Key Takeaways
- Apple is scheduled to unveil its iPhone 16 lineup during its keynote address on September 9th.
- In addition to the new iPhones, a variety of other hardware is expected to be announced at the event.
- Anticipation remains high for Apple Intelligence, so we expect the company to make a big show of the technology.
Apple has set the official date for its 2024 iPhone keynote as September 9. The invitation for the event prominently features the tagline “It’s Glowtime.” The iPhone 16 series is expected to take center stage this year.
Specifically, the following four new iPhone models are expected to be released: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro,and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
That said, it’s not uncommon for Apple to announce other new hardware alongside new iPhone launches, and along with the highly rumored phones, here are six major products we expect to see at the company’s September event.
1 Large professional sized device
Even Apple can’t escape the trend of larger mobile phones
Apple’s next-generation iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus devices are expected to retain the 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch display sizes that we’ve become accustomed to in the recent iPhone lineup.
The big change rumored this year concerns the Pro phones, which are expected to grow slightly in size to feature new 6.3-inch and 6.9-inch display panels.
If these leaks are correct, the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max will be the biggest smartphones Apple has ever shipped. For fans of larger devices, this may be great news. But for those who prefer compact hardware, it’s less than ideal.
2 Next-generation AirPods
USB-C charging and active noise cancellation could be on the way
It’s been a while since Apple refreshed the base model AirPods, so now would be the perfect time to finally do so. Notably, they’re rumored to include a USB-C charging case in the box, which would be another blow to the aging Lightning connector.
Active Noise Cancellation (ANC) is also rumored to be coming to the new fourth generation of Apple AirPods, previously only available on the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max models. Active Noise Cancellation combines computational algorithms with onboard microphones to intelligently cancel background noise. It will increase battery life a little, but the benefits are worth it when you want to cut out distracting environmental sounds.
Another rumor circulating is that Apple plans to introduce two different versions of the next-generation AirPods, each targeting a different price range. Not much is known about this possibility, but it’s entirely possible that the non-ANC option will be offered at a lower price. Alternatively, the cheaper version could maintain the existing price of the AirPods 3rd generation if the ANC version gets a price increase.
3 New Apple Watch Series X
Could the Apple Watch be getting a major iPhone X-style redesign?
According to leaks, the Apple Watch Series 10 is set to be released and will likely be marketed with the Roman numeral X. Rumors suggest that this next-generation Watch will be redesigned and will adopt an iPhone-esque visual signature in the form of a squared-off case.
Apple introduced the X style with the iPhone X in 2017, which represented the biggest leap in iPhone hardware since the launch of the original model.
The Apple Watch’s look has remained fairly consistent over the years, with a rounded exterior and curved front glass, and in an era when iPhones, iPads, and even Macs have flat edges, it makes sense to have a unified design language across product categories.
Apple introduced the X style with the iPhone X in 2017, which represented the biggest leap in iPhone hardware since the original model was released. If Apple considers the Watch Series 10 to be as big a leap as the iPhone X was back then, then the Watch Series X could very well be on the way.
4 Updates to the Watch SE and Watch Ultra product lines
Apple Watch SE 3 and Watch Ultra 3 may be released on September 9th
In addition to the Watch Series X, Apple’s spin-off smartwatch line will likely be refreshed as well, notably with leaks suggesting there will be a third-generation Watch SE and a third-generation Watch Ultra.
It’s likely that Apple will want to launch these new Watch models alongside the flagship Series X for a bigger impact. The SE model is designed for budget-conscious users, offering the basic Watch experience at a lower price. In contrast, the Ultra is a premium watch marketed to professional athletes and divers.
Rumors of Apple switching its Apple Watch display technology from OLED to Micro LED have been circulating for years now. The premium-priced Ultra model would be a perfect candidate for this kind of upgrade, but unfortunately, that doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen anytime soon. Industry analyst Ming Chi Quo reports that Apple has canceled plans for a Micro LED Watch, Ultra or otherwise.
5 Apple Intelligence Details and Demos
Apple expected to kick AI hype cycle up a few notches
Apple’s event tagline, “It’s Glowtime,” is likely a reference to the flashy new Siri invocation animation that the company first unveiled at WWDC 2024 alongside the Apple Intellgience AI suite.
We expect Apple to show off some new AI demos to further build excitement for the feature.
While Apple Intelligence looks promising, not all features are live yet, even in beta: The iPhone 16 likely won’t have the AI built-in when it launches, with some features reportedly being delayed until iOS 18.1 in October.
In the meantime, I expect Apple will show off some new AI demos to continue building excitement for the feature, and hopefully the onstage announcement won’t be plagued by the delivery issues that plagued Google’s recent Gemini demo.
Apple’s fall hardware keynote is scheduled for September 9th at 1pm ET/10am PST.
