Ever since the iPhone 5’s release on September 12, 2012, the latest standard iPhone has been announced at “special” Apple events in September or October. The newest releases were the iPhone 13 series, announced at an Apple event on September 15, 2021, and the iPhone 14 series, revealed on September 7, 2022.
This year’s “special” Apple event, sent to media, is set for September 12, 2023 at 10am US Pacific Coast time. While the event didn’t specifically say it would be to launch the newest iPhone range — iPhone 15, we’re guessing — based on how it’s worked in the past, we’re assuming that’ll be the case.
Earlier this month, reliable Apple insider Mark Gurman predicted for Bloomberg the announcement date to be September 12 and that the actual products’ release would be September 22. So, given he got the announcement date right, the predicted available-to-shop date is likely to be true, too.
Apple is always tight-lipped about its new products, but we can draw a few clues from the event invite. It shows the Apple logo in swirling sand in grey and blue colours, which may confirm rumours about the iPhone 15’s Pro expected new colours: grey (predicted to be called ‘Titan Gray’) and a new shade of dark blue. These will sit alongside existing Silver and Space Black.
As for the sand, Tech Radar notes that it could be a hint at the iPhone 15 Pro line’s expected switch from stainless steel to titanium. “Rather than sand, the invite could instead be depicting titanium powder, or perhaps the sandblasting treatment that titanium is sometimes finished with,” they write. “Either way, these new titanium sides are expected to be exclusive to the iPhone 15 Pro, which could make the phones slightly lighter, too.”
The event name “Wonderlust” could also suggest new products — perhaps Apple Watches — geared for travel and outdoorsy adventures.
The most recent announcement from Apple was back in June when it unveiled its first spatial computer, Apple Vision Pro, which blends digital with reality. The device lets you use apps beyond the boundaries of a traditional display with the help of a 3D user interface controlled by a user’s eyes, hands and voice.
“Today marks the beginning of a new era for computing,” Tim Cook, Apple’s CEO, said at the time. “Just as the Mac introduced us to personal computing, and iPhone introduced us to mobile computing, Apple Vision Pro introduces us to spatial computing.”
Features of the Apple Vision Pro include a Spatial FaceTime. Everyone on a FaceTime call will reflected in life-size tiles, and, with Spatial Audio, will sound as if they’re speaking from where they are positioned. Photos can also be viewed in 3D, and “Environments” will let a user’s world grow beyond the physical room.
Apple Vision Pro will start at USD$3,499, and will be available early next year. It’ll launch in the US first and then debut in more countries later in the year.
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