iPhone 18 Release Date, Price & Features: Everything We Know

Apple has announced the date of its “Surprise and Shine” event, which is going to be held on Wednesday, September 9, 2026. It turns out to be a huge event, as it is the biggest change in the iPhone’s history.

The event will kick off at 10 am PT/ 1 pm ET / 6 pm UK. The event is going to be live from Apple Park, which can be streamed later from Apple’s website, the Apple TV app, and YouTube.

Unlike previous years, of releasing all iPhones in September, this year Apple has announced that there will be a split in the launch of the iPhone 18 series. The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max will be launched at the same time, but the other iPhone in the meantime will receive entirely different names, as they are going to be called iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e.

Are you eager to know iphone 18 release date?  Well, you will have to spend good money since only upper-segment models will be presented on September this year.

The official announcement of the iPhone 18 release date, price, Features, and all that has been unveiled will be covered in this write-up. 

When Is the iPhone 18 Coming Out?

On the conventional launch date of Apple’s iphone series in September is going to introduce premium models with different names, while sales of normal iPhones are likely to be delayed until spring 2027. The event date is confirmed, but the other details in the chart below are still carried out in accordance with Apple’s decision.

On Wednesday, September 9, 2026, Apple has announced the occurrence of its event called “Surprise and Shine,” during which the unveiling of iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and supposedly the first-ever foldable iPhone is supposed to take place. This is the right answer for iPhone lovers’ desire to know when does the new iphone come out. The event will be broadcast live from Apple Park and starts at 10 am PT /1 pm ET/6 pm UK. 

If you are looking for an ordinary iPhone 18, however, you will have to wait for a period longer than usual as Apple has decided to divide this generation into two steps:

• Autumn 2026: iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and foldable iPhone 
• Spring 2027: ordinary iPhone 18 and budget iPhone 18e

According to reports about the pre-order situation, the retail sale of the autumn models is expected to start on September 18, 2026, with the pre-order available a few days earlier.

Milestone	Date	What to expect
Apple event	September 9, 2026	Launch of the iPhone 18 Pro, Pro Max, and first foldable iPhone.
Premium models on sale	September 18, 2026	Predicted retail launch of the Pro models and foldable, according to the latest information.
Standard iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e	Spring 2027	Reportedly returned to a separate launch phase.
Comparisons for iPhone 17 show	September 9, 2025 to  September 19, 2025	The iPhone 17 was rolled out on Apple’s predetermined date of release.

In conclusion, while September 18 is anticipated to be the retail date of iPhone 18, it is not confirmed by Apple. Furthermore, the reported launch schedule comes into perspective, with the premium models being rolled out in the previous September.

What’s Actually Launching on September 9?

If the new premium iPhone is being discussed, the expected release date could be September 2026. However, for the basic iPhone 18, recent reports suggest that the expected release date could be spring 2027. This difference needs to be taken into consideration, as reports indicate that Apple will no longer be releasing each new iPhone model from the same event in September, said MacRumors. 

The release of the first foldable iPhone might also coincide with the official release of the Pro models, although the details of its name and features are not known yet. 

Тhree important products are likely to be announced during the “Surprise and Shine” event of the company, and all of these products are expected to belong to the luxury segment. 

iPhone 18 Pro 

This iphone 18 pro is likely to have similar features and design ideas as the iPhone 17 Pro.  However, the Dynamic Island feature included in the iPhone should be smaller, and the wide camera should have variable apertures; more importantly, the phone will be powered by an A20 chip based on 2nm technology.  For comparison with Apple’s previous generation, you can also look at our iPhone 17 Pro review. 

iPhone 18 Pro Max 

The product described above is quite similar to the Pro edition, but it may be designed with slightly more thickness to fit a larger battery. The news sources say that the Pro Max edition is likely to come with some new features in the camera; however, it is not officially confirmed. Rumors surrounding the upcoming model have also led to interest in the iPhone 18 Pro Max Cherry Red variant. 

Folding iPhone

Labeled as “iPhone Ultra,” the folding iPhone is going to be announced as well. The rumors say that the new Apple device will be created in a book-style manner, equipped with an Apple-designed 20th-gen processor, inner screens of 7.8-inch size, and two cameras placed on the back of the device with a double strength of apertures. Prices will range from $1999 to $2400, based on the data storage capacity of the phone. 

A new period for Apple always brings a forecast of new external challenges. John Ternus himself has released the keynote. Even though it seems that the new appointment is not as important as launching new devices, it is more than significant for the company.

