Apple Event live updates — iPhone 17, AirPods Pro 3, Apple Watch 11 and last-minute rumors

Revisiting iOS 26

Since Apple devoted so much time to its software updates during WWDC 2025, we wouldn't expect anything more than the briefest of recaps on Tuesday. Still, that doesn't mean you can't refresh your memory about the changes coming later this month via software updates, starting with iOS 26.

That's this year's iPhone software update, and it's highlighted by the same interface overhaul Apple is introducing to the iPad and Mac. There are some Apple Intelligence additions like expanded Visual Intelligence capabilites. You'll also appreciate call screening tools and improvements to Messages, Photos and More.

If you haven't tried out the iOS 26 public beta yet, our hands-on with the software update can tell you were to start. And you may want to start soon, as we're anticipating that Apple will give us a release date for the full version of iOS 26 at some point in or around the iPhone vent.

Another reason to consider the iPhone 17

Maybe you were going to take a pass on the iPhone 17, with the hopes that reports of an improved iPhone 18 camera would pan out. We've still got a ways to go before the iPhone 18 sees the light of day, but one of the rumored camera features for next year's model might have to wait until 2027.

That'd be the idea that the standard iPhone would get a 48MP ultrawide camera much like the ultrawide shooter on the Pro models. That upgrade had been teased for the iPhone 18, but now analyst Ming-Chi Kuo says it's unlikely to happen until the iPhone 19.

In other words, the iPhone 17 may not see big camera upgrades tomorrow, but the iPhone 18 may not either in a year's time.

iPhone 16 Pro Max camera lessons learned

John Velasco has shot most of our photo face-offs, in which we compare hundreds of photos taken by each camera phone to one another. Plenty of those involved the iPhone 16 Pro Max, which has given John a good sense of what Apple's current top camera phone provides — and how the iPhone 17 Pro Max can improve on that.

A partial view of John's wishlist for the iPhone 17 Pro Max camera includes:

• Zero shutter lag in low-light settings
• Have the main camera shoot macro shots instead of the ultrawide lens
• Add a super-high resolution mode
• Allow for longer exposures when capturing the night sky
• Add a true manual mode
• More Apple Intelligence features for editing photos

How the iPhone's slimming down

Here's a striking Bluesky post, comparing the thickness of the original iPhone from 2007 to the rumored size of the iPhone 17 Slim expected to debut this week. That's a change of 11.6mm for the first iPhone all the way down to 5.5mm or so.

Original iPhone v. iPhone 17 Air

— @basicappleguy.com (@basicappleguy.com.bsky.social) 2025-09-08T23:22:44.590Z

5 biggest Apple Watch 11 and Ultra 3 upgrades we want to see

If the rumors are true we should see the Apple Watch Series 11 and Apple Watch Ultra 3 during the Awe-dropping event tomorrow.

We don't know for sure what's coming but there are several updates that rumors have coalesced around that we're excited to see.

Here are the 5 Apple Watch upgrades we're most interested in:

• Satellite SOS messaging
• High blood pressure warnings
• Longer battery life (Series 11)
• A new display
• Apple Intelligence improvements

Apple Watch SE 3 seems set to debut

The high-end Apple Watch Ultra 3 is expected to release tomorrow but another third-generation watch could also debut; the Apple Watch SE 3.

If the budget-friendly watch is just built on the architecture of the Apple Watch Series 9 or 10 then it will be a big upgrade but there is more coming as my colleague Jane McGuire explores the rumors surrounding the cheaper Apple smart watch.

Vision Pro 2

A refreshed Apple Vision Pro headset could be on the way. Rumors point to the mixed reality headset launching soon, either during Apple's iPhone 17 event or possibly in October when Apple usually reveals its next MacBooks.

The updated headset could be just a chip upgrade to the M5 processor, though we expect a bit more than that.

My colleague Jason England spoke with John Gearty, Founder and CEO of Pulsejet Studios, who played a role in the development of the Vision Pro and how the Vision Pro 2 could change.

Last minute iPhone 17 Pro Max features

Apple's big event is mere hours away, and yet, the rumor mill hasn't stopped churning. A number of rumored upgrades dropped recently.

Alyse Stanley collected the 14 biggest rumors coming to the iPhone 17 Pro Max including improved cooling and chips and cameras.

Pick your color

Invariably, the colors Apple uses for its latest iPhones generates a lot of attention, though it's not hard to figure out why — color is the first thing we see when we lay eyes on a phone, and picking the right color can reflect our personality and taste.

