Apple’s big September 7th event is now all official, with the company having sent press invitations out to publications it feels should be in attendance.
When the event does get underway in a little more than a week, though, the big question will be whether we will see new hardware, new software, or both. The answer is a resounding “yes” to the last one, but in varying degrees. Let’s take a look at what Apple will, or likely will not announce on the seventh of September 2016.
iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
The big cheese, the new iPhone and its larger brother are what everyone will be at the event to see. The iPhone may not be Apple’s only product line, but sometimes, it may as well be. Apple needs the iPhone to do well this year after some lacklustre results of late, but will the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus deliver? As far as the new rumored specifications are concerned, talk is already revolving around the new Apple A10 chip and its capabilities. Some have suggested that the new chip is around 50% faster than the chip currently found in Apple’s high-end smartphones, and if that’s true, then the new hardware will likely be the fastest smartphone on the planet. Whether an increase in RAM (3GB for Plus and 2GB for regular) will come alongside the new chip, we just don’t know, but the real question is whether it needs it or not. We’d wager it doesn’t.
Apple has been rumored to be ready to ditch the 16GB capacity iPhone in its lineup with the iPhone 7, and we can only hope that’s true. 128GB is said to be the mid-tier storage option, and there is also the suggestion that a 256GB iPhone may be about to arrive for the first time, with such a capacity surely enough to stop people who still complain about the lack of expandable storage with Apple’s smartphones.
Cosmetically, the iPhone 7 looks set to eschew the antenna lines that have blighted the rear of iPhones ever since the iPhone 6, and that’s a very good thing. We’d rather a complete redesign ourselves, but if the same chassis is going to be reused this year, then so be it. The lack of antenna lines is a decent addition, at least.
[Image via: 3 iPhone 7 Models Shown In 4K Video]
Speaking of aesthetics, a new Space Black iPhone is rumored to be coming, too. This stealthy iPhone is expected to look just lovely, and we were huge fans of the iPhone 5’s all-black looks back in the day. Hopefully, the iPhone 7 can relocate it.
Somewhat related to looks, Apple is also said to be launching the iPhone 7 sans-3.5mm earphone jack. If that’s the case, then the iPhone will at least look more symmetrical, though it will obviously need an adapter if it ever wants to make friends with regular earphones. The area where headphone jack resides in current generation is said to sport new stereo speakers in iPhone 7. I wouldn’t bet on seeing a Smart Connector, though – it’s been rumored.
The dual-lens camera setup expected to adorn the rear of the iPhone 7 Plus, with 4.7-inch iPhone 7 getting larger lens, however, seems quite likely, and will be the biggest headline feature of the new phones. If rumors are to be believed, the 4.7-inch iPhone 7 will feature a 12MP unit with a 1/2.6″ sensor, ƒ/1.9 aperture and 1.3 µm pixels. iPhone 6s, in comparison, featured a 1/3″ sensor and a ƒ/2.2 aperture. The camera on 5.5-inch iPhone 7 Plus will sport two 12MP units, with 1/3″ sensor, and a ƒ/1.9 aperture. The pixel size on the 7 Plus isn’t known yet.
Here’s hoping that both phones have IP68 water resistance this time around, too. All of the competition can manage it. It’s time Apple did, too.
Here’s a video putting all the rumored features of iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus together in one place!
Apple Watch 2
Likely to also make an appearance during the event is Apple Watch 2. We were told Apple was planning to include cellular capabilities in the device at some point, but that now appears to have been put on the backburner because the company simply couldn’t get the technology to bend to its will.
Apple Watch 2 is now expected to feature a GPS chip for standalone and improved navigation without requiring a connected iPhone. It’s also expected to sport new sensors for better fitness tracking. All this, along with larger battery for 42mm model and slimmer, smaller design tweaks and new bands is what is expected to be included in second-generation Apple Watch.
2016 MacBook Pro
[Image via: MacBook Pro 2016 concept by Martin Hajek]
While this one is unlikely to arrive as part of September 7th iPhone event, rumors of a new MacBook Pro being imminent have been knocking around for months. New MacBook Pros are needed, that’s for sure, and if the rumored touchscreen panel above the portable’s keyboard turns out to be true, the new MacBook Pros will be very popular, indeed. Now if only Apple announces them next week at its iPhone event?
Software
Yes. We’ll see software. Lots of it. Expect to see iOS 10, watchOS 3, tvOS 10, and macOS Sierra all receive minimal airtime, with all likely having their final beta releases ship during the event with a final public release a week or so later, depending on when the iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus actually ship.
And there we have it. New software, new iPhones, new wearables. Don’t expect new computers. Got it?
See you on the 7th!
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