Here's everything we expect from today's iPhone 16 launch event

Apple will hold its annual iPhone 16 launch event today, Monday, September 9, at 16 p.m. Cairo and Riyadh time. It will also launch other new devices to coincide with the launch of the new iPhones. In addition to the new iPhone 4 models, new Apple Watches, new AirPods XNUMX headphones, and possibly a few other surprises will be announced. This guide highlights everything we might see at today’s Apple event based on current rumors.

iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus

The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will look almost identical to the iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus, with a few design changes, but there are actually new features, such as:

◉ Adding a new Actions button, which will be available on all iPhone 16 models. The Action button can be set to turn on Focus mode, activate a shortcut, open the camera, turn on the flashlight, and more. In the iOS 18 update, it can do even more, such as assigning different Control Center elements to the basic or third-party ones.

◉ Along with the action button, all iPhone 16 models may feature a shutter button as most rumors have suggested, but there is a possibility that it will be limited to the Pro models only. This button will be used to take photos and videos, and will respond to pressure and touch and support different gestures. A light press will autofocus, while a harder press will take the shot. Swiping left and right will zoom in or out, and there may also be an option to switch between photo and video modes.

◉ Instead of a diagonal camera design, it will be arranged vertically, which may allow for spatial video capture for the Vision Pro glasses.

◉ The main camera is not expected to get an upgrade, but Apple may boost the aperture of the ultra-wide camera to improve low-light photography and add support for macro photography mode for the first time.

◉ There will be new colors for the iPhone 16 models, such as black, green, light pink, blue, and white.

◉ The screen will be a more power-efficient OLED that improves battery life while increasing overall brightness.

◉ All iPhone models will feature the 18nm A3 processor, which means the standard iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will support AI features in the iOS 18 update.

◉ Additionally, improvements are expected to include the neural engine for artificial intelligence. Both iPhone 16 models will come with 8GB of RAM, up from 6GB previously. With a new thermal design that will limit overheating and improve performance.

◉ There may be some slight increases in battery life for the standard iPhone 16 model. Depending on the efficiency of the processor, we may see some small improvements for both models, but that will depend on the new features.

iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max

◉ Like the iPhone 16 models, the iPhone 16 Pro and Pro Max will get the all-new shutter button, and in these devices, it will be accompanied by some camera improvements.

◉ The ultra-wide lens will be 48MP and will use pixel binning to 12MP, the end result being much better low-light and macro performance. The 5x telephoto lens will be added to the iPhone 16 Pro which was limited to the 15 Pro Max.

◉ According to rumors, the iPhone 16 Pro models will be able to record 4K video at up to 120 frames per second, which is an increase from the current limit of 60 frames per second when shooting in 4K. Apple has also tested 8K recording, but it is unclear whether it will add it now.

◉ As for the screen, its size will increase from 6.1 to 6.3 inches for the iPhone 16 Pro, while the iPhone 16 Pro Max will have a 6.9-inch screen, instead of 6.7 inches.

◉ There may be some improvements to the main camera, due to the addition of a new Sony sensor that provides higher-quality images with better dynamic range and better noise control, and this may be limited to the iPhone 16 Pro Max.

◉ We also expect the bezels around the edge of the display to be reduced, and Apple is rumored to be adopting more efficient OLED display technology, so we may see some improvements in brightness and contrast. The bezels could be about a third smaller.

◉ All iPhone 16 models will get the A18 processor, but there may be differences. Apple may use the high-performance A18 chip with an additional GPU core in the Pro models, which will allow all iPhone 16 devices to run AI features, but there will be some differentiation between the Pro and standard models.

◉ A new thermal structure with a graphene heatsink and a metal battery casing is expected, and while the heatsink will also come to the iPhone 16, other thermal changes may be exclusive to the Pro models.

◉ Apple is also expected to adopt the Qualcomm X75 5G modem in the Pro models for faster 5G connectivity, in addition to being smaller and consuming less power.

◉ We may see improvements in battery life with the X75 chip and A18 processor, plus Apple is using slightly larger batteries with a capacity increase of 5 to 9 percent.

◉ There were rumors that the iPhone 16 Pro models would support Wi-Fi 7, but this feature may come next year.

◉ As for storage, both Pro models may start at 256GB.

◉ There have been some rumors about 20W MagSafe charging speeds and 40W wired charging speeds, but that seems like a distant possibility now.

◉ The microphone will have better water resistance and better sound thanks to AI.

◉ There may also be some AI features of the iPhone 16 Pro that we don't know about yet.

◉ As for the colors, we expect the standard black, white, and natural titanium options, and there is a new color that is a shade of gold. Some rumors have described it as a bronze shade, and some leaks have indicated that it is a dark brown color, but it is difficult to confirm that, but it will be impressive.

Apple Watch 10

◉ There is some mystery surrounding the Apple Watch due to the lack of rumors about it. However, this year marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of the Apple Watch, so will we see a watch suitable for that? Or will Apple be a little late? You can check out this article for more details – Link.

