Apple will announce the iPhone 18 this week – here’s how ZDNET readers think it’ll go down

Ahead of Apple’s September iPhone event, we asked readers to predict the details of its upcoming product announcements, with each correct guess earning an entry into our drawing for the new Apple Watch. There has been no shortage of rumors this year when it comes to a foldable iPhone, touchscreen MacBooks, and Siri upgrades, and we wanted to know what you thought.

Also: Apple’s September event: A foldable iPhone and 3 other surprises we expect

The number one rumor swirling around is a foldable iPhone, and there’s evidence to suggest it’s actually happening this year. But the foldable market is more competitive than ever, so nothing is off the table. There’s still a lot we don’t know, but our readers had some strong opinions. Here are some of the results of our poll.

Q: Which celebrity will appear at Apple’s September event?

We must have more Swiftie ZDNET readers than we thought. 7% of respondents think we’ll see a guest appearance by Taylor Swift at the upcoming iPhone event. While the American pop star has never performed at an actual event, she was named Apple Music’s Artist of the Year in 2023 and has participated in various smaller Apple events over the years.

Last year, viral YouTube creator MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) made an appearance at the iPhone event, while DuaLipa acted as the product ambassador, appearing in promos for the iPhone 17 Pro. For this year, readers’ other celebrity predictions include former Apple CEO Tim Cook, new CEO John Ternus, and… Tom Cruise?

Q: What will the name of the foldable iPhone be?

This is a big one, because it comes down to how Apple plans to market the phone. Is it a feature tacked on to the Pro or Pro Max models? Or is it something totally new?

Responses were split when it comes to what the new foldable iPhone will be called. It was almost even between the “iPhone Pro Fold” and the “iPhone Ultra”, the former which would fit neatly into Apple’s existing naming conventions. The “iPhone Ultra” moniker, however, could imply Apple is launching an all-new product line.

Interestingly, the largest amount of respondents said it would be something else entirely — not convinced that the “Ultra” or “Pro Fold” are likely directions Apple will be going. In that case, it would be something entirely different.

Q: If Apple announces a touchscreen MacBook, what will the starting price be?

Our readers are realists. 41% of respondents said if there’s a touchscreen MacBook, it will cost upwards of $2 grand. This checks out, with Apple’s recent price hikes across the board. This is particularly true with high-end MacBook Pro models, which is where we’d most likely see a touchscreen should Apple actually launch it.

Surprise & Shine: September 9, 2026

We’ve gone through three rounds of our Big Guessing Game — that’s five questions in each round — for a total of 15. If you got all 15 right, that would be the maximum number of entries into the drawing. But even just one correct answer is technically still enough to win.

Also: Apple’s M5 Ultra is its most powerful chip ever – with 4x faster AI performance than M3 Ultra

Now, we just wait to see what Apple actually announces. The official event, dubbed “Surprise & Shine”, goes live on Wednesday, September 9th, at 10 am PST (that’s 1 pm EST) in Cupertino, CA. You can tune in on Apple’s official YouTube page.