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We’ve all been anticipating an Apple event in September, and the tech giant just made it official. On Monday, Apple sent out invites to guests for a special event on September 9, titled “It’s Glowtime.”
It all kicks off at 10am PT/1pm ET/6pm BST on September 9, 2024 at Apple Park, but fear not if you didn’t get an invite. The event will be streamed live, and TechRadar will be there to bring you all the latest. And if you’ve been following the rumors, that’s a day earlier than the supposed leak date.
As with previous Apple events in September, we’re expecting to see the next-generation iPhone 16, Apple Watches, and AirPods debut during what’s expected to be a fairly jam-packed keynote. Of course, we’ll learn more about Apple Intelligence – or the Cupertino giant’s AI-focused offering – as well as next-generation platforms like iOS and iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, macOS Sequoia, and tvOS 18.
In addition to the rumors about what Apple will reveal, we also did our homework and analyzed the invite, including the hints we found.
What does the invitation tell us?
For “Glowtime,” Apple’s invite shows off the classic Apple logo with a revamped Siri twist, as well as all new shades of blue, purple, orange, and pink. It looks really fun and definitely foreshadows the rollout and expected full release of Apple Intelligence.
The tagline, “It’s Glowtime,” hints at that, as the new Siri interface essentially takes over the iPhone’s screen and squeezes it together on the left, right, top, and bottom. You can read TechRadar’s Editor-at-Large Lance Ulanoff’s take and hands-on with the new Siri here.
Glow could also herald a new iPhone color, brighter displays, or even better low-light performance from the cameras. We’re breaking down some of the rumors and leaks surrounding the upcoming iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods below, but much like its September 2023 “Wonderlust” event or May 2024 “Let Loose” event, Apple is teasing its event pretty well.
Of course, we also heard that the event will take place on September 9, 2024, kicking off at the standard 10am PT/1pm ET/6pm BST, which is the classic Apple Events start time. The event will take place at Apple Park, specifically the Steve Jobs Theater, but it will be streamed live on Apple.com and the official YouTube channel. TechRadar will also be on site to report live, so stay tuned.
What can we expect from “It’s Glowtime”?
Considering that we’ve been hearing rumors about the next-generation iPhones since before the iPhone 15 lineup was revealed, we have a pretty good idea what Apple will reveal at its September 2024 event. For starters, Apple will likely stick to four iPhone 16 models: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. All four are expected to run Apple Intelligence, which should be a star feature.
As Apple has done in the past, the A17 Pro chip from the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max will likely trickle down to the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. This will be enough to power Apple Intelligence, as the iOS 18.1 beta is already working on the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, offering early looks at features such as Writing Tools and the ability to create custom Memory videos in Photos.
On the other hand, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max will likely get Apple’s latest iPhone silicon and be extra fast, potentially allowing for some custom tricks. If the rumors pan out, we can expect slightly larger, still buttery-smooth, vibrant displays on the Pros and an extra button custom-made for the camera. The cameras should be further improved, with the better zoom that first appeared on the 15 Pro Max arriving on both iPhone 16 Pros, and additional improvements like a higher-megapixel ultra-wide lens and better low-light performance.
In addition to the iPhone, three new Apple Watches could be on sale at the event. The Apple Watch will officially hit 10 with the Apple Watch Series 10, while the Ultra will now be in its third generation. Both are said to feature new processors, but the Series 10 could offer a bigger reason to upgrade to a larger display. There’s also talk of a plastic Apple Watch SE, which could really bring the price down and make it an even more affordable option.
While we likely won’t see a successor to the second-generation AirPods Pro, rumors point to new entry- and mid-range AirPods models. These could even trickle down some Pro features, like a more comfortable design and smart listening modes, with recent reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman noting that noise cancellation will only be featured on the mid-range model.
Of course, as with Apple rumors, nothing is 100% certain until the company announces it, but thankfully we won’t have to wait much longer. Apple will officially announce all of its new hardware, features, software, and services during its special event on September 9, 2024.
You can see all the new gadgets first via the TechRadar live blog, as we’ll be there and streaming the event live via Apple.
