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

We’re now lower than two weeks away from the Apple iPhone 17 occasion. Themed “Awe dropping” this 12 months, the occasion — confirmed after Apple despatched “save the date” invites to the media on August 26 — might be livestreamed on YouTube September 9 at 1PM ET from Cupertino. And Engadget employees might be there, reporting and liveblogging from Apple Park to offer their hands-on impressions. This 12 months is shaking as much as be a departure from latest September product rollouts, with the robust risk of an all-new superthin iPhone anticipated to hitch the corporate’s lineup. Additionally on faucet might be new Apple Watch fashions — together with the primary actually new Extremely mannequin in two years — and (possibly) the long-awaited AirPods Professional 3.We acquired a full rundown of what to anticipate on the occasion from the absolute best supply: Bloomberg Apple reporter extraordinaire Mark Gurman. Throughout his latest visitor look on the Engadget Podcast, Gurman shared his evaluation of what we anticipate to see, together with the anticipated battery and digicam 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 digicam 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 change from titanium to aluminum. They might additionally see the rear digicam array increase to a complete “island” that extends throughout many of the telephone’s bottom. It is anticipated to deal with three cameras (as earlier than), however a number of rumors have instructed it would have an improved telephoto one. The zoom lens might leap to 48MP, which might strengthen its digital zooming / cropping chops. The telephones might also add an anti-glare coating, much like these discovered on iPads.The usual iPhone 17 might see some welcome show upgrades. Not less than one provide chain supply claimed it would add a 120Hz variable refresh price (ProMotion) show, which the Professional sequence has used since 2021.One factor we all know certainly is that the brand new iPhones will launch with iOS 26, which brings Apple’s greatest design refresh in years. It is simple to think about the corporate highlighting the brand new mannequin’s shows as one of the best ways 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 provides 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 also be anticipated to roll out new Apple Watch fashions. 5G and a processor improve are anticipated for the Apple Watch Extremely 3. It could additionally allow you to ship texts through satellite tv for pc, helpful 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 coloration), so it is due for an improve.The Collection 11 mannequin is unlikely to depart dramatically from the Collection 10. In spite of everything, that mannequin launched a brand new design, with a thinner physique and bigger display screen. (And Apple has traditionally stored these round in three-year cycles.). However a quicker chip additionally appears logical. Maybe we’ll see 5G arrive on the usual wearable, too.We might 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. Stay translation can also be rumored, though that will not be unique to the third-gen mannequin. However do not anticipate main design adjustments, if the most recent reviews 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 seek out out. The official countdown clock has begun, and the solutions are simply days away.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.