Apple's largest event of the year takes place tomorrow, where we're expecting to see the iPhone 14, the iPhone 14 Pro, new Apple Watches, and new AirPods Pro.
While this is Apple's most anticipated and jam-packed event of the year, there are several products Apple is working on that won't see their debut tomorrow. We've rounded up three things you should not expect to see announced during tomorrow's event.
New iPad Pros
If you're hoping to see some iPad action tomorrow, you may want to think again. Apple is working on new iPad Pros with the M2 chip that it plans to announce at an event next month, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, so we're unlikely to see anything related to the iPad or iPadOS until then. Apple is also working on an updated entry-level iPad, and while the company is planning an iPad-focused event for next month, a new base iPad launch tomorrow would not be unprecedented.
New Macs
Alongside new iPads later this fall, Apple is also planning to update the current Mac mini with M1 to feature the all-new M2 Apple silicon chip. The upcoming Mac mini, despite rumors, will feature no redesign and only a performance boost, according to reliable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, which says it will launch in 2023. As a result, we're unlikely to see any news related to the Mac mini or any other Mac during the event tomorrow, which is expected to be iPhone, Apple Watch, and AirPods focused.
Any News on AR/VR Headset
If you look at Apple's event invite for tomorrow's event, you may think the company could be alluding to the long-rumored reveal of its AR/VR headset. Unfortunately, you'd be mistaken. Apple is not expected to discuss its future AR/VR plans during the event. Instead, it is rumored to be planning an event for January 2023 to unveil its first AR/VR headset named "Reality Pro."
What *To* Expect
On the flip side, expect Apple to announce the iPhone 14, the iPhone 14 Plus, the iPhone 14 Pro, the iPhone 14 Pro Max, new Apple Watch models, AirPods Pro, and more. For a full rundown of everything we're likely to hear about tomorrow, see our guide.
Popular accessory brand Anker today is announcing a pair of charging accessories, led by a new 511 Nano 3 USB-C charger using the company's latest GaN technology. The Nano 3 packs 30 watts of charging power into a package that's just barely larger than Apple's paltry 5-watt USB-A charger and 70% smaller than Apple's 30-watt USB-C charger.
Equipped with folding prongs for travel portability and protection, the Nano 3 is available in five color options: black, white, blue, green, and purple. It also includes Anker's ActiveShield 2.0 technology to intelligently monitor temperature and adjust charging output to prevent overheating. With PowerIQ 3.0 and Programmable Power Supply (PPS) support, it delivers optimized fast charging to a range of devices.
The Anker Nano 3 charger launches today on Amazon with a normal price of $22.99 in the United States, but there is a 10% launch discount good through September 19.
Left to right: Apple 30W USB-C charger, Anker Nano 3 30W USB-C charger, Apple 5W USB-A charger
To complement the Nano 3, Anker is also launching new eco-friendly color-matched USB-C to Lightning and USB-C to USB-C cables in 3-foot and 6-foot lengths.
Engineered to stand up to over 20,000 bends in the lab, the new Anker 541 Lightning and 543 USB-C cables claim an industry-first eco-friendly design with the cable exteriors made of 40% bio-based materials derived from plants like corn and sugarcane. A color-matched cable wrap made of the same material also helps keep the cable tidy. Finally, the cables use 90% less plastic in their packaging with a pulp-based inner tray and 100% recyclable packaging paper with soy ink printing.
The 541 USB-C to Lightning cable is MFi certified, and when paired with a sufficiently powerful charger like the Nano 3, it can charge an iPhone 13 from 0 to 50% in 30 minutes. The 543 USB-C to USB-C cable features E-Marker chips to allow for communication between connected devices and chargers and supports up to 100 watts of charging power.
Anker will also be selling bundles of the Nano 3 with the matching 6-foot USB-C to Lightning cable for $37.99, but only in white and purple, with the white version seeing a 10% launch discount through September 19.
Note: MacRumors is an affiliate partner with Amazon. When you click a link and make a purchase, we may receive a small payment, which helps us keep the site running.
Apple reportedly plans to introduce the second-generation AirPods Pro alongside the iPhone 14 during a special event at Steve Jobs Theater this Wednesday. If you are considering upgrading to the new AirPods Pro once they are released, keep reading for a list of new features and improvements that have been rumored so far.
In addition to all-new features, the second-generation AirPods Pro will likely adopt some features added to the third-generation standard AirPods last year. The new AirPods Pro might also adopt Bluetooth's LE Audio specification, which would have several benefits.
