The FINANCIAL — Apple will likely reveal its latest lineup of iPhones next week. The company sent out press invitations a virtual event — with the tagline “California Streaming” — that will take place on Tuesday, September 14, at its Apple Park headquarters in Cupertino, California.
As CNN notes, Apple is expected to add four new smartphones to its lineup: the iPhone 13 mini, iPhone 13, iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max. It’s also reportedly readying its Apple Watch Series 7 — with new health features and better battery life — and its next-generation AirPods 3, featuring a design more in line with its higher-end AirPods Pro, spatial audio support and touch controls.
“As usual, the iPhone will be the main focus next week. The annual September event is typically Apple’s most closely watched of the year as the iPhone remains central to its business. (Last year, Apple postponed its iPhone 12 launch until October due to production delays stemming from the global pandemic.)
“This year, Apple will reportedly make some changes to its camera system. The iPhone 13 and more budget-friendly iPhone 13 mini will likely have two rear-camera lenses placed diagonally for the first time, potentially to make room for a larger sensor, according to the Apple rumor mill. Meanwhile, the three rear-camera lenses on iPhone 13 Pro models could come in different sizes and sit inside a thicker bump, reportedly for advancements with stabilization. Other new camera features could include portrait mode for videos and astrophotography support to take pictures of the night sky,”CNN notes.
“The new iPhones are expected to have the same 5.4-inch, 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch screen sizes as last year’s iPhone 12, but the devices will include camera upgrades like a video version of Portrait mode, support for the higher-quality ProRes video recording resolution and more advanced filters system. Also coming to this year’s models are faster A15 processors, a smaller cutout at the top of the screen and display improvements like a faster refresh rate, Bloomberg notes.
The new iPhones could also have a smaller “notch” at the top of its display, which holds its TrueDepth camera, speakers, microphone and other sensors, to allow for an unobstructed view of the touchscreen, according to Bloomberg. The devices may also tout an always-on display, an under-display Touch ID, satellite technology support for sending messages in emergency situations, a faster refresh rate for better gaming, an improved 5G chip and a bigger battery that promises to last all day.
Earlier this year, Apple teased software updates coming to iOS 15, including a do-not-disturb mode users can turn on when they need to concentrate, away messages in iMessage, the ability to share screens in FaceTime and driver’s license and vaccine verification app support for digital wallet. The software typically rolls out in September.
Also coming this fall are the new MacBook Pros, iPads and AirPods. The MacBook Pros will be Apple’s first high-end computers to transition over to custom processors. And they’ll mark the first redesign to the MacBook Pro since 2016. The new models will include flatter edges and the removal of the Touch Bar strip on the keyboard. They also will offer MagSafe magnetic charging, According to Bloomberg,
“The new AirPods will look similar to the AirPods Pro, but lack pricier features like noise cancellation. Apple hasn’t refreshed the entry-level earbuds since early 2019, but it released AirPods Max headphones last December, ” Bloomberg notes.
The company is planning two new iPads for this fall. First, an update to the base iPad geared toward schools. That version will get a faster processor and a thinner design. Second is the biggest overhaul to the iPad mini since the product first debuted in 2012. The new version will have a larger screen and thinner borders.
