Apple Event on September 9: Foldable iPhone Expected
Apple is holding an event on September 9 at 7:00 p.m. Dutch time. Alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max, it is widely expected that Apple will announce its very first foldable iPhone. Don't expect an iPhone 18, though; it's not expected until early 2027.
Things will be a little different this year than in previous years. In addition to splitting the iPhone launch into one in the fall and presumably one in the spring, we’ll be seeing a completely new design. The iPhone Air was a prevue, but the long wait for Apple’s foldable will come to an end on September 9. As usual, the event can be streamed live on apple.com, YouTube, and the Apple TV app, and only a handful of journalists will be allowed to attend in person at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino.
Rumours that Apple won’t announce the iPhone 18 until early 2027 have been circulating for some time. Back in May 2025, we already heard indications that Apple plans to split the launch of new iPhones into two phases. The first, in September, will be for the Pro and Max models. The second phase, sometime in early 2027, will be for the launch of the entry-level iPhone and the iPhone -e. The foldable model is scheduled to launch simultaneously with the new Pro and Max models.
What we know about foldable iPhone
The foldable iPhone appears to be taking centre stage: a device that unfolds like a book, with a cover screen of approximately 5.5 inches and an inner screen of around 7.8 inches, the largest screen ever in an iPhone and with a strikingly wide aspect ratio for a foldable. It’s not expected to be cheap; more on the price below.
The invitation features the Apple logo with a halo effect, accompanied by the English tagline “Surprise and shine.” After months of leaks, there isn’t really much left to surprise us with. Except perhaps the name: even insiders aren’t sure what Apple’s first foldable phone will be called. Names like “iPhone Ultra” and “iPhone Fold” both sound equally compelling.
Or perhaps the price will be the surprise. Earlier rumours suggested a price between 2,000 and 2,500 U.S. dollars. That’s more or less comparable to what Samsung charges: the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra had a launch price of 2,199 euros in the Netherlands. We’d luv to be surprised if Apple comes in below that.
