The MacRumors Show: iPhone 18 Pro Event Expectations

Ahead of Apple's surprise event on September 9, The MacRumors Show delves into what viewers can expect during the keynote. The event, starting at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time at Apple Park in Cupertino, California, will be streamed on Apple's website, YouTube, and the Apple TV app. It marks the first keynote since John Ternus took over as CEO from Tim Cook on September 1. Expectations for the event include at least six new products.

The Apple Watch Series 12 is rumored to feature a new chip, enhanced fitness tracking, improved battery life, continuous heart-rate monitoring, and a redesigned Health and Fitness experience. A return of the ceramic case option in white or dark gray is possible, but no major redesign or Touch ID is anticipated. The Apple Watch Ultra 4 may also receive the same chip and health upgrades, without a redesign.

Apple might extend satellite connectivity features on the Apple Watch Ultra 4, including satellite Apple Maps and photo sharing in Messages. Two versions of AirPods 5 are expected, with and without active noise cancellation, potentially using an H3 chip for improved sound and lower latency. However, they are not expected to include the heart-rate sensor found in the AirPods Pro 3.

The iPhone 18 Pro is anticipated to maintain the iPhone 17 Pro's design while introducing an A20 Pro chip on TSMC's 2nm process, with RAM integrated on the same wafer. Other enhancements include a LTPO+ display, a Samsung image sensor, a simplified Camera Control button, a narrower Dynamic Island, 12GB of RAM, 256GB base storage, and 5G satellite internet.

The iPhone 18 Pro Max may add a 5,391mAh battery in China and 5,567mAh battery in the U.S., be slightly thicker and heavier, and likely feature a variable-aperture main camera exclusive to the larger device. The foldable iPhone, possibly named the iPhone Ultra, is expected to be the star of the show, with a wide passport-style design, an iPad-like 4:3 aspect ratio, nearly invisible screen crease, titanium-and-aluminum chassis, vapor-chamber cooling, dual 5,400mAh to 5,800mAh batteries, Touch ID power button instead of Face ID, rear wide and ultra-wide cameras, dual selfie cameras in hole-punch cutouts, and the Camera Control button, with storage options of 256GB, 512GB, and 1TB.