Apple Event 2024: iPhone 16 Launching

For Apple devotees, the biggest tech day of the year is approaching: The Apple iPhone 16 event. Scheduled for September 9 at 1 PM ET, it will be streamed live on YouTube and the company’s website. We’ll also be live-blogging the news.

The main highlight will be the iPhone 16 lineup. As usual, we expect new Apple Watches—possibly one or two models, or even three if a new SE is unveiled. Rumors suggest a refresh for the standard AirPods, and new M4 Macs, HomePods, iPad mini, or the baseline iPhone SE could be revealed. However, some of these might not appear until 2025. Until Tim Cook speaks, all details remain speculative. Here’s what we’re likely to see:

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Pro

No matter what else happens, these new handsets will take center stage during the Apple event. That’s good news for people ready for an upgrade. The bad (ish) news? The vast majority of leaks and rumors indicate that this will be another year of iterative improvements, so don’t expect a game-changing new hardware feature.

The new models will feature a chipset that supports Apple’s AI push, called Apple Intelligence. The upgraded A18 chip will offer incremental improvements. The Pro and Pro Max will likely have a more powerful chip. The base RAM will probably be 8GB to handle AI tasks.

Rumors suggest the standard iPhone 16 and 16 Plus will get the Action Button, replacing the mute switch. This button can control various functions like changing ringer settings or launching the camera. Additionally, a new button for camera functions may be included in the Pro and Pro Max models, similar to a DSLR button. It might enable autofocus, photo-taking, and zooming.

Camera specs will be updated, with a possible redesign of the module. The iPhone 16’s camera could switch to a vertical orientation, especially for the base models. The Pro models will likely continue to emphasize advanced photography.

New Button Rumor

It’s also been rumored that the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will get the Action Button, a feature introduced last year for the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max. This multi-purpose button is a direct replacement for the mute switch, by default, but can be adjusted to control a bunch of different things. The Action Button can be used to to change ringer settings, turn on the flashlight, launch the camera and more.

There’s also talk of another new button, this one on the right side of the phone. This will control camera features, operating like a button on a DSLR. Reporting indicates that a soft press will trigger autofocus and a harder press will take a photo. Consumers may also be able to swipe along the button to zoom in and out while shooting photos or taking videos. It’s been reported that this camera button will only come with the Pro and Pro Max, which makes sense since the high-end models typically offer a more robust camera experience.

To that end, new iPhones always get a camera spec bump, but we don’t know exactly what that will look like this time. It’s been reported, however, that the iPhone 16’s camera module could be getting a design refresh. Apple might be ditching the square and going with a vertical orientation. This might only apply to the base iPhone 16 and maybe the Plus, as the Pro and Pro Max phones tend to place a much higher emphasis on photos and videos.

IOS 18

We already know what’s coming on the software side of things, thanks to the recent WWDC event. Based on previous years, iOS 18 should be available within the week following the event. The software update features a more customizable Control Center and Home Screen. It’ll also finally bring RCS support to iPhones.

As for Apple Intelligence, you’ll have to wait a bit. It was announced as part of iOS 18, but it’s been delayed until iOS 18.1. This isn’t a huge deal, as that OS refresh is expected in October, but does mean that early adopters of the iPhone 16 won’t be able to fool around with AI right away.

Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3

The Apple Watch will also be in the spotlight. This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Apple Watch, so we may see the Series 10 or Series X. The new smartwatch might have a larger 49mm screen, replacing the 41mm size.

Rumors indicate a redesigned band system with new connectors, which might make older bands incompatible. A new chip will power the watch, with potential AI integration planned for later.

Two watches are expected, codenamed N217 and N218. One might be the Apple Watch Ultra 3, but it is likely to receive only an iterative update. Health tracking features like high blood pressure and sleep apnea detection may not be ready this year. There’s also a chance of a new Watch SE with a plastic exterior to reduce costs, potentially competing closer to Samsung’s $200 Galaxy Watch FE.

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