Don’t you hate it when they give everything away to the holder? So, a late spoiler warning that the iPhone 14 will, in fact, almost certainly be the big headline announcement at Apple’s September event. A few other things also seem secure, including the Apple Watch Series 8.
As always, there may be a wild card or two in the event. It will be interesting to see exactly how much Apple ends up announcing next week. The company was more than happy to run ads between events, during the two years or more when everything suddenly went online. The simple truth is that it’s much easier to ask people to drop everything to cover your event when it involves sitting in front of a computer rather than flying across the US. This one, on the other hand, is likely worth the flight. (I mean, I hope, there are no refunds on tickets).
The company sent out invitations earlier this month, featuring a galaxy formed with the Apple logo and the words “Far Out.” A later animation shows the constellation rotating to reveal a heart. There is often some hidden meaning in the art of the invitation, and speculation has been rampant in the intervening week.
My first thought was something to do with the company’s rumored AR/VR headset. Others have suggested that this could have something to do with the long-rumored satcom technology for Apple devices, which didn’t arrive in time for last year’s event. Still others believe it could be a reference to the improved image of the new iPhones.
Image credits: Brooks Kraft / Apple
So let’s start with the iPhone 14. It’s hard to believe, but the device turned 15 this June. So what does Apple have planned for the Crystal’s birthday? Rumor has it that higher-end devices are doing the heavy lifting this time around (expect some of these updates to trickle down to low-end models in the next year or two).
The most surprising news this time may be the long-awaited loss of the notch on the Pro and Pro Max. There’s some debate about the exact configuration, but it’s likely that a hole (as we’ve seen on several Android phones over the years) will be in place, perhaps along with a secondary “pill” design. So you get more real estate, but at the expense of a couple of camera cuts.
Image credits: Apple
Another long-standing Android feature, always-on display, is rumored for more premium models. The main camera is said to be getting a major bump, up to a 48-megapixel sensor. That’s for wide-angle, with a pair of 12-megapixel cameras (telephoto and ultra-wide).
The chip is also upgraded to the more powerful A16, again, perhaps a premium-only upgrade here. We know that the move to USB-C is inevitable, given recent legislation in the EU that will force device manufacturers to adopt this universal standard. Although similar laws have been enacted for several places, including the US and India, the iPhone 14 is expected to be the last Lightning Port support for the line. Speaking of the latest positions, the iPhone Mini may have disappeared from the lineup altogether. That’s a huge blow to fans of the tiny phone out there, some of whom currently work at TechCrunch. So expect a… animated post or two on these pages, if that happens. The new lineup is expected to come in two 6.1-inch and two 6.7-inch models, with a standard and Pro version of each.
Image credits: Apple
The Apple Watch Series 8 is the other big headliner expected here. The latest version of Apple’s market-dominating smartwatch is expected in three flavors, according to rumours. There’s the SE (getting its first major update until 2020), which will keep the same footprint as the 7 Series, along with a larger 8 Series and a new outdoor/sport model, designed to take on the Garmins of the world .
In addition to the increased screen size, all three devices can also be upgraded to the new S8 chip. Along with the software improvements, the system may finally get a new low-power mode, which would improve battery life, still the biggest problem with the Apple Watch, compared to the rest of the field.
Image credits: Apple
Perhaps the most overdue item on the list: the AirPods Pro. The standard AirPods have received a few updates, but the higher-end models haven’t seen any since they were introduced in 2019. Three years is forever in the headphone world, and the competition has had plenty of time to catch up per day and even, in some cases, passes Apple here.
Lossless audio is rumored. There may also be a redesign that could remove the iconic click stem. This would be a pretty dramatic change to the controls on the device. Another interesting potential element is the addition of sound for the case, which may work better with the Find My feature.
CUPERTINO, CALIFORNIA – April 20, 2021: Apple’s Raja Bose introduces the new iPad Pro, as seen in this video still image from a special event at Apple Park. Photo credit: Apple Inc.
In the meantime, iPads may appear, including an iPad Pro M2 model, but the consensus seems to be that the company will hold one more final event before the holidays, where we’ll also get new Macs with the latest chips, including long ones. long awaited, and much redesigned, return of the Mac Pro. I wouldn’t rule any of them out completely for this event, but they are less safe than the previous ones.
AR/VR headsets are the real wild card in all of this. The rumors have persisted for some time and have only increased as the company has applied for trademarks such as “Reality One”, “Reality Pro” and “Reality Processor”. It is also said to have shown a version of the headset to shareholders. At best, a preview might arrive to entice developers to start building the product.
Image credits: Apple
A couple of odds and ends:
- The return of the HomePod? We’re talking about something potentially similar to the original full-size model, and perhaps a product with a display, like the Nest Hub or Echo Show. Apple really needs a proper hub for HomeOS.
- A new Apple TV.
- iOS 16 and watchOS 9 release dates seem likely. We know we’ll have to wait a little longer for the new iPadOS. And macOS Ventura looks like it could arrive during this event, but a safer bet is the aforementioned unannounced October event.
As always, we’ll be there, bringing you the news as it comes out.