Apple Event 2025 Live Updates: Our Early Reactions to iPhone Air, AirPods Pro 3

CNET Senior Technology Reporter Abrar Al-Heeti tests out Dual Capture, which lets you use the front and rear cameras at the same time on the iPhone 17 series.

CNET Managing Editor Patrick Holland tries out the 8x zoom on the iPhone 17 Pro with this video, showing the detail of the 48-megapixel telephoto lens.

CNET Lead Writer Vanessa Hand Orellana tries on the three new Apple Watch models: the Series 11, the SE 3 and the Ultra 3.

CNET Senior Technology Reporter Abrar Al-Heeti compares the iPhone 17 against the iPhone Air during her first look at both devices from Apple Park on Tuesday. In a bonus comparison, this video was also filmed on an iPhone Air, so we get an early peek at the new device's recording quality.

CNET Executive Editor David Carnoy gives his first listen and look at Apple's new AirPods Pro 3, which add fitness tracking and live translation features to the earbuds.

The Apple TV Plus streaming service recently increased in price by $3, bringing the cost of streaming shows like Severance, Slow Horses and The Morning Show to $13 per month. If you're pocketing a new Apple device like the iPhone Air or Apple Watch Ultra 3, you could be eligible for three months of free access to the now-pricier platform. 

I expected Apple to spend at least some time on Tuesday talking about the content on its streaming service, given that it's now asking people to pay more for it, and how routine it is for events like this to incorporate celebrities. Apple also has an eye-catching number of Emmy nominations, and the award ceremony is this Sunday. The omission isn't a huge deal; after all, it worked a sizzle reel into its WWDC keynote in June. Tuesday's event was laser-focused on hardware, but those wanting a taste of Apple TV Plus series will have to wait a couple of days for the Emmys.

The iPhone 17 Pro on display in the demo room in Apple Park, in its cosmic orange and silver models.

The Powerbeats Pro 2 came out in February 2025, and I snagged a pair as an upgrade for my runs, a convenient pair of truly wireless earbuds to be able to throw in a charging case and bring along on walks with my dog plus a pre-emptive pair of Apple headphones for my eventual iPhone adoption. Despite having just gotten the Powerbeats Pro 2 -- which I've been impressed with on runs, for hands-free calling and listening to music -- I'm pretty tempted by the AirPods Pro 3. 

There are some neat upgrades, according to Apple. The company claims that the AirPods Pro 3 have improved active noise cancellation, heart rate sensing and better battery life. But I'm most excited about the more secure fit that the AirPods Pro 3 purportedly have. I copped a pair of Powerbeats Pro 2 because I have a tough time getting nearly any earbuds without an earhook to stay in. Apple says it used over 10,000 ear scans and performed over 100,000 hours of research to deliver "...the most secure and best-fitting AirPods ever." The AirPods Pro 3 are smaller, while coming with five sizes of eartips instead of the previous four, so I'm excited to try a pair out and see if they stay in while walking or running. 

As a runner (I never said I was fast), I like some of the fitness features. There's a built-in heart rate sensor, gyroscope, GPS and on-device AI model, which Apple says can be used to track metrics like heart rate and calories burned. Granted, one of the reasons that I got an Apple Watch Series 10 was to track my runs, so I'd have to see if there's a reason to rely on stats from the Pro 3 -- maybe its heart rate monitoring or GPS will somehow prove more accurate than my Apple Watch?

Live Translation also sounds useful. It can translate languages in real-time, powered by Apple Intelligence. So someone can talk in their native language, and AirPods Pro 3 can translate into your preferred language. Apple says that Live Translation doesn't simply translate individual words, but rather translates the meaning of phrases. I'm curious how it handles things like slang phrasing and various dialects or pronunciations. 

