Apple’s iPhone 17 ‘Awe dropping’ event is next week — Here’s what we expect on September 9

We’re now nearly every week away from the Apple’s “Awe dropping” occasion, the place the corporate is prone to unveil the iPhone 17. This 12 months’s theme of “Awe dropping,” which was featured in Apple’s invites to the media despatched on August 26 would not reveal a lot by the use of clues, however perhaps the “dropping” is in reference to light-weight gadgets dropping in some way? Anyway, the keynote might be livestreamed on YouTube September 9 at 1PM ET from Cupertino. We’ll have three Engadget workforce members reporting and liveblogging from Apple Park, in addition to to present their hands-on impressions, so be sure to come again right here for the newest protection.This 12 months is shaping as much as be a departure from current September product rollouts, with the robust risk of an all-new superthin iPhone anticipated to affix the corporate’s lineup. Additionally on faucet could possibly be new Apple Watch fashions — together with the primary actually new Extremely mannequin in two years — and (perhaps) the long-awaited AirPods Professional 3.We acquired a full rundown of what to anticipate on the occasion from the very best supply: Bloomberg Apple reporter Mark Gurman. Throughout his current visitor look on the Engadget Podcast, Gurman shared his evaluation of what we anticipate to see, together with the anticipated battery and digital camera compromises of that rumored skinny iPhone (which everybody already calls the iPhone Air).Anticipated to be roughly 5.55 mm thick, the iPhone Air could be the thinnest iPhone but, besting 2014’s iPhone 6 which, at 6.9 mm, was the earlier svelteness champ. They usually’ve solely gotten chunkier since then. (The iPhone 16 Professional has a depth of 8.25 mm.) The Air would additionally give Apple a direct rival to Samsung’s Galaxy S25 Edge, which we discovered to be greater 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 digital camera and a smaller battery. So, anticipate a trendy telephone that… will not be for everybody.The Professional lineup might provide 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 digital camera array increase to a whole “island” that extends throughout a lot of the telephone’s bottom. It is anticipated to deal with three cameras (as earlier than), however a number of rumors have urged it can have an improved telephoto one. The zoom lens might leap to 48MP, which might strengthen its digital zooming / cropping chops. The telephones can also add an anti-glare coating, much like these discovered on iPads.The usual iPhone 17 might see some welcome show upgrades. A minimum of one provide chain supply claimed it can add a 120Hz variable refresh fee (ProMotion) show, which the Professional sequence has used since 2021.One factor we all know unquestionably is that the brand new iPhones will launch with iOS 26, which brings Apple’s greatest 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 identical {hardware} rebranding (“iPhone 26,” “iPhone 26 Professional,” and many others.). However hey, Apple does like surprises.Engadget’s iPhone 17 rumor roundup offers you a deeper dive into what to anticipate from the brand new fashions.Cherlynn Low for EngadgetApple’s fall occasion is not only for iPhones. The corporate can be anticipated to roll out new Apple Watch fashions. 5G and a processor improve are anticipated for the Apple Watch Extremely 3. It might additionally allow you to ship texts through satellite tv for pc, useful for many 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 brand new colour), 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 physique and bigger display. (And Apple has traditionally saved these round in three-year cycles.). However a sooner chip additionally appears logical. Maybe we’ll see 5G arrive on the usual wearable, too.The Apple Watch lineup and the corporate’s Health workforce has been within the information of late too. Along with ongoing authorized battles over the wearable’s blood oxygen monitoring function, Apple’s vp of health applied sciences Jay Blahnik has been accused of making a poisonous office surroundings, in line with a New York Instances report. It is unlikely that the corporate even mentions both of those conditions at its occasion on September 9, however it’s attention-grabbing background info for the health and wearable parts of its presentation.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 carry some biometric sensors to the earphones: an in-ear heart-rate monitor and (perhaps) temperature sensing. Dwell translation can be rumored, though that might not be unique to the third-gen mannequin. However do not anticipate main design adjustments, if the newest experiences from leaker Majin Bu (through MacRumors) are to be believed: Along with a “slight discount in dimension,” Bu notes the case will lose the bodily pairing button, whereas gaining capacitive controls.Will there be different bulletins? Time will inform, however now we all know we can’t have to attend lengthy to search out out. The official countdown clock has begun, and the solutions are simply days away.Replace, September 2, 2025, 11:15AM ET: Tweaked the intro to precisely replicate how far we’re from the occasion at this cut-off date, and added a paragraph on current happenings round Apple’s Watch and Health merchandise.Replace, August 29, 2025, 2:32PM ET: Added insights from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman based mostly on his look on the Engadget Podcast.Replace, August 28, 2025, 10:45AM ET: Added new report on AirPods 3 case particulars.Replace, August 26, 2025, 5:41PM ET: Added affirmation of official occasion invitation, date and time.