What to anticipate at Apple’s iPhone 17 occasion

We’re possible solely round a month away (give or take) from Apple’s next iPhone launch event. This yr’s shindig might see the thinnest iPhone so far becoming a member of the iPhone 17 lineup. Additionally on faucet might be new Apple Watch fashions — together with the primary Extremely mannequin in two years — and (possibly) the long-awaited AirPods Professional 3.

Apple’s iPhone household will possible welcome a brand new member this yr. The iPhone Air is expected to be roughly 5.55 mm thick. The thinnest mannequin up to now has been 2014’s iPhone 6, at 6.9 mm. And so they’ve solely gotten chunkier since then. (The iPhone 16 Pro has a depth of 8.25 mm.) So, the Air would stand out from its friends in that respect. It will additionally give Apple a direct rival to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, which we discovered to be more than a gimmick.

However the iPhone Air’s skinny design will possible result in some compromises. It is rumored to have solely a single 48 MP digicam and a smaller battery. So, count on a trendy cellphone that… will not be for everybody.

The Professional lineup might supply some design tweaks and efficiency enhancements. The iPhone 17 Professional and Professional Max are rumored to modify from titanium to aluminum. They may additionally see the rear digicam array develop to a whole “island” that extends throughout a lot of the cellphone’s bottom. It is anticipated to deal with three cameras (as earlier than), however a number of rumors have steered it should have an improved telephoto one. The zoom lens might jump to 48MP, which might strengthen its digital zooming / cropping chops. The telephones can also add an anti-glare coating, just like these found on iPads.

The usual iPhone 17 might see some welcome show upgrades. Not less than one provide chain supply claimed it should add a 120Hz variable refresh fee (ProMotion) show, which the Professional collection has used since 2021.

One factor we all know indisputably is that the brand new iPhones will launch with iOS 26, which brings Apple’s biggest design refresh in years. It is easy to think about the corporate highlighting the brand new mannequin’s shows as the easiest way to expertise the brand new Liquid Glass visible language. As for the naming scheme, there have not been any leaks pointing to an analogous {hardware} rebranding (“iPhone 26,” “iPhone 26 Professional,” and so on.). However hey, Apple does like surprises.

Engadget’s iPhone 17 rumor roundup provides 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 expected for the Apple Watch Extremely 3. It could additionally allow you to ship texts through satellite tv for pc, useful for individuals who use it out within the wilderness. Whatever the particulars, Apple hasn’t launched a brand new rugged and premium mannequin since 2023 (other than a new color), 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 body and larger screen. (And Apple has traditionally stored these round in three-year cycles.). However a sooner chip additionally appears logical. Maybe we’ll see 5G arrive on the usual wearable, too.

We can also 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 might additionally deliver some biometric sensors to the earphones: an in-ear heart-rate monitor and (possibly) temperature sensing. Live translation is also rumored, though that is probably not unique to the third-gen mannequin.