Apple’s iPhone 14 debut event is just a few weeks away, and it’s likely to feature a variety of new devices besides a new iPhone. We’re also expecting three (yes, three) new Apple Watch models, as well as a redesigned pair of AirPods Pro headphones.
Apple will hold a small in-person event at its Apple Park campus and will stream the event live online, as it did with WWDC in June. Here’s what we might see at Apple’s hardware-focused event on September 7th, 2022, at 1 PM ET.
The iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max get the latest features
Of course, Apple will unveil the brand new iPhone 14 in September, but the regular model will most likely not be the star of the show. The majority of the new and interesting features are expected to be available on the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max.
The 14 Pro and Pro Max are expected to include three major features: an always-on display (a feature that Android phones have had for years); a 48-megapixel rear camera with a bigger sensor; and a screen that eliminates the notch in favor of smaller camera cutouts. The phone should also get an updated A16 processor and two new colors: blue and deep purple. It’s also believed to support a quicker 30W charger (though the phone itself is unlikely to include USB-C just yet). It’s an impressive list of new features that Apple may use to explain a rumored price increase.
The most significant change to the non-Pro variant is believed to be the addition of a larger 6.7-inch display option. Previous speculations from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo suggested that the iPhone 14 (along with the Pro and Pro Max) will include an improved selfie camera with focusing. The base iPhone 14 will most likely have the same A15 processor as the iPhone 13 series. And, if you’re a fan of little phones, I’m afraid a new Mini is unlikely to emerge this year.
New Apple Watch Models: Series 8, SE, and “PRO”W A
Apple is preparing to release three new Apple Watch models: the Watch Series 8, a redesigned SE, and a new rugged “Pro” model geared for extreme sports athletes.
Let’s begin with Series 8. According to Bloomberg reporter Mark Gurman, the next-generation watch will include a new S8 chip, but it will not provide a significant performance increase over the S7 and S6 chips. While Apple isn’t likely to add a blood pressure monitor just yet, it may have a temperature sensor that detects fevers.
Meanwhile, the new Apple Watch SE is set to replace the Watch Series 3 on a budget. It will most likely feature the same S8 chip, which is an advance over the S5 chip used in the 2020 SE model. Aside from that, it doesn’t appear like any significant modifications are in the works – it’s slated to retain the same display size as the current SE.
Gurman believes the expected tough Apple Watch “Pro” will have a larger “almost 2-inch display” that is “more shatter-resistant.” It may also have a “strong metal” case rather from the previously mentioned rubberized cover. According to a tip from Japan’s Mac Otakara, the Pro model could sport a flat-edged display with a larger 47mm shell, up from the 41mm and 45mm sizes of the Apple Watch Series 7. It can even be too big for earlier Watch bands.
The Next Generation of the Airpods Pro
Since its first release in 2019, the AirPods Pro have not received an update. After nearly three years, the AirPods Pro 2 may finally be released.
First and foremost, anticipate them to appear different. The upcoming AirPods Pro may look similar to the Beats Fit Pro, maybe with an in-ear wing tip design that eliminates the stem. Because of the possibility of enhanced motion sensors, they might also concentrate on fitness tracking.
Kuo also mentioned that the AirPods Pro could feature lossless audio, enabling higher-quality sound. This would also make the AirPods Pro 2 the first device to support the Apple Lossless Audio Codec (ALAC) – even the top-tier AirPods Max don’t. If the AirPods Pro 2 indeed supports the Apple Lossless Audio Codec, it will be interesting to see how Apple overcomes Bluetooth’s constraints, which often necessitate compressing audio quality.
