Apple September Event: iPhone 16, Apple Watch 10, AirPods 4 and more
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Update: Follow our Apple 'Glowtime' event live blog to get full coverage of the iPhone 16 launch.
Apple has confirmed the date, time title for its fall product launch. And the big event is happening later today, September 9.
Taking place at the company's Cupertino campus, Apple's "Glowtime" event will almost certainly see the reveal of the iPhone 16 series and include a big focus on AI.
This Apple event could be the biggest in years. In addition to the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro (which are expected to hit shelves on September 20), we're expecting to see the reveal of the Apple Watch Series 10 (or Apple Watch X) and possibly the arrival of the AirPods 4.
But the other big news is Apple Intelligence and some of the features it's expected to bring to the table. That includes a major update to Siri, complete with a new glowing animation that could be the inspiration behind the event name. Here's everything you need to know about today's event.
Apple September event: Latest news (Update Sept. 9)
Follow our Apple 'Glowtime' event live blog to get full coverage of the iPhone 16 launch.
An Apple Store opening on September 20 seems to confirm the likely iPhone 16 release date.
We look at the biggest rumored upgrade for each potential iPhone 16 model.
Both the AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3 are tipped to arrive at Apple's Glowtime event.
Check out our round-up of all the last-minute iPhone 16 rumors you should catch up on before the big event.
A new Bloomberg report details the differences between the two AirPods 4 models that Apple plans to launch, including active noise-cancelling and an upgraded case.
When is the Apple September event 2024?
The Apple September event 2024 has been announced, and it will take place today, September 9, 2024. As is typical, invitations to press and customers were emailed out two weeks before the official date.
The event at Apple Park in Cupertino gets underway at 10 am PT / 1 pm ET / 6 pm BST. As with previous Apple events, you'll be able to live stream the event on YouTube, Apple.com and on Apple TV. Apple Vision Pro users will also be able to watch in their headset.
Here's more on how to watch the Glowtime event live stream.
Apple September event: iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro
Today's event's headliner is the iPhone. This year, we're anticipating the launch of iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro, with four total devices in the iPhone 16 family: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro.
Likely starting at $799 (although higher component prices may affect that), the iPhone 16 is expected to come in 6.1-inch standard and 6.7-inch Plus versions. Reports say it'll feature a redesigned camera block, the Action button borrowed from iPhone 15 Pro, and up to 7 color options. If Apple sticks to its current way of doing things, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus would inherit the A17 Pro chip we see in the iPhone 15 Pro models, though at least one rumor says it'll get a 3-nanometer A18 chip.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro may get a more powerful version of the A18 Pro chip as well as larger display sizes. Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claims the iPhone 16 Pro models will grow by “a couple tenths of an inch diagonally,” making them the biggest iPhones to date. The bezels may shrink on Pro phones, too.
All phones will ship with iOS 18, though it's to be determined whether/which Apple Intelligence features teased at WWDC 2024 will be available to all iPhone 16 models. (The current iOS 18.1 developer beta has many writing and image editing features along with basic Safari improvements; that 18.1 update will likely follow a month or so after iOS 18's initial release.)
And while both regular and Pro iPhones could get an improved telephoto lens and the same 48MP main resolution, the sensor on the Pro models may be larger to improve photo quality. Alternatively, a second 48MP sensor could be added to the Pro model ultrawide cameras to support 48MP ProRes shots at the iPhone's widest 0.5x magnification level.
A recent leak claims the Pro-model handsets will get several new camera features, including the ability to shoot 4K video at 120 frames per second, the option to pause and resume video recordings in the camera app, the removal of wind noise from videos, new Photographic Styles with enhanced machine learning to preserve skin tones, Vision Pro compatible 3D Spatial Photos and support for the JPEG-XL format.
Additional iPhone 16 rumors include larger battery capacities for the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max (all but the iPhone 16 Plus) as well as the addition of a Capture Button on all models to make taking photos/video more convenient.
