The largest day of the tech world’s fall calendar is sort of right here: Apple’s iPhone 16 occasion will happen someday in September. The corporate usually does it on a Tuesday in the course of the first half of the month, so September 10 is a protected wager. Regardless of when it occurs, we’ll be live-blogging the information, and you’ll watch it reside through the corporate’s web site or on YouTube. The largest information from the occasion will nearly positively contain the forthcoming lineup of iPhone 16 handsets. Previous as prologue, we’ll additionally get a brand new Apple Watch or two.
Past that, rumors have been swirling a couple of refresh of the usual AirPod earbuds. Till Tim Prepare dinner takes the (digital) stage, nevertheless, every part is pure hypothesis. With that stated, let’s get into the probably leaks and rumors forward of the occasion.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Professional
It doesn’t matter what else occurs, these new handsets will take middle stage in the course of the Apple iPhone 16 occasion. That’s excellent news for folks prepared for an improve. The dangerous (ish) information? The overwhelming majority of leaks and rumors point out that this can be one other year of iterative improvements, so don’t anticipate a game-changing new {hardware} function.
There’s more likely to be 4 new fashions introduced on the occasion, which is analogous to what Apple did final 12 months. The brand new telephones will allegedly be known as the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Professional and 16 Professional Max, based on trade analyst Mark Gurman. That is the very same naming conference as final 12 months’s iPhone 15 reveal, so the rumors of Apple adopting an “iPhone Extremely” moniker seem to have been greatly exaggerated.
Even when Apple does not use the Extremely naming, the Professional fashions could be getting barely bigger screens, which is all the time good (when you like huge telephones, that’s). The common Professional is more likely to transfer to six.3 inches from 6.1 inches, whereas the Professional Max ought to hit 6.9 inches, a rise from 6.7 inches. Lastly, there’ll possible be a brand new coloration or two, as all the time. Bloomberg’s Gurman means that Apple is able to ditch the blue mannequin in favor of the return of rose gold.
On the {hardware} aspect of issues, search for a brand new chipset that takes benefit of the corporate’s latest push towards AI, also known as Apple Intelligence. Past that, the upgraded A18 chip can be an iterative enchancment, specs-wise. As is typical, the Professional and Professional Max will possible get a extra highly effective chip than the usual fashions. It appears like the bottom quantity of RAM right here can be 8GB, in order to deal with these aforementioned AI duties.
It’s additionally been rumored that the usual iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will get the Motion Button, a function introduced last year for the iPhone 15 Professional and Professional Max. This multi-purpose button is a direct substitute for the mute swap, by default, however will be adjusted to regulate a bunch of various issues. The Motion Button can be utilized to to vary ringer settings, activate the flashlight, launch the digicam and extra.
There’s additionally discuss of one other new button, this one on the suitable aspect of the telephone. This can management digicam options, operating like a button on a DSLR. Reporting signifies {that a} comfortable press will set off autofocus and a tougher press will take a photograph. Customers can also have the ability to swipe alongside the button to zoom out and in whereas taking pictures pictures or taking movies. It’s been reported that this digicam button will solely include the Professional and Professional Max, which is smart because the high-end fashions usually supply a extra strong digicam expertise.
To that finish, new iPhones all the time get a digicam spec bump, however we don’t know precisely what that may appear like this time. It’s been reported, nevertheless, that the iPhone 16’s digicam module might be getting a design refresh. Apple could be ditching the sq. and going with a vertical orientation. This would possibly solely apply to the bottom iPhone 16 and perhaps the Plus, because the Professional and Professional Max telephones have a tendency to position a a lot increased emphasis on pictures and movies.
We already know what’s approaching the software program aspect of issues, due to the recent WWDC event. Primarily based on earlier years, iOS 18 must be accessible inside the week following the occasion. The software program replace encompasses a extra customizable Management Heart and Residence Display screen. It’s going to additionally finally bring RCS support to iPhones.
As for Apple Intelligence, you’ll have to attend a bit. It was introduced as a part of iOS 18, nevertheless it’s been delayed until iOS 18.1. This isn’t an enormous deal, as that OS refresh is predicted in October, however does imply that early adopters of the iPhone 16 gained’t have the ability to idiot round with AI straight away.
