Apple Officially Announces September 9 Event: “Surprise and Shine”

Summary

Apple sent official invitations on August 26 for a September 9 event at Apple Park, beginning at 10 a.m. PT. The tagline “Surprise and Shine” accompanies a glowing Apple logo with a sun shining through. Expected announcements include the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and Apple’s first-ever foldable iPhone, reportedly called iPhone Ultra, with a book-style design, a 5.3- to 5.5-inch outer display, a 7.6- to 7.8-inch inner display, and a starting price around $1,999. Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 in two configurations are also expected. New smart home hardware, including the long-delayed home hub, is also reported for the event or a nearby announcement window.

Why it matters

The foldable iPhone is the most significant new product category Apple has introduced in years. For readers who follow Apple gear closely, the September 9 date is now locked, and the product slate is the widest it has been at an iPhone event in recent memory. The smart home hardware angle is especially worth watching if you are invested in the Apple Home ecosystem.

HTD Says

Apple just made September 9 official, and with a foldable iPhone, new Apple Watch models, AirPods, and potentially new smart home hardware all on the same stage, this is the most packed Apple event in years. We all knew it was coming, and the invites are out (odd though; I haven’t received mine yet).

There will be a lot of coverage of this. Perhaps it is time to get out your Apple announcement bingo card or start a drinking game for when someone says “the most powerful ever” or something similar. As everyone predicts, the foldable iPhone (the iPhone Ultra) will be the star of the show. I miss the days when Steve Jobs said “and one more thing…,” but I’m sure there will be plenty of big, flashy announcements.

There are so many products to announce; I doubt they will be able to cover all of them. I had thought that things would be split between PRO-sumer and CON-sumer products (with “Ultra” products capturing the spotlight). And I’m sure some announcements will be pre-released (like the Mac mini) or launched later online.

Source:

MacRumors