Huawei, Xiaomi launch new foldable smartphones ahead of Apple event

Huawei, Xiaomi launch new foldable smartphones ahead of Apple event. Fallon/Bloomberg / Getty Images Hardware What we expect from the upcoming Apple launch Amanda Silberling 8:58 AM PDT · September 7, 2026 It’s finally happening — this week, we are (probably) about to see Apple’s first foldable iPhone, more than five years after Samsung launched its first foldable phone.

What happened

While Apple is usually tight-lipped about its product launches, there are always inevitable leaks, giving us insight into what we might see during the September 9 Apple event. What to ExpectThanks to leaks from sources like Bloomberg, the event is widely expected to be the moment Apple finally announces its long-rumored foldable iPhone. Tim Cook stepped down as CEO this week, handing the company to former hardware chief John Ternus, whose first memo promised a “huge launch next week” — timing that puts Apple’s next iPhone event on his desk before he’s even settled in.

Apple’s annual iPhone release events are always interesting in one way or another, but this year’s presentation is one of the most anticipated in a while. What we think we know so far about the foldable “iPhone Ultra” If Apple has made its consumers wait over half a decade for it to enter the foldable market, its first attempt had better be good — especially since reports indicate that the phone will cost more than $2,000.

At least it’s not as pricey as the $3,500 Apple Vision Pro headset, and unlike headsets, people actually buy smartphones. According to Bloomberg’s Apple insider Mark Gurman, the foldable iPhone has a premium feel, fits nicely into a pocket, and opens up into a wide, iPad-like display.

The wider picture

Skip to main contentSave this storySave this storyAnother Apple event is almost here, though this one will likely feel a little different than the September events of lore. It’s the first Apple event since CEO Tim Cook’s departure, and might be the first time the public gets a taste of how the company’s new CEO, John Ternus, can slip into those shoes. Apple will also stream the event on its Apple TV devices and Apple TV+ streaming service.

Leaks and rumors have left just about everyone expecting news about Pro-level iPhones and a long-awaited Apple foldable device. That means Apple may push the launch of its base iPhone 18 to the spring of 2027. Apple announced a new Mac Mini and Mac Studio at the end of August, but the company may debut new home products, a new iPad Mini, and new MacBooks during events in October. As Tim Cook hands off the CEO role to former Vice President of Hardware Engineering John Ternus, people have high expectations for Apple’s next devices, especially since the company is embracing an entirely new form factor.

While the foldable iPhone is most exciting, we’re also anticipating news about AirPods, HomePods, and the non-foldable iPhone 18 line.

What has been reported

To make hardware that’s still sleek enough to pocket when folded, Apple has had to make some concessions. However, the phone is expected to have a dual-lens rear camera system with a main and an ultra-wide lens, similar to what’s on Apple’s more basic iPhones. Rumor has it that Apple will include MagSafe, the magnetic wireless charging and accessory system, but that it will forego Face ID to save space, relying instead on a Touch ID fingerprint button on the phone’s side.

Like other foldable phones, the iPhone Ultra is expected to support side-by-side multitasking, letting you run two apps at once, one on each half of the unfolded screen. Even though it’ll resemble a small iPad when opened up, it will still run iOS rather than iPadOS, though shouldn’t be cause for concern, since Apple’s newest chips are powerful enough to handle it. In fact, the same chip reportedly powers Apple’s budget MacBook Neo laptop.

A pain point for foldable phone users thus far has been the dreaded “crease. ” With other companies’ foldable phones, you can see the evidence when you open the phone that this isn’t your standard display. It’s a hard problem to solve and one that maybe isn’t worth the technical effort, though Apple has supposedly created a display where the crease isn’t as visible.

What happens next

Don’t worry, you can still get a new iPhone that doesn’t fold If foldables aren’t your thing — or if you don’t want to spend double the price on your next phone — don’t worry. Apple is also expected to release some new devices in the iPhone 18 line. We’ve heard leaks about the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max, but not much yet about the standard iPhone 18, which is predicted to arrive six months after the September event.

That would be a first for Apple — releasing the premium models before the standard one. Now that Apple is finally moving forward with its Gemini-powered Siri AI update, the company is also expected to refresh the HomePod, a smart speaker and Apple’s answer to devices like the Amazon Echo line. The most surprising find, however, is that Apple appears to be working on AirPods with built-in cameras. While some users may be skittish about using a device that can see what they see — comparisons to Meta’s maligned “pervert glasses” are inevitable — we have some degree of hope that a company like Apple, which has built its brand on privacy, will do better.

The report has been compiled by The Daily Waves using information reported across techcrunch.com, wired.com. Details are presented according to the information available at the time of publication and may change as authorities, organisers or other relevant parties provide updates.