What to expect from the iPhone 16 launch in September

The biggest day on the tech world’s fall calendar is here: Apple’s iPhone 16 event takes place on September 9 at 1:00 p.m. ET. We’ll be live-streaming the news on the blog, and you can watch it live via the company’s website or on YouTube. The biggest news from Apple’s event will almost certainly involve the upcoming line of iPhone 16 phones. As with every recent September, we’re also expecting to get one or two new Apple Watches — maybe even three, if Apple includes a new SE.

Beyond that, rumors have been circulating about a revamp of the standard AirPods earbuds, along with updates to other Apple product lines. Until Tim Cook takes the (virtual) stage, however, it’s all pure speculation. That said, let’s look at the most likely leaks and rumors ahead of Apple’s event.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro

No matter what happens, these new phones will be the center of attention during Apple’s event. That’s good news for those ready to upgrade. The bad news? The vast majority of leaks and rumors indicate that this will be another year of iterative improvements, so don’t expect a game-changing new hardware feature.

Four new models are likely to be announced at the event, similar to what Apple did last year. The new phones will reportedly be called the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max, according to industry analyst (and recent Engadget podcast guest) Mark Gurman. This is the exact same naming convention that was used for last year’s iPhone 15 unveiling, so rumors that Apple would adopt the “iPhone Ultra” moniker appear to have been greatly exaggerated.

Even if Apple doesn’t use the Ultra name, the Pro models could have slightly larger displays, which is always a good thing (if you like big phones, that is). The regular Pro will likely jump from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches, while the Pro Max should hit 6.9 inches, up from 6.7 inches. Finally, there will likely be one or two new colors, as always. From Bloomberg Gurman suggests that Apple is ready to ditch the blue model in favor of the return of rose gold.

On the hardware side, expect a new chipset that takes advantage of the company’s recent push into AI, aka Apple Intelligence. Beyond that, the updated A18 chip will be an iterative upgrade in terms of specs. As usual, the Pro and Pro Max will likely have a more powerful chip than the standard models. It looks like the base amount of RAM will be 8GB, in order to handle the aforementioned AI tasks.

The standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are also rumored to have the Action Button, a feature Introduced last year for iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. This multipurpose button directly replaces the silent switch, by default, but can be tweaked to control many different things. The action button can be used to change ringer settings, turn on the flashlight, launch the camera, and more.

There’s also talk of another new button, this one on the right side of the phone. This will control camera functions, operating like a button on a DSLR. Reports indicate that a gentle press will activate autofocus, and a harder press will take a photo. Consumers will also be able to slide their finger along the button to zoom in or out while taking photos or recording video. This camera button will reportedly only come with the Pro and Pro Max, which makes sense since higher-end models generally offer a more robust camera experience.

As such, new iPhones always feature improvements in camera specs, but we don’t know exactly what that will look like this time around. However, it has been reported that the iPhone 16’s camera module could receive a design upgrade. Apple could ditch the square format and opt for a vertical orientation instead. This could apply only to the base iPhone 16 and perhaps the Plus, as the Pro and Pro Max phones tend to put a lot more emphasis on photos and videos.

We already know what’s coming in the software department, thanks to the recent WWDC event. As per previous years, iOS 18 should be available in the week after the event. The software update includes a more customizable Control Center and Home screen. It will also finally bring RCS support to iPhones.

As for Apple Intelligence, we’ll have to wait a bit. It was announced as part of iOS 18, but has been delayed until iOS 18.1. This isn’t a huge change, as the OS update is expected to come in October, but it does mean that early iPhone 16 users won’t be able to play with the AI ​​right away.

Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3

Since 2016, iPhone-related events have also included an in-depth presentation of the latest Apple Watch. This year seems to be no different. In fact, this is a big year for the Apple Watch. We’re approaching the device’s 10th anniversary, so there are conflicting rumors about whether the next model will be called the Apple Watch Series 10 or Series X.

Regardless of what it’s called, Apple’s next standard smartwatch is reportedly going to have a larger display, more in line with the Ultra. The company is expected to ditch the 41mm form factor and introduce a 49mm design.

