Today, Apple is expected to announce new iPhone models like the 18 Pro and Pro Max, and a possible folding model rumored to be called the iPhone Fold, Ultra, or Duo.

Additionally, Apple is anticipated to release new Apple Watch models, and possibly AirPods, AppleTV, HomePod, and other surprise releases.

Task Troopers will continue to monitor the event and will provide updates post-event right here on the Trooper Times!

You can tune in to the event, which is being live streamed from Cupertino, at apple.com or on YouTube!

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RECAP from the event!

Apple's "Surprise and Shine" Event: What Was Announced

Apple held its annual fall product event on September 9, 2026, at Apple Park. Titled "Surprise and Shine," it marked the first keynote led by new CEO John Ternus, who took over from Tim Cook (now executive chairman) on September 1.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max

Apple's flagship phones move to the A20 Pro chip, the company's first built on a 2nm process. It brings a 7-core GPU up to 40 percent faster than last year's chip and a 32-core Neural Engine. Battery life improves to 36 hours of video playback on the Pro and 45 hours on the Pro Max, and wired charging now reaches 50 percent in about 15 minutes.

The camera system got the biggest overhaul in the iPhone's history, including a variable-aperture main camera that adjusts from f/1.48 to f/4, giving the phone real hardware control over depth of field for the first time.

Pricing rose $100 over last year: the iPhone 18 Pro starts at $1,199 and the Pro Max at $1,299, both for 256GB, with a new 2TB tier available. Colors include black, silver, burgundy, and a light blue. Pre-orders open September 12, with phones in stores September 18.

Notably, there is no standard iPhone 18 this year. Apple is holding that model, along with an iPhone 18e and iPhone Air 2, for a spring 2027 launch.

iPhone Duo: Apple's First Foldable

The headline product was the iPhone Duo, Apple's first foldable phone and its first new form factor since the iPhone X in 2017. It opens like a book, with a 5.4-inch outer display for everyday use and a 7.6-inch inner display that turns it into a small tablet.

It runs the same A20 Pro chip as the Pro lineup, with a dual-battery setup rated for up to 44 hours of video playback on the outer screen and 31 hours on the inner one. The camera system pairs a 48MP main lens with a 48MP ultra-wide, plus a front camera hidden beneath the inner display. A few features are exclusive to the foldable design, letting the two screens work together for things like framing a shot from outside before opening the phone.

The frame is titanium with a mirror-polished finish, the phone is rated IP68 for water and dust resistance, and Touch ID sits in the side button rather than Face ID. It comes in Star White and Night Sky, starting at $1,999 for 256GB. Pre-orders begin October 16, with availability October 23.

Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4

Both new watches add a day-summary feature built on ambient sensing (no audio is stored) and a new Readiness app. The Series 12 gains a ceramic case option, and the Ultra 4 gets extended battery life. Apple has not yet confirmed full pricing or release dates for either.

AirPods 5

The AirPods 5 were officially confirmed with Active Noise Cancellation, starting at $129.

Software

iOS 27 arrives September 14, bringing new Apple Intelligence and Siri features across the announced devices.

Why It Matters

Even though most of the details had leaked in the weeks before the event, this was a significant one for Apple: a new CEO's first keynote, the company's first true foray into foldables, and the biggest camera change to the iPhone in years. For anyone weighing an upgrade, the Pro line offers real hardware improvements at a modest price increase, while the Duo opens a new (and expensive) category that likely will not reach mainstream pricing for a few years yet.

Read more about the event, and the products released, at Apple.Com