Apple's Sept 10 Event Is Official: With a Rumored NT$60,000 Foldable iPhone Ultra, Should You Wait or Buy Current Stock Now?

While tracking open-box and refurbished market prices on Shopee in our backend recently, I noticed something pretty interesting: even though the iPhone 17 series hasn't even been out for a full year, prices across secondhand and open-box channels have already dropped to seriously tempting levels. Right on cue, Apple dropped some official news of its own. In late August, they officially announced their fall keynote, dubbed "Surprise and shine," scheduled for September 10 at 1:00 AM (Taiwan time). The event itself isn't a rumor—it's locked onto Apple's official calendar. What's generating the most buzz, though, is that the long-rumored first foldable iPhone might finally make its debut. That said, let's be real: Apple has only announced the start time. The full product lineup, official naming, and final pricing won't be set in stone until the keynote wraps up. Since I happen to have a batch of current in-stock models on hand for comparison, I figured I'd break down all the circulating rumors alongside current market pricing in one comprehensive guide.

If you want to tune in live, the official stream will be hosted at apple.com/apple-events, and it'll also be broadcast simultaneously on Apple's official YouTube channel and the Apple TV app. Over the past few years, the official stream page has offered live closed captions, which will likely be available this time as well, though the exact language options won't be confirmed until the page goes live on event day. Starting at 1:00 AM Taiwan time isn't exactly convenient for most people, but Apple always keeps the full replay on its website afterward, so catching up the next morning won't put you behind on any of the details.

First, here's an easily overlooked detail: leaks from multiple foreign tech outlets have focused almost entirely on the iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, and this foldable model. There's been virtually no concrete word circulating about a standard base iPhone 18. That means if you're just looking for a straightforward, no-fuss standard model that's "good enough," this event might not bring any new options for you at all, making current in-stock models your only real path. It's only if you're targeting a Pro-tier device or the foldable that waiting for this event actually makes sense.

The outside world typically refers to this foldable as the "iPhone Ultra," though that's purely media and supply-chain talk—Apple has never confirmed the name. Rumored specs point to a book-style horizontal fold, with an outer cover screen measuring roughly 5.3 to 5.5 inches when closed, and an inner folding display around 7.7 to 7.8 inches when unfolded, utilizing a next-generation hinge design to minimize the crease as much as possible. Rumored pricing starts at around $2,000 to $2,500. Converted to local pricing, the 256GB version is expected to land around NT$ (New Taiwan Dollar) 63,000, with the 512GB approaching NT$70,000, and the 1TB topping NT$76,000. Bloomberg specifically noted that because hinge manufacturing costs came in lower than expected, the actual launch price could be adjusted downward by another $100 to $120, though these are still rough estimates. Putting this in perspective against the current iPhone 17 Pro: the official 256GB retail price is NT$39,900, meaning the rumored foldable would cost about 1.6 times as much—not the "double the price" rumor floating around. While that's certainly a hefty premium, it's not quite as absurd as some made it sound.

(Image credit: Apple official press release, "In the Loop" keynote teaser visual)

My personal take is simple: if you have the budget and want to experience Apple's biggest smartphone redesign in over a decade, hold out for this keynote and go straight for the new hardware. The significance here is completely different from waiting on a routine iterative refresh; the last shift of this magnitude was back in 2017 when the iPhone X dropped the Home button. The extra budget buys you the first-year experience of an entirely new form factor. But waiting also carries real-world risks that need to be laid out upfront. Whenever Apple introduces a brand-new form factor, initial supply is notoriously tight. On top of that, manufacturing yields for flexible OLED displays and mechanical hinges are inherently trickier to manage than standard phones. The odds of missing out on the initial launch batch and having to wait for wave two are fairly high. If your current phone is on its last legs and you need a replacement right away, you have to factor in that waiting time.

If a folding display feels more like a nice-to-have novelty rather than an essential upgrade, you don't need to force yourself onto the bandwagon. There's a very practical camp on PTT: some users noted they're currently on an iPhone 13 Pro and feel comfortable stretching it another year before jumping to a foldable. Plenty of people plan to hold onto their current phones and wait to see how first-gen real-world reviews shake out rather than rushing to be day-one early adopters. It's true that modern iPhones don't depreciate nearly as sharply as they did in the early years; practical lifespans regularly extend across three to four generations or more. With Apple keeping a tight grip on supply, market prices hold remarkably firm. Buying an in-stock model right now isn't settling—it's locking in more than enough performance at a relatively stable price point.

(Image credit: Apple official press release, iPhone 17 Pro camera module close-up)

Here's a breakdown of current market pricing for comparison. But first, a quick word of advice: before placing an order on open-box or secondhand units, always make sure the seller clearly specifies the warranty coverage—is it original Apple warranty or store-backed coverage? Also, insist on actual screenshots showing battery health percentage. Every batch varies, so there's no single blanket number to go by; sorting this out beforehand prevents nasty surprises later. When choosing a seller, prioritize established specialty shops that have racked up thousands of completed transactions—just like the listings linked below—and order using Shopee's built-in 7-day inspection period protection. If a storefront has single-digit or zero sales records, tread very carefully with negotiating and inspection, no matter how tempting the price tag looks. If you want top-tier camera capabilities and performance without paying full brand-new retail, refurbished iPhone 17 Pro units currently hover around NT$37,000, saving you nearly NT$3,000 off Apple's NT$39,900 official new price. What really surprised me is the iPhone 16 Pro Max: packing the same 6.9-inch display and titanium build of the Pro Max tier, open-box pricing has dropped to around NT$32,000—NT$1,000 cheaper than an open-box base iPhone 17 (NT$33,000). Let's be clear about the trade-offs here: the iPhone 17 is this year's base model, featuring a newer chassis design and newer silicon, but it only comes with a dual-camera array—no telephoto lens. The iPhone 16 Pro Max may be from the previous generation, but its positioning was last year's top-tier flagship: you get the full triple-camera setup with telephoto and the premium titanium chassis. In day-to-day use, you'll barely notice any performance gap compared to the newer generation. If what you care about is camera versatility and a massive display rather than chasing the absolute newest SoC, the 16 Pro Max is hands down the smarter deal at this price. If you're working with an even tighter budget, the iPhone 15 Pro Max's titanium build and 5x optical telephoto lens still hold up remarkably well today. Secondhand prices sit around NT$29,000, making it the most affordable entry point to the Pro Max tier right now. The downside is older silicon, which leaves slightly less headroom for heavy mobile gaming or multi-year longevity, so you'll have to weigh that yourself. For those wanting a sleek, lightweight experience without waiting for the foldable, open-box iPhone Air units are going for around NT$34,000. At 5.6mm, it's currently the thinnest model available, offering an early taste of Apple's recent push toward ultra-slim industrial design.

When it comes down to it, this decision really boils down to two simple questions: first, is your budget comfortable enough for you to gamble on first-generation foldable yields and supply constraints? Second, if not, what do you actually prioritize—camera performance, a massive screen, or premium chassis feel? Once you've clarified those two points, you can pick straight from the well-priced in-stock models listed below—I've rounded up all the pricing and links right down here.