Get ready: iPhone 18 Pro, new Apple Watch lineup, and AirPods 5 are arriving.

Apple’s September 11, 2026 update lays out a tightly sequenced upgrade cycle. iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max pre-orders begin Saturday, September 12, at 5 a.m. PT. Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 arrive worldwide on Friday, September 18, while Mac mini and Mac Studio reach stores on Tuesday, September 22.

A New Level of iPhone Creative Control

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max introduce a 48MP Fusion Main camera with a variable aperture that automatically responds to depth of field and lighting. Upgraded Photographic Styles add texture and grain controls, while Pro controls let users arrange frequently used Camera app settings. Cinematic effects can be added after capture to videos shot at up to 60 fps.

A20 Pro Performance and Battery Design

Both iPhones use the A20 Pro chip and a next-generation vapor chamber intended to sustain peak performance during demanding workloads, including on-device AI. Updated battery designs combine new hardware with silicon efficiencies. Apple says the iPhone 18 Pro Max delivers the largest battery-life increase ever on iPhone, although actual endurance varies with use.

iOS 27 and Personalized Siri AI

iOS 27 brings the next generation of Apple Intelligence and a new Siri AI assistant rolling out in beta. Its stated strengths are personal-context understanding, broad world knowledge, and onscreen awareness, allowing users to find information and complete tasks without abandoning the current screen. Apple places privacy and security at the core of the experience, but Siri AI will not initially be available in the EU on iOS, iPadOS, or watchOS.

Finishes and Personal Accessories

The two iPhones will launch in black, silver, glacier, and an all-new burgundy. Matching Silicone Cases, TechWoven Cases, Crossbody Straps, and FineWoven Wallets are being introduced. The Clear Case can attach to a Crossbody Strap or Wrist Strap, while the recycled-polyester Wrist Strap comes in six colors: black, taupe, olive, crisp blue, magenta, and burgundy.

Health Sensing in the New Apple Watches

Apple Watch Series 12 and Apple Watch Ultra 4 use the new Health Sensing System and S11 chip. Apple says they provide its most accurate wearable heart-rate sensing, along with higher-frequency heart-rate and heart-rate variability measurements. A new readiness score offers an assessment of the user’s capacity to take on the day ahead. The accuracy claim is based on an Apple-conducted study of commercially available wearables from July and August 2026.

Watch Battery Life and watchOS 27

Apple Watch Series 12 offers up to 24 hours of everyday battery life. Its faster charging can add up to 12 hours after 15 minutes. Apple Watch Ultra 4 supports up to 45 hours of outdoor workout tracking and up to 50 hours of everyday battery life. WatchOS 27 adds Siri AI, while new Audio Intelligence features are planned for later this year to summarize key conversational moments and alert users to important sounds.

Watch Styles and Availability

Apple Watch Series 12 will be offered in dark bronze, black, light gold, and space gray aluminum. It also adds radiant gold titanium, natural titanium, and a ceramic edition in pearl white or night blue. The Series 12 and Ultra 4 join the iPhone pre-orders now and become widely available on September 18.

Open-Ear Noise Cancellation

AirPods 5 combine an open-ear design with Active Noise Cancellation that Apple says removes up to 50 percent more external noise than AirPods 4 with Active Noise Cancellation. A multiport acoustic architecture and next-generation Adaptive EQ support immersive sound, while an improved Transparency mode aims to sound more natural. Testing compared AirPods 5 with the bestselling wireless open-ear headphones available when Apple tested them in July 2026.

Hands-Free Control and Translation

AirPods 5 with the Wireless Charging Case offer longer battery life and a force sensor with volume swipe, the first such control in an open-ear form factor. Users can swipe up or down on the stem to adjust volume. Siri AI can use personal context and world knowledge hands-free, and users may respond through head gestures or use Live Translation to communicate across languages.

Mac mini with M6

The new Mac mini uses the M6 and retains Apple’s supersmall desktop design. Compared with a previous-generation M4 Mac mini configuration, Apple reports up to 4x faster AI performance, 2x faster storage, 2x faster graphics, and 40 percent faster CPU performance. An M5 Pro version targets demanding video-production and game-development projects, including always-on, deskside agentic computing.

Mac Studio for Professional Workloads

Mac Studio pairs the M5 Max and M5 Ultra chips for creatives, developers, AI researchers, and data scientists. Apple reports up to 4.3x faster AI performance, up to 2x faster storage, up to 1.8x faster graphics, and up to 1.3x faster CPU speed than its previous M3 Ultra model. Configurations can reach 512GB of unified memory and 1.2TB/s of bandwidth, with Thunderbolt 5 connectivity; the 512GB configuration is scheduled for late October.

Prepare Before iPhone Pre-orders Open

Customers can bypass the opening-day rush by preparing by 9 a.m. PT on Friday, September 11. They can select an iPhone model, pair accessories, obtain leasing or financing pre-approval, and set up a trade-in. Saving the shopping bag should reduce the eventual purchase to one click when pre-orders open at 5 a.m. PT on September 12.

Shopping Help and Onboarding

Apple Specialists can help customers compare devices, review AppleCare+ or AppleCare One, explore carrier deals, and arrange home delivery or store pickup. In-store Personal Setup assists with secure data transfer. Free Today at Apple classes include “Say Hello to iPhone 18 Pro” and “Tips: What’s New on iOS 27,” giving new owners two structured ways to explore the launch software and hardware.

Coverage Across a Family

AppleCare One Family expands the U.S. AppleCare lineup to cover eligible products across a Family Sharing group. Beginning September 14, qualifying new purchases, upgrades, and existing family devices are covered automatically at no additional cost. The plan includes theft and loss protection for eligible iPhone, Apple Watch, and iPad devices, unlimited accident repairs, and 24/7 priority support.

Apple One Launch Offer

Eligible new and qualified returning iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max buyers can receive three months of Apple One. The service bundle includes up to six Apple services, such as Apple TV, Apple Music, and iCloud+ storage of up to 2TB, across multiple Apple devices. The offer begins September 17 in select countries and regions, with availability varying by location.

Trade-In Credit

Apple Trade In can provide $175 to $885 in instant credit when customers trade in an iPhone 13 or newer. The amount varies with the device’s year, configuration, and condition. Credit can reduce the upfront cost or lower monthly payments through Apple Upgrade, Apple Card Monthly Installments, or an eligible carrier offer.

Leasing Options

Apple Upgrade, provided by Klarna, offers 12- and 24-month iPhone and Apple Watch leases. Starting examples include $34.99 per month for a 24-month iPhone 18 Pro 256GB lease and $11.99 per month for a 24-month Apple Watch Series 12 42mm GPS lease, excluding taxes and trade-in credit. Mac Studio leases run for 24 or 36 months, starting at $48.99 per month for 36 months.

Carrier Deals and Apple Card Installments

Select AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon offers provide up to $1,200 in credit for trading in an iPhone 14 or newer in any condition. In the U.S., Apple Card Monthly Installments offer eligible purchases at 0 percent APR with 3 percent Daily Cash back upfront. Installments are combined into one balance in the Wallet app, subject to credit approval and applicable limits.

Launch Schedule at a Glance

The main deadlines are clear: preparation ends Friday, September 11, at 9 a.m. PT; iPhone 18 Pro pre-orders begin Saturday, September 12, at 5 a.m. PT; Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, and AirPods 5 arrive September 18; and Mac mini plus Mac Studio reach stores September 22.