What not to expect at Apple’s ‘Surprise and Shine’ event on September 9

Apple’s annual fall event takes place on Wednesday, September 9, and 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 have additional new products at its “Surprise and Shine” event, but rumor has it we’re not planning to make an appearance this month.

To help set expectations ahead of Apple’s “Surprise and Shine” event, here are the products Apple likely won’t announce in September, but rather later this year or in 2027.

iPhone18

As strange as it may seem, Apple’s fall event will be missing a new standard iPhone this year. The successor to the iPhone 17 is not expected until spring next year, as part of Apple’s announced split launch strategy. Going forward, Apple will dedicate its annual September event to its most 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, the information is mixed. Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo expects the device to have 9GB of RAM, which is 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 of RAM, it won’t support all Apple Intelligence features.

All iPhone 18 models could include a 24-megapixel front camera, up from 18-megapixel. Apple is reportedly using an upgraded display, which could also feature a smaller dynamic island.

iPhoneAir2

The iPhone Air released in September 2025 alongside the iPhone 17 line did not sell as well as expected, and a second version is no longer expected to arrive in September 2026. Despite some debate over the future of the iPhone Air, the latest rumors suggest that a new model is still in development and will likely arrive in spring 2027 alongside the iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e.

Apple is reportedly adding a second camera to the next iPhone Air to make it more appealing to consumers and justify its $999 starting price. Apple also wants to improve battery life, either by increasing the size of the battery or improving its efficiency. Since the design of the new model is similar to the current design, there may not be room for a bigger battery. The device will use an A20 Pro chip based on Apple’s new 2nm process, allowing it to offer 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 don’t expect a new model in 2026, and it’s not yet clear when a new version will arrive.

New Macs

Apple reportedly plans to release an updated 14-inch MacBook Pro with an M6 chip in late 2026, followed by a major redesign of the high-end MacBook Pro 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 touchscreen, Dynamic Island, and a slimmer design.

Apple is also reportedly preparing new iMac models with an upgraded chip and new color options. The new version will likely be an updated 24-inch model with an M6 chip, replacing the existing M4 model arriving in October 2024.

While not impossible, it’s unlikely that Macs will debut on September 9th. Apple usually uses its fall event to focus on new iPhone and Apple Watch models. The company typically unveils new Macs in October via a press release or a separate event.

Maybe, maybe

In addition to the new iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch and AirPod models, Apple is expected to prepare other products for release this year. The company is unlikely to shift too much focus away from its flagship smartphones, however, and may choose to save the following products for a separate event or launch them via a press release in October or November:

What are you most looking forward to from Apple this year? Let us know in the comments.