H2 Chip With Improved Audio Quality
The new AirPods Pro will feature a "significantly upgraded" wireless chip compared to the H1 chip in the original AirPods Pro, according to Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo. The new chip could be branded as an "H2 chip."
Kuo did not elaborate on what benefits the new chip would provide, but given that the H1 chip powers audio-related functions, the upgraded chip in the second-generation AirPods Pro could result in improvements to sound quality, latency, active noise cancellation, Transparency mode, features powered by Siri, and more.
It's possible the new AirPods Pro will feature Bluetooth 5.2 or higher with support for LE Audio. The specification includes a new low-power audio codec called LC3 that provides improved audio quality compared to the classic SBC codec, even at a 50% lower bit rate, according to the Bluetooth SIG organization.
Longer Battery Life
While there haven't been any firm rumors about the new AirPods Pro featuring longer battery life, it's reasonable to expect improvements in this area given that nearly three years have passed since the original AirPods Pro launched.
Apple's standard third-generation AirPods released last year provide up to six hours of listening time per charge, compared to up to 4.5 hours for the current AirPods Pro. Even with active noise cancellation and Transparency mode turned off, the AirPods Pro last up to five hours per charge, which is still less than the third-generation AirPods.
One way the new AirPods Pro could achieve longer battery life is by adopting LE Audio's low-power LC3 audio codec as rumored.
Revamped Charging Case
The new AirPods Pro charging case is expected to gain Find My support, allowing users to track the location of the case in the Find My app in the event it is lost or misplaced, even when the AirPods Pro are not placed in the case. Earlier this year, analyst Ming-Chi Kuo said the case will be able to emit a sound when lost, with alleged renders of the case showing it will have speaker holes along the bottom.
It's also likely the new AirPods Pro charging case will have IPX4-rated water and sweat resistance like the charging case for the third-generation AirPods. Currently, only the AirPods Pro earbuds have water resistance and not the case.
It may also be possible to attach a lanyard to the new case.
Improved In-Ear Detection
Yet another feature that the next AirPods Pro will likely adopt from the third-generation AirPods is a skin-detect sensor for more accurate in-ear detection compared to the dual optical sensors in the original AirPods Pro.
Apple says the skin-detect sensor "accurately discerns if AirPods are in the ear — versus in a pocket or on a table — and pauses playback when removed."
Fitness Tracking
In May 2021, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman and Debby Wu reported that the second-generation AirPods Pro would include "updated motion sensors with a focus on fitness tracking," but the report did not provide any further details about the feature.
AirPods Pro are already equipped with a motion-detecting accelerometer, and it's possible that improvements to this sensor would allow for some fitness tracking capabilities, but Apple's exact plans remain to be seen. On a potentially related note, iOS 16 allows the Fitness app to be used on an iPhone without an Apple Watch.
LE Audio Benefits
In 2020, Bluetooth 5.2 was introduced with support for a new LE Audio specification. At least two Apple employees are listed as participants in the development of LE Audio, and Apple is likely to adopt the specification for use in future devices.
LE Audio would be particularly beneficial for AirPods. Below, we've outlined five benefits that LE Audio would have for future AirPods Pro, assuming that source devices like the iPhone, iPad, and Mac are also upgraded with support for the specification in the future.
Improved audio quality: LE Audio includes a new low-power audio codec called LC3 that provides improved audio quality compared to the classic SBC codec, even at a 50% lower bit rate, according to the Bluetooth SIG.
Longer battery life: With the low-power LC3 audio codec, future AirPods Pro would have longer battery life for audio playback.
Multi-stream audio: LE Audio would enable the transmission of multiple synchronized audio streams between a source device like an iPhone or Mac and the AirPods Pro. This would allow for an individual left and right AirPod to each have its own Bluetooth audio connection with a device supporting LE Audio for improved reliability.
Connect many pairs of AirPods to an iPhone at once: LE Audio would allow for many pairs of AirPods to directly connect to a future iPhone, iPad, Mac, or other device and play audio simultaneously. Apple already has a feature that allows an iPhone or iPad user with AirPods to share audio with another person with AirPods, but the feature does not work with more than two pairs of AirPods.
No switching between iPhone and Mac required: LE Audio would allow AirPods to connect to multiple source devices like an iPhone and Mac simultaneously, eliminating the need to switch the AirPods between devices.
In July, the Bluetooth SIG said it anticipates availability of products with support for LE Audio to ramp up by the end of 2022.
Major Design Changes Unlikely
Back in 2020, Gurman and Wu reported that Apple had tested a more compact design for the new AirPods Pro that would eliminate the stems below the earbuds, similar to Beats Studio Buds. However, more recent rumors suggest that the second-generation AirPods Pro will not have any significant outward-facing design changes.
