iPhone launch occasions have usually turn out to be predictable and mundane. Lots of the {hardware} upgrades leak months (and even years) prematurely, minimizing our enthusiasm through the official keynote. That’s to not point out the smartphone’s maturity, and the “Apple simply re-released final 12 months’s iPhone!” sentiment amongst clients. This 12 months could possibly be totally different, nevertheless.
Apple’s subsequent occasion, dubbed “Awe Dropping” and going down on September 9, is rumored to carry a great deal of design and performance adjustments to a few of the corporate’s best-selling gadgets. It received’t simply be recycled iPhones and wearables with barely quicker processors that no person cares about. We’re anticipating dramatic adjustments to key gadgets, and I can’t wait to see what Apple has in retailer for us.
Essentially the most Professional AirPods Professional ever
Although the occasion is iPhone-centric, I’m truly anticipating the AirPods Professional 3 essentially the most. Whereas AirPods throughout their early days began as very primary wi-fi earbuds, they’ve developed into advanced gadgets over time. At present, the AirPods Professional 2 faucet into listening to well being and supply superior audio options that actually improve the listening expertise. I can solely think about what their successors will carry.
Rumors recommend we’ll see a extra compact design that shortens the present stems. Just like the AirPods 4, the charging case can also get rid of the bodily pairing button in favor of a extra futuristic, capacitive one.
Past the cosmetics, the AirPods Professional 3 might boast stronger lively noice cancellation, which might restrict exterior disturbance much more. And like its Beats-branded counterpart, the upcoming AirPods Professional might help coronary heart charge measurements. This would offer watch-less customers with extra well being knowledge when recording exercises. Equally, it might carry pores and skin temperature monitoring and detect potential irregularities.
Foundry
The perfect half about AirPods Professional is Apple’s dedication within the software program division. Whereas the above-mentioned {hardware} perks are sufficiently thrilling on their very own, the corporate will doubtless supercharge them additional by way of firmware updates for years to come back. For instance, the AirPods Professional 2 proceed to obtain noteworthy additions yearly, regardless of being three years previous. In truth, Apple might announce a useful reside translation device for them through the upcoming occasion.
A Professional digital camera for execs
As a cell pictures fanatic, I completely despise my iPhone 16 Professional Max’s telephoto lens. Android cellphone producers have been letting their customers shoot faraway topics with 100x zoom, whereas the iPhone remains to be restricted to 5x optical and 25x digital zooms. Whereas 25x zoom, in concept, is enough in lots of use circumstances, the output high quality is usually subpar. Fortuitously, the iPhone 17 Professional might lastly tackle that.
If the rumors materialize, the telephoto lens might lastly catch as much as the broad and ultra-wide ones, bumping the decision to 48MP. The change would assist reduce pixelation, particularly in dimly lit environments. It might additionally unlock 8x optical zoom, a welcome bump from 5x.
Foundry
Different rumored iPhone 17 Professional digital camera upgrades I sit up for embody the redesigned rear bump and the standalone superior digital camera app. Apple already gives a Last Minimize Digicam app for video recording—a Professional pictures app would complement it properly.
Going to the matte
I solely use darkish mode on all of my Apple gadgets, and so do many customers with delicate eyes. This, nevertheless, additionally signifies that I’ve to stare at my face’s reflection at any time when I’m utilizing my iPhone, which may be fairly distracting. In line with rumors, Apple might repair this challenge on the iPhone 17 Professional by making use of a brand new anti-reflective layer on the display. It might doubtlessly mimic the matte Nano Texture show possibility provided by some iPads and Macs.
Half an iPhone Fold
Different compelling display upgrades coming this fall might embody the enlargement of the 120Hz refresh charge to all iPhone 17 fashions. The characteristic—presently unique to Professional iPhones—would speed up animations and make transitions smoother.
To the “all iPhones look the identical” people, this one is especially thrilling. Through the subsequent occasion, Apple is predicted to announce the iPhone 17 Air—a competitively slim version that prepares for 2026’s potential iPhone Fold debut. It received’t be essentially the most technologically superior handset, nevertheless it actually will attraction to informal customers looking for a mind-blowingly glossy cellphone.
Extra Collection, much less SE
Regardless of being the iPhone maker’s lowest-end smartwatch, the Apple Watch SE helps many of the options provided by its higher-end Collection counterpart. Positive, you miss out on the always-on show, ECG sensor, and different nice-to-have perks, however in any other case you get the identical fundamental ecosystem integrations and health monitoring.
In September, Apple could possibly be upgrading the SE mannequin in two key methods, bringing it nearer to the Collection watches. For starters, the Apple Watch SE 3 might lastly undertake the larger construct first launched with the Collection 7, because the Collection 10 and (presumably) 11 transfer onto a fair bigger design. The shift to a wider show might additionally embody thinner bezels, contributing to a extra fashionable look.
Foundry
Apple is predicted to bump the subsequent SE smartwatch’s processor from S8 to S11, doubtlessly unlocking extra intensive options the Collection line has had for years. These might embody the double-tap gesture, Siri well being knowledge entry, wrist flick for dismissing notifications, and extra.
All of those boosts would make the Apple Watch SE 3 a extra tempting possibility for funds clients, because the compromises proceed to shrink.
The lacking WWDC phase
Throughout final 12 months’s WWDC, Apple infamously made some severe guarantees it couldn’t maintain. The corporate has since discovered to not overshare throughout its developer convention. As such, at WWDC25, Apple primarily solely previewed options included with OS 26.0 and kept away from revealing future perks coming with OS model 26.1 and past.
With the iPhone launch occasion doubtless being near OS 26.1 beta’s launch, the corporate might logically preview some main unannounced OS 26.1 options it has readied through the keynote. And, just like earlier years, it might additionally unveil some thrilling software program instruments unique to the brand new gadgets.
