The big day for Apple fans around the world is finally here, with the iPhone 16 expected to be launched later today.
Apple is hosting an event this evening where it’s expected to unveil its latest flagship devices.
The event has the tagline ‘It’s Glowtime’, but beyond that, Apple has remained tight-lipped about exactly what to expect.
However, rumours and speculation are already rampant over everything from the price to the release of the long-awaited Apple Intelligence.
Here’s everything we know so far – and how you can watch Apple’s event live today.
The moment that Apple fans have been waiting for is finally almost here, with the iPhone 16 set to be revealed to the world tomorrow
When will the iPhone 16 be unveiled?
Apple is hosting a launch event today at its headquarters in Cupertino, California.
The invite confirms that the event will take place at 10:00 PT (18:00 BST).
This date – a Monday – comes as somewhat of a surprise, with Apple having hosted the majority of its previous iPhone launch events on Tuesdays.
‘It’s Glowtime. Please join us in person for a special Apple Event at Steve Jobs Theater at Apple Park. September 9, 2024 10:00a.m. PT,’ the full invite reads.
This new date may help the company avoid a busy Tuesday featuring a US presidental debate and a ruling from the European Commission on whether Apple needs to pay $14 billion in taxes.
Apple’s invite includes the classic Apple logo with a redesigned twist.
An animation sees the logo swirl between hues of blue, purple, orange, and pink, seemingly in reference to the ‘It’s Glowtime’ tagline.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to come in blue, green, white, black and pink
The Pro models will likely come in slightly more muted tones – white, black, grey, and bronze
While the reason for this remains unclear, the glowing colours bear a striking resemblance to Apple’s newly updated Siri voice assistant.
This could be a tease for the full release of Apple’s highly anticipated AI system, Apple Intelligence.
How can you watch the Apple event live?
MailOnline will be covering the launch event live on 9 September from 10:00 PT (18:00 BST).
Alternatively, you can watch it at apple.com, on the Apple livestream on YouTube, or on the Apple TV app.
When will the iPhone 16 go on sale?
If the iPhone 16 is unveiled at the event tomorrow, pre-orders will likely go live on Friday September 13.
The first devices will then likely be sent out next week, on Friday September 20.
What devices do we expect in the iPhone 16 lineup?
Rumours suggest that we can expect four new iPhone models called the iPhone 16, iPhone 16 Plus, iPhone 16 Pro, and iPhone 16 Pro Max.
All models are expected to be slightly bigger than previous models, marking the first time Apple has upped the iPhone’s display size since the iPhone 12.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to be sticking with the current 6.1-inch and 6.7-inch sizes.
However, rumours suggest we’ll see larger iPhone 16 Pro models this year, with the iPhone 16 Pro expected to measure 6.3-inches and the iPhone 16 Pro Max 6.9-inches.
Although this is only an increase of less than 5 per cent on both models, it’s the first time that Apple has increased the iPhone’s display size since the iPhone 12.
Rumours suggest the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will have the same camera setup as their predecessors, with a 48MP main lens alongside a 12MP ultra-wide lens on the rear, and a 12MP front-facing camera
What colours will the iPhone 16 come in?
When it comes to colours, leaked images suggest that fans will have a range of stunning hues to choose from.
The iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus are expected to come in blue, green, white, black and pink.
Apple is expected to use the same coloured glass featured on the iPhone 15, but with a more pastel hue.
Meanwhile, the Pro models will likely come in slightly more muted tones – white, black, grey, and bronze.
How much will the iPhone 16 cost?
Leakers disagree over the iPhone 16 pricing.
Some claim that it could be the same price as its predecessor, the iPhone 15, which starts at £799/$799.
However, with the cost of phone components increasing, others argue that the iPhone 16 will be at least £100/$100 more than the iPhone 15 – putting starting prices at £899/$899.
If this is the case, the iPhone 16 Plus could be £999/$999, while the iPhone 16 Pro could be £1,099/$1,099, and the iPhone 16 Pro Max £1,299/$1,299.
What camera will the iPhone 16 have?
Rumours suggest the iPhone 16 and iPhone 16 Plus will have the same camera setup as their predecessors, with a 48MP main lens alongside a 12MP ultra-wide lens on the rear, and a 12MP front-facing camera.
However, upgrades are expected to come in the form of improved AI-powered editing tools, like those seen in recent rival devices, including the Google Pixel 9.
Meanwhile, the Pro models are expected to have larger sensors, allowing for brighter, more colourful photos.
The Pro line is expected to trade out the 12-megapixel lens of the iPhone 15 for a 48-megapixel lens on the ultrawide camera.
That will allow for better performance in low lighting and better clarity in wide-angle and macro photos.
‘Apple Intelligence’ refers to a slew of new AI-powered features coming on Apple’s upcoming software update, iOS 18, from AI-generated emoji to a new version of Siri that uses ChatGPT, OpenAI’s notorious chatbot
Are there any new features we expect?
Last year, Apple introduced a brand-new button on the two iPhone 15 Pro models, called the Action Button.
This replaced the long-standing mute switch, and allowed users to access almost any shortcut with the touch of a button.
Rumours suggest the Action Button could be included on all four iPhone 16 models this year.
