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Just hours before the keynote, 37 new device identifiers appeared in Apple's backend. Seven of them belong to iPhones – one more than previous rumors suggested for the upcoming lineup. The numbers for the other product groups are similarly generous.
The entries were discovered by developer Aaron Perris, who published the complete list on X. Apple assigns such identifiers before the corresponding devices are publicly available – they appear in system files and backend services and can be assigned to individual product families, but not to specific model names.
The same systematic approach had recently provided a clue to the next generation of the streaming box, when a previously unknown identifier appeared in its system code. The current discovery is significantly more extensive.
Key Facts at a Glance
- 37 new hardware identifiers have appeared in Apple's backend, spread across six product groups.
- Seven identifiers are for iPhones, although rumors only mention six models.
- Nine entries concern Macs, eight iPads, nine the Apple Watch, one Apple TV, and three fall into Apple's category for household accessories.
- Identifiers prove that a device is registered – not when or if it appears.
- The number in the identifier is not a model designation.
How the 37 entries are distributed
| Product group | New identifiers |
|---|---|
| Mac | 9 |
| Apple Watch | 9 |
| iPad | 8 |
| iPhone | 7 |
| HomeAccessory | 3 |
| Apple TV | 1 |
The total is exactly right: the six groups together make up the 37 entries, so no category is missing from the list.
However, the numbers don't reveal the total number of devices. Nine identifiers for the Apple Watch across two expected model lines result from the fact that each case size and each wireless variant is listed separately. The situation is similar for Macs, as the same model series with different chip configurations each receives its own entry.
The seventh iPhone identifier
The block of entries for iPhones is interesting: it contains seven consecutive entries under the same generation number. However, current rumors only mention six models – three of which are expected this evening, the other three not until spring.
Two explanations seem plausible, but neither is confirmed. Either the additional entry refers to a variant of one of the six models, perhaps with different mobile network specifications for specific markets. Or there is a seventh device that has yet to be revealed. The information gathered so far about the three models expected today can be found in the overview of the upcoming Pro series.
Important for interpreting such findings: The number in the identifier is not a product name. Apple uses a different numbering system internally than in marketing, and the entries that have now surfaced belong to the series marketed as the iPhone 18.
A bunch of upcoming Apple device identifiers have been found on Apple's backend. Interestingly, there are 7 iPhone models listed. We only know about 6.
— Aaron (@aaronp613) September 8, 2026
iPhone 19.1
iPhone 19.2
iPhone 19.3
iPhone 19.4
iPhone 19.5
iPhone 19.6
iPhone 19.7
Mac17,10
Mac17,11
Mac17,12
Mac17,13
Mac18,1
Mac18,2…
Which devices can be assigned
Some of the listings correspond to products that Apple is known to be working on. These include the expected Apple Watch Series 12, a redesigned iMac with an M6 chip, and the iPad mini 8 with an OLED screen. The three listings in the accessories category align with reports of a smart home hub.
The rest remain unassigned. An identifier says nothing about the state of a device – it can be created months before a launch, and Apple has in the past maintained entries for products that were never released.
What tonight's find is worth
The timing is what really tells us. Such entries are created when the server is being prepared for delivery – and the fact that the list is so extensive less than 24 hours before the keynote at 7:00 PM CEST suggests that there's more to come than just the three expected iPhones.
We expect that the majority of the Mac and iPad announcements won't be resolved tonight, but rather spread out over the coming months. Backend preparation regularly precedes the presentation, and Apple has already hinted at devices this year that won't be unveiled on stage. This will only become clear once the announcements themselves are made.
Which of the 37 devices do you think it will be – the seventh iPhone model or just a regional variant? Share your guess in the comments before the keynote.
