Written by M Akshay | Bestructure

Published: August 24, 2026, 5:28 PM IST | Last Updated: August 24, 2026, 5:28 PM IST

Apple’s yearly launch event usually follows a fairly predictable script, but this year looks set to break that pattern entirely. Based on multiple reports doing the rounds right now, the standard iPhone 18 and the successor to the iPhone Air may not show up at all during the September event. Instead, attention seems to be shifting almost entirely towards the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and what could be Apple’s most ambitious device yet, the foldable iPhone Ultra.

If these reports hold true, this would mark one of the more unusual iPhone rollouts in recent memory, with Apple apparently choosing to prioritise its higher margin devices over a full lineup refresh.

Why the iPhone 18 and Air 2 Might Skip This Year’s Event

According to several sources tracking Apple’s supply chain, an industry wide memory shortage appears to be the driving force behind this decision. Rather than spreading limited component supply across four or five models, Apple is reportedly choosing to concentrate resources on the iPhone 18 Pro series alongside the debut of the iPhone Ultra, both of which naturally carry higher profit margins.

This doesn’t mean the standard iPhone 18 and Air 2 are being scrapped altogether though. Multiple reports suggest both models are simply being pushed to a Q2 2027 window instead, which lines up closely with when Apple typically refreshes its iPad and MacBook lineups. In the meantime, expect Apple to lean harder on ramping up iPhone 17 production, keeping it as the go to affordable entry point into the ecosystem alongside the iPhone 17e.

There’s also a strategic angle at play here. With the iPhone Ultra being such a unique, first of its kind product for Apple, launching it alongside four other new phones could easily dilute attention away from what’s meant to be the star of the show this year.

Expected Launch Date for iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra

Going by Apple’s usual September pattern, the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and iPhone Ultra are widely expected to debut sometime within the first two weeks of the month. Interestingly, MacRumors has also suggested that this could be the first in person launch event held at Apple Park since 2019, which would be a notable shift after years of pre recorded video presentations.

Looking at recent history, both the iPhone 16 and iPhone 17 series were unveiled on September 9 in their respective years, so there’s a reasonably strong chance this year’s lineup could follow suit around the same date. If Apple sticks to its usual two week lead time for sending out event invites, expect those to start landing around August 26.

Once the event wraps up, pre orders for the iPhone 18 Pro models are expected to open within three to four days, with retail availability following roughly a week later. The iPhone Ultra, however, is rumoured to face a staggered global rollout due to ongoing supply constraints around foldable display and hinge production.

iPhone 18 Pro Series and iPhone Ultra Expected Pricing in India

Unlike some competitors, Apple reportedly held off raising prices on the iPhone 17 lineup despite the ongoing memory crunch. That restraint may not carry over to the iPhone 18 Pro series though. Current estimates suggest pricing could climb anywhere between $100 and $300 higher than the outgoing iPhone 17 Pro lineup.

Given that the iPhone 17 Pro currently retails at ₹1,34,900 in India, the iPhone 18 Pro could realistically start somewhere around ₹1,50,000, while the iPhone 18 Pro Max might push closer to ₹1,70,000 for its base storage variant.

Model	Estimated Starting Price
iPhone 18 Pro	Around ₹1,50,000
iPhone 18 Pro Max	Around ₹1,70,000
iPhone Ultra	Around ₹1,90,000 or higher

As for the iPhone Ultra, Australian outlet ChannelNews reports that while Apple will unveil the device alongside the Pro models in September, exact pricing and availability details may not be shared right away, largely due to limited early stock caused by display and hinge production hurdles. Current estimates place its price at around $1,999, which converts to roughly ₹1,90,000, making it the most expensive iPhone Apple has ever released.

iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: Expected Design and Specifications

Visually, don’t expect a dramatic departure from last year’s design language. The large rectangular camera module is expected to stick around, and the glass panel beneath it should continue supporting wireless charging and MagSafe as before, all housed within an aluminium frame. IP68 dust and water resistance is also expected to carry over unchanged.

Where things do get interesting is the display. Reports suggest the Dynamic Island could shrink noticeably, potentially by around 35 percent according to leaker Ice Universe, as Apple works on tucking Face ID components beneath the screen itself. New colour options are also rumoured, including Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Silver, and Dark Grey, with Apple possibly dropping the two tone rear look in favour of a more unified colour matched finish.

Specification	iPhone 18 Pro	iPhone 18 Pro Max
Display	6.3 inch Super Retina XDR OLED	6.9 inch Super Retina XDR OLED
Resolution	Around 2622 x 1206	Similar resolution, larger panel
Refresh Rate	Up to 120Hz ProMotion, LTPO	Up to 120Hz ProMotion, LTPO
Peak Brightness	3,000 nits	3,000 nits
Chipset	A20 Pro (2nm)	A20 Pro (2nm)
Battery (US model)	Around 4,288mAh	Around 5,567mAh
Software	iOS 27	iOS 27

Both models are expected to run on Apple’s first 2nm chip, the A20 Pro, which should bring noticeable efficiency and performance gains over the current generation. A vapour chamber cooling system, similar to what’s already inside the iPhone 17 Pro, is also tipped to return. On the software front, since iOS 27 is already in public beta, these phones should ship with the latest firmware right out of the box.

