Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 8, 2026, 10:36 PM ET

Apple Event Preview: 'Surprise and Shine'

All eyes are on Cupertino for Wednesday's "Surprise and Shine" event, which will stream live at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. The company has been preparing a major lineup overhaul, highlighted by the first foldable iPhone. Apple recently registered 37 new hardware identifiers across iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other devices, some of which could debut as soon as tomorrow. The next-generation Apple TV 4K is expected to get a substantial upgrade with an A19 or A19 Pro chip, according to evidence uncovered by Mac Rumors' Aaron Perris, which was revealed through the device's model identifier. Rumor has it that the new chip will enable Siri AI features, and a separate analysis suggests this will be a more powerful upgrade than we thought.

With the event looming, nearly all configurations of the Apple Watch SE 3 have suddenly become unavailable on Apple's online store in the U.S. and other countries, suggesting an imminent refresh. According to code found in watch OS, there are four new features in store for the Apple Watch Ultra, expected to be unveiled alongside the Series 12. The Watch Ultra 4 and Series 12 should be introduced tomorrow, with the full launch details broken down by platform. The Apple Watch SE 3's unavailability points to a refresh alongside the new devices.

The event will be headlined by the iPhone 18 Pro and the all-new iPhone Ultra. A new report from Bloomberg details how Tim Cook pushed for 10 years to perfect Apple's first foldable. Cook played a major role in the development, which saw early plans carry a $1,999 price tag before the memory and flash storage crisis disrupted those plans. The device could reach around $3,000 with storage upgrades, according to a new report, and it appears that a foldable was a passion project for the former CEO. The development history and pricing were revealed in the new report. The iPhone Ultra will likely see a delay in mainland China, however, due to eSIM issues, according to a leaker posting on Weibo.

A separate rumor claims that Apple is weighing a major rebrand, scrapping the standard iPhone 18 entirely and renaming the iPhone Air 2 as the base model. The same leaker, who has no real track record, says an entry-level iPhone Air line could eventually replace the cheaper iPhone entirely, but not any time soon. There is also debate over the iPhone Ultra's biometric sensor, with code references found in the iOS 27 beta pointing to Touch ID — even if some analysts believe those references shouldn't be over-interpreted. Nevertheless, evidence in the iOS 27 beta seems to prove that Apple is at least testing a version of the feature for the device.

Software & Updates

On the eve of its big event, Apple has released iOS 26.6.2 and iPad OS 26.6.2 to the public. The updates include a fix for a bug that prevents downloading software updates over a cellular connection. This is likely the last minor update before iOS 27's release, and the updates are part of the lead-up to the new operating system. Apple is gearing up for the major release, which will include best-in-class pro camera features for those that upgrade. The release is available on iPhone 11 series and newer.

Apple Business & Patents

The Apple ecosystem is expanding beyond the iPhone, with several significant business moves and acquisitions. According to EU filings, Apple has acquired Sonera, a California-based maker of non-invasive sensors that can measure neural signals from the brain, with health benefits ranging from muscle monitoring to active thought control. The acquisition was confirmed by notices on the European Commission's website published today. The tech comes from a startup working on breakthrough sensing technology that could define new product categories. Apple's acquisition of Sonera is another example of Apple adding pieces that may deliver new products in health and accessibility contexts.

Apple is also facing a new legal action over its Face ID component. Trinami X, a subsidiary of German chemical giant BASF, is suing Apple in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Texas, accusing the company of infringing seven patents related to face recognition tech. On the retail side, Apple Lakeside will reopen on September 12 following a redesign that adds dedicated pickup and expanded accessibility features at its Essex, England location.

Market Watch & Trends

Counterpoint Research is out with a new forecast: global foldable phone shipments will surpass 100 million units by the end of this year, with the iPhone Ultra playing a key role in the company's rapid growth to a dominant position in folding phones. A new Trend Force report shows that Apple produced 52 million iPhones in Q2, a 14% year-over-year increase in smartphone production, reaching a 19% share of global production, second only to Samsung. Meanwhile, new data shows that Apple Watch shipments rose 14% year-over-year in Q2, while the broader market declined.

Hardware & Accessories

Apple continues to refine its existing lineup, releasing a firmware update for its 140W USB-C Power Adapter with version 1.4.90, though no release notes are published. Beats is also moving, with Apple releasing a firmware update (4A203) for its upcoming Beats 360 headphones, suggesting a launch is approaching. For those that were anticipating a new release on the anniversary of Air Pods, the iconic wireless headphones turned 10 years old on September 7. OWC is also expanding its Thunderbolt 5 lineup with a new Thunderbolt 5 Dock with Dual HDMI, a $350 dock that can connect to two displays and provide 140W charging.

Mac & MacBook Deals

Amazon is taking the heat to attract Apple buyers. The M-series MacBook Air line has hit a new low with up to $150 off multiple models and more. The 15-inch MacBook Air M5 is down to $1,349, which is the lowest price of the season. A first pre-order discount is in effect at Amazon on the 2026 Mac Studio, saving $50 ahead of its Sept. 22 release. Also, the M5 Max Mac Studio has joined the Mac mini in discounts, with a $50 preorder deal active. And if you're in the market for a new Mac mini, the 2024 vs. 2026 models have been professionally compared, with the new model built around the all-new M6 chip. Deals are bringing the M5 Max Mac Studio into new price territory.

Apps & Software

Meta AI launched a brand-new iPhone app this week. Called Muse from Meta, it's a personal agent that is available for iPhone with the company's new release. The app is a new generation of assistant tech. Sonos is rolling out its newly announced updates, with the first of those upgrades arriving in the Sonos 27 app with new navigation and UI features. OpenAI continues its release train with ChatGPT Images 2.5 featuring "sharper details" and "more precise editing," five months after the original Images 2 release.

Cinema & TV

Season 6 of the Gary Oldman-led "Slow Horses" has premiered, and it is being called "the best yet" in early reviews. On a similar note, the BBC breakout comedy "Small Prophets" is coming back for a second season on BBC One. After a strong first season and an Apple TV+ pickup, it's now making the jump from BBC One. The series renewal follows the streaming deal.