John Ternus posts cryptic video just hours before his first major Apple event as CEO
David Joseppi
Posted On 09/09/2026 
Apple CEO John Ternus has added to the anticipation surrounding today’s ‘Surprise and shine’ event by sharing a mysterious video just hours before he is due to take the stage for his first major product launch as the company’s chief executive.
The short video, shared by Ternus on social media, offers few clues about exactly what Apple has planned. Its timing, however, is notable. Apple is expected to introduce one of its most significant iPhone lineups in years later today, with the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max expected alongside the company’s first foldable iPhone.
The video arrives shortly before Ternus leads his first major Apple keynote since succeeding Tim Cook as CEO at the beginning of September.
That makes today’s event about more than Apple’s next round of hardware. It will also offer the clearest look yet at how Ternus intends to present Apple and its products as chief executive after spending years as one of the company’s most prominent hardware executives.
— John Ternus (@johnternus) September 9, 2026
The headline announcement is expected to be Apple’s first foldable iPhone, which recent reports suggest could be called iPhone Duo. The device is rumored to start at around $2,000 and feature a book-style folding design, a large internal display, Apple Pencil support and multitasking features designed to take advantage of the additional screen space.
Apple is also expected to unveil the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, with rumored upgrades including the A20 Pro chip, a significantly smaller Dynamic Island, camera improvements and faster charging. New Apple Watch and AirPods models are also among the products expected to appear.
Ternus’ decision to post a deliberately vague teaser shortly before the presentation is likely to fuel speculation that Apple may still have something unexpected planned despite the unusually large number of leaks that have emerged in the final days before the event.
Apple’s ‘Surprise and shine’ event begins today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time, or 6:00 p.m. in the UK.
