Apple’s upcoming “Surprise and Shine” event on September 9 marks a significant milestone as the technology giant’s first major product launch under newly appointed CEO John Ternus. The shift in leadership, combined with the event’s intriguing tagline, has generated considerable speculation about what announcements lie ahead. To gauge public expectations, Mashable conducted a reader survey ahead of the keynote, revealing telling insights about anticipated product developments and pricing strategies.
The survey results demonstrate widespread concern about rising device costs. A substantial 77 percent of respondents predict the iPhone 18 Pro Max will command a higher starting price than its predecessor, with the audience split between expectations of a $100 or $200 increase. Only 16 percent of respondents remain optimistic that pricing will remain unchanged from the current model. Industry observers attribute potential price increases to ongoing global memory shortages affecting consumer electronics across multiple categories.
Beyond pricing concerns, reader predictions varied on other anticipated announcements. Regarding CEO Ternus’s first appearance, half of respondents expect him to debut on stage, departing from Apple’s recent practice of avoiding traditional keynote presentations. Additionally, 65 percent of survey participants believe former CEO Tim Cook will make some appearance during the event, suggesting readers anticipate a formal transition moment. Speculation continues regarding a potential foldable iPhone model, with the device’s official designation remaining uncertain as recent rumors reference it as the iPhone Duo.
Originally reported by Mashable →
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