Your wallet can sit out next week’s Apple event

What happened

On September 9, Apple is scheduled to hold its most anticipated hardware-centric event of the year. During the “ Surprise and shine ” keynote, Apple CEO John Ternus is expected to announce the all-new iPhone Ultra, alongside iPhone 18 Pro models, fresh Apple Watches, enhanced AirPods, and an overhauled smart home line.

Where the sources line up

While many of these devices will pack new hardware with a lot of hype behind it, it may be wise to skip buying your annual Apple upgrade this fall. Not only will iPhones be more expensive than ever, but many of the upgrades we’re expecting might not be worthy of an upgrade at all.

Practical impact for readers

Perhaps the event’s most exciting announcement will be the iPhone Ultra . The first-generation product will mark Apple’s entry into the foldable market, rivaling Samsung’s Galaxy Z Fold 8 and the like. It’ll probably offer some neat benefits, like a more powerful iOS multitasking system and the ability to seamlessly switch between the small and large screen form factors. Essentially, it’s a hybrid device that blends an iPhone with an iPad mini. It all sounds great until you take a closer look at the full package.

Who should pay attention now

Despite its rumored Ultra branding, the foldable will sacrifice several iPhone features available on cheaper models. Most notably, it’ll downgrade biometric authentication from Face ID to Touch ID and exclude the telephoto camera that enables a longer zoom range. It may also come in just two lifeless colorways.

What is still unclear

With the iPhone Ultra out of the way, you may be eyeing an iPhone 18 Pro instead. After all, the Pro models are the most advanced and reliable of their kind, offering Apple’s latest innovations in the mobile department. Nevertheless, you’ll want to skip that, too.

Source notes

Macworld