Apple has also entered a new chapter. This will be the first conference presided over by the new CEO, John Ternus. As much as a major product launch, this is also a historical moment because this will be the company’s biggest product update in years, guided by a new head of the firm. 

If you are planning on purchasing the regular iPhone 18, you may find it troublesome to wait until September 9 for the event. 

Regular iPhones (the iPhone 18 and the more affordable iPhone 18e) will not show up in the market until Spring 2027, which means that:

•  Only those willing to buy a top-tier iPhone this year will be able to attend this release.
•  If your iPhone is quite old, you are better off waiting until the prices on the new phones drop rather than buying a new costly phone this fall.
• In addition to it, customers will be now able to order the two types of iPhone in a year: one in the fall if you are looking for the new high-end product and one in the spring if you are looking for a budget option.

iPhone 18 Pro Price: What to Expect

The rise in memory, storage, and chip costs means that this has been one of the most debated pricing rumors in the past few years, with estimates varying significantly now that the date of the event draws near.

The iPhone 18 Pro is estimated to see a starting price increase of around $100, to $1,199, with Apple absorbing a portion of the production cost increase. If this strategy comes to fruition, the price of the iPhone 18 Pro would then match that of competitors Samsung and Google with the phone priced at $1,199, up from $1,099 for the iPhone 17 Pro (a price increase of about 9%). A price increase of this scale could also cause Apple to raise the price of the iPhone 18 Pro Max by the same $100 to $1,299.

Unfortunately, this is only an optimistic scenario. Other analysts do not seem to believe that the figures will remain as low:

Model	Projected US entry-level price	Meaning
iPhone 18 Pro	$1,249 – $1399	According to sources, it may be between $200 and $350 more than the price of the iPhone 17 Pro, though other figures suggest that it may be available at $1,099.
iPhone 18 Pro Max	Not defined yet	It is expected to be more expensive than the Pro model yet the exact entry-level price is not known.
iPhone Ultra (Foldable)	$2,000 – $2,500	There is speculation that the entry-level price may start at $2,099.

The predictions regarding the iphone 18 Pro models’ cost vary tremendously: some claim a $250 increase, and others expect Apple to keep the entry-level price the same. The rumored cost of the foldable iPhone ranges from $2,000 – $2,500, which is not confirmed officially.

How much extra will the Pro cost?    

The bottom line is that the iPhone 18 Pro may cost somewhere between $100 and 350  more than the cost of the iPhone 17 Pro, meaning something between $1,099 and $1,399 in the USA.   

The rumored price of the foldable being over $2,000 makes it a completely different product than ordinary Pro models. Some experts even think that the price for the foldable will exceed $2,000, while others predict that it may go up by $2500.

iPhone 18 Specs and Features

Here are the anticipated features of iphone 18 Pro models

A20 Pro Chip – First Chip by Apple with 2nm Technology

The biggest modification in terms of performance is the A20 Pro, the first chip developed by Apple on the basis of TSMC’s 2nm technology, much improved over the A19 Pro chip, which was developed on the 3nm technology. According to the preliminary assessments, it is expected to be 15% more efficient in terms of performance compared to A19 Pro and up to 30% more efficient in terms of power consumption. Besides, it is expected to utilize a new way of multi-chip module wafers instead of older packaging technology N3P, which will reduce the distance between memory and processor, improving Apple’s performance in using AI technology on the customer device itself. It will also work with C2 modem launched by Apple.

Changes in Design 

While no considerable changes can be expected in terms of design, there are a few noticeable improvements in the apple iphone 18: 

• Improvements in camera bump: The camera bump at the back side is expected to become slightly thicker when compared with A19 Pro due to installation of 48MP main camera which is equipped with variable aperture allowing for more handling and control over depth of field and low
• Brand-new hues: The biggest update is the addition of a new color called the Dark Cherry, which is a dark, wine-like color and will replace the Cosmic Orange on the iPhone 17 Pro. Other colors that are expected to be available are the Light Blue, Dark Gray/Black, and Silver.
• Dynamic Island shrinkage: Apple is said to be reducing the size of the Dynamic Island by as much as 30-35% by putting part of the FaceID sensor setup under the screen, thus improving the screen real estate on the top.
• Camera Control modifications: It is expected that the external Camera Control button will be changed by replacing the swipe actions introduced on iPhone 16/17 with press-based actions.
• Pro Max upgrade in battery: The iPhone 18 Pro Max may get a little thicker than its predecessor in order to accommodate a larger battery, which may fall in the range of 5200-5500 mAh.