Apple says that the AirPods Pro 3 have "...the world's best in-ear Active Noise Cancellation," which sort of reminds me of the time I was on Bourbon Street in New Orleans at the Clover Grill. There was a sign that said "World's best hamburgers." I took that with a grain of salt, just like I'm doing with Apple's AirPods Pro 3 claims -- I expect that the third-generation AirPods Pro have solid ANC that's at worst on par with the Pro 2, at best noticeably better and possibly a marginal upgrade. Chances are, the AirPods Pro 3's active noise cancellation won't trounce the ANC in my Sonos Ace or Sony XM5s (yes, I have a headphone buying problem), but it'll hopefully be better than the AirPods Pro 2. 

Trying on the Apple Watch Series 11 and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 inside the demo room at Apple Park.

Apple CEO Tim Cook hits the demo room at Apple Park with new iPhone models in each hand.

The iPhone Air is on display in Apple's demo room following today's event.

The premium iPhone 17 Pro Max's 256GB storage model might "only" be $1,199, but the 2TB storage model will cost you $1,999. Yes, you'll be taking a big hit to your bank account if you're looking to buy the next-generation, top-of-the-line member of the iPhone 17 line.

While this may be Apple's most expensive iPhone 17, it's not the first $2,000 premium smartphone on the market. New foldables like Samsung's Galaxy Z Fold 7, which starts at $2,000, are racing Apple to the top. The Z Fold 7's 1TB storage model costs more than the most expensive iPhone 17 model, retailing at a whopping $2,420.

One thing is certain: These phones are built for someone with a very different lifestyle to my own.

Apple's new device line refreshed a broad set of the company's device categories. This included refreshes across the iPhone 17 line, the debut of the thinner iPhone Air and a full overhaul of the Apple Watch line. The latter included the new base Apple Watch Series 11, the entry-level Apple Watch SE 3 and the Apple Watch Ultra 3 that now features satellite connectivity.

If you want a full summary of these products in one place, you can see our everything announced wrapup story that features the highlights from all of these new announcements. You can also relive the Apple event, condensed down to 7 minutes, on our YouTube page.

The Apple Event livestream has wrapped up -- roll credits. There's a lot to unpack, from 256GB storage on all entry-level iPhone models to the iPhone Air getting Apple's cutting-edge A19 Pro processor, 5G connectivity on the Apple Watch 11, and the Apple Watch SE 3 being a significant update. 

Thanks for following along. We'll keep the coverage coming with reporting and analysis so you can decide whether you should upgrade or jump ship from Android. 

We now know how much each phone in the iPhone 17 lineup will cost in the US. The iPhone 17 starts at $799, the iPhone Air starts at $999, the iPhone 17 Pro starts at $1,099 and the iPhone 17 Pro Max starts at $1,199. For comparison, the iPhone 16E starts at $599.

These prices are for the base 256GB storage models of these phones. The new lineup will hit stores next Friday, Sept. 19.

The entire iPhone lineup, which includes the iPhone 17, iPhone Air and iPhone 17 Pro, will start at 256GB of storage. At last. 

The iPhone 17 Pro gets the ol' feature wrapup slide.

Apple said the new iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max bring "the best camera system we've ever made." There is an 18-megapixel center camera on the front and three 48-megapixel, fusion cameras on the rear for the wide, ultra wide and telephoto. 

Usually, Apple's Pro phones tend to be slightly bigger versions of its mainline handsets. The iPhone 17 Pro, however, seems like an entirely new device. The phone has been designed around the new aluminum unibody. Generally, iPhones were made with a frame sandwiched between two pieces of glass. With iPhone 17 Pro, from what I can tell, is designed in a way that mills metal around componentry, if that makes sense. Not only that, the camera plateau on the back is more reminiscent of Google Pixel than it is Apple.

It's nowhere near as elegant as last year's iPhone 16 Pro, but it is more utilitarian, which should be the case for a professional device. And, because of all the metal surrounding the device, Apple still had to stick glass on the back somewhere to allow for wireless charging. There's a separate piece of ceramic shield on the back just to house MagSafe and wireless charging. It isn't a pretty design, in my opinion, but it makes sense. I guess this is what the HTC One M8 would have looked like if it had found a way to integrate wireless charging.

