Of everything Apple announced on September 9, three things reach customers before the end of the month: the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max from $1,199, AirPods 5 from $129, and the free iOS 27 update. The iPhone Duo and both new Apple Watches do not.
That split matters if you are deciding where to spend this month. Apple’s press releases give firm dates only for the Pro phones, the earbuds and the software, while the foldable is an October product according to keynote coverage and the Watches have no dates at all.
| Product | Price | Pre-order | In stores |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 18 Pro | From $1,199 (256GB) | Sept. 12, 5 a.m. PT | Sept. 18 |
| iPhone 18 Pro Max | From $1,299 (256GB) | Sept. 12, 5 a.m. PT | Sept. 18 |
| AirPods 5 | $129 | Sept. 9 | Sept. 18 |
| AirPods 5 with Wireless Charging Case | $149 | Sept. 9 | Sept. 18 |
| iPhone 18 Pro cases and wrist strap | Not published | Announced with the phones | Not published |
| iOS 27 | Free | n/a | Sept. 14 |
Apple listed an updated Clear Case, silicone case, FineWoven case and a wrist strap alongside the iPhone 18 Pro, but did not give separate prices or dates for them in the release.
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iPhone 18 Pro: pre-order Saturday, delivery the following Friday
Pre-orders open Saturday, September 12 at 5 a.m. PT, and the phones arrive Friday, September 18 in more than 65 countries and regions, with 20 more countries following on September 25. Apple also offers the Pro at $49.95 a month and the Pro Max at $54.12 a month over 24 months.
Both models come in Black, Silver, Glacier and Burgundy, in 256GB, 512GB, 1TB and 2TB. Apple has not published the prices of the higher storage tiers, so budget planning above 256GB will have to wait for the Store to open, as we discussed in our pre-order expectations guide.
AirPods 5: on sale now, in stores September 18
AirPods 5 are the only new hardware you can order today. Both the $129 model and the $149 Wireless Charging Case model reach stores on Friday, September 18 in the US and more than 65 countries, the same day as the phones.
The headline feature is Active Noise Cancellation on an open-ear design, which Apple says removes up to 50 percent more noise than AirPods 4 with ANC. Hands-free Siri AI on the earbuds needs iOS 27 and an Apple Intelligence iPhone, so the software update below is part of the package.
iOS 27 arrives September 14 at no cost
iOS 27 lands on Monday, September 14, four days before the phones. It brings Siri AI in beta in English, with French, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese and Spanish due in October, plus Image Playground with photorealistic images, Safari Notify Me and carrier-dependent iPhone Handoff.
Apple has not published the iOS 27 device compatibility list, so check your model before counting on it.
What you cannot buy before October
- iPhone Duo: about $2,000 and an October release, according to the keynote. Apple has not opened pre-orders or published a press release. Our iPhone Duo preview covers what was reported before the event.
- Apple Watch Series 12 and Ultra 4: announced with a ceramic case option and longer battery life respectively, but Apple has not given prices or dates.
- A standard iPhone 18, iPhone 18e or iPhone Air 2: not announced, with reports pointing to spring 2027.
- New Macs or an Apple Watch SE: not announced.
If your purchase is time-sensitive, the September 12 pre-order window for the Pro models is the next date to watch, and the Apple event live blog has the rest of what was shown.