We’re now lower than week away from the Apple’s September 9 occasion, the place the corporate is all however sure to unveil the iPhone 17 line. This 12 months’s theme of “Awe dropping,” which was featured in Apple’s invitations to the media despatched on August 26 does not reveal a lot by means of clues, although some assume the heat-mapped Apple brand is indicative of better thermal cooling within the new fashions. However extra importantly, we already know how to watch the Apple iPhone 17 event itself: The keynote will likely be livestreamed on YouTube Tuesday, September 9 at 1PM ET from Cupertino. We’ll have three Engadget group members reporting, liveblogging and offering their hands-on impressions from Apple Park, so ensure you come again right here for the newest protection.
This 12 months is shaping as much as be a departure from latest September product rollouts, with the robust chance of an all-new superthin iPhone anticipated to hitch the corporate’s lineup. Additionally on faucet may very well be new Apple Watch fashions — together with the primary actually new Extremely mannequin in two years — and (possibly) the long-awaited AirPods Professional 3.
We received a full rundown of what to anticipate on the occasion from the absolute best supply: Bloomberg Apple reporter Mark Gurman. Throughout his latest visitor look on the Engadget Podcast, Gurman shared his evaluation of what we anticipate to see, together with the anticipated battery and digital camera compromises of that rumored skinny iPhone (which everybody already calls the iPhone Air).
Anticipated to be roughly 5.55 mm thick, the iPhone Air can be the thinnest iPhone but, besting 2014’s iPhone 6 which, at 6.9 mm, was the earlier svelteness champ. And so they’ve solely gotten chunkier since then. (The iPhone 16 Pro has a depth of 8.25 mm.) The Air would additionally give Apple a direct rival to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, which we discovered to be greater than a gimmick.
However the iPhone Air’s skinny design will doubtless result in some compromises. It is rumored to have solely a single 48 MP digital camera and a smaller battery. That mentioned, Taiwan’s TrendForce, a market analysis agency quoted in a latest MacRumors story, means that the Air will sport a high-density “silicon anode battery” that would theoretically present extra energy from a smaller body.
The Professional lineup might provide some design tweaks and efficiency enhancements. The iPhone 17 Professional and Professional Max are rumored to change from titanium to aluminum. They may additionally see the rear digital camera array increase to a complete “island” that extends throughout a lot of the telephone’s bottom. It is anticipated to deal with three cameras (as earlier than), however a number of rumors have steered it should have an improved telephoto one. The zoom lens might jump to 48MP, which might strengthen its digital zooming / cropping chops. The telephones may additionally add an anti-glare coating, just like these found on iPads.
The usual iPhone 17 might see some welcome show upgrades. At the very least one provide chain supply claimed it should add a 120Hz variable refresh price (ProMotion) show, which the Professional collection has used since 2021.
One factor we all know unquestionably is that the brand new iPhones will launch with iOS 26, which brings Apple’s biggest design refresh in years. It is easy to think about the corporate highlighting the brand new mannequin’s shows as one of the simplest ways to expertise the brand new Liquid Glass visible language. As for the naming scheme, there have not been any leaks pointing to an analogous {hardware} rebranding (“iPhone 26,” “iPhone 26 Professional,” and so forth.). However hey, Apple does like surprises.
Engadget’s iPhone 17 rumor roundup provides you a deeper dive into what to anticipate from the brand new fashions.
Apple’s fall occasion is not only for iPhones. The corporate can be anticipated to roll out new Apple Watch fashions. 5G and a processor improve are expected for the Apple Watch Extremely 3. It might additionally allow you to ship texts by way of satellite tv for pc, helpful for individuals who use it out within the wilderness. Whatever the particulars, Apple hasn’t launched a brand new rugged and premium mannequin since 2023 (aside from a new color), so it is due for an improve.
The Collection 11 mannequin is unlikely to depart dramatically from the Collection 10. In any case, that mannequin launched a brand new design, with a thinner body and larger screen. (And Apple has traditionally stored these round in three-year cycles.). However a quicker chip additionally appears logical. Maybe we’ll see 5G arrive on the usual wearable, too.
The Apple Watch lineup and the corporate’s Health group has been within the information of late too. Along with ongoing authorized battles over the wearable’s blood oxygen monitoring feature, Apple’s vice chairman of health applied sciences Jay Blahnik has been accused of making a poisonous office atmosphere, in response to a New York Times report. It is unlikely that the corporate even mentions both of those conditions at its occasion on September 9, however it’s fascinating background data for the health and wearable parts of its presentation.
We may additionally see the AirPods Professional 3 on the occasion. It has been about three years since Apple final upgraded its premium earbuds. The brand new mannequin might additionally deliver some biometric sensors to the earphones: an in-ear heart-rate monitor and (possibly) temperature sensing. Live translation is also rumored, though that might not be unique to the third-gen mannequin. However do not anticipate main design adjustments, if the newest experiences from leaker Majin Bu (by way of MacRumors) are to be believed: Along with a “slight discount in dimension,” Bu notes the case will lose the bodily pairing button, whereas gaining capacitive controls.
Will there be different bulletins? Time will inform, however now we all know we cannot have to attend lengthy to search out out. The official countdown clock has begun, and the solutions are simply days away.
Replace, September 4, 2025, 7:20PM ET: Added a brand new report that the iPhone Air might characteristic a high-density battery.
Replace, September 3, 2025, 2:20PM ET: Included a reference and hyperlink to the speculation that the invitation graphic suggests a brand new cooling system for the upcoming iPhones.
Replace, September 2, 2025, 11:15AM ET: Tweaked the intro to precisely mirror how far we’re from the occasion at this time limit, and added a paragraph on latest happenings round Apple’s Watch and Health merchandise.
Replace, August 29, 2025, 2:32PM ET: Added insights from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman primarily based on his look on the Engadget Podcast.
Replace, August 28, 2025, 10:45AM ET: Added new report on AirPods 3 case particulars.
Replace, August 26, 2025, 5:41PM ET: Added affirmation of official occasion invitation, date and time.