With the impending arrival of the fitness-focused Apple Watch "Pro" model headlining the upcoming Series 8 lineup, Apple is set to offer customers a wide range of new bands for the larger device that will play into the extreme sports theme, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Accurate CAD renders of Apple Watch Pro (credit: 91Mobiles)
This wouldn't be the first time Apple has offered bands for a specific Apple Watch model – the company already sells a variety of special bands for its Hermès range of smartwatches. Apple also creates unique sports-style watch bands for its Nike edition models, although these are also compatible with other Apple Watch models.
While customers plumping for the Apple Watch Pro will also have a variety of bands to choose from, it's not yet clear what form the bands will take. Gurman has previously said that bands made for older Apple Watch models will fit, albeit imperfectly, implying the new bands will have an updated connection style.
A number of third-party chassis casings have already emerged based on leaked design details of the Apple Watch Pro, and some appear to be available in the form of a unified case-and-band combo. Again, whether this all-in-one style will be something that Apple itself offers is unknown, but it could play into the ruggedized or "explorer" look favored by some trail runners and hikers.
Apple Watch Pro third-party case-and-band combo (Image credit: Sonny Dickson)
Gurman has also said to expect "some pretty info dense" watch faces for the larger 49mm Pro models that will let athletes view a wider range of fitness and health metrics than other Apple Watch models allow.
Along with a larger flat screen, the Apple Watch Pro will have an additional new button of unknown functionality on the left-side of the display, while the Digital Crown and Side button on the right side will be more prominent in a new housing that protrudes from the body. Whether this is to make the controls more accessible or it is to make way for the larger internal battery is unknown.
Like the other models in the new Series 8 lineup, the Pro device is expected feature faster performance and a new body temperature sensor, but it is likely to be significantly more expensive, and may cost in the region of $900 or $1,000. The devices are expected to be announced on Wednesday at Apple's "Far Out" media event alongside a new Apple Watch SE, the iPhone 14 series, and AirPods Pro 2.
With the rumored Apple Watch Pro expected to be larger than the Apple Watch Series 7 and the rest of the upcoming Series 8 models, leaker Sonny Dickson has shared new images offering an excellent size comparison of the new lineup.
According to Dickson's sources, the Pro model will have a 49mm case size – larger than an earlier rumor suggesting between 47mm and 48mm. For comparison, the Apple Watch Series 7 is available in 41mm and 45mm case sizes, which is also expected to be mirrored in the standard Series 8 models with identical designs.
Combined with the flat display, a larger 49mm case size for the Apple Watch Pro could result in an even bigger screen size than the 1.99-inches initially reported, and could even turn out to be as large as 2 inches or more, easily making it the largest Apple Watch display yet seen.
Whatever the Apple Watch Pro display size turns out to be, it will compare to 1.691-inches on the 41mm and 1.901-inches on the 45mm Apple Watch Series 7, offering substantially more screen real estate for athletes and fitness enthusiasts to display more relevant stats.
On Monday, 91Mobilesshared CAD images of the Apple Watch Pro's new design and also claimed the same 49mm case size. The images confirmed the inclusion of a new physical button on the left side of the redesigned watch, a completely flat screen, and a protrusion housing the Digital Crown and Side button.
Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman later corroborated the validity of the design shown in the CAD images. Gurman previously said that the Apple Watch "Pro" will feature a significantly larger display that will likely "be bigger than most wrists." It will also have a larger battery, along with a low-power mode, and a rugged titanium casing.
The new Pro model will sit at the top of the Apple Watch lineup, with pricing expected to fall in the $900 to $1,000 price bracket. Apple is expected to announce the all-new Apple Watch "Pro" during an event on Wednesday, September 7. The new high-end Apple Watch will join the new Apple Watch Series 8 and an updated, possibly more affordable Apple Watch SE in the lineup.
Just two days ahead of Apple unveiling the iPhone 14 lineup, The Wall Street Journal's Tim Higgins reports that the lower-end iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models will be equipped with an "enhanced version" of the A15 Bionic chip.
The report does not provide any additional details about the chip, but there has been speculation that the standard iPhone 14 models will be equipped with the iPhone 13 Pro's higher-end A15 chip with a five-core GPU for up to 25% faster graphics performance. In the standard iPhone 13 models, the A15 chip has a four-core GPU.
Improved graphics performance would likely be the only change to the A15 chip in the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus, as the chip has the same 6-core CPU and 16-core Neural Engine in both the iPhone 13 and the iPhone 13 Pro.