What’s more, a second new button is also tipped to be included, dubbed the ‘Capture’ button, which could allow users to quickly activate the camera.
However, the biggest changes to this year’s iPhones are expected to come in the form of software.
Back in June, Apple announced a new AI architecture dubbed Apple Intelligence, which will feature in the iPhone 16.
The biggest part of Apple Intelligence is the integration of OpenAI’s hugely popular chatbot ChatGPT with Siri, Apple’s in-built virtual assistant.
Back in June, Apple announced a new AI architecture dubbed Apple Intelligence, which will feature in the iPhone 16
Users will be able to press and hold the side button to activate Siri as normal, but with ChatGPT behind it, Siri will be able to ‘answer thousands of questions about how to do something’ that it couldn’t before.
For example, you could say, ‘Play that podcast that Jamie recommended’ and Siri will locate and play the episode, without the user having to remember whether it was mentioned in a text or an email.
Or you could ask, ‘When is mum’s flight landing?’ and Siri will find the flight details and cross-reference them with real-time flight tracking to give an arrival time.
Meanwhile, one of the more fun parts of Apple Intelligence is AI-generated emoji, which Apple has called ‘Genmoji’ (a mix of ‘generated’ and ’emoji’).
In the Messages app, you can type a short description of the emoji you want, such as ‘smiley relaxing wearing cucumbers’ or ‘squirrel DJ’.
Apple Intelligence will include AI-generated emoji, which Apple has called ‘Genmoji’ (a mix of ‘generated’ and ’emoji’). But those in the EU may have to wait until next year to get many of the company’s new AI features
However, it remains unclear just how many of Apple’s long-awaited AI features will be launched at the event today.
Apple Intelligence is not expected to launch fully until mid-October with the release of iOS 18.1.
Even then, features like ChatGPT integration are not expected to be ready until next year.
Those in the EU and China will face even longer delays likely to stretch well into 2025 as Apple clashes with regulatory bodies.
Apple analyst Mark Gurman, in the latest edition of his newsletter, says: ‘The new Apple Intelligence tools will indeed be a big part of Monday’s launch event for the iPhone 16.
‘But it also will become increasingly clear that consumers will have to wait for the best features.’
Apple is preparing to release the ‘Apple Watch X’ which could feature a radical redesign, according to a leaker
Will Apple announce any other devices?
Apple is preparing to release the ‘Apple Watch X’ which could feature a radical redesign, according to a leaker.
Akin to the iPhone X in 2017 that celebrated a decade of the iPhone, Apple Watch X could mark 10 years since the world glimpsed the first Apple Watch.
The claim comes from Gurman based in California, who says Apple is ‘preparing a big update’ in his weekly newsletter.
‘Apple Watch is nearing its 10th birthday and the company has a chance to mark the occasion,’ he says.
Apple may reveal a new generation of AirPods boasting an upgraded case featuring a speaker, and improved sound-cancelling
‘With the X model, Apple designers are working on a thinner watch case and have explored changing the way bands are attached to the device.’
Gurman says the watch could have a larger display and ‘other enhancements under the hood’ in terms of hardware.
For example, new AI-capable chips ‘could lay the groundwork for some AI enhancements down the road’.
Rumours also suggest that Apple may unveil two new models of AirPods as entry and mid-tier products.
According to Mr Gurman, Apple will ‘distinguish the two models by giving the new mid-tier version a higher-end case with a speaker – making it easier to locate with Apple’s Find My feature – as well as noise cancellation to match the AirPods Pro.’
What is Apple Intelligence?
At its Worldwide Developer Conference (WWDC), Apple heralded a new era of technology, dubbed ‘Apple Intelligence’.
Apple Intelligence is essentially a snazzy brand name for Apple’s new-found focus on AI, triggered by the huge success of the ChatGPT chatbot 18 months ago.
The tech giant announced Apple Intelligence with great reverence as ‘the personal intelligence system that combines the power of generative models with personal context to deliver intelligence’.
To put it more simply, it’s an umbrella term for all the jobs AI will be able to do on your iPhone, iPad and Mac computer – as long as it has the upcoming iOS 18 software and an all-important AI chip inside the device.
Surely the biggest part of Apple Intelligence is the integration of OpenAI’s hugely popular chatbot ChatGPT with Siri, Apple’s in-built virtual assistant.
iOS 18 users will be asked before any questions are sent to ChatGPT, along with any documents or photos, and Siri then presents the answer
Before WWDC, it was rumoured that Apple would be creating its own AI chatbot to rival ChatGPT, but instead it’s partnered with OpenAI to bring ChatGPT to Apple devices.
It also includes tools like AI-generated emoji, an image generator and a ‘Clean Up tool’ that makes subtle edits to photos.
According to Apple’s website, Apple Intelligence needs an up-to-date AI chip in a device to run – the A17 Pro (in iPhones) or the M1 or later (in iPads and Macs).
Therefore, as it stands, iPhone 15 Pro and iPhone 15 Pro Max will get Apple Intelligence – but not iPhone 15 standard version.
Although it will be available on the upcoming iPhone 16, an expert has claimed that Apple Intelligence could be delayed until at least October – one month after the iPhone 16 hits the market.