◉ The Apple Watch is expected to be thinner with the size increasing to 45mm and 49mm instead of 41mm and 45mm. The size increase could be due to reducing the bezels and making the case itself larger. The 4mm increase would be noticeable but not a significant increase in overall size.

◉ There have been CAD computer drawings of a new Apple Watch with a 2-inch screen, which is slightly larger than the 49mm Apple Watch Ultra. That screen could be for the 10mm Apple Watch Series 49.

◉ Apple may boost water resistance with the new design to a depth of 20 meters. The new Apple Watch Series 10 models may get the Depth app, which was first introduced for the Apple Watch Ultra.

◉ The updated models are said to look like the current Apple Watch models without any radical changes.

◉ Apple was said to be working on a new magnetic attachment system for the Watch band, but it may not be this year.

◉ Apple will update the Apple Watch's OLED display to be more power efficient, and with a larger body, the battery size may also increase, resulting in better battery life.

◉ Apple is said to be planning to include an updated heart rate and ECG sensor in the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra that will enable new features like sleep apnea detection using the Apple Watch's sleep tracking features.

◉ Apple also wanted to include blood pressure monitoring, but this feature was not ready for launch and will not be included in the Apple Watch Series 10.

◉ Over the past few years, the Apple Watch has used the S-series processor with minor changes, but a noticeable performance upgrade is expected this year with the S10 processor, due to the introduction of new, albeit limited, AI features for the watch.

Apple Watch Ultra 3

If there are new health features in the Apple Watch Series 10, Apple will also add them to the next-generation Apple Watch Ultra. We don’t expect a new design or any other physical changes to it, but it will get the same processor and same health features as the Apple Watch Series 10.

Apple Watch SE 3

The Apple Watch SE 3 will also certainly get upgrades, as there are rumors that Apple will use a hard plastic body instead of an aluminum body, which will significantly reduce the price of the watch, although hard plastic will be more resistant to scratches and drops than aluminum.

There is also said to be a Kids Edition of the Apple Watch SE 3 in bright colors. Apple has been promoting the Apple Watch as an option for parents who want to give their kids a device to communicate and check on them, and the low-cost Apple Watch SE could help with that given its low price.

Apple hasn't used plastic for a device body since the iPhone 5c, with bright colors like blue, yellow, pink and green.

The Apple Watch SE is expected to have the same overall design with no updates and no changes in features except for an improved processor.

AirPods 4

There are two versions of the AirPods 4 in development, both of which feature a new design, and their design will be a mix between the current AirPods and the AirPods Pro, with a shorter stem.

The higher-priced AirPods 4 will feature active noise cancellation, a feature previously limited to the AirPods Pro and AirPods Max. The lower-priced version will be a direct upgrade to the existing AirPods 3.

Pricing for these new models is not yet known. The AirPods 3 are priced at $179 with the MagSafe case, the AirPods 2 are $129, and the AirPods Pro 2 are $249, so Apple needs to moderate the pricing of the new watch.

The less expensive AirPods 4 could come at a discounted price to be closer to the discontinued AirPods 2, and the ANC model could be priced between $180 and $200, much less than the AirPods Pro.

Apple will update the AirPods 4 case, and it may have a new look. It will get a speaker to make it easier to find if you lose it, and it will have a USB-C port for charging instead of a Lightning port. And wireless charging will still be a feature.

Depending on the design, the active noise cancellation (ANC) probably won't be as good as the AirPods Pro since those have silicone ear tips, but there are rumors of improvements in sound quality.

Other less likely possibilities

Apple may launch other devices, but that is a very low and unlikely possibility.

AirPods Max

Apple is planning to update the AirPods Max this year, but we don't expect any new features other than a USB-C port instead of a Lightning port, and possibly new color options. The AirPods Max update is likely to come later this year and not at the iPhone 16 launch event.

IPad mini 7

The iPad mini 7 could see an update this year, but not at the iPhone 16 launch event. Apple is said to be planning a second event in October, and it would make more sense for the new iPad mini to launch then alongside new M4-powered Macs.

Not much is expected for the next-generation iPad mini, which will continue to feature an 8.3-inch display with Touch ID. There may be a small change to the display to reduce the “wavy scrolling” effect that some people complained about with the iPad mini 6. Wavy scrolling refers to the sometimes noticeable delay when scrolling vertically through text content like a web page.

We expect the iPad mini to get an A17 or A18 processor with AI support, and we may get new colors, an improved front camera, and support for Wi-Fi 6E.

IPad 11

The iPad hasn't been updated since 2022, and it's due. There are rumors that we might get a new model this year, but it's also likely to come later in the year.

There are no rumors about new features for the next generation iPad.

System updates

Like iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, tvOS 18, watchOS 11, and visionOS 2, they are all in beta testing now, and today Apple will tell us when the official launch will be.

New updates typically roll out a few days before the launch of a new iPhone, so if the iPhone 16 models launch on Friday, September 20, we could see updates as early as the week of September 20.

There may also be AI features exclusive to the iPhone 16 models that Apple has been keeping secret, so there could be some surprises, both on the hardware level and even on the features level of the new updates.

Source:

macrumors