Apple has officially confirmed that it will host its special ‘Glowtime’ launch event on Monday, September 9, starting at 10 AM PT or 10:30 PM IST. As we all know, the headline announcement will be the iPhone 16 series, but we are also expecting other Apple devices like the new Apple Watch hardware, new AirPods, and more. The official invite comes with the tagline ‘It’s Glowtime’, under a multi-colored logo that could refer to Apple Intelligence or the redesigned Siri. Here’s everything you can expect from Apple’s Glowtime event.
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus
Every year, the iPhone is the star of Apple’s September launch event, and this time, it’s the iPhone 16 series. As usual, the new iPhone 16 lineup will include four models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The regular iPhone 16 models are expected to ditch the diagonal camera bump and feature a vertically aligned rear camera, which we last saw on the iPhone 12. This year, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will arrive with several notable upgrades over their predecessors. The new models will be powered by a new A18 chipset paired with 8GB of RAM (up from 6GB) for faster performance. The non-Pro models will arrive in the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch variants.
With the iPhone 16 series, Apple will finally ditch the classic Mute button and introduce a programmable action button that we saw on the iPhone 15 Pro models last year. On the right side (below the Power button), there will be a new Capture button with dedicated camera functions. It will let you quickly open the Camera app, zoom in/out, adjust focus, and other essentials while shooting videos in landscape mode. This year, the iPhone 16 could come in five new colors, including black, white, blue, green, and pink.
iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max
The most beautiful and expensive jewel in Apple’s crown would be the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. One of the most notable changes on the Pro models will be the larger displays. The iPhone 16 Pro will feature a large 6.3-inch display, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be the largest iPhone ever with a massive 6.9-inch display. While the 48MP main camera will remain the same, the ultra-wide lens is about to get a notable upgrade to 48MP. That’s not all. In 2024, the 5X telephoto lens will not be exclusive to the Pro Max model. Rather than the 3x telephoto lens on the iPhone 15 Pro, the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro will sport a 5x telephoto lens just like the Pro Max model. So we could see some nice camera improvements on the iPhone 16 Pro models.
The high-end iPhones will also feature the much-awaited Capture button, designed to please photography enthusiasts. We also expect to see other improvements like an incredibly capable A18 Pro chipset, bigger batteries, improved thermal design, Wi-Fi 7 support, and more. Not to mention, all iPhone 16 series models will support Apple Intelligence features.
Apple Watch Series 10
Aside from the new iPhones, if there’s one Apple product confirmed to debut at the September event, it has to be the Apple Watch. This year, the Cupertino tech giant could introduce a thinner and larger version of the Apple Watch. The upcoming Apple Watch Series 10 is expected to arrive in 45mm and 49mm cases, with the larger option matching the size of the Apple Watch Ultra. We can also expect to see a slew of new health features, including blood pressure monitoring and sleep apnea detection. For more details, here are all the rumors and expectations surrounding the Apple Watch Series 10.
Apple Watch Ultra 3
The very expensive Apple Watch Ultra 3 will also debut at Apple’s September event. Much like the Apple Watch Series 10, there are no major hardware upgrades or design changes planned for the Ultra 3. That means we won’t see any new designs on Apple’s 2024 smartwatches. Last year, the Apple Watch Ultra 2 arrived with a fair share of new features like a faster S9 chip, a 50% brighter display capable of up to 3,000 nits of brightness, a new double-tap gesture feature, and more. This year, we may not see such impressive additions.
While the overall design remains the same, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will come with some long-awaited health features, like blood pressure monitoring and sleep apnea detection. Additionally, for the first time, we might see a new dark/black case color option on the Apple Watch Ultra. Rumors have been circulating that Apple is working on microLED display technology for its smartwatches, but we may have to wait until 2026 to see a microLED Apple Watch if that ever happens.
Apple Watch SE 3
Apple will also be revamping its more affordable smartwatch lineup at its iPhone event. Recent reports suggest that the Apple Watch SE 3 could see several notable changes, such as larger 41mm and 45mm case sizes, matching the sizes of the Apple Watch Series 9. Mark Gurman suggests that Apple will switch to plastic cases to reduce production costs for the Apple Watch SE 3 and keep the retail price around $200. This change in material and lower cost could appeal to parents buying an Apple Watch for their kids. If true, it would be nice to see Apple deliver a modern smartwatch that strikes the right balance of features and affordability.