The iPhone 17 Pro color rumors had me scratching my head before the event. Leaked photos showed off a nasty, drab orange-colored phone. It's an unusual color, especially paired with the other (very clean) black and white models. The actual iPhone 17 Pro cosmic orange phones are prettier than the mockups, but I can only find hatred in my heart for this funky hue.

I found myself hoping that the orange iPhone 17 Pro would fail the durability test, but alas, it wasn't meant to be. Sorry, Apple -- you aren't getting me on board with cosmic orange.

Here's the iPhone Air's full feature list.

While it's typically Android phones that have big 5,000 mAh batteries, the iPhone 17 Pro will apparently have the biggest battery ever in any iPhone. I'm quite curious about this, because Apple typically uses software to help with battery life, but this time it looks like Apple's also leaning into hardware.

Apple is debuting new accessories to go with the iPhone Air, including a slim, attachable MagSafe battery, two new cases and a cross-body strap.

Apple just unveiled the iPhone 17 Pro. Apple is showing off a precision-milled aluminum shell that's anodized to create an iPhone unibody. Apple says it'll have the biggest battery in any iPhone. The full-width camera plateau will house three cameras along with the antenna. And ceramic shield will cover the display. 

There's obviously not much room for an overdesigned camera system on the ultra-thin iPhone Air. There's only one camera on the back of the phone, but the big claim here is that it performs the functions of multiple different cameras at the same time.

This 48-megapixel main "fusion camera" includes a mix of new and returning photography modes. In addition, the front camera is picking up some of the slack: It now has landscape photography capabilities in addition to the selfie mode.

The iPhone Air will be eSIM-only internationally, which apparently helps get the phone to its thin shape. This will be the first iPhone to not accept physical SIM cards in all territories, whereas the iPhone has been eSIM-only in the US since the iPhone 14.

Apple has introduced the A19 Pro chip, which the iPhone Air will get -- rumors going in were 50/50 on whether the Air would get it. As we expected, the iPhone 17 Pro models also have the A19 Pro chip at their core. The company says that the A19 Pro provides MacBook Pro performance packed into iPhones. The A19 Pro is, according to Apple, more powerful yet more efficient, which may help your iPhone conserve battery. AI has been a major trend, with Apple focusing on its Apple Intelligence, and the company says that the A19 Pro benefits from AI acceleration. 

The new Air features ceramic shield material on the front and back, and the phone's frame is made of titanium.

The most interesting rumors leading up to today's Apple event may have been about the latest iPhone 17 model to be officially announced. The "impossibly thin" iPhone Air (not "iPhone 17 Air") is bigger than almost every other model in the lineup.

The Air's thin design might mean its battery is smaller than that of the other next-generation Apple phones, but iOS 26's Adaptive Power feature was almost definitely designed in tandem with this iPhone.

Apple says the iPhone 17 cameras are part of a new 48-megapixel dual fusion camera system. It'll use the 48-megapixel main shooter in conjunction with a 2x telephoto camera to take photos. The 24-megapixel default resolution will be good for most photos. The front camera will have a larger size and a square sensor. This allows you to take portrait or landscape photos without having to rotate your phone when taking wider selfies with friends. 

The iPhone 17 is getting ProMotion: This feature usually reserved for the Pro model phones varies the refresh rate depending on what you're doing at the time. That means the phone won't be taxed too hard while you're scrolling through a live blog like this one, but you'll be able to benefit from a 120Hz refresh rate and get buttery smooth gameplay while Sparrow racing in Destiny Rising -- just like we saw during the presentation.

Apple just revealed the iPhone 17. It follows up the iPhone 16 series, packing an upgraded processor in the A19 chip. The company says that the iPhone 17 is more durable than its predecessor. You'll have a choice of five colors -- lavender, mist blue, black, white and sage. The iPhone 17 gets a ProMotion display like the iPhone Pro models, which can go up to 120Hz during demanding activities, like gaming, or go down to 1Hz for more efficiency and battery savings. 

