The tech world is just about recovering from Berlin’s IFA conference but there’s no time to rest as Apple’s iPhone launch is just around the corner.
At the key event in the Apple calendar, Apple is going to unveil its new iPhone range, a brand new Apple Watch, as well as more details about the release of iOS 13 – the next iPhone software.
But as this is Apple, there could always be something the company has up its sleeve to surprise fans. Could it be a new iPad Pro or the release (finally) of a 16-inch Macbook Pro?
We’ll have to wait and see it but until then, here’s everything we know so far about the new Apple products.
Keep up with our liveblog covering all the Apple news as it comes out.
Apple event 2019: Three new iPhones
2017 was the first time Apple broke the mould with the release of three iPhones, then the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and X models.
This is a trend that continued last year with the iPhone XS, XS Max and XR models, and is expected to remain this year.
On stage this year, Apple is expected to announce the iPhone 11 or XI, which is an update to last year’s XR model, as well as an iPhone 11 Pro and iPhone 11 Pro Max.
The Pro models will feature OLED screens with three cameras on the back, as well as a few colour options including space grey, silver and gold – essentially the update to last year’s XS and XS Max models.
The iPhone 11, on the other hand, will have an LCD screen, two cameras on the back and new colours including purple and green.
All the iPhones will feature Apple’s new A13 chip, updated FaceID technology, bigger batteries, reverse wireless charging (to charge AirPods for instance) and shatter-resistance bodies so it’s a lot harder to break these devices.
Don’t get your hopes up for 5G, as Apple is reportedly waiting until 2020 at the earliest to release a 5G iPhone. However, this phone range will still be a winner for Apple, with analysts predicting the company may sell around 180 million iPhone units over the next year,
iPhone 11 costs and release date predictions
The iPhone XR upgrade, the iPhone 11, is expected to cost around £749 at launch, whilst the more expensive Pro and Pro Max models will start at £999 and £1,099, around the same as last year's iPhone XS and XS Max.
It's likely the phones will be on sale next Friday, September 20.
Apple event 2019: New and improved Apple Watch 5
The world’s number one wearable, the Apple Watch, will be undergoing an upgrade for 2019.
With a new design, which hopefully includes a slimmer watch face, and features including podcast streaming and apps like Voice Memos and calculator, there is going to be a lot going on in the new smartwatch.
It’s not an Apple Watch launch unless there is a big focus on health and fitness. Activity Trends will track your progress over the last 90 days to see how you’re measuring up, offering coaching on how to keep up a streak or pick up the slack. Period tracking is also coming to the Apple Watch for the first time.
Inside, the Apple Watch 5 will also be powered by a new chip which means it should be faster and more energy-efficient than last year’s Apple Watch 4.
Apple Watch 5 cost and release date predictions
If Apple chooses to keep the costs similar for the new Watch, prices should start at £399.
Like the iPhone 11 range, it is predicted that the new Apple Watch 5 will go on sale next Friday as well.
Apple event 2019: The release of iOS 13
Alongside the new iPhone and Watch launches, Apple is also set to reveal the day the next iPhone software, iOS 13, will make it onto your current device. This is usually a few days before the new smartphones are released.
Dark mode is coming to the iPhone for the first time with iOS 13, alongside new photo editing tools, customisation tools and the new Private Sign In which allow people to use their Apple ID to authenticate sign in to third-party apps – much more secure than a standard email and password combo.
The new WatchOS 6 software means the Watch will get access to its own App Store for the very first time so expect lots of cool new third-party apps making their way to the Watch.
Apple event 2019: What else?
There is always the possibility that Apple will announce new products alongside the iPhone and Watch reveals. It’s likely the company will release an updated iPad Pro at some point this year, though if this doesn’t happen tomorrow it could be at a later event in October.
A new general iPad could be announced too, measuring 10.2-inches, and will continue to feature TouchID.
Fans are hoping that Apple will bring out a 16-inch MacBook Pro with extremely slim bezels and a more standard keyboard that ditches the butterfly mechanism, which should hopefully bring an end to all those problems.
As a result of the silicone barrier-design of the keyboard, meant to prevent dust and crumbs getting in under the keys, MacBook owners found that certain keys would stop working sporadically, in some cases the spacebar or shift key. This was almost impossible to repair, as it is not possible to remove one single key and replace it; the entire keyboard would need to be replaced.
Apple began offering free repairs to customers in June 2018, though a newly designed keyboard would ensure that a problem like this doesn't occur again.
Apple event 2019: How to watch
This year’s Apple event will take place on September 10 and start at 6pm BST (10am PDT).
We’re going to be live-blogging the event tomorrow so make sure to tune in for all the news and analysis.
If you want to watch the event, you can do so at Apple.com/apple-events or over on YouTube, where Apple will be live-streaming the event for the first time on the Google-owned platform.
