Apple’s September Event: Unveiling iPhone 15 and More

Apple’s highly anticipated September event is scheduled for today, and it promises to be the most significant tech event of the year. This year’s event, titled “Wonderlust,” hints at the magical innovations Apple has in store. The highlight of the event will be the introduction of the iPhone 15 family. The presentation begins at 20:00 Moscow time, and you can watch it on Apple’s website, Apple TV, Apple’s YouTube channel, and right here, as we’ve embedded the livestream below.

It’s no secret that Apple will unveil its latest products tonight, with the iPhone 15 taking center stage. One of the most significant changes in the iPhone 15 lineup is the shift from the proprietary Lightning port to the universally accepted USB-C. While Apple may present this change as an innovation, it’s driven by the European Union’s requirement for a universal charging port.

Though all iPhone 15 models will feature a USB-C port, tech analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggests that only the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max will enjoy the advantage of higher data transfer speeds. Kuo speculates that both flagship models will support at least USB 3.2 or Thunderbolt 3, while the base iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are expected to be limited to USB 2.0. Regardless, this port switch will provide faster charging capabilities, supporting up to 35W, compared to the previous 20W.

Another noticeable change will be the inclusion of Dynamic Island on all iPhones. This was previously predicted by tech analyst Ross Young. Currently, Apple offers the tablet-like notch only on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max, while the standard iPhone 14 and 14 Plus retain the “notch.” It’s also expected that the entire iPhone 15 lineup will incorporate the new U2 ultra-wideband chip.

According to Mark Gurman of Bloomberg, the most significant changes in the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max will include a titanium frame and thinner bezels around the display. Both Pro models will be powered by the more advanced A17 chip built on a 3nm process, while the iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are likely to feature the previous year’s A16 chip, as seen in the iPhone 14 Pro.

Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max may introduce an Action Button, similar to the one on the Apple Watch Ultra. This button could replace the physical mute switch and allow users to assign specific app or utility launches. Furthermore, an exclusive feature that could be reserved for the iPhone 15 Pro Max is a periscope lens with 6x optical zoom.

These updates may come at a higher price. According to Wedbush analyst predictions, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max are expected to start at $1,099 and $1,199, respectively, representing a $100 price increase for both models compared to their predecessors. On the other hand, the base iPhone models are expected to retain their current pricing.

Aside from the iPhone 15, Apple is also expected to introduce a new series of smartwatches. However, significant changes are not anticipated in this lineup. Little is known about the flagship Apple Watch Ultra 2, except that it will maintain its 49mm size and come with a new dark titanium casing. Both the Apple Watch Series 9 and Watch Ultra 2 are expected to be powered by the updated Apple S9 processor.

Rumors suggest that the Apple S9 chip is based on the A15 processor introduced with the iPhone 13, potentially offering greater energy efficiency and improved battery life compared to the current Apple S8 processor used in both the previous and current generations of Apple Watch. Additionally, the new Apple Watches are rumored to feature the U2 ultra-wideband chip and various updates to sensors and internal components, including a new optical heart rate sensor with enhanced accuracy.

Finally, the iPhone won’t be the only Apple device making the switch from Lightning to USB-C today. Rumors indicate that Apple plans to release AirPods Pro with a USB-C charging case. However, it’s unclear whether any changes will be made to the AirPods Pro themselves, or if the update will be limited to the charging case. Standard AirPods and AirPods Max are expected to transition to USB-C in the following year.

In addition to the iPhone and Apple Watch announcements, Apple will also unveil new features of its operating systems: iOS 17, iPadOS 17, macOS Sonoma, and watchOS 10. There’s also speculation that augmented reality (AR) may be a part of the discussion.

Sources:

• The Verge
• bloomberg.com
• MacRumors
• 9to5Mac