Apple’s highly anticipated “Surprise and Shine” keynote takes center stage today at Apple Park. Marking CEO John Ternus’s first major product unveiling, the presentation promises a historic shift in Apple’s hardware roadmap.
Apple’s First Foldable Device
The headline act is expected to be the long-rumored iPhone Ultra—Apple’s foray into foldable devices. Featuring a custom liquid-metal hinge engineered to minimize screen creasing, the passport-style foldable opens into a seamless 7.8-inch display, driven by the next-generation 2nm A20 Pro chip and C2 5G modem.
iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max
Alongside the foldable flagship, Apple will showcase the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Key hardware upgrades include a mechanical variable aperture primary camera system, advanced vapor-chamber cooling, and a refined Dynamic Island footprint.
Smart Wearables & OS Rollouts
As with previous September Apple events, the company will most likely announce its next-generation wearables: the Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4 with continuous background health tracking, alongside AirPods 5 powered by the new H3 chip. Official release dates for iOS 27 and watchOS 27 will also be included in the presentation.
Other Devices & Services
While Apple’s September event is usually reserved for new iPhones and wearables, it wouldn’t be surprising if the company also announces updates to its various services and platforms, including Apple TV+, iCloud, Apple Arcade, and visionOS for the Vision Pro.
With baseline iPhone models shifted to spring 2027, today’s event firmly spotlights Apple’s high-end, futuristic design vision.
Where and How to Watch
The Apple “Surprise and Shine” event will stream live on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 10:00 AM PT via:
Apple has officially confirmed its most anticipated hardware showcase of the year, sending out invitations bearing the cryptic tagline “Surprise and Shine”. Scheduled for Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at 10:00 AM PT, the event will be broadcast live from the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park.
While a September event is a cornerstone tradition for Apple—officially kicking off what tech journalists famously call “Tech-Tember”—this year’s keynote marks a historic transition. It serves as the public debut of John Ternus as Apple’s Chief Executive Officer. Having taken the helm on September 1, 2026, following Tim Cook’s transition to Executive Chairman, the former Hardware Engineering chief will step onto the stage to outline Apple’s vision for its hardware and AI-driven ecosystem.
Here is a full breakdown of what to expect on stage during Apple’s big presentation.
1. Executive Transition: John Ternus Leads the Way
For the first time in 15 years, an Apple September keynote will may not be opened by Tim Cook. John Ternus, a 25-year Apple veteran who previously led the engineering of the Mac, iPad, AirPods, and iPhone product lines, is officially driving the company into its next decade.
Ternus takes the stage as a product builder—a contrast to Cook’s operational background—and industry watchers are eager to see how his leadership style influences both product design and the public presentation of Apple’s long-term hardware roadmap.
2. Expected Hardware Announcements
The upcoming event focuses heavily on Apple’s flagship, Pro-tier mobile hardware and next-generation wearables.
Flagship Smartphones: iPhone 18 Pro Series & iPhone Ultra
Unlike previous years, reports indicate that the base-model iPhone 18 line will be delayed until early 2027, leaving September strictly for the premium tier:
iPhone Ultra (Apple’s First Foldable): The headliner of the event, the long-rumored foldable iPhone—tentatively dubbed the iPhone Ultra — is expected to make its debut. Featuring a book-style fold with a 7.7-inch inner screen and a 5.3-inch outer display, it is set to run an updated build of iOS tailored for side-by-side multitasking.
iPhone 18 Pro & iPhone 18 Pro Max: Powered by the new 3nm A20 Pro chip, these flagships are rumored to introduce a smaller Dynamic Island and a variable-aperture camera system (exclusive to the Pro Max) for enhanced low-light photography.
Wearables: Apple Watch & Next-Gen Audio
Apple Watch Series 12: Featuring the new S11 processor, improved power efficiency, and advanced health tracking, the Series 12 may also see the return of a premium ceramic case option.
Apple Watch Ultra 4: Built with the new S11 chip, the Ultra 4 is expected to expand satellite features—enabling offline satellite photo transmission in Messages and satellite navigation updates.
AirPods 5: Apple is expected to introduce two distinct variants of the 5th-generation AirPods: a baseline model and a mid-tier version featuring Active Noise Cancellation (ANC).