In line with information shared by analyst Ming-Chi Kuo back in March, the report claims that only the iPhone 14 Pro models will be upgraded with Apple's latest A16 chip for faster CPU performance. This would mark the first time that Apple limits its latest chip to the Pro models as part of an annual refresh of its flagship iPhone lineup, resulting in even more differentiation between the standard and Pro models.
Two popular trainers on Apple Fitness+ have unexpectedly announced their departure from the service, which will celebrate its second anniversary since launching this December.
Dustin Brown, who was previously a yoga trainer on Fitness+, announced his departure from the service in an Instagram post earlier today. "After being in the U.S. for over two years, I had the opportunity to travel back to Australia and spend time in my studios and in the community here," Brown wrote. "I am following and listening to my heart, and I have decided to move back to Melbourne! This means my time at Apple Fitness+ is coming to an end." Brown had been part of the service since its launch.
Brown wasn't the only one to announce a departure from Fitness+ today. Also in an Instagram post, Betina Gozo, who was a core and strength trainer on the service, said that after two years being part of the team she is leaving. "I'm sad to share that my time on the Fitness+ trainer team is coming to an end. I'm so grateful to have been part of this incredible team in LA," Gozo wrote. "The devotion, character, knowledge, and hard work of every single one of you is impeccable," she added.
Apple Fitness+ initially launched on December 14, 2020, and has since added new workout types and programs and expanded to new countries earlier this year. While Apple plans to hold a hardware-focused event this Wednesday, updates to services, including Fitness+, have been routinely talked about during Apple's fall events.
New images shared on Twitter allegedly showcase upcoming cases from Apple for the iPhone 14 lineup expected to be announced this Wednesday.
The images, shared by Majin Bu, include both leather and silicone case options for all the expected iPhone 14 models. While the photos claim to show official cases from Apple, they're most likely fake cases that resemble accurate colors. Apple often updates its selection of cases alongside a new iPhone release, so some new colors are expected this week.
According to the post, leather cases for the iPhone 14 series will be available in bright orange, brown, golden brown, midnight blue, black, and "fir green." If the colors are accurate, several currently available leather case colors from Apple will be discontinued, including a lighter purple named Wisteria, Sequoia Green, and Dark Cherry. While the colors shown in the images are possibly legitimate, the names may not be, so take them with a grain of salt.
For silicone cases, another image shared shows eight colors, including midnight, succulent, chalk pink, red, lilac, sun glow, stromblue, and elderberry. The names are claimed to be official Apple names for the colors, but the information's source has been wrong in the past.
Apple is expected to announce four new models of the iPhone 14 this Wednesday: the iPhone 14, the iPhone 14 Plus, the iPhone 14 Pro, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. The higher-end 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch iPhone 14 models, the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, will feature the most significant changes, including a new pill-shaped notch replacement. Alongside new iPhones, Apple is expected to announce new Apple Watches and AirPods Pro. See our guide for a full rundown of everything we expect.
3D renders of the upcoming "Apple Watch Pro" shared earlier today accurately depict the design of the device, including a new button on the left side of the case that can likely be programmed by the user, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
Gurman said users will likely be able to customize the button to launch a specific app, feature, workout type, or so forth when pressed. He also confirmed that while the Apple Watch Pro will have a completely flat display, the device will still have a rounded casing, contrary to some lingering rumors about an Apple Watch with flat edges.
A couple of things I’d point out regarding the Apple Watch Pro design: - No flat sides. They are rounded like the Series 7. - The new button on the left side is probably programmable to do whatever you want. For instance, launching a specific app, feature or workout.
— Mark Gurman (@markgurman) September 5, 2022
The renders also showed the Pro model with a more protruded Digital Crown and Side Button on the right side of the case, which could make these controls easier to access. Overall, the Pro model looks more rugged than standard Apple Watch models, in line with reports that it is designed for activities like hiking and extreme sports.
Apple is expected to announce the Apple Watch Pro alongside two standard Apple Watch Series 8 models and a second-generation Apple Watch SE at its special event on Wednesday. Gurman has predicted that pricing for the Pro model could start at $900 or higher. Apple is also expected to announce iPhone 14 models and new AirPods Pro at the event.
After over a year of reports about the iPhone 14 lineup, several once-believed rumors are no longer expected to come true when the devices are unveiled this week.
Though an iPhone 14 with a USB-C port or even no ports at all have almost always been thought to be off the cards, there are several major iPhone 14 rumors that once captivated the Apple community but have since been rejected, revised, or debunked in light of new information.
