Apple has a few things to announce to kick off September.
With September 7 just around the corner, all eyes are on Apple and rumors and leaks are swirling about the event of the year. Apple is going ‘Far Out’ for its upcoming event as the company prepares to announce what’s to come for its diverse product lineup. Initially featuring the iPhone, but it will likely go beyond that and extend to some of the tech giant’s other products and services. In today’s post, we’ve gathered the most talked about guesses in the digital media and by tech gurus so that the news from the Cupertino’s won’t catch you by surprise. But remember, these are just guesses, you’ll have to wait until September 7 to confirm.
iPhone 14
Many rumors have focused on Cupertino’s supposed new dual-cutout design for the selfie camera and Face ID hardware. The prevailing opinion currently seems to be that there will be a system to darken the pixels between the two cutouts and make the entire area look like one solid piece. A newly leaked clip demonstrates exactly that behavior and allows us to observe the switch on what has to be an actual iPhone 14 unit of some sort.
Presumably, Apple has decided to implement this feature for both aesthetic and functional reasons. The area between the two cutouts will likely be reserved for the new privacy indicators, which arrived with iOS 14. It shows , and this could free up the corners of the screen to fit more status icons.when an app is actively using the device’s microphone or video cameras
According to the latest rumors, Apple will use the new cutout to redesign the status bar exclusively for the iPhone 14. Several renders have appeared suggesting that Cupertino could return to a more classic design: not including the full battery information (percentage and icon) on the far right and the location symbol next to it. On the left side, information about the network signal and operator. However, let’s remember to take conjecture with a grain of salt.
Other industry sources have also suggested that Apple is going to redesign its camera app interface to better place controls around the new cutouts. Specifically, the flash and Live Photo buttons will be in the status bar, while the other settings will be placed just below the cutouts.
The iPhone 14 family is still shrouded in mystery, as usual for Apple. We’re not even sure what naming convention Apple will use, as rumors point to the possible return of the “Plus” moniker, which could mean the following lineup: iPhone 14, iPhone 14 Plus, iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max.
Apple Watch
Rumors of new Apple Watches are also swirling. These would include a new standard version and a new SE edition. However, speculation from Bloomberg indicates that the company’s first Apple Watch Pro will be unveiled.
There are no details on what an Apple Watch Pro would look like or how it would function differently than the standard version of the product. However, it is expected to sync with the various advanced features of Apple’s other Pro line of gadgets, such as the iPhone Pro and iPad Pro.
It should be noted that watchOS 9 was announced at WWDC 22 with a September release window. If new Apple Watches are announced, expect to hear a more concrete rollout date as well.
Airpods
Given that it’s about three years since the launch of the AirPods Pro, it’s about time Apple followed up with a sequel. Last year, Gurman initially claimed that the AirPods Pro 2 might have a stemless design, like Google’s Pixel Buds, but a more recent report from MacRumors suggests that the AirPods Pro 2 won’t look much different than before. Instead, the leaked renders point to a new case with holes for speakers (which would help alerts in the Find My app) and a slot for a strap. The latter would be an anomaly for Apple, but could be useful for attaching an AirTag.
As for sound quality, Kuo claimed earlier this year that the AirPods Pro 2 could include support for Apple’s lossless audio, which could be a draw for audiophiles. In addition, it’s possible that the new earbuds will include an updated H1 chip, as well as driver improvements similar to the AirPods 3. But don’t expect health tracking features, as Gurman recently noted that they won’t include heart rate or body temperature sensors as previous rumors suggested.
iPad
Apple usually saves its biggest iPad news for its second fall event, but we wouldn’t be surprised to see some news about its entry-level model next week. The 10th-generation iPad is expected to include a USB-C port, bringing it in line with the rest of the family, and could get a speed bump with the A14 Bionic chip. Don’t expect any major design changes, however, as the entry-level iPad doesn’t get much love from Apple these days. So be prepared to see thick bezels and a home button once again. But on the plus side, it may finally get 5G support, as well as a revamped front-facing camera, according to 9to5Mac.