If you're like me, you use your phone all day. To that end, Apple says the iPhone 17 gets faster wired charging, which can take you from zero to 50% battery capacity in just 20 minutes of charging. The company also claims that the iPhone 17 gets up to eight more hours of video playback when compared to the iPhone 16.

I use my phone for my main camera, my aging DSLR largely collecting dust. If you're planning on getting an iPhone 17, Apple is upgrading its camera system. There's a 48-megapixel dual-fusion camera system, which leverages a primary camera along with an optical camera. The new 48-megapixel ultra-wide camera has four times the megapixels of the iPhone 16. The front-facing camera has more megapixels than the iPhone 16, which Apple says makes it more stable for taking pics and videos.  

The iPhone 17 base model comes with 256GB of storage -- up from the iPhone 16's 128GB entry-level storage, so you can snap more pictures, take more videos, download more apps and games or hold more music files directly on your device. As a music, photography and gaming junkie, I appreciate the bump in storage on entry-level models. It starts at $799. 

Apple's begun the iPhone 17 reveals...

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 updates the expensive Ultra 2. It's using an OLED screen with LTPO tech for better battery life. There's a waypoint feature that shows cool things near your location. It'll have satellite connectivity and will be available in black and silver. 

Apple has unveiled a new Apple Watch SE 3, following the reveal of the Apple Watch Series 11. The first new SE model since 2022 comes with Apple's S10 chip, faster charging, a new always-on display, wrist temperature sensing and more. 

Previously, the Apple Watch could help you track your sleep schedules, set alarms and even identify sleep apnea. But with the Apple Watch Series 11, the smart watch's sleep tracking is getting a big upgrade.

Now, the watch will identify the most important qualities regarding your sleep, such as sleep cycles, the length of your slumber and the amount of times you wake up in the middle of the night to produce a sleep score. This sleep score will tell you how healthy your sleep schedule is and inform you of what you can change. The score provides a complete breakdown on sleep qualities to let you know what you can improve on to get a healthier night's sleep.

Apple Watch Series 11 will have four colors.

The Apple Watch Series 11 will alert you if you're suffering from high blood pressure, which affects nearly half of adults in the US. Hypertension detection is still being approved by regulators.

The Apple Watch Series 11 includes 5G, the latest cellular technology, which will improve performance and provide more coverage. The above image shows the carrier partners that will support 5G on Apple Watch at launch.

Apple has unveiled the Apple Watch Series 11. The company says it's more durable than previous models, thanks to its ceramic coating and Ion-X glass, plus the Apple Watch 11 gets 5G cellular connectivity -- an upgrade from its predecessor's 4G LTE. At the same time, Apple says that the Apple Watch 11 is more power-efficient, so it may use less battery than earlier iterations. Apple promises that the Watch Series 11 gets 24-hour battery life, but real-world performance remains to be seen.

The Series 11 comes in several colors, including jet black, silver, rose gold and a new space gray -- the company says that all models are made from 100% recycled titanium in natural gold and slate. 

Apple's AirPods earbuds are popular for working out, and the company's new AirPods Pro 3 get a slew of new amenities. They're reportedly smaller, fit more securely and have IP57 water-resistance. Additionally, the AirPods Pro 3 have built-in heart rate sensing. Apple says that its machine learning algorithms, which the company says leverage accelerometer and sensor data for accurate measurements. Plus, the AirPods Pro 3 let you tap into a new workout experience in the Fitness app on your iPhone, letting the AirPods Pro track up to 50 different workouts. You'll be able to take advantage of features like Workout Buddy, powered by Apple Intelligence, which might provide some motivation. 

Apple is about to introduce an update to the Apple Watch and is doing so by showing a sizzle reel of people who've had a significant impact from their Apple Watch. This includes people who started fitness journeys, had a stroke or were stranded in the wilderness, all saved or helped by their wearable. 

