Apple News 24 Hours

Last updated: September 9, 2026, 2:49 PM ET

Today's Big Event

Apple's "Surprise and Shine" event kicks off today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, with the company expected to unveil its first foldable iPhone, the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, new Apple Watch models, and more. The online Apple Store has gone down ahead of the announcements, a standard pre-event ritual. Apple has also added 37 new hardware identifiers to its backend for iPhones, iPads, Macs, and other devices, though these don't necessarily indicate release timing. For those who can't watch live, a spoiler-free video stream is available, and Apple Insider's Andrew O'Hara is on the ground at Apple Park reporting on the pre-event "Welcome Run" activities. The company has also released a mysterious teaser video ahead of the event.

iPhone 18 Pro

The iPhone 18 Pro is set to become Apple's new default model due to a lineup overhaul this year. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, the price hike for the high-end models will be limited to $100, less painful than some had feared. New Apple CEO John Ternus has posted a mysterious video teasing what appears to be a variable aperture camera on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, his second X post since taking the helm. A leaked video shows the iPhone 18 Pro's new 3-in-1 Dynamic Island mode in action within the iOS 27 simulator, and the Dynamic Island itself is shrinking while becoming more useful, allowing users to display more Live Activities. Code found in iOS 27 suggests the iPhone 18 Pro could support 33% higher charging speeds, translating to roughly 25% faster charging in practice.

A last-minute leak from Gurman suggests no color surprises for the iPhone 18 Pro, with all color options now predicted. Verizon's AI assistant has purportedly leaked detailed specs for the device in screenshots shared with Mac Rumors. Pre-orders are expected to open on Saturday, September 12 at 12 a.m. Pacific Time, according to the X account Shrimp Apple Pro, a claim echoed by other sources. The Dynamic Island will also be narrower and support a third Live Activity, according to Bloomberg.

iPhone Duo Foldable

Apple's first foldable iPhone will reportedly be called the "iPhone Duo," not the "iPhone Ultra" as previously speculated. The device will start at $2,000 and won't launch until at least October. Gurman has leaked the color options and base storage for the device. The foldable will come with Apple Pencil support, according to Bloomberg. A final round of rumors paints a clear picture of what to expect, including the iPhone Duo name and $2,000 starting price.

Some had expected the foldable to be called the iPhone Ultra, and there are three possible explanations for why that name isn't being used today. Samsung has publicly welcomed Apple's entry into the foldable market, but its "advice" suggests the company fears the build quality of the iPhone Duo. The 9to5Mac team has compiled 20 last-minute rumors about both the iPhone Duo and iPhone 18 Pro ahead of the event. The iPhone Duo will reportedly start at $1,999, according to 9to5Mac.

Apple Watch

The Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 will include a new privacy-focused AI feature that summarizes your day, analyzing conversations and activities using the microphone and other sensors. Leaker "pdfu" has shared additional code-level details about what the AI day summary will track. The feature, called "Recaps," is similar to capabilities found in AI wearables like the Humane AI Pin and Rabbit R1. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 will also feature improved battery life over the Ultra, according to Gurman. The Siri AI "Recaps" feature will use available data to summarize a user's day.

Air Pods and Accessories

Apple had planned to introduce high-end in-ear Air Pods with built-in cameras for analyzing the surrounding environment at today's event, but the launch has been pushed to next year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. Apple has released a firmware update for its upcoming Beats 360 headphones, suggesting a launch is approaching, possibly this month. The company also released a firmware update for its 140W USB-C Power Adapter, though no release notes were provided.

Deals and Pricing

B&H is hosting a flash deal on Apple's M5 Pro MacBook Pro with an upgrade to 48GB of RAM, delivering $200 in savings and bringing the price down to $2,899. Meanwhile, MacBook Pro discounts of up to $600 off select models are available at Amazon and Best Buy. The 9to5Toys Lunch Break is headlined by a giant $500 price drop on the M5 Pro MacBook Pro, along with $50 off Air Tag 2 and $100 off Air Pods Max. Apple is also reportedly offering better trade-in pricing for minor cosmetic damage, expanding its trade-in program to encourage more iPhone upgrades. A separate report confirms Apple is softening its trade-in stance on devices with minor cosmetic defects.

Mac Comparisons and Accessories

Mac Rumors has published a comprehensive buyer's guide comparing the Mac mini and Mac Studio, highlighting 20 key differences between the two desktop lines that were both updated last month. OWC has announced a new $130 USB4 Hub that takes one of your MacBook's USB-C ports and turns it into USB4, USB-C, HDMI, and 81W of charging.

Industry and Market News

Apple produced 52 million iPhones in Q2 2026, a 14% year-over-year increase, reaching a 19% share of global production and ranking second only to Samsung, according to Trend Force. Apple Watch shipments also rose 14% in Q2 as the overall smartwatch market declined, with Huawei reaching a record share of global shipments, per Counterpoint Research. However, Apple has fallen behind Samsung in brand intimacy for the first time in 16 years, according to MBLM's 2026 report, with Apple's brand intimacy score falling sharply while Samsung treads water.

Regulatory and Policy

The UK government is repeating demands for child safety features that Apple already implemented, threatening legislation despite Apple's robust and expanding toolset in iOS. Bloomberg reports that the UK intends to introduce legislation that would require Apple and Google to block nude images on children's devices.

Apps and Software

Meta AI has launched a new iPhone app called Muse from Meta, a personal agent similar to Grok Bot. Sonos has rolled out its "Sonos 27" app update with new features and navigation improvements. WhatsApp has doubled the music clip length for status updates to 30 seconds. Apple TV subscribers can now watch the first two episodes of "Last Seen," an Australian kidnapping drama starring Patrick Brammall.

Podcasts and Security

The latest 9to5Mac Daily episode covers HomePod rumors and App Store changes. The Security Bite podcast discusses what's hitting Macs in 2026 so far, plus a preview of OBTS v9.

Retail

The Apple Lakeside store in Essex, England, will reopen on Saturday after a major redesign featuring new sustainable materials. The store is located in a large out-of-town shopping center.

Event Coverage and Live Blogs

Mac Rumors is running a live blog of the event, covering the iPhone Duo, iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch, and Air Pods announcements. 9to5Mac has a comprehensive Apple Event News Hub with coverage brought to you by iMazing. The online storefront has gone down ahead of the announcements, as is traditional. For those wondering how to watch, 9to5Mac has a guide to watching the event live with a roundup of products rumored to debut. The Apple Store is down ahead of the iPhone 18 Pro event, where several new products are expected to be announced.

Last-Minute Rumors

A final batch of rumors ahead of the event includes details on pre-order timing and AirPods 5 features. Apple's backend has revealed 37 new product identifiers, though these likely don't indicate release timing. The iPhone 18 Pro price increases may not be as bad as feared, with the iPhone Duo starting at $1,999. John Ternus's teaser post is almost certainly teasing the variable aperture camera on the iPhone 18 Pro Max, which should be a major photography upgrade. The iPhone 18 Pro colors have been revealed by Mark Gurman, and the iPhone Duo foldable details including price and colors have also leaked. Pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro are expected to start Saturday, September 12.