Complete Redesign and Flush Rear Cameras
Just before the unveiling of the iPhone 13 lineup last year, leaker Jon Prossershared renders purporting to depict an all-new design for the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Prosser's information suggested that the iPhone 14 Pro would feature a thicker chassis allowing for a flush rear camera array, round volume buttons like the iPhone 4 and iPhone 5, and redesigned speaker and microphone grilles with elongated mesh cutouts instead of holes.
Instead, the iPhone 14 Pro is expected to feature the same stainless steel frame and frosted glass back as the iPhone 13 Pro for a very similar overall look, with only a small number of subtle differences between the designs, such as more rounded corners and a larger rear camera array. It looks like the iPhone 14 Pro will be an "elevation" of the iPhone 13 Pro's design, which itself was an adaptation of the iPhone 12 Pro.
Titanium Frame for 'Pro' Models
A key report from JP Morgan Chase said that the iPhone 14 Pro could offer a titanium chassis instead of stainless steel, resulting in a stronger, lighter, and more scratch-resistant design. Prosser reaffirmed this rumor in iPhone 14 Pro Max renders.
Despite the benefits of titanium, it appears that Apple looks set to continue using a stainless steel frame for the iPhone 14 Pro, continuing a design feature that was introduced on the iPhone X. Apple reportedly concluded that it was simply too expensive to offer a titanium iPhone chassis at the current time amid production issues.
Under-Display Face ID
Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo was first to spark rumors around the iPhone switching to a "hole-punch" cutout for the camera. While Kuo did not comment on how Face ID would continue to be included on the iPhone, display analyst Ross Young suggested in September 2021 that the iPhone 14 Pro could feature Apple's first under-display Face ID technology. Twitter leaker @dylandkt then claimed that the iPhone 14 Pro would feature a small pill-shaped camera cutout, with Face ID being moved to under the device's display.
Young subsequently corrected his forecast, becoming the first analyst to suggest that the iPhone 14 Pro would feature "hole-punch and pill-shaped" cutouts, something that had been indicated by component leaks. As such, it seems like the iPhone 14 lineup will not feature any of Apple's long-rumored under-display technology.
Separated 'Pill and Hole-Punch' Display Cutout Design
One of the biggest late-stage rumors about the iPhone 14 Pro relates to the "hole-punch and pill-shaped" display cutouts. While the device is still expected to feature these cutouts physically, most observers assumed that the cutouts would be visually separate. Now, it seems that the iPhone 14 Pro's display cutouts will appear as a single "pill" shape at the top of the display, shattering the previous idea of how the front of the device would look. The "pill" is rumored to have integration with iOS, displaying indicators and changing the status bar.
Every new iPhone series has featured the same new chip since Apple split the lineup upon the launch of the iPhone 8 and iPhone X. This was expected to continue with the iPhone 14 lineup until Ming-Chi Kuo said that only the iPhone 14 Pro would contain the A16 Bionic chip, with the standard iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus models sticking with last year's A15 Bionic chip. The move further differentiates the "Pro" and non-"Pro" iPhone models, and may have been triggered, at least in part, by supply chain issues.
A16 Bionic Chip Made With More Advanced 4nm Process
Some reports indicated that the A16 Bionic would be the first Apple chip to be fabricated with a 4nm process, not least because Apple has stuck with 5nm through the A14 and A15 chips. Nevertheless, the A16 is expected to continue to be based on TSMC's 5nm process.
As the third iteration of Apple's 5nm iPhone chips, the A16 is unlikely to deliver a massive performance delta over the previous A14 Bionic and A15 Bionic chips, but is is still likely to bring sufficient performance and efficiency improvements to the CPU and GPU to justify being branded as a whole new chip. One rumor indicates that the chip will have better thermal management than the A15 Bionic.
'iPhone 14 mini'
When Apple introduced the iPhone 12 and iPhone 12 mini, many assumed that the display sizes and form factors of the iPhone lineup would persist for several years, in much the same way that the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus form factors were used through four generations and the iPhone X's form factor was used for three iPhone generations. While the iPhone 13 mini launched as expected last year, after lackluster sales, it emerged that the small form factor iPhone is set to come to an end after just two years. Apple is reportedly planning to stop offering new 5.4-inch iPhone models and introduce a larger model to take its place in the lineup.
iPhone 14 'Max' Name
Ever since expectations of an "iPhone 14 mini" faded, the "iPhone 14 Max" has been expected to sit above the iPhone 14 with a 6.7-inch display like the iPhone 12 Pro Max and iPhone 13 Pro Max. In the same way that the "mini" iPhones in recent years have offered all of the same features as the standard iPhone 12 and iPhone 13 models, the iPhone 14 Max is expected to offer all of the same features as the standard iPhone 14 but with a significantly bigger display.
