Apple’s much-anticipated September event is just around the corner, likely on September 9. This year, Apple will hold a “Pro-only” event instead of announcing regular base models alongside high-end products, as it has done for the last decade. Therefore, the entry-level iPhone 18 launch has been delayed until early next year.
Apple’s iPhone Launch Timeline (Expected)
Apple hasn’t sent the official invites yet, but history and the calendar give us an obvious picture of the schedule:
The Event: Wednesday, September 9, 2026. Apple prefers Tuesdays, but with U.S. Labour Day on Monday, Sept. 7, they will probably shift the keynote back a day to facilitate travel.
The Announcement: Look out for the mysterious press invitations to drop precisely two weeks from now, around August 25 or 26.
Pre-orders: Likely Saturday, September 12. Apple often opens pre-orders on Fridays but doesn’t typically release on the September 11 anniversary.
Retail Launch: Friday, September 18.
In its fall marketing, Apple has always focused on its base models to spur sales, but this year’s plan has been changed since the launch of new devices has been delayed a bit. The whole industry is suffering from a massive memory scarcity, which has delayed the iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and the second-generation iPhone Air until spring 2027. As component prices rise, manufacturers are moving away from standard options to focus on those with better margins.
Thus, Apple’s September event will offer only three ultra-premium smartphones – the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and the new foldable iPhone Ultra. In a major break from prior years when the regular models ruled, the iPhone 18 Pro will be the base option in Apple’s current-generation line-up for the holiday season.
Apple traditionally starts pre-orders on Fridays, but there’s a pattern of not releasing on the anniversary of September 11.
The upcoming iPhone 18 Pro is expected to be much more expensive for Indian buyers owing to a huge hike in the cost of components. According to TrendForce’s supply chain analysis, the gadget is expected to be priced 38% more than its predecessor, driven by increased memory pricing and the new 2 nanometre manufacturing process for the A20 Pro processor. Apple may absorb part of those expenses, but total pricing for the gadget is expected to go up.
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The debut price of the iPhone 17 Pro was set at Rs 1,34,900, and it is rumoured that the iPhone 18 Pro would begin at about Rs 1,39,900, with predictions that costs might increase to as high as Rs 1,50,000. Besides, the iPhone 18 Pro Max is expected to be launched with a basic price ranging between Rs 1,54,900 and Rs 1,70,000. This trend marks a huge change in Apple’s pricing strategy of its flagship handsets in the Indian market.
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The new 2nm A20 Pro chipset brings significant performance and efficiency improvements, improving the hardware performance. The Dynamic Island on the Pro versions will also be smaller, and the Pro models are expected to include 12GB of RAM, allowing for heavy-duty on-device AI processing. Also in the package will be a new variable aperture 48-megapixel main camera sensor.
