What to expect from Apple’s September 14 “California Streaming” event

On September 14 at 10 am PDT (1 pm EDT), Apple will host its first product-launch occasion in a number of months. As soon as once more, it will likely be an online-only event. However as with different current on-line occasions from Apple, we anticipate it to be as jam-packed with bulletins as ever.

It is more likely to concentrate on the iPhone, however revelations in regards to the Apple Watch, AirPods, and perhaps the iPad are doubtless, too. We’ll be liveblogging the occasion because it occurs on Tuesday, in fact, however till then, take into account what you are about to learn our greatest try at setting expectations and making predictions about what’s coming.

In so some ways, Apple has gotten simpler to learn and predict in recent times—definitely in comparison with the years throughout Steve Jobs’ second tenure as CEO. Apple has settled into one thing of a cadence with its important product strains, making it a bit simpler to see what could also be coming. The corporate’s merchandise are nonetheless disruptive, however now they do it in a refined, iterative methods and infrequently in areas that are not as flashy as what we noticed within the 2000s—like well being care, for instance.

And positive sufficient, we anticipate well being to catch the attention of Apple’s upcoming merchandise. However that certainly will not be the entire of it. So here is what we’re searching for.

iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 Professional

As has often been the case with Apple’s September occasions, the iPhone is more likely to be the star. Apple will announce its new lineup of flagship iPhones.

There have been no scarcity of leaks and stories indicating that the brand new telephones will are available the identical sizes as final yr’s lineup: 5.4- and 6.1-inch variants of the usual flagship iPhone, and 6.1- and 6.7-inch variants of the “Professional” mannequin, which final yr was merely product of nicer supplies and featured a extra sturdy digicam system.

Will Apple identify these handsets the iPhone 13, iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13 Professional, and iPhone 13 Professional Max, precisely matching the naming scheme seen for the final two years? That looks like an affordable guess, however you by no means know.

In any case, rumors are swirling that Apple will lastly introduce an iPhone with a 120 Hz display—one thing many Android flagships have already got and that Apple itself did with the iPad Professional.

If that occurs, we anticipate the show shall be a function that differentiates the iPhone 13 Professional and iPhone 13 Professional Max over the cheaper iPhone 13 and iPhone 13 mini.

Some leakers and provide line sources have mentioned that the iPhone 13 can have a smaller front-facing sensor and digicam notch than the iPhone 12. The Professional fashions may need a brand new form of optical stabilization on the rear digicam system.

Under: Pictures of final yr’s iPhone 12 from our review.

And naturally, every of those telephones can have Apple’s subsequent iPhone system-on-a-chip (SoC), doubtless referred to as the A15, with improved processing, graphics, or machine-learning efficiency.

Nearly each provide chain supply has indicated that the brand new iPhones will not have a considerably totally different design, look, or really feel, apart from maybe a barely totally different rear digicam association.

One different element appears more likely to turn into a actuality: Bloomberg claimed that the iPhone 13 can have a brand new satellite tv for pc communication expertise. It is not fully clear what this could be used for, however one chance is likely to be emergency calls outdoors the vary of a mobile tower.

Traditionally, new iPhones have gone on sale every week or so after the occasion, however the provide chain has all types of recent wrinkles this yr. It is definitely doable this yr’s lineup will ship somewhat later or that there could also be provide constraints.

Apple Watch Collection 7

We all know lots much less in regards to the new Apple Watch, however that is likely to be as a result of there’s not a lot to know: Bloomberg and others have reported that the brand new Watch won’t have any new health sensors this yr. These sensors are usually what differentiate one yr’s Watch from its predecessor.

Under: Pictures of final yr’s Apple Watch from our review.

However the Apple Watch is overdue for an aesthetic redesign, because it nonetheless speaks the design language of iPhones of some years previous. We would not be stunned to see a much bigger display, flatter edges, and different design enhancements of that nature. An improve for the processor is probably going, too, in accordance with some stories.

AirPods

We’re nearly sure that Apple will announce new iPhone and Apple Watch fashions at this occasion. Now we get into the stuff we’re rather less positive of.

First up: AirPods. Apple’s AirPods wi-fi earbuds have been a runaway success for the corporate, and so they have even spawned two cousins: the in-ear, noise-canceling AirPods Professional, and the expensive, over-ear AirPods Max.

Under: Pictures of the first-generation AirPods from our review.

However other than the addition of wi-fi charging to the case and some different small modifications, comparatively little has truly developed in regards to the authentic AirPods since their debut 5 years in the past.

(Principally inconclusive) rumors abound {that a} third technology of AirPods is coming this yr, and this occasion is one of the best match for that product.

AirPods Professional, which launched two years in the past, have shorter stems on every ear bud, and we would not be stunned to see that tweak come to AirPods. We expect it is much less doubtless that Apple will convert the bottom AirPods into in-ear headphones, as some have speculated, however we do not know for positive.

Apple may additionally make modifications to the case that allow higher battery life, amongst different issues. However for essentially the most half, we’ll simply have to attend and see on this one.

iPad and iPad mini

Final yr, Apple unveiled new iPad fashions at its September occasion, together with the iPad Air and entry-level iPad.

An replace to the iPad Air appears unlikely this time round, as that pill is fairly present. However each the iPad and iPad mini have getting old designs that look out-of-place alongside the iPad Air, iPad Professional, and up to date iPhones.

A 9to5Mac article citing nameless sources claimed that Apple will introduce a radically redesigned iPad mini with an edge-to-edge show, a USB-C port, and no residence button—in different phrases, a smaller model of the present iPad Air—with the brand-new A15 chip anticipated to come back within the iPhone 13.

This could be a significant replace to a product that has largely languished for years, with solely sporadic updates to its processor and never a lot else moreover Apple Pencil help.

Under: Pictures of final yr’s iPad Air from our review. This pill’s design is claimed to be the template for an iPad mini overhaul.

Apple may do the identical with its entry-level iPad, however we additionally would not be stunned if Apple did not do this. In spite of everything, the primary function of that iPad is to remain low-cost so colleges can afford it. That mentioned, a processor bump is due, so we’d see that, at the very least.

If the iPad Air will get an replace, anticipate it to be a bump to the A15 chip, with no different modifications. And the present, M1-equipped iPad Professional is one in every of Apple’s most present merchandise, so it is unlikely that we’ll see a brand new iPad Professional this month.

We expect it is doubtless that Apple will announce an up to date iPad mini and base iPad throughout the subsequent few months, but it surely’s fully doable Apple will maintain off its iPad bulletins till later within the yr; the corporate hasn’t all the time been constant about precisely when in Q3 or This fall it reveals or launches new tablets.

What about Macs?

The Mac is in a clumsy spot. All of the lowest-end Macs have Apple-designed chips to switch the Intel CPUs which have been part of the Mac for years now. However the high-end Macs just like the 27-inch iMac, the 16-inch MacBook Professional, and the Mac Professional are nonetheless dwelling within the outdated paradigm.

It is very doubtless that at the very least the MacBook Professional and perhaps the massive iMac will get their Apple Silicon updates this yr. (All indicators level to a Mac Professional desktop tower replace in 2022, not 2021.)

However Apple has not often introduced Macs alongside the iPhone at its current September occasions, opting as a substitute to avoid wasting these merchandise for October, November, and even December. So do not anticipate new Macs—but.