We're now less than week away from the Apple's September 9 event, where the company is all but certain to unveil the iPhone 17 line. This year's theme of "Awe dropping," which was featured in Apple's invitations to the media sent on August 26 doesn't reveal much by way of clues, though some think the heat-mapped Apple logo is indicative of better thermal cooling in the new models. But more importantly, we already know how to watch the Apple iPhone 17 event itself: The keynote will be livestreamed on YouTube Tuesday, September 9 at 1PM ET from Cupertino. We'll have three Engadget team members reporting, liveblogging and providing their hands-on impressions from Apple Park, so make sure you come back here for the latest coverage.
This year is shaping up to be a departure from recent September product rollouts, with the strong possibility of an all-new superthin iPhone expected to join the company's lineup. Also on tap could be new Apple Watch models — including the first truly new Ultra model in two years — and (maybe) the long-awaited AirPods Pro 3.
We got a full rundown of what to expect at the event from the best possible source: Bloomberg Apple reporter Mark Gurman. During his recent guest appearance on the Engadget Podcast, Gurman shared his analysis of what we expect to see, including the expected battery and camera compromises of that rumored thin iPhone (which everyone already calls the iPhone Air).
Expected to be roughly 5.55 mm thick, the iPhone Air would be the thinnest iPhone yet, besting 2014's iPhone 6 which, at 6.9 mm, was the previous svelteness champ. And they've only gotten chunkier since then. (The iPhone 16 Pro has a depth of 8.25 mm.) The Air would also give Apple a direct rival to Samsung's Galaxy S25 Edge, which we found to be more than a gimmick.
Apple (screenshot)
But the iPhone Air's thin design will likely lead to some compromises. It's rumored to have only a single 48 MP camera and a smaller battery. That said, Taiwan's TrendForce, a market research firm quoted in a recent MacRumors story, suggests that the Air will sport a high-density "silicon anode battery" that could theoretically provide more power from a smaller frame.
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The Pro lineup could offer some design tweaks and performance improvements. The iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max are rumored to switch from titanium to aluminum. They could also see the rear camera array expand to an entire "island" that extends across most of the phone's backside. It's expected to house three cameras (as before), but multiple rumors have suggested it will have an improved telephoto one. The zoom lens could jump to 48MP, which would strengthen its digital zooming / cropping chops. The phones may also add an anti-glare coating, similar to those found on iPads.
The standard iPhone 17 could see some welcome display upgrades. At least one supply chain source claimed it will add a 120Hz variable refresh rate (ProMotion) display, which the Pro series has used since 2021.
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