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With under 24 hours to go until the Apple iPhone launch keynote livestreams straight out of California, the excitement in Thailand is palpable. With a long list of product launches expected (and perhaps some surprises if we’re lucky) this year things are getting particularly interesting.
What’s most exciting this year is probably the almost certain launch of Apple’s first foldable iPhone. And with much more in store to boot, read on for more about the 2026 launch of the new iPhone in Thailand, including prices, release dates, new features and more.
When is the Apple iPhone launch event livestream?
This year’s keynote, titled ‘Surprise and Shine’, will take place at the Steve Jobs Theater in California from 10am West Coast time, September 9. For us in Thailand, that’s midnight September 10. And while you don’t need a ticket to the US to see it, the live stream on official Apple website and Apple TV platforms (as well as YouTube we’ve been told) will likely be a late one for those who want to know first.
For the rest of us, we can ‘Surprise and Shine’ in the morning, with endless streams of updates online for us to imbibe on.
What iPhone models are being released in Thailand?
According to pretty reliable industry sources, it’s likely that Apple will be holding back some of their iPhone releases tomorrow – staggering their launches over the next few months instead of all at once as was usual in years past.
From what we can tell, iPhones that will be dropping on September 10 should be the high-end models – Phone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max – as well as the much rumoured foldable Apple iPhone, possibly named iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra (the jury is still out!).
And what about the humble iPhone 18 itself? Well, many say that it will launch in spring 2027 along with other more economical iPhone models. We’ll just have to see what tomorrow brings.
When will the iPhone 18 series be available to buy in Thailand?
Given Thailand is grouped among the first countries in the world to get the iPhone in its stores, it’s rumoured that sales (or at the very least, pre-orders) will begin on September 12, but we won’t really know until the big reveal.
Official in-store sales are expected to begin mid- to late-September nonetheless, if previous release patterns are to be our guide.
What specs does the iPhone 18 have?
Looking at the leaks, there seems to be four colours for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max models – Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Grey, and Silver. The hero launch colour is expected to be Dark Cherry, a deep fuschia color that looks to replace the Cosmic Orange of the iPhone 17 series.
Storage will likely be the same as the iPhone 17, with 128GB, 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB options available.
As for the specs, here’s the most discussed highlights that could be coming our way:
Variable aperture in the main camera
The Pro Max is rumoured to boast Apple’s first-ever use of mechanical variable aperture, which means users can manually adjust the depth of field on the new iPhone’s 48-megapixel triple-lens camera system. Optical zoom is also rumoured to be increased to 6x, boosting long-range shooting capabilities.
Smaller dynamic island
The Face ID components of the iPhone will be partially moved lower along the display, which means the Dynamic Island notch can be shrunken by approximately 35 percent, maximising screen space.
A20 Pro chip
AI computing and overall performance are expected to see a significant jump in this latest series. The iPhone 18 Pro series will be powered by the A20 Pro chip, built on TSMC’s next-generation 2nm process.
Increased battery life
If you’re hoping for android levels, sorry to disappoint. From what we know, the battery capacity of the Pro Max is said to be increased by only 10 percent, which is less than impressive. However, when paired with the power-efficient 2nm chip, this new iPhone series might just have the best battery life in Apple history. But, we’d still recommend a powerbank for those long days out in Bangkok.
What about the folding iPhone?
While leaks and rumours are rife right now, the foldable iPhone has, on the most part, remained closed to the public eye, until the keynote that is. Although quite late to the game, we know Apple likes to get things right before they bring it to market, so we’re expecting quite a showcase either way.
Expectations point towards a book-style horizontal folding design, featuring an outer screen measuring around 5.5 inches when folded, and an inner screen of around 7.8 inches when unfolded. The iPhone’s body will be made very thin and light, measuring approximately 4.5mm and 9.5mm when fully opened and flipped shut, respectively.
Cameras are expected to be in the 48-megapixel range, with an additional ultra-wide camera for those more cinematic shots.
Face ID is a question on everyone’s mind too. There’s a chance it’s removed due to constraints of fitting everything in the relatively small casing – but given the Face ID system is seeing an overhaul, we may be pleasantly surprised.
As it’s a new product, we’ll also likely see just two colours to choose from. Our bets are Silver and a new hero colour like Indigo, Space Blue or perhaps even the Cherry Red.
How much will the iPhone 18 series cost in Thailand?
With global shortages and soaring costs for memory chips, the iPhone 18 series is likely to be one of Apple’s most expensive phones. The Pro is expected to run for around B41,000 to B49,900, while the Pro Max will likely sit around B54,000 at launch.
The foldable iPhone – still without an official name – is forecast to kick off somewhere in the range of B89,000. Quite the penny for being the coolest Apple user on the block.
What else will launch alongside the iPhone 18 series?
In addition to these top-tier iPhones, there are murmurings of a new generation of Apple Watch in the works, along with two versions of AirPods 5 to look out for.
As far as we know, Macbook products will see another launch date. But never say never with Apple.