iPhone 18 Pro, Vivo X500 series and 3 more: Top smartphones launching in September

September is set to be a busy month for smartphone launches, with the iPhone 18 Pro, Vivo X500 series, Redmi Note 17 Pro and more expected to arrive. Here are the top five smartphones to watch out for.

In Short

• iPhone 18 Pro series may bring major camera and display upgrades
• Redmi Note 17 Pro series could pack massive batteries
• Xiaomi 18 Fold will debut with the new Xring O3 chipset

August has already given plenty of talks around the launches of smartphones. Most notably, Google’s Pixel 11 series, which kicked off the month with a new Tensor G6 chipset, powerful cameras and AI features. But if you are one who follows the smartphone market quite closely, then you’d have already known that September is set to come with an even bigger wave of launches and the iPhone 18 Pro series is going to be one of the biggest highlights among them.

Beyond the new iPhones, the month is set to witness launches across notable brands, including Vivo, Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco. So, from Apple's iPhone 18 Pro series to Vivo's camera-focused X500 lineup and Xiaomi's first book-style foldable, there is something for almost every kind of smartphone buyer and for every kind of segment. Here are the five phones and series that could steal the spotlight in September.

iPhone 18 Pro series

Apple's iPhone 18 Pro series is likely to be one of the biggest smartphone launches of the month. The company is expected to hold its launch event on September 9, although Apple has not officially confirmed the date yet.

The iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max are expected to bring upgrades to both the display and cameras. Apple is reportedly working on moving some Face ID components under the display, which could make the Dynamic Island smaller.

The Pro models are also tipped to get a new camera sensor and variable aperture technology. The latter could allow the camera to control how much light enters the lens, although reports suggest it may be exclusive to the iPhone 18 Pro Max. Both models are expected to run on Apple's A20 Pro chip.

Apart from the traditional Pro models, iPhone fans are particularly excited about something new that Apple is expected to unveil. Currently referred to as the iPhone 18 Fold or iPhone 18 Ultra, the device is expected to feature a book-style design with a large inner display and a slimmer outer screen. It could sit above the Pro Max in Apple's lineup, making it the company's most expensive iPhone yet. However, details about its launch timing and specifications remain limited.

Redmi Note 17 Pro and Note 17 Pro Max

Redmi is also preparing to enter the September launch rush with the Note 17 Pro and Note 17 Pro Max. The global Redmi Note 17 series is set to debut on August 27, while the two Pro models are tipped to launch in India on September 15.

The new phones are expected to focus heavily on two things that smartphone buyers love: big screens and even bigger batteries. The Note 17 Pro is tipped to feature a 6.83-inch 1.5K 120Hz AMOLED display and a 9,000mAh battery with 67W charging.

The Pro Max could go even further with a 10,000mAh battery and 100W charging. However, buyers may have to pay more this time, with the new Pro models expected to cost around Rs 5,000 to Rs 8,000 more than the previous generation.

Vivo X500 series

Vivo is skipping the X400 name and jumping straight to the X500 series, thanks to tetraphobia, the practice of avoiding the number four in parts of East Asia because its pronunciation is associated with death.

The X500, X500 Pro and X500 Pro Max are expected to arrive in China in September, with cameras being the biggest focus this time.

The Pro models are set to feature a new Zeiss Super Dynamic main camera with Vivo's BluePrint Guangyu 900 sensor. The 50-megapixel sensor is claimed to offer up to 17EV of dynamic range, while the phones will support 4K 240fps slow-motion and 4K 120fps HDR video. The Pro Max is also expected to feature 3-degree OIS for gimbal-like stabilisation.

Xiaomi 18 Fold

Xiaomi is finally getting serious about book-style foldables. The company has confirmed that the Xiaomi 18 Fold will launch in China in September and will be the first device to feature its new Xring O3 chipset.

The foldable will be joined by the Xiaomi Pad 9 Pro Max, with both devices using the company's new flagship SoC. Xiaomi claims the Xring O3 has crossed 5.22 million points on AnTuTu, making its debut in the 18 Fold particularly interesting.

The exact launch date is still under wraps, but Xiaomi has already started teasing the device.

Poco F9 series

Poco is also preparing a powerful comeback with the Poco F9 Pro and F9 Ultra. Leaked specifications suggest both phones could pack the Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, up to 16GB of RAM and 100W charging.

The F9 Pro is tipped to feature a 6.59-inch 185Hz AMOLED display, a 200-megapixel main camera and a 50-megapixel telephoto camera. The F9 Ultra could go bigger with a 6.9-inch display and a 50-megapixel periscope telephoto camera offering 5x optical zoom.

With five major launches lined up, September could easily turn out to be one of the busiest months of 2026 for smartphone fans.

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