The Apple autumn launch event has been officially scheduled for 10 a.m. Pacific Time on September 12 in California, USA, which corresponds to 1 a.m. Taiwan Time on September 13. The theme of the event will be “Wonderlust,” and it is anticipated to feature the iPhone 15 series, Apple Watch Series 9, as well as the corresponding iOS 17 and iPadOS 17 systems.
Current information regarding the iPhone 15 indicates that the screen will completely abandon the “notch” design, switching instead to the Dynamic Island design seen in the iPhone 14 Pro series. In compliance with EU regulations, the longstanding Lightning port is expected to be replaced with a USB Type C port. However, it is still uncertain whether Apple will continue to insist on MFi certification to impose functional restrictions on cables.
The relatively entry-level iPhone 15 and 15 Plus are expected to continue offering a variety of color options, potentially including light green, light blue, light pink, light yellow, and black. There are rumors that the Product Red option might be reserved for next spring as a new seasonal color. Additionally, the processors for these models are anticipated to be upgraded from the A15 Bionic to the A16 Bionic, which was originally used in the iPhone 14 Pro series.
Higher-end models, the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max, are rumored to possibly diverge in their offerings. The iPhone 15 Pro Max might feature a significant upgrade in its telephoto lens, switching from a 3x zoom to a 5x or 6x periscope design, and it could be renamed the iPhone 15 Ultra. In terms of color options, in addition to the standard black and white, the gold color might be replaced with a new gray option, and a special deep blue color could be introduced.
Furthermore, the gray version of the iPhone 15 Pro and Pro Max might feature frames made of titanium alloy, resulting in a lighter weight. This change could reduce the weight of the iPhone 15 Pro from 206 g to 191 g, and the Pro Max from 204 g to 221 g.
On the internal front, the iPhone 15 Pro series will be equipped with the A17 Bionic processor, marking the first product to utilize TSMC’s 3nm process technology. Based on leaked Geekbench performance data, this processor scored a comprehensive 30,669 points, significantly surpassing the previous generation’s score of 23,000 points.
In terms of Apple peripherals, the Apple Watch Series 9 is expected to receive a minor update, with slight upgrades to its processor and operating system, but no major changes are anticipated. On the other hand, the EarPods family, which still utilizes the Lightning port across all models, will theoretically undergo a refresh to adopt a USB Type C interface to comply with EU regulations and continue sales in European countries. However, this update is likely to be minor as well, with no significant new features expected to be added.