Throughout dozens of reports about this device, it has been expected to be named the "iPhone 14 Max," in line with the high-end iPhone 14 Pro Max model. However, reports have started to zone in on the name "iPhone 14 Plus," and with the likes of Bloomberg's Mark Gurman now using the name in his latest newsletter, it looks highly likely that there will be no "iPhone 14 Max" after all.
New CAD images of the upcoming Apple Watch "Pro" have been shared online by 91mobiles, providing a closer look at the alleged design of the device.
The renders line up with Apple Watch "Pro" case images shared earlier this morning, revealing the inclusion of a new physical button on the left side of the watch. The new button is visible within the CAD images, which show it sitting beneath three holes likely to be the speaker vents.
As for the Digital Crown, the CADs reveal a much more rugged look for the dial compared to the current version. Both the Digital Crown and Side Button appear to be housed within a new chassis protrusion on the side of the Apple Watch Pro, which could make them more easily accessible. The display on the watch is completely flat, unlike the Apple Watch Series 7, which features curved edges around the display.
In his Power On newsletter this weekend, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman said that the Apple Watch "Pro" will feature a significantly larger display that will likely "be bigger than most wrists." Past rumors have suggested a case size between 47mm and 48mm for the device. Apple plans to use the larger display to display additional metrics to athletes during workouts, and there will also be redesigned watch faces, according to Gurman.
The new Pro model will sit at the top of the Apple Watch lineup, with pricing expected to fall in the $900 to $1,000 range. Apple is expected to announce the all-new Apple Watch "Pro" during an event on Wednesday, September 7. The new high-end Apple Watch will join the new Apple Watch Series 8 and an updated Apple Watch SE in the lineup.
Update:Bloomberg's Mark Gurman says the renders shared by 91Mobiles accurately depict the design of the Apple Watch "Pro."
New images of an iPhone 14 Pro case fitted on an iPhone 13 Pro give us our best look yet at potential design changes for the camera lenses, flash, and LiDAR scanner on Apple's upcoming high-end iPhone.
The image of the case, shared on the Korean blog Naver by the account "yeux1122" reveals significantly larger camera lenses on the back on the upcoming iPhone 14 Pro. Attempting to fit the case designed for the iPhone 14 Pro onto an iPhone 13 Pro shows that each camera – the Wide, Ultra Wide, and Telephoto lenses – will grow in size. As a result, the flash and LiDAR scanner will also shift their positioning according to the images.
Past images of iPhone 14 Pro cases and dummy models have revealed that Apple is planning a more prominent camera bump on this year's iPhone. The larger camera lenses and the more protruding camera array on the back result from several new camera features expected. Most notably, Apple is expected to include a 48MP wide camera in this year's "Pro" iPhone, as well as improvements to low-light photography and possibly 8K video recording.
Another image shared in the same post shows that the volume buttons and the volume switcher will move slightly higher on the upcoming iPhone 14 Pro. Overall, leaked schematics of the upcoming iPhone earlier this year revealed a somewhat heavier and thicker design, thanks to a larger battery and bolstered camera hardware.
Apple will announce four new models of the iPhone 14 lineup this Wednesday during an event with the tagline "Far out," including the iPhone 14, the iPhone 14 Plus, the iPhone 14 Pro, and the iPhone 14 Pro Max. Alongside new iPhones, Apple is expected to reveal the Apple Watch Series 8, a new Apple Watch SE, and an all-new Apple Watch "Pro." The second-generation AirPods Pro are also rumored to appear during the event.
Leaker Sonny Dickson has shared another image of a third-party band-and-casing accessory allegedly moulded for the forthcoming Apple Watch Pro that suggests the Garmin-style rugged device could feature additional physical buttons on the left-hand side of the screen.
Aimed at athletes and hikers, the new Apple Watch Pro is expected to feature a new hard titanium chassis design with a larger screen, but until now rumors did not mention the inclusion of new buttons on the device, where the speaker vents usually reside. The case suggests at least one new button on the left, possibly beside a smaller round hole for a new speaker vent design.
Athletes and running watch wearers are generally known to prefer physical buttons over touchscreen controls since they are more responsive in rainy and inclement weather conditions, so the inclusion of new physical controls would make sense, should the cases prove accurate.
