Apple will maintain its annual fall iPhone-centric occasion on Monday, September 9 at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time. There are a number of new units on the horizon, together with new iPhone 16 fashions, refreshes for the entire Apple Watches, new AirPods 4, and maybe another surprises.
This information highlights all the pieces that we would see at Apple’s “It is Glowtime” occasion primarily based on present rumors.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus
The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will look nearly similar to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, with few design modifications deliberate, however there are new capabilities to look ahead to.
Apple plans to convey the Motion Button to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus, so it will not be a Professional-exclusive characteristic anymore and will likely be accessible on all iPhone 16 fashions. The Motion Button will be set to activate a Focus mode, activate a Shortcut, open the Digicam, activate the Flashlight, and extra. With iOS 18, it may well do much more as a result of you may as well assign Management Middle controls to the Motion Button, and third-party builders can now make Management Middle choices.
Dummy fashions that includes the rumored iPhone 16 coloursTogether with the Motion Button, all iPhone 16 fashions may have a Seize Button, situated on the suitable aspect of the iPhone beneath the Energy Button. On U.S. iPhones, it is going to be situated the place the mmWave antenna is on the iPhone 15 fashions, with the antenna shifting to the left with the iPhone 16 lineup. Whereas most rumors have urged it is coming to all fashions, there’s a likelihood that it could possibly be restricted to the Professional fashions.
The Seize Button will likely be used to take photos and video, and it’ll reply to strain and contact for additional gesture help. A lightweight press will autofocus, whereas a tougher press will take the shot. Swiping left and proper will zoom in or out, and there can also be an possibility for swapping between picture and video modes.
Slightly than the diagonal digital camera that Apple has used for the final a number of iPhone fashions, the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus may have a vertical digital camera association for the dual-lens digital camera system. The vertical association may permit for the iPhones to seize spatial video for the Imaginative and prescient Professional.
The Major digital camera is not anticipated to get an improve, however Apple may enhance the aperture of the Extremely Extensive digital camera to enhance low-light efficiency and add help for macro mode for the primary time.
There will likely be new colours for the iPhone 16 fashions, with some rumors suggesting we’ll see black, inexperienced, mild pink, blue, and white for 5 complete colour choices, and different rumors pointing towards inexperienced, white, pink, and blue. In each of those situations, the white replaces the yellow Apple used for the iPhone 15 fashions. Apple is rumored to be utilizing the color-infused again glass that it used for the iPhone 15, however with a frosted impact for the glass that contrasts with the body colour.
Apple may go for a extra energy environment friendly OLED show that may enhance battery life whereas additionally rising general brightness.
A18 chips will likely be in all of the iPhone 16 fashions, which implies the usual iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will help the Apple Intelligence options which are coming in iOS 18. There is also some iPhone-specific Apple Intelligence performance that hasn’t but been introduced.
The A18 chips will likely be constructed on TSMC’s 3-nanometer course of, with Apple anticipated to incorporate Neural Engine enhancements for Apple Intelligence. Each iPhone 16 fashions will get 8GB RAM, up from 6GB within the prior-generation fashions with the intention to help AI. Apple can also be planning for a brand new thermal design that can fight overheating and enhance efficiency.
There could possibly be some minor will increase to battery life for the usual iPhone 16 mannequin, as it’s rumored to be getting a minor capability enhance. Relying on the chip effectivity, we may see some small enhancements for each fashions, however that can rely on how a lot battery the brand new options eat up.
We now have extra on the options coming to the iPhone 16 in our roundup.
iPhone 16 Professional and iPhone 16 Professional Max
Just like the iPhone 16 fashions, the iPhone 16 Professional and Professional Max will get the all-new Seize Button, and in these units, it is going to be accompanied by some digital camera enhancements.
Apple is planning for a 48-megapixel Extremely Extensive lens that makes use of pixel binning all the way down to 12-megapixels, and the top result’s principally significantly better efficiency in low-light on your wide-angle pictures and your macro photographs. The 5x Telephoto lens that was restricted to the 15 Professional Max will likely be coming to the 16 Professional, so each Professional fashions may have it this time round.
The iPhone 16 Professional fashions might be able to file 4K video at as much as 120 frames per second, a rise over the present 60 frames per second restrict when filming in 4K. Apple has additionally examined 8K recording, however it isn’t clear if that made it into the launch model of the machine. Apple additionally plans so as to add a characteristic for pausing and resuming a video recording.
Show measurement is getting larger, and it is the primary time we have seen a rise in show measurement for the reason that iPhone 12. The iPhone 16 show will measure in at 6.3 inches, up from 6.1, whereas the iPhone 16 Professional Max may have a 6.9-inch show, up from 6.7 inches. The change isn’t drastic, however it is going to be noticeable when you have an iPhone 16 Professional subsequent to an iPhone 15 Professional.
There could possibly be some enhancements to the Major digital camera, and there is a likelihood the iPhone 16 Professional Max may have a brand new Sony sensor that provides higher-quality photos with higher dynamic vary and noise management.