While the AirPods Pro 2 was able to eke out six hours of battery life off of a single charge, the next-generation AirPods Pro 3 will have up to eight hours of battery life. If you're utilizing the AirPods Pro 3's hearing aid mode, you'll have even more uptime -- up to 10 hours worth of battery life off of a single charge. This might be the first time your AirPods Pro model can carry you through a full day of music listening completely uninterrupted.

Apple showcased its new live translation feature powered by Apple Intelligence. The AirPods Pro can help you if you're traveling and want to communicate across languages. Your earbuds can help you understand others in your preferred language. You can also talk and your iPhone will display your words in another person's preferred language.

The AirPods Pro 3 will be $249 and in stores next Friday, Sept. 19. 

Apple says the AirPods Pro 3 are smaller to better fit more ears and will use newly redesigned eartips to better fit a wider range of ears. There's foam in the ear tips, and the AirPods Pro 3 will come with five different-sized tips. The AirPods Pro 3 will also be IP57 water resistant, which will help during the rain or during workouts.

Leaks and rumors have surrounded the potential release of the AirPods Pro 3 ever since MacRumors contributor Steve Moser found references to the product in a iOS 26 beta build. The new wireless Bluetooth earbuds have finally been unveiled at the Apple event keynote. This is the first new AirPods Pro model since 2022.

Apple CEO Tim Cook starts off the stream, reintroducing his company's design philosophy. 

As the music fades out and Apple CEO Tim Cook fades in, the presentation has officially begun. Stay tuned for CNET's coverage of all the big upcoming announcements.

Apple's livestream has begun with a montage of devices.

Get excited, y'all! The Apple event has started, and we're expecting loads of juicy reveals, including the iPhone 17, Apple Watch Series 11 and maybe a new Apple TV streaming box. In addition to our watch party embedded above, you can watch the 2025 Apple event directly on Apple's website -- helpfully, there's an American Sign Language stream available. It should work in most web browsers. You can flaunt your Apple allegiance by watching in Safari, use Google Chrome or go with an alternative, like the privacy-focused Brave or DuckDuckGo. 

Happy streaming -- and stay tuned as we cover everything announced!

The breakfast at Apple Park ahead of today's event features croissants, cinnamon buns and juices.

CNET's Apple event watch party is now live, with hosts Bridget Carey and Iyaz Akhtar. They're going over the final rumors and analysis of what we're expecting at today's event, and will check in with CNET Senior Technology Reporter Abrar Al-Heeti from Apple Park. 

Want to join the show? You can join the live chat on CNET's YouTube channel.

Apple co-founder Steve Wozniak is attending today's Apple Event, and CNET's Patrick Holland got a moment with him ahead of today's announcements.

Apple touted an enhanced Siri experience last year that would feature conversational AI. Yet an Apple Intelligence-powered Siri wasn't ready for 2024 or 2025, and it's not expected to show up at today's Apple event either. Rumors are that an AI-powered Siri is more likely to arrive next year.

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman reported that a conversational version of Siri would arrive in 2026 at the earliest. Apple seems to be struggling internally to get Siri to a level worthy of release. This comes as Google continues to make advancements with its Gemini AI assistant, giving it more agentic capabilities, as seen in the recently released Pixel 10 and Pixel 10 Pro. 

The CNET team is now at Apple Park as it opens up for today's event.

The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max are follow-ups to the iPhone 16 Pro and 16 Pro Max. According to rumors and leaks, the 17 Pro will start at $1,199 ($200 more than the 16 Pro) and come with 256GB of storage (twice that of the 16 Pro's 128GB). The 17 Pro Max will cost $1,299 and have 256GB of storage. The phones will have a new aluminium chassis instead of the titanium one found on previous models, which is nearly half a millimeter thicker than the 16 Pro models. The camera bump is expected to morph from a square to a body-wide rectangle. Some rumors even suggest a two-tone design.

