Apple just locked in the date for its biggest event of the year, and it may not be just another iPhone launch. The September 9 “Surprise and Shine” keynote could bring a foldable iPhone and the start of a new era for the company.
When and where
Apple announced Wednesday that its next launch event is set for September 9 with the tagline “Surprise and Shine.” The keynote takes place at Apple Park in Cupertino at 10 a.m. PT, which is 1 a.m. in Manila on September 10.
What is likely to be announced
Apple is expected to introduce the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, though reports describe them as relatively iterative upgrades rather than a major redesign. The company reportedly will not announce the standard iPhone 18 until next year.
The bigger story is the long-awaited foldable iPhone that Apple is rumored to unveil at the same event. Also expected are the Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra, along with new smart home devices.
A leadership milestone
This will be the first Apple event with John Ternus as CEO, who is scheduled to take the reins from Tim Cook on September 1. That makes the keynote a symbolic handoff as much as a product launch.
The rumors worth watching
On the specs front, reports point to an A20 Pro chip built on TSMC’s 2nm process, a smaller Dynamic Island, and a variable-aperture main camera for the Pro models. None of these are confirmed, so treat them as speculation until Apple makes it official. Fully under-display Face ID is considered unlikely to arrive this year.
For context, Samsung’s folding phones have been selling at a record pace, which raises the stakes for Apple’s first foldable.
What about the Philippines?
Apple has not announced local pricing for the iPhone 18 series, and the foldable’s regional availability is unknown. Historically, Apple devices reach the Philippines with local pricing shortly after the global launch, and Apple Pay is now live in the country. We will update this story as official PH details, pricing, and availability are confirmed.
