Apple is just a couple of months away from what could become one of its biggest product launches in recent years. According to The Indian Express, the company is expected to unveil two of its most anticipated devices in September 2026 — its first-ever foldable iPhone, widely believed to be called the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra, and the iPhone 18 Pro series.
Both devices are expected to showcase Apple’s latest innovations and target the premium smartphone segment, but they are also likely to arrive with significantly higher price tags.
As reported by The Indian Express, Apple’s upcoming premium smartphones are launching at a time when the company has already warned consumers that future devices may become more expensive due to the ongoing global memory shortage.
With economic uncertainty continuing and layoffs affecting the technology sector worldwide, many consumers may question whether Apple’s latest flagship devices justify their premium pricing.
iPhone Fold
According to The Indian Express, Apple is now widely expected to introduce its first foldable iPhone later this year. Although Samsung and Huawei have been selling foldable smartphones since 2019, Apple has remained absent from the category.
Foldable devices currently account for only a small percentage of global smartphone sales, but industry analysts believe Apple’s entry into the market could significantly expand consumer interest in the segment.
Apple has yet to officially acknowledge the existence of a foldable iPhone. However, multiple reports suggest that the device is production-ready and could make its official debut during Apple's September launch event.
While the announcement is expected later this year, reports indicate that retail availability could vary depending on production timelines.
The Indian Express reports that Apple's first foldable iPhone will likely adopt a book-style folding design instead of a clamshell form factor. The device is expected to feature a shorter and wider body, resembling the original Google Pixel Fold, while also sharing design similarities with Huawei’s Pura X foldable smartphone.
Earlier this year, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo predicted that the foldable iPhone would feature a 5.5-inch outer display and a much larger 7.8-inch internal display.
When folded, the device is rumoured to measure between 9 mm and 9.5 mm thick, while unfolding it could reduce the thickness to approximately 4.5 mm to 4.8 mm.
According to The Indian Express, the iPhone Fold is expected to be powered by Apple’s latest A-series processor and include enough RAM to efficiently manage multitasking across dual displays.
The smartphone is also rumoured to include two rear cameras along with separate front-facing cameras for both the outer and inner displays.
Interestingly, reports suggest Apple may revive Touch ID on the foldable model through a side-mounted fingerprint scanner. Face ID could reportedly be omitted because of the limited internal space available within the foldable design.
Another feature generating considerable excitement is the display itself, with rumours suggesting Apple has managed to significantly reduce—or even eliminate—the visible crease that has become common on many existing foldable smartphones.
Perhaps the biggest talking point surrounding the iPhone Fold will be its software experience. While Android-based foldables have introduced multitasking and flexible displays over the years, many users have criticised them for lacking software optimisation that fully takes advantage of the hardware.
Apple is expected to focus heavily on delivering a refined foldable experience from day one.
The Indian Express notes that Apple may have already hinted at this strategy during its recently concluded WWDC 2026 keynote. During the event, Apple’s senior vice president of software engineering, Craig Federighi, explained that an all-new Device Hub allows users to dynamically resize apps and simulate different screen configurations.
This could suggest that Apple is preparing developers for hardware that is not limited to a traditional, single-screen form factor. In another example, widgets for apps like Music, News, and Weather can now expand into a full-page view.
This feature would feel unnecessary on a conventional single-screen iPhone, but it makes much more sense on a foldable iPhone with more screen real estate.
The iPhone Fold is also expected to become one of Apple’s most expensive smartphones ever. Analyst Ming-Chi Kuo estimates that the device could be priced between $2,000 and $2,500, making it Apple's first smartphone to comfortably cross the $2,000 price point.
If accurate, Apple would clearly position the foldable model as an ultra-premium product aimed at enthusiasts and early adopters.
iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max
While much of the spotlight is focused on the foldable iPhone, The Indian Express reports that the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are also expected to receive meaningful upgrades despite retaining a familiar design language.
The overall appearance of both devices is expected to remain largely unchanged, including similar screen sizes and Apple's signature triple-camera setup.
However, several hardware improvements are reportedly planned. Among the biggest expected upgrades is a new LTPO+ display technology designed to improve both battery life and overall energy efficiency.
Apple is also rumoured to introduce the next-generation A20 processor, delivering improved performance alongside better power management.
Reports suggest that the Dynamic Island could become even smaller, while the camera system may receive one of its most significant upgrades in years through Apple's first variable aperture camera.
This technology would allow the device to physically adjust the size of the lens opening, enabling better control over the amount of light reaching the camera sensor and improving image quality across different lighting conditions.
According to The Indian Express, Apple may also introduce several new colour options for the iPhone 18 Pro lineup, including light blue, dark cherry, dark gray, and silver.
The devices are expected to retain the aluminium frame introduced with the previous generation while continuing to feature a frosted Ceramic Shield rear panel.
Higher prices could be on the way
The Indian Express reports that Apple's upcoming smartphones may not only introduce new hardware but also higher retail prices.
With the global memory shortage expected to persist well into next year, smartphone manufacturers across the industry have already begun increasing prices, and Apple is widely expected to follow a similar strategy.
Apple CEO Tim Cook recently told the Wall Street Journal that the company plans to raise prices on some products due to the ongoing memory shortage.
Although Cook declined to say when the price increases would take effect or which devices and models would be affected, Apple is expected to reserve the price hikes for its premium devices, such as the Pro-series iPhones, as higher-end customers are more likely to absorb the additional cost.
Industry experts believe the standard $999 iPhone Pro could become $1,099, while the $1,199 iPhone Pro Max may also receive a $100 price increase.
If those predictions prove accurate, consumers looking to purchase Apple's next-generation premium smartphones should prepare for one of the company's most expensive iPhone line-ups to date.