
A Foldable Phone Priced Above $2,000
Reports indicate that the iPhone Ultra could cost more than $2,000, placing it in a high price bracket even among Apple products. Statements from people who claim to have tested the device early say its design gives it a premium feel and makes it suitable for carrying in a pocket before opening into a wide display resembling an iPad’s proportions.
According to the circulating specifications, the phone will feature a 5.5-inch external display that expands to 7.8 inches when the device is opened. When folded, it is expected to be shorter and wider than a conventional iPhone. This design reflects an attempt to balance a large viewing area during use with a size that can be carried every day.
However, this approach may involve hardware compromises. Reports do not expect an optical telephoto camera; instead, the phone is said to have a dual rear-camera system consisting of a main camera and an ultrawide camera, similar to what is offered by lower-priced iPhone models. The phone is also rumored to support MagSafe for wireless charging and magnetic accessories, but it may abandon Face ID in favor of a side button equipped with a Touch ID sensor to save space.
An Experience Closer to a Tablet
The phone is expected to support running two apps side by side on the two halves of the screen when opened, providing a direct benefit of the foldable display. Although the device will take on a form resembling a small iPad when opened, reports indicate that it will run iOS rather than iPadOS. It is also said that the chip used may be the same one found in the low-cost MacBook Neo, but the source provides no confirmed details about the chip’s name or performance.
The crease in the middle of the display remains one of the sensitive issues with any foldable phone. According to the circulating information, Apple is working on a display with a less noticeable crease than those on some competing devices, although the company’s success in this regard will not become clear until the product is actually unveiled and tested.
New iPhone Models, Home Devices, and Earphones
The expected event will not be limited to the foldable phone. Leaks discuss the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, while the standard iPhone 18 may be delayed by six months from the September event. If that happens, releasing the higher-end models first would be unprecedented in the usual iPhone launch schedule, according to the source material.
Reports also anticipate a HomePod update, coinciding with Apple’s efforts to deliver a Siri update powered by Gemini technologies. Users have found references to unannounced HomePod products inside a beta version of macOS, but these references alone do not confirm the launch date or device specifications.
The most notable surprise involves AirPods with built-in cameras. Researcher Aaron Perris found a clip inside the macOS beta showing a person wearing the earphones and using them to visually identify a book. The voice-over in the clip indicates that the user may be able to save what they see through Visual Intelligence.
According to what Mark Gurman reported, the cameras may function as Siri’s “eyes,” not for taking photos or recording video, but for capturing low-resolution visual information. Nevertheless, the presence of sensors capable of seeing the surrounding environment raises clear privacy questions, even if the stated use differs from traditional photography.
certi.news’s Take: What Is Actually Changing?
If these expectations prove accurate, Apple’s entry into foldable phones will not simply be the addition of a new model to the iPhone lineup; it will be a test of the company’s ability to justify a price exceeding $2,000 through a different user experience. The larger screen and multitasking could offer practical benefits, but the absence of a telephoto lens and the potential removal of Face ID show that thinness and pocketability may impose compromises on buyers.
Most importantly, the available information remains speculation rather than an official announcement. There is no final confirmation of the iPhone Ultra name, its price, or the release date of the standard iPhone 18, and AirPods with cameras may remain an experimental project rather than a product ready for sale. These leaks will therefore need to be reassessed after the September 9 event, particularly regarding battery life, hinge durability, the screen’s resistance to damage, and privacy policies related to any devices capable of analyzing the surrounding scene.