The Digital Crown and Side button cutouts on the right side of the screen also suggest these buttons will be more protruding than on other Apple Watch models.
The moulding of the accessory case and earlier images of similar cases also suggest that the screen will be flatter than previous Apple Watch designs and will sit flush with the flat edges of the main chassis, which tapers off into a more rounded body.
The Apple Watch Pro is likely to cost significantly more than the Apple Watch Series 8, which is expected to retain the same chassis design as the current Series 7. Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman suggests the new "Pro" watch could be priced in the range of $900 or $1,000.
Notably, Gurman believes the Apple Watch Pro will remain compatible with older Apple Watch bands. Both devices are expected to be announced on Wednesday at Apple's "Far Out" media event alongside a new Apple Watch SE, the iPhone 14 series, and AirPods Pro 2.
This year, Apple is rumored to be preparing to launch three new Apple Watch models, including the Apple Watch Series 8, second-generation Apple Watch SE, and a new Apple Watch "Pro" with enhanced durability aimed at heavy-duty athletes.
According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, the Apple Watch Pro will debut with an all-new design that's a reworking of the form factor Apple first introduced with the Series 4 in 2018. Today, new leaks out of China allegedly give us a better idea of the rugged new Pro model ahead of time.
Two images, one tweeted by leaker Sonny Dickson (above), the other posted to Weibo by user UnclePan (below), both of whom have shared accurate information in the past, purport to show accessory cases for the forthcoming Apple Watch Pro.
UnclePan notes in his post that the "Pro is not square in the traditional sense, but a new form factor," and the casings do indeed hint that the main body of the watch will be rounded, while the upper rim of the chassis that meets the display will be flat and potentially sit flush with a flatter screen than the Series 7 model, possibly to provide better all-round protection against impacts.
There are also several cutouts suggesting larger, more protruding Digital Crown and Side buttons on the right, paired on the left with what appear to be larger-than-usual individual openings – one round, one pill-shaped – where the device's thin speaker slats are usually located. Whether these are to accommodate a new speaker design or additional physical buttons is unclear.
Prior to the release of the Apple Watch Series 7, multiple rumors suggested Apple was working on a refreshed design with flat edges similar to the flat edges of the iPhone 13 and iPad Pro, but that didn't end up happening. Rumors now suggest that the Apple Watch Pro could feature a similar sort of design with a flat display, but the device is not expected to get flat edges.
The new Apple Watch Pro is said to have a noticeably larger display on which users will be able to view more fitness and health-tracking data at the same time. The Pro model will also feature redesigned watch faces and a new low-power mode, according to Gurman.
The display is said to measure in at almost two inches diagonally, which is larger than the 1.9-inch diagonal screen size of the current Apple Watch Series 7 and the planned Apple Watch Series 8. It is also expected to include a more shatter-resistant screen and have a larger battery to accommodate longer workout times.
The standard Apple Watch Series 8 models are expected to feature the same design as the Apple Watch Series 7 with no updates to the chassis.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 14 lineup during a special event at Steve Jobs Theater on Wednesday. Alongside the new iPhones and Apple Watch models, Apple is also said to be unveiling new AirPods Pro earbuds.
Apple Watch Series 3 models are finally selling out on Apple's online store around the world, just days before the line is expected to be discontinued.
Three out of four Series 3 configurations listed on Apple's website are currently out of stock in the U.K. and Australia, for example, while one Series 3 model is unavailable on the U.S. store. Availability varies in other countries.
The upcoming watchOS 9 software update is incompatible with the Apple Watch Series 3, and it is expected that Apple will stop selling the device following the introduction of new Apple Watch models at its special event on Wednesday.
New models rumored to be announced at the event include the Apple Watch Series 8, a higher-end Series 8 model that may be named the Apple Watch Pro, and a second-generation Apple Watch SE. The original Apple Watch SE would likely replace the Series 3 as the new lowest-priced model.
Introduced in 2017, the Apple Watch Series 3 is very outdated and on its final days as watchOS 9 nears release for the Series 4 and newer later this month.
Apple has internally discussed the idea of launching some iPhone models without a SIM card slot by next year, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman said the move would be part of Apple's push towards eSIMs.
Gurman said the SIM card slot could be removed on some iPhone 14 models, which Apple is expected to announce in just three days from now, although he said there is a possibility that the change will not happen until the iPhone 15 next year. The eventual removal of the SIM card slot has been rumored a few times previously.
"Apple will give eSIM a bigger push this time around, with carriers preparing to steer users toward the digital, embedded SIM cards rather than physical ones," Gurman wrote in his newsletter. "In fact, Apple has considered removing the physical SIM card slot altogether beginning either this year or next for some models."
