Every September, Apple launches new tech – but this year, it looks like there’s going to be something extra special in the mix. In its highly anticipated event next month, it’s thought that the company will announce the iPhone 18 Pro, the larger iPhone 18 Pro Max and the first-ever foldable iPhone.

The date of Apple’s keynote hasn’t been announced, but it’s likely to be at 6 pm UK time on Wednesday 9 September, so mark it in your calendar. Scheduled to be held at Apple’s HQ in California, two new Apple Watch models will also be unveiled in the 1,000-seater Steve Jobs Theatre.

However, it’s sure to be the foldable phone that will steal the show.

Brands like Samsung have been making foldable phones for years, including the newly released Galaxy Z Fold8. In my review, I described it as a “handsome, strikingly original phone with everything going for it.” Not only is this currently the best foldable on the market, but its performance, versatility and gorgeous design also make it a strong contender for the best Android smartphone, full stop.

The expectation is that Apple’s first foldable – possibly called the iPhone Ultra – will generate even more interest in folding phones generally, also benefitting Samsung, Google, Oppo and other manufacturers.

The latest reports suggest that the foldable iPhone will be similar in size to the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8, that is, roughly the shape and size of a passport when folded shut.

Open it up, and it’ll resemble a smaller version of the iPad mini, with narrow bezels around a screen measuring up to 7.8 inches on the diagonal. Expect Apple to enhance the software so that apps will reformat intelligently to the larger screen.

There are likely to be two cameras on board, not the three found on the iPhone 17 Pro. It’s unsurprisingly rumoured to have an eye-watering price tag, owing to the current memory chip storage and the production challenges of a foldable.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max may look similar to the current iPhone 17 Pro models, but a new processor sets them apart. It will ensure that the advanced Apple Intelligence features arrive with an all-new Siri experience that works smoothly and at speed.

There are also likely to be improvements to the three-camera system on the Pro models.

Eagle-eyed readers may have spotted an iPhone was missing from the list above: it looks like the regular iPhone 18 won’t land in September. This will be the first time since 2010 that there wasn’t a base iPhone launched in the autumn. Don’t worry, it’s still coming, but it looks like it will be held until spring 2027. Since the iPhone 17 was arguably the best-value phone Apple released last year, there will be lots who are eagerly anticipating another more affordable phone to arrive.

Similarly, the sequel to the head-turning, super-slim iPhone Air is thought unlikely to debut this year, but may arrive alongside the iPhone 18 and the more affordable iPhone 18e.

This benefits anyone whose phone contract expires in the spring, who would normally have to wait until the following autumn to snag the newest flagship iPhone, or pay extra to upgrade early.

The new Apple Watches are the sequels to the current Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3, wittily named Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4. It’s thought they will look similar to current models but with a more powerful processor bringing advanced AI capabilities to the Watch for the first time.

Since the iPhone and Apple Watch prices have remained stable, it looks likely that September will bring price increases. While these won’t be welcome, Apple will hope to persuade everyone that the new features are just too important to miss. We’ll see.

Read more: I've spent weeks testing the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold8 – it's the best Android phone, full stop