{
  "id": 225655,
  "title": "Apple prepares for iPhone 18 Pro and Ultra launch by expanding its reach",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/apple-prepares-for-iphone-18-pro-and-ultra-launch-by-expanding-its",
  "topic": "tech",
  "section": "Tech",
  "published": "2026-08-06T15:04:11.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "9to5Mac",
    "slug": "9to5mac",
    "url": "https://9to5mac.com/2026/08/06/apple-prepares-for-iphone-18-pro-and-ultra-launch-by-expanding-its-reach/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Apple is preparing for a more premium iPhone launch in September 2023, with the iPhone 18 Pro and Ultra models expected to command higher starting prices. To soften the financial impact for consumers, Apple is expanding its upgrade program, Apple Upgrade, which allows customers to lease an iPhone for 12 or 24 months at a lower monthly cost. Additionally, Apple has increased trade-in values for most of its lineup, with the iPhone 16 Pro Max now worth up to $720, up from $695. These measures aim to make the iPhone 18 Pro and Ultra more accessible to a wider range of customers, including those who switch from Android devices.",
  "summary": "Apple is gearing up for a more focused and potentially much more expensive iPhone launch this fall. For starters, the cheaper base iPhone 18 is being saved for spring. That leaves the more expensive Pro models and Apple’s first foldable iPhone Ultra to carry September, with higher-than-usual starting prices expected. Here’s how Apple is already preparing to make the sticker shock more palatable…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 4,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Mashable",
        "title": "T-Mobile is giving away the Apple iPhone 17 for free — how to qualify",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/t-mobile-is-giving-away-the-apple-iphone-17-for-free-how-to-qualify",
        "published": "2026-08-06T04:00:00.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "MacRumors",
        "title": "Apple Scrambling to Secure Memory Ahead of iPhone 18 Pro Launch",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/apple-scrambling-to-secure-memory-ahead-of-iphone-18-pro-launch",
        "published": "2026-08-06T13:23:02.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "9to5Mac",
        "title": "iOS 27 basically turns your iPhone and AirPods into an Apple Watch at the gym",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/06/ios-27-basically-turns-your-iphone-and-airpods-into-an-apple-watch-at",
        "published": "2026-08-06T19:51:07.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}