Apple’s September event keynote is just around the corner. The tech giant has officially announced its upcoming Apple Event, ‘Surprise and shine’. The date is scheduled for next month. Here’s a detailed rundown on how to watch, what hardware and software announcements to anticipate on stage, and which rumours to ignore.
In This Article
Apple Event 2026 Surprise and shine: Start Time, How to Watch, and What to Expect
Apple will be holding its annual flagship hardware event on September 9 at 10:00 AM PT, 1:00 PM ET and 10:30 PM IST. The company revealed the event would be held at Steve Jobs Theatre at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, via a social media invite. The live feed can be seen on Apple.com, the Apple TV app on compatible devices and Apple’s official YouTube channel, continuing a history of making its big product introductions available to everybody.
- Date: Wednesday, September 9, 2026
- Time: 10:00 AM PT / 1:00 PM ET / 10:30 PM IST
- Format: In-person and Livestreamed
- Where to Watch: Official YouTube Channel / Company Website
What to Expect
You’re going to see a lot of big upgrades with the next iPhone 18 series, including a new A20 CPU that’s going to be the next generation of computing power. The series is also said to promise stronger hardware integration to boost on-device Apple Intelligence. The premium models, iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple’s first foldable iPhone (may or may not) are said to have significant enhancements to camera sensors to provide consumers an improved photography experience.
Similarly, Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 3 are anticipated to come with next-gen micro-display technology, either for better battery efficiency or performance. Health monitoring sensors are also to be upgraded, and processing speeds are to be improved, which should lead to a smoother user experience.
Alongside these devices, AirPods are expected to be upgraded with an updated audio architecture to improve sound quality, even better Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) for an improved listening experience and the integration of standardised USB-C on all models, bringing it in line with current technological trends.
Finally, the release dates for Apple’s newest software upgrades, including iOS 20, watchOS 13, and the next iteration of macOS Sequoia, will be formally announced after an upcoming live stream, indicating major milestones in Apple’s software progression.
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What NOT to Expect
Recent reports suggest this September’s Apple Event is largely centred on the premium iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. According to reports, the regular base-model iPhone 18 range has been delayed until spring 2027.
No new Macs or desktop CPUs are expected, since September is largely on mobile and wearables, and major Mac updates normally come at separate events in October or November. Despite rumours to the contrary, there’s still no foldable iPhone Ultra in the immediate future. The technology is currently in the long-term R&D phase, and there are no plans for a folding iPhone to come out in the current cycle, mainly owing to technical challenges such as reducing the crease and making sure the hinge is durable enough.
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There won’t be any announcement on next-generation Vision Pro hardware either, since Apple is focusing on software advancements rather than new hardware, due to the longer development cycles required for spatial computing devices.
The release of AI functions will likewise be phased, with a whole suite not accessible immediately but rolled out over many months via upgrades. Lastly, it’s doubtful we will see any high-end iPad updates given the iPad Pro and iPad Air had their updates earlier in the year, and we should get minor, low-profile improvements for entry-level iPads via press releases.
