Not everyone who is curious is driven by desire. Some of us will be patiently waiting in the holding room at One Apple Park Way on Tuesday morning. At 10 AM PT on September 12, Tim Cook and his team will return to showcase the latest gadgets. Just in time for the holiday season at Apple’s September Event 2023.
Two things we can confidently expect to see at the Apple’s September Event 2023 are the iPhone 15 and the Apple Watch Series 9. Some tech developments are highly anticipated. There have been plenty of rumors circulating, especially about the aging AirPods lineup.
Macs are always a possibility. Many of us are also hoping for a closer look at the Vision Pro headset that stole the show at WWDC in June.
What follows is a mix of confirmed information, educated guesses, and wild speculation.
iPhone 15 at Apple’s September Event 2023
The star of the show this time is undoubtedly the iPhone 15. What’s most intriguing about it is that Apple was somewhat compelled to make certain changes. The move towards USB-C (or Thunderbolt 3) wasn’t entirely voluntary. The European Parliament’s decision to standardize ports across devices played a significant role.
Technically, manufacturers had until the end of 2024 to adopt this technology, but all signs point to Apple embracing it with the iPhone 15. Other regions are likely to follow suit for consumer advocacy and e-waste reasons.
Last year marked the 10th anniversary of Apple introducing the Lightning connector, which many find problematic. USB 3.2 data speeds will reportedly be reserved for the pro models, while the standard iPhone 15 may stick with USB 2.0.
Wireless charging is set to get a boost to 35W across the board, adopting the Qi2 standard, which combines wireless charging with magnets. This aligns with Apple’s participation in the Wireless Power Consortium.
Additionally, the Dynamic Island feature introduced in the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max is expected to make its way to the cheaper models.
There are rumors of an iPhone 15 Ultra, replacing the Pro Max, with a 6.7-inch display, a 120 Hz refresh rate, slimmed-down bezels, and an “Action” button, similar to the Apple Watch Ultra, offering customizable shortcuts.
Apple Watch at Apple’s September Event 2023
The rumor mill has been surprisingly quiet about the Apple Watch, hinting that this might be a quieter year for the wearable. Apple could be saving some big announcements for next year, which marks its 10th anniversary. However, there are hints of a new Apple Watch Ultra with upgraded processors, colors, and potential 3D-printed case designs.
AirPods
The timing seems right for new AirPods, but it might be 2024 before we see the H2 chip treatment. However, Apple may release a stand-alone USB-C charging case. It’s been almost three years since the AirPods Max, so a new HomePod mini wouldn’t be unwelcome either.
Other Expectations
We can expect a closer look at the Vision Pro headset, but the content remains uncertain. This year might focus on demos since the “spatial computing” headset will launch early next year. With the availability of SDKs and Unity’s development platform, games could become a possibility.
More details on release dates for iOS, macOS, iPadOS, and watchOS would make sense. Mac updates might be a bit further off, possibly in 2024, with the M3 chip.
The Apple Event begins at 10 AM PT on September 12, and we’ll be there to bring you all the latest updates.