AirPods 4
Expected to arrive in September or October, the upcoming AirPods lineup is expected to be Apple’s biggest launch yet. Mark Gurman Apple has already shed some light on Apple’s plans to stop production of the AirPods 2 and AirPods this year and replace them with two different models of the AirPods 4. This would mark the start of a new two-tier AirDrop lineup for the standard, non-Pro models. The new AirPods 4 models will feature an updated design that blends the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro, with shorter stems, improved sound quality, a better fit, and a USB-C charging case. However, neither AirPods 4 model will have replaceable silicone ear tips.
There will be an entry-level model and a premium model of AirPods 4. The “premium” option could borrow some of the “Pro-ness” features of the AirPods Pro, including noise cancellation and speakers built into the charging case so you can easily find lost AirPods or the charging case. The current AirPods 2 and AirPods feature an H1 chip, and the upcoming AirPods 4 models will likely inherit the H2 chip from the second-generation AirPods Pro. The upgraded chip will bring a variety of improvements like faster, more reliable Bluetooth connections and improved power efficiency.
AirPods Max 2
Image courtesy of Mohit Singh/Jugo Mobile
Released in December 2020, the AirPods Max are the oldest AirPods model currently sold by Apple. While a new AirPods Max 2 is in Apple’s pipeline, the giant could be looking at a “late 2024” release. So we could see the second-generation AirPods Max in October, alongside the AirPods 4 models. That said, there’s still a slim chance that we’ll see the new AirPods Max at the iPhone 16 event. One of the major and most anticipated design changes on the upcoming AirPods Max 2 will be the replacement of the Lightning port with the USB-C standard. The Cupertino tech giant has to switch to USB-C to comply with EU laws. Mark Gurman reported that the next-gen AirPods Max 2 will arrive in refreshed color options, though he didn’t specify the exact shades.
The AirPods Max 2 are expected to feature Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, which is already present in the AirPods Pro 2, the iPhone 15 series, and the latest Apple Watch models. While there aren’t many rumors, fans have every reason to expect the new H2 chip in the AirPods Max 2. After all, the AirPods Max 2 will arrive almost four years after the original model, so it should feature some dramatic changes to excite its fans.
iPad Mini 7
Apple launched the iPad Mini 6 in September 2021. It’s been three years since the last update, so Apple’s smallest and most portable tablet is definitely due for an update. Mark Gurman posted on X Many Apple Stores are running low on iPad Mini inventory. It appears that the giant is clearing out shelves to make way for the new model. While there’s no major evidence, Gurman believes that the new iPad mini could be coming soon. This news comes just ahead of Apple’s upcoming iPhone-centric event, so the new iPad mini could debut on the same day. The new iPad mini 7 is expected to arrive with some display tweaks to reduce jelly scrolling, an A-series chipset, a FaceTime landscape camera like the new M2 iPad Air, Wi-Fi 6e connectivity, and support for the Apple Pencil Pro.
New Apple Watch bands and iPhone cases
At its September iPhone event, Apple typically launches its new Apple Watch bands and iPhone cases in a range of fresh colors. Sometimes, these new accessories are available on Apple’s online store just minutes after the event ends. This year, Apple is expected to launch the Apple Watch Series 10 in two case sizes: 45mm and 49mm. Since the 49mm Apple Watch Ultra is compatible with the 45mm Apple Watch Series 9 bands, it’s possible that the new Apple Watch bands will be compatible with the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra for the first time ever.
iOS 18 and above
Finally, Apple’s iPhone 16 event will also include details on the release date of Apple’s new set of operating systems. So, we will finally see iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18. Sometimes, the new software updates are rolled out a few days after the event.
According to several rumors, Apple would release macOS Sequoia at the same time as iOS 18, currently in September. Until now, the giant generally postponed the release of its new version of macOS to October or November.
What Not to Expect at the iPhone 16 Event
Apple’s upcoming iPhone 16 launch is sure to be a star-studded event, but there are a few products we probably won’t see at the presentation. While some Macs are set to be updated, we won’t see them at Apple’s September event. There’s little chance that a MacBook Pro, Mac mini, or iMac will make an appearance. We can expect Apple to launch these products at another event later this fall.
That’s pretty much everything we might see at Apple’s September event. What are you most looking forward to at the iPhone 16 event? Are you planning to buy any of Apple’s upcoming products? Don’t forget to share your thoughts in the comments below.
