Apple Event: Date and Time of the New iPhone 16 Launch and More
Apple has begun the countdown to the iPhone 16 launch event. Apple has just sent out invitations for the highly anticipated introduction of their new line of smartphones, which this year will be accompanied by new AirPods and Apple Watch.
The big news is that the iPhone 16 event will take place on Monday, September 9th, at Apple Park, and not on Tuesday, the 10th, as was rumored. There, we will learn about all the new features of Apple’s devices, and as usual, Routinehub Blog will provide coverage of all the announcements and the most notable updates that are revealed.
The invitation includes the slogan 'It's Glowtime,' and the logo seems to reference the design of the new Siri and its integration with Apple Intelligence. This is a logical reference, considering it’s one of the additions in iOS 18.
While much of the attention will be focused on the four iPhone 16 models, there will also be significant space for other products. The Apple Watch Series 10 is expected to debut alongside the brand's new generation of mobile phones, and new budget AirPods are also anticipated. But that’s not all; in recent weeks, rumors about the introduction of AirPods Max 2 have been growing.
What to Expect from the iPhone 16
As we’ve already mentioned, the iPhone 16 will be the star of Apple’s upcoming event. This year would mark the last with the current lineup of phones, which consists of the standard, Plus, Pro, and Pro Max models. According to rumors that have been circulating for some time, Apple is planning a radical change in its catalog starting in 2025 with the introduction of the iPhone 17, which would eliminate the Plus model and replace it with an extremely slim variant, either called Slim or Air, although it would be more expensive than the Pro/Pro Max.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. As for the iPhone 16 itself, no major changes are expected in terms of general features. The most noticeable external modification for the standard and Plus versions would be a new arrangement of the rear cameras, which would return to a vertical alignment instead of the diagonal setup seen in the last three generations. Additionally, both models will receive the action button that was previously exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max.
On the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max side, the rear camera module is expected to be larger than that of their predecessors. In this area, Apple is likely to equip its new premium smartphones with a 48 MP ultra-wide sensor, instead of the 12 MP one seen in the 2023 models. Both versions are also expected to feature a dedicated button on the right side for taking photos and recording videos, as well as larger capacity batteries.
Another strong rumor suggests that the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will increase their screen sizes, potentially reaching 6.3 and 6.9 inches, respectively. There’s also a lot of anticipation around the new color options for the four iPhone variants.
In terms of processing power, it's said that all iPhone 16 models will come equipped with the A18 chip. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that all will have the same features. Apple might equip the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus with a standard version of the SoC, while the Pro and Pro Max could offer a more powerful "Pro" option.
Apple's intention is for all its new phones to be capable of taking full advantage of the Apple Intelligence features in iOS 18. So, we can expect a significant portion of the iPhone 16 event to be dedicated to exploring the AI capabilities that were announced at WWDC 2024.
Apple Watch Series 10 and New AirPods
Apple Watch Series 9 Display
Rumors about the Apple Watch Series 10 have been abundant throughout this year. Although some alleged details of Apple's upcoming smartwatch have leaked, its most significant changes would be in the exterior.
The Apple Watch Series 10 is expected to have a thinner body and might introduce a new 49-millimeter size. If confirmed, this would match—at least in dimensions—the Apple Watch Ultra. This could mean that the watch might no longer be compatible with your old bands. As for features, reports are somewhat contradictory. Some suggest it won’t differ much from the Series 9, while others claim it will come with noticeable updates.
There were many comments at one point about the possible introduction of an Apple Watch X to celebrate the device’s tenth anniversary. Reports about this version indicated that it had not yet been determined whether it could be announced in 2024 or 2025. Let’s remember that the original Apple Watch was introduced in 2014 but went on sale a year later. Will there be any surprises at the iPhone 16 event? We’ll see.
What does seem certain is that we won’t see an Apple Watch Ultra 3 this year. However, there is speculation about the possible introduction of a new Apple Watch SE that could come with a plastic body to make it more affordable.
AirPods 4
And if we focus on the AirPods, the iPhone 16 presentation could bring updates to both ends of Apple's audio catalog. Tim Cook's team might introduce two budget AirPods models—possibly under the name AirPods 4—that would replace the second and third generations. The big news would be that one of the versions of the new earbuds would offer active noise cancellation.
Lastly, there is considerable anticipation for the possible announcement of the AirPods Max 2 at the iPhone 16 event. However, it’s also true that rumors of their possible debut have been repeated several times in recent years without materializing. If it does happen, the headphones might finally ditch the Lightning port in favor of USB-C. They could also come with an H2 chip, Bluetooth 5.3, and refreshed colors.
Date and Time of the Apple Event
The iPhone 16 event, along with the new Apple Watch and AirPods, will take place on Monday, September 9th, at the Steve Jobs Theater in Apple Park. The event will begin at 10:00 AM PST.
At Routinehub, we will publish a summary of everything that happens at the event on our blog. If you don't want to miss any details, the presentation can be watched on Apple official website and YouTube.