Apple Event 2026: Folding iPhone Ultra and More Unveiled
Original: Apple Event Live Blog: Folding iPhone, Apple Watch Series 12, AirPods, and More
Why This Matters
Apple's first folding iPhone marks a major hardware category expansion, with pricing above $2,000 signaling a new premium tier.
Apple held its September 2026 media event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, unveiling the folding iPhone Ultra (expected to exceed $2,000), iPhone Pro models, Apple Watch Series 12, and potential AirPods updates, with Siri AI and on-device AI as key themes.
Apple's September 2026 event at Apple Park in Cupertino, California featured the debut of the long-rumored folding iPhone, expected to be named the iPhone Ultra and priced above $2,000. The Pro iPhone lineup was also anticipated alongside the Ultra. Notably, the base iPhone 18, iPhone 18e, and iPhone 18 Air were not expected at this event, with a possible delay into early 2027 attributed to rising manufacturing costs and an industry-wide memory component shortage — a strategy that also allows Apple to spotlight its premium devices. New Apple Watch and Apple Watch Ultra models were also announced, with both new iPhones and Watches featuring enhanced capabilities powered by Siri AI, Apple's updated AI assistant. Key talking points included next-generation chips, on-device AI processing, secure computing, and battery optimization. WIRED reporters noted that while Siri AI showed genuine improvements in beta testing, limitations remain for everyday use. Camera-equipped AirPods and new HomePod and smart home products were not confirmed for this event and may appear at a separate event in late September or October 2026.