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The wait is almost over for every tech bro’s favourite annual event: the launch of the new iPhones. This year, things are particularly interesting because we’ll see the release of Apple’s first foldable iPhone! Read on for more about the 2026 launch of new iPhone models in Hong Kong, including prices, release dates, new colourways, features, and more.
When is the Apple iPhone launch event and livestream?
This year’s product drop, themed ‘Surprise and Shine’, will begin at 10am West Coast time on September 9, which is 1am on Thursday, September 10 in Hong Kong. Enthusiasts who can’t wait to learn about the new iPhones can watch the livestream on the official Apple website, on Apple TV, and their official YouTube channel.
What are the iPhone models that will be released?
According to industry news, it is likely that Apple will be splitting their iPhone releases, instead of dropping the whole lineup like previous years. The devices debuting on September 10 should mainly be high-end models such as the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, as well as Apple’s first foldable phone (tentatively nicknamed the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra online for now). The standard iPhone 18 and relatively economical iPhone 18e models are expected to be announced in spring 2027.
When will the iPhone 18 series actually be available?
Going by Apple’s previous release patterns over the years, pre-orders for the iPhone 18 Pro series should start at 8am on September 11, while in-store sales and pick-ups should start at 8am on September 18.
Why would Apple stagger their releases instead of launching all the iPhones?
As the 2026 autumn launch marks Apple’s first-ever foldable iPhone, they likely want all the attention to be on the iPhone Fold, as well as the other premium models. Releasing their products this way allows the Pro series to dominate headlines this season, while another wave of momentum and interest will generate again for the spring release next year.
iPhone 18 Pro series: Specs, cameras, and colourways
As shown in industry leaks, there seem to be four colours for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max: Dark Cherry, Light Blue, Dark Grey, and Silver. The hero colour for this launch is expected to be Dark Cherry – which is actually more of a purple-based deep fuschia than a vampy red. This shade may replace the Cosmic Orange from the iPhone 17 Pro range.
Here are the most discussed spec 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. The iPhone 18 Pro series will be powered by the A20 Pro chip, built on TSMC’s next-generation 2nm process.
- Increased battery life
The battery capacity of the Pro Max is said to be jacked up by 10 percent. When paired with the power-efficient 2nm chip and C2 modem, this new iPhone series might just have the best battery life in Apple history.
iPhone Fold: Spec, cameras, and colourways
Needless to say, the major highlight of this year’s launch is Apple’s first foldable phone, which could be named iPhone Fold, or iPhone Ultra to showcase its groundbreaking status. Samsung first launched their Galaxy Fold back in 2019, so Apple is years late to the game, but hopefully they can now skip much of the trial and error that Samsung had to go through.
Leaks and industry 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.
As for the cameras, the iPhone Fold is expected to come with a 48-megapixel main camera and an ultra-wide camera. It is possible that Face ID will be taken out as a result of how a foldable phone needs to be constructed – if this is the case, then we’ll probably revert back to having Touch ID in the side button. In order to maintain Apple’s luxury positioning of their pioneer foldable device, the first wave of releases will probably offer the Fold in two classic, limited-edition colours: likely Indigo and Light Silver.
How much will the iPhone Pro series and iPhone Fold cost?
With global shortages and soaring costs for memory chips, we cannot expect the iPhone 18 Pro series to be very wallet-friendly. According to analyst predictions, the iPhone 18 Pro is estimated to start from $10,199 for the 256GB model, reaching up to $15,299 if the 2TB model is indeed going to be introduced. Meanwhile, the iPhone 18 Pro Max should start at an estimated $11,799 for the 256GB model, with a 2TB model reaching up to $16,899.
Since it will boast a brand-new liquid metal hinge and dual screens, the iPhone Fold or iPhone Ultra has been forecast to start from US$2,000, and potentially exceeding US$2,500 for higher storage – which converts to approximately HK$15,700 to $19,500.
Other products at Apple’s 2026 launch
In addition to these top-tier iPhones, there could also be a new generation of Apple Watch and two versions of AirPods 5 to look out for.
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