Apple has officially confirmed that it will hold its “Glowtime” special launch event on Monday, September 9, kicking off at 10 a.m. PT or 10:30 p.m IST. As we all know the flagship announcement will be the iPhone 16 series, but we’re also expecting some other Apple devices like the new Apple Watch hardware, new AirPods, and more. The official invite comes with the tagline “It’s Glowtime”, below a multi-colored logo that could reference Apple Intelligence or the redesigned Siri. Here’s everything you can expect from Apple’s Glowtime event.
iPhone 16 and 16 Plus
Each 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 have four models- iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The vanilla iPhone 16 models are expected to ditch the diagonal camera bump and feature a vertically aligned rear camera, that 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 RAM (up from 6GB) for faster performance. The non-Pro models will arrive in the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch versions.
With the iPhone 16 series, Apple will finally ditch the classic Mute switch 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 features. 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 might be available in five new colors, including Black, White, Blue, Green, and Pink.
iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max
The finest and most 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 bigger screens. The iPhone 16 Pro will feature a large 6.3-inch display, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be the biggest ever iPhone with a massive 6.9-inch screen. While the primary 48MP camera will remain the same, the ultra-wide lens is poised to get a notable upgrade to 48MP. That’s not all. In 2024, the 5X telephoto lens won’t be exclusive to the Pro Max model. Rather than the 3x telephoto lens found on the iPhone 15 Pro, the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro will rock a 5x telephoto lens just like the Pro Max model. So, we’ll get to witness some nice camera upgrades on the iPhone 16 Pro models.
The high-end iPhones will also boast the much-rumored Capture Button designed to please photography fans. We’re also expecting to see other improvements like an insanely capable A18 Pro chipset, bigger batteries, improved thermal design, Wi-Fi 7 support, and more. Not to forget, all models of the iPhone 16 series will support Apple Intelligence features.
Apple Watch Series 10
Beyond the new iPhones, if there’s one Apple product confirmed to make a debut at the September event, it has to be the Apple Watch. This year, the Cupertino tech giant might introduce a thinner and bigger version of the Apple Watch. The upcoming Apple Watch Series 10 is likely to arrive in 45mm and 49mm casing options, with the larger option matching the size of the Apple Watch Ultra. Also, we can expect to see an array of new health features, including blood pressure monitoring and Sleep Apnea detection. For more details, here are all the rumors and expectations around the Apple Watch Series 10.
Apple Watch Ultra 3
The expensive Apple Watch Ultra 3 will also make a debut at Apple’s September event. Just like the Apple Watch Series 10, there aren’t any major hardware upgrades or design changes tipped for the Ultra 3. That means we aren’t going to see any new designs on the 2024 Apple 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 reaching up to 3,000 nits or brightness, a new double-tap gesture feature, and more. This year, we might not see such impressive additions.
While the overall design will remain the same, the Apple Watch Ultra 3 will boast some long-anticipated health features like blood pressure monitoring and Sleep Apnea detection. Also, for the first time, we may see a new dark/black case color option on the Apple Watch Ultra. There are rumors that Apple is working on the microLED display technology for its smartwatches, but we might have to wait until 2026 to see a microLED Apple Watch if that ever happens.
Apple Watch SE 3
Apple will also refresh its most affordable smartwatch lineup during its iPhone event. According to recent reports, the Apple Watch SE 3 might receive several significant reports, such as larger 41mm & 45mm case sizes, matching the Apple Watch Series 9 sizes. Mark Gurman suggests that Apple will switch to plastic shells to cut down the production costs of the Apple Watch SE 3 and put the retail price somewhere around $200. This material change and lower cost may appeal to parents buying an Apple Watch for kids. If this turns out ti be true, it will be nice to see Apple offering a modern smartwatch that packs the right balance between features and affordability.
AirPods 4
Expected to arrive in September or October, the upcoming AirPods lineup is expected to be Apple’s biggest launch to date. Mark Gurman has already shed some light on Apple’s plans to discontinue AirPods 2 and AirPods this year and replace them with two different models of the AirPods 4. This would mark the debut 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, better fit, and a USB-C charging case. However, neither of the AirPods 4 models will have replaceable silicon tips.
There will be a lower-end and a higher-end model of AirPods 4. The “higher-end” option might borrow some ‘Pro-ness’ from the AirPods Pro, including noise cancellation and built-in speakers in the charging case so you can easily find the lost AirPods or the charging case. The current AirPods 2 and AirPods feature an H1 chip, and the upcoming AirPods 4 models are likely to inherit the H2 chip from the AirPods Pro second-gen. The upgraded chip will onboard various improvements like faster & more reliable Bluetooth connections and improved power efficiency.
AirPods Max 2
Released back in December 2020, AirPods Max is the oldest AirPods model that Apple currently sells. While a new AirPods Max 2 is in Apple’s pipeline, the giant might seek a “late 2024” release for it. So, we might see the second-gen AirPods Max in October, alongside the AirPods 4 models. That said, there are still slim chances that we will get to see the new AirPods Max at the iPhone 16 event. One of the major and most expected 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 transition 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 is speculated to include Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity which is already present in AirPods Pro 2, iPhone 15 series, and the latest Apple Watch models. Although there aren’t ample rumors, there are all the reasons for fans to expect the new H2 chip in AirPods Max 2. After all, AirPods Max 2 will arrive almost four years after the original model, so they should boast some dramatic changes to excite its fans.
iPad Mini 7
Apple launched the iPad Mini 6 back in September 2021. It’s been three years since the last refresh so Apple’s smallest and most portable tablet is certainly due for an update. Mark Gurman posted on X that many Apple Stores are running low on iPad Mini stocks. It seems the giant is clearing the shelves to make way for the new model. While there isn’t any major evidence, Gurman believes the new iPad mini could be coming soon. This news came right ahead of Apple’s upcoming iPhone-centric event, so the new iPad mini may make a debut on the same day. The new iPad mini 7 is likely to arrive with some display changes to cut down jelly scrolling, an A-series chipset, a FaceTime landscape camera like the new M2 iPad Air, Wi-Fi 6e connectivity, and Apple Pencil Pro support.
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 up for grabs on Apple’s online store just minutes after the event ends. This year, Apple is speculated to launch the Apple Watch Series 10 in two casing sizes- 45mm and 49mm. Since the 49mm Apple Watch Ultra is compatible with the 45mm Apple Watch Series 9 bands, there are chances that the new Apple Watch bands could be compatible with the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra for the very first time.
iOS 18 and more
Last but not least, Apple’s iPhone 16 event will also include details about the release date of Apple’s new set of OSes. So, we’ll finally see iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18. Sometimes, the new software updates are rolled out within a few days of the event.
According to several rumors, Apple will release macOS Sequoia alongside iOS 18 for the time in September. Until now, the giant typically holds the release of its new macOS version until October or November.
What Not to Expect from the iPhone 16 Event
The upcoming Apple iPhone 16 launch is sure to be a star-studded event, but there are a few products we won’t probably see during the presentation. While some Macs are due for an update, we won’t see them at Apple’s September event. There are less than slim chances of any MacBook Pro, Mac mini, or iMac to 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 excited to see at the iPhone 16 event? Are you planning to buy any of the upcoming Apple products? Don’t forget to share your views in the comments below.
