iPhone event on 12 September: What to expect

On Tuesday, 12 September, at 7 pm CET, Apple's iPhone event will take place. You can watch it on Apple's website or YouTube channel. The event is entitled "Wonderlust". In addition to the iPhone, new smartwatches are also expected.

In this article you will find a current summary from the rumour mill. Shortly after the event, you can of course read up on what has materialised.

iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max - or Ultra?

The latest flagship smartphone is Apple's most important product of the year. The leaks suggest that a relatively big upgrade is on the cards this autumn. Nine things that are expected:

1. New design: Apparently, the new Pro model will be a little rounder again. The corners will no longer be as angular as on the iPhone 14 Pro, but also not as rounded as on the iPhone 11 Pro. The edges around the display will also be thinner.

1. New material: The frame around the smartphone will no longer be made of stainless steel, but of titanium. This means less weight. We are talking about ten per cent. The material is familiar from the Apple Watch Ultra.
2. USB-C: Apple is finally replacing the proprietary Lightning port with USB-C. This step was probably not entirely voluntary, as the EU requires a standardised connection from 2024. It is not yet clear what standard the USB-C port will have. It is likely to be Thunderbolt 3 or 4, at least for the Pro model. The change will probably also increase the charging speed.

1. Action Button: The silent switch is replaced by a new button. Leakers are calling it the "Action Button", based on the button on the Apple Watch Ultra. It can be assigned various functions on the iPhone. In addition to switching between loud and silent, for example, with direct access to the camera or other shortcuts.
2. New chip: The A17 will be Apple's first chip based on 3-nanometre technology. It will probably be more efficient than its predecessor. This will ensure longer battery life and better performance.
3. New telephoto camera: One of the most important features could be reserved for the larger model this year - a new telephoto camera with a periscope lens. It should have a focal length of the equivalent of 140 mm, or in simple terms a 6x zoom. That is twice as much as the telephoto lens of the previous model. It is unclear what will happen to the previous 3x zoom.

1. "Ultra" instead of "Pro Max": This rumour is controversial. Some leakers are reporting that the large model will not be called iPhone 15 Pro Max, but iPhone 15 Ultra. This could be due to exclusive features such as the periscope camera.
2. New colours: Allegedly, there will no longer be a gold Pro model. Instead, a dark shade of blue and titanium grey are expected alongside space grey and silver. The latter would probably be the raw colour of the new titanium frame.

1. Higher price: Apple is probably taking all the new functions as an opportunity for a hefty price increase. We're talking about 200 dollars more for the entry-level model. At least it now comes with 256 GB of memory.

If these rumours are true, there could be more incentives for the larger model this year than before. Even a possible "Ultra" designation should be reason enough for many fans to dig deeper into their pockets. Not to mention the periscope camera. This differentiation strategy will probably pay off for Apple, as the most expensive models also have the highest margin.

Some of the differences between the smaller Pro model and its predecessor will also be noticeable in everyday use. First and foremost, the USB-C port, which will soon allow you to use the same cables for practically all devices. Apart from that, the individually configurable Action Button would also be an almost revolutionary feature by Apple standards. The higher performance of the chip is of little use in most situations, but a longer battery life is always welcome.

I think it's a shame that the camera on the 6.1-inch model is unlikely to receive any upgrades. Regardless of the price, not everyone wants a 6.7-inch smartphone in their trouser pocket. The last time the iPhone Pro Max (or Ultra) received special functions was with the iPhone 12, when only the large model had the optical image stabiliser and a slightly longer telephoto focal length. The rumour is not entirely unexpected for the periscope camera either. Its lens is installed vertically in the housing - that takes up space.

iPhone 15 and iPhone 15 Plus

As is so often the case, the conventional iPhone model is based on the last-generation Pro. This year, it will inherit the Dynamic Island, the 48-megapixel main camera and the A16 chip. The iPhone 15 will also have a USB-C port. However, presumably a less fast one than the Pro model. There are even rumours that it will only support the USB 2.0 standard. That would be as slow as the old Lightning port.

Customers of the regular iPhone will still have to do without a telephoto camera and a higher frame rate. According to the leaks, it will once again come without a Pro Motion display. But in new colours: black, white, blue, yellow and "coral". The latter is something between orange and pink. As a nice detail, this year the charging cables are to come in the same colour as the smartphone.

The bottom line is that the normal iPhone would receive a solid update. The better camera and USB-C in particular are likely to set it apart from last year's model. At the same time, the gap to the Pro models continues to grow, which will stand out this year with a host of new features if the rumours are true.

Apple Watch Series 9 and Apple Watch Ultra

After Apple unveiled the all-new Apple Watch Ultra last year, 2023 looks set to be a quiet watch year. As a smartwatch for the masses, the Series 9 will receive a new processor based on the A15 chip from the iPhone 13, according to reports from Bloomberg. This increases both performance and efficiency. The latter could have a positive effect on battery life. The sensors of the Series 9 have also been improved.

Other than that, only new colours are expected: The Series 9 will now also be available in pink and with a textile strap with a magnetic clasp. The Apple Watch Ultra will now also be available in a darker titanium colour.

The reason for this incremental upgrade to the watches: Next year, the Apple Watch celebrates its tenth anniversary. The Californians will therefore be saving some features for the Series X - for example, a major redesign of the case.

New case for AirPods

According to leaks, Apple is also switching the AirPods to USB-C along with the iPhone - a logical step. There are therefore no new headphones, just a new charging case. It is unclear whether the previous case with Lightning port will remain in the range. It is likely that only the remaining stock will be sold. If you don't care about the connection, you can hope for good deals.

What's not coming: iPads and Macs

Neither tablets nor computers are expected on 12 September. Any products from these sectors would be a big surprise because they would be overshadowed by the iPhone. With the new M3 chips coming with the next generation of Macs, Apple is sure to want to give them their own big stage. As they appear to be imminent, a separate event in October or November is conceivable.

According to rumours, the iPad Pro will also soon receive a major update with an M3 chip, OLED display and new keyboard. However, you will probably have to wait until spring 2024 for this.