Earlier this year, Apple unveiled a whole new product category with its augmented reality headset called Vision Pro. That was exciting and confusing in equal measure, but their upcoming September event is likely going to be a lot more traditional.
We expect to see a handful of updates announced for the holiday season, including a long-awaited move to USB-C, but this isn't going to reinvent Apple as a company. Instead, their staple products (iPhone, Apple Watch and AirPods) are going to get a refresh.
iPhone 15
Apple's iPhone lineup is a bit messy now, but this event is likely to focus on four models: iPhone 15 (6.1-inches), iPhone 15 Plus (6.7-inches), iPhone 15 Pro (6.1-inches) and iPhone 15 Pro Max (6.7-inches). If past is prologue, they'll likely keep the iPhone 14 and 13 alongside the smaller 4.7-inch iPhone SE as unchanged budget options. The iPhone 12 will get the boot.
All four of the flagship phones should see a USB-C update, the 15 and 15 Plus will almost certainly benefit from hand-me-down features from the 14 Pro and 14 Pro Max and the two high-end models will enjoy brand new chips with cutting edge performance.
If we end up getting camera or build quality updates, expect those to hit the most expensive models first. Them's the breaks!
Apple Watch
By and large, folks are expecting the Apple Watch Series 9 to be an under-the-hood update for better performance with Apple's latest silicon. It seems like we're getting a new color (pink), but don't expect a full rethinking of the smart watch concept.
Rumors also point to a new version of the rugged Apple Watch Ultra with a bigger screen and price tag. The current model starts at $799, but we wouldn't be shocked to see an increase. That's just the way of things these days.
AirPods
The rumor mill doesn't seem to think that Apple's wireless headphones will get a major revision this year, but a switchover to USB-C is probable. There are also rumblings of a separate updated charging case option so that existing users can ditch Lightning without having to re-up the whole purchase.
Other accessories will definitely shift toward the all-USB-C future we've dreamed of, but it could take a while before all Lightning and USB-A connectors are gone.
Heard any other neat rumors? Feel free to let us know in the comment section below.
[Image: Apple]
