On Tuesday, September 12, Apple is set to host its annual launch event where the latest iPhone 15 and Apple Watch Series 9 lineup will be unveiled. This year’s keynote event, titled “Wonderlust”, is taking place at a critical time for the company and is also expected to bring radical new changes to the iPhone’s design in over a decade.
The invite-only press event will take place at the Steve Jobs Theater at the tech giant’s Apple Campus headquarters in Cupertino, California. Wonderlust is scheduled to be live-streamed on the company’s website, YouTube channel, and Apple TV at 10 a.m. Eastern Time (ET).
Apple’s iPhone launches have become formulaic over the years, with the company sticking to expected upgrades like upgraded battery life, improved camera system, and display technology.
But this year is unlike any other for the company, with Cupertino set to introduce USB Type-C charging on its smartphones for the first time ever and doing away with the traditional Lightning connector, which had become an identity for the devices since the technology was unveiled 11 years ago with the iPhone 5.
China Ban And Reduction In Sales Affecting Apple’s Numbers
Apple will be forced to flex more than just a cable this time around as the company is facing an economically challenging year. The company’s product sales have fallen for the third consecutive quarter, with revenue from iPhone coming in at $39.7 billion in Q2 2023, a 2% year-on-year decline.
Things have now gone from bad to worse for Apple right before the event after China barred government officials from using iPhones at their workplaces. The news led to Apple shares dipping 6% last week, wiping out almost $200 billion off the company’s value.
This is significant because this year China surpassed the U.S. for the first time to become the largest market for iPhones. In the second quarter of 2023, the country accounted for 24% of all iPhone shipments.
These setbacks are not going to affect Apple’s upcoming iPhone 15 release. So let us check out what to expect from the Apple event in 2023.
iPhone 15 Powered By USB-C
Apple is not new to Type-C, in fact, the tech giant was one of the first to introduce the charging and data transfer technology after switching its Macbooks and iPads to USB-C in 2016 and 2018. But it never came to the iPhone until this year.
The move comes a year after the European Union (EU) voted on landmark legislation to require electronic devices including smartphones, tablets, digital cameras, and others to support USB-C charging by 2024.
The mandate was introduced by the EU with the aim of reducing the number of chargers and cables consumers must buy with every new device and instead allowing them to mix and match chargers for devices manufactured by different companies. European lawmakers believe this will significantly reduce e-waste produced in the bloc.
Reports suggest that Apple is most likely to release an iPhone-specific USB-C charger with the iPhone 15 series that will be slightly different from adapters produced by other smartphone manufacturers.
Dynamic Island Across The Board
With last year’s higher-end iPhone 14 Pro variants, Apple launched the “Dynamic Island” – an interactive and dynamic system for alerts, notifications, and other controls that came as a replacement for the iconic iPhone notch.
The feature was exclusive to the iPhone 14 Pro and Pro Max models as the standard iPhone 14 and 14 Plus kept the notch that came into existence with the iPhone X in 2017.
However, Apple is rumored to add the Dynamic Island feature to all models in the upcoming iPhone 15 lineup.
Better Camera And New Chip
iPhone is well known for its image processing capabilities. The smartphone features one of the best camera technology in the industry. This year, with the iPhone 15, Apple is expected to bring new features to the entire lineup, which includes a new rear-facing periscope lens for the Pro variants that will allow for more optical zoom.
While the entry-level iPhone 15 and 15 Plus will be powered by last year’s A16 Bionic chipset, the premium iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max models will get the latest generation A17 Bionic chip.
Reports suggest that A17 will be the first chipset to come with a 3-nanometer technology that could deliver faster processing speeds and a longer-lasting battery.
New Colors And Titanium Body
The latest lineup is also expected to come in a variety of new colors including pink, green, yellow, blue, and black on the standard iPhones, while the Pro variants will be getting blue, white, black, and grey colorways. Gone is the gold, which was first introduced by the company in 2018 with the iPhone Xs and Xs Max.
According to Bloomberg’s technology correspondent Mark Gurman, the premium iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max will have a redesigned titanium frame that will make the devices up to 15% lighter and thinner than the stainless steel casing found on older models. The titanium frame will also make the smartphone more durable than its predecessors.
Additionally, the iPhone 15 Pro models are also rumored to have thinner bezels and a much smaller notch.
Apple Watch Series 9 And AirPods
Typically, Apple introduces its latest smartwatches alongside the iPhone and this year will be no different. Fans are likely to see the debut of the Apple Watch Series 9 and the second-generation Apple Watch Ultra – a more rugged version of the Apple Watch designed for sports and adventure enthusiasts.
The design for the device is said to remain the same as Cupertino is working on a full revamp for next year’s Apple Watch Series 10.
In addition, the company is also expected to show off the next-generation AirPods headsets, which are likely to feature a new charging case that will be powered by USB-C.
New Operating Systems
Apart from the new devices, Apple is also set to release new operating systems for the iPhone (iOS 17), iPad (iPadOS 17), Apple Watch (WatchOS 10), and Mac (MacOS 13 – Ventura).
The most exciting of the software releases will definitely be the iOS17 which will have new features like Live Voicemail which transcribes a caller’s in real-time; and NameDrop, a tool that will allow iPhone users to share their contact information by holding two iPhones close together, among others.
The iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are expected to start from $700, and the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max are rumored to be priced at around the $1,000 range. All models will be available for pre-order on September 12.
