During the iPhone event on Monday, September 9, Apple will present much more than just the iPhone 16, including a number of surprises.
iPhone Event Reveals (including surprises)
It Apple event of the year will take place on September 9, at 7 p.m. Dutch time. It looks to be a very big event, because Apple will not only reveal four new iPhones, but much more. Read on to find out what you can expect at the Apple event (including a few surprises)!
iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max
The new flagship iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are easily the biggest announcements of the event, with both devices getting major upgrades over their predecessors. We can expect larger displays (6.3 inches for the Pro model, 6.9 inches for the Pro Max), a capture button for controlling the camera, an improved ultra-wide camera, better low-light performance, 5x optical zoom, and an A18 Pro chip for AI.
iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus
Apple is also unveiling the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. These devices will have the same screen sizes as their predecessors and may also share the A18 Pro chip as the Pro and Pro Max models. The ‘capture button’ for camera functions is also likely to come to all iPhone 16 models. Other camera improvements and new colors are also expected, with the AI features of iOS 18 as a main selling point.
Apple Watch Series 10
Both standard Apple Watch Series 10 sizes are getting bigger. The smaller Watch will be about the same size as the current larger model (45mm), while the larger option will be as large as the Ultra (49mm). This will also make the displays larger, with the larger option reportedly moving from a 1.77-inch display to a 1.93-inch one. The chassis will also get slimmer and get a more powerful chip that may enable support for Apple Intelligence and sensors for detecting high blood pressure and sleep apnea.
Apple Watch Ultra 3
The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is one of the least exciting announcements during this iPhone event and therefore will not provide any surprises. Not much is known about the Apple Watch Ultra 3 yet, but we expect a faster chip that is better equipped for AI. There may also be new sensors. And something that many potential buyers are excited about is a black titanium option.
AirPods 4
Apple plans to replace the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 with two different AirPods 4 variants this year. These AirPods 4 models are expected to have a design that blends the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro, including shorter stems. Unlike the AirPods Pro, neither variant will have replaceable tips but will likely offer an improved fit.
The main difference between the two AirPods 4 models is the active noise cancellation that comes on the more expensive version. Both models get a new charging case that supports USB-C. The case of the more expensive model also has built-in speakers to improve Find My integration. Apple is also working on new AirPods Pro and AirPods Max, but it is not yet clear when they will be presented.
Possible surprises at the iPhone event
There are indications that there are other announcements in the offing, and we present you with a few possible surprises.
iPad mini 7
It’s become common for Apple to wait until October to release iPads in the fall. But that’s not always the case. iPads are also often released in the spring, such as the M4 iPad Pro and iPad Air 2 this year. When iPads are released in the fall, they often coincide with the release of new Macs in October. But this time around, there are indications that a new iPad mini could be coming sooner, as evidenced by a post on X from Mark Gurman:
A new iPad mini could fit nicely into the iPhone event announcements if it comes equipped with a chip that supports Apple Intelligence. For example, an M-series chip.
Ted Lasso season 4
There have been rumors that Ted Lasso season 4 is coming. However, Apple has yet to make an official announcement about it. The iPhone event would be a great time to make that announcement, making it one of the surprises for sure.
Apple always likes to showcase Apple TV+ at events, and that will certainly be the case with the return of popular titles like Silo and Slow Horses, and new titles like Disclaimer and Wolfs. A new season of the popular Ted Lasso would be the icing on the cake.
Apple TV 4K
It’s possible that Apple also has a new Apple TV 4K ready to release. The current Apple TV 4K model was released in 2022, so an update is not out of the question. There just haven’t been any rumors about a new Apple TV for a while.
Mark Gurman said in early 2023 that a new model with an improved processor was in the works. According to him, it would be presented in early 2024. When that turned out not to be the case, he backtracked. There have been no more rumors since then. But if Apple has a revised version in the meantime, it could still be one of the surprises of the iPhone event.
The brand name ‘Apple Watch X’
As you could read earlier in this article, we know more or less what to expect from the Apple Watch Series 10. Nevertheless, Apple could surprise us in another way. Namely with the brand name ‘Apple Watch X’.
Last year, there were rumors that Apple would celebrate the 10th anniversary of the Apple Watch with a special ‘Apple Watch X’ or ‘Apple Watch Series X’. The new Watch would have a new design and possibly a new strap system. Those rumors have since been toned down, but it is possible that Apple will still use the name.
The Apple Watch Series 10 model gets a notable change in size and thickness. That might be reason enough for Apple to call it a redesign and call it the Apple Watch X. Even if no other changes have been made.
iPhone event: more surprises?
Do you think Apple has any other surprises in store for us at the iPhone event? Let us know what else you expect on September 9th!
Download the iPhoned app
Subscribe to our newsletter