The date is set and invitations have been sent – Apple’s next big event will take place on Wednesday, September 12 at the Steve Jobs Theater in Cupertino, California. It’s expected that the company will announce its next batch of iPhones, iPad Pros and the Apple Watch Series 4, which if rumors are true, will be the first Apple Watch with a different aesthetic (bigger screen!). We’re also hoping for a couple surprise announcements, such as new AirPods or even Apple’s first over-ear headphones, though those are admittedly longshots. Here are all the latest rumors and rumblings going around the web about next week’s big event.
Expect iPhones. Lots of iPhones.
Apple can go in a lot of different directions with its next batch of iPhones, as it can dabble with both the iPhone 8/8 Plus or the Phone X form factors – and we’re expecting both.
iPhone X Lookalikes: We’re expecting three new iPhones that look like the iPhone X. The first model – likely named the iPhone XS – will be the standard next-gen upgrade to last year’s iPhone X. It’ll have a similar 5.8-inch OLED screen yet come with the upgraded specs that you’d expect, such as a beefed-up display, camera and the most current gen processor (I can’t wait to see how Apple iterates on the name “A11 Bionic chip”). The second model – likely named the iPhone XS Plus – will have a larger 6.5-inch OLED display and come with even higher-end specs. Lastly, it’s been widely rumored that Apple will release a cheaper iPhone X with a 6.1-inch LCD screen that’ll cost under $1,000. These cheaper models will also come in several colors, including gold, red, blue and orange.
Meet the iPhone 9 and 9 Plus: There’s been less buzz about the (probably named) iPhone 9 and iPhone 9 Plus, but it makes sense from a marketing and business perspective for Apple to continue to pump out next-gen updates with the iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus form factors. A lot of people still like the Home button and Touch ID. These new models will likely have the same 4.7-inch and 5.5-inch display as their predecessors, but again with updated specs.
New iPad Pros
It’s been a hot minute since Apple updated its line of high-end tablets; most recently, it updated its line of $329 iPads with stylus support and new AR and VR capabilities. The 2018 iPad Pros aren’t expected to be a complete overhaul, but you can expect a larger display, thinner bezel and the omission of the Home Button. That’s right, Face ID is expected on these new iPad Pros. You’ll likely see two models, a 10.5-inch and a 12.9-inch iPad Pro. We’re not sure, but if these 2018 models omit the Home button, there’s a chance they could adopt the iPhone X-esque notch as well.
You Look Different, Series 4
Every Apple Watch up to this point has been virtually identically in terms of how they’ve looked – save for red crown on the Series 3 with LTE. And while the Series 4 isn’t expected to look drastically different, most rumors suggest that it’ll have a larger display with slimmer bezels. That means more surface area to navigate apps. It’s also worth noting that some journalists have speculated that the circle appearing on Apple’s email invitation actually suggests an Apple Watch with a circular face. More likely than not, however, that circle just represents the shape of the Steve Jobs Theater.
What About Audio and Accessories?
There’s been little word about Apple’s AirPower since it was announced last September, so hopefully, we’ll gain some clarity from Apple on when that’ll be released as well. As a reminder, it’s a wireless charging mat that sits flat on your desk (or nightstand) and can charge your iPhone, AirPods (second-gen) and Apple Watch simultaneously.
AirPods are now two-years-old and, as mentioned above, they’re ripe for an update. We don’t expect a drastic update with the second-gen AirPods, however, just a new charging chase that supports wireless charger and has a front LED light to indicate battery life. There’s a chance it’ll have an upgraded wireless chip so users can access Siri digital by just saying “Hey Siri,” too. Earlier this year there were rumors circulating about sweat-proof AirPods, and while they’re most likely in the works, they probably won’t be announced until sometime in 2019.
