Apple Event: The Apple Glowtime event, where the iPhone 16 will be launched, is scheduled for September 9
Los Angeles, California:
Apple Inc.'s biggest event of the year takes place Monday, when the company will unveil its latest iPhones and set the stage for a new artificial intelligence platform.
The event will kick off at Apple’s headquarters in Cupertino, California, on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. local time. Apple doesn’t typically hold this event on Mondays, but the earlier date allows the company to get a head start on an eventful Tuesday: There’s a presidential debate in the U.S. that day, and the European Commission is scheduled to announce a decision on whether Apple has to pay $14 billion in taxes stemming from an old deal with Ireland.
The biggest product announcement will be for the iPhone 16 line, but the company is also preparing major updates to both the Apple Watch and AirPods. Apple Intelligence, a new set of artificial intelligence 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 is seeking to prove to 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 faced numerous delays, and many key features won’t arrive until next year. For now, the technology is focused on summarizing messages and notifications, rather than matching the dazzling interactivity of rival systems.
Still, Monday’s updates will breathe new life into products that sit at the heart of Apple’s device lineup and generate about 60% of the company’s annual revenue. They also boost consumer spending on services, an increasingly vital source of sales. Apple’s finances could benefit from the boost. The company has only just begun to emerge from its longest sales slump in decades.
Here's everything expected to be announced at Monday's presentation:
Apple's iPhone 15 Pro. (Photographer: David Paul Morris/Agency)
iPhone
Following in the footsteps of recent years, Apple will introduce four new iPhone models: the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max.
As in 2023, changes to non-Pro iPhones will be minor. The iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will resemble last year’s versions, including 6.1- and 6.7-inch screen sizes and aluminum enclosures. They’ll get 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 have the same Action button currently found on the Pro models, as well as vertically stacked rear cameras that support spatial video recording — the 3D clips you can view with Apple's Vision Pro headset.
Meanwhile, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will retain the design of the iPhone 15 Pro line, save for one notable change: the displays. Display sizes increase from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches on the smaller model and from 6.7 inches to 6.9 inches on the Max version. While the changes represent less than a 5% increase on both models, the change will come with bezels that are now about a third thinner. That should 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 have faster chips with an improved Neural Engine that Apple says is optimized for AI.
Both iPhone 16 Pro models will also get camera upgrades, including a shift from a 12-megapixel to a 48-megapixel lens for the ultra-wide camera. That will match the megapixels on 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 biggest camera upgrade coming to both models is a dedicated touch button on the right side of the phone for taking photos and videos. This button will be the biggest draw of the new iPhones, aside from the AI. It will work similarly to a shutter button on a DSLR camera, allowing the user to press it lightly to focus on a subject and then press it harder to take a photo. It will also be capacitive, allowing the user to swipe it to switch from photo mode to video mode and to zoom in and out.
While all of the phones will look largely the same as last year, Apple is shaking up their color scheme. Pro models will now come in Titanium Gold to replace Titanium Blue, while black, white, and natural options will still be available. Non-Pro versions will swap out yellow for white and get new shades of green, pink, and blue.
AirPods on display at an Apple store. (Photographer: Hollie Adams/Agency)
AERATORS
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 distinguish the two models by giving the new mid-tier version a higher-end case with a speaker, making it easier to locate 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 upcoming AirPods that caused the earbuds to quickly drain their battery. The issue was determined to be software-related and was fixed before factories shipped the products.
One of the biggest new additions is a bigger push for hearing health. Apple has been working to turn AirPods into a replacement for hearing aids, as well as a device for hearing tests. The company is preparing to announce the improvements, codenamed Yodel, but they have been delayed and may not be available until later.
A new version of the AirPods Pro is in the works, featuring an improved design and enhanced noise cancellation. It is scheduled for release next year.
Additionally, Apple has been working on updated AirPods Max earbuds that will come in new colors and switch from the Lightning connector to USB-C to comply with the latest European Union laws. But there's still plenty of current AirPods Max inventory available, suggesting the update could come later.
The Apple Watch Ultra 2. (Photographer: David Paul Morris / Agency)
APPLE CLOCK
For the first time in two years, the company is preparing to update all of its Apple Watch models at once. There will be a new low-end Apple Watch SE, a mid-range Series 10 model, and an Ultra 3.
The Apple Watch Ultra will only receive minor tweaks, focusing on internal upgrades rather than external changes.
The biggest update to the Apple Watch line will come with the Series 10 model, which marks the 10th anniversary of the product's introduction in 2014. For the first time since the Series 7, Apple's flagship Watch model will have an updated look.
The overall design will be similar to the Apple Watch Series 9, but the company will now offer slightly larger display size options and the watch case itself will be noticeably thinner.
While new AI features will be coming to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac, don't expect the watches to incorporate significant Apple AI capabilities. Any AI technology will likely be tied specifically to a future health coaching service.
Earlier this year, Apple was forced to remove blood oxygen sensing from new watches because of a patent lawsuit with Masimo Corp. There has been no evidence that the feature will return in time for the latest models, and that may affect whether users want to upgrade their existing watches to versions that don’t have the feature.
However, there is a major new health feature coming: sleep apnea detection, which will build on existing sleep tracking. This feature will try to determine if the user has sleep apnea and then suggest further testing with a medical professional. While Apple has been preparing to announce it, the enhancement may not be available on the first day the new model goes on sale.
On the other hand, although Apple was aiming to bring hypertension (or high blood pressure) detection to the Apple Watch this year, signs point to that feature being delayed and no longer planned for immediate release.
Apple's MacBook Pro. (Photographer: Samsul Said/Agency)
OTHER PRODUCTS
Apple is working on transitioning its entire Mac lineup to M4 chips, starting with the MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac. But Mac updates are likely to come at a later launch (no earlier than October) rather than at the September event.
While the company has been working on an update to the Apple TV set-top box since this year, no new model has materialized and the stable inventory of the device suggests a new version is not on the immediate horizon.
A new iPhone SE with an OLED, edge-to-edge display and no home button is in advanced testing, but is not expected to be released until next year. A new AirTag is also in development, although Apple also does not plan to release it until next year.
New iPads are also in the works, including an improved mini version. They will be unveiled at Apple's October event alongside the M4 Macs.
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