Mark your calendars. Apple has set its event for September 9, and as always, there’s plenty of attention surrounding what it will unveil. From the iPhone 16 to new Apple Watches and potentially refreshed AirPods, here’s what to look out for.
New iPhones, But No Game-Changers?
The big ticket item is undoubtedly the iPhone 16. Don’t hold your breath for revolutionary changes though; the upgrades are expected to be largely iterative. We’ll likely see four new models: the iPhone 16, 16 Plus, 16 Pro, and 16 Pro Max, keeping it consistent with last year’s lineup.
Bigger Screens and New Colours
Bigger screens are rumored for the Pro models, with the Pro moving to 6.3 inches and the Pro Max to a whopping 6.9 inches. Color-wise, we might see a new gold-colored titanium model, which sounds fancy but isn’t groundbreaking. A chipset upgrade is also expected, leveraging Apple’s AI ambitions, but again, nothing earth-shattering.
The Action Button and Camera Enhancements
Remember the Action Button from the iPhone 15 Pro? It’s reportedly making its way to the standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. This multi-purpose button can control various functions like your camera, flashlight, and ringer settings. Speaking of cameras, there might be a new button on the Pro models that works like a DSLR’s, allowing for easy autofocus and photo capture.
What About the Watches?
Apple Watch enthusiasts, this event is for you too. We’re likely to see an Apple Watch Series 10 (or Series X, as some rumors suggest) and possibly an Apple Watch Ultra 3. Expect larger screens, a design overhaul for bands, and the usual chip updates. If you were hoping for advanced health tracking features, hold that excitement – they probably won’t be ready this year.
AirPods Getting Some Love
Two new AirPods 4 models could debut, replacing the current AirPods 2 and 3. The big change will be a move to USB-C charging, aligning with other Apple devices. The mid-tier version might even get active noise cancellation, but don’t expect an update to the AirPods Pro or over-ear AirPods Max just yet.
“One Last Thing”? Probably Not This Time
Usually, we don’t get any big surprises at the iPhone event, but there’s talk about a redesigned Mac mini, smaller than ever before. Yet, don’t hold your breath, it could easily get bumped to a later, Mac-specific event next year.
What About Software?
Expect to hear more about iOS 18, which was teased during WWDC. RCS support is coming to iPhones, and we might get the release date for Apple Intelligence, although it’s been delayed to iOS 18.1 expected in October.
When will all this be available in the Middle East?
As for when these updates will impact the Middle East, it’s a wait-and-see game as usual.
That said, Apple’s global reach means these products will likely arrive here two weeks after the initial announcement. So if you’re in the market for a new iPhone 16 – we’d expect Friday, September 20 to be the big day.