Apple sets its iPhone 18 event for September: A new foldable and CEO could steal the show

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Apple just confirmed the timing of its annual iPhone event on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. PT in Cupertino. The tech giant is rumored to unveil a foldable iPhone that could rival its Android competitors, namely the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 and Google Pixel 11 Pro Fold .

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Its anticipated iPhone 18 lineup also includes new Apple Watches, AirPods, and more. How will the event unfold? Here's what we can expect, based on reported rumors and the limited details Apple provided.

Apple's annual product launch event takes place on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. PT (1 p.m. ET) this year.

ZDNET will be on the ground, watching in the Steve Jobs Theater as Apple unveils a whole new lineup of products. Those tuning in virtually can stream the event on Apple's website , Apple TV, or the company's YouTube channel.

All signs point to a new foldable iPhone , alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman suspects Apple will unveil its Pro models in September and save its base model launches -- including the iPhone 18, iPhone SE, and iPhone Air -- for the spring, when it has historically unveiled more affordable devices, like this year's MacBook Neo.

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Apple has unveiled new smartwatches at its September event in the past, so we can expect, with near certainty, at least an Apple Watch Series 12. Gurman says an Apple Watch Ultra 4 with a new chip is also on the table.

The AirPods 4 are also due for a refresh, two years after their release. Last year, Apple launched its Pro model earbuds, the Apple AirPods Pro 3, and made no updates to the AirPods 4, potentially making it the AirPods 5's time to shine.

You'll see a new face opening Apple's keynote this year. CEO Tim Cook will step down in September to usher in Apple's next CEO, John Ternus. He's the current senior vice president of hardware, with a 25-year tenure at the company. His work has touched several of the company's products, including the iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, AirPods, and Apple Vision Pro.