The smartphone world is officially buzzing. We are now just weeks away from Apple’s traditional September keynote, and the supply chain leaks are coming in thick and fast. Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has pointed to Wednesday 9 September for the announcement, with pre-orders expected around Saturday 12 September and phones reaching shops on Friday 18 September. If the latest industry chatter is to be believed, Apple is preparing to completely rewrite its playbook with the introduction of the iPhone 18 Pro series and a mind-blowing new flagship: the iPhone Ultra.
Here is everything we know so far about Apple’s massive autumn shake-up.
1. The "iPhone Ultra" is Real—And It Folds!
For years, tech fans have wondered when Apple would finally enter the foldable smartphone market. The answer looks to be this autumn. According to hidden code uncovered in the newly unveiled iOS 27 beta, Apple has baked in explicit APIs for a device featuring a folding hinge layout.
The name is not settled. Reporting has increasingly converged on "iPhone Fold", though a good number of sources still expect the iPhone Ultra moniker.
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The Design: Expect a premium, book-style fold similar to Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold series. Word from the supply chain is that it will feature a comfortable 5.5-inch outer cover screen that unfolds into a gorgeous, massive 7.8-inch inner display.
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The Catch: Because the device is engineered to be impossibly thin (rumoured to be just 4.5mm when fully opened), Apple is reportedly swapping out the traditional front Face ID notch for a fast, side-mounted Touch ID power button.
2. A Massive "Split" Launch Strategy
If you usually look forward to buying the standard, baseline iPhone every September, you might have to adjust your calendar. Rumours suggest Apple is splitting its launch schedule across two distinct windows.
The premium tier—consisting of the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the new iPhone Ultra—will debut this September. However, the standard, more wallet-friendly baseline iPhone 18 and a new "iPhone 18e" model are reportedly being held back for a separate launch window in Spring 2027.
3. The iPhone 18 Pro Gets a DSLR-Style Upgrade
While the folding Ultra will grab the headlines, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are getting some incredibly serious upgrades under the hood:
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Variable Aperture Cameras: For the first time ever, the main 48MP camera lens is expected to feature a physical, variable aperture. This gives mobile photographers mechanical control over depth of field and low-light exposure, mimicking high-end DSLR cameras.
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The Powerhouse 2nm A20 Pro Chip: Built on a cutting-edge 2-nanometer architecture, the upcoming A20 Pro processor is tipped to deliver up to a 15% performance boost while running 30% more efficiently. Translation? Way faster processing speeds and significantly longer battery life.
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A Sleeker Front Screen: The Dynamic Island isn't going anywhere just yet, but leaks show Apple has successfully shrunk the internal Face ID components, resulting in a much smaller, less intrusive cutout at the top of the display.
4. Fresh Autumn Colours
Move over titanium shades. The exclusive, highly sought-after headline colour for the 18 Pro lineup is heavily rumoured to be a deep, sophisticated "Dark Cherry" red with a subtle purple undertone, launching alongside classic Silver, Dark Gray, and a stunning Light Blue.
5. The Prices Are Going Up
This is the least fun rumour of the lot. The Pro models are widely expected to get more expensive, and the estimates vary enough to tell you nobody really knows.
The more conservative reports suggest a £100 to £200 rise over the iPhone 17 Pro. Analyst Jeff Pu has suggested something steeper still, at $250 to $300, which would land somewhere around £250 to £300 for UK buyers. That would put the iPhone 18 Pro at roughly £1,199 to £1,299, against £1,099 for the current 256GB iPhone 17 Pro.
The folding model will be in another league entirely. Reports point to around $1,999 for the entry configuration and $2,399 at 1TB, with some leakers going higher. UK pricing has not been credibly pinned down.
The reasoning behind the rises is at least credible rather than invented. Memory prices have climbed sharply, and a 2nm chip costs more to fabricate than a 3nm one. If it does play out that way, contract deals matter more than they did last year, because the gap between a good deal and a bad one widens as handsets get pricier.
The Big Question: Should You Wait?
With all of this groundbreaking tech on the horizon, it’s tempting to hold off on an upgrade. Our guide to the iPhone 17 range covers what you can actually buy today. However, early reports indicate that the cutting-edge iPhone Ultra could carry a monumental premium price tag—with estimates starting around £1,599 to £1,999 for the first-generation hardware.
If you want a flawless, reliable premium upgrade right now - the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are the obvious picks - without the massive first-generation price spike, we've got you covered. Check out our latest iPhone contract deals, explore our pristine quality-guaranteed refurbished phones, or check out our flexible SIM only deals today!
Last updated 20 August 2026. Nothing here is confirmed by Apple - we will update this page as the picture firms up, and again once the phones are actually announced.