Well, mark your calendars, because Apple has made it official: the big fall event lands on September 9, and this year's show could be one of the more interesting ones we've had in a while. According to ABP Live's report, the headliners are the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, a fresh version of iOS 27, and the rumor that just won't quit: a foldable iPhone Ultra.

Let me take you back for a second. I remember when Apple events meant one phone, in one color, and you were grateful for it. Now we're talking about possibly the first iPhone you can fold in half. Samsung has been carrying the foldable flag since 2019 while Apple watched from the sidelines, and I always suspected Apple wasn't being slow. They were being Apple, waiting until the crease problem and the durability questions were genuinely solved before asking us to pay a premium. Patience as a business model. It's worked for them before.

What to expect from the iPhone 18 Pro

The Pro models are the safe bets for September 9. The reporting points to the usual yearly performance bumps and camera improvements, and beyond that, Apple is keeping details close to the vest, as it always does. My granddaughter Jess keeps telling me my "wait a year, let them work out the kinks" advice is boomer energy, but honey, that advice has saved me from three buggy first-generation devices over the years. As for pricing, some outlets have suggested prices may land roughly where they did last year, but that's secondary reporting, not anything Apple has said. Take it with a grain of salt until Tim Cook (or whoever takes the stage) shows us the numbers.

The foldable question

Now, the foldable iPhone Ultra. What I can tell you for sure is that it's still officially a rumor. A very persistent one, but a rumor. What I can't tell you is what it would cost, because nobody outside Cupertino knows that yet. And I'd tell you exactly what I've told readers about every foldable so far: wait for the second generation unless you have money to burn and patience for early-adopter quirks. First-gen foldables always come with compromises, whether it's battery life, the crease, or app support that hasn't caught up to the new screen shape.

If Apple does show a foldable, I'll be watching two things very closely: how they've handled the crease, and whether the battery can survive a full day in a thinner body. Those two problems have stubbornly refused to die across the whole category.

iOS 27 timeline

The good news for those of us who like our phones stable: the wait is almost over. If Apple follows its usual rhythm, iOS 27 will reach everyone within about a week of the September 9 event, right before the new iPhones start shipping. I've said it before and I'll say it again: don't put developer betas on the phone you rely on every day. They exist for app makers, not for regular users. If you've been tempted, just hold on a little longer. The polished version is nearly here, and your banking app will thank you for waiting.

Marcus Pitts will inevitably do one of his deep-dives on whatever Apple announces, and when he does, read it. He explains the silicon stuff better than I ever could.

So there you have it. September 9, a Pro lineup with the usual upgrades, an operating system that's nearly ready for prime time, and maybe, just maybe, the foldable we've been waiting seven years for. I'll be watching the keynote with my usual cup of tea and my usual skepticism, and I'll report back with my real take on what's worth your money and what's just shine.