Rumors also suggest that Apple has completely redesigned the strap system and added new connectors. This will likely make these straps easier to adjust, but there’s a catch: this move could render all those old straps no longer functional.

Of course, there will be a new chip to power these watches, but we don’t have any specific details. It’s been suggested that these chips have been designed to accommodate Apple’s recent foray into AI, but that integration will likely happen down the road. For now, Apple Intelligence will be tied to the iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Two watches are likely to be revealed at the event, codenamed N217 and N218. One of them is likely to be the Apple Watch Ultra 3, though Mark Gurman of Apple has yet to reveal it. Bloomberg says the high-end smartwatch won’t undergo a major redesign this time around. It will likely be an iterative update.

On the software side, it seems Apple has run into some issues when it comes to developing the long-awaited health tracking tools. Health monitoring is one of the key features of the Apple Watch, so the company has been working on new sensors to detect high blood pressure and sleep apnea. However, the technology likely won’t be ready for this year’s smartwatch. Apple has also been developing a glucose sensor for nearly a decade, so who knows, maybe it will finally appear with the Series X.

Finally, it’s quite possible that Apple will announce a new version of the budget Watch SE. The last update was made in 2022, so it’s about time for an update. It’s been reported that Apple will be ditching the aluminum exterior for a hard plastic casing. This should help to reduce costs even further. Currently, the Apple Watch SE costs $250, but Samsung’s cheapest wearable is the Galaxy Watch FE, which costs $200. Apple may want to compete closer to that price range.

AirPods 4

Apple is reportedly preparing two new variants of its standard earbuds. The AirPods 4 could feature an entry-level model and a mid-level version, which would effectively replace the AirPods 2 and AirPods 3.

The big news is that both versions of the AirPods 4 will likely move to a USB-C case to keep pace with the iPhone and second-generation AirPods Pro. It’s been suggested that the cheaper of the two upcoming models wouldn’t have wireless charging, but that the mid-range version would support the tech. This is the same strategy Apple followed with previous generations, so it makes sense.

Both versions should have similar designs, though the mid-range variant is likely to support active noise cancellation like the Pro model. Speaking of which, there likely won’t be an update to Apple’s high-end Pro earbuds at this event. There’s also some mystery surrounding the company’s over-ear headphones, the AirPods Max. It’s been four years since these premium earbuds hit stores (and they’re still stuck using a Lightning port for charging), so an update was about time.

One last thing?

The iPhone event doesn’t usually have a “one last thing” moment, but there’s one piece of hardware that could get a surprise mention. Apple is rumored to be preparing a massive redesign of the Mac mini. Analysts have suggested that this will be the company’s smallest desktop computer ever and could be roughly the same size as an Apple TV set-top box.

There will reportedly be two versions of the next Mac Mini, one with the standard M4 chip and one with the more powerful M4 Pro chip. The base model is rumored to start shipping from suppliers this month, so it’s possible that Apple will spend a few minutes in front of the computer at the iPhone event. Don’t count on it, though. This is an event for iPhones and smartwatches, and a miniaturized desktop might look out of place. And, just like last fall, Apple could easily hold a Mac-specific event later this year.

There’s also a lot of buzz on the internet about an upcoming update to the iPad mini. Apple’s smallest iPad hasn’t had an update since 2021 and is currently considered “internally restricted,” according to Gurman. While a new model is likely coming soon, it’s not usual for Apple to announce iPads during its iPhone event.

On top of that, there are a bunch of software updates coming soon. There’s iOS 18, which we’ve written about at length , and iPadOS 18. As for smartwatches, watchOS 11 is also due out sometime this fall. Apple already detailed all three operating systems at WWDC, but the upcoming iPhone event would be a good time to announce official release dates.

Update, August 29, 2024, 1:00 p.m. (US Eastern Time): This story has been updated since its original publication to note that BloombergMark Gurman has appeared as a guest on the Engadget podcast to discuss the latest expectations ahead of Apple’s event.

Update, August 28, 2024, 11:30 a.m. ET: This story has been updated since its original publication to include the time and date of Apple’s event, along with details from Gurman about the iPad mini being considered “restricted” by Apple.