September is usually iPhone season, but this year several Android brands are packing their very best hardware into the same four-week stretch, aiming to steal some of the spotlight. More than 20 phones are expected to launch this month alone, and here's a rundown of five of the biggest phone launches on the calendar for ...
September is usually iPhone season, but this year several Android brands are packing their very best hardware into the same four-week stretch, aiming to steal some of the spotlight. More than 20 phones are expected to launch this month alone, and here’s a rundown of five of the biggest phone launches on the calendar for September 2026.
Apple’s event is confirmed for September 9, and this one looks different from past years. There won’t be a standard iPhone 18, but Apple could unveil its first foldable phone, rumored to carry the iPhone Ultra name.
The iPhone 18 Pro and 18 Pro Max are confirmed for the event, featuring a new A20 Pro chip built on TSMC’s 2nm process, along with Apple’s own C2 modem in place of a Qualcomm modem. Camera upgrades may include a variable-aperture main sensor, a brighter telephoto lens, and a new 12MP selfie camera. The Pro models could also get a smaller Dynamic Island, since Face ID components have reportedly been moved further under the display, and the Pro Max’s battery capacity could climb to 5500mAh.
The bigger story, though, is Apple’s expected entry into the foldable market with the iPhone Ultra, or whatever name it ends up carrying. It’s expected to launch alongside the 18 Pro models, reportedly with a 7.3-inch inner screen and a 5.3-inch cover screen. The device could use Touch ID built into the power button and may skip a telephoto lens on its dual rear camera setup.
Oppo’s Find X10 series is confirmed to launch in China this month with major upgrades. The lineup includes a new Find X10 Pro Max alongside the standard Find X10 and Find X10 Pro, while an Ultra model is rumored to arrive early next year.
Cameras are the headline feature for the Find X10 series: the Pro Max is confirmed to pack three 200MP sensors, while the standard and Pro models could use two 200MP sensors each, with the series aiming for realistic, natural image rendering rather than artificial-looking results. The Find X9 Pro is likely to feature the new Dimensity 9600 chip and an 8000mAh battery, while the Pro Max variant may get the more capable Dimensity 9600 Pro chipset and an even larger 8500mAh battery.
Vivo’s X500 lineup is confirmed for a China launch this month across three models: the X500, X500 Pro, and X500 Pro Max. All three get Zeiss-tuned cameras, while the Pro and Pro Max add upgraded telephoto cameras with improved autofocus and subject tracking.
Camera performance is central to the X500’s pitch, and the series is positioned to compete directly with Oppo’s Find X10 lineup. The X500 Pro Max is confirmed to carry a 200MP Zeiss APO super telephoto camera with 4x in-sensor zoom, while the X500 Pro gets a 64MP Zeiss APO telephoto camera with an 85mm focal length. The series reportedly supports 4K recording at up to 240 fps and 4K HDR recording at 120 fps. Vivo could also unveil the X500 Ultra and X500e later on, though neither has been officially confirmed.
The iQOO 16 could also launch in China this month. Unlike Oppo’s and Vivo’s phones on this list, iQOO leans heavily on performance and uses Qualcomm silicon, with the upcoming iQOO 16 expected to feature a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chip.
Performance may be the focus, but the iQOO 16 is also getting notable camera upgrades, including a bigger 1/1.3-inch main sensor with a larger f/1.68 aperture and a selfie camera reportedly upgraded to 50MP. The phone is expected to pack a larger battery above 7000mAh along with fast charging above 100W.
Xiaomi is holding multiple launch events in China this month. The first, on September 7, will introduce the Xiaomi 18 Fold, featuring the company’s newest Xring O3 chip paired with next-generation LPDDR6 RAM. The device is reportedly getting a 7.6-inch foldable screen, a 6000mAh battery, 67W wired charging, 50W wireless charging, and a 200MP primary camera.
Later this month, Xiaomi will launch the Xiaomi 18 Pro series in China. The Pro models could be among the first smartphones to ship with Qualcomm’s newest Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 6 Pro chip, and both are expected to offer dual 200MP rear cameras along with 100W fast charging support.
Google Pixel 11 Pro
Luiza Mosneagu is Reviews Editor at Droid Tools. A psychologist by training and tech writer by passion, she has tested over 60 Android devices since 2020 - always for a minimum of two weeks before writing a word. Her focus is camera quality, everyday usability, and cutting through marketing claims to tell you what a device is actually like to live with.
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