We’re now simply days away from the Apple’s September 9 occasion, the place the corporate is all however sure to unveil the iPhone 17 line. This 12 months’s theme of “Awe dropping,” which was featured in Apple’s invites to the media despatched on August 26 does not reveal a lot by means of clues, although some assume the heat-mapped Apple emblem is indicative of higher thermal cooling within the new fashions. However extra importantly, we already know easy methods to watch the Apple iPhone 17 occasion itself: The keynote might be livestreamed on YouTube Tuesday, September 9 at 1PM ET from Cupertino. We’ll have three Engadget staff members reporting, liveblogging and offering their hands-on impressions from Apple Park, so ensure you come again right here for the most recent protection.
This 12 months is shaping as much as be a departure from current September product rollouts, with the robust chance of an all-new superthin iPhone anticipated to affix the corporate’s lineup. Additionally on faucet might be new Apple Watch fashions — together with the primary really new Extremely mannequin in two years — and (perhaps) the long-awaited AirPods Professional 3.
Bloomberg Apple reporter Mark Gurman confirmed his expectation for all the above merchandise to reach as anticipated subsequent week in his current occasion preview story. Gurman had beforehand reported lots of these particulars, together with the anticipated battery and digicam compromises of that rumored skinny iPhone (which everybody already calls the iPhone Air). You possibly can hear him share his full evaluation of the upcoming lineup — and even a peek at some 2026 iPhone fashions — throughout his current visitor look on the Engadget Podcast.
Anticipated to be roughly 5.55 mm thick, the iPhone Air could be the thinnest iPhone but, besting 2014’s iPhone 6 which, at 6.9 mm, was the earlier svelteness champ. And so they’ve solely gotten chunkier since then. (The iPhone 16 Professional has a depth of 8.25 mm.) The Air would additionally give Apple a direct rival to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, which we discovered to be greater than a gimmick.
However the iPhone Air’s skinny design will probably result in some compromises. It is rumored to have solely a single 48 MP digicam and a smaller battery. That mentioned, Taiwan’s TrendForce, a market analysis agency quoted in a current MacRumors story, means that the Air will sport a high-density “silicon anode battery” that would theoretically present extra energy from a smaller body.
The Professional lineup may provide some design tweaks and efficiency enhancements. The iPhone 17 Professional and Professional Max are rumored to modify from titanium to aluminum. They might additionally see the rear digicam array broaden to a whole “island” that extends throughout many of the telephone’s bottom. It is anticipated to deal with three cameras (as earlier than), however a number of rumors have recommended it’s going to have an improved telephoto one. The zoom lens may bounce to 48MP, which might strengthen its digital zooming / cropping chops. The telephones may add an anti-glare coating, much like these discovered on iPads.
The usual iPhone 17 may see some welcome show upgrades. Not less than one provide chain supply claimed it’s going to add a 120Hz variable refresh charge (ProMotion) show, which the Professional sequence has used since 2021.
One factor we all know no doubt is that the brand new iPhones will launch with iOS 26, which brings Apple’s greatest design refresh in years. It is simple to think about the corporate highlighting the brand new mannequin’s shows as one of the best ways to expertise the brand new Liquid Glass visible language. As for the naming scheme, there have not been any leaks pointing to an identical {hardware} rebranding (“iPhone 26,” “iPhone 26 Professional,” and so forth.). However hey, Apple does like surprises.
Engadget’s iPhone 17 rumor roundup offers you a deeper dive into what to anticipate from the brand new fashions.
Apple’s fall occasion is not only for iPhones. The corporate can also be anticipated to roll out new Apple Watch fashions. 5G and a processor improve are anticipated for the Apple Watch Extremely 3. It could additionally allow you to ship texts through satellite tv for pc, useful for many who use it out within the wilderness. Whatever the particulars, Apple hasn’t launched a brand new rugged and premium mannequin since 2023 (aside from a brand new coloration), so it is due for an improve.
The Sequence 11 mannequin is unlikely to depart dramatically from the Sequence 10. In spite of everything, that mannequin launched a brand new design, with a thinner physique and bigger display screen. (And Apple has traditionally saved these round in three-year cycles.). However a quicker chip additionally appears logical. Maybe we’ll see 5G arrive on the usual wearable, too.
The Apple Watch lineup and the corporate’s Health staff has been within the information of late too. Along with ongoing authorized battles over the wearable’s blood oxygen monitoring function, Apple’s vice chairman of health applied sciences Jay Blahnik has been accused of making a poisonous office setting, in line with a New York Instances report. It is unlikely that the corporate even mentions both of those conditions at its occasion on September 9, however it’s fascinating background data for the health and wearable parts of its presentation.
We may see the AirPods Professional 3 on the occasion. It has been about three years since Apple final upgraded its premium earbuds. The brand new mannequin may additionally convey some biometric sensors to the earphones: an in-ear heart-rate monitor and (perhaps) temperature sensing. Stay translation can also be rumored, though that is probably not unique to the third-gen mannequin. However do not count on main design adjustments, if the most recent studies from leaker Majin Bu (through MacRumors) are to be believed: Along with a “slight discount in dimension,” Bu notes the case will lose the bodily pairing button, whereas gaining capacitive controls.
We aren’t holding our breath for any main developments round Apple’s AI or its overhauled Siri, which was introduced final summer time. Mark Gurman reported forward of Tuesday’s occasion that Apple is engaged on an AI search product that it plans to launch with the brand new Siri, however these aren’t scheduled to reach till March.
Will there be different bulletins? Time will inform, however now we all know we cannot have to attend lengthy to seek out out. The official countdown clock has begun, and the solutions are simply days away.
Replace, September 7, 2025, 1:53PM ET: Added a brand new report from Mark Gurman in regards to the timeline for Apple’s upgraded Siri and AI search.
Replace, September 6, 2025, 10:20AM ET: Added a hyperlink to Mark Gurman’s newest Bloomberg story, which confirms and expands on his months of earlier reporting on the upcoming new Apple {hardware}.
Replace, September 4, 2025, 7:20PM ET: Added a brand new report that the iPhone Air might function a high-density battery.
Replace, September 3, 2025, 2:20PM ET: Included a reference and hyperlink to the speculation that the invitation graphic suggests a brand new cooling system for the upcoming iPhones.
Replace, September 2, 2025, 11:15AM ET: Tweaked the intro to precisely replicate how far we’re from the occasion at this time limit, and added a paragraph on current happenings round Apple’s Watch and Health merchandise.
Replace, August 29, 2025, 2:32PM ET: Added insights from Bloomberg‘s Mark Gurman primarily based on his look on the Engadget Podcast.
Replace, August 28, 2025, 10:45AM ET: Added new report on AirPods 3 case particulars.
Replace, August 26, 2025, 5:41PM ET: Added affirmation of official occasion invitation, date and time.