Both Pro models will run on a new A19 Pro chip and have 12GB of RAM. The 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max will have 6.3- and 6.9-inch displays with support for 1-120Hz. The screens could get a new antireflective coating that is also more resistant to scratches than older Pro models.

The 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max will have 48-megapixel main and ultrawide cameras, a new 24-megapixel selfie camera and a new 48-megapixel telephoto camera with either a 3.5x lens or an 8x optical zoom.

The iPhone 17 Pro Max could have a 5,000 mAh battery, which would be the largest battery in any iPhone. The iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max will reportedly come in black, silver, dark blue and orange. Both phones are expected to be in stores on Sept. 19.

The iPhone 17 will be a follow-up to last year's iPhone 16 model. According to rumors and leaks, it's expected to have the same $829 starting price. The screen could be 6.3 inches and support a high refresh rate like Pro models. It will reportedly have a 12-megapixel selfie camera, a 48-megapixel main camera and a 12-megapixel ultrawide camera. It will run on a new A19 chip and have 8GB of RAM. 

The iPhone 17 is set to come in black, white, steel gray, green, purple and light blue. It's expected to be in stores next Friday, Sept. 19.

Right on cue, the Apple Store is down ahead of the iPhone 17 making an appearance later today. This is part of the protocol for any major Apple product launch day, and when the store comes back online later, we should see the iPhone 17 series take pride of place as it becomes available for preorder. Best prepare yourself now for some eye-watering price tags.

As a chronic bedtime doomscroller, I'm no stranger to keeping my phone's dark mode UI on at all times. But even though the mode stops me from flashbanging myself in the middle of the night, I can't say I find it especially aesthetically pleasing.

That's why I personally find Liquid Glass to be one of the most exciting parts of iOS 26. The clean, minimalistic design drains the color out of app icons, letting the familiar shapes do the heavy lifting of communicating what's on the screen.

The transparent apps are a great middle ground between the bright light mode and drab dark mode. I feel like Liquid Glass is built for someone just like me: I need something easy on the eyes, but I don't want my phone to look absolutely dreary either. It's a very exciting development.

If that sounds like a nightmare to you, don't worry: You won't be forced to acclimate to the new Liquid Glass interface. Light and dark mode UIs will still be available in iOS 26, if that's more your speed.

Another year, another iPhone event that almost surely won't see the debut of the long-rumored iPhone Flip, which leakers have codenamed the foldable phone Apple has supposedly been developing for years. How long, you ask? That concept art embedded above was made in 2021.

Over the years, leaks, reports and even predictions from industry analyst Ming-Chi Kuo have thrown out possible dates for an Apple foldable to debut -- possibly in 2021, then 2023 and 2025. Supposedly, the delays have been at least partially due to Apple's inability to substantially get rid of the crease in the middle of the folding display, which would apparently be required to meet the company's quality standards. 

Since those first reports, other phone-makers have released foldables annually -- creases and all -- with the latest Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 7 and Z Fold 7 leading the pack alongside the Motorola Razr Ultra and other exciting foldables. Amid that well-established competition, Apple remains far behind.

There hasn't been a new AirPods Pro model in three years -- but I reckon that might change during the "awe dropping" Apple event.

The first solid clue was reported on by MacRumors contributor Steve Moser, when he found references to the nonexistent AirPods Pro 3 in the underlying code for one of iOS 26's betas. Since then, Bloomberg's Gurman has corroborated this report with a claim that the product will be unveiled at this event.

CNET's resident headphone reviewer David Carnoy has been tracking the rumored features for a potential AirPods Pro 3. He detailed the possibility that a new model could include new temperature and heart-rate sensors, a charging case with an interactive touchscreen display, Apple's H3 chip and live translation capabilities.

Could this be the year we see the AirPods Pro 3? We'll know soon enough.