If Apple holds to its usual schedule of selling phones around 10 days after the event that introduces them, the iPhone 16 models would go on sale September 20. That's the date Bloomberg is reporting, though a German blog claims Apple will move up the release date by a day. We'll side with Bloomberg for now, especially with an Apple Store in Sweden set to open up on September 20. You wouldn't imagine a store would wait until after the iPhone 16 release to open its doors.
Apple September event: Apple Watch 10
The other product we're fairly confident we'll see today is the Apple Watch Series 10, which may also be referred to as the Apple Watch 10 or Apple Watch X. For the 10th-gen iPhone, Apple used roman numeral 'X' branding, so we're eager to see whether it does the same for Apple Watch.
Information about the next-generation Apple Watch has been limited, so we're not sure what improvements we'll see over the Apple Watch Series 9 just yet. That said, we're convinced by rumors that the Apple Watch 10 will feature the watch's biggest redesign in years. A report says the watch will be thinner and come in larger sizes, though no insight yet whether this will impact the Apple Watch band system.
Otherwise, the Apple Watch 10 will adopt the best core features of the Apple Watch: comprehensive workout tracking, support for hundreds of apps, convenient on-wrist communication, safety tools and more. According to Bloomberg, Apple’s next-generation wearables may monitor and alert for signs of sleep apnea and hypertension. But ongoing legal battles with health-tech company Masimo has put those features in doubt.
In good news, a report from The Elec claims a battery life boost could finally happen for Apple Watch 10. Apple is apparently looking to include low-temperature polycrystalline oxide (LTPO) thin-film transistor (TFT) technology on the device's display, improving the display's power efficiency.
Multiple reports suggest an Apple Watch Ultra 3 is also coming this year, as a follow-up to the Apple Watch Ultra 2. That said, we don't know yet what upgrades it'll offer. Additionally, if Apple sticks to a two-year cadence for coming out with a new entry-level watch, the Apple Watch SE 3 could be on the agenda as well.
Apple September event: AirPods 4 and AirPods Pro 3
Accessories are usually part of the fall product event, and Glowtime figures to be no exception. We're expecting to see at least one new Apple audio product in the form of the Apple AirPods 4, and it's possible they could be joined by a new version of the AirPods Pro (though conventional wisdom has that product coming out next year).
The AirPods 4 are expected to be Apple's new entry-level wireless earbuds, as Apple drops the AirPods 3 and AirPods 2 from its lineup. This new version should have an improved fit with a USB-C charging case. It's also thought that Apple could offer two versions of its basic AirPods, with the more expensive model featuring active noise cancellation.
Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reports the higher-end model will inherit two features from the AirPods Pro 2: active noise cancellation and a higher-end case with a speaker built in. As with the Pro model, this will make it easier to locate via the Apple Find My network (and presumably alert you to when it’s charging with the same friendly ‘ding’).
A new report tips the updated Pro models to join the AirPods 4 at Glowtime, but we think a staggered release is more likely.
Apple September event: AirPods Max 2
Speaking of audio products, Apple's AirPods Max turned three-years-old in December 2023. Although we didn't see them at WWDC 2024 held on June 10, there's plenty of speculation that a so-called AirPods Max 2 could arrive later today when the Apple execs take to the stage.
We haven’t heard many specific rumors on updates to Apple's premium over-ear headphones, though it's possible they'll just be refreshed rather than completely overhauled. There are rumors the AirPods Max will come in at least one new color and switch to USB-C charging, as the AirPods Pro 2 did last year.
The AirPods Max are extremely popular, but there are convincing AirPods Max alternatives among the best headphones, such as the Sony WH-1000XM5 and new Sonos Ace.
Apple September event: iPad mini 7
The final piece of hardware that may make an appearance at today's Glowtime is the iPad mini 7. The iPad mini 6 was announced at the September event in 2021, after all.
We haven't heard many rumors about the next iPad mini, but it's gone the longest without an update among the entire iPad lineup. The iPad Air 2024 and iPad Pro 2024 launched just a few months ago, so the iPad mini may be next.
It's possible that Apple also holds a second fall event to deal with Mac releases. If that happens, the iPad mini 7 could be part of that event instead.
Follow our Apple 'Glowtime' event live blog to get full coverage of the iPhone 16 launch as it happens.
