In September 2026, Apple will unveil the iPhone 18 Pro with an inevitable price increase, a variable aperture camera, and its first foldable smartphone. The iPhone 18 standard, however, is not expected until spring 2027.
Higher prices, costly memory
The iPhone 17 Pro’s price already rose to €1,329 in 2025, €100 more than its predecessor. For the iPhone 18 Pro, the increase is expected to continue. Memory chip shortages are driving up costs: for the 256 GB model, component costs have risen by 38% year-over-year, with memory’s share of the cost jumping from 10% in 2025 to 24% in August 2026, projected to reach 40% in the first half of 2027. Apple may try to cushion the blow by reducing its margins, but a price hike remains likely.
Older models won’t be spared: TrendForce mentions a review of Apple’s pricing strategy for previously released iPhones, with potential price hikes when the new generation launches.
A variable aperture camera and an unchanged design
The iPhone 18 Pro will retain the iPhone 17 Pro’s design, with a metal/glass back and a rectangular camera module. The major innovation lies in the main camera: a mechanical aperture system on the 48 MP sensor, allowing it to switch between f/1.4 (for portraits and low light) and f/4.0 (for optimal sharpness in landscapes). An audible click will signal the aperture change. This technology, abandoned by Samsung due to cost and fragility concerns, remains a risky bet for Apple.
In terms of colors, the iPhone 18 Pro would drop Cosmic Orange in favor of a red/purple and a blue reminiscent of the Alpine Blue from the iPhone 13 Pro. Black would make a return, absent on the iPhone 17 Pro.
The iPhone Fold, Apple’s first foldable, and the absence of the standard iPhone 18
September 2026 will mark a first for Apple: the launch of its first foldable smartphone, likely named iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra. Its form factor would resemble a passport, with a very wide or square screen that folds in half. Unlike the iPhone 18 Pro, it would only feature two cameras. Its starting price could exceed €2,200, in a context where the iPhone 18 Pro Max could approach €1,700.
Another change: Apple won’t launch a standard iPhone 18 in September. The lineup would be limited to the Pro and Fold models, with the iPhone 18 and its variants (18e, Air 2) delayed until spring 2027. This shift is part of a new two-phase launch strategy.
5G+ arrives on iPhones in France
The iOS 27 beta 5, released on August 10, 2026, introduces a new feature visible on iPhones in France: the 5G+ logo in the network bar. This symbol appears when the device is connected to a 5G SA (Standalone) network, which French carriers call “5G+.” Without 5G SA, the logo reverts to 5G. This distinction, previously absent on iPhones, could extend to Spain. However, confusion remains: Apple’s code associates 5G+ with 5G mmWave, which doesn’t exist in Europe.
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Schedule: Keynote on September 8 or 9
The September 2026 keynote will be the first led by John Ternus, Apple’s new CEO since September 1. The iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max should be available the following week, likely on September 18. The iPhone Fold could launch between October and December, or possibly only in the US initially, as was the case with the Apple Vision Pro.
Between price hikes, camera innovations, and the arrival of the first foldable, September 2026 looks packed for Apple. But consumers will also have to deal with higher prices and an unusual release schedule, with no entry-level model. A year ahead of the iPhone’s 20th anniversary, the brand is already preparing a major overhaul for 2027.
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