The iPhone Ultra (Foldable): Display and Biometrics

The iPhone Ultra is likely to be Apple’s first foldable phone that adopts a book-style layout that incorporates a 7.8-inch main screen and a smaller 5.4-inch screen on the exterior. The greater surprise is that Apple has opted for using Touch ID in the On/Off button instead of Face ID, which it has used in all iPhones to date. The absence of the telephoto camera is another surprise from Apple. 

iOS 27 Software

The new iPhone 18 family of smartphones will feature the iOS 27 operating system with the existing redesign. Current reports indicate that Apple will seek to enhance the user experience through simplified usage and interface improvements  along with the operational features of the foldable phone.

What Is the Newest iPhone Right Now?

The answer to the question What is the newest iphone right now is the iPhone 17 family. The release was made in September 2025, and it has four models. As of today, October 2026, the most recent iPhone is the iPhone 17 family. The release was made in September 2025, and it has four models:

•  iPhone 17
•  iPhone 17 Air
•  iPhone 17 Pro
•  iPhone 17 Pro Max

This will only be true until September 9, 2026, when Apple unveils the new iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and its first foldable phone. Once they launch, they will once again be the newest iPhones on the market.

Should You Wait for the iPhone 18?

This can be seen as actually two separate queries in light of which iPhone is on your mind — but the answers to these queries vary based on your personal circumstances.

Those who ought to wait

• You need a Pro phone now, but can wait a couple of weeks. If you want a Pro or Pro Max anyway, September 9 is near enough that grabbing the iPhone 17 Pro at this point could trigger some serious regret.
• You like the idea of a foldable phone and have the money to buy one. If spending more than $2,000 on a foldable excites you, then you might as well not buy anything else this month, just approach the product having in mind the numerous caveats that come with it: the phone is brand new, and we don’t know how durable it is or how good its camera is, not to mention the fact that it will probably be hard to get it.
• Your current phone is still in good condition. If you are in no hurry to buy a new one, it is usually better to let everything settle after the launch (watch out for reviews, battery life and other hardware issues.

Who can not hold out

• When in need of a new phone, you need to make the choice now. If you’re stuck with a dying phone or no phone at all, don’t rely on speculation — buy the latest phone available on the market (the iPhone 17, the iPhone 17 Air, or the Pro version).
• When you’re looking for a budget or basic iPhone. Here’s an important point: the regular iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e will be released only in spring 2027 — that means there is more than half a year to wait. If you can’t afford the Pro model that starts at around $1,000 or the foldable phone that costs at least $2,000, you should buy the iPhone 17 or iPhone 17 Air this September — you’ll get an up-to-date phone without waiting indefinitely.
• When you look to buy the Pro version but care about pricing. According to rumors, the price for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models may be increased by $100–$300. 

Therefore, if you want to have the special features of the new Pro version for the previous price, perhaps you would find the iPhone 17 Pro cheaper after the release of the new models and the need for retailers

iPhone 18 vs. iPhone 17 — Quick Comparison Table

The baseline of the iPhone 17 has been verified while rumors about some enhancements have been published in regard to the iPhone 18 Pro model. The specs of the iPhone 18 are not known yet; thus, we can divide the data into what we know and what we believe. 

Specifications	iPhone 17	iPhone 18 Pro (expected)
Chip	A19	A20 Pro (2NMs chip is rumored)
Display	6.3-inch OLED display with ProMotion (enabled by 120 Hz)	It is expected that the iPhone 18 Pro model will have the same display, with possible improvements in LTPO+.
Camera	48 MP Dual Fusion	It is rumored that the 18’s camera will get some upgrades.
Price	Price starts from $799 in the USA.	The price is expected to be between $1,099 and $1,399
Release period	September 2025.	September 2026
Availability	It is possible to purchase the iPhone 17 now.	The iPhone 18 Pro is expected to be delivered after its announcement on September 9.
Software	Works with  iOS 26 (Liquid Glass debut)	Works on iOS 27, which is an upgraded version of Liquid Glass, along with the efficient Siri

The A19, the display, the camera system of the iPhone 17, and its price have been confirmed. The iPhone 18 Pro is expected as well, so information about its price, chip, camera, and release period is not confirmed yet.

Want to know more about the upcoming iPhone 18 launch?

The iPhone 18 and iPhone 18 Pro models are being unveiled at Apple’s event on September 9, 2026, which will also see the company reveal its first foldable iPhone. However, the basic iPhone 18 and iPhone 18e are expected to be delayed until 2027. 

Read our blogs to know more about updates, so please bookmark this page and come back after the event for confirmed information regarding specifications, pricing, and availability.

FAQs on iPhone 18 Release Date