Apple 'Surprise and Shine' September 9 Event Confirmed: Watch Series 12, Ultra 4, AirPods 5 Among Six Products

Apple officially confirmed its September 9 keynote with invitations sent August 26 under the tagline "Surprise and shine." The event will stream live at 10:00 AM Pacific Time, with six products expected to be announced — three of which are wearables.

Wearable Products Expected

• Apple Watch Series 12: The return of the ceramic case is confirmed by multiple leakers. Blood pressure monitoring via an eight-sensor array is reportedly awaiting FDA clearance. Better battery life is a confirmed focus, with Apple increasing the physical battery size. Starting price expected near $399.
• Apple Watch Ultra 4: The rugged model is expected to gain significantly more sensors than the current Ultra 3. Possible Touch ID integration and multi-day battery life. Price expected to hold at $799.
• AirPods 5: Two models — standard and ANC — discovered in macOS 26.7 code as B868M and B868E. This is the first AirPods update since September 2024 — the longest gap between generations in AirPods history.

Non-Wearable Announcements

Apple will also unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, plus the company's first foldable iPhone, reportedly named "iPhone Ultra." These set the platform for watchOS 13 and the AirPods 5 ecosystem integration.

Pre-Order Timeline

Based on Apple's consistent cadence, pre-orders for all new products are expected to open on Friday, September 12, with in-store availability on Friday, September 19.

What Buyers Should Do Now

With the event just 11 days away, do not buy an Apple Watch or AirPods at full price right now. Current-gen pricing will drop immediately after the announcement:

• The Apple Watch Series 11 at $300 will likely fall further
• The Apple Watch Ultra 3 at $640 should see its first significant discounts
• The AirPods Pro 3 at $199 are already discounted — a safe buy now since the AirPods 5 won't replace the Pro line

Browse all options in our smartwatch guide and earbuds guide.