Apple Watch Sequence 10 and Apple Watch Extremely 3
Ever since 2016, iPhone occasions have additionally included a deep dive on the most recent Apple Watch. This 12 months appears to be no completely different. As a matter of truth, it is a huge 12 months for the Apple Watch. We’re arising on the gadget’s tenth birthday, so there are conflicting rumors as to whether the subsequent entry can be known as the Apple Watch Sequence 10 or the Sequence X.
It doesn’t matter what it finally ends up being known as, Apple’s subsequent normal smartwatch is reported to have a much bigger display that’s more in line with the Ultra. It’s anticipated that the corporate will ditch the 41mm type issue and introduce a 49mm design.
Rumors have additionally advised that Apple has utterly redesigned the band system and added new connectors. This can possible make these straps simpler to regulate, however there’s a draw back. This transfer may make it so all of these previous bands now not work.
After all, there’s going to be a brand new chip to energy these watches, however we don’t have any specifics. It’s been advised that these chips have been designed to accommodate Apple’s latest foray into AI, however that integration is more likely to occur afterward. For now, Apple Intelligence can be tethered to iPhone, iPad and Mac.
There are more likely to be two watches revealed on the occasion, that are codenamed N217 and N218. It’s doable one among these would be the Apple Watch Extremely 3, although Mark Gurman at Bloomberg says the high-end smartwatch gained’t get a significant redesign this outing. It’ll possible be an iterative refresh.
On the software program entrance, it appears like Apple has run into some snags whereas creating long-anticipated well being monitoring instruments. Well being monitoring is likely one of the key options of the Apple Watch, so the corporate has been working on new sensors to detect hypertension and sleep apnea. Nevertheless, the tech will possible not be prepared for this 12 months’s smartwatch. Apple’s additionally been creating a glucose sensor for nearly a decade so, who is aware of, perhaps it’ll lastly present up with the Sequence X.
Lastly, it’s extremely doable that Apple declares a brand new model of the budget-friendly Watch SE. This was final up to date in 2022, so a refresh is overdue. There was some reporting that Apple can be swapping out the aluminum exterior with a inflexible plastic shell. This could assist get prices down even additional. Because it stands, the Apple Watch SE is $250, however Samsung’s least expensive wearable is the $200 Galaxy Watch FE. Apple might need to compete nearer to that worth vary.
AirPods 4
It’s been reported that Apple’s prepping two new variants of its standard earbuds. The AirPods 4 may function each an entry-level mannequin and a mid-tier model, which might successfully exchange AirPods 2 and AirPods 3.
The massive information right here is that each AirPods 4 variations are more likely to transition to a USB-C case to keep pace with the iPhone and the second-gen AirPods Professional. It’s been advised that the cheaper of the 2 forthcoming fashions would lack wi-fi charging, however that the mid-tier model would help this know-how. This is similar technique Apple adopted with earlier generations, so it is smart.
Each variations ought to function comparable designs, although the mid-tier variant is more likely to help energetic noise cancellation like the Pro model. Talking of, there’ll possible be no refresh of Apple’s high-end Professional earbuds at this occasion. There’s additionally some thriller surrounding the corporate’s over-ear headphones, AirPods Max. It’s been 4 complete years since these premium cans hit retailer cabinets (and so they’re nonetheless caught utilizing a Lightning port for charging), so a refresh is lengthy overdue.
Surprises and software program
The iPhone occasion doesn’t usually have a “one last item” second, however there’s one piece of {hardware} that might get a shock shout out. It’s been rumored that Apple is preparing a massive redesign of the Mac mini. Analysts have advised that this would be the firm’s smallest ever desktop pc and might be across the identical measurement of an Apple TV streaming field.
There’ll reportedly be two variations of the upcoming Mac Mini, one with the usual M4 chip and one other with the extra highly effective M4 Professional chip. The bottom mannequin is rumored to begin transport from suppliers this month, so it’s doable Apple will spend a couple of minutes on the pc on the iPhone occasion. Nevertheless, don’t depend on it. That is an occasion for iPhones and smartwatches and a miniaturized desktop may really feel misplaced. And, just like it did last fall, Apple may simply maintain a Mac-specific occasion later this 12 months.
Past that, a complete bunch of software program updates are about to drop. There’s iOS 18, which we’ve written about extensively, and iPadOS 18. As for smartwatches, watchOS 11 can also be popping out sometime this fall. Apple already detailed all three operating systems at WWDC, however the upcoming iPhone occasion could be an excellent time to announce official launch dates.