We’re additionally anticipating the bezels across the fringe of the show to be slimmed down, and Apple is rumored to be adopting extra environment friendly OLED show know-how, so we may see some enhancements to brightness and distinction. In accordance with Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman, the bezels could possibly be a couple of third smaller.
All the iPhone 16 fashions will get an A18 chip, however there could possibly be variants. Apple may use a higher-end A18 chip with an additional GPU core within the Professional fashions, which might let all iPhone 16 units run Apple Intelligence, however would nonetheless present for some differentiation between the Professional and non-Professional fashions. A brand new thermal structure with a graphene heatsink and steel battery casing is predicted, and whereas the heatsink can also be coming to the iPhone 16, the opposite thermal modifications could possibly be Professional solely.
Apple is predicted to undertake Qualcomm’s X75 5G modem within the Professional fashions for sooner 5G speeds by way of provider aggregation. The X75 has a mixed mmWave and sub-6GHz transceiver reasonably than utilizing separate {hardware}, so it is smaller and makes use of up much less energy.
We may see enhancements in battery life with the X75 chip and the A18 processor, plus Apple is utilizing barely larger batteries with a 5 to 9 % bounce in capability. There have been rumors that the iPhone 16 Professional fashions will help Wi-Fi 7, however that is additionally a characteristic Apple may maintain till subsequent yr. As for storage, each Professional fashions may begin with 256GB.
Early on, there have been a couple of rumors about 20W MagSafe charging speeds and 40W wired charging speeds, however that is sounding like a protracted shot now. The microphone may have higher water resistance and higher sound because of AI. There can also be some iPhone 16 Professional-specific Apple Intelligence options that we do not find out about but.
As with each new iPhone launch, there are up to date colours. We’re anticipating the usual black, white, and pure titanium choices, however this yr’s particular colour is a shade of gold. Some rumors have described it as a bronze shade, and a few dummy leaks have urged that it is a darker brown colour than Apple’s prior gold alternatives, however colour is so depending on lighting that it is laborious to say for positive. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman says the shade “appears spectacular and never horrible just like the early renders.”
Extra element on the iPhone 16 Professional’s anticipated options will be discovered within the iPhone 16 Professional roundup.
Apple Watch Collection 10
Apple is refreshing the Apple Watch this yr, however there are some ambiguities and questions on simply what we’ll see. 2024 marks the tenth anniversary of when the Apple Watch was launched in September 2014, and it is going to be the “Collection 10,” however the Apple Watch launched in 2015. Whereas there have been rumors of a serious anniversary refresh, it has been unclear if that can occur this yr or subsequent yr.
The Apple Watch is predicted to be slimmer than prior variations, and Apple is rising the dimensions. Slightly than 41mm and 45mm fashions, it is wanting like we’ll get 45mm and 49mm choices. Dimension may improve by way of a lower in bezels and by making the casing itself bigger. A 4mm bounce will likely be a noticeable however not monumental measurement improve.
There have been CAD renders of a next-generation Apple Watch with a 2-inch show, which is simply barely larger than the 49mm Apple Watch Extremely show. That display could possibly be destined for the 49mm Collection 10. Apple may enhance water resistance with the design change, certifying the machine for high-speed water sports activities as much as 20 meters deep. The brand new Collection 10 fashions could get the Depth app, which was first launched for the Apple Watch Extremely.
Apart from the rise in measurement and the thinner design, the up to date fashions are mentioned to seem like the present Apple Watch fashions with no radical modifications. Early on, Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman mentioned that Apple was engaged on a brand new magnetic band attachment system, nevertheless it’s not sounding like that is a characteristic we will get this yr.
Apple will replace the OLED show to be extra power environment friendly, and with a much bigger casing, battery measurement could improve too, main to raised battery life.
Apple is reportedly planning to incorporate an up to date coronary heart fee and ECG sensor within the Apple Watch Collection 10 that can allow new options like sleep apnea detection. Sleep apnea detection has been lengthy rumored for the Collection 10, nevertheless it was unclear if it will be carried out at launch due to an ongoing patent dispute that has seen Apple disable blood oxygen detection within the current-generation Apple watch fashions within the U.S.
Sleep apnea causes an individual to cease respiratory whereas asleep, which may result in extreme tiredness. It’s often identified by way of a sleep examine, and fixing it requires a respiratory equipment like a CPAP machine. The Apple Watch Collection 10 and Extremely 2 will reportedly have the ability to detect sleep apnea utilizing Apple Watch sleep monitoring, offering a studying after accumulating sleep information for a number of days.
Apple additionally wished to incorporate blood strain monitoring, however that characteristic was not prepared for launch and won’t be included within the Collection 10.
For the final a number of years, the Apple Watch has used an S-series chip that is modified little, however this yr’s S10 is predicted to convey a notable improve in efficiency. Whereas the Apple Watch won’t get “main” Apple Intelligence capabilities, there may maybe be AI options tied to a future well being coach service, in keeping with Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman.
We now have extra particulars on what to anticipate for the Apple Watch in our roundup.
Apple Watch Extremely 3
If there are new well being options within the Apple Watch Collection 10, Apple may also add them to the next-generation Apple Watch Extremely that is coming this fall. We aren’t anticipating a brand new design or another bodily modifications to the machine, however it would get the identical chip and well being options that Apple plans so as to add to the Apple Watch Collection 10.
