Apple’s iPhone 16 event: how to watch and what to expect

Apple is gearing up to announce the iPhone 16, which will surely be the company's most powerful phone yet with the best camera (at least the Pro models). It is also expected to be the first iPhone to launch with Apple Intelligence throughout.

In addition to the iPhone 16 lineup and a number of new watches and AirPods, Apple is expected to show off other AI features, such as the ability to understand what's on the screen, as well as features the company unveiled at WWDC in June, including improved Siri, image generation, AI rewriting, and call recording and transcription capabilities.

The word “Glowtime” probably refers to the glowing effect that appears on the edges of the screen when Siri is activated in the latest developer betas of iOS 18. According to BloombergAccording to Mark Gurman, “Glow” is also the internal name for macOS Sequoia, which will likely be released after the event at about the same time as iOS 18.

Siri in iOS 18 adds a glow effect around the screen when activated.
Image: Apple

When and how to watch the iPhone 16 event

Apple's iPhone 16 event will take place live and in person in Cupertino, California on September 9 at 1 p.m. ET / 10 a.m. PT. The edge will be there live and blogging all the latest news. The event will also be streamed live on YouTube, Apple TV and the Apple website.

New processors for all this AI

Apple intelligence requires powerful processors. Apple's trend in recent years has been to integrate the top processor of the previous generation into the base model of the iPhone. and introduce a new, more powerful chip for the Pro. The iPhone 15 Pro's A17 Pro processor is currently the only A-series chip that supports Apple Intelligence, but rumors suggest that all iPhone 16 models will get a new A18 chip. In addition, we expect new Apple Watches and additions to the AirPods lineup.

iPhone 16 gets a new camera look

The main iPhone 16 models will come in new colors this year and look slightly different from the back. If leaked dummy devices are to be believed, the camera module will now have two lenses stacked vertically like the iPhone 12 and iPhone X, instead of the diagonal arrangement used since the iPhone 13.

A vertical lens placement would better highlight the landscape spatial video recording for viewing on Vision Pro. There's no sign that we'll see an update to Vision Pro itself, but hopefully we get something that keeps customer interest in Apple's mixed reality technology.

The iPhone 16 series will also have better battery life, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo.

iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max are finally on par

The iPhone 16 Pro could finally have the same cameras as the Pro Max, one of several things Google accused Apple of at the Pixel 9 event. Both Models can you get the 5x “tetraprism” telephoto lenses that are currently exclusive to the 15 Pro Max. Rumor has it that the ultra-wide-angle camera on the new Pros will also have significant quality improvements thanks to a larger 48 MP sensor.

For the Pro models, we expect a new rose finish and a Zune-brown “bronze” titanium finish, and both the regular and Max models are expected to have slightly larger screens than their iPhone 15 counterparts. Gurman says the Pro's display will jump from 6.1 inches to 6.3 inches and the Pro Max's will jump from 6.7 to 6.9 inches.

The iPhone's side buttons could be replaced with new pressure-sensitive buttons and include a DSLR-like feature where you can focus with a light press and take a picture by pressing harder – a Pro feature that could also come to the regular 16.

Overall, there will be no major design changes to the iPhone 16 models. There are already rumors that the next model, the iPhone 17, will get a sleeker redesign.

Apple Watch, big and thin

The new Apple Watch Series 10 (or X?) may have a thinner and sleeker body than the Series 9 model that preceded it, but what you should really expect is a larger-screen model. Gurman believes the Series 10 will get an optional 49mm screen the size of the Apple Watch Ultra, as well as a new chip.

Super athletes and outdoor fans can also look forward to a new black color option for the Apple Watch Ultra 2 and rumors say there will also be a plastic Apple Watch SE.

AirPods in a double pack

The new headphone lineup is expected to include new entry-level and mid-range AirPods, as well as possibly a new USB-C version of the over-ear AirPods Max, which may also get new colors, adaptive audio, and better noise cancellation.

The new AirPods models will replace the second and third generation versions with two new models, according to Gurman. The mid-range model is rumored to have a Pro design with noise cancellation and speakers in the charging case for Find My support.

Apple's third-generation AirPods have reportedly not sold as well as the second-generation models. The third-generation's higher price and an unfortunate combination of the AirPods Pro's shape without removable ear tips may be to blame. While the two new models still won't have ear tips, their USB-C charging cases will complete Apple's move away from Lightning to iPhone accessories.

Maybe a new Mini

No, no, no, not the iPhone Mini. Sorry, fellow one-handed smartphone users. (I'm still carrying an iPhone 13 Mini and waiting to see if Apple ever strikes back.) What Apple Is However, Gurman says plans are for a new Mac Mini that's almost as small as an Apple TV. The new Mac Mini is expected to hit stores later this month, and a version with the M Pro chip could arrive in October. Given the short time frame, there's a chance we'll hear about the new Mac Mini at the iPhone event, but it could also get its own event, like the one Apple held last year in primetime for the colorful iMac M3 update.

Update, September 9: Updated latest rumors about Apple Watch Ultra, iPhone 16 and AirPods Max.

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