So what colors are you thinking about for your iPhone 17 update? Based on the iPhone 17 color rumors, here's what you'll have to choose from:

• iPhone 17: Black, White, Steel Gray, Green, Purple, Light Blue
• iPhone 17 Air: Black, White, Light Gold, Light Blue
• iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max: Black (though maybe not), White, Gray, Dark Blue, Orange

The iPhone 17 Air's prospects

The iPhone 17 Air will likely be the most talked about product following Tuesday's launch event. But its prospects for widespread adoption are more up in the air.

In his Bloomberg column this week, Mark Gurman compares the iPhone Air to its laptop counterpart, noting how the original MacBook Air may have had a thin design but offered little else to dissuade people from buying either a standard MacBook or a more capable MacBook Pro. The phone version of the Air could find itself in a similar boat, given that it's expected to be pricier than the iPhone 17 but lack the features of the Pro models.

"The new iPhone Air may be a cool piece of technology (or 'awe dropping,; to quote Apple’s event slogan), but it probably won’t be a blockbuster product," Gurman writes. "I think it will do better than the mini and Plus iPhones from recent years, but that’s a fairly low bar."

Beyond the iPhone 17

Apple isn't likely to release a follow-up to the iPhone 16e until next spring at the earliest. And yet, the iPhone 17e may be on the mind of some budget-conscious shoppers on Tuesday, especially if the cost of buying an iPhone 17 goes up.

Philip Michaels looks at whether it's worth waiting for an iPhone 17e given that this device will likely have the same chipset found in the iPhone 17 models and it's in line for other improvements as well. There's nothing like getting the latest iPhone, of course, but saving money on a device that's just as capable be more appealing to some.

Deciding between Apple Watch models

We're expecting to see a lot of Apple Watches alongside the iPhone 17 lineup — specifically, a new Apple Watch Series 11 alongside an Apple Watch Ultra 3. As always, that's going to force anyone in the market for a new smartwatch to pick between the standard model and the higher-end Ultra.

Watch expert Dan Bracaglia has an Apple Watch 11 vs. Apple Watch Ultra 3 face-off based on the big rumors heading into the launch event. In a nutshell, expect the Apple Watch Ultra 3 to get a bigger display size; it should also maintain the tougher design and better battery life it enjoys over the standard Apple Watch. Of course, that latter device is all but guaranteed to be cheaper than the Ultra.

About the iPhone battery

There's talk that the upcoming iPhones might switch to a different type of battery — particularly the iPhone 17 Air, where the thin design doesn't necessarily lend itself to bulky power packs. Apple's solution reportedly will be to turn to a silicon-carbon battery for that model, and maybe even the other iPhone 17 offerings as well.

So what exactly is a silicon-carbon battery?

Wired has posted an explainer on the technology, but in a nutshell, it's a lithium-ion battery that replaces the graphite anode on the battery with a silicon-carbon one. That takes up less space so batteries can enjoy higher energy density from an expanded cathode.

Or at least, that's the 500-yard view. Dig into the Wired story for a more in-depth explanation of just how Apple's going to make a thinner iPhone that, theoretically, delivers battery life that's on par with with other models.

The burning questions about Apple's event

We've got questions heading into Tuesday's Apple event — will Apple have answers? Most likely, but here's what Philip Michaels wants to know about Apple's iPhone plans.

• Are there iPhone 17-exclusive Apple Intelligence features?
• Which iPhone 16 models will stick around?
• What is Apple going to charge for the new iPhones?
• What's the iPhone 17 Air going to offer besides a thin design?
• Just how long will the iPhone 17 Air last on a charge?

For more, read Phil's preview of the iPhone 17 event.

Liquid Glass and its iPhone 17 clues

Back when Apple previewed iOS 26 at WWDC 2025 this summer, we wondered what some of the changes to Apple's iPhone software might mean for the fall's upcoming iPhones — specifically, the Liquid Glass interface changes. Now that the iPhone 17 launch is upon us, it's worth revisiting that iOS 26 discussion between Mark Spoonauer, Kate Kozuch and Jake Krol.

iOS 26 Reveals iPhone 17 Secrets! What Liquid Glass Tell Us... - YouTube

Watch On

An AirTag sequel?

It's been a minute since we've seen a new version of Apple's AirTag — well, more like four years worth of minutes. But the long-awaited sequel to Apple's tracking device may be ready to make its debut at the Tuesday Apple event.

We've heard this before, of course, since AirTag 2 was also ready to launch as far back as this summer's WWDC 2025 conference. But the target audience there is developers, not consumers, so it ultimately didn't seem like the best venue.