Camera wise, the more exciting upgrade appears reserved for the iPhone 18 Pro Max specifically. Reports point to a variable aperture main camera, rumoured to range between f/1.4 and f/4.0, giving users far more manual control over depth of field and exposure than any previous iPhone. This would technically be a first for Apple, even though brands like Samsung and Xiaomi experimented with similar tech before eventually moving away from it. Curiously, the standard iPhone 18 Pro may not get this same upgrade. Aside from that, expect the ultrawide, telephoto with 4x optical zoom, and 18MP front camera to largely carry over unchanged from the current Pro lineup.

There’s also chatter around a next generation C2 modem potentially debuting alongside these phones, supporting mmWave 5G. Reports suggest Apple may split modem suppliers by region, using Qualcomm chips in the US while relying on its own C2 modem elsewhere, assuming it can meet mmWave requirements domestically.

iPhone Ultra: What to Expect From Apple’s First Foldable

This is arguably the most talked about device on this entire list. The iPhone Ultra is expected to adopt a wider form factor, somewhat comparable to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, rather than a taller book style fold. When unfolded, the phone is expected to feel shorter and wider, making top level UI elements easier to reach while giving more horizontal room for content, reportedly supporting a 16:9 aspect ratio ideal for video playback without black bars.

Thickness figures being floated around are genuinely impressive, with leaks pointing to somewhere between 4.5mm and 4.8mm unfolded, and around 9mm to 9.5mm when folded shut. The build is expected to combine titanium and aluminium, while a liquid metal hinge mechanism is rumoured to help minimise crease visibility and improve long term durability. Despite the slim profile, a vapour chamber cooling setup is still expected to be squeezed in, and the device may launch in just two colourways, white and black.

Specification	iPhone Ultra (Rumoured)
Cover Display	5.3 to 5.5 inch OLED, 120Hz
Inner Display	7.6 to 7.8 inch OLED, 120Hz
Thickness	4.5 to 4.8mm unfolded, 9 to 9.5mm folded
Chipset	A20 Pro (2nm)
Battery	4,700mAh to 5,800mAh
Rear Cameras	48MP main, 48MP ultrawide
Front Cameras	Dual 18MP (outer and inner display)
Colours	White, Black

Software wise, Apple isn’t expected to build an entirely separate interface just for the Ultra, but iOS 27 already contains hints suggesting support for side by side multitasking and floating app windows, evidenced by several first party apps like Weather and Apple Music gaining horizontal layout support. On the camera front, the Ultra is expected to skip a dedicated telephoto lens entirely, relying instead on a 48MP main and 48MP ultrawide combination, similar to what standard iPhones typically get.

Battery capacity is rumoured to fall somewhere between 4,700mAh and 5,800mAh, though notably, reports suggest the Ultra might skip both MagSafe and Face ID entirely, likely a tradeoff necessary to keep the device this thin.

What This Could Mean for Buyers

If these reports turn out accurate, the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max should appeal most to anyone upgrading from an older iPhone, thanks to expected gains in raw performance and battery efficiency from the new A20 Pro chip. Photography enthusiasts, in particular, may find the rumoured variable aperture genuinely useful for manually fine tuning bokeh and exposure in ways previous iPhones simply couldn’t manage.

The iPhone Ultra, meanwhile, represents something entirely new for iOS users altogether. Much like other foldables already on the market, it promises to blend the convenience of a regular smartphone with the expanded screen real estate of a small tablet, ideal for multitasking, media consumption, and general productivity on the go.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Is Apple definitely skipping the standard iPhone 18 this September? Current reports suggest it is being delayed to a Q2 2027 window rather than being cancelled outright, largely due to an ongoing memory supply crunch.

Q2. When might Apple actually reveal these new devices? Based on past launch patterns, an announcement around September 9 seems likely, with event invites possibly going out around August 26.

Q3. How much pricier could the iPhone 18 Pro models get in India? Estimates suggest the Pro could start near ₹1,50,000, while the Pro Max may approach ₹1,70,000, both meaningfully higher than current iPhone 17 Pro pricing.

Q4. What makes the iPhone Ultra different from Apple’s regular lineup? It would be Apple’s first ever foldable smartphone, featuring a wide format design, dual displays, and a significantly higher expected price tag near ₹1,90,000.

Q5. Will every iPhone 18 Pro model get the new variable aperture camera? Reports indicate this feature may be exclusive to the iPhone 18 Pro Max, with the standard Pro model possibly missing out on it.

As always, treat every detail mentioned above as rumoured information pending Apple’s official confirmation. We will continue tracking credible updates on the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone Ultra as September approaches, and this piece will be updated accordingly whenever verified information becomes available.

Research Disclaimer: Everything shared in this piece has been put together after going through multiple credible tech reports, leaker insights, and industry sources currently circulating online. Apple has not confirmed any of these details officially, and nothing here has been copied directly from any single publication. All information has been reworded and explained in our own words purely for informational purposes, and readers should treat these as rumours until Apple’s own announcement in September.

Written by M Akshay for Bestructure.