With less than 24 hours to go until Apple’s "Surprise and Shine" event, the company appears to be preparing its back end for upcoming devices. Apple added nearly 40 new hardware identifiers to its backend just hours before the September 9 broadcast. The event, streaming at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, will feature new CEO John Ternus taking center stage for his first major keynote.
Apple is hosting this online streaming event for both the public and the press to debut its major 2026 products. For viewers in other time zones, the broadcast kicks off at 7:00 a.m. HST in Honolulu, Hawaii, and 9:00 a.m. AKDT in Anchorage, Alaska.
Backend Updates Reveal New Devices
Spotted on X by Aaron Perris, the backend update includes seven distinct iPhone identifiers. Apple has also added new hardware identifiers for iPads, Macs, and other devices, some of which could be announced as soon as tomorrow. The Mac list specifically features identifiers ranging from Mac17,10 through Mac18,2.
Interestingly, current rumors suggest only three iPhones—the iPhone 18 Pro, the iPhone 18 Pro Max, and the iPhone Ultra—will debut tomorrow. The remaining models, which rumors point to as the standard iPhone 18, iPhone Air 2, and iPhone 18e, are expected to launch early next year.
Because the public only knows of six rumored models, the discovery of seven iPhone identifiers (labeled iPhone19,1 through iPhone19,7) suggests an unexpected hardware variant is in the works. Apple is also expected to announce its first foldable iPhone alongside new Apple Watch models, and potentially AirPods 5 and other products during the presentation, which has also been dubbed "Sunshine and Shine".
How to Watch
The "Surprise and Shine" event will be available to stream live across multiple platforms. Viewers can watch the broadcast on the Apple Events website, YouTube, or through the Apple TV app.
Apple plans to stream the event live on YouTube, which is considered the easiest and most efficient viewing method. The YouTube live stream can be viewed across virtually all platforms, including smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, and smart TVs. Apple has already posted a placeholder for the September 9 event on YouTube, allowing fans to set an event reminder right now.
Alternatively, viewers can tune in using the Apple TV app. Apple previously offered a dedicated Apple Events app, but this was folded directly into the Apple TV app ahead of WWDC 2020. On event day, a prominent live stream section will appear on any device where the Apple TV app is available. The company notes this remains one of the best ways to experience the keynote if you own an Apple TV.