If we do see new AirTags, expect the big improvement to focus on longer range precision finding with the gadget's update ultra wideband chip. We'd also expect more of a focus on privacy features than last time, as Apple had to scramble to add those controls to the original AirTag.

Will Apple have "one more thing"?

There are at least seven devices we expect Apple to launch on September 9.

However, Apple does like to throw in surprises. Does the company have one more thing to share?

We'll find out.

AirPods Pro 3 coming this week but you might want to wait

It's not guaranteed but we expect to see a new pair of AirPods Pro 3 announced during Apple's Awe-dropping event. However, a new rumor from analyst Ming-Chi Kuo hints that you may want to wait until 2026 to upgrade.

It is a grain of salt claim as Kuo's statement seems to contradict his own previous rumors which said we wouldn't see a new set of Airpods next year. Now, he's claiming that an upgraded pair is launching next year with significant upgrades including an IR camera version.

This year, we expect the AirPods Pro 3 to launch with a heart rate monitor ala the PowerBeats Pro 2. It's all a bit confusing as to what Apple wants to do with its earbuds so we'll be keeping a close eye on what gets announced this week and if Apple has big plans for 2026.

iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max: two generations removed

If you're currently holding onto an iPhone 15 Pro Max, you might be wondering if it's worth upgrading to the iPhone 17 Pro Max. That's what we aim to explain in our iPhone 17 Pro Max vs iPhone 15 Pro Max guide, as the two-year difference between the phones could yield more significant upgrades with the newer model.

Although the overall size of the iPhone 17 Pro Max won't change, there are still other hardware changes in store for it — like the A19 Pro chip, better cameras, and yes, it would still have a larger 6.9-inch display over the iPhone 15 Pro Max.

We also expect improvements in its battery life performance, as the iPhone 16 Pro Max achieved over 17 hours on our battery drain test. In contrast, the iPhone 15 Pro Max topped at a little over 14 hours.

In the end, it'll come to whether those improvements sound appealing to you, but I think there's some good value in the rumored iPhone 17 Pro Max specs.

Apple 4K TV could include an improved processor

There's a lot to be excited about when it comes to Apple's 4k TV, and rumors have hinted that it could see a pretty impressive upgrade thanks to the inclusion of the A17 Pro chip. If that name sounds familiar to you, it's because it's the same chip that we saw in the iPhone 15 Pro.

So what does this mean for the Apple TV? Well, according to the original report, this updated processor could improve both the CPU and GPU performance by as much as 15% to 30%. Not only that, the A17 Processor also supports Apple Intelligence, something that prior Apple TV models lacked.

With that being said, it's still unclear what Apple plans to do with the AI when it comes to Apple TV. However, we'll hopefully get an idea of Apple's plans during the event, as well as see if some of the other rumored upgrades, such as the Apple-designed Wi-FI and Bluetooth chip, make an appearance.

iPhone 17 models compared

We're confident Apple is working on four iPhone 17 models. There are the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max.

Choosing between the four models will be a personal decision requiring each shopper to weigh the cost versus specs to find the phone that suits their needs.

Thankfully, we won't leave you to decide for yourself, as we have a detailed piece that runs through everything you need to know about the four models, from screen size to processor. While these specs haven't been announced by Apple, they have been rumored enough that we're fairly confident they're accurate.

And if you don't want to click the link and read a detailed piece (though you really should, as there's a lot to learn about these exciting phones), here's a quick rundown in a handy table:

The next must-have accessory?

To go along with the new TechWoven cases, it looks like Apple is releasing a crossbody strap (which is essentially a lanyard that matches the cases).

A new leak from Sonny Dickson showed off the crossbody accessory, and it looks pretty useful if you need a new way to carry your iPhone around.

iPhone 17 Pro camera upgrades

Bloomberg's Mark Gurman posted a report about the iPhone 17 Pro's new camera features, and they sound promising.

Here's a quick look at what to expect (it's pretty exciting):

• "Major enhancements” to video recording
• Telephoto lens upgraded to 48MP, up from 12MP (huge bump)
• Variable aperture system
• Multi-cam simultaneous video recording
• Selfie camera to get its “biggest-ever upgrade”

Switching to USB-C on iPhone

I have an iPhone 14 Pro Max that I've been holding onto since the day Apple released.

I have approximately 1,000 Lightning cables (not literally) that I've accumulated over the years. I'm going to break down and get an iPhone 17 Pro Max this year, as my phone is getting a bit long in the tooth.

