Pre-orders of Apple's iPhone 18 Pro may not open until Saturday, September 12, a day later than the company's usual schedule, according to a new report. Apple is set to hold its annual iPhone event on Wednesday, September 9, where the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌ models, its first-ever foldable iPhone, and the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 are all expected to be announced. Under Apple's typical launch plan, pre-orders begin the Friday immediately following the event, with devices shipping the following Friday. This year, that would place pre-orders on Friday, September 11, but Macworld reports that its German sister publication, Macwelt , has heard from a reliable source that Apple will instead push pre-orders back to Saturday, September 12. There is precedent for this as the shift is reportedly tied to the date itself. September 11, 2026 marks the 25th anniversary of the September 11 attacks, and Apple has moved pre-orders away from that date before. In 2015, when the standard pre-order Friday also landed on September 11, Apple delayed iPhone 6S and 6S Plus pre-orders to Saturday, September 12. The timing within the day is also said to be changing. Apple's pre-orders traditionally open at 5 a.m. PT, but the source says this year's window will instead start at midnight PT on Saturday. The delayed pre-order date is expected to apply to the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌, Apple Watch Series 12, and Apple Watch Ultra 4, alongside any other hardware Apple introduces at the event. Apple's foldable iPhone could follow at a later date, with pre-orders potentially not opening until late September. Earlier this year, Macwelt reported that Apple would announce the iPhone 17e on Thursday, February 19, but that announcement didn't actually come until March 2. That being said, Saturday, September 12 looks like a solid bet for the ‌iPhone 18 Pro‌'s pre-order date, though the reported midnight PT start time is worth taking with a pinch of salt for now. Apple's iPhone event takes place in just under two weeks, on September 9. Related Roundup: iPhone 18 Pro This article, " iPhone 18 Pro Pre-Orders May Start at an Unusual Time " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
Apple's annual fall event takes place on Wednesday, September 9, when it is expected to unveil new iPhone 18 Pro models, the first foldable iPhone, an Apple Watch Series 12, a fourth-generation Apple Watch Ultra, and potentially AirPods 5. Apple may also make some additional new products available at its "Surprise and shine" event, but there are a handful of rumored upcoming devices that we don't expect to make an appearance this month. To help set expectations ahead of Apple's "Surprise and shine" event, here are the products that Apple is unlikely to announce in September, but rather later on in the year or in 2027. iPhone 18 Strange as it sounds, Apple's fall event this year will be missing a new regular iPhone. The successor to the iPhone 17 isn't expected until spring next year, as part of Apple's reported split-launch strategy . Going forward, Apple will dedicate its annual September event to its more expensive Pro-model iPhones and successive generations of its upcoming foldable iPhone. The iPhone 18 could adopt Apple's upcoming 2-nanometer A20 chip. As for memory, information is mixed. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the device to have 9GB of RAM , 1GB more than the iPhone 17, while analyst Jeff Pu believes Apple will upgrade it with 12GB . If the iPhone 18 is limited to 9GB RAM, it will not support all Apple Intelligence features . All iPhone 18 models could include a 24-megapixel front-facing camera , up from 18 megapixels. There are reports that Apple will use an improved display , which could also feature a smaller Dynamic Island . iPhone Air 2 The iPhone Air that came out in September 2025 alongside the iPhone 17 lineup didn't sell as well as expected, and a second version is no longer believed to be coming in September 2026. Despite some debate about the future of the iPhone Air, the latest rumors suggest a new model is still in development, and will likely arrive in spring 2027 alongside the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e. Apple is said to be adding a second camera to the next iPhone Air to make it more appealing to consumers and to justify its $999 starting price. Apple also wants to improve battery life, either through an increased battery size or improvements to efficiency. Given that the design of the new model is similar to the current design, there may not be room for a larger battery. The device will use an A20 Pro chip built on Apple's new 2nm process, so it could feature better efficiency. New Apple Watch SE 4 The current Apple Watch SE 3 is Apple's most affordable Apple Watch option. Apple updated it in September 2025, but we are not expecting a new model in 2026, and there's no word yet on when a new version is coming. New Macs Apple reportedly plans to release an updated 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip in late 2026, followed by a major high-end MacBook Pro redesign in late 2026 or early 2027. Reportedly dubbed " MacBook Ultra ," the new 14-inch and 16-inch models are expected to feature M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, an OLED display, a touch screen, a Dynamic Island, and a thinner design. Apple is also said to be readying new iMac models with an upgraded chip and new color options. The new version is likely to be an updated 24-inch model with an M6 chip, replacing the existing M4 model that arrived in October 2024. While it isn't impossible, we're unlikely to see any Macs debut on September 9. Apple typically uses its fall event to focus on new iPhone and Apple Watch models. The company usually unveils new Macs in October via press release or a separate event. Possibly, Maybe In addition to new iPhone 18 Pro models, Apple Watch models, and AirPods, Apple is expected to prepare other products for release this year. Still, the company is unlikely to draw too much attention away from its flagship smartphones, and may choose to save the following products for a separate event or launch them via press release in October or November: iPad mini Apple TV HomePod mini Home hub What are you looking forward to most from Apple this year? Let us know in the comments. This article, " What NOT to Expect at Apple's 'Surprise and Shine' September 9 Event " first appeared on MacRumors.com Discuss this article in our forums