Hardware Expectations at a Glance
Device
Key Expected Features
Target Availability
iPhone Ultra
Book-style foldable design, dual displays, specialized iOS multitasking features
Pre-orders Sept 12 / Late 2026
iPhone 18 Pro / Pro Max
A20 Pro chip, smaller Dynamic Island, variable aperture camera system
Pre-orders Sept 12
Apple Watch Series 12
S11 chip, enhanced battery, potential ceramic case return
In a monumental shift for the tech industry, Tim Cook has officially stepped down as Apple’s Chief Executive Officer. Taking the helm as the new CEO is John Ternus, Apple’s longtime Senior Vice President of Hardware Engineering, marking the beginning of a fresh era for the Cupertino giant.
This historic leadership handoff follows Apple’s official announcement on April 20, 2026, which outlined a structured succession strategy unanimously approved by the Board of Directors. After leading Apple through fifteen transformative years—growing its valuation past $4 trillion—Cook transitions into his new role as Executive Chairman.
Reflecting on his historic journey and expressing immense faith in his successor, Cook shared a heartfelt message on X (formerly Twitter):
Sending lots of love to the Apple community on my last day as CEO. My title changes tomorrow, but the love I have for the Apple community never will. Thank you for being a constant source of inspiration. My gratitude is endless, and I’m excited for the next chapter!
Ternus, a 25-year Apple veteran, assumes control as the company navigates next-generation hardware launches and evolving AI integrations, carrying forward Apple’s legacy of innovation.
Apple announced that Tim Cook will become executive chairman of Apple’s board of directors and John Ternus, senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, will become Apple’s next chief executive officer effective on September 1, 2026. The transition, which was approved unanimously by the Board of Directors, follows a thoughtful, long-term succession planning process.
Cook will continue in his role as CEO through the summer as he works closely with Ternus on a smooth transition. As executive chairman, Cook will assist with certain aspects of the company, including engaging with policymakers around the world.
After Apple CEO Tim Cook tweets about the new Macbook Air, Apple has officially announced the new Macbook Air with M4 chip.
The upgrades that Apple made with the new Macbook Air is mainly with its processor, changing it from the M3 to the new M4 processor and the new 12MP Center Stage camera. The rest of its components remains the same. Apple did change the starting RAM from 8GB to 16GB, without changing the starting price of $999.00.
Here’s a nutshell of the specs of the new Macbook Air with M4 chip
Processor – Apple M4 chip with 10‑core CPU and up to 10‑core GPU with 16-core Neural Engine
Webcam – 12MP Center Stage camera
RAM – 16GB, configurable up to 32GB RAM
Storage – 256GB SSD configurable up to 2TB SSD
Battery – Built-in 53.8‑watt‑hour lithium‑polymer battery with up to 18 hours video streaming
Ports – MagSafe 3 charging port, 3.5 mm headphone jack, Two x Thunderbolt 4 (USB-C) ports with support for Charging, up to 2 external monitor, Thunderbolt 4 (up to 40Gb/s) and USB 4 (up to 40Gb/s)
Wireless – Wi-Fi 6E (802.11ax), Bluetooth 5.3
Audio – Four-speaker sound system
Dimension (HxWxD) – 1.13 cm x 30.41 cm x 21.5 cm
Weight – 2.7 pounds (1.24 kg)
Colors – Sky Blue, Silver, Star light and Midnight
Apple MacBook Air top view
Apple MacBook Air Touch ID and Magic Keyboard
Apple MacBook Air side view
Apple MacBook Air sky blue
The new Macbook Air with M4 chip is now available for pre-order and will be available in the appl.com and local retail store this Wednesday, March 12th. As for the pricing, a 13-inches Macbook Air with 16GB RAM and 256 GB SSD Storage will retail at $999.00, while a 15-inches Macbook Air with the same configuration will be at $1,199.00.
