Apple’s “Let’s meet at our place” media event is coming on Tuesday and thanks to a firehose of leaks we know what to expect from the product announcements. Fair warning: this is a big list of spoilers.
Leaks about new iPhones, an updated Apple Watch, and an Apple TV refresh have been circulating for weeks. Those leaks, along with more iOS 11 details, were confirmed over the weekend when someone gave the secret URLs for the final shipping version of iOS 11 to MacRumors and 9to5Mac.
Here’s what we can expect to see at Tuesday’s media event based on all those leaks.
iPhone 8 and iPhone X
Apple is introducing three new smartphones on Tuesday: the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X. Based on previous iPhone launches, pre-orders will most likely start this Friday, September 15th with deliveries starting on Friday, September 22nd.
The new phones will ship with iOS 11 pre-installed, which has been available as a public beta for the past couple months.
iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus Apple is ditching the “s” moniker this time around so we won’t see the iPhone 7s and 7s Plus. Instead, Apple is jumping straight to 8 with the model numbers. The 4.7-inch iPhone 8 will have 2 GB RAM while the 5.5-inch iPhone 8 Plus will include 3 GB.
iPhone X Apple’s new flagship phone will be called iPhone X and sport an OLED screen instead of LCD. The display will run nearly edge-to-edge, so it’ll sport an iPhone 7 Plus screen size in a body that’s only slightly larger than the iPhone 7.
That bigger display means there isn’t any room for a physical Home button so that’ll become a virtual on-screen element. Without a Home button there isn’t any Touch ID, so say hello to Face ID. That uses a 3D face scanning system that presumably will be far less hackable—and far more secure—than the facial recognition in Samsung’s smartphones.
The new display is already proving to be controversial because the top edge has a cutout for the front facing camera and sensors. That cutout makes the display look like it has horns or ears, and based on the comments on social networks there’s a very vocal group that hates the look.
The iPhone X will support wireless charging, which isn’t the same as contactless charging. Instead of plugging a cable into your iPhone to juice it up you can set it on a special pad that uses inductive charging technology to power up your phone’s battery.
Apple Watch Series 3
Apple is ready to roll out an Apple Watch refresh and it’s sticking with the “Series” identifier to keep track of model versions. Apple Watch Series 2 was introduced in September 2016, and a year later we’re getting Apple Watch Series 3.
LTE Wireless Data Apple Watch Series 3 isn’t going to be a phone on your wrist. Instead, it’ll be like iPad models that include cellular data connectivity so you can still access online data like weather reports when your iPhone isn’t close by. That’ll be great for runners who would rather leave their iPhone at home but still want some connectivity.
Apple Watch Series 3 will ship with watchOS 4. The new version of the operating system has been available as a developer beta since June.
Next up: Apple TV 5 and the big iOS 11 leak
Attention local news talking heads. The as yet unannounced iPhone X will not be be Apple’s first luxury device; there was a gold Apple Watch.
Jeff:
If Apple are serious about plugging those leaks, I hear that Scaramucci has some free time. ‘Mooch on the Loop’. Almost Shakespearian.
@Geoduck:
Despite the leaks, Apple have managed to pull off some surprises of late. The iMac Pro comes to mind. But I agree, it does diminish the delight knowing what’s ahead.
@Lee:
Spot on Joy of Tech.
Firehose of leaks? See today’s Joy of Tech comic
http://www.geekculture.com/joyoftech/joyarchives/2451.html
Ha! That’s awesome!
Every keynote or announcement in the last few years has been greeted with disappointment. “Oh it’s good, great even but I’m disappointed they didn’t announcer X.”
You know why?
Every last detail is leaked beforehand so there’s no surprises.
Additional imaginary things are “leaked” and people can’t tell the real from the fake.
I really wish Apple could control the leaks.
I really hope Apple finds whoever leaked the big dump over the weekend, and nails their @$$ as hard as the law allows.
I miss the old days when we’d be surprised and delighted at an Apple event.