News

What We Can Expect From Apple’s ‘It’s Glowtime’ Event

Apple’s “It’s Glowtime” media event will be held today, Monday, September 9, at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (1 p.m. Eastern Time). Let’s take a look at what we can expect to see unveiled at today’s event.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to receive significant upgrades over previous models.

  • Improved performance: The iPhone 16 models will boast a new A18 chip and will be paired with 8GB of RAM (up from 6GB). This will provide support for Apple Intelligence.
  • Action button: The iPhone 16 will receive a new programable Action button, replacing the mute switch, just like the iPhone 15 Pro received last year.
  • Capture button: On the right side of the iPhone 16, users will find a new “Capture” button allowing users to quickly open the Camera app. Users will also be able to zoom in and out and focus.
  • Smaller camera bump: The iPhone 16 will feature a smaller camera bump with vertically aligned lenses. The new camera will enable spatial video recording, for creating immersive content that can be viewed on Apple Vision Pro.
  • New colors: The iPhone 16 will reportedly be available in five new colors: blue, green, pink, white, and black.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

The iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will also be unveiled at today’s event. The new Pro models are expected to receive the following upgrades:

  • Bigger screens: The iPhone 16 Pro is expected to feature a larger 6.3-inch display, up from 6.1 inches, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max screen size is expected to increase from 6.7 inches to 6.9 inches.
  • Capture button: The iPhone 16 Pro will also boast the new Capture button, allowing users to quickly open the Camera app. Users will also be able to zoom in and out and focus.
  • Upgraded Ultra Wide camera: Multiple rumors claim the devices’ Ultra Wide camera will jump to 48MP quality.
  • Video upgrades: The iPhone 16 Pro is also rumored to be able to record video at 4K resolution at 120fps for the first time.
  • 5x optical zoom: The iPhone 16 Pro will get an upgrade to the same 5x optical zoom Telephoto lens that the iPhone 15 Pro Max gained last year.
  • Improved specs: New A18 Pro chip, improved thermal design, larger batteries, Wi-Fi 7 support, more.
  • New colors: The iPhone 16 Pro lineup is expected to be available in White Titanium, Black Titanium, Natural, Titanium, and Gold Titanium.

Apple Watch Series 10

Apple is also expected to unveil the Apple Watch Series 10 at the event.

  • Getting larger: Multiple rumors say the Apple Watch will increase in size this year. The 41mm Apple Watch will grow to 45mm, while the 45mm model will increase 49mm.
  • Larger screens: The larger form factor means the Apple Watch Series 10 will also gain a larger display. According to leaked schematics, the largest Apple Watch Series 10 model will boast a 1.93-inch display, up from 1.77 inches.
  • Thinner design: The Apple Watch Series 10 is also expected to be thinner than the current generation.
  • New health features: Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 will offer support for sleep apnea detection. An expected hypertension detection feature is not expected to launch this year.

Apple Watch Ultra 3 (Maybe)

There have been only a few rumors about what we can expect from the new Apple Watch Ultra 3 (Although Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman says we won’t see an Ultra 3 this year. Instead, he believes that Apple will unveil a black titanium color option for the Apple Watch Ultra 2.).

While we can expects a new chip for improved performance if an Ultra 3 is unveiled. However, Apple industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo has said we can otherwise expect to see “almost no” new hardware features. Mark Gurman has agreed, saying it will get a new chip, but “no major design change.”

New Apple Watch SE

Apple is also reportedly developing a new-generation Apple Watch SE made from plastic to hold costs down.

Bloomberg reports that the new Apple Watch will ditch its current aluminum chassis “in favor of rigid plastic.” If the Apple Watch SE makes the move to a plastic chassis instead of aluminum, it could allow Apple to lower the current $249 starting price.

AirPods 4

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman has reported that Apple has plans to discontinue its AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 this year, and replace them with two different AirPods 4 models.

Gurman says the upcoming AirPods 4 are intended to act as a replacement for both models, as the new earbuds will be available as both an entry-level AirPods 2 replacement and a mid-tier model that will take the place of the AirPod 3. While the new earbuds will have a similar design, only the mid-tier AirPods 4 will boast active noise cancellation.

We can expect to see both versions of the AirPods 4 to make the move to USB-C. The entry-level AirPods 4 will likely lack wireless charging, while the mid-level buds will offer the feature, continuing to follow the same strategy the company followed with its AirPods 2 and AirPods 3 lineup.

iOS 18 and Other Software Updates

Today’s Apple event will also include information about the release dates for Apple’s next round of software updates:

  • iOS 18
  • iPadOS 18
  • watchOS 11
  • tvOS 18
  • visionOS 2
  • macOS Sequoia

MacTrast will have full coverage of today’s Apple event, which will be held at the Apple Park campus in Cupertino, California today at 10:00 a.m. Pacific Time (1 p.m. Eastern Time).

Apple plans to stream the fall event live on its website, on YouTube, and via the Apple TV app. If you’re unable to watch the event, we’ll be covering it immediately following the event.

Chris Hauk

Chris is a Senior Editor at Mactrast. He lives somewhere in the deep Southern part of America, and yes, he has to pump in both sunshine and the Internet.