We've all been waiting for an Apple event in September and the tech giant has just made it official. On Monday, Apple sent out invites to guests for a special event taking place on September 9, titled “It's Glowtime.”
It's all set to kick off at 10am PT/1pm ET/6pm BST on September 9, 2024 at Apple Park, but fear not if you didn't score an invite. The event will be streamed live, and TechRadar will be there to bring you all the latest. And if you've been following the rumours, that's a day before the supposed leak date.
Much like previous Apple events in September, we're expecting the next-generation iPhone 16 lineup, Apple Watches, and AirPods to make an appearance during what should be a fairly packed presentation. Of course, we'll learn more about Apple Intelligence (aka the Cupertino-based giant's version of artificial intelligence) and its next-generation platforms like iOS and iPadOS 18, watchOS 11, macOS Sequoia, and tvOS 18.
Along with rumors about what Apple will reveal, we've done our due diligence and have been dissecting the invite, along with any clues we've found.
What does the invitation tell us?
For “Glowtime,” Apple’s invitation features the classic Apple logo with a redesigned twist on Siri, as well as all new shades of blue, purple, orange, and pink. It looks pretty nice and definitely teases the launch and full unveiling of Apple Intelligence.
The tagline “It's Glowtime” hints at this, as the new Siri interface basically takes over the iPhone's screen, pushing it left, right, bottom and top. You can read TechRadar editor-at-large Lance Ulanoff's take on the new Siri here.
Glow could also be hinting at a new iPhone color, brighter displays, or even better low-light camera performance. Below, we’ll dive into some of the rumors and leaks about upcoming iPhones, Apple Watches, and AirPods, but much like the September 2023 “Wonderlust” event or the May 2024 “Let Loose” event, Apple is hinting at the event quite a bit.
Of course, we also learned that the event will take place on September 9, 2024, with a 10am PT/1pm ET/6pm BST start time – the usual start time for Apple Events. The event will be held at Apple Park, specifically the Steve Jobs Theater, but it will be streamed live on Apple.com and the official YouTube channel. TechRadar will also be on-site reporting live, so you’ll want to stay tuned.
What can we expect in “It's Glowtime”?
Considering we’ve been hearing rumors about the next generation of iPhones since before the iPhone 15 lineup was even unveiled, we have a pretty good idea of what Apple will be unveiling at its September 2024 event. For starters, Apple will likely stick with four iPhone 16 models: the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max. All four are expected to run Apple Intelligence, which should be a star feature.
As Apple has done in the past, the A17 Pro chip found in the iPhone 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max is likely to make its way to the iPhone 16 and 16 Plus. This will be enough to run Apple Intelligence, as the iOS 18.1 beta is already running on the 15 Pro and 15 Pro Max, giving a sneak peek at these features, including Writing Tools and the ability to create custom Memories videos in Photos.
On the other hand, the iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max are likely to have Apple’s latest chip and be faster, which could allow for some custom tricks. If the rumors are true, we can expect slightly larger, still-smooth and vibrant displays on the Pros and an extra button tailor-made for the camera. The cameras should get even better, with the better zoom that debuted on the 15 Pro Max coming to both iPhone 16 Pros, and additional improvements like a higher-megapixel ultra-wide and better low-light performance.
In addition to the iPhone, three new Apple Watches could be unveiled at this event. The Apple Watch will officially reach its 10th anniversary with the Apple Watch Series 10, and the Ultra will already be in its third generation. Both should feature new processors, but the Series 10 could offer a bigger reason to upgrade with a larger screen. There's also talk of a plastic Apple Watch SE, which could really bring the price down and make it an even more affordable option.
While we likely won’t see a successor to the second-generation AirPods Pro, rumors point to new entry-level and mid-range AirPods models. These could even include some of the Pro’s features, like a more comfortable design and smarter listening modes, and a recent report from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman notes that noise cancellation will be on the mid-range model.
Of course, as with Apple rumors, nothing is 100% certain until the company announces it, but thankfully we won't have to wait much longer. Apple will officially announce all of its new hardware, features, software, and services during its special event on September 9, 2024.
You'll be able to follow along and see all the new gadgets first via TechRadar's live blog, as we'll be on the ground and able to stream the event live via Apple.
