A foldable, meaning a phone with a screen that physically hinges shut rather than lying flat, is expected from Apple at the company's "Surprise and shine" launch event on September 9th, and if it arrives, it would be the first foldable Apple has ever made. The event starts at 1 p.m. Eastern, 10 a.m. Pacific, with John Ternus hosting for the first time as Apple's chief executive after taking over from Tim Cook on September 1st.
Ternus spent years leading Apple's hardware engineering organization before stepping into the CEO role. His first staff memo in that position pointed toward upcoming hardware launches as a priority. The September 9th event is the first public measure of that promise.
The iPhone 18 lineup and what is expected
Apple is set to announce the first phones in its iPhone 18 family at the event. Pre-event reports have named one of those phones the iPhone Duo and identified it as the company's first foldable. Apple has not confirmed the Duo name or the full iPhone 18 product list ahead of the event.
The short version of what "Apple's first foldable" would mean: a foldable phone has a flexible display that physically bends closed, letting a large screen compress to a smaller size when pocketed. Apple has not made one before. The iPhone Duo, if it ships today, is the first.
What was confirmed versus what is only expected matters here. The iPhone 18 details and the Duo name come from pre-event reporting, not from Apple. Until Ternus walks on stage, both remain projections.
Beyond the phones
New Apple Watch models and updated AirPods are also expected to appear at "Surprise and shine." An updated Apple TV and new smart home hardware are being watched as possible additions, though both carry more uncertainty than the phone lineup.
All eyes are on Ternus as he takes the stage in his new role. He built his reputation on Apple's hardware. His first CEO memo made hardware launches the stated priority. Today is when the public finds out what that priority delivers.
The event begins at 1 p.m. Eastern.