Apple Watch SE 3
The Apple Watch SE 3 may get a refresh this fall, and there are rumors that Apple will use a plastic casing reasonably than an aluminum casing for the machine.
A inflexible plastic materials would maintain prices down, whereas additionally being extra sturdy than aluminum by way of scratches and drops. Such an Apple Watch is also made in an array of shiny colours, which might enchantment to youngsters.
Apple has been selling the Apple Watch as an possibility for fogeys who need to give their children a tool for communication and security, and a lower-cost Apple Watch SE may assist and in addition differentiate the machine from the aluminum Apple Watch fashions.
Apple has not used plastic for the casing of a tool for the reason that iPhone 5c, a telephone that got here in vibrant blue, yellow, pink, and inexperienced colours. Apart from a brand new materials, the Apple Watch SE is predicted to have the identical common design with no updates and no different characteristic modifications aside from an improved chip.
AirPods 4
There are two variations of the AirPods 4 within the works, each of which characteristic a brand new design. The up to date AirPods will seem like a cross between the present AirPods and the AirPods Professional, with Apple adopting a shorter stem. Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman says there will likely be an up to date match, nevertheless it’s not but clear what meaning.
The upper-priced AirPods 4 may have Lively Noise Cancellation, a characteristic that has beforehand been restricted to the AirPods Professional and the AirPods Max. The lower-end mannequin will likely be a direct improve to the present AirPods 3.
Pricing on these new fashions is not recognized but. The AirPods 3 price $179 (with MagSafe case), the AirPods 2 are $129, and the AirPods Professional 2 are $249, so Apple wants to cost the brand new mannequin someplace within the center. The lower-cost AirPods 4 may get a value drop to place it nearer consistent with the AirPods 2, which will likely be discontinued, and the ANC mannequin could possibly be priced between $180 and $200, effectively beneath the AirPods Professional.
Apple goes to replace the AirPods 4 case, and it may have a brand new look. It can get a speaker for Discover My, permitting it to play a sound when misplaced, and it will have a USB-C port for charging as a substitute of a Lightning port. MagSafe charging may also nonetheless be a characteristic.
Relying on design, the ANC most likely will not be on par with the ANC within the AirPods Professional as these have silicone ear suggestions, however there are rumors of enhancements to sound high quality.
Ultimately, Apple plans to announce listening to assist substitute performance for the AirPods, plus it would add an possibility for conducting listening to exams with the earbuds. These options might not be accessible when the AirPods launch, as a substitute coming at a later date.
Different Unlikely Prospects
AirPods Max
Apple plans to refresh the AirPods Max in 2024, however do not get excited. We aren’t anticipating any new options aside from a USB-C port as a substitute of a Lightning port, and presumably new colour choices. It is extra seemingly that the AirPods Max refresh will come later within the yr than on the September occasion.
iPad mini 7
The iPad mini 7 may see an replace in 2024, nevertheless it seemingly will not be coming at Apple’s September occasion. Apple is alleged to be planning to carry a second occasion in October 2024, and it will make extra sense for the brand new iPad mini to return out then alongside new M4 Macs.
Few modifications are anticipated for the next-generation iPad mini, and it’ll proceed to have an 8.3-inch show measurement with Contact ID energy button. There could possibly be a small change to the show to chop down on the “jelly scrolling” impact that some individuals complained about with the iPad mini 6. Jelly scrolling refers back to the typically noticeable lag when scrolling vertically by way of text-based content material like a webpage.
We predict the iPad mini to have a variant of the A17 or A18 chip that’s suitable with Apple Intelligence, and we may get new colours, an upgraded front-facing digital camera, and help for Wi-Fi 6E.
iPad 11
The iPad hasn’t been refreshed since 2022, and it’s overdue for an replace. There are rumors suggesting we may get a brand new mannequin in 2024, nevertheless it too will seemingly come out later within the yr.
There aren’t any rumors about new options for the next-generation iPad, however it’s anticipated to get a greater A-series chip.
Software program Updates
iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, tvOS 18, watchOS 11, and visionOS 2 are in beta testing, and on the fall occasion, Apple will give us a heads up on when the brand new working system updates will likely be launched.
Sometimes iOS 18 and its sister updates come out just some days forward of when new iPhones launch, so if the iPhone 16 fashions launch on Friday, September 20 after their September 9 debut date, we may see the software program come out earlier within the week of September 20.
There can also be Apple Intelligence options which are unique to the iPhone 16 fashions that Apple has been retaining underneath wraps, so there could also be some software-based surprises coming.
Tips on how to Watch
Apple’s “It is Glowtime” occasion will begin at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time on Monday, September 9. Apple will livestream the occasion on its web site and on YouTube, plus the livestream will likely be accessible by way of the Apple TV app on supported units.
For these unable to observe the livestream, MacRumors will likely be offering full occasion protection on MacRumors.com and the MacRumorsLive Twitter account, plus we’ll do a a lot deeper dive into all of the bulletins over the course of the subsequent week.
