Apples next iPhone release might change one of the companys regular habits: launching pre-orders on Friday.
The company has said there will be an event on September 9 at the Steve Jobs Theater, where the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max and the foldable iPhone that has been talked about for a time are expected to be the main focus. Apple has not shared when pre-orders will start. Macwelt through Macworld says that orders for the Pro models might begin on Saturday, September 12.
This different timing would spare September 11, which is the Friday immediately following the event. this could also mean that the schedule for Apple’s first foldable iPhone is completely different.
Apple has done something like this before. Pre-orders for the iPhone 6s and iPhone 6s Plus began on Saturday, September 12, 2015. The reported time for starting orders is also different: midnight Pacific time, on September 12 of the usual 5 a.m. Pacific time.
The foldable can operate according to its own schedule.
I read that the launch is also expected to mark Apple’s entry into the foldable‑phone market. Many people say the device will be called the iPhone Ultra. It may have a display about 5.5 inches and an inner screen about 7.8 inches according to khabribabu.
I think buyers may not get the foldable at the same time as the Pro models. Macworld says the preorders for the foldable might be pushed to later in September because of production constraints. That makes the foldable the biggest wildcard, in Apple’s 2026 launch plan.