Apple’s foldable phone is coming – but could the iPhone 18 Pro steal the show?

Every September, Apple launches new tech – but this year, it looks like there’s going to be something extra special in the mix. In its highly anticipated event next month, the company is set to announce the iPhone 18 Pro, the larger iPhone 18 Pro Max and the first-ever foldable iPhone. Though not confirmed, Apple’s keynote is likely to be at 6 pm UK time on Wednesday 9 September, so mark it in your calendar. Scheduled to be held at Apple’s HQ in California, two new Apple Watch models will also be unveiled in the 1,000-seater Steve Jobs Theatre. But will it be the foldable phone or iPhone 18 Pro with Apple’s best camera yet that will steal the show? What do we know about Apple’s folding iPhone?Brands like Samsung have been making foldable phones for years, including the newly released Galaxy Z Fold8. In my review, I described it as a “handsome, strikingly original phone with everything going for it.” Not only is this currently the best foldable on the market, but its performance, versatility and gorgeous design also make it a strong contender for the best Android smartphone, full stop.The expectation is that Apple’s first foldable – possibly called the iPhone Ultra – will generate even more interest in folding phones generally, also benefitting Samsung, Google, Oppo and other manufacturers. The latest reports suggest that the foldable iPhone will be similar in size to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, that is, roughly the shape and size of a passport when folded shut. Open it up, and it’ll resemble a smaller version of the iPad mini, with narrow bezels around a screen measuring up to 7.8 inches on the diagonal. Expect Apple to enhance the software so that apps will reformat intelligently to the larger screen. There are likely to be two cameras on board, not the three found on the iPhone 17 Pro. It’s unsurprisingly rumoured to have an eye-watering price tag, owing to the current memory chip storage and the production challenges of a foldable.What is the design and display?Colours are often one of the key differentiators between a current generation of iPhone and the next. So far, it looks like the foldable may come in just black and silver or dark grey and white, depending on the branding. It’s thought that Apple may want to make such an expensive device look sober and businesslike and, to be honest, at this stage, the people who buy the iPhone Fold, or whatever it’s called, will do so whatever colours it initially comes in. There’s one more big question hanging over the phone: will it be delayed? When Apple released the iPhone X back in 2017, it was announced in September but landed in stores in November. With such a radically different product and all the complexities a folding phone involves, it’s possible that the same schedule may apply. There have been reports of problems in mass-producing the hinge, for instance, but there have also been strong rumours that it will be available right away. My gut feeling is that it will be out in September, but will likely sell out fast.What do we know about the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max?The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are expected to retain a similar design to the current iPhone 17 Pro models, that is, with the same aluminium chassis and back cover that’s part aluminium, part glass. The two-tone effect of the 17 Pro will stay but may be tuned to make the colours match more. Apple is sticking with the aluminium body it introduced last year rather than the stainless steel or titanium frames of early models because it’s great at dissipating heat. Increased demand on the iPhone’s processor can make a phone get hot, which slows performance if not dealt with. The new phones could introduce a major performance upgrade under the hood. A new-generation Apple processor is rumoured to deliver faster, more efficient performance, helping power the next wave of Apple Intelligence features (which could also cause the phone to get hot) and an all-new Siri experience designed to respond more naturally and quickly. The camera system could also receive a significant upgrade. Rumours suggest the iPhone 18 Pro models may feature one of the most advanced camera systems Apple has ever put in an iPhone, including a variable-aperture main camera. If introduced, the technology could give photographers greater control over how much light enters the lens, as well as more precise control over depth of field and background blur – bringing the iPhone closer to the flexibility traditionally associated with DSLR and mirrorless cameras.The Pro models are also expected to remain the headline iPhones for Apple's autumn launch, while the standard iPhone 18 could follow a different release schedule. Reports suggest the regular iPhone 18 may not arrive until spring 2027, which would mark a major change to Apple's usual annual launch pattern.That would leave the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max as the key new flagship models for customers upgrading in autumn 2026. The second-generation iPhone Air is also rumoured to be delayed, potentially launching alongside the standard iPhone 18 and a more affordable iPhone 18e in spring 2027.For anyone whose phone contract expires in spring, that staggered launch could be particularly significant. Instead of waiting until autumn for the next flagship generation or paying extra for an early upgrade, customers could have more new iPhone options available when their contracts come to an end.The iPhone 17 is expected to stay in the range until next spring at least, alongside the iPhone 17e, offering more affordable options. Note that every autumn when new iPhones are launched, the Pro models are immediately retired, and that’s expected to happen for the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max from the day of the Apple special event. AI-powered Apple Watches? The new Apple Watches are the sequels to the current Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, wittily named Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. Insiders suggest it will look similar to current models, but with a more powerful processor that introduces advanced AI capabilities to the Watch range. There have also been rumours that the Apple Watch could gain Touch ID, the secure fingerprint sensor system found on earlier iPhones and some models of iPad. If so, it could mean you could unlock the Watch by pressing on the display or the Digital Crown. These rumours aren’t as solid as other reports here, though. Similarly, though unconfirmed, this year could see the return of an Apple Watch with ceramic casing, the most deluxe option for Apple Watch models but not seen for several years. How much will the Apple iPhone 18 Pro and Ultra cost? Until the special event, nothing is set in stone, including the prices. Apple CEO Tim Cook hands over the reins to John Ternus on 1 September, and Ternus will take charge of the keynote to launch the new range. But Cook has warned that Apple’s prices are going up – already, the iPad, the Mac and Apple TV have increased. Since the iPhone and Apple Watch prices have remained stable, it looks likely that September will bring price increases. While these won’t be welcome, Apple will hope to persuade everyone that the new features are just too important to miss. We’ll see.