While it's exciting, the prospect of switching to USB-C and losing all those Lightning cables is scary. If you're in the same boat, don't worry, because there are tons of good USB-C cables out there to choose from, and it's easy to get the right one for your needs.

Will it break?

Like every major new device, the iPhone 17 is likely to face scrutiny from the YouTube community, which will test its durability.

They'll smash it, bend it and do every other thing you'd never want to do with your personal phone.

Of course, we'll watch to see how it does as we test and review the phones ourselves (in a more traditional, less violent way).

Will anyone miss the Plus?

The iPhone 17 Plus is going away, and the iPhone 17 Air is taking its place. At least, that's the rumor we've been hearing all over.

That brings us to our question: Will you miss the iPhone Plus?

iPhone 17 lineup price leaks (spoilers: they're not cheap)

Last year, Apple maintained the pricing for the iPhone 16 lineup, but the iPhone 17 series appears to be going up.

A report from TrendForce has some bad news on pricing with increases for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. The iPhone 17 Air, which is set to replace the Plus model, could be $200 more expensive.

The big 7 devices

Here are the seven major devices we think Apple will show off tomorrow, based on the rumors:

• iPhone 17
• iPhone 17 Air
• iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max
• Apple Watch Series 11
• Apple Watch Ultra 3
• Apple Watch SE 3
• AirPods Pro 3

Apple Watch Ultra 3 biggest upgrades

As much as we love the Apple Watch Ultra 2, after 2024 came and went with no refresh, we're ready to see what Apple does next.

Rumor has it that the Apple Watch Ultra 3 could feature three significant upgrades, including a new S11 chip, support for 5G wireless connectivity, and satellite connectivity capabilities.

For a watch designed with outdoor enthusiasts in mind, satellite connectivity could prove invaluable for calling for help in areas where cell phone signal is scarce.

Could iPhone 17 get a smaller dynamic island?

According to one tipster, the Dynamic Island on the iPhone 17 Pro and 17 Pro Max shrinks as Apple transforms the iconic pill-shaped cutout into an even more compact array for the front-facing camera and sensor system.

The width of the Dynamic Island could be approximately 1.5cm, down from 2cm on the iPhone 16. However, considering this particular tipster's lack of a solid track record, we're taking these rumors with a grain of salt for now.

Though it's not without some merit: Previous reports have indicated Apple plans to shrink the Dynamic Island, although this design change may not arrive until the iPhone 18 Pro. Still, Apple could be rolling it out early to improve the sales pitch for the iPhone 17 line's premium models.

iPhone 17 battery capacities potentially leaked

Apple typically doesn't divulge the size of the batteries in iPhones. Device teardowns usually reveal this information, though.

X user ShrimpApple Pro might have actually leaked a little early. eSIM-only models may come with a slight increase in capacity this year, which is beneficial for improved battery life.

As you can see in the table above, iPhone 17 is expected to come with a 3,652mAh battery, which is over 100 mAh larger than iPhone 16. The iPhone 17 Air has a lower capacity, with 3,036 mAh (or 3,148 mAh) with eSIM, while the iPhone 17 Pro has a higher capacity, at 3,988 mAh (4,252 mAh with eSIM).

Finally, iPhone 17 Pro Max is 4,823 mAh, or 5,088 mAh with eSIM. Both are considerably higher than the battery pack in iPhone 16 Pro Max, and mark the first time an iPhone actually exceeded 5,000 mAh

Wait, the iPhone 17 Pro Max may not come in black? Seriously!

In a bizarre turn of events, one leaker has now claimed that we may not see a Black iPhone 17 Pro Max after all. Or at least, that's what Ice Universe's latest X post seems to suggest.

They claim to have images of "engineering models" of dark blue and a coppery orange color, clarifying that "this time there is no black version, only this dark blue."

That runs contrary to the rumors we've heard of there being four distinct color options: Blue, orange, black and white.

We're not convinced that Apple will be skipping Black, given the sheer number of rumors claiming otherwise. But we'll have to wait and see how that plays out tomorrow.

iPhone 17 lineup price leaks for all four models

Last year Apple kept pricing for the iPhone 16 lineup the same price as before, but the iPhone 17 series might not be so lucky. Meaning we could be looking at a price hike — and a fairly big one.

A report from TrendForcehas some bad news on pricing with increases for the iPhone 17 Pro and Pro Max. The iPhone 17 Air could also be $200 more expensive than the iPhone 16 Plus, which it's expected to replace.