For upgrades and accessories, you can checkout the pricing below;
13-inches and 15-inches Upgrades
Memory
24GB RAM: +$200.00
32GB RAM: +$400.00
Storage
512 GB SSD: +$200.00
1TB SSD: +$400.00
2TB SSD: +$800.00
Accessories for 13-inches Macbook Air Only
35W Dual USB-C Port Compact Power Adapter: +$20.00
70W USB-C Power Adapter: +$20.00
Software
Final Cut Pro License: +$299.99
Logic Pro License: +$199.99
Say hello to the new MacBook Air! The world’s most popular laptop now features M4, Apple Intelligence capabilities, and a beautiful new color—sky blue. pic.twitter.com/CZzHpVvIhO
The latest iPhone at the greatest price — iPhone 16e is here. It’s built for Apple Intelligence and powered by A18, the latest-generation chip. It also comes with supersized battery life, a 48MP Fusion camera, and a durable design.
Pricing, claims, and feature availability apply to the U.S. and may vary by region. For product details specific to your area, please refer to Apple.com.
The iPhone 16e is basically the body and screen of the iPhone 14, the A18 chip from the iPhone 16 with support for Apple Intelligence, no Touch ID, one 48 MP rear camera and a 12MP front facing camera. It will also have the Action button and the new Apple C1, the first cellular modem designed by Apple. The iPhone 16e will also be using a USB-C port for data and charging.
As for the battery, Apple did not specifically mentioned the capacity but instead said that it will have Up to 26 hours video playback, up to 21 hours if video streaming and it supports fast charging with up to 50% charge in 30 minutes using a 20W adapter. Just like with the previous iPhones it will also support Qi charger for its wireless charging features.
iPhone 16e custom Home Screen
iPhone 16e in matte white and black finishes
iPhone 16e Action Button
iPhone 16e running iOS 18
Image: Apple 16e
6.1‑inch Super Retina XDR OLED display
Apple 16e
iPhone 16e with USB-C cable and port.
The iPhone 16e will be only be available in Black and White colors in 128GB, 256GB, and 512GB storage capacities, with starting price of $599.00 for the 128GB model, $699.00 for the 256GB and $899.00 for the 512GB. Pre-order will start this Friday, 21st of February and will be available on the 28th of February. You can checkout the full specs here.
It appears that a new Apple product announcement may be coming as early as February, as Apple CEO Tim Cook teased that the company welcomes “the newest member of the family” and included a date and a “hashflag” (a type of advertising on X, formerly known as Twitter). Aside from Tim Cook’s tweet, this announcement cannot be found anywhere else, not from any other Apple executive or any Apple social media accounts. It’s also worth noting that the time of the launch is not mentioned, so we can assume that the announcement will be a recorded video or, if they choose, they’ll simply release a press release.
Get ready to meet the newest member of the family.
As for the product, Apple is expected to announce a redesigned iPhone SE, since the last iPhone SE was announced two years ago. It is rumored that the new iPhone SE will feature an A18 chip, a larger 6.1-inch OLED display, Face ID, a USB-C port, Apple Intelligence support, and more. Of course, we should take these rumors with a grain of salt, since the “newest member of the family” may not even be an iPhone but a product in a totally different category. I guess we just have to wait until the 19th.
Apple’s next event will take place on September 14th, at 10 a.m. PDT, and they are calling it “California streaming.” The event, just like the past “shows” and because of the threat of COVID-19, will be a pre-recorded broadcast from Apple Park.
Apple usually announce the next iPhone for their fall event, for 2021, it is expected to be called the iPhone 13. The upcoming iPhone 13 is reported to follow the same design language of iPhone but with a much higher refresh-rate with smaller notch and plenty of camera enhancements. Displays with higher refresh-rate have been available on a number of Android phones, most notably those gaming phones.
It’s hard to know what are the hidden messages that Apple puts into their invites but this AR Apple logo Easter egg that they included in the event site is a good indication that Apple may be announcing a new AR or mixed reality device, or may be an AR/mixed reality feature on the new iPhones.
If you want to see the AR Apple logo, using any iOS device, go to the Apple event site, then tap on the event Apple logo, after that the glowing AR Apple event logo will render within your surroundings.
Aside from the AR features, high refresh rate and better cameras, other enhancement that Apple is reported to be including in the new iPhone are; SharePlay, astrophotography mode, satellite link and an always on lock screen.
Apple may also be announcing other products like the next Apple Watch, a new entry-level AirPods and may be by a longshot, a Macbook Pros that’s powered by Apple-designed chips and an SD card slot. I guess we just have to wait and see.