When Apple event invites went out to the press, we were treated to an enigmatic glowing logo. Yes, we've been promised that the iPhone 17 reveal event will be "awe dropping," but no one actually knows what that means.

Could it be a simple play on the phrase "jaw dropping?" Possibly. Apple has hosted similarly coyly named events, including the "Glowtime" iPhone 16 event and the "Wonderlust" iPhone 15 event. But most of Apple's invites point toward some new product or feature, driving hype and speculation before the reveal.

The liquid glassy heat map design could be related to a heat-sensing feature. CNET Senior Writer Jeff Carlson humorously compared the visual to Predator vision -- before speculating that a thermal camera isn't the most outlandish theory there is.

The invite could just as easily be alluding to something like temperature sensors or new phone colors -- but that seems like it'd be much ado about nothing. We'll see what's so awe-dropping about the new product lineup very soon.

Apple's event could spotlight programming on Apple TV Plus. But it may not dwell on the streaming service's recent $3 price hike.

Season 2 of the mind-bender Severance debuted earlier this year and earned the most 2025 Emmy nominations of any show. (The Emmy Awards take place on Sept. 14.) Apple could also mention forthcoming offerings like season 4 of The Morning Show, season 5 of Slow Horses and Jessica Chastain's new thriller miniseries The Savant. 

News could also drop about streaming devices, specifically a new Apple TV 4K. In January, Bloomberg's Mark Gurman wrote that a new Apple TV set-top box model is "planned for release toward the end of the year." The device would succeed the third-generation Apple TV 4K launched in 2022 and could have an A17 Pro chip and a custom Bluetooth and Wi-Fi chip, according to MacRumors.

Last September, Apple brought faster 25-watt wireless charging to the iPhone 16 line through its MagSafe accessory line. But now that same speed is available through the Qi2.2 standard, which Apple contributes to, and is compatible with Google's new Pixel 10 Pro XL.

Apple's partnership with the Wireless Power Consortium, which also features companies like Google, has helped evolve the Qi wireless standard to support the same MagSafe accessories that first debuted with the iPhone 12 line. And this has been great because it ultimately means that magnetic phone accessories you buy for your phone right now will likely work with your next phone, whether it's an iPhone or not.

But with Apple's history of supporting its in-house brands, I wouldn't be surprised if the company was still looking to provide its MagSafe wireless charging brand with some kind of perk that won't come to the Qi standard until a later date. That could be even faster wireless charging, perhaps like the 50-watt wireless charger that OnePlus currently ships but is primarily compatible with its own phones. Or maybe Apple could create new accessories that are built for MagSafe in mind, such as a storage drive that attaches to the back of an iPhone.

We'll find out if Apple does evolve MagSafe at the company's Sept. 9 event, or if the iPhone 17 line will instead include Qi2.2 support for faster charging speeds at launch.

Apple's next stab at breaking into the games industry was unveiled at WWDC 2025, with the first showing of the Games app that will be integrated into all mobile devices and Macs.

We're expecting to hear more about the launch of iOS 26, especially after a series of public beta build releases. According to CNET writer Zachary McAuliffe, the Games app is one of the most exciting inclusions baked into the operating system. It's a solid hub for all of the games attached to your Apple ID (though don't expect Xbox Cloud Gaming or Steam storefront integration at launch).

Perhaps most importantly, the Games app harkens back to the golden age of mobile gaming with its renewed focus on social features. A "Play Together" tab at the bottom of the app will allow gamers to keep up with what their friends are playing, compare achievements and high scores and send out invites for multiplayer games.

Apple Arcade, the curated gaming subscription service that was launched in 2019, will also be supported through the Games app. Whether you delve deep into the storefront to find what to play next or you stick to the handpicked Apple Arcade library, the Games app is the future of mobile gaming on Apple devices.

Will the iPhone 17 line skip out on a Plus model? If the product leaks are accurate, that just might be the case.

