Apple Store is offline ahead of iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 announcements

Apple Store is offline ahead of iPhone 16 and Apple Watch Series 10 announcements

As is customary when Apple launches new hardware, the Apple Online Store is offline in preparation for Apple’s “Glowtime” event, which starts today at 10 a.m. Pacific Time.

The company is expected to announce a new iPhone lineup; iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro and iPhone 16 Pro Max. Apple Watch Series 10 will also be announced with a design change and new larger display sizes along with a new generation of AirPods and possibly some other surprises.

Assuming Apple follows its normal pattern, the iPhone 16 lineup will go up for pre-order starting on Friday, September 13. The phones should then start shipping a week later, with an official release date of September 20. The store will have details and specs about the new phones, but you won’t be able to buy one yet.

However, Apple may start selling AirPods, or Watches. In the past, these devices sometimes went on sale immediately after the announcement.

The headline feature of the new iPhones will be a new button, possibly called the “camera button.” It will allow users to easily take photos and videos with a physical depression gesture. The button is expected to be capacitive; a half-press will trigger the camera app to focus on the current subject, mimicking the way more expensive dedicated camera shutter buttons work. The iPhone’s camera button will also be swipeable, allowing for seamless zooming.

iPhone 16 will also feature a new chip, the A18 and A18 Pro, improved cameras, and a new color palette. The rear cameras on the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus have been moved to a new vertically stacked layout, enabling spatial video recording for the first time. Apple is expected to promote Apple Intelligence features in coordination with the new phones, though many of Apple’s most notable AI features may not be ready yet.

For the Apple Watch, we’re expecting Apple to unveil the Series 10 lineup on its 10th anniversary. These will come in two sizes, both of which are expected to feature thinner casings and larger displays than their Series 9 counterparts. Sleep apnea detection will also be a major new feature, expanding the Watch’s capabilities as a wellness companion.

The new AirPods lineup is expected to include two models, a high-end and a low-end model, both of which will sit below the AirPods Pro in price. The high-end ‘AirPods 4’ are also rumored to feature some form of active noise cancellation. Apple’s high-end headphones, the AirPods Max, are also reportedly getting an update today, including a USB-C port for charging. AirPods Pro are not expected to receive an update until sometime in 2025.

Updates for the iPad and Mac are planned for later this year, likely to be announced at an Apple event in October, so don’t expect to hear about them today.

Stay tuned to 9to5Mac for complete coverage of Apple’s September event. We’ll be reporting live as every announcement is made.

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