Apple traditionally holds a few events over the course of the year, but arguably the most anticipated event takes place in autumn – the event where the latest iPhone is revealed. This year is no different, especially considering that this year is supposed to bring some major changes to the iPhone’s design. However, the autumn event includes much more than just new iPhones, as Apple Watch, Apple TV, and even AirPods are set to receive upgrades this year as well.
Taking center stage is the reveal of the new iPhone (or iPhones, as it turns out). Rumors and leaks have flip flopped over the past few weeks, but the latest rounds tell us that there will be three new iPhones: the iPhone X, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone 8. Consensus regarding the new devices is that the iPhone X will be the showcase and the phone with the most significant changes. The iPhone X is said to have an all-screen, OLED display front except for a single cut-out, like the Essential Phone. The physical home button usually seen on the front of the device has been replaced with a virtual button, and Touch ID has been replaced with Face ID. Users will reportedly be able to lock and unlock the phone with a designated side button. For the first time, the iPhone is also expected to support wireless charging.
Less has been discussed regarding the “iPhone 8” and “iPhone 8 Plus”. As these devices were previously rumored to be called “iPhone 7s” and “iPhone 7s Plus”, these devices are likely to be more like the current generation iPhone in design and function: 4.7 and 5.5-inch displays, physical home “button”, etc. These devices will also allegedly be able to utilize Face ID and support for “Animojis”, animated emoji animals that correspond with the user’s facial expressions. Of course, they will also receive a spec bump as well.
Rumors strongly suggest that Apple will also unveil it’s 3rd generation Apple Watch tomorrow, although reports say that it looks much the same as the past two generations despite earlier reports suggesting that it might receive an “all-new” form factor this time around. Although there’s still room to be wrong as this is just speculation, it’s best to err on the side of caution and not expect too much.
Although the smartphones may not receive a design overhaul like the iPhone is expected to, it is still rumored to feature 4G LTE connectivity and likely some battery life and spec improvements, and probably some new band designs.
Apple TV is expected to receive a refresh tomorrow, which is great news considering the current version just hit the 2-year mark. The new Apple TV will allegedly feature a more powerful three-core A10X Fusion chip (up from the A8 chip), 4K streaming, and 3GB of RAM (up from 2GB).
Initially debuted last year, Apple has supposedly been hard at work to improve AirPods. The new AirPods are rumored to feature more gesture controls. These controls are rumored to be one tap for play, double-tap for skip, and triple-tap for back track.
Tomorrow will certainly be an exciting day for Apple fans as we wait to see exactly what major changes Apple has in store. The event will start tomorrow, September 12 at 10:00 a.m. PDT (1:00 p.m. EST) at the new Steve Jobs Theater. Users can watch via livestream on their Mac (El Capitan or later) or iOS device (iOS 9 or later) via Safari; PC users running Windows 10 can watch on Microsoft Edge. Second, third, and fourth generation Apple TV users can stream it as well.