The rumor mill is buzzing about an iPhone 17 Air, which could tout a new ultra-thin design. One Bloomberg report asserts that the mysterious model could be as thin as 5.5mm. Analyst Jeff Pu corroborates the existence of a slimmer iPhone 17 model, and claims it'll have a 6.6-inch display with a 1,260x2,740-pixel resolution.

A slimmer phone generally means production trade-offs: The iPhone 17 Air is rumored to have a 2,800-mAh battery, which could signify a much lower capacity than other phones in the lineup. Apple might mitigate this by implementing its first high-density silicon batteries, which might increase actual capacity by 15% to 20%.

There's also no doubt in my mind that iOS 26's Adaptive Power feature could have been designed alongside the iPhone 17 Air, though we can't be certain that a Plus model won't show up until the event kicks into gear.

Our phones are stitched into everything we do, and Apple's rumored iPhone 17 announcement tomorrow will likely tighten that stitch with faster performance, better battery life, a more powerful camera and new software with lots of advanced AI features.

Why would you need any other device when your phone can do it all?

But because so much flows through your phone, so does your data: navigation, photos, payments, searches, messages and check-ins. That concentration of behavior creates a highly descriptive trail, a "ghost profile" of yourself. And ad systems model your behavior: recent searches, location pings, cart abandons, shared accounts and even patterns from people who move like you.

That's why an ad can land in your feed right after you talked about something. It feels like your phone overheard you, but it didn't. It's a prediction from the data you already share.

Read more: No, Your iPhone Isn't Listening to You. But the Truth Is Even Worse

Alongside its iPhone lineup, we're expecting Apple to roll out new smartwatches. According to MacRumors, the Apple Watch 11 may see a battery life boost thanks to a higher resolution and brighter but more energy-efficient screen. Additionally, the Series 11 could feature a fresh processor, which might be the S11 chip. 

The Apple Watch Ultra 3 is also likely to be revealed. MacRumors uncovered purported images within the iOS 26 beta, where the Ultra 3 seems to sport a larger screen. Renowned Apple rumor expert Mark Gurman reports for Bloomberg that Apple may introduce satellite connectivity to the Apple Watch Series 3. Notably, Google's recently released Pixel Watch 4 has satellite connectivity, but the Apple Watch 3 would be the company's first. The Ultra 3 should have an S11 chip at its core. 

The last Apple Watch SE came out in 2022, so a new model might debut on Sept. 9. Gurman says the next iteration of the SE could launch soon, largely with exterior refreshes, but possibly with Apple's S9 chip.

There's an Apple event on Tuesday, and we expect a slew of product unveilings, including the iPhone 17 series, new Apple Watch models, possibly a new Apple TV box and other devices. The company is boldly referring to the event as "awe dropping," which sets high expectations that we hope Apple can meet or exceed. Festivities kick off on Sept. 9 at 10 a.m. PT in Cupertino, California (that's 1 p.m. ET, 6 p.m. BST, 3 a.m. AEST). You can watch the Apple event on Apple's website, as well as stream it from Apple's YouTube channel or on the Apple TV app.

Dating back to the iPhone 11 series, Apple's iPhone has put two cameras on the back of the base models and three cameras arranged like a triangle on the Pro models. The iPhone 17 line is rumored to make a few slight changes to the look, although the actual arrangement is still quite similar.

According to numerous leaked photos that claim to show off the iPhone 17 line, the single-camera iPhone 17 Air and the triple-camera iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max will now have a camera bump that stretches across the back of the phone. This is similar to Google's Pixel 9 and Pixel 10 phones, which arrange their cameras into a horizontal camera bump, although the Pixel's cameras tend to be lined up across this bar. But the base iPhone 17 is rumored to change the least, featuring a similar two-camera setup arranged vertically like the iPhone 16.

However these cameras look, what matters most is how they are used to take better photos. My colleague Andrew Lanxon has a number of wishes that he'd like to see Apple take on with the iPhone 17's new cameras, some of which we see from camera-focused phones like the Xiaomi 15 Ultra.