After months of speculation, Apple has finally confirmed the date of its next launch event.
Invites for Apple’s annual hardware launch, which sports the tagline “Awe dropping”, have landed in inboxes globally, confirming the date of Tuesday September 9, at the usual time of 6 pm in the UK, which is 10 am for California and the West Coast.
While Apple likes to keep its announcements strictly under wraps ahead of time, that hasn’t stopped keen fanatics scouring the depths of the internet to find the latest leaks.
Ahead of the hugely anticipated event, we explain everything we know about Awe Dropping, including what Apple is likely to announce and how to watch it as it happens.
In the meantime, make sure you visit our iPhone 17 rumors hub where we’ve collated the most reliable leaks.
What will Apple announce at Awe dropping?
As mentioned, Apple likes to keep its announcements a surprise, which undoubtedly adds to the excitement of its Awe Dropping event.
iPhone 17 series
We can reasonably expect the iPhone 17 series to take centre stage, which may also see the new inclusion of an iPhone 17 Air handset, which is speculated to be one of the thinnest iPhones ever made.
The iPhone 17 Pro looks like it could be in line for a distinctive redesign – possibly with a nice new orange hue – and this could be the year that Apple finally adds a ProMotion display to the standard phone iPhone model.
Expect to see A19 chips and improved cameras, but the iPhone Fold will likely have to wait until 2027.
iOS 26 release date
Alongside the iPhone 17 lineup, we can expect to receive a firm launch date of iOS 26, which has been available as a public beta since June.
The new iOS not only offers a complete design overhaul, with the inclusion of Liquid Glass, but it also provides new Apple Intelligence tools for compatible handsets such as Call Screening.
Apple Watch Series 11 and Ultra 3
Apple usually launches its wearables alongside the iPhones, so expect to see updates to the Apple Watch in the form of a Series 11 and an Ultra 3. We could also see AirPods Pro 3, which are rumoured to include some heart-rate tracking tech similar to that found on the Powerbeats 2.
However, it’s key to remember that nothing is confirmed by Apple yet, so we will have to wait and see.
How to watch Apple’s event
The easiest way to watch Apple’s Awe Dropping event is via Apple’s website or through its livestream on YouTube. Remember, the event will take place virtually on Tuesday September 9, at 10am PDT / 6pm BST.
Opinion
As Apple hasn’t confirmed what it will launch at the upcoming Awe Dropping event, everything we “know” so far is pure speculation. Having said that, we’ll likely see the iPhone 17 series in all its glory, which should hopefully include the daringly thin, lightweight and potentially expensive iPhone 17 Air in lieu of the iPhone 17 Plus.
Alongside the iPhone 17 line-up, it would be great to finally see an upgrade to Apple’s 2020 HomePod Mini or even the 2023 HomePod 2. The timing would make sense, especially considering Google is rumoured to launch a Gemini-powered smart speaker at some point this year.
Otherwise, we’ll be counting down the days until we see what Apple has up its sleeve.
