Apple’s iPhone 16 Launch Event – 5 Things We Expected and 3 Things We Didn’t Expect
It’s official: Apple’s annual September launch event is scheduled for Monday, September 9. The tech giant confirmed the date via email invites with the tagline “It’s Glowtime” (we have ours), suggesting that Apple Intelligence will be front and center at next month’s showcase in Cupertino.
But what else are we expecting to see at this year’s Apple event? The iPhone 16 series is a sure thing, while updates to Apple’s AirPods and Watch lines also seem likely. We’re also expecting a slate of announcements relating to iOS 18, iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, macOS Sequoia, and tvOS 18.
Below, we outline five things we expect to see at Apple’s upcoming event—and three things we almost certainly won’t see.
What can you expect?
iPhone 16 series
Apple’s September events almost always play host to the launch of a new iPhone line, and we’re expecting the same from this year’s showcase. Four iPhone 16 models are scheduled for release next month – specifically the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max – with minor (rather than groundbreaking) upgrades across all of them.
The standard iPhone 16 models are rumored to adopt the Action button from the iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max, while a so-called ‘Capture’ button will reportedly appear on every model in the lineup. Expect the usual cocktail of Apple chipset upgrades, too, as well as new iPhone 16 colors.
Apple Intelligence
As mentioned, the biggest announcement from Apple’s September event will almost certainly be Apple Intelligence. The upcoming suite of AI-powered features was revealed back in June at WWDC 2024, but we’d expect to see it on the iPhone 16 series and other compatible devices next month.
You can find a full list of confirmed Apple Intelligence features over on our dedicated Apple Intelligence hub, but so far we know the toolset will include a smarter Siri, text summarization, writing support, and generative image creation. Incidentally, Apple’s tagline “It’s Glowtime” is likely a reference to the new “glow” animation that appears when using Siri on Apple Intelligence-compatible iPhones.
Unfortunately, we’ve heard that Apple Intelligence could be delayed until after the initial rollout of iOS 18, with Apple reportedly keen to refine its AI features before releasing them to the world. But even if that’s the case, we’ll definitely get a concrete release date for Apple Intelligence during next month’s Apple event.
iOS 18 and other software updates
Apple Intelligence will be part of iOS 18, but there are plenty of AI-free upgrades to get excited about in Apple’s next major software update (due in September) that existing iPhone owners will be happy about.
For example, we know that major upgrades are coming to core iPhone apps including Messages, Mail, Photos, Maps, and Wallet, and that any iPhone newer than the iPhone XS will be compatible with iOS 18 (in other words, any iPhone with the A12 Bionic chipset or later). For a more detailed look at the new features, check out our roundup of the five best iOS 18 features that will work with your older iPhone.
We also expect Apple to make announcements about iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, macOS Sequoia, and tvOS 18 at its September event.
New Apple Watches
In addition to the iPhone 16 series, we could see new Apple Watches next month. The Apple Watch 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 seem like the most likely candidates, with the former model expected to come in two size options (1.89 inches and 2.04 inches).
Other rumored Apple Watch upgrades include new processors for both models and a larger display for the Watch 10. Interestingly, there’s also talk of a plastic Apple Watch SE, which could offer potential Apple Watch buyers a cheaper route into the watchOS ecosystem.
New AirPods
Finally, there’s a good chance that new AirPods will be released next month. We’re not talking about the AirPods Pro 3, as Apple’s Pro-level earbuds have had a three-year release cycle so far (and we also haven’t seen anything concrete about the long-awaited arrival of the AirPods Max 2, though that would be excellent). No, rumors instead suggest the imminent unveiling of new entry-level and mid-range AirPods models.
As for the upgrades these new AirPods bring, it’s safe to expect a more comfortable design and smarter listening modes, with Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman also noticed that the mid-range models could also feature noise cancellation.
What you can’t expect
iPhone air
There are rumors going around about the iPhone 16, especially about a possible iPhone Slim or iPhone Air. However, this super thin iPhone model is said to not be released until 2025.
Mark Gurman, Bloomberg’s ever-reliable Apple tipster, notes that this iPhone, which is reportedly still in development, will have a much thinner chassis than any existing iPhone, but will retain most of the core specs of the iPhone 17.
In terms of price, the iPhone Air appears to slot somewhere between the iPhone 17 and iPhone 17 Pro (similar to the original MacBook Air’s position between the MacBook and MacBook Pro). So those who were disappointed with the iPhone 16 line may have an all-new iPhone to look forward to next year.
New iPads
New iPads almost certainly won’t be shown off at Apple’s September event either. Apple already launched the long-awaited iPad Air 6 and iPad Pro (2024) at its May 7 Apple event, and we’ve not heard much about an iPad 10.9 (2022) successor yet, so unveiling it alongside the iPhone 16 line seems unlikely.
We might see the iPad mini 7 next month, however – Apple has been dipping into iPad mini stock since August 2024, which is usually a sign that a new model is on the way – but Apple has also been known to quietly unveil new iPads via press release, so we’re not so sure we’ll see a successor to the iPad mini (2021) in Cupertino. Let’s hope we’re wrong.
New MacBooks
The MacBook Pro, Mac mini, and iMac models with an M4 are reportedly set to launch in 2024, but they will likely arrive in October instead of September.
Reliable leaker Ross Young and Bloomberg tipster Mark Gurman believe the MacBook Pro 2024 and its ilk will hit the market “later” this year, with an October launch tying in with the release dates we’ve seen for Apple’s most recent MacBook models in 2023.
Sure, Apple could dare to announce the whole package in September – iPhones, iPads, MacBooks, the lot – but we’re quietly confident that the upcoming showcase will be devoted to the aforementioned hardware and software launches.