New Apple CEO John Ternus Touts 'Huge Launch' Ahead of September 9 iPhone Event

In his first public communication as Apple's chief executive, John Ternus told staff that the company's upcoming product event will be "huge" and "phenomenal," as the company prepares for its annual September launch. Ternus, who has succeeded Tim Cook, is set to take the stage for the first time as CEO at the event on September 9.

The memo, sent to employees on Tuesday, was reported by Bloomberg and comes just days before the event in which Ternus is expected to outline his vision for the company's future.

A New Era at Apple

Ternus steps into the role from his previous position as senior vice president of Hardware Engineering, entering the top job at a pivotal time for the company. He now leads Apple after fifteen years under Tim Cook's leadership.

In his memo, Ternus expressed confidence in the company's trajectory. "We have a huge launch next week that’s going to be phenomenal," he wrote, according to Bloomberg. "I’m just as excited about what lies beyond that, including the incredible products already in the works and the ones we haven’t even imagined yet that we’ll dream up and create together."

The memo sets an anticipatory tone for the September 9 event, which will be livestreamed from Apple's headquarters in Cupertino, California.

What to Expect on September 9

The company has announced that its annual iPhone launch event, tagged "Surprise and Shine," will take place on September 9. While Apple traditionally reveals new hardware at this time, this year's event is generating particular interest as it will be the first major product launch under the new CEO.

The live stream, which will be available across Apple platforms including its website and YouTube channel, is scheduled to begin at 10:30 PM IST and could last between one and two hours, according to Business Today.

During the event, Ternus is expected to introduce the next-generation iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. There is also speculation, as reported by Business Today, that Apple may use the occasion to unveil its first-ever foldable device, the iPhone Ultra, which would represent a major new product category under Ternus's leadership.

Alongside the new phones, the event could feature updates to its accessories lineup, including the Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, AirPods, and various Apple Home devices, as reported by Business Today.

Siri AI and Future Products

In addition to hardware, the company is expected to roll out its new and improved Siri AI more broadly, positioning the voice assistant as a stronger competitor to AI chatbots like OpenAI's ChatGPT and Anthropic's Claude, as reported by TechCrunch.

Apple is also being reported by TechCrunch to be working on several other new product categories, including camera-equipped AirPods, smart glasses, and a touchscreen laptop, suggesting a busy product roadmap beyond the immediate event.

Outlook

As Ternus prepares to deliver his first keynote as CEO, the technology world will be watching closely. The event represents a chance for the new leader to stamp his authority on the company's direction, with expectations high for both a successful event and a look at what the future holds under his tenure.