The iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and Apple’s first foldable iPhone, potentially called the iPhone Ultra, are expected to make their debut at the company’s September launch event.

A new report suggests Apple will hold its iPhone 18 Pro launch event on September 8, although that date appears unlikely.

Could the iPhone 18 Pro launch on September 8?

The most important date in the entire iPhone 18 Pro launch schedule is the day Apple officially unveils the new devices.

Once that date is established, other milestones, including pre-orders, the release of iOS 27 and the official retail launch, can largely be projected from Apple’s usual schedule.

Predictions have long pointed to September 9 as the likely date for Apple’s next-generation iPhone event. However, a new report from Australia’s Channel News claims the company will instead choose September 8.

According to the report, Apple will introduce its first foldable iPhone at a US launch event on September 8, although the device may not go on sale immediately afterward.

A major component supplier in China is also said to have confirmed that Apple is facing challenges related to supply, testing and pricing.

Those difficulties could potentially leave Australian customers waiting several additional months before they can buy the foldable iPhone.

September 8, however, is considered an unlikely date because of Apple’s history of scheduling iPhone events.

For years, Apple has avoided holding an iPhone event on the day immediately following the US Labor Day holiday.

This year, Labor Day falls on Monday, September 7, making a keynote on Tuesday, September 8, a relatively unusual scenario.

Wednesday, September 9, appears more consistent with Apple’s past practices. Notably, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, who had previously considered September 8 the most likely date, has also shifted his prediction to September 9.

Under the projected schedule, Apple would hold the event at 10am Pacific Time on September 9, or 1pm Eastern Time, equivalent to around midnight on September 10 in Vietnam.

The event would most likely take place at the Steve Jobs Theater at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California.

Apple is expected to use the event to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and its first foldable iPhone. The foldable model has been rumored to carry the iPhone Ultra name.

Apple could officially announce the keynote date on Wednesday, August 26.

iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders could begin September 12

Apple typically opens pre-orders for new iPhones on the Friday immediately following its launch event. This year, however, the schedule could include a notable change.

The company not only avoids holding events on September 11 but also appears likely to avoid opening product pre-orders on that date.

September 11, 2026, falls on a Friday, the day Apple traditionally chooses to begin taking pre-orders.

As a result, Apple could move pre-orders to Saturday, September 12. Such a change would be unusual for an iPhone launch but would fit the timeline currently being projected for this year.

If that scenario proves accurate, customers would have to wait only a few days after the September 9 event before ordering the iPhone 18 Pro and other new models.

iOS 27 could arrive on September 14

Another key date in the schedule is the release of iOS 27.

The new operating system will arrive before the iPhone 18 Pro goes on sale and will, of course, not be exclusive to the iPhone 18 lineup.

Although Apple has yet to confirm a release date, its schedule in recent years suggests that the Monday following iPhone launch week is the most likely option.

Since 2021, the first public version of each new iOS generation has been released on the Monday after Apple’s iPhone event.

The year 2020 was an exception, with iOS 14 released on the Wednesday following the event. Over the past five consecutive years, however, Apple has maintained a Monday release schedule.

Monday, September 14, is therefore currently considered the most likely date for iOS 27.

If the projection proves correct, iOS 27 could be released at around 8am Pacific Time, equivalent to 11am Eastern Time, although Apple could shift the timing by an hour or two.

Notably, iOS 27 is expected to support far more devices than just the iPhone 18 lineup.

Every iPhone capable of running iOS 26 is also expected to be compatible with iOS 27.

In total, as many as 31 iPhone models could support the new operating system, ranging from the iPhone 11 through the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Pro, iPhone 17 Pro Max, iPhone 17e and iPhone Air, alongside the new iPhones unveiled in September.

iPhone 18 Pro could go on sale September 18

If the projected dates prove accurate, Friday, September 18, would almost certainly be the day the iPhone 18 Pro officially goes on sale.

Apple traditionally begins selling new iPhones on the Friday of the week following its launch event, making September 18 consistent with its established schedule.

The biggest question now is whether Apple’s first foldable iPhone will go on sale at the same time as the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

One possibility is that Apple will unveil all three devices at its September event but delay the foldable iPhone’s retail release.

Current predictions, however, lean toward Apple releasing the foldable iPhone alongside the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max.

Hai Phong