An eSIM is a digital SIM that allows users to activate a cellular plan without having to use a physical nano-SIM card. eSIM availability is rapidly expanding, but the technology is still not available in all countries, so some iPhone models with a SIM card slot may remain available for at least a few years amid the transition.
iPhone 13 models sold at Apple Stores and on Apple.com already lack a nano-SIM card in the box, with users typically able to activate a cellular plan via eSIM by turning on the iPhone, connecting to a Wi-Fi network, and following the on-screen instructions. iPhone 13 models also support multiple eSIM profiles, allowing users to subscribe to several cellular plans digitally and switch between them, which is useful for travel.
The removal of the SIM card slot could help to further improve the iPhone's water resistance, and perhaps free up a tiny amount of space inside the device.
Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 14 lineup during a special event at Steve Jobs Theater on Wednesday. Other products expected to be announced include Apple Watch Series 8 models, a new Apple Watch SE, an Apple Watch Pro, and new AirPods Pro.
The iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max will feature physically larger batteries, according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman, likely to compensate for the increased power consumption of an always-on display.
In his latest Power On newsletter, Gurman says he expects the new iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max to feature larger batteries and the devices will, as a result, appear "slightly larger overall." While longer battery life is always a top wish for customers, the inclusion of a larger battery on this year's high-end iPhones is likely a direct result of the inclusion of an always-on display.
Like the Apple Watch Series 5 and later, the upcoming iPhone 14 Pro models are widely expected to feature an always-on display that will always showcase essential information and visual elements from the redesigned iOS 16 lock screen. The always-on display will display information such as the time, date, and widgets and include tinted and darkened versions of some wallpapers customized by the user, MacRumorsreported this week.
Concept based on alleged leaked information on the iPhone 14 Pro's always-on display
Apple will be able to offer an always-on display on the upcoming iPhones thanks to new OLED display technology that features a lower refresh rate. While the iPhone 13 Pro and iPhone 13 Pro Max support a variable refresh rate of up to 120Hz, the 2021 iPhones can only go as low as 10Hz.
On the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max, the OLED panels are expected to go as low as 1Hz, saving battery life when static information is always on display. Due to the newer OLED display, the always-on display functionality is expected to remain an iPhone 14 Pro exclusive and not extend to the iPhone 13 Pro models through a potential software update, as some may have hoped.
In addition to the energy savings provided by the lower refresh rate, the larger batteries on the iPhone 14 Pro will likely compensate for any potential loss of battery life for users when using the always-on display feature. These two changes come alongside power efficiency improvements in the upcoming A16 Bionic chip expected to power the new "Pro" iPhones.
Apple is expected to announce the new iPhone 14 lineup during an event on Wednesday, September 7. The lineup will include a 6.1-inch iPhone 14, a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Plus, a 6.1-inch iPhone 14 Pro, and a 6.7-inch iPhone 14 Pro Max. The new lineup will mark the end of the road for the 5.4-inch "mini" form factor, first introduced with the iPhone 12 series and improved upon with the iPhone 13 last year.
Apple is also expected to announce the Apple Watch Series 8, an updated Apple Watch SE with faster performance, and an all-new rugged Apple Watch "Pro." The second-generation AirPods Pro are also expected to be announced during the event, according to Gurman. For a full rundown of everything we expect from Apple next week, see our guide.
Apple is working on at least three augmented-reality and virtual-reality headset devices, the first of which will likely launch with the name "Apple Reality Pro," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman.
In the latest edition of his "Power On" newsletter, Gurman explained that there are a minimum of three Apple headsets actively in development that he is aware of, under the codes "N301," "N602," and "N421."
The first of these devices, N301, is what Gurman believes will be called "Apple Reality Pro." Apple Reality Pro is said to be the company's "high-end rival" to Meta's upcoming Quest Pro headset. N602 is reportedly the successor to the first Apple Reality Pro headset and could come in at a lower price point. N421 is Apple's long-rumored augmented reality glasses device, though Gurman cautioned that it may not launch for some time.
Gurman's latest report is the first concrete indication of what Apple's first headset product could be called. It is worth noting that the "Reality Pro" name lines up with Apple's recent trademark filings. Last week, Bloomberg reported that Apple has trademarked several terms believed to be associated with its upcoming headset devices, including "Reality Processor," "Reality Pro," and "Reality One."
Left to right: Apple 30W USB-C charger, Anker Nano 3 30W USB-C charger, Apple 5W USB-A charger
Concept render based on 
