If the rumors are true (and based on history, they should be), Apple’s annual iPhone event will take place next week on Tuesday, September 14th. It kicks off the most exciting time of the year for an Apple nerd like me, so I thought I’d run down what we’re expecting and what, if anything, I’m planning to purchase. 

iPhone 13 (Duh)

Obviously, the iPhone event will be used to announce new iPhones. There was a bit of discussion around whether or not Apple would use “13” for this year’s lineup because of a slim population of people who are afraid of the number 13. Considering they’ve already gone with iOS 13 and a 13-inch MacBook Pro, I think it’s safe to say they’re not afraid of superstition.

Despite the new full number, this is expected to be more of an “S” year. The lineup should remain the same with the 13 and 13 mini at the low end and the 13 Pro and 13 Pro Max at the top. The general design will remain the same, which is great because I think the 12 is the best design since the iPhone 5. The camera bump will be slightly larger, there will be some new colors, and the notch that holds the front-facing camera will be slightly slimmer, but otherwise, there won’t be a whole lot to distinguish these from the 12 line.

Speaking of colors, there are rumors that there will be a new bronze finish for the Pros, and I’ve also heard whispers of a matte black option. Both of these sound pretty awesome so I’m going to have a hard time deciding which one to get.

As for under-the-hood improvements, the cameras should be getting some nice upgrades, as usual. The ultra-wide camera on the Pro line will gain a megapixel, larger aperture, and auto-focus. Sensor-shift stabilization and greater optical zoom, which were exclusive to the 12 Pro Max, should trickle down to the 13 Pro this year.

We’re also expecting new software features for the camera, including an astrophotography mode that would adjust exposure time when it detects stars. There should also be a “portrait mode” for video that will certainly make budget YouTubers and TikTok influencers happy.

One of the biggest upgrades to the 13 Pro models will be the addition of a ProMotion display. ProMotion is Apple’s fancy name for a variable refresh rate up to 120Hz, which basically means that the screen can refresh twice as fast while things are moving, like when scrolling through a webpage. The iPad Pro has had ProMotion for a handful of years, and if you’ve ever seen it side-by-side with a non-ProMotion iPad display, you know what a nice quality of life improvement it is. Everything is buttery smooth with no blurring or jitter.

We might also get an always-on display similar to the Apple Watch that would let you see a persistent clock, notifications, and other various other widgets without having to wake the phone.

Otherwise, we should be in store for other typical upgrades like an A15 chip, larger batteries, and a new 1GB storage option.

Apple Watch

Apple is expected to announce a refreshed Apple Watch 7 at this event as well. The marquee feature will be a new design with squared off edges similar to the iPhone 12 and iPad Air/Pro, which would also allow for larger screens. They’re expected to come in 41mm and 45mm sizes, up from 40mm and 44mm on the 4/5/6 models. That doesn’t sound like much, but it translates to an increase of between 20% and 30% (according to Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman). There should also be a new green aluminum option.

Otherwise, there aren’t any new features expected for this year’s Apple Watch.

The downside here is that Apple is reportedly having issues with the new screens, so while we’ll most likely see an announcement at next week’s event, they may not ship for a while.

AirPods

There has also been a persistent rumor about redesigned AirPods being right around the corner. These will take on the shape of the AirPods Pro with changeable tips for a better fit, but without the noise cancellation or transparency mode of the Pros. They should be a decent upgrade, especially for those who don’t like the classic Apple headphone design.

iPad and iPad mini

To round out this year’s September event, we should see a refreshed iPad and completely redesigned iPad mini. The entry-level iPad won’t be a very exciting upgrade as it’s expected to keep the same general design and add a faster processor. The iPad mini, however, is one of the more exciting upgrades to come along in a while.

The iPad mini has kept the same classic iPad design since...basically forever. This year, it’s expected to follow in the footsteps of its larger sibling, the iPad Air. Removal of the Home Button will allow for a larger screen while keeping the overall device size the same. It’ll also get the squared edges of the Air and Pro, Touch ID in the sleep/wake button, and a USB-C port instead of Lightning. It’s assumed that it’ll also include a magnetic charging port on its side for compatibility with the Apple Pencil 2.

New Macs?

Nope. We’re expecting the all-new redesigned 14-inch and 16-inch M1X MacBook Pros to come out some time soon, but Apple will most likely use a separate event in October to introduce them. September is for iDevices, October is for Macs.

Wrap-up

So that’s the bulk of what’s expected. If the rumors are accurate, then we should see invitations go out tomorrow (September 7th). iOS 15 should be released after the event on the 14th, and the iPhones should be available for preorder on Friday the 17th with shipping starting the following Friday the 24th.

As for me, after two years of having the smaller Pro iPhones (11 Pro and 12 Pro), I’m ready to go back to the Max. I was a little sore last year that the extra camera upgrades were exclusive to the Max, but this year, it looks like the Pro and the Pro Max will be identical (as they should be). I think the ProMotion display will be incredibly nice, so I’m looking forward to having more of it. Plus, I don’t like to do the same thing two years in a row. The hardest choice will be between bronze and matte black, or whatever other color option they drop on us.

I know the redesigned Apple Watch will be tempting, but there aren’t any new features expected this year. I bought the blue aluminum Series 6 last year and I still love it, so I’m going to do my best to hold off. According to the rumors, next year might bring new health features like body temperature and blood sugar monitoring, so those will make for a much bigger upgrade.

The thing I’m probably most excited about is the iPad mini. I’ve wanted one for a long time but I didn’t want to go back to that old design. The new one could be the perfect media consumption device that I would want to carry everywhere. I would just need to justify being a 3-iPad guy.

What are you most excited to see? Are you ready to upgrade to a new iPhone or Apple Watch? What questions do you have? Let me know down in the comments!

The Assumed September iPhone Event