Apple Inc.’s most important event of the year is set for Monday, when the company will introduce its latest iPhones and set the stage for a new artificial intelligence platform.
The event will begin at 10 a.m. local time on September 9 at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California. Apple doesn’t usually hold the event on a Monday, but the earlier timing gives the company a chance to schedule it ahead of Tuesday’s event: the U.S. presidential debate is on that day, and the European Commission is set to decide whether Apple must pay $14 billion in taxes because of a long-standing agreement with Ireland.
The most important product announcement will be the iPhone 16 line, but the company is also preparing major updates to both the Apple Watch and AirPods. Apple Intelligence — a new suite of AI tools that includes an updated Siri digital assistant — will also feature prominently. The event’s theme, “It’s Glowtime,” is a reference to Siri’s new interface.
The stakes are high for Apple, which wants to prove to both consumers and Wall Street that it is now a major player in generative artificial intelligence. But the company’s AI technology is still a work in progress. Apple Intelligence has suffered multiple delays, and several key features won’t arrive until next year. For the time being, the technology focuses on summarizing messages and information rather than matching the dazzling interactivity of rival systems.
Still, Monday’s updates will breathe new life into products that are at the heart of the Apple device lineup and generate about 60% of the company’s annual revenue. They also drive consumer spending on services, a key source of sales. Apple’s finances could get a boost. The company has just begun to emerge from its longest sales slump in decades.
Here’s what’s expected to be announced at Monday’s presentation:
Apple’s iPhone 15 Pro. (Photographer: David Paul Morris / Bloomberg)
iPhone
As in the past several years, Apple will introduce four new iPhone models: the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max.
As in 2023, changes to the non-Pro iPhones will be minor. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will look similar to last year’s versions, including 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen sizes and aluminum cases. They’ll have faster processors and include a total of 8 gigabytes of memory (up from 6). That memory will help support Apple Intelligence and other features.
These lower-end phones will feature action buttons similar to those found on the Pro models, as well as vertically arranged rear cameras that will support spatial video recording — 3D clips that can be viewed with Apple’s Vision Pro headset.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will retain the iPhone 15 Pro line design, except for one notable change: the display. The screen size is growing to 6.3 inches (up from 6.1 inches) on the smaller model, and from 6.7 inches to 6.9 inches on the Max version. While the changes represent an increase of less than 5% on both models, the shift will come with bezels that are now about a third thinner. This will lead to a sleeker look overall.
Like the iPhone 15 Pro line, the 16 Pro models will support Apple intelligence with the inclusion of 8 gigabytes of memory. They will also get faster chips with an advanced neural engine, which Apple says is optimized for AI.
Both iPhone 16 Pro models will also get camera upgrades, including a move from a 12-megapixel lens to a 48-megapixel lens for the ultrawide-angle camera. This will match the megapixels of the standard, wide-angle camera on last year’s model. The smaller iPhone 16 Pro will also get 5x optical zoom on the telephoto lens, up from 3x to match the Max version.
The most important camera improvement coming to both models: a dedicated, touch-sensitive button on the right side of the phone for taking photos and videos. This button will be the biggest selling point for the new iPhones, other than AI. It will work just like a DSLR camera’s shutter button, allowing a user to press it lightly to focus on a subject and then press harder to take a picture. It will also be capacitive, allowing a user to swipe it to move between still and video modes and to zoom in and out.
While the phones will look similar to last year, Apple is changing its color palette. The Pro models will now come in Gold Titanium instead of Blue Titanium, while Black, White, and Natural options will still be available. The non-Pro versions will have a yellow color instead of white and will get new shades of green, pink, and blue.
AirPods on display at an Apple retail store. (Photographer: Holly Adams/Bloomberg)
AirPods
Apple is preparing two new AirPods models to replace the entry-level, second-generation earbuds and the mid-tier, third-generation model. Both new versions will look similar to the AirPods Pro and include a new case, USB-C charging, and improved audio quality.
Apple will differentiate the two models by giving the new mid-tier version a higher-end case with speakers — making it easier to find with Apple’s Find My feature — as well as noise cancellation to match the AirPods Pro.
A few weeks ago, Apple discovered a bug in the upcoming AirPods that caused the earbuds to drain battery quickly. The issue was found to be software-related and was resolved before factories shipped the products.
A major new feature is a big step forward in hearing health. Apple is working to turn AirPods into a replacement for hearing aids, as well as a tool for performing hearing tests. The company is preparing to announce the enhancements – codenamed Yodel – but they have faced some delays and might not be available until later.
A new version of the AirPods Pro is in the works, featuring an upgraded design and better noise cancellation. It’s set to arrive early next year.
And Apple is working on updated AirPods Max headphones that will come in new colors and change the Lightning connector to USB-C to comply with the latest EU laws. But there’s still plenty of existing AirPods Max inventory on hand, suggesting the update could come later.
Apple Watch Ultra 2. (Photographer: David Paul Morris/Bloomberg)
Apple Watch
For the first time in two years, the company is preparing to update all of its Apple Watch models at once. This will include a new low-end Apple Watch SE, a mid-level Series 10 model, and an Ultra 3.
The Apple Watch Ultra will feature only minor changes, focusing on internal upgrades rather than external changes.
The biggest upgrade to the Apple Watch line will come with the Series 10 model, which marks the tenth anniversary of the product’s launch in 2014. For the first time since the Series 7, the flagship Apple Watch model will get an updated look.
The overall design will be similar to the Apple Watch Series 9, but the company will now offer slightly larger screen-size options and the watch case itself will be noticeably thinner.
Although new AI features are coming to iPhones, iPads, and Macs, don’t expect to find key Apple intelligence capabilities in watches. Any AI technology will likely be tied to a future health coach service.
Earlier in the year, Apple was forced to remove blood-oxygen sensing from new watches due to a lawsuit with Masimo Corp. over patents. There is no evidence that the feature is returning in time for the latest models, and this may influence whether users want to upgrade their existing watches to versions that will not have this function.
However, a major new health feature is coming: sleep apnea detection, which will build on existing sleep tracking. The feature will attempt to determine if the wearer has sleep apnea and then suggest further testing with a medical professional. Although Apple is preparing to announce it, this enhancement may not be available on the first day the new model goes on sale.
On the other hand, while Apple had aimed to bring a hypertension – or high blood pressure – detection feature to the Apple Watch this year, there are indications that the feature has been delayed and there are no immediate plans to release it.
Apple’s MacBook Pro. (Photographer: Samsul Said/Bloomberg)
other products
Apple is working on switching its entire Mac line to the M4 chip, starting with the MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac. But the Mac upgrades are likely to come in a follow-up launch before October rather than the September event.
Although the company has been working on an update to the Apple TV set-top box since earlier this year, no new model has appeared yet and the device’s stagnant inventory suggests a new version isn’t arriving immediately.
A new iPhone SE with an OLED display, edge-to-edge screen, and no home button is in advanced testing, but is not planned for release until next year. A new AirTag is also in development, although Apple is not planning a release until next year.
Apart from this, new iPads are also in the works, including an upgraded mini version. These have been prepared along with the M4 Mac for the Apple event to be held in October.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
