[DigitalToday reporter Jinju Hong (홍진주)] Apple is expected to unveil three new iPhone models this week, including the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max and iPhone Ultra.

According to IT outlet 9to5Mac on Sept. 7 local time, this fall’s new iPhone lineup is likely to focus on premium models without a standard version.

The key is the debut of the iPhone Ultra. The iPhone Ultra is being discussed as Apple’s first foldable iPhone, and it has been suggested it could form a new top-tier lineup with a price above $2,000. The device is likely to fold like a book. The external display is expected to be about 5.4 inches and the internal display about 7.8 inches, a configuration close to the iPad mini.

Its authentication method could also differ from existing high-end iPhones. The iPhone Ultra is expected to include Touch ID instead of Face ID. It is expected to have two rear cameras, including a main camera and an ultra-wide camera, and one front camera each for the outer and inner displays.

Software features tailored to a foldable design were also highlighted. The iPhone Ultra is expected to support iOS 27 features such as multitasking that shows apps side by side and an adaptive layout for landscape viewing. The outlet pointed to this as an area where software would show particular strength on the device.

The iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max are being prepared as successors to the iPhone 17 Pro series. Both models are expected to include an A20 Pro chip, improving performance and power efficiency. Camera upgrades are expected, especially for the main camera. A variable aperture has also been mentioned as a possibility.

External design changes are also included. The Dynamic Island is expected to be 35 percent smaller than before. Burgundy was mentioned as a representative new color. Battery life is expected to be the best ever, with the iPhone 18 Pro Max seen as having a particularly large improvement. Other expected changes include a revamp of camera controls, an Apple-designed C2 cellular modem, and new satellite features including 5G.

Pricing is a variable for the Pro models. The iPhone 18 Pro’s starting price has been discussed as possibly rising. The outlet reported that while some forecasts put it at $1,399, it could in fact be closer to $1,199 or $1,249. Still, it remains a forecast until Apple announces official pricing.

A more notable point in this lineup is what is being dropped. Typically, the September event has included the base iPhone and a successor to the Air model, but it has been suggested that this year the standard iPhone 18 and iPhone Air 2 could be pushed to early 2027. Apple is reported to be reshaping its fall lineup.

Possible strategic adjustments were cited as background, along with the current memory crisis. It has not been confirmed whether the change is entirely a strategic decision or driven by supply-side needs. Even so, if standard and relatively lower-priced models are removed, sales of new iPhones this fall are expected to lean more toward premium demand.

In this context, the event could mark a turning point in gauging Apple’s second-half product strategy. That is because stronger Pro-line performance and cameras, the introduction of a foldable new product, and a gap in lower-priced models would converge at once. If the iPhone Ultra is actually unveiled, Apple will also begin testing a very high-priced iPhone market beyond the existing Pro Max.