Apple's Upcoming Glowtime Event: What To Expect On September 9

Apple has officially confirmed that it will hold its “Glowtime” special launch event on Monday, September 9, kicking off at 10 a.m. PT or 10:30 p.m IST. As we all know, the flagship announcement will be the iPhone 16 series, but we’re also expecting some other Apple devices like the new Apple Watch hardware, new AirPods, and more. The official invite comes with the tagline “It’s Glowtime,” below a multi-colored logo that could reference Apple Intelligence or the redesigned Siri. Here’s everything you can expect from Apple’s Glowtime event.

iPhone 16 and 16 Plus

Each year, the iPhone is the star of Apple’s September launch event, and this time, it’s the iPhone 16 series. As usual, the new iPhone 16 lineup will have four models: iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. The regular iPhone 16 models are expected to ditch the diagonal camera bump and feature a vertically aligned rear camera, similar to what we saw on the iPhone 12. This year, the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will arrive with several notable upgrades over their predecessors.

The new models will be powered by a new A18 chipset paired with 8GB RAM (up from 6GB) for faster performance. The non-Pro models will arrive in the same 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch versions. With the iPhone 16 series, Apple will finally ditch the classic Mute switch and introduce a programmable Action Button that we saw on the iPhone 15 Pro models last year. On the right side (below the Power button), there will be a new Capture Button with dedicated camera features, allowing quick access to the Camera app, zooming in/out, adjusting focus, and other essentials while shooting videos in landscape mode.

This year, the iPhone 16 might be available in five new colors, including Black, White, Blue, Green, and Pink. Check out all iPhone 16 colors here!

iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max

The finest and most expensive jewels in Apple’s crown would be the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. One of the most notable changes on the Pro models will be the bigger screens. The iPhone 16 Pro will feature a large 6.3-inch display, whereas the iPhone 16 Pro Max will be the biggest ever iPhone with a massive 6.9-inch screen. While the primary 48MP camera will remain the same, the ultra-wide lens is poised to get a notable upgrade to 48MP.

That’s not all! In 2024, the 5X telephoto lens won’t be exclusive to the Pro Max model. Instead of the 3x telephoto lens found on the iPhone 15 Pro, the upcoming iPhone 16 Pro will also rock a 5x telephoto lens, just like the Pro Max model. So, we’ll get to witness some exciting camera upgrades on the iPhone 16 Pro models.

The high-end iPhones will also boast the much-rumored Capture Button designed to please photography fans. We’re also expecting to see other improvements like an incredibly capable A18 Pro chipset, bigger batteries, improved thermal design, Wi-Fi 7 support, and more. Not to forget, all models of the iPhone 16 series will support Apple Intelligence features.

Apple Watch Series 10

Beyond the new iPhones, if there’s one Apple product confirmed to make a debut at the September event, it’s the Apple Watch. This year, the Cupertino tech giant might introduce a thinner and bigger version of the Apple Watch. The upcoming Apple Watch Series 10 is likely to arrive in 45mm and 49mm casing options, with the larger option matching the size of the Apple Watch Ultra. We can also expect to see an array of new health features, including Sleep Apnea detection.

Apple Watch SE 3

Apple will refresh its most affordable smartwatch lineup during its iPhone event. According to recent reports, the Apple Watch SE 3 might receive several significant updates, such as larger 41mm and 45mm case sizes, matching the Apple Watch Series 9 sizes. Mark Gurman suggests that Apple will switch to plastic shells to cut down production costs, putting the retail price somewhere around $200.

This material change and lower cost may appeal to parents buying an Apple Watch for kids. If this turns out to be true, it will be nice to see Apple offering a modern smartwatch that packs the right balance between features and affordability.

AirPods 4

Expected to arrive in September or October, the upcoming AirPods lineup is poised to be Apple’s biggest launch to date. Mark Gurman has already shed some light on Apple’s plans to discontinue AirPods 2 and AirPods this year, replacing them with two different models of the AirPods 4. This would mark the debut of a new two-tier AirDrop lineup for the standard, non-Pro models.

The new AirPods 4 models will feature an updated design that blends the AirPods 3 and AirPods Pro, with shorter stems, improved sound quality, better fit, and a USB-C charging case. However, neither of the AirPods 4 models will have replaceable silicon tips. There will be a lower-end and a higher-end model of AirPods 4.

The “higher-end” option might borrow some ‘Pro-ness’ from the AirPods Pro, including noise cancellation and built-in speakers in the charging case, making it easier to locate lost AirPods or the charging case. The upcoming AirPods 4 models are likely to inherit the H2 chip from the AirPods Pro second-gen, enabling faster and more reliable Bluetooth connections and improved power efficiency.

AirPods Max 2

Released back in December 2020, AirPods Max is the oldest AirPods model that Apple currently sells. While a new AirPods Max 2 is in Apple’s pipeline, the giant might seek a “late 2024” release for it. So, we might see the second-gen AirPods Max in October, alongside the AirPods 4 models.

One of the major design changes expected on the upcoming AirPods Max 2 is the replacement of the Lightning port with the USB-C standard to comply with EU laws. Mark Gurman reported that the next-gen AirPods Max 2 will arrive in refreshed color options, although he didn’t specify the exact shades. The AirPods Max 2 is speculated to include Bluetooth 5.3 connectivity, already present in AirPods Pro 2, iPhone 15 series, and the latest Apple Watch models.

There are all the reasons for fans to expect the new H2 chip in AirPods Max 2. After all, AirPods Max 2 will arrive almost four years after the original model, so they should boast some dramatic changes to excite its fans.

New Apple Watch Bands and iPhone Cases

At its September iPhone event, Apple typically launches its new Apple Watch bands and iPhone cases in a range of fresh colors. Sometimes, these new accessories are available on Apple’s online store just minutes after the event ends. This year, Apple is expected to launch the Apple Watch Series 10 in two casing sizes: 45mm and 49mm.

Since the 49mm Apple Watch Ultra is compatible with the 45mm Apple Watch Series 9 bands, there are chances that the new Apple Watch bands could be compatible with the Apple Watch Series 10 and Apple Watch Ultra for the very first time.

iOS 18 and More

Apple’s iPhone 16 event will also include details about the release date of its new set of operating systems. So, we’ll finally see iOS 18, iPadOS 18, macOS Sequoia, watchOS 11, and tvOS 18. Sometimes, the new software updates are rolled out within a few days of the event.

According to several rumors, Apple will release macOS Sequoia alongside iOS 18 for the first time in September. Until now, the giant typically holds the release of its new macOS version until October or November.

Apple Intelligence Release Date

At the event, Apple is also expected to reveal the Apple Intelligence release date. As per rumors, all iPhone 16 models will support the AI features. However, Apple Intelligence won’t be available out of the box on the latest iPhones. Apple will likely launch Apple Intelligence with x.1 updates, expected in October.